Cut-N-Go is Fantasy Football FanHouse's weekday roundup of the NFL news with fantasy football impact.When the San Diego Chargers have the ball in the red zone with plans to run the ball, everyone on the planet knows that LaDainian Tomlinson gets the football. Especially, say Chris Jenkins and Kevin Gemmell of the San Diego Union-Tribune, when Tomlinson is playing like the Pro Bowl-caliber back we're so used to seeing. But, on Monday night, instead of calling Tomlinson's number, Darren Sproles got the carry.
The odd part about that was, this wasn't another one of those nights for Tomlinson, not one of those games where every one of his rushing attempts seemed so futile and fruitless and belied his long-held stature as one of the game's truly great backs.
Sproles was stopped on third-and-goal from the Broncos' five-yard line, ending the drive. Failing to reach the end zone isn't the problem at hand, although the Chargers coaching staff may disagree. The troubling aspect comes from Tomlinson, as he sat on the sideline wondering why he wasn't getting the goal-line carry. Fantasy football GM's who own Tomlinson also wonder how far Tomlinson's fantasy value will plummet.On that second Chargers series of the game, Tomlinson had put the Chargers within scoring range by taking a pass and gaining 25 yards, breaking off a 13-yard run to the Denver 4 and, after losing a yard on his next carry, gained three yards on second-and-goal from the 5.
Head coach Norv Turner tried to diffuse the situation by defending the play call that didn't go to Tomlinson. Whether or not the play was a check-down or a planned run for Sproles, the fact remains that Tomlinson wasn't even in the game to help in a situation that typically calls for the best personnel available.
Other Fantasy Football Notes"The play we originally were going to call, Darren runs," said Turner. "We changed the call to a check, run and a pass. There was nothing significant in terms that we were not going to run the play with LT. It was just the way it came up."
• Redskins head coach Jim Zorn said on Tuesday that he will almost certainly insert Jason Campbell into the starting quarterback role on Monday night when Washington plays the Philadelphia Eagles. Jason Reid of The Washington Post says that Zorn pulled Campbell in favor of Todd Collins to create a spark, which backfired as Collins didn't do enough to warrant a regime change.
• According to Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Miles Austin will take over the No. 2 wide receiver role from Patrick Crayton in Week 7 against the Atlanta Falcons. Austin caught 10 passes in Week 5 (Dallas' last game before their bye week) for 250 yards and two touchdowns.
• Although Matthew Stafford has missed two straight games and rumors are flying around that he'll need season-ending surgery, Nicholas J. Cotsonika of the Detroit Free Press says Stafford hasn't been told by anyone that his season may be in jeopardy. Stafford also denied rumors that he traveled to Birmingham to visit renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews.
• Greg A. Bedard of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says that the Green Bay Packers worked out two veteran running backs on Monday. Both Ahman Green and Dominic Rhodes left without contracts but this is definitely a sign that the Packers are not happy with their backup running back situation.
• Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean says that Tennessee Titans owner Bud Adams says that he's not considering replacing head coach Jeff Fisher but would like to see more of Vince Young at quarterback instead of Kerry Collins.
• Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press Democrat says that 49ers head coach Mike Singletary confirmed that not only will Michael Crabtree play this Sunday against Houston, but he may be in the starting lineup instead of Josh Morgan.
