Breaking Down NFL Injuries for Those Averting Hurt in the Fantasy Standings

It seems that every year a star NFL player suffers an injury in training camp or in a meaningless preseason game, flabbergasting everyone in the city. With that being said, it’s time to break down the key injuries around the NFL over the past couple of weeks. I, Bruno Boys Greg, will also determine whether these injuries will have an effect on the fantasy football season.

QUARTERBACKS

Matt Cassel, QB, Kansas City Chiefs: The reports say he has a strained MCL, which is never good.  Also, there are conflicting reports on whether he will be able to play by Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens.  Hopefully you drafted Cassel as no more than your backup, so you can wait and see how the injury plays out the first couple weeks of the season.  With limited weapons in Kansas City, Cassel was already a hit-or-miss fantasy option and if it is the MCL, you may want to stay away from him if possible.

Brett Favre, QB, Minnesota Vikings: Favre looked good on Monday Night Football, going 13-18 for 142 yards against the Houston Texans.  The reports of a cracked rib should concern but not worry you.  Favre will never miss a game and has never let an injury get the best of him while on the football field. Despite looking like the Favre’ of old last night you are still going to want to employehim as a backup on your fantasy roster.

Kyle Orton, QB, Denver Broncos: Orton dislocated his finger in the Broncos’ third preseason game against the Chicago Bears and there are mixed reports about whether he will be ready for game action in Week 1.  Regardless, Orton should be used as a middle of the road QB2, so this injury shouldn’t change your draft day opinions on Orton. However, if you draft him in a league that starts two QB’s, make sure to monitor this situation and make a last-minute roster move if need be.

Carson Palmer, QB, Cincinnati Bengals: Palmer is progressing nicely and should be ready to go for Week 1.  The only concern I have is that Palmer could be rusty early on since the offense has not been able to play together since Week 1 of the preseason. Although it would be nice to sit him one game and see how he does, he has a nice match-up against a Denver Broncos defense that ranked 25th against the pass last season. Start him with confidence.

Matt Schaub, QB, Houston Texans: Schaub suffered a mild ankle strain on Monday Night Football and was able to re-enter the game.  This injury is nothing to sweat about but it should show you how fragile Schaub can be, considering he injured his ankle decelerating while running out of bounds.  I would tread lightly with this guy all season and have a solid backup ready in case he isn’t able to go some weeks.

RUNNING BACKS

Brian Westbrook, RB, Philadelphia Eages: There have been no reports of any setbacks for Westbrook, who is coming back from surgery, this preseason.  While it may take him a game or two to get his step back, Westbrook should be fine this season.  Everyone is concerned about his age and health issues but I feel you can throw that concern out the door.  You will be able to draft him lower then he should be going and like he does every year Westbrook will reward you with big points.  Plus, if you are afraid of Westbrook breaking down, grab his mini-me, LeSean McCoy.

Pierre Thomas, RB, New Orleans Saints: Reports indicate his right MCL strain is improving and should be ready for Week 1 against the Detroit Lions. Despite the Saints and Thomas downplaying it, I would be a tad bit concerned over his injury.  Knee injuries are tough to rebound from and could affect his burst and power throughout the season.

Reggie Bush, RB, New Orleans Saints: He has had a successful recovery from offseason knee surgery but has been hampered by a sore calf.  Bush is electric when on the field and against all odds I am predicting this will be the year he can actually play an entire season (insert all your hate comments below).  With the doubts I have around Pierre Thomas, Bush has climbed up my draft board and is worth keeping an eye on in your league.

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Breaking Down NFL Injuries From a Fantasy Football Perspective

 

 

Is Michael Crabtree Worth Drafting in The 12th Round?

With the third week of preseason in the books after Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings defeated the Houston Texans by a score of 17-10, more and more is becoming clear in the world of the NFL. Position battles are winding down, teams’ game plans are coming to light, and rosters are being whittled down – all of which is crucial for fantasy football owners to pay attention to as all will have an effect on players’ draft value.

Speaking of draft value, it’s time to jump in and see which wide receivers are falling down the ESPN draft boards in the past seven days, leading to a decline in their ADP (Average Draft Position).

1. Mark Bradley (Kansas City Chiefs) – Just a season ago Bradley was on the verge of being a solid WR2 option in Kansas City after going for 294 receiving yards and three touchdowns during a five game stretch during the middle of the season. However, things have changed in Kansas City as the Chiefs signed veteran possession receiver Bobby Engram to challenge Bradley for the starting spot opposite Dwayne Bowe. In fact reports are surfacing that Bradley is on the roster bubble and might need to outshine his competition to secure a roster spot in Kansas City. Because of this fantasy owners have just about stopped drafting Bradley and he has seen a -25 ADP in standard ESPN leagues. Unless you are in a deep, deep league (14+ teams) you can cross Bradley off your cheat sheet.

2. Nate Washington (Tennessee Titans) – Before Washington strained his hamstring he was emerging as a solid under the radar fantasy football option and his ADP was showing a steady increase. That all changed when the Tennessee Titans reported that Washington could miss several weeks with a hamstring strain. With many fantasy owners panicking we saw his ADP drop from 151 overall to 164.5 overall for a grand total of -13.5 ADP. With Washington currently being drafted towards the end of Round 14 in 12-team leagues you still might want to take the gamble on the Titans’ best deep threat option. Another option would be to snag Justin Gage or Kenny Britt late in your draft and keep Washington in queue so you can snag him off waivers once he is healthy enough to produce on your squad.

3. Mark Clayton (Baltimore Ravens) – What a wild two months it’s been for Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Mark Clatyon. Known for being a secondary option behind Derrick Mason in the Baltimore passing game, Clayton was about to become the go-to option after Mason announced his retirement on July 14 of this year.  The unexpected retirement of Mason led to Clayton seeing a instant spike in fantasy value and took him from being a fantasy afterthought to a legitimate threat as a WR4. However the Clayton hype lasted all but three weeks when on August 2nd Mason announced he would return to Baltimore for another season.

Instantly, fantasy football owners reversed their opinion on Clayton and his ADP has shown a rapid decline ever since. By the end of July, Clayton was owned in just about 75-percent of leagues and had an Average Draft Position of 120. Fast forward one month and Clayton has seen his draft spot slip to 180 and has a -10.4 ADP drop over the last seven days. Factor in a hamstring issues for the fifth year veteran out of Oklahoma and you have yourself a player to avoid on draft day.

4. Michael Crabtree (San Francisco 49ers) – It’s obvious as to why Crabtree’s ADP is seeing a consistent plunge week over week. He remains the lone unsigned rookie first rounder and seems to be set on wanting more than the $20 million the 49ers have put on the table. His -3.8 ADP in ESPN drafts has Crabtree sitting at the end of Round 12 in a 12-team league and until he inks the dotted line he remains a risky pick. With 49ers GM Scot McCloughan being confident that Crabtree will sign before the season opener we advise you snag him with your last pick and hope that he can make an impact by mid-season. It’s worth the risk in Round 16-17, but not Round 12 where his current ADP has him going.

Also check out some of our other articles…

Cheat Sheet RANKINGS:  QB | RB | WR | TE | K | DEF

See More ‘09 BUSTS:  QB | RB | WR | TE | K | DEF

See More ‘09 SLEEPERS:  QB | RB | WR | TE | K | DEF

 

Fantasy Football Expert League Draft: Round Six Results

It is time ladies and gentlemen of Bruno Boys Nation to introduce you to the fantasy draft that tops all fantasy drafts. Yes, folks, we’ve saved the best for last: the Bruno Boys Fantasy Football Expert League Draft.

We’ve searched the nation far and wide to gather the best fantasy football experts out there. After all, if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best.

These guys and gal don’t fool around, it’s strictly business, and with that in mind, we’re jumping right into the ROUND SIX results of the Bruno Boys Fantasy Football Expert League Draft.

Below, check out to see how Round Six played out in the Bruno Boys Fantasy Football Expert League Draft which was played out at MyFantasyLeague.com. The scoring system is “standard” scoring and each team starts 1 QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 K, 1 DEF.

 

2009 Bruno Boys Expert League Draft – Round 6 Results

6.01   Fantasy Football Xtreme: Matt Ryan (Atl)

6.02   Bruno Boys Fantasy Football: Antonio Gates (SD)

6.03   Owner’s Edge/Fan Ball: Cedric Benson (Cin)
6.04   FantasyFootball.com: Lance Moore (NO)
6.05   Roto World: Antonio Bryant (TB)
6.06   Roto Wire: Derrick Ward (TB)
6.07   Yahoo!: Felix Jones (Dal)
6.08   Athlon/Grogan Fantasy Football: Tony Gonzalez
6.09   Fantasy Pros 911: Matt Schaub (Hou)
6.10   Fantasy Sharks: Dallas Clark (Ind)
6.11   Fantasy Football Librarian: Reggie Bush (NO)
6.12   RapidDraft.com:  Torry Holt (Jax)

 

Bruno Boys Fantasy Football Pick

With pick No. 62 overall and San Diego Chargers’ tight end Antonio Gates still sitting on the board, it’s a no-brainer for us here. Many might think it wise to grab our starting quarterback instead, but the depth at the QB slot is much greater than that at TE.

After all, with Jason Witten already off the board, Gates and Tony Gonzalez are the only elite tight ends remaining who we feel can act as a low end WR2 despite being in the TE slot.

Were we to pass on a tight end here, we’d be left with a Tier 2 or Tier 3 type player manning the position.

 

Round Six Notes

Round Six definitely has some picks worth noting. For starters, there is Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ wide receiver Antonio Bryant.

The fact that Bryant, who had over 1,200 receiving yards and seven TDs in 2008 for 157 fantasy points, good for 8th among wide receivers, is not going until round six demonstrates the fears fantasy owners have for him for 2009, namely arising from poor quarterback play in Tampa and a torn meniscus suffered in the pre-season.

Matt Schaub is another noteworthy selection here. Schaub, who is now the 11th quarterback taken off the board, is definitely a man with upside, especially when you consider the fact that he has Andre Johnson, Kevin Walter, and Owen Daniels to throw to.

If Schaub stays healthy, he easily becomes a steal here as he has the potential and supporting cast needed to be a top five fantasy QB.

Finally, there’s Reggie Bush. Routinely an early round selection in year’s past, Bush wasn’t even the first back from the New Orleans Saints selected in this draft.

In fact, it wasn’t even close as Pierre Thomas went a full 52 slots ahead of Bush. Yes, Bruno Boys Nation, the Reggie Bush hype has officially flat-lined.

Past Rounds RECAP:  1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly: Preseason QBs (Weed Three)

Though preseason games often are not the most accurate indicators for regular season success, the third week of the preseason offers us the best chance to see how players are doing before the regular season begins as teams play their starters for long periods of time, often into the third quarter.

Compare that to the fourth and final week of the preseason in which most of the starters hit the bench early, and it’s easy to see the importance that the third week of the preseason holds.

For quarterbacks, it’s especially important because it gives them time to adapt to the flow of the game, something which may not happen in any of the other preseason games. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the Good, the Bad and the Ugly quarterbacks from the third week of the preseason. Apparently, there wasn’t much pass defense played because there are a lot more good quarterbacks than bad and ugly ones this week.

THE GOOD

Tom Brady (New England Patriots) – Brady played for a while against the Washington Redskins and he played well as he finished 12-for-19 for 150 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Watching the Patriots offense led by Brady against the Redskins evoked memories of the 2007 New England team, when Brady broke the passing touchdowns record.

One thing to note was that for as well as Brady played, he did take a nasty hit from Washington defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, who wrapped Brady up and took the pile to the ground where Brady’s right shoulder was the first thing to hit. The Patriots say Brady’s fine and it’s no big deal, but we have seen too many quarterbacks suffer from shoulder injuries sustained on similar hits, so be sure to check the injury updates, as well as see how Brady does in the final week of the preseason if he plays.

Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints) – Though it came against the Oakland Raiders, Brees and the Saints offense was nearly flawless in the third week of the preseason. Brees finished 14-for-17 for 179 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.

It should also be noted that Brees accomplished all of that on just three possessions. Oh yeah, and the Saints’ top two running backs, Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush, did not play in the game.

Not that we expected any less of Brees, but to see him and the Saints offense firing on all cylinders is great and just confirms that Brees is in fact the top fantasy quarterback this season.

Jason Campbell (Washington Redskins) – After a downright atrocious performance last week, Campbell rebounded well and displayed the great potential we’ve known he has with a good game against the Patriots. Campbell went 13-for-22 for 209 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.

He was in complete control of the offense and made some really great passes while leading the Redskins on some scoring drives. As it remains, however, Campbell needs to prove he can be consistently good on a weekly basis for him to ever become more than a spot starter in fantasy football.

Daunte Culpepper and Matt Stafford (Detroit Lions) – Culpepper started the game, but both quarterbacks played against the Colts’ first team defense, and both of them did well. Culpepper finished 7-for-12 for 67 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions and Stafford was 13-for-19 for 160 yards with one interception and no touchdowns.

Stafford’s interception came at the very end of the second quarter when the Lions were trying to heave the ball downfield, hoping for a touchdown. Other than that, Stafford was actually pretty impressive as he made some throws that not many other quarterbacks in the NFL can make.

Joe Flacco (Baltimore Ravens) – If there was one performance that stuck out above the rest, it would be Flacco against the Carolina Panthers. Flacco was composed in the pocket despite facing a heavy pass rush and it showed as he finished 23-for-28 for 247 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions.

Flacco led the Ravens on multiple scoring drives, and the throws he made were very impressive, especially his touchdown pass to Todd Heap that beat double coverage in the corner of the end zone. Flacco has clearly grown a lot since last season, when he was playing not to lose.

Matt Hasselbeck (Seattle Seahawks) – Hasselbeck has shown no signs of being slowed down by the back injury that sidelined him during parts of last season. Against the Chiefs, Hasselbeck finished 19-for-25 for 216 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.

Hasselbeck was extremely precise with the ball and spread it around to multiple receivers. From what we’ve seen in the preseason, it appears you can forget about 2008 and go back to valuing Hasselbeck the way he once was, which is as a fantasy football starter. He certainly could finish among the top 10 quarterbacks this season.

Peyton Manning (Indianapolis Colts) – There’s really not much to say here. Against the Lions, Manning was 12-for-15 for 123 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. The turnover in the coaching staff does not appear to have affected Manning that much, and if you watched this game you would’ve seen how powerless the Lions were in trying to stop the Colts.

It also appears as if Manning is going to find Dallas Clark often this year. Clark is a matchup nightmare because he can play tight end or slot receiver, and it seems he always is able to exploit huge holes in coverage. Either way, Manning was great again and has proven his value as a top three fantasy quarterback.

Donovan McNabb (Philadelphia Eagles) – McNabb played for a while against the Jaguars, and he played well as he finished 21-for-36 for 244 yards with one touchdown and one interception. It was important to see this out of McNabb this week because he’ll probably play just one series in the final week of the preseason.

However, as well as McNabb played it was his comments after the game that seemed odd. Backup Michael Vick was rotated in for McNabb at times during the game, and McNabb was not too happy in the postgame press conference.

McNabb suggested Vick’s presence was merely a gimmick and that McNabb needed more time with the offense to establish a rhythm. He has since deflected talk of him being unhappy with the situation, but it remains something to keep your eye on once Vick does return from his suspension in the regular season.

Chad Pennington (Miami Dolphins) – Pennington continued his good play during the preseason as he finished 9-for-16 for 128 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions against Tampa Bay. It was a game where defense was supreme and Pennington accounted for the only touchdown on a two-yard pass to tight end Anthony Fasano.

While Pennington played well, backup Chad Henne struggled as he was 2-for-5 for 55 yards with one interception and no touchdowns. It’s been rumored that Henne would take over for Pennington at some point this season, but if Pennington continues to play well then there would be no reason for a switch. And, so far, Pennington has played pretty well.

Brady Quinn (Cleveland Browns) – In the closest quarterback competition of the preseason, Quinn once again took a slight edge over Derek Anderson. Anderson, also, played well against the Titans as he finished 7-for-11 for 77 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions, but it was Quinn that stuck out. Quinn finished 11-for-15 for 128 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions.

Quinn led the Browns on consecutive scoring drives—their first two of the game as well—and displayed not only great accuracy with the ball, but also some good arm strength. Quinn’s touchdown pass was a 20-yard strike to Braylon Edwards on a post where Quinn fit the ball perfectly between the corner and the safety and right onto Edwards’ numbers.

Philip Rivers (San Diego Chargers) – Despite not having running back LaDanian Tomlinson or tight end Antonio Gates on the field, Rivers excelled again, this time throwing for 185 yards and a touchdown on 10-for-15 passing against the Falcons. Rivers led the Chargers on scoring drives on two of their first three possessions.

To be fair, Rivers’ touchdown pass came on a screen play to Michael Bennett where Bennett did most of the work. However, watch the rest of Rivers’ completions from the game and you’ll see how good he was with the football. He has cemented his status as a top five fantasy quarterback.

Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers) – Rodgers and the Packers offense has been awesome thus far in the preseason and the third week proved to be no different. Rodgers finished 14-for-19 for 258 yards with three touchdowns against the Arizona Cardinals.

Rodgers was nothing less than great in this game, and it just goes to show how much he has improved over last year. From watching the game against the Cardinals and how well Rodgers played, it’s a wonder how any of his passes go incomplete in the first place. He is just that good.

Mark Sanchez (New York Jets) – It was Sanchez’s first start since being named the starter, and he made head coach Rex Ryan’s decision look good. Against a very good New York Giants’ defense, Sanchez finished 13-for-20 for 149 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions.

His touchdown came on a 31-yard pass to Chansi Stuckey where Sanchez evaded three New York defenders, then hit Stuckey on the sideline. After catching it, Stuckey made an incredible play to get in the end zone, but it was impressive to see Sanchez avoid a blitz and still throw a good pass.

THE BAD

Trent Edwards (Buffalo Bills) – So much for Edwards and the offense progressing with each game. Against the Steelers, Edwards finished 6-for-13 for 31 yards with one interception and no touchdowns. Pittsburgh is a tough defense no matter how you slice it, but Edwards and the Bills first-team offense needed a better performance than that.

Buffalo was still without Terrell Owens, who missed his third consecutive game with a toe injury, but that should be no excuse for Edwards.

Kyle Orton (Denver Broncos) – Putting Orton under “the Bad” category may seem weird considering he completed 12 of his 16 attempts for 96 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. But, Orton only managed to lead Denver to one scoring drive—a field goal—on six different possessions. To make matters worse, he apparently broke a finger on his throwing hand.

The Broncos didn’t acknowledge that it was broken or say how long he may be out, but the injury to Orton leaves the Broncos with rookie Tom Brandstater as their top, healthy quarterback.

Byron Leftwich, Luke McCown, and Josh Freeman (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) – The Buccaneers quarterbacks are all in a competition for the starting job and yet none of them played well enough against the Dolphins to separate himself from the others. Byron Leftwich was just 9-for-17 for 100 yards, Luke McCown was 5-for-11 for 38 yards and rookie Josh Freeman was 6-for-16 for 50 yards, and none of the three had a touchdown.

Leftwich overthrew an open receiver in the end zone, and while he may have been named the starter by coach Raheem Morris over McCown and Freeman in the quarterback competition, that spot is not by any means secure.

Vince Young (Tennessee Titans) – Young had some good and some bad against the Browns. He finished 17-for-24 for 174 yards with one touchdown and one interception, which would look good to somebody who only took a quick glance at the box score.

What you may have missed is Young fumbling away the ball on Clevelands’ one-yard line and later throwing a pick-six to a backup linebacker.

THE UGLY

Matt Cassel (Kansas City Chiefs) – It’s tough to grade Cassel’s performance in this game because he didn’t attempt a pass. Cassel left the game after suffering what the team is calling an MCL sprain. If that’s in fact what the injury is, then Cassel should miss anywhere from 2-4 weeks and avoid surgery.

The rumor going around Monday afternoon was that Cassel will miss the first game of the regular season, so if you have him as your starter be prepared to use your backup.

Shaun Hill (San Francisco 49ers) – It’s a good thing Hill was named the starter last week because he played even worse this week than he did in the second preseason game. Against the Cowboys, Hill finished 9-for-17 for 79 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. That’s right, Hill played into the third quarter and only managed to complete nine passes for 79 yards. That equates to 4.9 average yards per attempt. If that’s not ugly, then we don’t know what is.

Eli Manning (New York Giants) – Whether he was feeling bad about the Plaxico Burress decision or he was daydreaming at participating in the ODSRL (Oreo Double Stuff Racing League), Manning was not in the game at all against the Jets. Manning finished 9-for-21 for 91 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

Manning constantly overthrew his receivers and even when they could get their hands on the ball, it seemed they would drop it.

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*THIS ARTICLE WAS WRITTEN BY BRUNO BOY CORY STEGER. FOR MORE FANTASY FOOTBALL INSIGHT AND ADVICE, CLICK THE LINK BELOW.*

BRUNO BOYS FANTASY FOOTBALL

Fantasy Football Expert League Draft: Round Five Results

It is time ladies and gentlemen of Bruno Boys Nation to introduce you to the fantasy draft that tops all fantasy drafts. Yes, folks, we’ve saved the best for last—the Bruno Boys Fantasy Football Expert League Draft.

We’ve searched the nation far and wide to gather the best fantasy football experts out there. After all, if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. These guys and gal don’t fool around. It’s strictly business, and with that in mind, we’re jumping right into the ROUND Five results of the Bruno Boys Fantasy Football Expert League Draft.

Below, check out to see how Round Five played out in the Bruno Boys Fantasy Football Expert League Draft which was played out at MyFantasyLeague.com. The scoring system is “standard” scoring and each team starts one QB, two RBs, three WRs, one TE, one K, and one DEF.

2009 Bruno Boys Expert League Draft – Round Five Results

5.01   RapidDraft.com:  Santonio Holmes (Pit)
5.02   Fantasy Football Librarian: Donovan McNabb (Phi)
5.03   Fantasy Sharks: Roy Williams (Dal)
5.04   Fantasy Pros 911: Larry Johnson (KC)
5.05   Athlon/Grogan Fantasy Football: Jay Cutler (Chi)
5.06   Yahoo!: Tony Romo (Dal)
5.07   Roto Wire: Jonathan Stewart (Car)
5.08   Roto World: Lee Evans (Buf)
5.09   FantasyFootball.com: Anthony Gonzalez (Ind)
5.10   Owner’s Edge/Fan Ball: Marshawn Lynch (Buf)

5.11   Bruno Boys Fantasy Football: Thomas Jones (NYJ)

5.12   Fantasy Football Xtreme: Ray Rice (Bal)

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Bruno Boys Fantasy Football Pick: With the 59th overall pick we debated on grabbing our WR3, RB3 or targeting one of the top three TE’s but ultimately felt it was best to snag a running back to add depth and protect our selection of Knowshon Moreno in the fourth round.

All along we had hoped that Marshawn Lynch would fall to us at 5.11 but he was taken by Owners Edge/Fan Ball just one pick before us at 5.10.

Still sticking true to our plan we opted for one the most controversial running backs of the preseason in Thomas Jones of the New York Jets. Despite being a top-five running back last season, many fantasy football owners’ are writing off Jones’ and thinking he will be a BUST in 2009.

Trust us we aren’t expecting Jones to repeat his 2008 season. In fact we ranked him as a Pepto BUST pick entering the season, but we felt it was good value at the end of the fifth round and when the matchup is right the veteran will be a solid option.

Past Rounds RECAP:  1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15

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*THIS ARTICLE WAS WRITTEN BY BRUNO BOY CAVIGS. FOR MORE FANTASY FOOTBALL INSIGHT AND ADVICE, CLICK THE LINK BELOW.*

BRUNO BOYS FANTASY FOOTBALL

ADP Watch: Rising Fantasy Football Wide Receivers (8/31)

With the third week of the NFL preseason action coming to a close tonight, when Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings take on the Houston Texans, more and more is becoming clear in the world of the NFL.

Position battles are winding down, game plans are coming to light, and rosters are being whittled down—all of which is crucial for fantasy owners to pay attention to as it will have an effect on players’ draft value.

Speaking of draft value, it’s time to jump in and see what wide receivers have risen up in the ESPN draft boards over the past seven days, leading to a rise in their ADP (Average Draft Position).

 

1. Hakeen Nicks (New York Giants)

After the New York Giants parted ways with both Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer this offseason, fantasy owners knew that the door was opened for one of the Giants’ young wide receivers to become a fantasy player in 2009.

The only problem owners had was identifying which wide receiver would capitalize. While it was originally assumed the Burress’ role would fall to Domenik Hixon and Toomer’s to Steve Smith, Hakeem Nicks’ strong play this preseason has again muddled the water.

Following an outing in which he caught six passes for 144 yards and two TDs against the New York Jets, it’s no surprise the rookie wide out has seen a rise of +7.6 ADP slots. Nicks may not yet own Burress’ starting spot, but he’s definitely closed the gap between himself and Hixon and could by season’s end prove to be the Giants’ top fantasy wide out.

 

2. Derrick Mason (Baltimore Ravens)

After pulling a Brett Favre earlier this offseason by retiring and then unretiring, Derrick Mason may have somewhat alienated fantasy owners. After all, Mason’s waffling had to at least cause some concern regarding his desire to play the game. Why else would fantasy owners avoid gambling on Mason? I mean, it’s not like the guy hasn’t produced of late. In both 2007 and 2008, Mason compiled at least 1,000 receiving yards and five TDs.

However, with Mason still plugging along, it appears many owners’ concerns have been appeased as Mason experienced a rise of +5.1 ADP slots this past week. The vet may lack the upside of other low-end WR3 and high-end WR4 candidates, but he will be steady for your squad if you take him.

 

3. Eddie Royal (Denver Broncos)

While Eddie Royal deserves some credit for his rise of +4.4 ADP slots this past week, as he continues to impress with his preseason play (13 catches for 134 yards), it would be foolish not to recognize the real reason Royal has gained fantasy owners’ favor—Brandon Marshall’s troubles.

In the latest chapter to the Marshall saga, the wide receiver was suspended by the Denver Broncos for the remainder of the preseason. And, if the Jay Cutler saga taught us anything, it’s that the Broncos would rather part ways with a star player than play the role of the apologetic boss. In the end, though, it doesn’t matter whether Marshall dons the Broncos uniform or not this season, because either way, Royal should post strong fantasy numbers.

Not only does the new coaching staff want to get him heavily involved in the offense, but with Marshall’s absence during the preseason, Royal has already become the favorite target of new quarterback, Kyle Orton. Royal is WR2 type material.

 

4. Antonio Bryant (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

The rise of +4.1 ADP slots over the past week is new territory for Antonio Bryant as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ wide receiver has seen his draft value drop this whole offseason—partly due to a horrendous quarterback situation in Tampa Bay and partly due to a tear in his meniscus.

Bryant, though, returned to practice today and should be set to go for Week One of the regular season. That news has been enough to lead some owners to take a gamble on Bryant as a WR3, which isn’t a bad spot to grab him as he is coming off a year in which he went for 1,248 yards and seven TDs; however, with Byron Leftwich under center, taking him any sooner would be ill advised.

 

5. Braylon Edwards (Cleveland Browns)

Braylon Edwards is an intriguing option to fantasy owners as we head towards 2009. Sure, he was one of the biggest busts in 2008, but the wide out has shown he can be a fantasy beast with his 16 TDs in 2007. So, what can we expect for this year?

Well, Edwards recently hauled in three catches for 51 yards and a score in the Cleveland Browns’ latest preseason affair versus the Tennessee Titans. A performance many owners have taken as a sign that Edwards is ready to bounce back, a point made evident by his rise of +3.8 ADP slots over the past week.

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*THIS ARTICLE WRITTEN BY BRUNO BOY MIKE WHOOLEY. FOR MORE FANTASY FOOTBALL INSIGHT AND ADVICE, CLICK THE LINK BELOW.*

BRUNO BOYS FANTASY FOOTBALL

Fantasy Football News and Notes for Aug. 27

With fantasy football teams being drafted daily, fantasy owners are either watching the third week of preseason games to scout players we might want to draft or we are holding our breath, praying that we do not lose any players we have already drafted to injury before the regular season even starts.

Whether you are scouting players to draft or keeping an eye on ones that you have drafted, the Bruno Boys are always here to keep you up-to-date on the latest news around the NFL. As you take a break from the always updating 2009 Bruno Boys Fantasy Football Cheat Sheets Webazine, please enjoy this week’s edition of Fantasy Football Impact: NFL News and Notes, where we will touch on Philip Rivers’ contract extension, injuries to several fantasy starters and a few rookies making headlines.

 

Rivers gets contract extension from San Diego

Philip Rivers and Eli Manning will forever be linked. The two were part of a huge draft-day trade in 2004 when the San Diego Chargers drafted Manning with the No. 1 overall pick and then traded him to the New York Giants for Rivers, who was taken with the No. 4 overall pick.

They are once again linked, as Rivers recently signed a six-year contract extension very similar to the six-year extension Manning signed with the Giants earlier this month. Rivers’ contract is worth a total of $93 million, which is slightly less then the $97 million Manning got. Rivers’ deal has $38 million guaranteed, though, while Manning’s only had $35 million guaranteed.

This is an excellent move for the Chargers, as they keep their elite-level quarterback happy. From a fantasy standpoint, this is a good thing as well. Rivers can now concentrate on improving upon his career-best numbers from 2008, when he passed for 4,009 yards with a league-high 34 touchdowns and only 11 interceptions.

Rivers is the No. 4 ranked quarterback by the Bruno Boys, and he is a high-end QB1 option in all fantasy football formats.

 

Roethlisberger returns to practice after injuring foot

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger returned to practice Tuesday after a foot injury forced him to miss the team’s second preseason game against the Washington Redskins. His foot was stepped on by an offensive lineman trying to block the defending defensive player of the year James Harrison during the team’s last practice session of training camp.

During Tuesday’s practice Roethlisberger took part in individual drills most of the day before taking snaps under center during the final series of practice. He is expected to play in the Steelers’ third preseason game against the Buffalo Bills Saturday night, and it appears that Roethlisberger will be ready to start the regular season. He is ranked No. 14 in the current Bruno Boys Quarterback Rankings and fantasy owners should continue to draft him as a high-end QB2.

 

Panthers’ Williams misses practice Wednesday with sore knee

Carolina Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams missed practice on Wednesday with a sore knee. Panthers head coach John Fox would not say which knee was sore or when the pain started, but the injury does not appear to be serious. Williams rode a stationary bike during practice and was seen joking with teammates.

Keep an eye on this situation, but it appears safe to continue to draft Williams in the first round of all upcoming drafts. He had a breakout year in 2008, when he had 273 carries for 1,515 yards and 20 total touchdowns (18 rushing), and he is currently the No. 7-ranked running back by the Bruno Boys. Unless this injury ends up being worse than initially reported, Williams should make a solid RB1 in fantasy football.

 

Boldin suffers hamstring injury, misses practice

The Arizona Republic has reported that Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Anquan Boldin strained a hamstring during practice on Tuesday. Boldin missed Wednesday’s team practice, but he has not been ruled out of the Cardinals’ third preseason game Friday. Head coach Ken Whisenhunt called it a tweak, but he did say the team would be cautious with the injury, Boldin did miss a playoff game last season with a pulled hamstring.

It sounds as if Boldin won’t play on Friday, but there doesn’t appear to be any concern about his status for the beginning of the season. Continue to draft Boldin as a low-end WR1 in upcoming drafts, he has plenty to play for this season, as he is still seeking a new contract from the Cardinals. He is the No. 10-ranked wide receiver in the Bruno Boys Cheat Sheets.

 

Owens to miss third straight preseason game with toe injury

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Terrell Owens will miss the team’s third straight preseason game after suffering a toe injury during the starting offense’s only series during the Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 9. Owens has been working on footwork and cutting during individual drills during team practices.

Owens seems to be progressing well and it appears that the Bills are being cautious with their prized free agent signing. He is not expected to miss any regular season action at this point and he should continue to be drafted as a high-end WR2 in all formats. Owens is currently ranked No. 12 on the Bruno Boys Wide Receiver Rankings.

 

Rookie Sanchez named starter in New York

New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan officially announced that rookie Mark Sanchez will be the team’s starting quarterback this season.

“I feel the best move for our franchise is to go with Mark Sanchez at quarterback,” Ryan told the Associated Press. He also added that this was solely his decision.

Sanchez was the No. 5 overall pick in this past April’s NFL draft and while struggling at times during the preseason, he has shown enough talent, poise, and leadership to beat out Kellen Clemens for the starting job. Sanchez is the 31st-ranked quarterback by the Bruno Boys and isn’t worth anything more than a late-round flier as a low-end QB2 or QB3 in upcoming drafts. He is a talented quarterback definitely worth keeping on eye on for this season and the future.

 

Crabtree still unsigned, Coffee excels in preseason

While rookie wide receiver Michael Crabtree continues his hold out, another 49er rookie has impressed coaches, fans, and fantasy football owners alike. Crabtree was expected to be one of the top rookies in the NFL this season as well as a potential fantasy football standout, but he continues to hold out, and his rookie season is already in jeopardy.

While Crabtree is wasting precious time sitting out, rookie running back Glenn Coffee has been very impressive in the 49ers’ first two preseason games. Coffee followed up his 14-carry, 67-yard performance against the Denver Broncos in Week One of the preseason with a 16-carry, 129-yard performance against the Oakland Raiders in Week Two.

While Crabtree’s fantasy football value for the 2009 season is plummeting, Coffee’s name is starting to heat up in fantasy football conversation. Don’t get carried away with Coffee’s preseason performance, though. Frank Gore is the 49ers starting running back and he is one of the league’s best, but Coffee has shown enough to earn himself a fantasy football roster spot as a RB4 or RB5. He is also a recommended handcuff for Gore owners.

Crabtree, on the other hand, is just about out of fantasy value this year; his rookie season is in serious jeopardy, and he is only worth a late-round flier in leagues with deep rosters.

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*THIS ARTICLE WRITTEN BY BRUNO BOY LARRY JOSEPH. FOR MORE FANTASY FOOTBALL INSIGHT AND ADVICE, CLICK THE LINK BELOW.*

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Fantasy Football ADP Watch: Falling Running Backs

With the season rapidly approaching, Bruno Boys Nation is starving for knowledge and I (Bruno Boys Ziza) am here to oblige. Leading up to Week 1, I will be tackling the weekly running back risers and fallers for ESPN live draft ADP (Average Draft Position).

This week in the fallers, we tackle Shonn Greene (-8.4), Correll Buckhalter (-6.7), Michael Bush (-4.4), Reggie Bush (-2.1) and Darren McFadden (-1.6). I will be breaking down these players and giving the reasoning of why I believe or don’t believe that the movement is justifiable.

Shonn Greene (New York Jets) – Shonn Greene’s value has dived this week, dropping -8.4 APD spots due to both a rib injury, which has kept him off of the field as well as added suspicion that Thomas Jones and Leon Washington will be getting most of the touches because Greene may still be a little green (no pun intended).

He does have talent and could have some value if one of the two goes down with injury; however, until then he has virtually no fantasy value this season. Draft him late in drafts or in keeper/dynasty leagues.

Correll Buckhalter (Denver Broncos) – In a mild head scratcher, Correll Buckhalter of the Denver Broncos has dropped -6.7 ADP spots in ESPN drafts this past week. He is a player that was already being drafted near the end of drafts so the fall is somewhat confusing as he possesses a unique feature that you don’t find much at the end of the draft—potential value.

With Knowshon Moreno banged up and the other major competition being Lamont Jordan, Buckhalter still has a shot at being a solid RB4/RB5. If you are one that follows ADP (average draft position), don’t believe what you are seeing. His value is not dropping all of a sudden. In fact, it is on the verge of going up.

Michael Bush (Oakland Raiders) – This week Michael Bush slid -4.4 ADP spots yet still remains in the hunt for some playing time in the Oakland Raiders’ rotation. While I fully expect Darren McFadden to be the starter, Justin Fargas is dealing with a strained hamstring which should allow Bush to see more action.

If Fargas’ hammy continues to give him problems to start the season, Bush could have some fantasy value; albeit minimal at best. Bush remains a low-end pick later in your fantasy football drafts.

Reggie Bush (New Orleans Saints) – While not a huge drop, -2.1 ADP spots for Reggie Bush who is coming off the board at the 67.7 position may see his value dip more leading into the season. Bush, who already will be sharing his playing time with Pierre Thomas now has Mike Bell to contend with as well.

If the New Orleans Saints do decide to utilize three running backs throughout the season the affect could be the same as we had seen with the Baltimore Ravens last year—inconsistent weeks, a lot of disappointment and indecisiveness.

Do yourself a favor; unless Bush drops far enough in your draft to make it a no-brainer, let him be someone else’s problem.

Darren McFadden (Oakland Raiders) – Darren McFadden remains one of the more intriguing running backs heading into fantasy football drafts. You will be able to grab him at a spot that very well could be below what he will produce this year.

But, with all the crap that is once again brewing around the Oakland Raiders organization, people seem to be souring on all of their players. That is to be expected, and that is good for you if you are the one that ends up with McFadden.

I expect nothing lower than RB2 numbers from McFadden and that is the lowest of the low. He has the potential to jump into low-end RB1, high-end RB2 in deeper leagues. Don’t worry at all about the -1.6 ADP spot dip this week.

*THIS ARTICLE WRITTEN BY BRUNO BOY CHRIS ZIZA. FOR MORE FANTASY FOOTBALL INSIGHT AND ADVICE, CLICK THE LINK BELOW.*

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The Good, the Bad, the Ugly: Preseason WRs (Week Two)

The anticipation emanating throughout the country is so thick, even a psychic from a 1-900 number could sense it. The NFL season is creeping ever so languidly towards us, and in just over two weeks, the fantasy football that goes with it will be in full effect. But until then, we have to live through the exhibitions that make up the preseason.

So, we might as well make some use out of it and try to prepare evermore for the fantasy season. As such, we’ll go around last week’s games and take a peek at “the good, the bad, and the ugly” from the wide receiver position.

THE GOOD

Chris Henry (Cin) – Fantastic in the Bengals first preseason game, Henry followed with another very solid outing in their captivating, heart-stopping win over the Patriots by the score of 7-6.

Okay, that last part about the game may have been a bit of hyperbole, but the part about Henry’s strong play is not. He caught four passes for 55 yards in the contest, and in the first two preseason games, Henry has a total of 11 catches for 155 yards and two scores. Can you say sleeper?

Laurent Robinson (StL) – Robinson has entrenched himself as a starter opposite Donnie Avery in the Rams’ offense. He caught five passes for 65 yards in the team’s loss to Atlanta this week, and has 117 receiving yards this preseason.

He’s big (6-foot-2) and has excellent speed, and though the Rams’ offense is too sketchy for fantasy owners to count on Robinson on a weekly basis, there may be something there depending on the match-up.

Troy Williamson (Jax) – Maybe the former No. 7 overall pick of the Vikings and big-time bust Williamson should pretend every game he plays is of the preseason variety. Because he shined once again, with three catches for nearly 150 yards and a touchdown just one week after a four-catch, 74-yard performance.

Marques Colston (NO) – Colston had six catches for 66 yards in New Orleans’ 38-14 win last week over Houston. The fourth-year pro is one of the steadier wide outs in the league when healthy, which he is this season, and reportedly looking as good as ever.

T.J. Houshmandzadeh (Sea) – Another steady presence, Houshmandzadeh made just a single catch for five yards in Week 1 of the preseason, but with more playing time in Week 2, snagged five passes for 41 yards and a score.

THE BAD

Percy Harvin (Min) – Everyone seems to think Harvin is the bees’ knees (which is a wholly underutilized phrase, by the way), but the fact is he’s been highly injury-prone, and indeed missed the team’s first preseason game, though it was said to be precautionary. He came back last week, and with all that explosiveness everyone raved about, caught two passes…for nine yards.

Devin Thomas (Was) – Thomas was a disappointment last season, and he’s falling behind fellow second-year player Malcolm Kelly this preseason. Thomas had one catch for seven yards last week, and has just two receptions for 19 yards in the first two preseason games.

Devin Hester (Chi) – Hester had a so-so initial preseason contest, but still gained just 22 yards on two catches, and last week, he had two more catches, but for only 14 yards. Hopefully the Bears are saving the deep routes for the season, as it seems a waste to ignore Hester’s speed and Cutler’s big arm.

Early Doucet (Ari) – It may be unfair to put Doucet here, as he just returned from a bum shoulder, but that’s part of the problem, as the former third-round pick also battled injuries last season. Doucet had one catch for four yards last week, and needs to stay healthy and step up so he doesn’t get buried on the Cardinals deep depth chart at wide out.

Kenny Britt (Ten) – One week after a promising performance against Tampa Bay that saw Britt snare five passes for 89 yards and a touchdown, the Titans’ first-round pick produced all of one catch for zero yards against Dallas. Such is life with rookie wide outs oftentimes, and especially on a team that features the run over the pass.

THE UGLY

Brandon Marshall (Den) – Marshall is suffering from something, either a hip injury, a lack of knowledge of the playbook or both, but he didn’t even make the trip to Seattle last week for the game, and may not play this week either. Color him red, as in red flags. They’re flying all around him this preseason.

Ted Ginn Jr. (Mia) – After catching just one pass for 14 yards in Miami’s first preseason game, Ginn went out and put up a goose egg last week, failing to catch a single pass. Many fantasy owners like him as somewhat of a sleeper this season, but as a former top-10 pick going into his third year, shouldn’t he be more established?

Miles Austin (Dal) – Austin has yet to catch a single pass this preseason, having been shut out each of the first two weeks. It’s not that he’s hurt, and there’s some speculation that his lack of production is because the Cowboys don’t want to show teams what they’ll do as far as throwing the ball deep, which is where Austin is best utilized. Still, it’s a concern.

Sinorice Moss (NYG) – With the stable of high and mid-round picks at the Giants’ disposal, someone may get left out, and that someone may be Moss. He had one catch for nine yards in Week One of the preseason, and followed that up last week with another one-catch performance, this time gathering just three feet in the process. No, that was not a typo, he moved the ball three feet, as in one yard, with his catch.

Darrius Heyward-Bey (Oak) – There has been a rookie whose looked pretty good this preseason for the Raiders. His name is Louis Murphy. Heyward-Bey, the No. 7 overall pick, on the other hand, has one catch for seven yards, and that came in the first preseason game. He was shut out of the stat sheet in Week Two.

 

*THIS ARTICLE WRITTEN BY BRUNO BOY KYLE SMITH. FOR MORE FANTASY FOOTBALL INSIGHT AND ADVICE, CLICK THE LINK BELOW.*

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The Good, the Bad, the Ugly: Preseason RBs (Week Two)

We’re half way through the preseason and as everyone knows Week Two and Week Three are prime weeks to get good looks at lot of the players you will be drafting in your fantasy football leagues.

You still have to keep in mind that it’s the preseason, but you can get a good sneak peak at what to expect with most teams playing their starters for the first half in Week Two and Week Three of the preseason…Let’s take a look at “the good, the bad and the ugly” running backs from the second week of the preseason.

THE GOOD

Michael Turner (Atlanta Falcons) – Just like in Week One, Turner the Burner was able to score and put up a 40-yard scamper. As I said last week, he needs to slow down and save those scores for when they matter on your fantasy team.

Everything seems to be good to go with Turner, and while it remains to be seen if the 370 curse will plague him this year, there’s no signs yet to pass up on this guy with your first-round pick.

James Davis (Clevland Browns) – Jamal Lewis isn’t getting any younger, and the Cleveland Browns may have found his predecessor in James Davis. Against the Detroit Lions last week, Davis rattled off 116 yards (one on an 81-yard run) on 12 carries and found the end zone. His counterpart, Lewis, also hit pay dirt, but only notched 23 yards on seven carries.

Let’s not kid ourselves; Lewis will be the featured back to start the season. But Davis is somebody to keep on your radar as a possible waiver wire pickup in case something happens to Lewis. It was an encouraging effort by Davis last week, but Lewis should still see the bulk of the carries.

Ryan Grant (Green Bay Packers) – Here’s a guy I’m sure a lot of you out there have been following closely during the offseason and training camp. Will we see the 2007 Ryan Grant or the 2008 version? In Week Two vs. the Buffalo Bills, Grant rushed for 43 yards on 10 carries with a touchdown.

An extraordinary performance? Of course not, but how many of those do you see in preseason action? At the same time, it wasn’t a poor performance either. Maybe getting into the endzone will give this guy some confidence.

Keep in mind; this is his backfield right now. You won’t be getting a stud if you draft him, but you will be getting somebody will see the bulk of the workload in arguably the NFC’s best offense.

Javon Ringer (Tennessee Titans) – Two weeks in a row now Javon Ringer has looked impressive. Last week against the Dallas Cowboys, it seemed like the Cowboys were having a real hard time bringing him down. On paper, his outing doesn’t look that great (five carries, 33 yards).

I’m a little surprised that Jeff Fisher only gave him five carries since Chris Johnson nor Lendale White weren’t getting involved much. Nevertheless, when you see Ringer busting through the line, he looks like a force to be reckoned with. Unfortunately, with the tandem of Johnson and White still in tact, Ringer will most likely have little draft value in 2009. You might want to take his name down for 2010, though.

Glen Coffee (San Francisco 49ers) – Talk about a guy who’s taking advantage of playing time. Preseason games or not, Glen Coffee has been very impressive for the San Francisco 49ers. He racked up 129 yards rushing on 16 attempts, including a 35-yard rush against the Oakland Raiders.

I said it last week and I’m saying it again right now—keep a close eye on him because if Frank Gore gets hurt again, I would highly consider taking the risk of picking up Coffee of the wire. Something to keep in mind for the final two preseason games is the fact that the Niners head to Dallas and San Diego.

There’s a good chance Coffee may not have as much luck against those imposing defenses, but I think he’s already left his mark for what he’s capable of. 

Matt Forte (Chicago Bears) – The New York Giants’ defense is dealing with a little bit of the injury bug right now, but still, Matt Forte put up an impressive 58 yards on nine carries with a touchdown against one of the league’s top-ranked defenses. Forte also posted a 32-yard run.

I ranked this performance in the “Good” category especially because there’s been some doubt about Forte with the minor injury at camp and the talk about the sophomore jinx. I wouldn’t worry about that minor injury now, and I especially wouldn’t worry about the supposed sophomore jinx. He’s a top-five draft pick.

THE BAD

LeSean McCoy (Philadelphia Eagles) – I thought this guy was great after Week One. After Week Two, the rookie came back down to Earth. Against the Indianapolis Colts last week, LeSean McCoy was only able to muster four yards rushing on five carries.

I don’t think five carries is really enough to judge how somebody does in a game, and that game shouldn’t take away from the role he could play in the Philadelphia Eagles’ offense. I would put McCoy in the same category as Glen Coffee.

McCoy has great potential and just needs Brian Westbrook to go down with one of his predictable injuries and he could be a nice asset to your fantasy football team as a waiver wire pickup. This guy may get drafted in deeper leagues, but in my opinion only take that chance if you drafted Westbrook earlier. 

Steven Jackson (St. Louis Rams) – Donnie Avery is hurt. Marc Bulger is hurt. Steven Jackson has a history of being hurt. The St. Louis Rams just can’t keep their players off the medical tables. Jackson is healthy right now, but the lack of a decent passing attack could possibly hurt his fantasy value.

Last week against the Atlanta Falcons, Jackson tallied 10 yards on three carries. He only got the ball three times because of course the Rams can’t risk their cornerstone going down again. In the regular season, however, they will have no choice but to feed the ball to him constantly.

That sounds great, but as long as Bulger and Avery are hurt, defenses will only have to keep their eyes on Jackson. In addition, the more Jackson is forced to carry the offense, the more he’s liable to get hurt again. He’s still a first-rounder in my opinion, but Jackson owners need to cross their fingers that Avery and Bulger make speedy recoveries. 

Darren McFadden (Oakland Raiders) – Like LeSean McCoy, Darren McFadden’s another guy who impressed me in Week One, but not so much last week. McFadden rushed for five yards on four carries against the San Francisco 49ers last week.

I’m still confident that he will surpass Justin Fargas as the team’s lead back, maybe not by the season opener, but shortly thereafter. The fact that he only got four carries last week is a good sign that the Oakland Raiders want to make sure nothing happens to him because he could be in line to become the starter.

I’m curious to see how McFadden does in the last two preseason games. We’ve seen the good and the bad from him so far. I still like him as an RB2, but given the fact that the Oakland Raiders always seem to use their key players improperly, he may frustrate you this season sometimes.

THE UGLY

Jonathan Stewart (Carolina Panthers) – How could I put Jonathan Stewart in the “Ugly” column when he didn’t even play last week? Well, that’s actually exactly why I’m putting him here. Stewart’s battling an achilles injury, in case you haven’t heard, that’s probably going to keep him out of the entire preseason, but he said he’s confident that he’ll be ready for Week One.

Of course he’ll get back in the mix when he returns, but how long will it take him to get up to speed? The end result of this could potentially be John Fox giving an increased workload to DeAngelo Williams, making the Carolina Panthers’ backfield less of a 50-50 split in carries. 

LaDainian Tomlinson (San Diego Chargers) – LT isn’t doing anything to change my mind about moving him higher up on my cheat sheets. Last week against the Arizona Cardinals, the former ultimate fantasy football stud posted 18 yards rushing on eight carries. Darren Sproles didn’t do any better, but Sproles isn’t LT.

A running back the caliber of LT, or the caliber that he used to be, should be able to get at least 20 yards rushing on eight carries against any defense, preseason or not. If you want LT on your team, I highly advise not putting into consideration what he’s done in the past.

You have to think about the present and what he’s capable of doing in 2009. Despite the fact that he did end up having a pretty good fantasy season in 2008, you got your warning last year that the tide may be beginning to turn.

Willie Parker (Pittsburgh Steelers) – The good news about Willie Parker’s game against the Washington Redskins last week is he scored a touchdown. The bad news is he only totaled 13 yards rushing, half of which came on one carry.

This isn’t breaking news if you’ve been doing your homework and following the articles of everyone here with the Bruno Boys, but Willie Parker is not a low-end RB2, more like an RB3. I’m not a big fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ backfield in general, except for maybe Rashard Mendenhall as a late pickup for your RB3, since he does have some sleeper value.

*THIS ARTICLE WRITTEN BY BRUNO BOY JIMBO JONES. FOR MORE FANTASY FOOTBALL INSIGHT AND ADVICE, CLICK THE LINK BELOW.*

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