Lessons from the Titans-Raiders game

by | Aug 15, 2008 | Fantasy Football, NFL News

I didn’t catch the first quarter of the Tennessee v Oakland game Friday night but it only took a quarter to learn two lessons.

First, Tony Siragusa is one of the worst sideline reporters in the history of football. He stands on the sideline making stupid wisecracks and adds nothing to the Fox broadcasts, just like two or three years ago when the only difference was that he did the same thing only louder.

Second, damn, Chris Johnson is fast. The Titans’ Lightning to Lendale White’s Thunder doesn’t appear to have the softest hands when it comes to catching the ball. But whether it’s running outside or busting up the middle the fastest rookie at the 2008 NFL Combine in Indianapolis (4.24 40-yard dash) translates that speed to the field well.

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McNabb looks good, Delhomme looks … rushed

by | Aug 14, 2008 | Fantasy Football

While the Carolina Panthers and Philadelphia Eagles wait out a lightning delay in Charlotte it’s a good time to make some fantasy football observations about two quarterbacks coming off of injury seasons. During the first 10 minutes of play Donovan McNabb looks reasonably sharp.

He’s connected with four receivers mostly on short routes hitting them in stride and letting them run after the catch. One such play went to Brian Westbrook on first down. He caught a three or four yard pass and turned it into a 14 yard gain. McNabb also hit rookie DeSean Jackson with an 11-yard catch along the sidelines on one third down.

After going 10 for 13 for 97 yards with a touchdown last week against Pittsburgh McNabb appears to be in regular season form. Fox Sports also talked during the pregame show about how McNabb and coach Andy Reid spent more time talking this offseason allowing McNabb to go into the season not only more physically healthy than he has been since tearing an ACL in 2006 but also mentally healthy.

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Cards plan to use James more as receiver

by | Aug 11, 2008 | Fantasy Football

The Arizona Cardinals have had more bad years than good ones over the past decades, perhaps in part because when they do have decent players they don’t use them right?

I’m guessing on that for the most part. But it’s definitely true in the case of Edgerrin James, whom they acquired during free agency from Indianapolis in 2006. In his two seasons in Phoenix James has caught 38 and 24 passes, the latter tying for his lowest production out of the backfield in his career.

The previous seven with the Colts he never had fewer than 44 catches in a season during which he played more than six games – and the year he hurt his knee, 2001, he was on pace to have another 64 catches for more than 500 yards.

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Raiders drafted … Bo Jackson?

by | Aug 11, 2008 | Fantasy Football

ESPN’s Chris Mortenson reported during halftime of the Bengals/Packers game that the Oakland Raiders believe they’ve drafted the reincarnation of Bo Jackson in Darren McFadden, the top draft pick they plan to feed in the running game and out of the backfield.

Actually this is turning into the season of the rookie running back, at least so far. McFadden reportedly was impressive in his first game. Mortenson also cited Dallas’ Felix jones and Tennessee’s Chris Johnson, who busted off a 66-yard touchdown, as rookie runners with a chance to make an impact this season.

“Those three guys are just among the young running backs to keep an eye on,” he said.

It’s been said here at Zoneblitz that Carolina’s Jonathan Stewart will be the top running back of the 08 draft class. I stand by that despite my brother’s uncovering of a toe injury that has had him slowed so far. But I would take Johnson or McFadden on any fantasy team I am operating this year, if for no other reason than a relative dearth of other options on those teams’ rosters.

Bears’ Williams out 10-12 weeks

by | Aug 9, 2008 | Fantasy Football, NFL News

Avoiding injuries is vital for the success of most NFL teams, especially those already short on talent in several key areas.

Chalk up another rough break for the Chicago Bears, who learned Friday that rookie left tackle Chris Williams will miss 10 to 12 weeks after surgery to repair herniated disk in his lower back.

While the Bears told the Chicago Tribune that they have no plans to put Williams on injured reserve, the news leaves the receiver-less, quarterback-less Bears also short the guy they hoped would protect the blind side of whichever of two starting quarterback candidates sucks less during the preseason through at least week 9.

If you had yet to remove Rex Grossman, Kyle Boller or any of the Chicago receivers from your fantasy cheat sheets this news should be the last dagger in any hopes you had for them. Rookie running back Matt Forte reportedly looked okay in Thursday preseason action, but I’d drop him a notch on this news. He’s probably a fine back but he’s got an uphill battle ahead of him this season.

All in all this is a tough start to the 2008 season after a rough offseason and a far below expectations 2007. Not a good start.

LaMont Jordan sees extensive time

by | Aug 8, 2008 | Fantasy Football, NFL Random Thoughts

Most mornings I keep the television off – it’s too easy a source of distractions while I try to get some real work done. But this morning I had it on with the sound off when NFL stats from last night started scrolling by. One line that jumped out at me was LaMont Jordan’s 19 carries.

The former Jet and Raider utilized those carries well, rumbling for 76 yards and one touchdown. Again, I try not to put too much stake in preseason football. But when I saw that I mentally moved Laurence Maroney’s down on my as-of-yet put-to-paper fantasy draft cheat sheets.

It’s not that I think Maroney is a bad running back or that he is going to be replaced as the starter in New England. But Bill Belichick last year seemed to show a preference for a more hard-nosed running style as opposed to Maroney’s breakaway style. Sammy Morris, before getting hurt, received 85 carries in six games, scoring three touchdowns before Maroney even once broke the stripe.

Maroney certainly came on toward the end of the season and into the playoffs and in games where Belichick needs to run more than pass I would expect that he will get a plurality of the carries, if not a clear majority. But in games where the coach thinks he can open up the deep passing game by pounding away with runs in between the tackles with a couple battering rams like Jordan and Morris, don’t discount the possibility that Maroney could become a non-factor in those games – much like he did at times last season.

I don’t expect Tom Brady to duplicate 50 touchdowns or Moss to match his 22. But Belichick loves the deep ball and at times it seems he feels more apt to get there without Maroney rather than with him.