Fantasy Football Fanhouse

Fantasy Football Cram Session: Week 10

Matt Snyder — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:15:00 EST

Filed under: NFL New Studs, Podcasts, NFL Start 'Em Sit 'Em

For this week's edition of the FanHouse fantasy football podcast, Tom Herrera and Matt Snyder went through an edition of Sink or Swim. Each team has at least eight games in the books, so we can start drawing conclusions about 2010. Which big names that were drafted in the first few rounds will continue to fail to meet expectations? Can Greg Jennings, Dwayne Bowe and a bevy of others start living up to their draft slot? Also, we come with our weekly Starting Six Pack (Pierre Thomas, anyone?) and Albatross (hello, Clinton). In closing, Mr. Herrera has a few more things to say about his beloved T.O. Take a listen after the jump.

Listen to the podcast above or click here to download mp3.

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Fantasy Football Cram Session: Week 10 originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Cut-N-Go: Roy Williams Jealous of Miles Austin?

Knox Bardeen — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:29:00 EST

Filed under: NFL New Studs, NFL Injury Report, NFL Stash or Trash

Cut-N-Go is Fantasy Football FanHouse's weekday roundup of the NFL news with fantasy football impact.

You can take Terrell Owens out of Dallas, but apparently you can't take the immature and disruptive conduct, that Owens was known for, out of the Cowboys locker room.

Clarence E. Hill Jr.of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram knows that Roy Williams is frustrated with his numbers as a receiver this season. And Williams is quick to tell everyone who will listen that it's not all his fault.

But he wants everyone to know it's not all on him -- especially when passes are high or behind him.

"It makes me look like crap," Williams said. "The only thing that keeps me going is cause I now I'm not. I know what I am. I know what people are trying to make me be. I know I'm not that."

And if throwing Tony Romo under the bus wasn't bad enough, Williams had to make sure that he tried to alienate as many members of the offensive first string as he could.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk wrote about the continuation of Williams' tirade, claiming that he had a little more tact that Owens when T.O. spouted off last season.

"It's not even funny. Not even close... I'm the No. 1 receiver. But things are just going No. 2's way."

"He gets the ball thrown correctly his way," Williams said. "I'm stretching and falling and doing everything. Everybody [else] who's been here's balls are there. Our footballs [from Romo to Williams] are everywhere right now."

Williams may have been a little more diplomatic with his knife in the back of Romo and Miles Austin (Dallas' No. 2 wide receiver) but there is still no good that will come from lashing out. Dallas is on a three game winning streak and Austin and Romo are big parts of that success. If Williams wants to be revered as a No. 1 receiver, something that he's not even close to becoming for Dallas or for fantasy football GM's, extra work on the practice field and in the weight room may be in order instead of crybaby antics.

Other Fantasy Football Notes
o. I'm not sure what's more deserving of a yawn. The fact that Cleveland actually will play in a Monday Night Football game or the fact that we still have to talk about Eric Mangini and his inability to stick with a decision at quarterback. Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer says that Mangini won't name his starter at quarterback until early next week. The Browns are currently in their bye week but play Baltimore on Monday night in Week 10.

o. David Moore of the Dallas Morning News is the provider of music to the ears of fantasy football owners who have held on to Marion Barber. According to Moore, head coach Wade Phillips raved about Barber after practice on Wednesday saying, "More and more, I think we'll see the Marion Barber that we know and love."

o. Even though the 49ers offensive line is shuffling a bit, Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press Democrat says Vernon Davis will not stay back to help in pass protection. Davis has exploded onto the scene this season and his pass-catching skills are too important to San Francisco to take him out of his route running duties.

o. Josh Looney, who is the Kansas City Chiefs Insider, says that newly acquired Chris Chambers could see action this week.

o. Nate Burleson leads the Seahawks in receptions and receiving yards this season and has sporadically returned punts, but Danny O'Neil of The Seattle Times says that he'll take over full-time punt return duties starting in Week 9. This is great news if you're in a league that awards fantasy points for return yards.

o. The San Diego Union-Tribune is reporting that center Nick Hardwick will return to the offensive line for San Diego in Week 9. This is great news for LaDainian Tomlinson.

Fantasy Football Cut-N-Go: Roy Williams Jealous of Miles Austin? originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:29:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Cram Session: An Albatross and a Redemption

Matt Snyder — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:45:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Fantasy Felony, NFL New Studs, NFL Sleepers, NFL Waiver Wire, Podcasts, NFL Start 'Em Sit 'Em

Terrell Owens is an albatross. Mike Sims-Walker redeemed himself after a booty-call inflicted goose-egg. Just how good is Matt Schaub? Does Hakeem Nicks have his "big boy pants" on yet? How big an impact is Michael Crabtree going to have on the 49ers offense? Join Matt Snyder and Tom Herrera for this and much, much more in the Week 7 fantasy football podcast, as we welcome Frank Gore back and mock a fellow employee in the process.

Listen to the podcast above or click here to download mp3.

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Fantasy Football Cram Session: An Albatross and a Redemption originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Miles Austin Earns Expanded Role in Cowboys' Offense

Knox Bardeen — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: NFL New Studs

In Sunday's 26-20 overtime victory over Kansas City, Miles Austin caught a 59-yard touchdown pass with 2:16 left in the 4th quarter to pull ahead of the Chiefs. He wasn't done there though. When Kansas City forced overtime, Austin one-upped his earlier touchdown catch with a 60-yard touchdown reception to end the game.

Austin had ten receptions on the day with those two very important touchdown catches. He also set a Dallas Cowboys record when he tallied 250 receiving yards. Todd Archer of the Dallas Morning-News reported on Monday that head coach Wade Phillips said that Austin would now see an expanded role in the offense.

Normally a backup, Austin saw himself in the role of a starter on Sunday due to an injury to No. 1 receiver Roy Williams. Austin sure made the most of his extra touches and now will see more playing time on the field, even if his position on the depth chart isn't altered.

Wade Phillips would not use the term "starter" when talking about Miles Austin, but he said Austin will see just as much playing time on Oct. 25 against Atlanta as he did Sunday at Kansas City.

Austin now leads the Cowboys in receiving yards on the season with 331 and only tight end Jason Witten has more receptions. It's hard to imagine that Roy Williams will sit once he returns from injury. Inevitably, Patrick Crayton loses touches with this announcement.

Austin is only owned in 12% of Fleaflicker fantasy football leagues and could be a great addition as a WR3 or FLEX option in fantasy leagues.

Miles Austin Earns Expanded Role in Cowboys' Offense originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Cut-N-Go: Willis McGahee Wants More Touches

Knox Bardeen — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:40:00 EST

Filed under: NFL New Studs, NFL Waiver Wire

Cut-N-Go is Fantasy Football FanHouse's weekday roundup of the NFL news with fantasy football impact.

At the end of Week 3 Willis McGahee had rushed for 190 yards and five touchdowns. Even now as Week 5 only has one Monday Night Football game left before it's closed out, McGahee leads the NFL with seven touchdowns. The problem for fantasy football owners is for the last two weeks, McGahee has played no part in the offense.

If you combine Week 4 and Week 5 McGahee has rushed the ball only six times for a total of nine yards. He's only made two receptions for 17 yards and a touchdown over that two-week span as well. After starting the season so well, Edward Lee of the Baltimore Sun says that McGahee is confused about his lack of playing time lately.

But when pressed on the issue, McGahee acknowledged being a little confused about his role with the offense.

"I don't know what's going on," he said. "I was only in there for a little bit. You would think it would have been better than that, but it is what it is."

While the playing time for McGahee has declined dramatically, Ray Rice's numbers have spiked. In the last two weeks Rice has one touchdown and 295 all-purpose yards. McGahee recognizes this.

McGahee was quick to point out that Ray Rice's performance might have factored in the coaches' decisions. Against Cincinnati, Rice rushed for 69 yards on 14 carries and caught seven passes for a career-high 74 yards, including a 48-yard touchdown.

"He had the hot hand, so there really was no need to take him out," McGahee said. "He was doing a good job."

What this means for fantasy owners is that you're never going to get true No. 1 running back statistics from either Rice or McGahee, not while they are entrenched in a running back by committee philosophy. Without an injury to one of these rushers it's going to be difficult to decide, on a week-by-week basis, who to start.

You're going to have trouble trading McGahee. True, he has seven touchdowns. But who's going to pay for those touchdowns after he's only rushed the ball six times over his last two games? You really don't want to trade Rice as he looks to be the back who will get the most touches. Or does he?

It's all confusion and frustration for fantasy owners when involved with a running back by committee approach and NFL coaches couldn't care less about your fantasy needs ... how rude.

Other Fantasy Football Notes
o. According to Joe Henderson of The Tampa Tribune, Michael Clayton is killing himself and hindering Josh Johnson's development by dropping passes. Clayton dropped a ball on a crucial fourth-down play on Sunday and only had three receptions -- even though he was targeted 12 times. Not all of those nine incomplete pass attempts were drops, but Clayton is having some trouble holding on to the ball. The Bucs, on the other hand, have no choice but to keep throwing him the ball as his large contract will keep him in Tampa and the lack of a large talent pool of receivers will force the team to cement Clayton where he is on the depth chart.

o. George Willis of the New York Post claims that Giants coach Tom Coughlin does not like to label his running backs when it comes to who's the main guy. He thinks, though, that Ahmad Bradshaw should be the No. 1 running back on the depth chart ahead of Brandon Jacobs.

o. According to Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean, Titans coach Jeff Fisher said that the move to replace Kerry Collins with Vince Young in Sunday's blowout loss was only a temporary move. Collins is still the starting quarterback.

o. Head coach Andy Reid hasn't said as much, but Rich Hofmann of the Philadelphia Daily News says that Jeremy Maclin is the new No. 2 receiver in Philadelphia after Sunday's two touchdown catches.

o. Ensuring a week of not knowing who will start at quarterback, Nicholas J. Cotsonika of the Detroit Free Press says that head coach Jim Schwartz won't make a decision between Daunte Culpepper and Matthew Stafford until the Lions see how Stafford does this week in practice with his knee injury.

o. The Tribune-Review says that Willie Parker has already mentioned that he might not be able to go in Week 6 against the Browns. With Rashard Mendenhall rushing for 242 yards and three touchdowns as the starting running back over the last two weeks, the question remains -- who cares, other than fantasy owners who have Parker?

o. Sidney Rice got past an injury-plagued 2008 season and is now flourishing in the Vikings' receiver rotation. He's one of six receivers on the Vikings depth chart to have at least ten receptions and is tied for the team lead with 233 receiving yards. Sean Jensen of the Pioneer-Press says it all has to do with confidence. Rice is only owned in 37% of Fleaflicker fantasy football leagues and should be considered as a waiver wire pickup at this point. (Our own Ryan Dembinsky already suggested this last week)

o. Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram says that not only did Miles Austin set a team record with his 250 yards receiving on Sunday -- he may have moved himself up the depth chart to start opposite of Roy Williams as the new No. 2 receiver.

Fantasy Football Cut-N-Go: Willis McGahee Wants More Touches originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Cut-N-Go: When Will Michael Crabtree Suit Up?

Knox Bardeen — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:05:00 EST

Filed under: NFL New Studs, NFL Waiver Wire, NFL Injury Report, NFL Stash or Trash

Cut-N-Go is Fantasy Football FanHouse's weekday roundup of the NFL news with fantasy football impact.

Early on Wednesday morning the San Francisco 49ers and Michael Crabtree, their first-round draft pick, came to an agreement -- ending a long holdout. Financial details haven't been disclosed, and quite honestly aren't relevant to the fantasy football GM. The important question -- when will Crabtree be ready to play?

Matt Maiocco of The Press-Democrat says that it may be a few weeks before Crabtree gets onto the field.

The 49ers are expecting a two-week roster exemption, thus buying them some time before they are required to release a player to create a spot on the team's 53-man roster.

This will allow Crabtree to practice with the team -- something he's supposed to start doing today -- while the team decides who they'll cut once they activate the receiver.

Crabtree will likely not be ready to play by this Sunday when the Atlanta Falcons come to town After that, the 49ers have a bye week and then face Houston on October 25.

That date with the Texans in late October could be the first time fantasy football owners are able to use Crabtree. Look for the 49ers to begin plugging Crabtree into their three-receiver packages to start and then eventually widen his usage over the next few weeks.

Matt Snyder, however, thinks that it might take as many as six weeks for Crabtree to become fantasy relevant.

Other Fantasy Football Notes
o. Adam Schefter of ESPN, via his Twitter stream, says that newly-acquired Braylon Edwards will play Monday night for the Jets.

o. Geoff Mosher of the Wilmington News-Journal, via his Twitter stream, says that Donovan McNabb will play this Sunday and may wear a protective jacket to guard his ribs.

o. Greg Olsen may be off to a slow start according to the number of receptions he has (only ten thus far), but he's caught two touchdown passes and Brad Biggs of the Chicago Sun-Times says that Olsen will be a great force in the red zone. Music to the ears of fantasy GMs.

o. Chalk this up to some not-so-great news for the Miami Dolphins running backs this Monday. Mark Cannizzaro of the New York Post says that Jets coach Rex Ryan is putting lots of thought into stopping the rushing attack led by Ronnie Brown in Miami. When asked about the 200-plus yards the Dolphins have put up running the ball against Indianapolis and Buffalo, Ryan said "I don't think they'll see that this week, though".

o. Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News says that it's possible for Eli Manning to skip practice all week and still play on Sunday. Manning was not able to practice on Wednesday even though his foot feels much better.

o. Jerry McDonald of the Oakland Tribune says with Darren McFadden out for two to four weeks Michael Bush and Justin Fargas will split carries.

o. With defenses focused on DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin, Paul Domowitch of the Philadelphia Inquirer says the middle of the field has been opened up for slot receiver Jason Avant and tight end Brent Celek. Avant has 11 receptions for 111 yards and a touchdown and Celek already has two touchdown catches. Avant and Celek could both flourish in the middle, especially with Donovan McNabb's return close.

o. With the departure of Chansi Stuckey, the Jets' slot receiver position is a void. Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News speculates that Brad Smith will become the Jets' No. 3 receiver but Wallace Wright could see an expanded role in the offense.

Fantasy Football Cut-N-Go: When Will Michael Crabtree Suit Up? originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Coin Flip: Steve Slaton or Chris Johnson?

Sean Lalley — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 05:00:00 EST

Filed under: NFL New Studs, Draft Advice

Today we're focusing on a couple of young running backs who are both primed for big seasons. Many view Chris Johnson as a breakout in the mold of a young LaDainian Tomlinson and it's been said around these parts that Steve Slaton could be in for a Terrell Davis-like campaign. Yes, lofty expectations for both, but who doesn't like either of these guys? You'll find them both entrenched in the Top 10 of our own running back rankings.

However, that doesn't mean we can't agree to disagree as to which guy is the better pick at the end of the first round, right? And so, my colleague R.J. White and I took to the debate. I like Slaton, he likes Johnson ... follow along.

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Lalley: Let's first state the obvious: you can't go wrong with either Chris Johnson or Steve Slaton. But when I'm looking for my "stud" feature RB, I want zero obstacles in the way. As much as I like Chris Johnson, it's hard not see that giant teletubbie in LenDale White looking over his shoulder. White is a lock to pilfer away several of those valuable goal-line touches.

When I look at Steve Slaton I see a dude who has no visible or lurking threat to snatch away those valuable carries and touches. Don't expect Ryan Moats or Chris Brown to make anybody nervous. Slaton has had a full offseason to grasp the zone-blocking scheme and he's the perfect combination of size and speed to flourish as a star in this system. If you don't think he's primed for a monster "breakout" season, I can't help you.

You've gotta love the offense that surrounds Slaton. He's complemented by a fine QB in Matt Schaub and plenty of playmakers with Andre Johnson, Owen Daniels and yes, even Kevin Walter to help spread the field. There's hardly an ounce of pressure on Slaton to be the man that has to do it all.

On the other side, who can we really consider a playmaker that stretches the field for the Titans? Bo Scaife? Come on, it's all or nothing on Johnson's shoulders this season and teams will be gearing up to throw eight-man fronts his way, daring Kerry Collins to beat them. Toss in the fact that Slaton erupted down the stretch and led all rookie RBs in yards, points and touchdowns in his final eight games, while Johnson kinda-sorta faded. And yes, I'm more than confident that the wise pick in the late-first round is definitely Steve Slaton.

White: I'll take a big back spelling my stud any day, as it'll reduce the wear-and-tear on my guy by limiting the punishment he takes between the tackles. With Slaton, that's a definite concern. The team went actively looking for big-bodied backs to alleviate that concern, but the best the Texans could come up with is Chris Brown, who actually is a threat to steal goal-line carries from Slaton. Now, Slaton is a great back on the field, but giving him another 20 touches per game on offense in 2009 would really test his ability to stay on the field at the end of the season. The team recognizes this, and in my mind they will try to limit the work he receives early in the season. To me, he's a late-first, early-second round pick.

You want playmakers in Tennessee? How about Nate Washington, the transfer from Pittsburgh that averaged almost 16 yards per reception? How about Jared Cook, a beast that is already being called "Chris Johnson at the TE position" by his head coach? This passing offense is going to be in much better shape this year, and teams will be unable to play eight-in-the-box defense any longer. Give Johnson even more space to work with, and the sky is the limit.

Johnson saw 294 touches last year, while White received 205. As it gets harder to keep Johnson off the field, I see the balancing act tipping even more in Johnson's favor. Give those touches to Johnson, and you're not looking at a second-tier, late-first round back; you've got yourself a full-blown top-tier guy.

I can't bash Slaton too much, as I have him ranked eighth at the position, one spot behind Johnson. However, I think that one-spot gap represents a tier line, a place where one tier ends and another begins. "CJ4.24" is the last back I would take in the middle of the first round before my focus switches to wide receivers, while I would only draft Slaton late in the first if my WR targets are off the board.

Fantasy Football Coin Flip: Steve Slaton or Chris Johnson? originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Wed, 19 Aug 2009 05:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Not Enough Love for Kevin Smith?

Sean Lalley — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: NFL New Studs, Draft Advice

It happens every single preseason, a few people fall in love with a certain guy and the whispers of "sleeper" and "underrated" get tossed around. Eventually said guy kinda goes from underrated to overrated. Then the next fantasy pundit is ready to pounce on the hype and encourage you to avoid drafting said player. It goes without fail and you've got to take a stance for which side of the fence you're on at some point.

Look, Kevin Smith is certainly no sleeper, but he is in fact hyped in many circles, and on the flip side he's frowned upon in others. Well, I'm among the believers that Smith will be a fine choice as a RB2. I don't care about the team around him, I care about him. He's generally being drafted as about the 16th to 20th running back off the board, which seems just about right. That would make him a decent pick in the second round (maybe a slight reach), but a surefire steal in the third round. Allow me to explain.

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OK, I'm gonna have to pick on somebody here to use as a point of reference. So, let me toss out some numbers at you.

RB No. 1: 1,409 TOTAL yards, 8 TDs, and SIX (3 lost) fumbles in '08.

RB No. 2: 1,262 TOTAL yards, 8 TDs, and TWO (1 lost) fumbles in '08.

Not much of a difference there, right? Well, player No. 1 just happens to be Frank Gore, who many tout as a late first or early second-round pick. And yes, he's hyped as a No. 1 RB. Well, I certainly can't deny a bias about my dislike for Gore and thinking he's overhyped. However, you see where I'm going right? No, I don't think Kevin Smith is a No. 1 RB. Yet, if you can get pretty similar stats as a first-rounder in the third round, sign me up.

The knock on Smith is that his team and his offense is simply horrible. Yes that's true, but why didn't that stop Smith from having a minor breakout season last year as a rookie? Ironically, Smith got way better as the season wore on last year. The reason being he received more touches and he made the most of them. And this was for an 0-16 team simply going nowhere.

Smith averaged just under 89 yards rushing per game to go along with four TDs in his final eight games last year. So much for that rookie wall I'd say. Basically, aside from Calvin Johnson, the Lions had no other choice but to give Smith the green light to see what the rookie could do. It's a hard argument to say he didn't help many a team who took a late-round flier on him down the stretch. Did he receive the hype and accolades of his rookie counterparts like Jonathan Stewart, Matt Forte or Chris Johnson? Of course not.

How about some more numbers? In their final eight games, respectively, Matt Forte averaged 75 yards rushing with five total TDs, Chris Johnson averaged 75 yards rushing with 4 TDs, and Jonathan Stewart averaged 60 yards rushing and 5 TDs. The only rookie to close the season stronger than Smith was Steve Slaton, averaging nearly 94 yards rushing per contest to go along with 4 TDs. Yes, certainly some delicious food for thought.

It begs the question that if Smith could seemingly take over down the stretch on a lousy team last year, why would this year be any different? Trust me when I say this (and not just as a Lions fan), but the Lions will be better this season. They can't possibly be worse. They overhauled the roster and gasp, Daunte Culpepper reportedly looks much better in camp. The Lions will still be terrible, but they aren't going to be a 17-week joke again.

I know there is a common notion that you really don't want to trust a running back on a lousy team, but do you have much of a choice? Do the math: 32 teams in the league with 32 starting RBs -- somebody has to play for a lousy team. Kevin Smith is going to produce this season and he very well could break out to be the stud you were hoping for when you grabbed him as your RB2. The Lions simply have no other option. It's throw the ball to Calvin Johnson or give it to Kevin Smith and let him make something happen. None of the other RBs in Lions camp are even showing a glimpse of a threat to cut into Smith's workload. Sorry, Maurice Morris.

Some say he's overrated, some say he's underrated. I say he's just about right. And if you jump on the good side of the argument, you're gonna have a dude ready for the next level. That ain't all that bad for a third-round pick if you ask me. Of course, you can have your Frank Gore pick and enjoy another season of waiting on a dude who has never scored more than eight rushing TDs in a single season. Smith accomplished that already in his first.

I think I'll take me a slice of the upside. Thanks.

Not Enough Love for Kevin Smith? originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Sat, 15 Aug 2009 10:00:00 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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Beanie Wells Lands in a Superb Fantasy Situation With the Arizona Cardinals

Will Brinson — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 19:50:00 EST

Filed under: Dynasty Diaries, NFL New Studs, NFL Draft Analysis

The Arizona Cardinals, for years, have been "fantasy death." But recently, a resuscitation in the desert allowed the Cardinals to suddenly become valuable to fantasy owners. They drafted Beanie Wells of Ohio State in the first round on Saturday, and that's only more good news for fantasy owners.

See, Wells was supposed to land in a situation that would involve him sharing carries. Instead, word on the street is that Edgerrin James will be released and, if that happens, Wells will find himself in a fantastic situation.

Injuries are a concern with Wells, but here's the good news: because the Cardinals pass so much, there's tons of room to run and he doesn't have to be a total workhorse. For further example, look at what Tim Hightower did last year, emerging as a fantasy stud.

So, presuming James is released, go ahead and pencil in Wells as "that guy" who you want to draft in the sixth to seventh round in a Matt Forte kind of way. He's got the talent, and if he stays healthy, he's a perfect RB3/Flex option that will be relatively cheap.

Beanie Wells Lands in a Superb Fantasy Situation With the Arizona Cardinals originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Sat, 25 Apr 2009 19:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Michael Crabtree Falls to the Niners, Fantasy Spin

Will Brinson — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: Dynasty Diaries, NFL New Studs, NFL Draft Analysis

Michael Crabtree was supposed to be a top five pick. He was supposed to be drafted by the Seattle Seahawks and slot right into the west coast offense that they run. Then the crazy first round of this year's NFL Draft happened and Crabtree was in a freefall.

He landed with the San Francisco 49ers and for fantasy owners, that's freaking horrible news (like finding out you posed for the picture to the right).

Crabtree seemed like the type of guy that could make a legitimately impactful, um, impact in 2009. He's not the fastest guy, he's not the biggest guy, but he might just have been the most talented guy in the entire draft.

So to see him land in a situation where he has to catch balls from either Alex Smith, Shaun Hill or Damon Huard is a major, major disappointment. Of course, as Ryan mentioned, if they can actually land someone to get Crabtree the ball, then it's a different story.

But at this point, it seems destined that Crabtree will perform really well in situations that don't matter, people will hype him up, he'll get drafted in the sixth or seventh round and then he'll disappoint greatly because he doesn't have a competent quarterback. Early reaction: avoid.

Michael Crabtree Falls to the Niners, Fantasy Spin originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Sat, 25 Apr 2009 19:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Knowshon Moreno to the Broncos, the Fantasy Spin

Will Brinson — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Dynasty Diaries, NFL New Studs, NFL Draft Analysis

The Broncos drafting Knowshon Moreno was undoubtedly a shock, considering it was with their first, and 12th overall, pick in the NFL Draft. And it's kind of a shame for fantasy players.

That's because Moreno has a ton of talent, even if he's not a lock-down feature back. But he has nice hands, he has enough speed, and he can break off runs. Which would have made him a perfect fit for the Eagles or the Chargers (although the fantasy boost would have been delayed on both). Instead, he's headed to Denver to work under Josh McDaniels' scheme and alongside Kyle Orton.

Perhaps McDaniels, who used to work for a pretty good Patriots team, might have folks salivating over the prospect of turning Moreno into a dominating running back. One problem: who was the awesome back for those Patriots teams? Exactly -- players were good, not great, and certainly not dominant.

And now Moreno is dealing with Orton. It's an odd pick in real life and one you want to avoid in fantasy, unless you can get him at a steep discount.

Knowshon Moreno to the Broncos, the Fantasy Spin originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Sat, 25 Apr 2009 18:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Darrius Heyward-Bey Taken by the Raiders, the Fantasy Spin

Will Brinson — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 17:15:00 EST

Filed under: Dynasty Diaries, NFL New Studs, NFL Draft Analysis

You know when Herm Edwards loves your pick, you've done something wrong. And he was trying to justify the Raiders selecting Darrius Heyward-Bey, which means if Al Davis can hear him, he should probably realize he's in trouble.

From a fantasy standpoint, Heyward-Bey is actually kind of interesting. He's fast but we're not sure if he can actually run routes. And JaMarcus Russell isn't going to be spectacular just yet. BUT ...

... and, yes, it's a large but ... you'll be able get Heyward-Bey whenever you want in fantasy drafts, and he has some upside because he's so fast and Russell has such a cannon.

He's certainly not worth more than a very late round pick on this Raiders team, and he's certainly a horrible selection by Oakland with Michael Crabtree and Jeremy Maclin still on the board, but, hey: UPSIDE, BABY, UPSIDE!

Darrius Heyward-Bey Taken by the Raiders, the Fantasy Spin originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Sat, 25 Apr 2009 17:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mark Sanchez to the Jets via Cleveland; Fantasy Football Spin

Will Brinson — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Dynasty Diaries, NFL New Studs, NFL Draft Analysis

Mark Sanchez was the wild card heading into this year's draft. He had a limited number of starts at USC and no one knew where he would get drafted, but it still seemed likely that he could be a nice QB2 because his upside in the right system grew exponentially as the draft approached.

If Seattle pulled the trigger on Sanchez, though, his fantasy value would be sunk because Matt Hasselbeck isn't going anywhere right away. Then the Jets made a trade with the Browns and were suddenly in the five spot, causing high-fives and smiles all around in the Sanchez household in California.

And there could be smiles for fantasy owners too -- the word on the street is that people are falling in love with his accuracy, football intelligence and his footwork. And he should start for the Jets from Day 1. Because of that, he has immediate fantasy value -- Jerricho Cotchery and Thomas Jones are nice weapons to have -- as a later round pick.

For keeper leagues, Sanchez, in my opinion, is going to be worth a pretty high pick. There are more talented offensive players -- Michael Crabtree comes to mind -- but Sanchez is going to end up being the most valuable quarterback in this draft, at least from a fantasy standpoint.

Mark Sanchez to the Jets via Cleveland; Fantasy Football Spin originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Sat, 25 Apr 2009 17:00:00 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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Dynasty Diaries: Which Dash Ya Got: DeAngelo Williams or Chris Johnson

Will Brinson — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Dynasty Diaries, Fantasy Football, NFL New Studs

There's no doubt that both Chris Johnson and DeAngelo Williams won a lot of ~~money~~ fantasy championships for owners this year. Johnson was a late round draft pick (although Snyds and I both loved him coming out of the draft) whereas DeAngelo was almost an afterthought with Jonathan Stewart coming into Charlotte (guilty on all fronts here of whiffing this one).

That being said ... who's the better bet for the long term in fantasy? Well, for starters, both appear to be locked into a tandem situation for a while; Stewart and LenDale White are both young and each do a superb job complimenting the two guys we're discussing here. Hence the hysterically overplayed 'Smash and Dash War'. (Again, guilty.)

Outside of "job security" (meaning touches and tandems), there are three other key components for a fantasy running back: big plays, environment and the feature factor. Yes, I am making these up; allow me to explain.

The edge that most folks would hand to Johnson has to be "explosiveness", a.k.a. the big play ... but that's kind of a tough argument to simply hand to the faster guy if you happened to watch Williams play at any point this year. Johnson is lighting quick, for sure, but when DeAngelo can cuts back to the outside, he looks almost unstoppable.

Environment -- thinking here of the rest of the team -- might actually be closer to a push. Yes, normally we would say that Jake Delhomme is better than Kerry Collins, but given Delhomme's game against the Cardinals and the final few months of the season, it's kind of tough to make that argument and feel good about yourself. The Titans defense is better, certainly, but the Panthers other offensive weapons and an offensive line that appears to be gelling quickly makes up for that.

So, presuming that Johnson is ahead -- I'll give him the BOOM factor for argument's sake -- with just the "feature factor" remaining, it seems pretty clear to me that DeAngelo is your pick for the future. Who had more touchdowns this year? Easy -- Williams. Why? Again, easy -- LenDale.

Stewart may take away from some of Williams' goal line touches, but for the most part, John Fox utilized them in the red zone on an equal basis. Jeff Fisher's choices with White and Johnson were vastly different, almost always utilizing the, um, heftier White around the end zone.

Couple in the fact that DeAngelo is far more likely to become "the man" in the sense of getting a full season, every game carry load, and it seems pretty simple (although either one is a great choice) that going forward, Williams is your selection in fantasy keeper leagues.

Dynasty Diaries: Which Dash Ya Got: DeAngelo Williams or Chris Johnson originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Fri, 16 Jan 2009 09:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ranking the Rookie Runners: The Finish Line and Looking Ahead

Sean Lalley — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 22:30:00 EST

Filed under: Dynasty Diaries, Fantasy Football, NFL New Studs

Let's face it, this year was all about the Rookie RB when talking about fantasy football. Depending on the scoring system for your league, three rookies most likely finished in the Top 10 RB producers. This made for arguably the single greatest rookie RB class in recent memory, not only from a realistic perspective, but also for fantasy purposes.

Is this the new trend and will we lust over the rookie class next season as we prepare for our drafts? Well, let's not jump the gun just yet. However, what we can depend on will be the spiked draft day values of the returning sophomore class. Many of these talents have already become mainstays on the fantasy football horizon.

And so today, we take a quick look back at the season that was, but more importantly gage the values of this heralded class moving forward. Follow along and in order...
Chris Johnson: Say hello to the star. Dude is ready to break away from the pack. He's got stardom waiting around the corner and many would argue that had he been on the field the entire game against Baltimore this past weekend, the Titans would be playing for the AFC Championship. Well, looking forward it's hard to find a more lucrative player at his position. He reeks of upside and we've seen the potential come to fruition. Dominance for years to come is on the radar and LenDale White is in the rear view...eating a pizza.

Matt Forte: Forte put up a monster season and at times (well most of the time) carried an otherwise lackluster Bears offense. He was leaned heavily upon and produced instant star fantasy RB caliber statistics. He's certainly arrived in fantasy football terms and he's going to be in it for the long haul. Look for Forte to draw considerable less hype than somebody like Chris Johnson, but he'll be equal in reliability.

Kevin Smith: One would have to believe that Rudi Johnson is no longer in the picture. Smith gave a late surge down the stretch to topple 1,000 total yards to go along with 8 TD's. Aside from Calvin Johnson, he's the only real glimmer of hope the Lions organization can hang onto. Already expectations are on the rise for K-Smith heading into next season. His fantasy value will no doubt spike to new heights with realistic goals of 1,200 total yards and double digit TD's. Look for him to build upon his hot close to '08 and be a commodity come fantasy draft time next season.

Steve Slaton: The keys to the Ferrari are all his. OK, so maybe the Houston offense isn't quite that extravagant, but it's still a young creative offense with several budding stars. And the ground attack belongs solely to Slaton after he brushed aside would be competition (um, and Ahman Green's knee) to become the full time feature. He most likely helped many in their push to the playoffs and beyond. Is he first round material next season? No, but he's certainly not the second coming of Dominick Davis. If he's on the board in Round 3...I'd consider that a steal.

Felix Jones: Something just tells me that Marion Barber's audition as the full-time RB in Dallas didn't go as planned. Barber struggled to stay healthy down the stretch and couldn't fully be trusted. When healthy, we saw the burst and game-changing ability of Felix Jones. Does it come as a surprise that the Cowboys ship began to sink when Jones and slew of other injuries hit the team? He's going to be thrust into more looks n' touches next season and if he can stay healthy, he'll be a fantasy star.

Darren McFadden: I'd love to say that McFadden is going to evolve into the next Priest Holmes/LT/AP that we've all anointed him to be. However, let's face the reality of the fact that his team stinks and he's still gonna split carries with either Michael Bush or Justin Fargas. I'm with everyone else that the Raiders should've just gone at the final month of the season with simply McFadden to see what they had. And I'm with everyone that he can and should be a star. Yet, as it stands right now...I think his stock should be tempered heading into next year's draft.

Jonathan Stewart: Don't sleep on J-Stew. While everyone will be slurping the DeAngelo Williams kool-aid, I just don't see a repeat of last season. No, I'm not saying Stewart will overtake D-Will for the starting gig. Rather, I just don't think D-Will is gonna erupt again as he did and thus, there will more of a timeshare. And to that notion, J-Stew wasn't all that bad with the touches he got this past season. He'll be overlooked, but he's a smart investment for those who can afford to be patient.

Ray Rice: The "little engine that could" should get more chances to shine next season. He's still somehow gotta supplant Willis McGahee and/or LeRon McClain, but when given the chance this past year he delivered. He's still certifiable via the "sleeper tag" for next season. However, don't be surprised if he pulls a late season surge for some lucky owner who takes the late round flier. Think Pierre Thomas circa 2008. Is that too lofty?

Rashard Mendenhall: Injuries derailed his debut season in Pittsburgh. And judging by the way Willie Parker's season was going (prior to the playoffs), Rashard was looking at a ripe opportunity to be the man heading into next season. Well, he may very well still get that chance. In the least, he'll see plenty of work in the red-zone, which we all love to hear in fantasy football.

Tim Hightower: Will he or won't he be the man? Best guess is that Edgerrin James is on his way out of town. However, does that mean that Hightower has what it take to be the full-time featured RB? Um, his porous yards per carry average would suggest otherwise. However, his nose for the end-zone speaks to ears of fantasy footballers everywhere. He's not a bad option as a Flex or reserve RB...right now.

Ranking the Rookie Runners: The Finish Line and Looking Ahead originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Thu, 15 Jan 2009 22:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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