Fantasy Football Fanhouse

Bust a Move: Six-Pack of Running Backs

Ryan Dembinsky — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Waiver Wire, NFL Bust a Move

More Coverage: Latest Fleaflicker Adds/Drops | Browse Player Notes

Cincinnati (D/ST, Bengals, 2,516 adds) - Giving up just 12 points to the Steelers and staring down a triforce of crap in Oakland, Cleveland and Detroit in the next three weeks, the Bengals defense spells "savior." Just typing this now, I'm thinking about trading a skill player for them. Actually, wait right here; I'll be right back.

Jason Snelling (RB, Falcons, 1,686 adds) - Amongst the hurt running backs to make an opportunistic play on, Michael Turner's high ankle sprain gives the most potential mileage to the backup. Something tells me Snelling will help owners make fantasy playoff runs in the next four weeks. Reportedly, Jerious Norwood will get the start, but throughout the season Snelling played a far bigger role in the offense with Norwood more involved in the passing game, so I'm still sold on Snelling.

Beanie Wells (RB, Cardinals, 1,025 adds) - Despite coach Ken Whisenhunt's insistence that Beanie Wells will not start any time soon, coupled with the Cards' general inability to run the ball consistently, folks are still clamoring after a two-touchdown effort last week. I think Whisenhunt may be bluffing frankly, but regardless Wells' touches should increase and so should his effectiveness the rest of the way.

Bernard Scott (RB, Bengals, 866 adds) - Sorry to the folks who wasted a waiver claim on Bernard Scott instead of Snelling or Forsett, because the Bengals in turn wasted no time in securing Larry Johnson. Scott might still see some action and he adds the kick return potential, but this looks like a case of the burn.

Larry Johnson (RB, Bengals, 751 adds) - If Cedric Benson can transform into a fast machine like Lane Meyer's Camaro in going from the Bears to the Bengals, who is to say that Larry Johnson can't do the same? Look out for a big turnaround for LJ starting this weekend if Big Ced cannot go.

Ladell Betts (RB, Redskins, 858 adds) - Did you get the memo? This was supposed to happen last week, folks. Upgrade your league next year if you can still pick up Betts. You're embarrassing us.

Donnie Avery (WR, Rams, 478 adds) - Donnie Avery might actually break his own record set last year for most waiver wire moves in a single season. Between quarterback changes, injuries and matchups, the guy changes fantasy teams on a near-weekly basis. With Mark Bulger's solid game last week and Avery's four catches with two touchdowns, he's seducing us with upside once again. Avery makes a good pickup if you need WR depth and can get still him.

Lawrence Tynes (K, Giants, 419 adds) - Tynes returns from a bye week to face the Falcons. Neat.

Cardinals (D/ST, Arizona, 407 adds) - Despite a relatively mediocre effort against Seattle where Julius Jones' replacement Justin Forsett ran wild, the forthcoming matchup against the Rams looks much more favorable. If you haven't noticed, folks are making a living this year off the Rams, Raiders, Lions, Chiefs and Browns. Get with the program if you haven't yet.

The Drops

Dwayne Bowe (WR, Chiefs, 738 drops) - Put the Chiefs in the same camp as the Michigan football program for teams that cannot buy a break. Just a week after sending their starting running back packing, the Chiefs' top receiver tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug. If it was even possible, one of the worst teams in the league just got worse. Remember how Chris Chambers got all that fantasy buzz last week? Well, now he deserves it.

Atlanta (D/ST, Falcons, 635 drops) - With the Giants, Eagles and Saints in the next five games, Atlanta's value does indeed look questionable. Still, they do have Tampa Bay next week and the Bills in Week 16, so do not completely write this unit off if you need a spot start coming up.

Brian Westbrook (RB, Eagles, 623 drops) - I know it's tough to part with this guy, but the specialists are not talking about when Brian Westbrook will play football again. They are talking about if he'll play football again. Thanks for all the wins over the years, Brian. We love ya.

Julius Jones (RB, Seahawks, 536 drops) - Juice will most likely miss the Seahawks' Week 11 game against the Vikings, but more importantly, if Forsett continues to do what he did last week, Jones may also find himself out of a starting job.

Steven Hauschka (K, Ravens, 385 drops) - The Ravens dropped the struggling youngster this week and plan to have a new kicker on board by Wednesday night.

Most Traded

Steven Jackson, Ryan Grant, Brandon Jacobs, Andre Johnson, Darren Sproles

Bust a Move: Six-Pack of Running Backs originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bust a Move: Chambers, Meachem and Wallace Moving Fast

Ryan Dembinsky — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:40:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Waiver Wire, NFL Bust a Move

More Fantasy Football: Latest Fleaflicker Adds/Drops | Browse Player Updates

Chris Chambers (WR, Chiefs, 1,101 adds) -- Upon first glance over the Week 9 box scores, Chambers beckons with potential, scoring two touchdowns at his new home on only three days work with Kansas City. Upon further review, Chambers' performance came mainly late in the game after three quiet quarters. Still, if you want upside, give him a whirl (I did).

Jay Feely (K, Jets, 1,049 adds) -- Feely comes off a bye week with a nice matchup against Jacksonville.

Robert Meachem (WR, Saints, 1,010 adds) -- It's tough to call whether or not Meachem finally looks ready for prime time -- or for your fantasy team -- because while he receives an immediate upgrade due to an injured Lance Moore, he competes for looks with so many different great options. Deep leagues should add, but otherwise it's a bit of a toss-up.

Mike Wallace (WR, Steelers, 982 adds) -- The slowpokes always come around sooner or later. Wallace didn't post the greatest numbers in Week 9, but he did show that speed (along with a TD) on the Monday night big stage. Jon Gruden must have finally convinced some folks.

Ryan Longwell (K, Vikings, 977 adds) -- Need a kicker this week? Here he is. The Vikings play the Lions.

Miami Dolphins (D/ST, 784 adds) -- This doesn't make logical sense as Miami gives up an average of almost 26 points per game and they didn't play that great last week, losing 27-17 to the Patriots. They did tally an interception and two sacks, but the better defensive matchup this week for spot starts is the Bills against the Titans if you need to fill a bye week.

Tennessee Titans (D/ST, 602 adds) -- I guess people like the Titans at home? As I said above, I like the Bills in this one this weekend.

Brandon Pettigrew (TE, Lions, 589 adds) -- Pettigrew played his best game as a pro by far on Sunday, catching seven passes for 70 yards and touchdown against the Seahawks. As a fellow Chris Cooley refugee, consider me sold.

Josh Freeman (QB, Buccaneers, 440 adds) -- Freeman certainly made his statement loud and clear, helping the Bucs win their first (and only) game of the season with an impressive three-touchdown effort against a talented Packers secondary. Part of this performance is freakish as 14 completions will not translate to three touchdowns ~~ever again~~ often, but it's hard not to bite on this rookie feel-good story. Let's see how the Miami game goes this weekend before signing the papers.

The Drops

San Francisco (D/ST, 49ers, 753 drops) -- After getting torched by the Titans and losing five of their last six games, 76 percent of bettors think the 49ers buzz from earlier in the season is OVER.

Fred Davis (TE, Redskins, 569 drops) -- Chrs Cooley sufferers fell for Davis after he filled in nicely later in Week 8 after Cooley left the game, but the honeymoon ended quickly. Davis only caught two passes as a follow-up.

Chris Henry (WR, Bengals, 334 drops) -- Henry will undergo arm surgery for his broken forearm and miss the remainder of the season. Laveranues Coles gets an immediate upgrade.

Willis McGahee (RV, Ravens, 516 drops) -- No touches in Week 9 finally gave McGahee owners the picture. Ray Rice officially grew into a fantasy-elite option this season and it came at McGahee's expense.

Larry Johnson (RB, NOBODY!!! Haha, 210 drops) -- At long last, the Chiefs finally cut the umbilical cord. Keep an eye on this development though, because Johnson behind a halfway-decent offensive line could be dangerous. In fact, he might be worth adding now. The mill currently says Washington, Chicago, Buffalo and New England, but nobody put a waiver claim out, so as a free agent he can officially sign with any team.

Most Traded

Steven Jackson (10), Brandon Jacobs (10), Percy Harvin (9), DeSean Jackson (9), Joseph Addai (9)

Bust a Move: Chambers, Meachem and Wallace Moving Fast originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bust a Move: Moats Added Player of 2009

Ryan Dembinsky — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Waiver Wire, NFL Bust a Move

Seattle (D/ST, Seahawks, 1,033 adds) - Alright kids, now you're getting the hang of this. The Seahawks face the Detroit "We can't even beat the Rams" Lions and look like a sneaky spot start this week. I'd recommend this pickup even if you have to sacrifice a costly waiver priority. With the stinky Lions traveling three times zones and playing on road, you won't be sorry.

Malcom Floyd (WR, Chargers, 1,002 adds) - Floyd represents a savvy add for players in deep leagues with wide receiver needs. The Chargers recently cut Chris Chambers, causing Floyd's value to ratchet up significantly. While Floyd has yet to post big enough numbers to merit jumping on him as an immediate fantasy starter, he showed his skills by converting on some key third downs and has earned the confidence of both Philip Rivers and the coaching staff. Look for Floyd to break out very soon.

Ben Watson (TE, Patriots, 954 adds) - Watson provides a nice little tight end steal with the Patriots coming off their bye week. With Tom Brady hitting his stride and the cold weather coming, look for Watson's numbers to gradually continue to improve.

Jonathan Stewart (RB, Panthers, 809 adds) - If Stewart still lingers out there on your waiver wire, by all means add him. Stewart played great last week -- 87 yards and two touchdowns -- and his role continues to grow. We show Stewart available in 35 percent of leagues, but I doubt if many people who actually do research and play in competitive leagues will have this luxury. His availability is probably more the result of a lot of small leagues out there.

Mike Wallace (WR, Steelers, 714 adds) - Wallace provides a spark and a deep threat in the flashy nouveau Steelers offense with his 17.5 average yards per reception. Unfortunately, just as Mike Wallace broke through in Week 7, the Steelers faced a bye in Week 8, so his consistency remains a question mark.

Spencer Havner (TE, Packers, 675 adds) - Havner might give the Fridge a run for his money in terms of versatility. Havner, a linebacker first, came in and caught two touchdown passes in Week 8. As if that is not enough, he also plays a little fullback. Still, while it's a fun story, he's probably not worth a roster spot in fantasy terms as Jermichael Finley should return in a couple weeks. Plus, those two scores were the only two passes Havner caught all game.

Fred Davis (TE, Redskins, 673 adds) - The Davis pick up looks to be popular this week as a delayed reaction to the Chris Cooley injury two weeks ago. The Redskins subsequently went on a bye week after Cooley got hurt in Week 7, so folks are just now getting around to either filling his void or capitalizing on his absence. Davis provides a great pass catcher (and awful blocker) as a replacement, so he makes a decent gamble.

Jamaal Charles (RB, Chiefs, 546 adds) - We all know about this story by now, as Larry Johnson wrote his own ticket to the doghouse with generally poor play and an unbelievably ill-timed off-color sexual orientation comment. In Week 9, Charles gets free reign of the running game and an open ticket to win the starting job. The Chiefs running game is never going to save anyone's fantasy season, but Jamaal Charles looks like a good bet for a flex start this week if you do not already have rock solid options.

The Drops

Owen Daniels (TE, Texans, 2,449 drops) - Daniels represents the second big name tight end to suffer a major injury in as many weeks, following Chris Cooley in Week 7. Unfortunately for Daniels owners, he is dunzo for the season -- a devastating loss.

Arizona (D/ST, Cardinals, 933 drops) - The hot defense to add last week let everybody down this week. Don't ask me how you beat the Giants in the Meadowlands one week and tank against the Panthers at home the next. The bottom line with Arizona is that they seem to be a tough team to predict, regardless of the matchup. This week against the Bears would seem like a good bet, but with Forte finally coming on strong last week, it's best to pick someone more consistent for now.

Jay Feely (K, Jets, 886 drops) - You know the drill. Bye week.

Shonn Greene (RB, Jets, 862 drops) - Such haste. We warned you you'll have to be patient with Greene as teams do not rush for 300 yards every week, so last week's three touchdown effort would not be an automatic repeat. Leon Washington still will not return this season, so Greene will work his way into the offense. Just chill folks, he'll come around. This week provides a second chance to add Greene if you missed him the first time as many owners are choosing to drop him going into the Jets' bye week.

David Garrard (QB, Jaguars, 323 drops) - Garrard looks to break the single season record for both most drops and most adds. He seems to be on one list or the other just about every week. Last week, he choked again, throwing for just 139 yards. Don't worry though, he'll probably be back up in the "adds," next week after his upcoming game against the Chiefs.

Bust a Move: Moats Added Player of 2009 originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bust a Move: Cashing In on Greene

Ryan Dembinsky — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Waiver Wire, NFL Bust a Move

More Waiver Advice From SI.com | Latest Fleaflicker Adds/Drops

Alex Smith (QB, 49ers, 1,993 adds) - You been out ridin' fences, for so long now. I guess if it's that bad, you gotta do what ya gotta do, but this reeks of desperation.

Arizona Cardinals (D/ST, Cardinals, 1,594 adds) - Hey, the Cardinals beat the Giants on the road and picked off young Manning three times, so it's hard to argue with results. With the best run defense in the league facing off against Carolina, a team that averages only about 16 points per game, Arizona provides a pretty strong matchup this week.

Miles Austin (WR, Cowboys, 1,477 adds) - Duh.

Ricky Williams (RB, Dolphins, 1,051 adds) - How does somebody rush just nine times for 80 yards and yet score three touchdowns? Grab Williams if you can, since Miami seems to have everybody guessing -- on offense at least.

Beanie Wells (RB, Cardinals, 903 adds) - How some of these guys remain on the waiver wire baffles me at times. As of Tuesday, Beanie Wells had a home in only 45 percent of Fleaflicker leagues. Oddly, Ken Whisenhunt still claims that Tim Hightower remains the starter, but with Wells coming into his own coming off a 67-yard, one-touchdown game, the changeover should happen very soon.

Mike Bell (RB, Saints, 874 adds) - Don't go Jason Waterfalls. Just stick to the rivers and the lakes that you're used to. Pierre Thomas will be back, so don't get too excited about Mike Bell. This is just a hunch, but something tells me the Thomas situation will be one of those "he was playing hurt all along" things, and he'll rebound soon enough.

Matt Prater (K, Broncos, 872 adds) - Same old song and dance here; Prater comes off a bye.

San Diego (D/ST, Chargers, 842 adds) - With Shawne "Don't Call Me Shane" Merriman back in the lineup, the San Diego defense gets better by leaps and bounds. They ate the Chiefs alive with four sacks, three interceptions and one touchdown. Normally, I'd probably say "don't bother, it's the Chiefs," but the Chargers play the Raiders in Week 8 so you really can't lose.

Tony Scheffler (TE, Broncos, 783 adds) - Coming off a bye week, Scheffler looks like a steal. Anybody who got slimed with Chris "Ecto" Cooley last weekend (me), Chef looks like your man if you can still get him.

The Drops

Leon Washington (RB, Jets, 1,657 drops) - One man gathers what another man spills. Leon Washington done busted up his leg. Tough loss for Washington owners as Leon finally found his impact role this season.

Chris Cooley (TE, Redskins, 1,359 drops) - While Cooley's broken ankle stings bad for fantasy owners, his replacement Fred Davis looked quite solid in the passing game and might just be a fine replacement. The guy blocks with Bob Ross-like aggressiveness, but he does run nice routes and caught some passes in tight spaces Monday night.

Shaun Hill (QB, 49ers, 751 drops) - While already fantasy irrelevant in most formats, Hill got benched last week and word out of San Francisco is that they already gave next week's start to Alex Smith. Keep an eye on this situation though as Alex Smith is still, um, Alex Smith.

Jermichael Finley (TE, Packers, 718 drops) - One week up, the next one down. I feel like I just learned to spell this guy's name finally and already he's out of favor. Well, keep an eye on Finley as he only suffered a knee sprain and may resurface in a couple of weeks. Interesting side note: Finley's replacement Spencer Havner can play as both your tight end and individual defensive player, since he also has fantasy eligibility as a linebacker (albeit third-string).

Larry Johnson (RB, Chiefs, 612 drops) - In classic Larry Johnson fashion, not only did he basically make a final case to lose his starting job anyway to Jamaal Charles, but he further sabotaged his season with a derisive gay outburst (on Twitter no less). L.J. is like the guy who goes out and gets drunk before the big exam, so he won't have to own up to the fact that he just couldn't cut it. Face it L.J. owners; he can't cut it. Go get Charles while you still can.

Bust a Move: Cashing In on Greene originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Bust a Move: Bologna Maroney Strikes Again

Ryan Dembinsky — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Waiver Wire, NFL Bust a Move

More: Browse Latest Fleaflicker Adds/Drops | Check Player Notes

Sidney Rice (WR, Vikings, 2,127 adds) - Rice locked in fantasy legitimacy this week with 176 yards on six catches. Perhaps more importantly though, Brett Favre has now thrown 12 touchdown passes to just two interceptions in six games, making the Vikings' passing game in general a fantasy stalwart.

Hakeem Nicks (WR, Giants, 1,822 adds) - Honestly, if we have to discuss Hakeem Nicks one more time... This guy is for real.

Jay Feely (K, Jets, 1,089 adds) - Apparently the weekly kicker-flippers like the Jets at Oakland matchup, because Feely comes off just a decent game of 2-for-3 field goal tries and one extra point.

Indianapolis (D/ST, Colts, 1,012 adds) - The Colts sit on most wires after the Week 6 bye and face a great matchup in St. Louis in Week 7. Plus, Bob Sanders looks about ready to get back in the lineup, so this makes a smart play this week. Let's wait to see if they make a decent every-week play.

Zach Miller (TE, Raiders, 741 adds) - For once JaMarcus Russell did not destroy Zach Miller's potential in Week 6. Despite being a hot pick around draft time, Zach Miller owners began cutting ties recently when the Raiders' entire offense appeared to degenerate before our eyes. Now coming off the big win against Philly and a huge 139-yard, one-TD effort, owners are back clamoring for Miller's services.

Lance Moore (WR, Saints, 638 adds) - Lance Moore struggled with injuries early in the season and lost his status as the surprise upside benefactor on the explosive Saints offense. Finally in Week 6, we got the healthy Lance back and he broke out yet again with 78 yards and a touchdown. With a healthy body and a star quarterback on an absolute rampage, consider Moore back to normal.

Austin Collie (WR, Colts, 620 adds) - Austin Collie represents a total steal if he still sits on the waiver wires in your league. The only reason for this anomaly would be that after another big game in Week 5, the Colts had their bye week. Hence, players probably held off on Collie in favor of a Sidney Rice or a Miles Austin. With Peyton Manning playing at the absolute top of his game, Collie should be on a roster in 100 percent of leagues until further notice.

Michael Crabtree (WR, 49ers, 429 adds) - The moment we've all been waiting, and waiting, and waiting for finally arrives this weekend as rookie phenom Michael Crabtree will likely see some real live NFL action against the Texans. I would be lying like a flat-fish if I claimed to know how this would turn out, but when it comes to receivers, it's generally better to bet on guys who already produced (see above) than those who might produce eventually.

Justin Fargas (RB, Raiders, 412 adds) - Amazingly, somebody finally produced some points in the backfield for the Raiders. Who knows what to expect with McFadden's eventual return looming, but Fargas performed well and the Raiders finally won a game, so if you desperately need a running back, go ahead and grab him.

The Drops

Sammy Morris (RB, Patriots, 753 drops) - Sammy Morris suffered an undisclosed leg injury on Sunday and in his absence, Maroney ran the ball particularly well. Morris looked like a desperation grab for most owners anyway, so this should not prove too costly. As mentioned above, I'm not a fan of this backfield in general.

Jeremy Maclin (WR, Eagles, 678 drops) - We warned you last week that Maclin's big coming-out party would not repeat on a weekly basis. Sure enough, he only caught one pass for six yards in the Eagles' loss to Oakland. Maclin will certainly improve upon these numbers, but his consistency remains a deal killer until further notice.

Willis McGahee (RB, Ravens, 606 drops) - McGahee gave owners a couple nice surprise weeks early in the season, but as expected, Ray Rice took over the reins and doesn't appear to be giving them back anytime soon. Rice brings a huge advantage with his pass-catching abilities, which makes him a better fit for the Ravens' offense than McGahee. I would not expect McGahee's value to tumble to last week's freakishly bad three yards on seven carries level, but Rice clearly has the most value in this backfield.

Marcedes Lewis (TE, Jaguars, 591 drops) - Despite some up weeks amidst the downs, the last straw came for many Marcedes Lewis owners. He tallied only five yards last week and faces a bye in Week 7.

Antwan Odom (IDP, Bengals, 247 drops) - A popular choice for an individual defensive player, Antwan Odom suffered a torn Achilles' tendon and got placed on the injured reserve for the season.

Fantasy Football Bust a Move: Bologna Maroney Strikes Again originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Bust a Move: I Can See For Miles and Miles

Ryan Dembinsky — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:00:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Sleepers, NFL Waiver Wire, NFL Bust a Move

Fantasy FanHouse's "Bust a Move" segment provides quick-hitting insight on the most popular adds and drops across Fleaflicker fantasy leagues between Tuesday and Wednesday of each week. Knowing who is on the move during this 24-hour period often provides a valuable edge with regard to outperforming or underperforming players, injuries and depth chart shifts. So do as the man says, "Don't just stand there..."

The Adds

Miles Austin (WR, Cowboys, 4,629 adds) - What started with the Big Montana-sized numbers on Sunday just got bigger, as coach Wade Phillips reiterated that Miles Austin will continue to see roughly the same amount of playing time going forward with or without Roy Williams and demoted allegedly Patrick Crayton from the No. 2 spot.

Jeremy Maclin (WR, Eagles, 2,710 adds) - Maclin also shined bright on Sunday in the absence a regular starter, Kevin Curtis. With reliable wide receivers trading at a premium at this point in the season, folks are jumping at everything that puts up a single week of numbers. Maclin certainly looked good last week, but his future looks slightly less certain than that of Miles Austin. I'd tread warily into this one. For one thing, DeSean Jackson catching one pass for one yard ain't gonna happen on a weekly basis.

Austin Collie (WR, Colts, 2,032 adds) - Now here is a receiver that really seems worth a pickup. With Peyton Manning playing at the top of his game, you could put Featherstone out there and he'd be a WR3.

Ahmad Bradshaw (RB, Giants, 1,198 adds) - In about a half of real action, Ahmad Bradshaw made a darn good case for the No. 1 job in the Giants backfield. Brandon Jacobs will certainly get his carries, but after Bradshaw's 165 all-purpose yards and two-touchdown performance, he makes a great play going forward. Don't ask me how these all folks managed to get him off waivers.

Nate Burleson (WR, Seahawks, 1,139 adds) - Same story, different team. Another receiver that generally falls slightly below the wide receiver Mason-Dixon line came up big in Seattle's bizarro world blowout last week. Now, with Hasselbeck springing back from injury to the tune of four touchdown passes -- two to Burleson -- folks are hoping the trend continues. Hate to break it to you, but the Seahawks scoring 41 points in a single game only happens about once every decade.

Matt Hasselbeck (QB, Seahawks, 1,083 adds) - While most fantasy owners expected Hasselbeck to come back from his rib injury slowly and even struggle the rest of the season, he stepped right in and threw a near-flawless, four-touchdown effort. Who knows what got in to the Seahawks in their 41-0 blowout, but one thing is clear: Hasselbeck belongs on fantasy rosters.

Jermichael Finley (TE, Packers, 982 adds) - Out of nowhere, Green Bay tight end Jermichael Finley broke out as Aaron Rodgers' go-to receiver with six catches, 128 yards and a touchdown last weekend. Finley's numbers have improved each week, so keep an eye on him going forward. If you have bench space, he looks like at least a good fill-in for bye weeks and injuries. Next up for Green Bay is Detroit.

Mason Crosby (K, Packers, 813 adds) - Just your usual kicker action here; Crosby hit the wires last week on his bye week and owners are now reclaiming him.

Jamal Lewis (RB, Browns, 804 adds) - Despite Jerome Harrison playing remarkably well in Lewis' absence, the Browns went right back to old Jamal and Jamal responded. He notched 110 yards and led the team to a thrilling 6-3 victory.

Nate Kaeding (K, Chargers, 553 adds) - No story here, just a kicker coming off a bye week. Kaeding faces Denver this week, which does not provide a particularly great matchup.

The Drops

San Francisco (D/ST, 49ers, 1,329 drops) - Owners expecting a repeat performance of Week 4's freak show were sadly disappointed (like we warned you) by the Atlanta offense. Michael Turner had his way with the 49ers defense and Matt Ryan picked apart the secondary. Keep them on the radar for good matchup weeks, but the Niners no longer represent a weekly play.

Jerome Harrison (RB, Browns, 1,264 drops) - In the Browns' 6-3 ground-heavy battle against the Bills, Harrison carried the ball just eight times to Jamal Lewis' 31. Harrison should remain key to the offense, but this drops him out of fantasy relevance until further notice.

Glen Coffee (RB, 49ers, 1,000 drops) - The Coffee buzz is over. Glen Coffee suffered a leg contusion, the 49ers face a bye week, and starter Frank Gore should be back soon.

Josh Scobee (K, Jaguars, 930 drops) - Just another Jaguar who did nothing last week. When a team scores zero points, odds are the kicker underperforms for the old fantasy team.

David Garrard (QB, Jaguars, 491 drops) - Dropping Garrard seems premature to me. The 41-0 disaster against the Seahawks frankly makes no sense and will likely prove to be an anomaly in the Jags' season. Still, owners hastily cut the cord this week after one bad game. He did get benched on Sunday, but expect Garrard to bounce back, so snag him up should you need a backup QB down the stretch.

Fantasy Football Bust a Move: I Can See For Miles and Miles originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Bust a Move: All Campers Report to the Mendenhall

Ryan Dembinsky — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Bust a Move

Fantasy FanHouse's "Bust a Move" segment provides quick-hitting insight on the most popular adds and drops across Fleaflicker fantasy leagues between Tuesday and Wednesday of each week. Knowing who is on the move during this 24-hour period often provides a valuable edge with regard to outperforming or underperforming players, injuries and depth chart shifts. So do as the man says, "Don't just stand there..."

The Adds

Rashard Mendenhall (RB, Steelers, 3,178 adds) - Enough already about the Steelers moving away from their longtime pound-the-rock mantra and relying on the pass. Mendenhall finally showed up and put the backfield debates as to who should tote the ball to bed. Willie Parker's inability to get the ground game moving (3.1 yards per carry) coupled with an inability to overcome injuries finally got the best of him as Mendenhall should see the bulk of the touches going forward with Parker playing second fiddle. It's hard to argue with 165 and two touchdowns -- so why try?

Mike Sims-Walker (WR, Jaguars, 3,127 adds) - Sims-Walker remains on the most-added list as the late adopters finally wake up to smell what we've been cooking for the past three weeks. This week Sims-Walker absolutely cemented his spot as not only a solid addition for all fantasy teams, but also as a legitimate starter. If he keeps performing to the tune of last week's 91 yards and two touchdowns, consider him your No. 1 option.

Josh Scobee (K, Jaguars, 2,730 adds) - Go ahead, sort the kicker column by points and pick a top scorer. Presto. After Scobee hit on three of four of his field goal tries and all four extra point attempts, fantasy folks raced out to snag him, particularly with another week of byes here in Week 5.

San Francisco (D/ST, 49ers, 2,220 adds) - Regardless of league scoring, the San Francisco 49ers would have likely posted the single-best performance of Week 4 by any fantasy player, with an awe-inspiring effort that included three takeaways, five sacks and three touchdowns. Sure, we know it's crazy to expect that type of output on a weekly basis, but this unit is for real and that type of play can hardly be called a fluke, particularly since they have been doing it all season thus far. The 49ers currently edge out the Saints as the top fantasy point-scoring defensive unit.

Jerome Harrison (RB, Browns, 1,766 adds) - I suppose if you really insist on picking up a Brown, there are worse choices than Harrison. Given his recent ground prowess and short-term claim on the job, he should make a decent option going forward. When Jamal Lewis reemerges from his nagging hamstring injury, we should expect to see at the very least an even split of carries if not a heavier load for Harrison given Lewis is going on three seasons of utter mediocrity. Still, be prepared for ups and downs as the Browns continue to bungle through some serious growing pains.

Sidney Rice (WR, Vikings, 1,729 adds) - I admit that after watching Favre's winning performance -- which I'll have you know, I used as a spot-start on a Kurt Warner bye week -- Sidney Rice made his case as a potential add. Still, despite the 70 yards and touchdown effort, I'd wait to see consistency here. Rice is not the top target for Favre and will likely produce a lot of low fantasy point games. I know those dreadlocks are seductive, but hold off unless you're out of better options.

Mohamed Massaquoi (WR, Browns, 1,322 adds) - Remember about four seconds ago, when I said "unless you're out of better options?" Well, this fella should be considered a better option. With Braylon Edwards getting himself in a scandal this week for allegedly punching out a 130-pound marketing guy and Derek Anderson picking a clear favorite target in his first game back as a starter, Massaquoi looks to have big-time upside. It's a little early to determine just how consistent Massaquoi can be on a terrible offense, but pick him up; just don't get tied down if he doesn't repeat the performance. [Note: Edwards was traded after this was written. For a spin on the trade, click here]

David Garrard (QB, Jaguars, 1,140 adds) - It's only natural that alongside Sims-Walker comes a legit burgeoning quarterback add. Garrard looks to have finally bucked concerns that he will not throw the ball enough to make a viable fantasy quarterback as he threw 37 times, completing 27 passes for 323 yards and three touchdowns. Granted, the Jags played the combusting Titans, but this is reason enough to chase Garrard's numbers going forward. After all, he got nominated for FedEx Air Player of the Week. Vote early and often.

Denver (D/ST, Broncos, 1,115 adds) - Despite a tough matchup coming in Week 5 against New England (in Denver), fantasy owners continue to buy into this Bronco defense as they proved yet again in Week 4 that they can play with the elite. Currently, Denver stands as the third-best defense in terms of fantasy points despite scoring no touchdowns. This speaks volumes about the production of the unit -- to be so highly-rated without a defensive touchdown. The reason: they have forced 10 turnovers and sacked the quarterback 15 times in just four games.

Heath Miller (TE, Steelers, 859 adds) - Miller seems to always quietly work his way back to fantasy relevance as the season wears on. He may not be the trendiest of tight ends this year, but he proved he still has value with a 70-yard, two-touchdown effort last week. The Steelers do play the Lions this week in what should be a nice practice game, but it's naive to expect this level of production on a weekly basis from Miller.

The Drops

John Carney (K, Saints, 1,227 drops) - Carney faces a bye week, so many owners only hold one kicker on the roster and needed to drop Carney to fill the void. Pick him up if you like Carney more than your current option. Bye weeks make a great way to upgrade your kicker if you have roster space.

Darren McFadden (RB, Raiders, 1,214 drops) - Not only did McFadden tear his meniscus, which will keep him out roughly two to four weeks, but even when healthy he has struggled to do anything. Clearly, the Raiders' offense is not worth its weight in body armor, because no part of the unit has stepped up. At this point, we recommend avoiding all Raiders.

Tennessee Titans (D/ST, Titans, 924 drops) - No longer riding the hopes of last year's performances, folks have decided it's time to cut the cord with the Titans. Perhaps it's the loss of defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz to the Lions, but this defense went down the drain in a hurry. Through four weeks, they rank No. 31 against the pass, so something definitely seems broken here.

Cincinnati - (D/ST, Bengals, 833, drops) - While Cincinnati played a solid defensive game last week with two sacks, an interception and a touchdown, most Bengals defense owners were playing last week's matchup against the Browns expecting the game that the 49ers posted. (A useless side note: I believe this may be the first time in history that I spelled Cincinnati correctly on the first try)

Braylon Edwards (WR, Jets, 637 drops) - These folks sure jumped the gun. We all know that Edwards has underperformed significantly thus far in '09 and gotten himself into trouble, but just Wednesday morning the news broke that Cleveland traded Edwards to the Jets for Chansi Stuckey, Jason Trusnik (LB), and draft picks. Clearly, there is only room in Cleveland for one king, but this trade benefits Braylon and the Jets greatly, so he should soon move right back to the "Adds" section.

Fantasy Football Bust a Move: All Campers Report to the Mendenhall originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Bust a Move: Welcome To the Show, Pierre Garcon

Ryan Dembinsky — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 20:15:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Waiver Wire, NFL Bust a Move

Fantasy Football Bust a Move: Welcome To the Show, Pierre Garcon originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 20:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Bust a Move: Week 3

Ryan Dembinsky — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Waiver Wire, NFL Bust a Move, NFL Value Machine

Fantasy FanHouse's "Bust a Move" segment provides quick-hitting insight on the most popular adds and drops across Fleaflicker fantasy leagues between Tuesday and Wednesday of each week. Knowing who is on the move during this 24-hour period often provides a valuable edge with regard to outperforming or underperforming players, injuries, and depth chart shifts. So do as the man says, "Don't just stand there..."

The Adds

Mario Manningham (WR, Giants, 8,522 adds) -- Even the biggest Michigan haters (read: OSU, MSU, and WVU fans) cannot turn their backs on the Giants' passing game. With 150 yards and a score on Sunday night, Manningham is currently the fourth best receiver in the league. If you new Super Mario owners would so desire, you can borrow my old fantasy team name, "Manningham Steamroller."

Johnny Knox (WR, Bears, 2,796 adds) -- Wide receivers are in demand this week and this Bears burner continues to tear up the wires. Knox shined on Sunday, catching six passes for 70 yards and touchdown. Could he be the guy Chicago has been waiting for?

Steve Smith (WR, Giants, 1,632 adds) -- See Mario Manningham. If you thought Manningham sounded good as the league's fourth leading receiver, Steve Smith is the third. Smith reeled in 134 and a touchdown against the Cowboys and looks like the most consistent Giants wideout -- a coveted spot given Eli's hot hand.

Mike Sims-Walker (WR, Jaguars, 1,812 adds) -- As of Tuesday night, a whopping 2 percent of Fleaflicker fantasy leagues owned Mike Sims-Walker. This pains me as I told you about this guy on Sunday night. The Jags have since announced that Troy Williamson will be out for the rest of the season, so Sims-Walker should see plenty of opportunities to continue what he started on Sunday (106 yards, 1 TD).

Willis McGahee (RB, Ravens, 1,718 adds) -- Don't ask me why McGahee remains on any waiver wires, but apparently only 73 percent of leagues have snatched him up. Sure, Ray Rice is good and all, but this is still Willis McGahee; a point he punctuated on Sunday with 79 yards rushing and two touchdowns.

Lawrence Tynes (K, Giants, 1,918 adds) -- Larry Tynes hit the midweek stretch as the kicker du jour after nailing four field goals and adding three extra points. These are probably the folks who pick up a new kicker every week and sort by points though.

Correll Buckhalter (RB, Broncos, 1,562 adds) -- Averaging over eight yards per carry in Week 2 and out-scoring teammate Knowshon Moreno (barely) in the Broncos backfield, owners are racing to get a piece of Buckhalter's 76 yards and one touchdown action. Take note however, Moreno got significantly more carries than Buckhalter in Week 2, so Buckhalter's value very well may fade if Moreno steps up his play in the coming weeks.

Saints Defense (D/ST, Saints, 1,000 adds) -- The Jets defense caught the early wave of hype after Week 2, but owners are now clamoring for the Saints. The Fleur-de-lis "D" posted big time stats last week with a touchdown, three turnovers and two sacks, but they match up with a hot Fred Jackson and the Bills this week, so we'll see how tough they really are.

Brent Celek (TE, Eagles, 762 adds) -- With eight catches for 104 yards after a solid Week 1, this still-underrated Eagle has now tallied 14 receptions in two games. Somehow, he still sits on about half of all waiver wires, but this news will travel fast. Do yourself a favor and at least take him for your No. 2.

Byron Leftwich (QB, Jaguars, 1,150 adds) -- Byron Leftwich's stats make him look like a good pickup for injury-ridden fantasy teams and bye-week reserves. I always liked Leftwich, but something tells me the Bucs will focus a lot more on the run in the coming weeks, so temper those expectations.

Pierre Garcon (WR, Colts, 524 adds) - Pierre Garcon rode the Anthony Gonzalez injury all the way home Monday night as he scored a gorgeous breakaway touchdown in a bizarre win against the Dolphins. Dallas Clark remains the biggest benefactor of Gonzalez getting hurt thus far, but Garcon certainly merits a value uptick.

Antwan Odom (IDP, Bengals, 496 adds) -- I wouldn't expect lightning to strike twice here, but a lot of fantasy owners apparently do after Odom sacked Aaron Rodgers five times at Lambeau Field.

The Drops

Lance Moore (WR, Saints, 865 drops) -- Lance Moore suffered a hamstring ding and owners are cutting the umbilical. The injury does not appear too serious, but coupled with the re-emergence of Marques Colston as the clear favorite target for Drew Brees, there are better options available.

Donnie Avery (WR, Rams, 977 drops) -- One catch, four yards, and one fumble; not exactly a killer line for Avery. Again, with so many emerging surprises at wide receiver, there is no point to wait on duds like this.

Matt Hasselbeck (QB, Seahawks, 753 drops) -- Despite Hasselbeck's claims that he wants to play Sunday, owners are cutting ties with the elder statesman. Personally, I own Hasselbeck and plan to keep him around, but that's mainly because better alternatives are just not there.

Antonio Bryant (WR, Bucaneers, 719 drops) -- Seventy-two percent of leagues still possess a Bryant owner, but most savvy fantasy players predicted a crap-out from him long before the season began. One good season (2008) in an otherwise mediocre career does not warrant hanging on to an injury risk like Bryant.

Domenik Hixon (WR, Giants, 513 drops) -- Not only did Domenik Hixon suffer a knee sprain on Sunday against the Cowboys, but his two teammates (Manningham and Smith) pounded his value with a rubber mallet.

LenDale White (RB, Titans, 632 drops) -- With Chris Johnson scoring touchdowns at will, LenDale White only got six carries in Week 2. Still, he made good on the six, averaging over four yards per carry, but owners seem to think his value is shot. I would hold off before cutting ties with LenDale though, because the TItans will have to score from the red zone sooner or later and White will get carries at the goal line.

Fantasy Football Bust a Move: Week 3 originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bills Coaching Staff Wants to Get Fred Jackson 'More Touches'

Will Brinson — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:10:00 EST

Filed under: NFL New Studs, NFL Sleepers, Draft Advice, NFL Bust a Move

Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch are a bizarre duo for the Buffalo Bills -- but only because of the way in which they're treated by the team. Lynch is still considered "the guy" despite multiple run-ins with the law and a set of suspension-filled games looming.

Meanwhile, Jackson, the consistently humble and fantastic person who also performs on the field, was given the cold shoulder with respect to his contract extension until late in the offseason. However, running backs coach Eric Studesville recently told BuffaloBills.com that he expects Jackson to get "more touches" in 2009.

"I'd like to see an ever-increasing role with Fred," said running backs coach Eric Studesville. "He's proven that he's dependable and productive in everything that we've asked him to do. So we're going to do it, get him more touches and find more ways to get him in the game."

Now, obviously Jackson will get those touches early in the season while Lynch is suspended -- but that easily recognizable point could end up being a season-changer for the Bills (and fantasy owners -- hello, value shift).

If Jackson comes out and dominates in the first few games of the season, Buffalo will more than likely be forced to make Lynch and Jackson, at worst, split carries. The best-case scenario? For Jackson and for fantasy owners, it's this: Freddie takes over the starting role, the Bills rip off a couple of wins as he plows through 100-yard games and never looks back.

Look, I'm as big a Beast Mode fan as they come (I even have the collectible coffee cup!) but the harsh truth is that his suspension is throwing a serious wrench in the Bills' plans as well as those of fantasy owners who want to lock in on a Buffalo running back for that RB3/Flex spot (neither are worth drafting as one of your top two backs as of right now, although Jackson could establish himself).

That means, however, that you will see each one of them drafted in the later rounds. I'm thinking Marshawn falls to the third or fourth round based on talent and upside and folks willing to wait him out, while Jackson might be available in the sixth or seventh. This is, of course, based on our assumptions right now, but the latter seems like a tremendous steal given that he could end up seeing the most touches out of Lynch, Jackson or Dominic Rhodes (who I'm just dismissing out of principle).

Bills Coaching Staff Wants to Get Fred Jackson 'More Touches' originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tony Gonzalez Deal Gives Values Boost

Ryan Dembinsky — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Bust a Move

In maybe the biggest pre-draft shakeup thus far, the Atlanta Falcons nabbed ten time Pro-Bowl tight end, Tony Gonzalez on the cheap for a mere 2nd round draft pick in the 2010 draft (presumably a late round one at that, the way the Falcons are shaping up). Gonzo made it no secret in recent months that having pretty much solidified his claim as the best tight end of all time - at least for the next five years or so while that other fella from San Diego works through the second half of his career - that he wanted to play for a contender.

This trade should provide immediate fantasy implications, which bode well for just about everybody involved.

Well, besides the Chiefs passing game. This is really the only area to take a hit, but Kansas City has bigger fish to fry, opting to rebuild the team from the ground up via draft picks and youngsters. The Chiefs will be back to contention in a couple years time, but until we see more in terms of who will be in starting spots on this offense, temper expectations for anyone involved. As it stands, Matt Cassell should not under any circumstances be considered anything more than a flier in last couple of rounds, and more likely a waiver wire pickup should he show some early game numbers. The fantasy impact for the Falcon's fantasy pillars should get better pretty much across the board. Matt Ryan obviously gets a big time boost adding the best route running tight end in football to his arsenal of weapons. The big tight end gives him much improved options over the middle and for shorter routes. Tony Gonzalez should likewise provide him an automatic jump in touchdown passes.

Furthermore, Michael Turner will also likely get better as safeties and linebackers will spend a lot of time focusing on Gonzalez and open up some additional running room. Again, the touches may drop a hair, but the reduced focus makes Turner a bigger threat than ever.

Roddy White is perhaps the only Atlanta player whose numbers might falter somewhat thanks to Gonzo's arrival, but this could really go either way. Again, Gonzalez should tie up the safeties and loosen some of the focus on White, inevitably providing him with more one-on-ones, but in terms of targets, he will likely see a drop and his red zone looks will likely decline a bit. I would not go as far as to say this really hampers White's value too much though, as he and quarterback Matt Ryan clearly developed a solid chemistry last season. I would keep Roddy White out of the first three, maybe four rounds of your draft projections (what, you don't have a draft projection yet? pfft.), but if he drops below that, consider him a steal.

All in all, this trade just made the Falcons a lot better and the Chiefs, well, who knows about the Chiefs? Come Monday, Kansas City will look a lot different than they do today. With a new relatively unproven quarterback at the helm, your best bet for the Chiefs is to avoid the passing game, since the best component just left town. More importantly, I think this move affords us the ability to safely consider the Falcons offense one of the most potent and fantasy relevant units in the NFL for next season.

Tony Gonzalez Deal Gives Values Boost originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Sat, 25 Apr 2009 10:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Spin: Jay Cutler to the Bears

Will Brinson — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 19:20:00 EST

Filed under: NFL New Studs, NFL Sleepers, NFL Bust a Move

The Broncos traded Jay Cutler to the Chicago Bears today, ending what was a loooooong and painful saga between he and head coach Josh McDaniels.

In exchange, the Broncos received a 2009 first-round pick, a 2010 first-round pick, a 2009 third-round pick and a player to be named later Kyle Orton. As always, there are fantasy implications:

Jay Cutler -- I think this is a downgrade for Cutler's fantasy stock. He had a horrible defense last year and a wide-open offense that allowed him to get to the Pro Bowl. Additionally, Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal are substantially better than anything that the Bears have to offer in the wide receiver category. If it's a keeper league, I'm not punting on Cutler yet, by any means, but his value takes a dip. Although, because of that dip, there's a pretty good chance he'll be an excellent mid-round "sleeper" (that term is relative with his name value of course) and QB2 material, so don't be surprised if I'm touting him in a few months.

Brandon Marshall -- Um, yeah. Things are not good for Marshall. Not only did he just have surgery -- he'll be fine for training camp next season reportedly -- but he loses a quarterback who he really had a bond with, despite their individual attitude issues and right now his fantasy value plummets with Orton in town. That being said, there's a very strong chance the Broncos will have another quarterback in town before the beginning of the season, so don't freak out and trade him in keeper leagues.

Devin Hester -- This is the spiciest change of them all. Everyone knows that Orton didn't have the deep-ball accuracy to hit Hester when he was blazing go routes on the sideline. But you know who does? Cutler, that's who. Hester's value immediately skyrockets with the improvement from Orton to Cutler, although my gut instinct tells me he's blatantly going to end up being overvalued come draft day.

Greg Olsen -- And here's the second biggest upgrade of everyone involved. Olsen was a nice option at tight end last year, but far from reliable, simply because of Orton's presence behind the line. But don't be fooled; his potential makes him an upper end TE and Cutler's presence should push him up into the "just-past elite" group behind the Antonio Gates and Jason Wittens of the world.

Eddie Royal -- See: Marshall, Brandon, but with less of a hit because of his previous value.

Matt Forte -- Love this for Forte; he goes from being the focal point of the offense to having a guy that can keep defenses honest in Cutler. That should (coupled with the reported signing of Orlando Pace) provide him substantially more room to run in Chicago.

Kyle Orton -- Orton gets a slight upgrade here; I actually think that with Marshall and Royal on board, he suddenly becomes the type of quarterback you gamble on with your second slot if you draft Peyton Manning or Tom Brady. That's, of course, assuming that Orton is actually starting (I don't think he will be) which might be a longshot, but if he is, he gets a bump in value.

Fantasy Spin: Jay Cutler to the Bears originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Thu, 02 Apr 2009 19:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Spin: T.O. to the Bills

Matt Snyder — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Bust a Move

This weekend, future Hall-of-Famer (and Hall of Fame cry-baby) Terrell Owens found a new home. He's going to play for the Buffalo Bills in 2009. We all know he's capable of great things on the field and tons of drama off.

Real football-wise, it's hard to see this ending well. This punk hated Jeff Garcia and Donovan McNabb. How's he going to feel about Trent Edwards' inability to get him the ball in the high winds and sub-zero temperatures this coming December? Still, you can't discount the ability of T.O. to find the end-zone. He does it better than any other receiver.

Let's examine the fallout, player by player.

Stock Rises
Trent Edwards - This can't hurt him. It's just not possible. Locker room problems could surface, but we're talking purely fantasy. Getting to throw to T.O. and Lee Evans should make Edwards a quality fantasy passer. For now, he's a QB2, but there's potential to become a lower-tier QB1 in large leagues.

Marshawn Lynch - We're taking a leap of faith that he'll make it to the regular season as a free citizen. If he does, he's going to have many more running lanes than he did toward the end of last season. Defenses began to overly key on Beast-Mode late in the season, and he was met with eight man fronts with consistency. Adding T.O. to the fray will force opposition to pay more attention to the passing attack.

Stock Falls
Lee Evans - In order to keep the diva happy, the Bills will have to feed T.O. with consistency, and that takes away several of Evans' looks per game. The good news is you won't be disappointed when expecting Evans to finally come through as a consistent WR1. We now know he's definitely not going to be one.

James Hardy - The second-year receiver will now fall to third on the depth chart. He'll likely get some looks from the slot in passing situations, and he's a good second goal-line target (behind T.O.) due to his height. That said, he would have been a nice breakout candidate without Owens in camp. No more, as he won't get nearly enough touches to warrant ownership in most leagues.

T.O. - Yeah, he's departing a prolific offense for the Edwards-led Bills. He'll encounter terrible passing conditions for his last two or three home games as well, which means he has the chance to murder your team in the fantasy playoffs. With lots of company emerging as elite receiving options, I don't like T.O. in the top 10 at his position.

Fantasy Spin: T.O. to the Bills originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Sun, 08 Mar 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Spin: T.O Unemployed

Sean Lalley — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 02:08:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Bust a Move

Big news out of Big "D" at this hour. It only seemed like a matter of time. He's notorious for burning bridges and ripping apart franchises, but it would appear Terrell Owens time has ended with the Dallas Cowboys. Initially the Cowboys were merely flirting with the topic of releasing Terrell Owens, but that's now a reality. Several sources have indeed indicated that Terrell Owens will in fact join the list of those recently out of work.

Where will he land? Does anybody really trust the guy anymore? So who else is impacted? One thing is certain the release of T.O is "huge" news in the fantasy world. He's betrayed many an owner's trust in recent years, but he's come up huge when motivated. Will he in fact be motivated with this upcoming chance, most likely being his last shot? Well, let's take a look at the stock market post T.O release and also take a guess at a few potential suitors.

Stock Rises
Roy E. Williams -- Overshadowed immediately upon arrival and waiting in the wings while learning the offense, Williams was a forgotten man in Dallas. Jerry Jones paid a pretty penny to bring the former Longhorn into town. Is he a wee bit overrated? Maybe, but now he gets to flash his skills as the numero uno option in Dallas.

Jason Witten -- No more fist fights in the locker room. And more importantly no need to make a front on National TV that all is well and T.O is your boy. Yes, Jason Witten can just focus on playing football and in the meantime be even more of a focal point for Tony Romo. There's no longer the element of fear.

Patrick Crayton -- Notice something? Yup, all those who had to sacrifice to keep Terrell Owens happy could very well reap the rewards from his departure. It's still yet to be seen if Crayton has the making of a solid #2 WR in the league or more importantly a FLEX WR in fantasy terms. Either way, consider the T.O release an audition to the open casting call.

Marion Barber, Tashard Choice and Felix Jones -- No more forcing the ball down-field for T.O anymore. The Cowboys expect to boast one of the deepest and most talented backfields in the NFL. A lot of mouths to feed and a lot of carries to be dished out, but this should take some pressure off Tony Romo.

Stock Neutral
Tony Romo -- It'd be easy to just assume that Romo will be better off without having Terrell Owens around demanding the attention. Then again, can you really say that a QB will be better off without one of the greatest WR's off all-time? Tough call, but I say we have to see if the Cowboys add another WR to the mix or at least give Romo some more time to mesh with Williams and company.

Stock Down
TBD

Potential Suitors?
Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings sorely need a WR to help spread the field. Then again, they also need a QB to throw the ball downfield. Although, I'm sure their name will get bantered around - something tells me T.O is NOT their priority.

Chicago Bears: The Bears like other teams have other priorities. However, as a franchise that has longed for a dominant playmaker on the outside...maybe...uh, maybe not.

Jacksonville Jags: He sure couldn't hurt their cause.

Washington Redskins: Considering he's ripped apart a few franchises already and nearly a third one in the Cowboys, it'd be hard to think the Redskins would toss their name into the hat. However, let's not forget it's Daniel Snyder and the lure of having one good run with T.O might be enough.

New York Jets: Sounds like a fit, but then again who is going to throw him the ball.

Oakland Raiders: When all else fails...why not?

Fantasy Spin: T.O Unemployed originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Thu, 05 Mar 2009 02:08:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Spin: Fred Taylor to Patriots

Ryan Dembinsky — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Bust a Move

The Fred Taylor situation is already biting at me from both sides. The good side of the conscious is dressed in white, perched on the left shoulder, and saying, "Dude, it's freaking Fred Taylor. You know he will be hurt by week five and New England's running game will be stuck centering on shuffle passes to Kevin Faulk." On the flip side, the other half of the conscious is dressed in black leather with a pack of cigarettes rolled in his sleeve, sitting on his Harley, saying "Jump on it, man. This is the next genius move by New England. He is going to dominate just like Corey Dillon did when he came into to town and scored 39 touchdowns in three seasons. It's a system that has been missing the key guy, and Taylor is that guy."

In other words, this is a tough call that could really go either way. One thing we know for sure is that this has wide reaching fantasy impact, so let's take a look at the winners and losers in the wake of this bold signing.Bulls (Stocks Rise)

Fred Taylor - Let me make one thing abundantly clear. Fred Taylor has the potential to make one of the biggest impacts in fantasy football next season and I think it will be with his upside, BUT consider this pickup as you would a weighted average of two outcomes. In other words, let's rate Fred Taylor's based on two scenarios: 1) he does become the next New England paydirt magnet like Corey Dillon, in which case he gets a ten rating or, 2) he gets injured and provides little nothing, in which case he gets a one rating. Thus, place a 50% probability on each of these and you get about a five. In other words, only draft him in the middle of the pack. If your opponents want to take him in the first four rounds, let them. Otherwise, aim to draft Fred Taylor only on the cheap. I'd say fifth round or later and he is a steal.

Tom Brady - I think this pickup reaps huge dividends for Tom Brady. With Brady looking to overcome major knee surgery, an upgrade to the running game is critical. This will help keep defenses honest and provide a game breaker in the backfield, taking a lot of pressure off of Brady to come back and totally carry the load.

Randy Moss and Wes Welker - The same applies to Moss and Welker. What is good for Brady is good for the receivers. It's easy to point at Cassel for the drop off in production, but I'm willing to bet if Brady played last season, the results would have been comparable. The lack of a running game will take the burst out of any passing game; regardless of if Randy Moss is involved (see Oakland Raiders).

Maurice Jones-Drew - As if MJD needed any help with his fantasy numbers, he should see an increased workload thanks to the departure of his suitemate, which should translate to more productivity. Beware of injuries if they lean on him too heavily, but I predict MJD skyrocketing into the fantasy stratosphere. He scored 34 touchdowns in three years in a committee, so just imagine what he might do next season. MJD is a top five pick overall.

Bears (Stocks Drops)

Sammy Morris - Morris is probably the only running back with any fantasy value on New England besides Taylor. Morris is 31 years old and struggled to earn a steady spot while given every opportunity last season. He's worth taking as a late round flier as he'll still touch the ball and probably get some goal line duties, but his shot at becoming a real fantasy juggernaut are over.

BenJarvus Green Ellis - As much as I'll miss trying to remember how to type this guys name, this might be the last time. His fantasy value is non-existent from this point forward barring any injury epidemics in the backfield.

Lamont Jordan - Jordan's time in New England will likely come to an end as he is allegedly shopping himself on the open market. Lamont will likely find himself a third sting role, but he's the running back equivalent of Joey Harrington at this point. You only get so many chances in the NFL, before the whole league gives up on you.

Fantasy Spin: Fred Taylor to Patriots originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 18:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Spin: Derrick Ward to Tampa

Sean Lalley — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 00:10:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Bust a Move

For all those secretly coveting and projecting Derrick Ward as the 2009 version of Michael Turner (you know the capable back-up who signs with a new team to be the man) you just might wanna pay attention. Ward just signed with the Tampa Bay Bucs with aspirations of finally being the man.

If another season plagued by knee injuries wasn't the signal of the end for Carnell Williams, this should be. Ward had other suitors in the fold, but chose the re-vamped Tampa Bay offense that is beginning to take on a new shape in the early going of this new regime. You may recall Ward was quite the steady contributor the past few seasons in New York and he caught the eye of many in the fantasy football world after he blistered the Carolina Panthers for 215 yards on National TV. So who else is impacted?

Stock Rises
Brandon Jacobs -- Full steam ahead. Not that Jacobs was technically in a timeshare with Ward, but if anything this along with his new contract solidify him as the soul of the Giants monstrous running game. If he can stay healthy (a big if) he shouldn't slip past the 2nd round.

Whoever plays QB for the Bucs -- It's never hurts a QB's situation to have a solid and reliable running game. You know it's much easier to hand the ball off to a stud then be forced to carry a new offense. Just ask Matt Ryan. The Bucs lost out on he Matt Cassel sweepstakes and most likely Jay Cutler. So, we can assume the Bucs are still in the QB hunt at this hour and even if they turn to Luke McCown...it ain't all that bad.

Antonio Bryant & Michael Clayton -- Again, a lot of this stems on the QB situation, but the notion of a solid running game to open up the passing game seems to be the direction the Bucs are heading. Bryant had a breakout season and lord knows, but the Bucs must have been watching game tape from 2004 and fell in love with Michael Clayton all over again. Regardless, Clayton benefits from a defined role in the offense and the chance to fly under the radar in a new Bucs system.

Ahmad Bradshaw -- Assuming his legal troubles don't get in the way, Bradshaw should see an increased workload in the Giants running game. The void left by Ward gives the Giants a return to the more traditional "Thunder and Lightning" RB tandem.

Stock Falls:
Earnest Graham -- Injuries derailed the once famous "waiver wire wonder" last season. And now, he's clearly looking at a demotion. Of course, no mention has been as such, but you have to consider the facts. Graham will be a nice change of pace and perhaps, goal-line RB, but he's looking at a diminished role in this offense.

Kellen Winslow -- You throw him on this list simply for the fact that he's joining a new offense that could feature a heavy dose of running. That usually means the TE stays back to block and help clear up the lanes. Plus, it's just never been safe to trust Winslow...yet.

Eli Manning -- Look, it may not be a huge impact, but the more weapons you pull away from the guy - the more ordinary and/or average he will appear.

Cadillac Williams -- Um, yeah...no explanation needed.

Fantasy Spin: Derrick Ward to Tampa originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 00:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Spin: Housh to Seattle

Will Brinson — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Sleepers, NFL Bust a Move

T.J. Houshmandzadeh finally made his free agency choice today, taking the Seattle Seahawks up on their offer to pay him $40 million ($15 million guaranteed) over five years.

From a football perspective, Housh's decision is huge: the Seahawks are immediately made better while the Bengals, well, hey, at least they're the Bengals. From a fantasy perspective though, this makes things extremely interesting.

Stock Rises
T.J. Houshmandzadeh -- First of all, in my mind, even though he no longer has the benefit of playing from behind with Carson Palmer as his quarterback, Housh actually takes a step up with this move. Yes, it's true that he's always benefited from having Chad Johnson alongside him and yes, the Seattle offense traditionally spreads the ball around, but this is a guy who had more catches in the past three years than anyone else in the NFL. Suddenly he gets Matt Hasselbeck and the pass-happy, West Coast Seattle offense? Um, yes please.

Matt Hasselbeck -- Again, presuming he's healthy, and assuming that Jim Mora doesn't do anything crazy with the 'Hawks offense, he's finally going to have a big play wide receiver in town. That should do wonder for his numbers and put him back near the elite quarterbacks in 2009.

Chad Johnson -- It's never great when a receiver loses his star counterpart because defenses can focus more of their attention on said star. But that might be just what Ocho Cinco wants anyway. Besides, as long as Palmer's reasonably healthy, he should be able to catch some balls.

Deion Branch -- Another guy for whom a rise seems counter-intuitive, but now Branch gets to operate without having the burden of being a number one receiver. Bobby Engram is basically gone and Courtney Taylor should be relegated to the slot.

Chris Henry -- The oft-troubled wideout is now the defacto number two wideout in Cincy. For better or for worse.

Stock Falls:
Michael Crabtree -- I loved this guy as a rookie wideout heading to Seattle. Now it looks like he's more likely to land in Oakland or San Francisco, depending on how his surgery and the draft pan out. He'll still be a nice first year option, but Seattle would have been a pretty spectacular fit.

Carson Palmer -- Yes, it is odd that 85's value could jump while Palmer's takes a hit. But, when a quarterback loses a guy with as many catches as Housh, his appeal to fantasy players drop. Palmer will still probably be a pretty good bargain, but he'll be a risk too.

Courtney Taylor -- See above, not that it mattered, given his poor production in his rookie year. I actually like Taylor though, so consider him an early "deep sleeper" for my 2009 list in the event of injury.

Fantasy Football Spin: Housh to Seattle originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Mon, 02 Mar 2009 21:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Spin: The New Broncos Offense

Matt Snyder — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 15:35:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Bust a Move

Despite not being a great real football team in 2008, we always knew one thing about the Denver Broncos: They really matter in fantasy football. You're talking about a team who amassed the second most yards in the league. Only two teams passed for more yards, and -- despite the neverending assembly line of running backs -- they managed to average 4.8 yards per carry on the ground.

Heading into 2009, the team will have a different look. For of all, for the first time since I began playing fantasy football, their head coach will not be notorious alleged fantasy-hater, Mike Shanahan.

Enter the incredibly young and relatively inexperienced Josh McDaniels, formerly the coordinator of New England's fantasy-rich offense. We don't know how McDaniels will run the ship on his own, but it's a good bet he's going to utilize their incredible receiving talent in a high-octane passing attack. Here is what we can expect at this point.

Jay Cutler - The big issue here is whether or not Cutler will still be around when the start of the season rolls around. The two sides of the story are that either Cutler demanded a trade after his beloved quarterbacks coach left for USC, or that Cutler found out the Broncos were actively trying to trade him -- making him so upset that he then demanded a trade. Regardless of which side is true, I think we need to take a step back and realize trading Cutler wouldn't be good for the Broncos or Cutler himself. We all should realize just how emotional -- and frankly, he's a bit of a cry-baby -- Cutler can be. This is a huge overreaction through the media, and I firmly believe it will be resolved within the organization. He'll be the Broncos starting quarterback for the foreseeable future.

The New Running Backs - This has a tandem situation -- at least for 2009 -- written all over it. Fantasy owners who thought Denver was spared a running back mess when Shanahan departed were mistaken. Correll Buckhalter is a skilled between-the-tackles runner, while J.J. Arrington is a smallish, outside runner with good speed. Look for Buck to be the short-yardage guy, while Arrington appears in passing situations. Other than that, they'll likely be looking at a split, slightly favoring Buckhalter. Neither back will be a weekly starter, but it's possible that both become useful as flex players in deep leagues at the flex spot.

The Leftover Running Backs - It appears Selvin Young, Ryan Torain, and Peyton Hillis will remain employed with the Broncos, at least until August. If the Broncos had a ton of faith in the three, they wouldn't have brought in Buckhalter and Arrington, because there's no reason to house five running backs. Torain will probably still get the shot at the long-term job, but he won't be healthy until late in the 2009 season. Young will stick around as a third-string option until Torain is back, and Hillis will probably be slid back to fullback.

Brandon Marshall - If he can manage to keep himself out of the police blotter and avoid suspension, he's one of the top five receivers out there. Of course, he finds the aforementioned task of not getting arrested quite difficult.

Eddie Royal - This kid made significant strides his rookie season, and with Cutler still in the fray, Royal will continue to thrive. Along with Marshall, they really have the potential to become the best 1-2 receiving punch in the NFL -- assuming the Cardinals trade Anquan Boldin, of course.

Jabar Gaffney - He should be familiar with McDaniels' offense and will fit nicely into the slot. New England heavily relied on the slot receiver in their record-setting 2007 campaign, so Gaffney should be a nice low-end option heading into the season.

Tony Scheffler - We saw flashes of a studly tight end last season, but injuries and a tad bit of inconsistency derailed those plans. As a 26 year-old, expect him to flourish in this offense with Cutler.

All told, I expect the Broncos to have one of the best offenses in the NFL. McDaniels will bring balance with their new inside-outside duo of running backs while the young skill guys in the passing attack continue to grow as a unit.

Of course, this could all come unraveled if Cutler continues his whiny grandstanding and Marshall receives a hefty suspension. Stay tuned.

Fantasy Spin: The New Broncos Offense originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Mon, 02 Mar 2009 15:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Spin: Cassel to Chiefs

Matt Snyder — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 13:05:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Bust a Move

While other people were hung up on the logistics of the trade this past week -- which sent Matt Cassel to the Chiefs, among other pieces -- I was busy running through the fantasy fallout of the deal. You see, just because our season doesn't start for another six months doesn't mean you should entirely forget about fantasy football during the offseason.

This particular move helps the fantasy value of several people, while also hurting the value of a few others.

Stock Rises
Dwayne Bowe - It would be tough to find a more consistent wideout in the league, but he had his two worst fantasy games with Tyler Thigpen at the helm. With the Chiefs seemingly landing their franchise quarterback, Bowe will continue to blossom into a fantasy beast. Look for him to approach 100 catches, 1,300 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Tony Gonzalez - The veteran tight end had one of the best seasons of his NFL career last year, and the addition of Cassel should keep him happy enough to ease up on the trade requests.

Mark Bradley - He put together a nice stretch after the Cheifs picked him up, gathering 30 catches for 380 yards and three touchdowns in nine games. This time around, he'll have a full training camp as the Chiefs' WR2 and have time to develop a rapport with Cassel.

Tom Brady - The Patriots are known for keeping injury statuses under wraps, but this trade tips their hand a bit. Brady's obviously well on his way to a full recovery, otherwise they wouldn't be dealing their insurance policy in a trade that many believe favors the Chiefs. Upgrade your confidence level in his health a bit.

Randy Moss - While Moss had a good 2008 season, things just weren't the same for him without Brady. Obviously, we can never expect another 2007 again, but you're gonna see a return to the elite tier with Brady back.

Stock Falls
Matt Cassel - This one isn't even close. He leaves a high-octane offense, in which he gets to throw to Randy Moss and Wes Welker, in order to join the Chiefs.

Tyler Thigpen - This trade is a huge blow to the young passer who put together a break-through 2008 season.

Brodie Croyle - While you could have argued he'd have a chance to win the job back from Thigpen, Croyle is now absolutely buried on the Chiefs' depth chart.

Wes Welker - The fall here is ever-so-slight, but there's a bit of a fall. Welker was heavily relied upon early in the season, before Cassel became more comfortable with downfield passing. It's true Welker actually had a better 2007 season with Brady at the helm, but that season was all kinds of absurd when it came to the New England passing attack. With Moss getting more of Brady's attention in '09, you'll see a dip in production from Welker.

Fantasy Football Spin: Cassel to Chiefs originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Mon, 02 Mar 2009 13:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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