Category: NFL (Page 1271 of 1282)

Another week has come and gone, and two more Packers have found themselves on the infirmary list. If you are still trying to fill holes on your fantasy squad, here are a few guys to keep in mind:

QUARTERBACKS

Other than Jeff Garcia, Chris Simms, Jamie Martin and Kelly Holcomb, whom I mentioned in last week’s Watch, there is only one potentially attractive option on tap this week.

Billy Volek, TEN – Steve McNair was a late scratch for the game against the Cardinals and Volek – usually a very capable backup – was knocked out of the game with a concussion. The status of both players is up in the air, but this is a situation to keep your eye on as the QB for the Titans is reasonably valuable.

RUNNING BACKS

Tony Fisher, GB – If you haven’t heard, Ahman Green’s season is over. Najeh Davenport would normally replace him, but he’s already out with a season-ending injury. That leaves Tony Fisher, who normally gets playing time on 3rd down. He’s a bit thin for a RB, but is a good receiver out of the backfield and can be productive at times. In the end, he’s now a starting RB and those are hard to find on the waiver wire at this point in the season.

Frank Gore, SF – The 49ers starting RB, Kevan Barlow, left the game with a leg injury, but is listed as probable for next week’s game. Gore did well in his place, and if he sees more carries than usual in the next game, it may indicate a changing of the guard in San Francisco. I wouldn’t run out and grab Gore at this point, but this is another situation to watch.

Travis Henry, TEN – Henry is probably not available on your league’s waiver wire, but an impatient owner may have cut him after news of his suspension broke. He is available to play next week and the starter, Chris Brown, was knocked out of the game against Arizona with a neck stinger. Brown is notoriously fragile, so Henry is one of the more valuable backups in the league.

WIDE RECEIVERS

I mentioned Jabar Gaffney and Doug Gabriel in last week’s Watch, and they are still good options this week.

Antonio Chatman, GB – Robert Ferguson is out for 2-4 weeks with a sprained knee, so Chatman’s role figures to increase during that span. He was already productive as the third WR so I expect his numbers to increase a bit while the Packer offense suffers as a whole. Green Bay has a brutal schedule over the next three weeks, so they may be playing from behind for the next month or so.

Mike Williams, DET – Kevin Johnson is out for the season so the Lions are very thin at WR until Roy Williams and Charles Rogers return. Jeff Garcia is in at QB and seemed to connect well with Mike Williams, who caught five passes for 95 yards on Sunday. I don’t expect that type of production going forward, but Williams might be a good 1-2 week option.

**THE MIAMI/KC GAME HAS BEEN MOVED TO FRIDAY SO BE SURE TO GET YOUR ROSTERS IN EARLY**

Every week, I submit six names to our faithful readers – three borderline fantasy players to start and three to bench. Here’s how I did last week:

START

Mark Brunell– 331 pass yards, 3 TDs – (HIT)
Brunell is back from the dead. He’s looking like he may be a fantasy starter.

Warrick Dunn – 22 carries, 100 yards, TD – (HIT)
Dunn looks great going forward with a hobbled Duckett out with injury.

Kevin Johnson – 4 catches, 23 yards – (MISS)
I went out on a limb with Detroit’s other KJ and he didn’t do a whole lot. However, he did lead the Lions in catches.

BENCH

Steve McNair – 259 yards, 2 INTs – (HIT)
Sure, he put up decent yardage, but he didn’t throw or run for a TD and had two picks in the loss.

Corey Dillon – DNP – (HIT)
I warned everyone about Dillon and then started him myself in one league when the Patriots activated him Sunday morning.

Chris Chambers – 3 catches, 50 yards – (HIT)
Frerotte threw for 267 yards and you’d think Chambers would get more than 50. Wes Welker (who?) led the team in yardage.

On to this week’s picks:

START

QB – Jake Plummer, DEN
Mark Brunell has another great matchup this week (San Francisco) but since I used him last week, I’ll go with Plummer this week against the Giants. He was great last week against the Patriots (262 yards and two scores) and New York is giving up 316 yards per game through the air, good for 2nd worst in the league.

RB – Chris Brown, TEN
As the Titans ease Travis Henry back into the fold, Brown should get lots of opportunities to run against a questionable Arizona defense.

WR – Az-Zahir Hakim, NO
I almost didn’t pick him because I didn’t want to look up how to spell his name, but Hakim should have a solid week against a very suspect Rams secondary, that has already allowed 12 passing touchdowns and is giving up 251 yards a game through the air.

BENCH

QB – Michael Vick, ATL
I’d bench McNair again but Vick, who is hobbled and is facing a tough Jets pass defense, should be benched if you have another decent option. The only wild card is that the game is Monday night and Vick strikes me as a player that would play better in front of a national television audience.

RB – Jamal Lewis, BAL
The struggling back is facing a very stout Bears defense that is giving up a paltry 86 rushing yards a game and hasn’t allowed a rushing TD so far this season.

WR – Mushin Muhammad, CHI
I don’t expect that Muhammad will find much space to work against a Ravens defense that has given up a meager 156 yards a game through the air. He may get a few receptions for 50-60 yards, but I think that will be it.

If you have any roster questions, please post them on this week’s Fantasy Q&A and we’ll give you answers. Though we can’t guarantee they’ll be the right ones.

Have roster questions? Not sure who you should start? Post all of your fantasy football questions here.