Fantasy Football News 2013/2014

[HacheMan]

Week 6 flex ranks: Gotta love Da Bears!

Eric Karabell

6Tweet4
Comments5
Email
Print
Perhaps it seems that the only thing going on this week is the pending return of New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, but trust me, there's a lot more to discuss! In fact, there are 100 running backs, wide receivers and tight ends ranked below, in order of preference, at least for me. We don't expect you to agree with them! But it's one man's opinion, and perhaps it will make you think a bit before making the vital decision of who belongs in your flex spot.

Remember to use all the awesome information presented to you by the ESPN Fantasy staff to augment your decisions -- not make them for you -- and if you still have questions or a unique scoring system, try us on Twitter or in one of our many chats. As for my Wednesday chat session, here is the link! And here are the Week 6 staff rankings.

<OFFER>Good luck to all in Week 6 and beyond!

1. Adrian Peterson, RB, Vikings: His owners really miss him when he's on bye.

2. Arian Foster, RB, Texans: Now is a good time to deal for him. He's looking top-notch again.

3. Jamaal Charles, RB, Chiefs

4. Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seahawks

5. LeSean McCoy, RB, Eagles: The Giants shut him down when Michael Vick left the game for Nick Foles. Hopefully that's just a coincidence since Foles will be starting this week.

6. Matt Forte, RB, Bears: Gotta love his upcoming schedule against the Giants and Redskins. Also, he's sixth among all flex-eligible players in standard scoring this season.

7. Jimmy Graham, TE, Saints: Meet the guy who is first overall among non-quarterbacks in standard fantasy scoring. Wow!

8. Doug Martin, RB, Buccaneers: He has 100 rushing attempts in four games. That's 25 totes per game, you non-math majors. And he catches passes, too. Don't give up on him.

9. Dez Bryant, WR, Cowboys: No more shootouts with Denver, but he still plays in the NFC Least.

10. Demaryius Thomas, WR, Broncos

11. Ray Rice, RB, Ravens

12. Knowshon Moreno, RB, Broncos: Anyone else remember him being this good years ago? Didn't think so.

13. Wes Welker, WR, Broncos

14. A.J. Green, WR, Bengals: Can you imagine this guy in Denver with Peyton Manning? Or even in Atlanta with Matt Ryan. Andy Dalton just isn't doing Green any favors.

15. DeMarco Murray, RB, Cowboys

16. Reggie Bush, RB, Lions: He needs Megatron to be healthy more than anyone thought. Fortunately, the stud receiver likely will return this week.

17. Torrey Smith, WR, Ravens: He has become a stud.

18. Alfred Morris, RB, Redskins

19. Brandon Marshall, WR, Bears: Great matchup this week, but he's not ranked as high as usual because he's banged up and the Bears might not need much from him.

20. Calvin Johnson, WR, Lions: Welcome back!

21. Victor Cruz, WR, Giants

22. Trent Richardson, RB, Colts

23. Frank Gore, RB, 49ers

24. Eddie Lacy, RB, Packers: And you thought the Packers wouldn't run the ball enough.

25. Randall Cobb, WR, Packers: Luckily, Aaron Rodgers still throws quite a bit, too.

26. Jordy Nelson, WR, Packers

27. Fred Jackson, RB, Bills: I still like his teammate (below) more for the rest of the season, but Jackson scores double-digit fantasy points every week. Hard to argue with that.

28. C.J. Spiller, RB, Bills

29. DeSean Jackson, WR, Eagles: Has had trouble on "Revis island" in the past, so perhaps this rank is generous.

30. Eric Decker, WR, Broncos

31. Jason Witten, TE, Cowboys

32. Chris Johnson, RB, Titans: Salvaged Week 5 with a receiving touchdown, but for those who thought the upgraded offensive line would save him, it's not happening so far.

33. Julius Thomas, TE, Broncos

34. Pierre Garcon, WR, Redskins

35. Reggie Wayne, WR, Colts

36. Antonio Brown, WR, Steelers

37. Josh Gordon, WR, Browns: It seems there's very little chance he'll get traded, but he should still produce with Brandon Weeden at quarterback.

38. DeAngelo Williams, RB, Panthers: You're running out of time to sell high here, if it's not already too late.

39. Alshon Jeffery, WR, Bears: He's no Brandon Marshall, but he's a must-own at this point, especially given the favorable upcoming schedule.

40. Willis McGahee, RB, Browns: I don't think he'll catch Trent Richardson in the ranks anytime soon, but wouldn't it be interesting if he did?

41. Le'Veon Bell, RB, Steelers

42. Andre Johnson, WR, Texans

43. Vincent Jackson, WR, Buccaneers: Yes, he has a rookie quarterback, but the Eagles' secondary is not strong. That's an understatement …

44. Hakeem Nicks, WR, Giants: … as Mr. Nicks can attest from Week 5.

45. Gio Bernard, RB, Bengals: It's time to stop whining about why he doesn't get more touches and just enjoy him as a flex option.

46. T.Y. Hilton, WR, Colts

47. Bilal Powell, RB, Jets: Got 27 carries a few weeks ago, but his second-most rushing attempts in a game is 14. So be careful here.

48. James Jones, WR, Packers

49. Darren Sproles, RB, Saints: Not exactly putting up big numbers.

50. Danny Woodhead, RB, Chargers: He's outdoing Sproles at his own game! No running back has more receptions.

51. Jordan Cameron, TE, Browns: Don't go panicking here. Weeden will throw to him plenty.

52. Marques Colston, WR, Saints: Quiet start for him. Could be falling out of WR2 territory.

53. Steve Smith, WR, Panthers: Speaking of falling out of WR2 territory.

54. Anquan Boldin, WR, 49ers

55. Justin Blackmon, WR, Jaguars

56. Antonio Gates, TE, Chargers

57. Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Cardinals: Shame on everyone for believing in Carson Palmer. Of course, Fitzgerald hasn't exactly been 100 percent himself physically.

58. BenJarvus Green-Ellis, RB, Bengals

59. Danny Amendola, WR, Patriots

60. Cecil Shorts, WR, Jaguars

61. Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jaguars: Time to forget about the good ol' days.

62. Greg Jennings, WR, Vikings: With Josh Freeman ready to step in, perhaps Jennings' season is about to get considerably better.

63. Vernon Davis, TE, 49ers

64. Rob Gronkowski, TE, Patriots: I admit that if I have him, I'm likely starting him, but keeping my expectations in relative check.

65. Stevan Ridley, RB, Patriots: I have few expectations left for this fellow.

66. Dwayne Bowe, WR, Chiefs: It's really not Alex Smith's fault here. It's Bowe.

67. Steve Johnson, WR, Bills: And here comes the practice squad quarterback. Good luck, Stevie!

68. Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Cardinals

69. Andre Ellington, RB, Cardinals: He's ranked one spot after Mendy, and this might be the last time that happens.

70. Denarius Moore, WR, Raiders

71. Julian Edelman, WR, Patriots

72. Joique Bell, RB, Lions: Hope you sold high! I expected more from him on a consistent basis.

73. Mike Williams, WR, Buccaneers

74. Terrance Williams, WR, Cowboys: Newcomer of the week, and he has skills. We'll see what happens when Miles Austin returns, though.

75. Greg Olsen, TE, Panthers

76. Bernard Pierce, RB, Ravens

77. Austin Pettis, WR, Rams: Top receiver on the Rams, not that it matters much.

78. Keenan Allen, WR, Chargers: He's an emerging talent, someone to get now to add depth.

79. Pierre Thomas, RB, Saints: Have to think he won't get 19 carries in a game again anytime soon. After all, he had 29 through four games.

80. Marlon Brown, WR, Ravens

81. Marcel Reece, RB, Raiders: Sleeper pick if he's the last man standing in the Oakland backfield this week.

82. Zac Stacy, RB, Rams: Next week he could be 60 spots higher in these rankings or off the list entirely. It's the Rams.

83. Martellus Bennett, TE, Bears

84. Emmanuel Sanders, WR, Steelers

85. Kenbrell Thompkins, WR, Patriots

86. Ben Tate, RB, Texans: Well, Ben, hold on to the football and perhaps your carries won't keep dropping.

87. Golden Tate, WR, Seahawks: Oh, this reminds me, go get Percy Harvin now, just in case.

88. Donnie Avery, WR, Chiefs

89. Michael Floyd, WR, Cardinals

90. Rashad Jennings, RB, Raiders

91. DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Texans

92. Vincent Brown, WR, Chargers

93. Brandon Jacobs, RB, Giants: Sad that it's come to this. So sad.

94. Garrett Graham, TE, Texans: He's a hot pickup now that Owen Daniels is out.

95. LeGarrette Blount, RB, Patriots

96. Nate Washington, WR, Titans

97. Jeremy Kerley, WR, Jets

98. Eddie Royal, WR, Chargers

99. Jermichael Finley, TE, Packers

100. Daryl Richardson, RB, Rams

Others: Brandon Bolden, RB, Patriots; Rueben Randle, WR, Giants; Da'Rel Scott, RB, Giants; Ronnie Hillman, RB, Broncos; Coby Fleener, TE, Colts; Chris Givens, WR, Rams; Donald Brown, RB, Colts; Santana Moss, WR, Redskins; Chris Ivory, RB, Jets; Mike Goodson, RB, Jets; Robert Woods, WR, Bills; Heath Miller, TE, Steelers; Ronnie Brown, RB, Chargers; Ted Ginn, WR, Panthers; Montee Ball, RB, Broncos; Leonard Hankerson, WR, Redskins; Bryce Brown, RB, Eagles; Kendall Hunter, RB, 49ers.

 

[HacheMan]

Jackson, Moreno unlikely top-10 RBs

By Christopher Harris | ESPN.com

Don't forget I do a twice-weekly podcast called the Fantasy Underground, where Field "Infinite Jest" Yates and I discuss what we've seen on film, and how it relates to your fantasy team. Subscribe on iTunes; that way you'll never miss a show! And while you're at it, follow me on Twitter at @CHarrisESPN. All right, let's get to today's topics:

Three in depth

1. The two most surprising top-10 RBs so far: I know it seems as though 2013 has been a particularly strange season for running backs. We've seen one supposed No. 1 RB (C.J. Spiller) play barely like a flex, while guys such as Doug Martin, Alfred Morris, Ray Rice and Trent Richardson haven't lived up to their high standards. Some supposed No. 2 RBs have been utter disasters, as Steven Jackson, Stevan Ridley, David Wilson and Maurice Jones-Drew have cratered. But the truth is that there's a fair amount of order so far at the top, with a couple of exceptions:

[h=3]Top 10 Fantasy RBs, This Season[/h]

		Fantasy PPG
1	Adrian Peterson	19.0
2	Jamaal Charles	17.6
3	LeSean McCoy	16.8
4	Matt Forte	14.4
5	Marshawn Lynch	13.4
6	Fred Jackson	13.4
7	Knowshon Moreno	12.8
8	DeMarco Murray	12.2
9	Arian Foster	12.2
10	Reggie Bush	11.8

<THEAD>
</THEAD><TBODY>
</TBODY>

Fred Jackson is a 32-year-old running back who was supposedly buried behind Spiller. Remember when new Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone told reporters he was going to use Spiller until he vomited? (Never listen to coaches! They lie!) Now we're left in guesswork territory, not knowing whether Jackson is actually the backfield starter. Knowshon Moreno is still only 26 but has been left for dead in the Denver Broncos backfield multiple times in his four-plus-year career. Now he's the unquestioned starter for the NFL's best offense. What do we make of these two players? Are they here to stay?

Moreno's case seems clear cut. Simply put, the two youngsters who were supposed to play ahead of him this year have flamed out. Montee Ball, my preseason pick for Fantasy Rookie of the Year, shows occasional flashes but always seems to make a mistake, whether it's fumbling, failing in blitz pickup, or choosing the wrong hole. Ronnie Hillman has been less terrible than Ball and operates as Moreno's backup, but he mostly has made plays catching the ball in blowouts. Meanwhile, against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 5, Moreno's very first carry was a neon-sign indication that he's entrenched as a starter. On a second-and-20, he was stuffed at the line but kept his balance (the Cowboys challenged that he was down, but lost) and wound up spinning away from traffic to gain 16. Now, anyone who's proclaiming Moreno looks "reborn" and is somehow much faster than we remember him is, I think, whistling Dixie (or not watching tape). Moreno's terrific start is related first and foremost to defenses fearing Peyton Manning. Again and again Sunday, you saw the Cowboys essentially play six men in the box -- four down linemen and two linebackers -- so that when Manning handed to Moreno out of the shotgun, there was a ton of open space. Check out these numbers:

[h=3]Knowshon Moreno, Week 5 at Cowboys[/h]

	Carries	Yards
Total	19	93
Shotgun or pistol formation	15	65
6 men or fewer in the box	16	76

<THEAD>
</THEAD><TBODY>
</TBODY>

Whereas any other NFL running back occasionally has to face stacked defensive fronts, Moreno almost never does. And tons of open spaces tend to make rushers look like they're spry and elusive. Moreno isn't (which is why I call him "Slowshon"). But as long as he stays healthy -- no sure thing for a player who'd missed 18 of a possible 64 career games entering '13 -- things don't figure to change for Moreno. Thanks to Manning, he's locked in as a must-start in fantasy.

I wish things were so clear for Jackson. First off, we should begin with his injury history: Each of his past two seasons were ended by serious leg injuries, and he's the only RB in the NFL who's 32 or older and has a carry this season. My gut tells me he simply won't last getting 16.4 touches per game. Meanwhile, Spiller is averaging 16.6. Here's how the week-to-week workload has gone:

[h=3]Buffalo Bills RB usage this season[/h]

	Jackson carries	Jackson catches	Spiller carries	Spiller catches
Week 1	13	4	17	5
Week 2	12	5	16	3
Week 3	7	4	10	1
Week 4	16	0	23	0
Week 5	17	4	8	0

<THEAD>
</THEAD><TBODY>
</TBODY>

That, friends, is a platoon, plain and simple. (Spiller was somewhat limited last Thursday because of an ankle injury, but is reportedly healthy again now.) It would be easy for me to complain about how the Bills are using Spiller. His first carry against the Cleveland Browns was a sweep on an inside handoff, pure east/west stuff that makes him look hesitant and slow. But here's a hard truth: With 1:09 left in the second quarter, they ran basically the same play for Jackson, and he knocked it out of the park, decisively turning upfield and creating a 9-yard gain. I think I can make the argument that Jackson is just a better player in close quarters: more decisive, less prone to dancing, obviously bigger and more physical, and perhaps a better fit for a Bills O-line that doesn't create a ton of room.

That said, there's one thing Spiller has that Jackson (and most NFL rushers) doesn't. On his lone good run last Thursday, Spiller rushed right, cut back, saw Barkevious Mingo stymied at the line by Scott Chandler, and saw T.J. Ward fire too quickly up through the hole. And Spiller had the freakish acceleration to push further outside to the left, find tons of running room, and take it to the house. This week, with Thad Lewis under center, you'd expect each Bills RB to get a lot of work. Even against a tough Cincinnati Bengals front seven, I'd be OK using either guy, though I did rank Jackson slightly ahead of Spiller for the first time this season.

2. Deep shots haven't been a path to QB glory: A truism I've often lived by when it comes to fantasy quarterback analysis is: I want the guys who take shots. Winning fantasy football often means harnessing big plays, and so we tend to gravitate toward the bold and away from the game managers. Oddly, though, my impression through five weeks is that the best fantasy QBs aren't swashbuckling all that much. Who are the signal-callers we typically think of in this regard? Matthew Stafford, Tom Brady and Drew Brees come to mind as perennial shot-takers. And last year, Andrew Luck based much of his breakout season on leading the NFL in attempts that traveled 20 yards or more in the air.

We're still in the land of small sample sizes (something that vexes hyperbolic NFL analysts who desperately wish to proclaim this team "talent-less" or that division "horrible"). Nevertheless, the numbers seem to back up my impression that the best fantasy QBs aren't the ones firing it as deep so far in '13:

[h=3]Most Attempts Per Game of More Than 20 Yards
This Season[/h]

		Attempts PG	Fantasy PPG Rank
1	Ben Roethlisberger	6.8	27
2	Eli Manning	6.2	26
3	Aaron Rodgers	5.8	5
4	Drew Brees	5.4	2
5	Christian Ponder	5.3	23
6	Andrew Luck	5.3	8
7	Joe Flacco	5.2	31
8	Geno Smith	5.0	20
9	E.J. Manuel	5.0	29
10	Cam Newton	5.0	17

<THEAD>
</THEAD><TBODY>
</TBODY>

Outside of Rodgers, Brees and Luck, this isn't exactly a murderers' row of fantasy awesomeness. Last season, the only QB who finished in the top 10 in per-game attempts of 20 or more air yards who didn't finish as a top-20 fantasy QB was Michael Vick, and he missed six starts.

Is this a real change, or is it just the proverbial small sample size? And if it is a real change -- if downfield passing is now more the domain of the come-from-behind losers, rather than the swashbuckling winners -- does it imply a change in the way we evaluate our fantasy QBs? I'm not entirely sure. But I do know that nobody should mistake Peyton Manning and his late-career explosion in '13 for someone who's making huge long throws. Manning has averaged only 4.2 such attempts per game so far this season. That's not exactly Alex Smith territory (Smith has a grand total of nine such attempts in five games!), nor is it a condemnation of Peyton's arm strength, about which I raised questions this summer. Rather, it's an indication that Mr. Manning can hurt you without even having to bring out the big guns.

3. The vexing case of T.Y. Hilton: It would be so much easier if Darrius Heyward-Bey didn't possess the power to hypnotize coaches, wouldn't it? DHB is the Indianapolis Colts' No. 2 wideout. You don't like it. I don't like it. But for the moment, there's no escaping it. Offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton calls a lot of two-wide, and when he does, Hilton mostly sits. Here's the distribution of Colts formation types through five games:

	No. of Snaps
0 or 1 WRs	60
2 WRs	93
3+ WRs	169

<THEAD>
</THEAD><TBODY>
</TBODY>

Now, the Colts aren't the San Francisco 49ers (who run only 27 percent of their offense out of three-plus-WR sets) or Houston Texans (30.9 percent), but they do rank 11th in lowest percentage of three-WR sets used. For context, the Green Bay Packers run 90 percent of their offense with three-plus wideouts, and the Philadelphia Eagles do it 81.4 percent of the time. Consider that Luck is tied for 18th in pass attempts out of three-wide formations. Also consider that Hilton has run exactly 11 routes out of two-WR sets, while Reggie Wayne has run 47 and DHB has run 27. Listen, Hilton's a talented player. He runs really fast. But I hope this avalanche of numbers convinces you of one thing: No. 3 wideouts aren't created equal. James Jones plays nearly twice as many snaps as Hilton.

Of course, you don't have to be on the field more than half the time to make a fantasy impact. In fact, Hilton accomplishes this regularly. He has given you two terrific days in five games so far this year: Week 2, when he scored 12 fantasy points while racking up 124 yards, and Week 5, when he managed five grabs for 140 yards and two TDs. It's clearly not impossible for a playmaker with Hilton's raw speed to put less-than-optimal usage to great effect. Unfortunately, Hilton also has frustrated his owners with three duds, during which he managed a combined seven fantasy points.

So how do you solve a problem like Hilton? Do you just rank him as you would any other feast-or-famine speed player, like, say, Mike Wallace or DeSean Jackson? My fellow ESPN rankers seem to believe so, as they view Hilton as a must-start in just about all leagues. I guess I'm just more conservative. I absolutely believe Hilton can ride a good-if-not-elite number of snaps to some more strong fantasy days this season. But I don't believe a WR who's not on the field for half his team's snaps is likely to be week-to-week consistent.

Hey, maybe there's hope. Hilton's bomb TD reception in the first quarter Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks (against Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas, who miscommunicated on the coverage) came from a two-WR formation, with Wayne wide left and Hilton slot right. Maybe the Colts will watch the Week 5 tape and decide Hilton needs to be out there more two-wide. But at the moment, they apparently prefer DHB's blocking ability to Hilton's dash. I'm quite sure writing all this will cue a huge Week 6 for Hilton in a strong matchup versus the San Diego Chargers, and launch a cavalcade of sarcastic tweets aimed at me. But I stand by what I'm saying: Unless his usage changes, Hilton is tough to trust on a consistent standard fantasy league squad. Feast. Or. Famine.

[h=3]Five in brief[/h]4. Matthew Stafford needs Megatron? Shocker! The Detroit Lions have tried so many receivers opposite Calvin Johnson, I've told my sister to stay close to her phone. (Hey, she's got wheels.) If you choose to believe that Kris Durham's six catches over the past two weeks (including a touchdown!) are an indication of glory to come, that's your prerogative. Kevin Ogletree is in Detroit now. Ryan Broyles' big ascension to full-time work resulted in two catches last week. Nate Burleson is still out with his shattered arm. Pat Edwards is healthy and dropped a would-be deep-strike TD in Week 5. Listen, in large part, the Lions passing game can thrive almost no matter who the WRs are, because Stafford is going to throw a whole bunch of screens and short-middle hooks and crosses. The yards will tend to be there for this QB. But there are times when Stafford needs the bigger strike, and in fact is setting up the bigger strike with all the small stuff. And against the Green Bay Packers Sunday, those deeper strikes to wideouts didn't go well. Broyles had the only truly top-notch catch on a longer, patented-Stafford-zippy throw; otherwise, Stafford was having to throw to wideouts who either couldn't catch it or weren't open. Stafford tossed nine passes to WRs that traveled 10 or more yards in the air. Five were aimed at Durham, and he caught one of them (for his late TD). Broyles caught his only one. Edwards failed to catch all three of his. As I said, Stafford will probably put up yardage numbers against any defense (he tossed for 262 versus the Pack). But to ramp up into the fantasy upper echelon? Megatron needs to be in there.

5. The New England Patriots may turn out to be a good RB matchup: The Pats' first game without Vince Wilfork (torn Achilles) was a bit rough from a run-stopping perspective. Perhaps somewhat predictably, it was power back BenJarvus Green-Ellis who took advantage, often slugging up the middle. While Gio Bernard was essentially limited to two good runs (a couple of third-quarter pops that went for 9 and 28 yards), the Law Firm had carries of 14, 13, 5, 5 and 5 on his way to his first above-average fantasy day of the year. On his very first carry, BJGE zipped up the middle as one of Wilfork's replacements, Joe Vellano, was mauled out of the way. Green-Ellis ran 10 yards before a Pats defender touched him. Chris Jones was victimized near the end of the first quarter, showing poor instincts and basically running his way out of a tackle. Brandon Spikes was terrific at linebacker and often made up for the interior-line mistakes, and maybe that will continue. But a run D that did nice work against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons the two weeks prior looked more suspect Sunday. I'm not saying they'll be awful. But it'll be smart to be on alert.

6. Where's this Joe Flacco love coming from? For me, the most surprising rank of the week came at QB, where Flacco got some real love as a possible bye-week fill-in. While Torrey Smith has been a terrific story through the Baltimore Ravens' first five contests, Flacco has not. I acknowledge that last week against the Miami Dolphins, the Super Bowl MVP didn't have either Marlon Brown or Jacoby Jones and still notched 269 yards. And his season totals are weighed down by his five picks against the Bills in Week 4. But his clueless effort on a fourth-quarter third-and-22 from his own 9? He just can't hold the ball that long. He can't allow a defender to get close enough to thwack his elbow from behind, and pop up a pass that almost certainly wasn't going to generate a first down anyway. The resulting pick-six tied the game. It's that tone deafness that has defined Flacco through five games. The fact that the Ravens are 3-2 is a testament to their defense. In their rating of Flacco's passing this year, ProFootballFocus.com has given him negative rankings in four games, and I concur. The Packers were disastrous against the pass Week 1 against Colin Kaepernick, but have shored things up in three games since. For me, despite a strong connection with Smith, Flacco doesn't make a smart one-week investment.


7. I finally endorse Ben Tate, sort of: It's a weird week to say nice things about Tate. He lost a fumble for the second straight game against the Niners, though the score was 31-3 at that point, so it's tough to say he cost Houston the game. (His fumble in Week 4 against the Seahawks up 20-3 on his own 20 was far less forgivable.) And I've been a loud voice doubting the supposed platoon between Tate and Arian Foster all year. But this is a week where I could actually see starting Tate if you're in need of a bye-week flex. The reason? The St. Louis Rams are coming to town. The Rams linebackers struggle against the run, and while the D-line was better last week against the Jacksonville Jaguars, come on. They don't get full marks for that. I'll tell you this: I own Foster backed up by Tate in a 16-team league, and with Lamar Miller on bye, I'm going to use both Texans RBs. This week, that's a pie I don't mind trying to own every slice of. (In addition, if I own him, I'm taking a chance on Andre Johnson as a No. 1 wideout, Matt Schaub's uber-struggles notwithstanding.)

8. Who are you and what have you done with Brandon Jacobs? Make all the excuses you want. The Chicago Bears are missing all their good defensive tackles. The New York Giants got better offensive line play and stayed committed to the run. And certainly, Jacobs doesn't seem as if he can play more than a couple of snaps in a row before needing a rest. But I don't care about any of that. Big Jake ran like a man Thursday night. Look beyond the two short scores; those come and go via the frivolous nature of field position. But Jacobs made a few honest-to-goodness cutbacks, sliding down the line as his linemen fanned out and getting to the corner more than once. Sure, he's a lumbering ox once he gets there, but he did really good work with whatever open space he was given, and wound up with 106 rushing yards. Certainly, there was no hint that this kind of performance was left in Jacobs' body, as he'd carried it 22 times for 48 yards -- and looked positively dreadful on tape -- in his four previous games. Da'Rel Scott left Thursday's game late with an injury, but there's no question he was merely there to spell Jacobs (frequently), and if the Giants have to go sign someone else to do that, they will. The larger point of course is that eventually Andre Brown and maybe (presumably?) David Wilson will return, but that might not happen for a month. Is Jacobs now an add in all leagues? Sheesh. I'm not sure, because it's hard to reconcile Week 6 with all those crummy games before. For one night at least, though, Jake did stir the echoes.

 

[HacheMan]

Key fantasy injuries for Week 6

Stephania Bell

It’s Week 6, and there are just two teams on bye. The Atlanta Falcons get a much needed break for all their injured stars, and the Miami Dolphins get the week off as well. The New York Giants and Chicago Bears played Thursday night, and after suffering yet another loss, the Giants can certainly use a few extra days to regroup.

Who should concern you when it comes to setting your fantasy lineup? Here’s what we know as of Saturday afternoon:

---

​

Quarterbacks

Michael Vick, Philadelphia Eagles, hamstring (Q): Vick injured his hamstring in Week 5 and never seemed likely to start in Week 6. ESPN.com’s Phil Sheridan is reporting that Vick will be out for Sunday’s matchup against the Buccaneers. Still, Vick practiced on a limited basis Wednesday and Thursday. He put in a full practice Friday, making it appear he could at least be available as an active player, even if just to provide insurance for Sunday’s projected starter, Nick Foles.

Although fantasy owners won’t have Vick this week, the positive takeaway is that the amount of work he was able to do this week so soon after straining the hamstring certainly bodes well for his availability next Sunday. Vick had said earlier in the week he was “being smart” about how he handled this injury but indicated he expected to be ready to face the Cowboys in Week 7.<!--offer-->

---

​

Running backs

C.J. Spiller, Buffalo Bills, ankle (Q): After 10 days between games, it’s not exactly comforting to see Spiller come into this week’s contest listed as questionable. Spiller participated in limited practices and it’s clear his ankle has not yet fully recovered, but ESPN.com’s Mike Rodak reports coach Doug Marrone “feels good” about Spiller's chances to suit up against Cincinnati on Sunday. Given that Spiller took the field just days after sustaining the injury, it makes sense that he would play in this game barring a setback. But it does suggest that teammate Fred Jackson -- who is no longer on the injury report -- could again be in line for more work.

Stevan Ridley and Brandon Bolden, New England Patriots, knee (Q): Ridley missed last week’s game because of an injury to the area just above his knee, but it never sounded as if he would miss extended time. After not practicing at all last week, Ridley returned to limited workouts this week. Barring a setback, he is expected to play Sunday. Meanwhile, Bolden has played weekly despite the knee ailment and is expected to do so again.

Darren McFadden and Rashad Jennings, hamstring (Q), and Marcel Reece, knee (P), Oakland Raiders: What are fantasy owners to make of the Raiders' running back situation other than it being clouded by injury? At least Reece is listed as probable, so we can expect him to play. Reece has been on the injury report with the knee issue prior to this week and played through it, just as it appears he will again.

In the case of McFadden (who missed Week 5 because of a hamstring injury suffered the week before) and Jennings (who injured his hamstring Sunday when playing in place of McFadden), neither is a sure bet to play. Both backs were limited throughout the week, and their questionable status reflects the uncertainty caused by the nature of their injuries. McFadden isn’t exactly adding clarity by suggesting his playing status will be determined by the medical staff, perhaps not until Sunday. “I’m just looking forward to whatever the decision the coaches and trainers have to make if we want to roll with it,” McFadden told reporters Friday.

The Raiders have a bye next week, so if there is concern about McFadden’s health -- and Jennings’ for that matter -- there could be a bonus week of recovery by holding them out. The only good news for fantasy owners is that for once the Raiders are playing in an early matchup.

Marshawn Lynch, Seattle Seahawks, hip (Q): No one likes to see a feature back like Lynch miss practice Friday then come into the game as questionable. The Seahawks, however, don’t seem overly concerned. Coach Pete Carroll seemed to dismiss Lynch’s absence Friday as no big deal. “We did treat Marshawn for a little hip thing this week, but he's fine," Carroll said. Let’s hope. The Seahawks don’t sound concerned about his availability and ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Lynch is expected to play, but given his questionable status, fantasy owners should have a backup plan. Lynch and the Seahawks play in a late game against the Titans.

Bernard Pierce, Baltimore Ravens, thigh (Q): Pierce was limited in practice throughout the week with a thigh injury. There doesn’t appear to be too much concern in Baltimore about his availability, perhaps reflective of the team’s confidence about the health of Ray Rice. Pierce looks to be active, but it’s unclear how much he would be expected to play. This is an early game, so double check his status before kickoff.

Mark Ingram, New Orleans Saints, toe (Q): After being ruled out early the past few weeks because of his toe injury, Ingram now comes in at questionable after returning to limited practice. Just how much he would contribute after missing the past three games is unclear, but common sense would suggest that he would have a limited role after the lengthy absence. To complicate matters, this is a late game Sunday, but it’s hard to foresee Ingram doing much and the Saints may not be ready to put him on the field just yet.

Zac Stacy, St. Louis Rams, chest (Q): Stacy went from no practice Wednesday to limited Thursday to full practice Friday, a trend in the right direction when it comes to projecting game status. He had a rib injury late in the Week 5 game, but coach Jeff Fisher indicated he expected Stacy to be fine going forward. Stacy is expected to start again this week when the Rams visit the Houston Texans.

Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs, toes (P): Charles’ practice schedule this week: Wednesday off, Thursday limited, Friday full. Charles -- who showed he could run just fine despite the blisters last week -- is expected to play Sunday when the Chiefs host the Raiders.

Alfred Morris, Washington Redskins, ribs (P): When Morris headed into Washington’s bye week after suffering a rib injury in Week 4, he indicated he did not believe the injury to be serious. He has followed that up with a full week of practice and a probable designation, indicating both he and the team expect him on the field against the Cowboys on Sunday night.

Ryan Mathews, San Diego Chargers, concussion (P): Mathews did not practice Thursday after suffering a concussion in Week 5, but he was on the field Friday. In fact, Mathews was listed as a full participant Friday and Saturday, an encouraging sign for his availability Monday. As per the guidelines, Mathews will need to remain symptom free in order to play.

Just recently, Raiders quarterback Terrelle Pryor appeared on track to play the week after suffering a concussion but was determined to have a recurrence of symptoms (light sensitivity) and was held out. Regardless of how well Mathews is doing and his probable designation, fantasy owners should keep in mind his status could fluctuate all the way up until game time.

Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers, knee (P): Gore continues to drive the 49ers’ ground game, and his knees (and hips and ankles) take a pounding every week. It’s no surprise that he is listed on the injury report intermittently given his knee history, but it’s not going to keep him out of action this week. Gore is still listed as a full participant in practice each day and is expected to start Sunday when the 49ers host the Cardinals.

Arian Foster, thumb/chest, and Ben Tate, elbow, Houston Texans (P): The body parts are slightly different -- Foster now listed with a chest injury, not the back, and Tate with an elbow injury, not the shoulder -- but both backs are expected to be available Sunday. Foster, as usual, participated in limited practice all week, and Tate took full reps daily.

---

​

Wide receivers
Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions, knee (Q): Johnson again comes into this week’s game as questionable, but he did do a little more activity this week as compared to last. After taking Wednesday off, Johnson returned for position drills only on Thursday. He practiced on a limited basis Friday, and as ESPN.com’s Michael Rothstein noted, Johnson was doing a bit more, running routes and catching passes.

He continues to wear a compression sleeve on his right knee, suggesting swelling is still a concern. The back-to-back practices are an encouraging sign, but expect his status to ultimately be determined during the pregame warm-up period. Coach Jim Schwartz would not elaborate on Johnson’s injury but did say he was improving. “He is getting better every day, and we'll see when we get to Sunday what he looks like," Schwartz said. Last week, it was Sunday morning when Johnson’s knee dictated it was not ready for game action; this week, fantasy owners are hoping for a different outcome. Thankfully, this is an early matchup.

Andre Johnson, Houston Texans, shin (Q): As noted Thursday, Johnson has been playing through this injury for the past two weeks. He did not practice Wednesday or Thursday but returned for limited work Friday, a positive indicator that he is likely to suit up again this week.

The location of the injury and the amount of swelling make it painful to run, and resting is one of the best remedies, hence the days off for Johnson during the week. That isn’t to say he’s not working; Johnson continues to work on the bike and in the pool, doing a bit more of that activity this week per ESPN.com’s Tania Ganguli. Although coach Gary Kubiak designated Johnson a game-time decision, Johnson sounds confident that he will play. "Yeah," Johnson said. "I don't see why not."

Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals, hamstring (Q): Fitzgerald was off the injury report last week and appeared to be past the left hamstring issue, which had originally surfaced in practice before the Week 2 games. Apparently that’s not the case. Hamstring injuries are known for their high rate of recurrence, and coach Bruce Arians confirmed Fitzgerald suffered a setback in the same hamstring.

According to ESPN.com’s Josh Weinfuss, Arians noted the injury is in a slightly different location within the muscle, also not uncommon with these injuries. On the plus side, Fitzgerald put in a full practice Friday after doing limited work Wednesday and Thursday. Obviously, how his leg responds will be important as will the pregame warm-ups. As Arians noted, “We'll wait and see by game time.” Unfortunately for fantasy owners, that time is 4:25 p.m. ET.

Miles Austin, Dallas Cowboys, hamstring (P): Last week, there were signs Austin was making progress in his recovery from a hamstring injury suffered in Week 3. He practiced on a limited basis throughout the week without setbacks, but the team was not ready to turn him loose.

This week, Austin has practiced fully each day and comes in listed as probable before Sunday night’s game. The plan is for him to play, but certainly no one can predict how involved in the offense he will be or, more importantly, how he’ll hold up. ESPNDallas.com’s Todd Archer says the Cowboys do not plan to limit Austin’s snaps; the hope is that his hamstring doesn’t force them to do so.

Danny Amendola, New England Patriots, groin (Q): Amendola has already returned to play since tearing his groin (adductor), so we expect him to play Sunday against the Saints. The fact that he remains limited in practice and saw controlled action last week tells us he is not fully recovered, and there is always the chance of an in-game setback. That said, he does provide a threat by taking the field, even when he is not at his best.

Cecil Shorts, Jacksonville Jaguars, groin (P): On Thursday, I noted that coach Gus Bradley said he expected to have Shorts available Sunday. The probable tag supports this. Shorts was held out of practice Thursday in what Bradley described as a proactive measure, but he returned Friday to a limited workout. Shorts has been playing in the presence of this groin ailment and looks as if he will again Sunday.

Stevie Johnson, Buffalo Bills, back (Q): Johnson injured his back in last week’s Thursday night game and was not able to continue. This week, Johnson has not practiced, but it is not due entirely to his back. He was excused from the team due to a death in the family. ESPN.com’s Mike Rodak reports Johnson received treatment while he was away, but coach Doug Marrone has not yet decided whether Johnson will be ready to play Sunday.

Marlon Brown, thigh, and Jacoby Jones, knee, Baltimore Ravens (Q): Jones continues to practice on a limited basis as he returns from an MCL sprain. According to ESPN.com’s Jamison Hensley, coach John Harbaugh is "encouraged" by what he has seen from Jones in practice. Given the original timetable the Ravens set forth for Jones, it’s possible he could return this week.

Brown has a hamstring strain, which caused him to sit out Week 6. This week, Brown has practiced daily on a limited basis, an improvement over last week when he sat out until Friday. Still, given the fickle nature of hamstrings, it could come down to a game-time decision for Brown.

Mike Williams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, hamstring (Q): Before the bye, it was Williams who appeared to be the healthier of the two receivers. Teammate Vincent Jackson, fresh off a rib injury, was targeted more frequently but had only two receptions for short yardage against the Cardinals. Despite a hamstring injury, Williams had more catches, plus a score. Jackson is off the injury report after the bye, but Williams remains on it. He did practice daily on a limited basis and seems likely to play, but fantasy owners should double check before game time.

Lance Moore, New Orleans Saints, hand (Q): It’s a bit surprising to see Moore listed as questionable given that he did not practice all week. Moore has missed the past two games due to an unspecified hand injury but must be making progress for his status to be upgraded. He hardly seems like a receiver to count on though given the lack of practice and the late game start.

---

​

Tight ends

Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots, back/forearm (Q): This really appeared to be shaping up as the week to showcase the return of New England’s star tight end who has been participating in all forms of practice, including tackling, on a limited basis for several weeks. But as this week has progressed, it has appeared less and less likely that Gronkowski would take the field against the Saints. On Friday, ESPN’s Ed Werder reported that Gronkowski is not expected to play. And the wait continues.

Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers, hamstring (P): Davis has been playing through his hamstring ailment the past two weeks and is expected to do so again Sunday. He still appears to be a bit limited at times, but the probable designation hints at improvement, especially after he practiced fully every day.

Greg Olsen, Carolina Panthers, foot (P): As noted Thursday, sometimes a boot is used as a precaution. It appears that was the case with Olsen, who returned to full practices Thursday and Friday after taking Wednesday off. At probable, he is expected to play.

---

​

Kickers

Blair Walsh, Minnesota Vikings, left hamstring (Q): Walsh’s potential absence could be a huge blow for the Vikings and fantasy owners, as he has become one of the most consistent place-kickers in the league. Walsh reportedly felt a twinge in his left (plant) leg during Thursday’s practice, hence the shortened outing. He did not participate Friday.

Coach Leslie Frazier downplayed the injury and said he expected Walsh to be available Sunday, but that may ultimately depend on how his leg feels during warm-ups. Although it is not his kicking leg that is directly affected, the hamstring plays a role in stabilizing the plant leg and could present a challenge if there is any discomfort or tightness. This is an early game, so fantasy owners should double check Walsh’s status before kickoff.

---

​

Out

E.J. Manuel, QB, Buffalo Bills, knee: Manuel suffered an LCL injury in Week 5 and is expected to miss multiple weeks. Thaddeus Lewis gets the start in his place.

James Starks, RB, Green Bay Packers, knee: Starks is still out but continues to make progress. He could return in Week 7.

Santonio Holmes, WR, New York Jets, hamstring: Holmes will miss another game with a hamstring strain.

Kellen Winslow, TE, New York Jets, suspension: Winslow was suspended for four games for violating league policy on performance-enhancing substances.

Jake Locker, QB, Tennessee Titans, hip/knee: Locker continues to recover from his hip and knee injuries and is out for Week 6.

Shonn Greene, RB, Tennessee Titans, knee: Greene underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Sept. 16 and is still in recovery mode. He is not yet practicing.

Quinton Patton, WR, San Francisco 49ers, foot: Patton fractured his foot and is out for several weeks.

Nate Burleson, WR, Detroit Lions, forearm: Burleson fractured both bones in his forearm, underwent surgery to repair the damage and is out for an extended time. The team hopes he will be able to return late in the season.

 

[HacheMan]

Free-agent finds for Week 7

By Christopher Harris | ESPN.com

Waiver-wire news changes fast and furious throughout the week, as injuries and depth-chart shenanigans overtake us. So be sure to follow me on Twitter, @CHarrisESPN, and I'll keep you updated as news warrants. Let's get to Week 7's best fantasy roster additions:

(Week 7 byes: New Orleans Saints and Oakland Raiders)

Standard ESPN League Finds

Joseph Randle, RB, Dallas Cowboys (owned in 1.4 percent of ESPN leagues): DeMarco Murray will reportedly miss Week 7 with a sprained left MCL, and could be gone for longer. In Murray's absence Sunday night, Randle was uninspiring, producing 17 yards on 11 carries (and 15 yards on two catches), but he did push in a goal-line TD. I'm not the biggest Randle fan in the world; he strikes me as kind of a tall, thin, upright runner without great long speed, plus he was a fumbler in college. But the Cowboys appear to have a plus matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles' defense in their upcoming game. Insiders claim Randle lost out on the backup job during training camp, but the man who won the gig, Lance Dunbar (1.5 percent owned), has been unable to stay healthy in '13, first missing time with a foot injury and then hurting a hamstring in Week 5. I don't rule out the possibility that Dunbar could get involved, but he won't play Sunday. Randle is the better add. Phillip Tanner (0.2 percent) is also in the mix, but he got only one carry after Murray's injury Sunday.


Rueben Randle, WR, New York Giants (55.9 percent): The Hakeem Nicks trade rumors are flying, so I'm breaking my rule of mentioning only players owned in fewer than half of ESPN leagues. If the winless Giants decide to get something for Nicks -- an impending free agent expected to command high dollars this winter -- Randle gets thrust into the starting lineup. And while Eli Manning's inconsistency (and offensive line) has been maddening, Randle is talented enough to be at least a flex if he's the No. 2 aerial weapon in New York's offense. He's not a deep-seed player, but he's big and is one of the more athletic leapers you'll see at WR. Randle definitely needs to clean up the mental side of his game; he stopped running a route Thursday night, leading directly to a Manning pick, and later slammed the ball into the ground in frustration because he slipped, except he hadn't been touched by a defender (the officials ruled Randle had "given himself up," but that was a shaky call). Still, Randle should be added in all leagues while we wait to find out Nicks' destination.

Brandon Jacobs, RB, Giants (2.1 percent): I don't like writing this any more than you like reading it. There's little question in my mind that we've seen the very best game Jacobs will produce for the rest of his natural born life, after his 22-carry, 106-yard performance against the Chicago Bears. But you can't ignore the Giants' depth chart. David Wilson will reportedly avoid surgery on his neck, but probably won't be available for at least a couple more weeks. Da'Rel Scott is out with a hamstring injury. And Andre Brown (18.4 percent), whom deep-leaguers can also think about adding in anticipation of his return, isn't eligible to play again until Week 11. Things are so bad in Gotham, the team worked out Peyton Hills on Monday. In other words, it appears Jake is the only game in town. I hate chasing improbable performances expecting a repeat, but the Minnesota Vikings aren't world-beaters stopping the run. There's no question Jacobs has standard-league fantasy value, at least for now.

Harry Douglas, WR, Atlanta Falcons (7.5 percent): Julio Jones is out for the season, and nobody really knows the status of Roddy White's injuries. White has been severely limited through five games because of a high-ankle sprain, plus in Week 5 he pulled a hamstring. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported last week that the Atlanta Falcons are concerned White will miss at least one entire game. So into the breach steps Douglas, the last man standing on the outside for Matt Ryan. The problem is that Douglas has never shone in a situation where the Falcons really needed him. In 10 career starts, he's averaged three catches for 43 yards. Kevin Cone (0.1 percent) and Drew Davis (0.1 percent) are also candidates to benefit -- Cone is a size/speed downfield burner, while Davis is more of a sure-handed possession guy who sometimes lacks separation, but they have five career receptions between them. Douglas is the best bet, but he's nothing close to a sure thing.

Percy Harvin, WR, Seattle Seahawks (16.0 percent): Harvin is eligible to come off the PUP list for Thursday night's game against the Arizona Cardinals, but that's not happening. Will he play Week 8 against the St. Louis Rams? It sounds possible, though I'm not entirely sure why the Seahawks would push Harvin's injured hip to return so quickly in what should be an upcoming slate of three or four extremely winnable games. Still, as hot and bothered as we all were to see Russell Wilson and Harvin together this summer, the prospect of an early return is enticing. It's worth worrying that the NFL's No. 1 run-heaviest squad can produce a fantasy star at WR, especially one who's jumping aboard midstream. But that worry shouldn't stop Harvin from being added in all fantasy leagues soon.

Carolina Panthers Defense (35.5 percent): For the second straight week, I'm endorsing the Panthers' D as a bye-week (or bad-matchup-week) fill-in. The Rams picked up a big road win in Week 7, but I'm not buying the offense; they scored two defensive TDs and had 216 total yards of offense while scoring 38 points. Carolina worked well for me Sunday against the Vikings, with three sacks, two interceptions and 10 points allowed. The secondary may struggle against good passing offenses, but that front seven continues to be impressive. If the Panthers aren't available, you could take a shot on the Vikings' defense (7.6 percent), which hasn't been good, but faces the New York Giants in Week 7.

Other solid waiver adds, about whom I've written in previous weeks: Zac Stacy, RB, Rams (7.0 percent); Andre Ellington, RB, Cardinals (8.8 percent); Pierre Thomas, RB, Saints (34.1 percent); Keenan Allen, WR, Chargers (6.8 percent); Terrance Williams, WR, Cowboys (46.9 percent); Kendall Wright, WR, Titans (37.4 percent); Heath Miller, TE, Steelers (20.3 percent); Garrett Graham, TE, Texans (36.6 percent).

Deeper League Finds

Jonathan Stewart, RB, Panthers (2.4 percent): Stew Beef has an awful lot of name recognition to appear only on the "deep" list, but the truth is we don't know whether he'll even play a snap in '13. On the PUP list with a bad ankle, Stewart is eligible to be activated for the upcoming game against the Rams, but has already told reporters he's not ready. The Panthers have until Week 9 to decide whether Stewart can help them, or else they must place him on injured reserve. At this point, it's fair to be skeptical that J-Stew can rejoin his platoon with DeAngelo Williams. But if you're in a deep league, I don't hate adding Stewart just in case he can.


Kris Durham, WR, Detroit Lions (0.5 percent): Durham saw a whopping 13 targets in Sunday's win over the Cleveland Browns, and hauled in eight of them for 83 yards. That increased action came in large part because Calvin Johnson was limited with a bad knee, but maybe Durham can be the complementary piece the Lions have been searching for opposite Megatron. (My preseason flag player Ryan Broyles has been a no-show, and my super-deep sleeper Pat Edwards just got cut.) Maybe, but I'm skeptical. Durham is a tall (6-foot-6), lanky kid who runs pretty well but features shaky hands. Plus, he's kind of a poverty-stricken man's Megatron, whereas the optimal No. 2 in Detroit would be a quicker all-around guy. In a deep league, though, I guess I don't mind the points chase.

Michael Cox, RB, Giants (0.2 percent): Cox is a repeat on the "deep" list, but I removed him from the "other solid waiver adds" section about a month ago, so he's worth mentioning again. There's not much reason to suspect that this undrafted rookie out of UMass is ready for prime time, though he did look strong in a reserve role during the preseason. But Brandon Jacobs is merely meh. Maybe the Giants sign Hillis and he actually contributes. But if there's even a chance Cox could be a useful piece in '14, why wouldn't New York at least give him a look?

Jordan Reed, TE, Washington Redskins (4.0 percent): Fred Davis is back playing again, but he's an afterthought in the Skins' passing attack. The name to know is Reed's. In fact, if I were desperate in a 10-team league, I might even consider him; for sure he needs to be owned in a 12-team league. Reed belongs to the new tradition of TEs: He's a big, fast, glorified WR who won't add much as a blocker, but he can line up all over the offensive formation. Reed has caught at least three balls in every game he's played as a rookie, and has topped 50 yards in each of his past two.

Austin Collie, WR, New England Patriots (1.4 percent): I was surprised Collie was even active for Week 6 against the New Orleans Saints, but I guess it turns out those Pats sort of know what they're doing. Danny Amendola got himself concussed, and suddenly Collie was making two huge catches, including one on fourth down, on the dramatic game-winning drive. Any recommendation of Collie clearly comes with a warning about his concussion history, and there's no telling where the New England wideouts will be on the depth chart in any given week. (Aaron Dobson played by far the most snaps of any Pats WR on Sunday.) Again, though, in a best-case scenario Collie could be worth a speculative add.

Jarrett Boykin, WR, Green Bay Packers (0.1 percent): Randall Cobb will miss six to eight weeks with a broken fibula, and James Jones is battling a knee strain. Jones may play in Week 7 against the Browns, but even if he does, Boykin will be on the field a bunch: No NFL team runs three-wide more frequently than the Packers. Now, you may be saying to yourself, "If that's true, then why wouldn't you love Boykin, as a logical inheritor of Cobb's role?" The problem is that Boykin didn't look great running as the team's No. 2 on Sunday. He did take a short pass 43 yards, but he had a couple terrible first-half drops and struggled to get separation. I tend to believe Jordy Nelson, Jermichael Finley and Jones (if he plays) are going to spike instead.

Thad Lewis, QB, Buffalo Bills (0.1 percent): Don't go crazy. Lewis had some good moments early and late against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, but he also missed some easier throws and stalled for much of the game, rarely making true "value-add" throws. His early rushing TD was the cherry on top, and certainly he was much better than Jeff Tuel would've been. The Bills signed Matt Flynn this week, not just because Lewis needed X-rays on an injured foot. That said, Lewis is expected to play in Week 7 versus the Miami Dolphins.


Jeff Cumberland, TE, New York Jets (2.5 percent): Kellen Winslow has three games remaining on his suspension, but the truth is that K2 was losing playing time to Cumberland even before he got busted for performance enhancers. Cumby runs well for a 260-pounder, and can plow over guys when he gets up a head of steam. But he's too important in the blocking game to be a top fantasy option. Cumberland has run only 45 pass routes in six games.

Timothy Wright, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0.0 percent): Wright is an undrafted rookie recruited by Greg Schiano at Rutgers, and he's flourished the past two weeks while Luke Stocker is on IR with a hip injury; Tom Crabtree barely played Sunday after returning from his own ankle injury. Versus the Cardinals and Eagles, Wright has 12 catches for 132 yards combined, as Mike Glennon has checked down to him often. But still, it's Mike Glennon.

Joseph Fauria, TE, Lions (0.1 percent): Maybe Fauria will be the exception that proves the rule. He did score three TDs against the Browns on Sunday. But a tight end with nine targets, seven catches and five TDs on the season seems to be the very definition of unsustainable. It's true that Tony Scheffler is out indefinitely with a concussion, but I'm not buying on the end-zone-slam-dunking Fauria.

Other solid waiver adds for deep-leaguers, about whom I've written in previous weeks: Nick Foles, QB, Eagles (2.6 percent); Terrelle Pryor, QB, Raiders (32.0 percent); Josh Freeman, QB, Vikings (3.9 percent); Johnathan Franklin, RB, Packers (6.0 percent); Khiry Robinson, RB, Saints (0.5 percent); Chris Ogbonnaya, RB, Browns (1.0 percent); Kendall Hunter, RB, 49ers (5.7 percent); Roy Helu, RB, Redskins (39.3 percent); LeGarrette Blount, RB, Patriots (13.9 percent); Brandon Bolden, RB, Patriots (4.2 percent); Donnie Avery, WR, Chiefs (10.5 percent); Robert Woods, WR, Bills (9.7 percent); Brandon LaFell, WR, Panthers (3.0 percent); Jerome Simpson, WR, Vikings (4.6 percent); Austin Pettis, WR, Rams (8.8 percent); Ted Ginn, WR, Panthers (6.9 percent); Charles Clay, TE, Dolphins (31.2 percent); Coby Fleener, TE, Colts (23.9 percent); Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Lions (32.8 percent).

 

[HacheMan]

[h=1]Instant Impressions for Week 6[/h][h=3]Blackmon, Moreno shine; Packers WRs Cobb, Jones injured[/h]By Christopher Harris | ESPN.com

Sunday presented a moral victory for the Jacksonville Jaguars. It presented a real victory for Justin Blackmon.

Blackmon lit up the Denver Broncos for 14 grabs and 190 yards on an incredible 20 targets. The common thought -- and the main reason we ranked Blackmon as a No. 3 fantasy wideout for Week 6 -- was that the Broncos would bury the Jags early, there would be tons of garbage time and some Jacksonville wideouts could back into some stats. Instead, some pretty awful Peyton Manning turnovers kept the Jaguars in the game; they trailed by two with five minutes left in the third quarter and by nine midway through the fourth. And throughout, Blackmon was a full-grown man on the short stuff, running hooks, slants and crosses with impunity, taking big hits, getting up and doing it again. It was an impressive performance for a kid whose attitude was routinely questioned in his rookie year.


It didn't hurt his numbers (though it certainly hurt the Jags' chances) that Cecil Shorts took a hit on the team's third offensive play and suffered an injury that cost him at least the rest of the contest. The question for early this week will be whether Shorts' ribs are broken, in which case he could be looking at a prolonged absence.

If that happens, Blackmon will be the kind of target monster who can carry a fantasy squad. Amazingly still unowned in 47 percent of ESPN leagues (despite my weekly efforts), Blackmon will be a borderline top-20 fantasy WR in Week 7 against the San Diego Chargers if Shorts can't go. He's not going to make a big number of downfield plays in this offense and he's not a Calvinc Johnson-sized flanker, but volume makes up for such quibbling flaws.

Remember, be sure to follow me on Twitter at @CHarrisESPN for more analysis during the week. For now, let's look at Sunday's other top storylines:

• Peyton Manning "struggled." He struggled to the tune of 290 yards passing. That's the kind of impossible standard the Sheriff has set for himself thus far; he scored "only" 13 fantasy points after averaging 31 through five games. But obviously, let's not get carried away. Knowshon Moreno was handed three second-half bunny TDs from inside the Jacksonville 10; had Peyton fired scores, we wouldn't be having this conversation. There will be weeks like this, because Manning is human, and because any NFL defense can play inspired in any given week. But of course, you're not panicking. This is not a sell high. Ride him.

• Jimmy Graham's doughnut day was clearly more problematic, especially because he left Sunday's loss early with what appeared to be a left ankle injury. In the first half, Aqib Talib shadowed Graham all over the field and shut the big guy down. Early in the second half, Talib injured a hip and couldn't return, but Devin McCourty switched over to Graham (getting quite a bit of help) and did the job as well. The good news for Graham is that the New Orleans Saints have a bye in Week 7, so he'll have plenty of time to rest up. Listen, a good NFL defense can sometimes pick its poison, and the New England Patriots decided Graham flat-out wasn't going to beat them. Drew Brees still took six shots Graham's way and will absolutely be inspired to have him rack up points against the Buffalo Bills next time out. More alarming, probably, was the fact that no other pass-catcher -- particularly Marques Colston -- could step up with the defense focusing so heavily on Graham. Three targets, one catch and 11 yards isn't going to cut it for Colston.


• In the same game, Stevan Ridley marked a return to fantasy relevance with 21 touches for 110 yards and two scores from inside the 5. LeGarrette Blount started the game and looked like his usual sluggish self, and Brandon Bolden got the Pats' second possession. Ridley didn't even get his first touch until the very end of the first quarter, but on that carry he rumbled for 18 yards and never looked back. So the question we have to ask ourselves is: Does this mean Ridley is the primary New England RB again? I'm tempted to fret that Ridley's performance was "game plan-specific," because that's what the Pats do: change things up from week to week. It seems clear the plan against the Saints was to alternate RBs, and if one guy stepped forward, they'd concentrate on him. (Blount finished with seven carries for 9 yards; Bolden had seven touches for 26 yards and another terrible drop on a screen pass.) Does that mean Ridley has permanently moved to the front of the class? I don't know. It's frustrating.

• Perhaps the day's most damaging injuries were to Green Bay Packers receivers Randall Cobb (knee) and James Jones (shin). Jones was hurt on the Pack's second play and had to leave, while Cobb took a big hit on his knee near the end of the first half. In their stead, you'd probably have imagined that the Baltimore Ravens might focus much of their defensive attention on Jordy Nelson, but Nelson got free for a huge 64-yard TD toward the end of the third quarter, a play that was the difference in the game. Jarrett Boykin subbed as Green Bay's No. 2 wideout and took a short pass 43 yards, but he also produced two awful drops. Early word is that the Packers believe both Cobb and Jones avoided season-ending injuries, but Cobb left the stadium on crutches.

• Vincent Jackson and DeSean Jackson traded body blows in the game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. V-Jax saw 14 targets and caught nine of them for 114 yards and two scores; he took advantage of the fact that Mike Williams was a late scratch because of a hamstring injury, and he also benefited because Doug Martin was tackled on the Philly 1 late in the first half, whereupon V-Jax scored his second TD. D-Jax caught all six of his targets from Nick Foles for 64 yards and two TDs. Foles and Mike Glennon clearly aren't hindrances to the fantasy stocks of these Jacksons. Keep using them.

• A few top-five draftees at their respective positions who've generated some recent angst also had huge Week 6 days. Cam Newton drove the Carolina Panthers all day, and unlike his vexing Week 5 performance against the Arizona Cardinals, he finished off drives. His first two TD passes came from inside the Minnesota Vikings 10: He scrambled up the middle for a 7-yard TD run, and for good measure he hit Brandon LaFell on a bomb. Meanwhile, Arian Foster had back-to-back runs for 23 and 22 yards in the second quarter to set the tone; he was the Houston Texans' lone bright spot in an embarrassing home loss, with 198 total yards (and a 1-yard TD vultured by Ben Tate). At tight end, Vernon Davis had 171 yards and two TDs in the first half alone, as Colin Kaepernick found him downfield over and over again. Davis settled down in the second half and wound up with "only" 180 yards. What a slacker.

• Ray Rice and Fred Jackson made few fantasy friends Sunday; within a few minutes of each other, the RBs were each stuffed on three consecutive carries from inside an opponent's 5. To add insult to injury, their respective teams (the Ravens and the Bills) went for it on fourth down from the 1, and neither team scored, setting the stage for close losses. Rice's day ended with 49 total yards on 17 touches. Jackson had 14 touches for 48 yards. Neither of these RBs is talent-deficient, but they play behind inconsistent offensive lines; you probably keep playing both of them (Rice probably more so than Jackson), but it would be nice to see more room to run.


• Calvin Johnson was a shadow of himself Sunday; he played limited snaps in the first half, and while he was on the field much more as the game tightened in the second, he rarely ran the downfield routes that make him such a stud. The result? Three catches on eight targets, for only 25 yards. He did get two red zone (and one end zone) looks in the first quarter, but couldn't convert. Then he had to stand by as the immortal Joseph Fauria scored three TDs. Fauria now has five TDs on the season. On seven catches. And nine targets. It's true Fauria performs a mighty fine goalpost slam dunk after he scores, but you probably can't chase his fantasy points.

• Even when Sam Bradford leads the St. Louis Rams to a blowout win, he maddens. Because the Texans couldn't get out of their own way and kept giving Bradford great field position and defensive TDs, the QB went 12-of-16 for 117 yards. He threw three TD passes -- all fewer than 5 yards -- and who caught them? Cory Harkey, Lance Kendricks and Brian Quick. Awesome. (Yes, two TEs had touchdown receptions for the Rams, and neither was named Jared Cook.) You can't blame Bradford for Chris Givens' awful second-quarter drop down the deep middle, which would've been an 80-yard TD. And hey, Bradford did what he had to do. It would just be nice if the bill of goods we were sold this summer (The Greatest Show on Turf: Part 2!) could actually come true one of these weeks.

• Speaking of the Rams, it seems they've settled on a running back. Whereas in Week 5, Zac Stacy mostly split the load with Daryl Richardson, who played on third downs, Stacy had the gig to himself Sunday. He had 20 touches to Richardson's four. Can you argue that the Rams had a big lead and thus had no need for their hurry-up packages? Yes. But I don't think that fully explains a 20-to-4 split. Stacy is the man, and will be ranked as such Week 7 against the Panthers.

• The very moment Cris Collinsworth commented that the Dallas Cowboys have decided to go with one rusher instead of their most typical platoon, DeMarco Murray took a carry around the right end, was toppled by tacklers, landed squarely on his left knee and limped off the field. Murray suffered a knee sprain and didn't return. Surprise! The best player on the RB depth chart behind Murray is probably Lance Dunbar, but Dunbar was inactive Sunday night because of a hamstring injury. If Murray's absence is longer term, Dunbar could be involved, but the player who carried the mail Sunday night was rookie Joseph Randle. It would be a stretch to say Randle looked good (11 carries for 17 yards), but he did score a short TD and played ahead of Phillip Tanner.

• Two of my favorite slightly undersized rookie rushers made highlights Sunday: Giovani Bernard and Andre Ellington. Bernard's 20-yard TD was a jump-off-the-couch moment, as he accepted a shovel pass and juked through half the Bills defense; he rushed for only 28 yards on 15 carries, but caught six passes for 72 yards and most important, he played around the same number of snaps as BenJarvus Green-Ellis. Ellington was filthy on three separate occasions, juking San Francisco 49ers out of their jocks. He wound up with 12 touches and 92 yards, and split looks with Rashard Mendenhall. He's going to get the national spotlight Thursday night in a bad matchup against the Seattle Seahawks, but don't let that scare you off him. If he's unowned in your league, grab him.


• Danny Amendola was shut out as a pass-catcher through no fault of his own. He beat a blown Saints coverage and should've had an 84-yard TD, but Tom Brady overthrew him. Unfortunately, later in the game Amendola was knocked out by a huge hit on an end-around and didn't return.

• Antonio Brown was terrific again with 86 yards on nine catches, though he did commit a truly horrendous red zone drop on what should've been a Ben Roethlisberger TD pass. Brown is everything we hoped he'd be in 2012, when he suffered all season with a high ankle sprain, and he needs to be in your lineup every week.

• The Matt Cassel Era will almost certainly end at two games in Minnesota. Cassel was a checkdown machine, even as the score spiraled out of control, and the wolves will be out for a change under center. My guess is Josh Freeman will get the call in Week 7 against the New York Giants, though Christian Ponder did practice on a limited basis last week. But the Vikes probably need to know what they have in Freeman. Unfortunately, they have a pretty good idea what Ponder and Cassel are.

• Maurice Jones-Drew had 74 yards on 24 touches and barreled his way to a 5-yard third-quarter score for the Jags, but honestly, you shouldn't be fooled. He just doesn't look like the same player we remember from a few years back. He looks heavy, and he just doesn't accelerate into the hole or into tacklers the way he once did. If you can use this good statistical day as leverage toward dealing MJD for something useful, I'd do it. He could be a trade candidate for the Jaguars in the coming weeks, but even on a better NFL team, I'm dubious he has many star turns left.

 

[HacheMan]

2013 ranks update: Reading and reacting

Eric Karabell


Six weeks down, and still many more before the fantasy playoff picture begins to take shape. Here in the end-of-season rankings update, we try to make sense of not only what has happened to this date but also what we think will happen the rest of the season. Perhaps your stars from Weeks 1 and 2 aren't faring as well in the rankings as recent stars, or even players who have yet to play. Either way, hopefully this helps for trade (or pickup) purposes ... or if you happen to have a draft this week!

Remember, these are not the Week 7 rankings; those will be posted Wednesday. Have thoughts? Hit me up on Twitter at @karabellespn. Enjoy!

<OFFER>Quick click by position, for easy reference:
Top 40 Quarterbacks | Top 60 Running Backs | Top 60 Wide Receivers
Top 30 Tight Ends | Top 32 Defense/Special Teams | Top 100 Overall

[h=3]Top 40 Quarterbacks[/h]<STYLE type=text/css>.mod-inline td img {margin: 0px;}</STYLE>

<CENTER>Rk </CENTER>	Player	<CENTER>Team </CENTER>	<CENTER>Prev. </CENTER>
1	Peyton Manning	Den	1
2	Drew Brees	NO	2
3	Aaron Rodgers	GB	3
4	Cam Newton	Car	4
5	Tom Brady	NE	5
6	Matthew Stafford	Det	7
7	Andrew Luck	Ind	6
8	Tony Romo	Dal	8
9	Philip Rivers	SD	10
10	Robert Griffin III	Wsh	11
11	Matt Ryan	Atl	9
12	Russell Wilson	Sea	12
13	Terrelle Pryor	Oak	13
14	Colin Kaepernick	SF	15
15	Jay Cutler	Chi	18
16	Michael Vick	Phi	14
17	Ben Roethlisberger	Pit	16
18	Sam Bradford	StL	17
19	Joe Flacco	Bal	20
20	Andy Dalton	Cin	22
21	Eli Manning	NYG	23
22	Geno Smith	NYJ	19
23	Alex Smith	KC	21
24	Josh Freeman	Min	27
25	Matt Schaub	Hou	24
26	Nick Foles	Phi	29
27	Ryan Tannehill	Mia	26
28	Carson Palmer	Ari	25
29	Ryan Fitzpatrick	Ten	28
30	Chad Henne	Jac	31
31	Brandon Weeden	Cle	32
32	Mike Glennon	TB	33
33	E.J. Manuel	Buf	30
34	Thad Lewis	Buf	34
35	Blaine Gabbert	Jac	37
36	T.J. Yates	Hou	39
37	Christian Ponder	Min	36
38	Matt Flynn	Buf	--
39	Jake Locker	Ten	38
40	Matthew McGloin	Oak	40

<THEAD>
</THEAD><TBODY>
</TBODY>

Eight quarterbacks scored 18 or more fantasy points in Week 6. Of that group, the Carolina Panthers' Cam Newton and Detroit Lions' Matthew Stafford were the only ones considered top-10 fantasy options, and neither of them had been playing at a high level. Well, they did Sunday, with Newton leading all quarterbacks with 30 fantasy points -- five times his Week 5 performance -- and Stafford tossing four touchdown passes in his biggest game of the season. It should go without saying, but Newton and Stafford are top-10 options for a reason -- Newton has more statistical upside thanks to his legs -- and a bad game or two shouldn't alter that. There were no changes among the top 13 quarterbacks this week.

In fact, there were few rankings changes throughout this position this week, unlike other spots. Nick Foles, Andy Dalton and Thad Lewis contributed some of the highest-scoring fantasy games of the week, but each case comes with an asterisk, which is why none of them saw major movement here. The Philadelphia Eagles' Foles is no lock to start in Week 7, let alone beyond it. He strafed the winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers for 29 fantasy points; in comparison, the last time Michael Vick reached 16 fantasy points was in Week 2. But coach Chip Kelly certainly seems to want the more dynamic Vick, when healthy, running the offense. It's not a stretch to add Foles in a deep league, because Philly's offense has been consistently special, and he might lead it, although Vick remains likely to start when available. As noted last week, Foles is acceptably competent. He's not likely to torch better defenses.

As for the Cincinnati Bengals' Dalton, his 24 fantasy points were nice, but he had 13 points the previous two games combined, and he has as many turnovers as touchdowns this season. He's not a viable weekly starter, more of an erratic performer perhaps holding his team back. The Buffalo Bills' Lewis delivered a relatively impressive Sunday afternoon statistically and then limped off with a sprained right foot. He might play in Week 7, but the fact that recurrent castoff Matt Flynn was signed Monday is not a good sign. Flynn joins the rankings not because he's a good quarterback but because everyone starting probably warrants a look in a deep league. Rookie E.J. Manuel can't return to the Bills soon enough, and he remains the fantasy quarterback of choice on this team.

[h=3]Top 60 Running Backs[/h]<STYLE type=text/css>.mod-inline td img {margin: 0px;}</STYLE>

<CENTER>Rk </CENTER>	Player	<CENTER>Team </CENTER>	<CENTER>Prev. </CENTER>
1	Adrian Peterson	Min	1
2	Jamaal Charles	KC	2
3	LeSean McCoy	Phi	3
4	Marshawn Lynch	Sea	4
5	Arian Foster	Hou	5
6	Matt Forte	Chi	6
7	Alfred Morris	Wsh	9
8	Reggie Bush	Det	10
9	Knowshon Moreno	Den	15
10	Ray Rice	Bal	7
11	Doug Martin	TB	8
12	Frank Gore	SF	12
13	Eddie Lacy	GB	16
14	Trent Richardson	Ind	13
15	C.J. Spiller	Buf	11
16	Gio Bernard	Cin	19
17	Chris Johnson	Ten	17
18	Stevan Ridley	NE	33
19	Le'Veon Bell	Pit	20
20	DeMarco Murray	Dal	14
21	Fred Jackson	Buf	18
22	Lamar Miller	Mia	21
23	Steven Jackson	Atl	23
24	Darren Sproles	NO	22
25	Darren McFadden	Oak	26
26	Maurice Jones-Drew	Jac	28
27	Bilal Powell	NYJ	25
28	DeAngelo Williams	Car	24
29	Willis McGahee	Cle	27
30	BenJarvus Green-Ellis	Cin	32
31	Danny Woodhead	SD	31
32	Andre Ellington	Ari	45
33	Ryan Mathews	SD	35
34	Zac Stacy	StL	43
35	Pierre Thomas	NO	36
36	David Wilson	NYG	29
37	Bernard Pierce	Bal	34
38	Rashard Mendenhall	Ari	37
39	Jacquizz Rodgers	Atl	38
40	Ben Tate	Hou	39
41	Joique Bell	Det	30
42	Jason Snelling	Atl	40
43	Ronnie Hillman	Den	44
44	Bryce Brown	Phi	42
45	Donald Brown	Ind	46
46	Khiry Robinson	NO	--
47	Brandon Jacobs	NYG	--
48	Chris Ogbonnaya	Cle	60
49	Joseph Randle	Dal	--
50	LeGarrette Blount	NE	41
51	Roy Helu	Wsh	55
52	Lance Dunbar	Dal	--
53	Mike Tolbert	Car	--
54	Brandon Bolden	NE	47
55	Daryl Richardson	StL	48
56	Marcel Reece	Oak	50
57	Daniel Thomas	Mia	51
58	Montee Ball	Den	52
59	Kendall Hunter	SF	54
60	Chris Ivory	NYJ	56

<THEAD>
</THEAD><TBODY>
</TBODY>

Unlike those who make their living throwing the pigskin, the top running backs generally performed like top running backs last week, save for No. 1 guy Adrian Peterson. Now it's time to address whether Peterson still belongs in the top spot. After all, Kansas City Chiefs stud Jamaal Charles has scored 15 or more fantasy points in each of his six games, and Sunday against the Oakland Raiders he provided a season-best 24 points. Charles has caught five or more passes in each game since Week 1, and he's scoring touchdowns. Peterson has hardly been bad this season, but Charles, the leader in fantasy points among non-quarterbacks, has obviously been better. Peterson does have 26- and 28-point performances, and surely he can't be blamed for Sunday's 10-point fantasy outing, for various on- and off-the-field reasons. Plus, Peterson should demolish the New York Giants' defense in Week 7. If he doesn't, however, Charles could supplant him. The others in the top five at running back also played well (Marshawn Lynch, LeSean McCoy, Arian Foster), so ultimately there's no movement there.

There is movement after that. Denver Broncos veteran Knowshon Moreno, who was never this good earlier in his career, converted three touchdown runs Sunday, leading the position with 28 fantasy points. Look, when Peyton Manning is the quarterback and there are stud wide receivers and a really strong, athletic tight end running around, defenses don't key on the running back. Moreno also saw 10 receiving targets Sunday! This is a top-10 running back regardless of draft-day rank. He surpasses the Buccaneers' Doug Martin, whom many regarded as fantasy's No. 2 running back a month ago. Martin had a terrific rookie campaign, finishing in a tie with Foster as fantasy's No. 2 running back a year ago. He caught passes, scored touchdowns and seemed to do everything well. But through six games this season, he has scored one touchdown (in Week 1) and averaged 3.5 yards per carry and 5.4 yards on his 11 receptions, each figure down quite a bit from 2012. Martin, with fewer fantasy points this season than Danny Woodhead and Bilal Powell, slides out of the top 10. I'll take Alfred Morris, Reggie Bush and Moreno instead.

Dallas Cowboys starter DeMarco Murray left Sunday's game early because of a knee injury and is unlikely to compete in Week 7 against the Eagles. Will he play in Week 8? Well, let's put it this way in analyzing the brittle Murray: As with the Raiders' Darren McFadden, he's not known as a quick healer. Murray is talented, and he has been performing well this season, but he's not durable. He could return in Week 8 or Week 14, for all we know. He remains in RB2 status barely for now. Reserve Lance Dunbar is an intriguing player who can catch passes, but he missed Sunday's game with a hamstring injury and is not expected to play this week, leaving rookie Joseph Randle as the last man standing. Still, Randle didn't get much love in the rankings, debuting at No. 49. If Dunbar were to play, he'd be more interesting.

Among the running backs movin' on up include Stevan Ridley, Andre Ellington and Zac Stacy. Let's remember that Ridley was a borderline top-10 running back when the season started, then totaled a disappointing 16 fantasy points through five weeks. On Sunday, though, Ridley scored two touchdowns en route to 22 fantasy points. If you've been on the Ridley roller coaster this season, you understand the reluctance to move him back into safe RB2 territory right away, but there aren't 20 sure things in the top 20, either. Ellington isn't likely to gain top-20 status. The Arizona Cardinals rookie is running and catching well, but as with Bengals tandem Gio Bernard/BenJarvus Green-Ellis, the younger, more mobile fellow isn't likely to start getting a consistent 25 touches per game. Still, Ellington has become more valuable than Rashard Mendenhall. Stacy is getting most of the touches for the St. Louis Rams now, distancing himself from Daryl Richardson and Isaiah Pead. Several new names litter the landscape as well, including the Giants' Brandon Jacobs. We just don't know when David Wilson will play again. Some might view this as a good thing!

[h=3]Top 60 Wide Receivers[/h]<STYLE type=text/css>.mod-inline td img {margin: 0px;}</STYLE>

<CENTER>Rk </CENTER>	Player	<CENTER>Team </CENTER>	<CENTER>Prev. </CENTER>
1	Calvin Johnson	Det	1
2	Dez Bryant	Dal	2
3	Demaryius Thomas	Den	3
4	Wes Welker	Den	4
5	Brandon Marshall	Chi	5
6	A.J. Green	Cin	6
7	Jordy Nelson	GB	10
8	Larry Fitzgerald	Ari	7
9	Victor Cruz	NYG	9
10	DeSean Jackson	Phi	20
11	Andre Johnson	Hou	11
12	Eric Decker	Den	12
13	Torrey Smith	Bal	13
14	Josh Gordon	Cle	15
15	Vincent Jackson	TB	16
16	Reggie Wayne	Ind	14
17	Antonio Brown	Pit	19
18	Pierre Garcon	Wsh	18
19	Marques Colston	NO	17
20	Justin Blackmon	Jac	27
21	Hakeem Nicks	NYG	21
22	Steve Smith	Car	24
23	Anquan Boldin	SF	25
24	Alshon Jeffery	Chi	23
25	T.Y. Hilton	Ind	26
26	James Jones	GB	22
27	Denarius Moore	Oak	44
28	Mike Wallace	Mia	29
29	Greg Jennings	Min	31
30	Keenan Allen	SD	51
31	Cecil Shorts	Jac	28
32	Julian Edelman	NE	32
33	Steve Johnson	Buf	30
34	Roddy White	Atl	35
35	Danny Amendola	NE	33
36	Kenbrell Thompkins	NE	41
37	Dwayne Bowe	KC	34
38	Austin Pettis	StL	36
39	Brian Hartline	Mia	38
40	Percy Harvin	Sea	--
41	Randall Cobb	GB	8
42	Golden Tate	Sea	39
43	Tavon Austin	StL	40
44	DeAndre Hopkins	Hou	42
45	Terrance Williams	Dal	50
46	Harry Douglas	Atl	43
47	Sidney Rice	Sea	45
48	Miles Austin	Dal	57
49	Mike Williams	TB	37
50	Rueben Randle	NYG	54
51	Emmanuel Sanders	Pit	52
52	Kendall Wright	Ten	47
53	Vincent Brown	SD	49
54	Brandon LaFell	Car	--
55	Kris Durham	Det	60
56	Robert Woods	Buf	55
57	Michael Crabtree	SF	--
58	Kenny Stills	NO	--
59	Jacoby Jones	Bal	--
60	Jarrett Boykin	GB	--

<THEAD>
</THEAD><TBODY>
</TBODY>

Calvin Johnson was able to suit up in Week 6, but he didn't do much statistically, and like the Vikings' Peterson, we're at the point to consider whether Megatron deserves to remain in the top spot. Again, name value means only so much in fantasy football. In fact, it can often mean too much, and Johnson's knee woes could remain a problem all season. Hopefully this isn't like the Roddy White situation. For now, Johnson stays at No. 1 because Dez Bryant and Demaryius Thomas didn't supply great games themselves Sunday, but the case can be made for any of the top five wide receivers being in the top spot. Just be careful in trading for Johnson, because he could easily be at No. 6 or 7 in a week.

The wide receiver leaving the top 10 is Green Bay Packers star Randall Cobb, who suffered an ugly leg injury Sunday. For now, Cobb's injury isn't regarded as serious enough to cost him his season, but he's expected to miss at least a month, knocking him down quite a bit here. His teammate Jordy Nelson moves into the top 10, and at the very back of the rankings, relative unknown Jarrett Boykin makes his debut. It's Nelson and Boykin for now, with Cobb and James Jones out. Tight end Jermichael Finley also adds value. This is a situation to monitor if you're thinking of trading for Aaron Rodgers, too. And don't assume Cobb returns to his normal self, in case you encounter a buy-low opportunity.

In a few days, the most-added list will show that everyone suddenly loves Jacksonville Jaguars sophomore Justin Blackmon, though at the time of his monster performance against the Broncos on Sunday, he was owned in barely half of ESPN's standard leagues. Blackmon saw 20 targets in the loss to the Broncos. Twenty targets! He caught 14 of them and again piled on the yards. As of now, we don't know whether teammate Cecil Shorts -- who had a better 2012 season -- is going to miss games because of his shoulder problem, but the biggest reason Blackmon barely makes the top 20 wide receivers is Blaine Gabbert. Rumor is the Jaguars will go back to him soon, perhaps in Week 8. That's a problem. And say what you will about the underachieving Marques Colston and Hakeem Nicks, who are ranked in the same area, but they have achieved before, and so have their quarterbacks.

Colston is close to falling from the top 20, however, as he has hauled in a mere three passes for two fantasy points in the past two games. No, it's not likely that Kenny Stills, who caught a touchdown pass from Drew Brees on Sunday, is becoming a star, but Colston has one touchdown in six games, it coming in Week 1. He has yet to top 100 receiving yards. Again, we're back to name value, but hopefully the pending bye week helps him. Don't trade for Colston assuming big numbers. He's still worth starting in Week 8, when his team comes off the bye and faces the Bills, but for most of the season Brees has relied on tight end Jimmy Graham, and that's about it.

Other wide receivers on the way up include Denarius Moore, Emmanuel Sanders and Terrance Williams, while Danny Amendola and Ryan Broyles head the other way. Moore has been in double digits for fantasy points four times this season, which is more than Calvin Johnson, Dez Bryant and A.J. Green (three each), and twice as many as Demaryius Thomas (two). Terrelle Pryor is certainly competent, and Moore is emerging. Sanders doesn't catch many passes from Ben Roethlisberger, but he gets targets and scored a touchdown Sunday. Williams followed up his big Week 5 performance with another touchdown Sunday night, but more importantly, the healthy Miles Austin wasn't much of a factor. Meanwhile, Amendola remains a tad overrated; health is a skill, too. Amendola caught two passes for zero yards Sunday and took a big hit that could cost him playing time. Broyles is not a factor in Detroit. Kris Durham caught eight passes on 13 targets Sunday, and even if Calvin Johnson needed to miss games, Broyles would not come recommended.

[h=3]Top 30 Tight Ends[/h]<STYLE type=text/css>.mod-inline td img {margin: 0px;}</STYLE>

<CENTER>Rk </CENTER>	Player	<CENTER>Team </CENTER>	<CENTER>Prev. </CENTER>
1	Jimmy Graham	NO	1
2	Julius Thomas	Den	3
3	Vernon Davis	SF	8
4	Jason Witten	Dal	5
5	Jordan Cameron	Cle	4
6	Tony Gonzalez	Atl	6
7	Rob Gronkowski	NE	2
8	Antonio Gates	SD	7
9	Martellus Bennett	Chi	10
10	Heath Miller	Pit	11
11	Greg Olsen	Car	9
12	Coby Fleener	Ind	12
13	Kyle Rudolph	Min	19
14	Jermichael Finley	GB	20
15	Joseph Fauria	Det	--
16	Brandon Myers	NYG	13
17	Charles Clay	Mia	14
18	Garrett Graham	Hou	15
19	Brent Celek	Phi	18
20	Jared Cook	StL	17
21	Dallas Clark	Bal	23
22	Tyler Eifert	Cin	21
23	Jermaine Gresham	Cin	22
24	Scott Chandler	Buf	28
25	Owen Daniels	Hou	16
26	Jordan Reed	Wsh	--
27	Brandon Pettigrew	Det	24
28	Lance Kendricks	StL	25
29	Delanie Walker	Ten	26
30	Benjamin Watson	NO	--

<THEAD>
</THEAD><TBODY>
</TBODY>

The two best tight ends in the game remain in the news. One of them, the Saints' Jimmy Graham, is not going to play in Week 7. His team is on bye. The other, the controversial Rob Gronkowski of the Patriots, is eligible to play in Week 7, but who knows whether he will suit up. Graham stays in the top spot despite producing nary a fantasy point in Week 6 against the Patriots. As of now, his ankle injury is believed to be minor, and let's remember he entered Week 6 leading all non-quarterbacks in fantasy points. He can resume his great pace in Week 8. As for Gronkowski, he drops a few spots in the rankings. Fantasy owners just can't depend on him playing, and even then, will he stay healthy?

The San Francisco 49ers' Vernon Davis has come back strong this season, culminating in Sunday's 30-point fantasy game, much of which occurred before halftime. Davis tore up the Cardinals for 180 receiving yards and two touchdowns. He scored four touchdowns in the first five games, though he topped three catches in a game just once. Is he back to safe top-five tight end status? It sure looks like it, and I have him ranked that way. Julius Thomas moves to No. 2 as he continues to score touchdowns, but he's hardly proven. Jordan Cameron has had a quiet two weeks with Brandon Weeden back at quarterback. Jason Witten should exploit the Eagles this week, but he has had only two solid fantasy games out of six, same as Tony Gonzalez. Gronkowski settles in at No. 7, after these players.

Then there's Lions touchdown maker/dancer Joseph Fauria. He was ranked a few weeks ago, but the problem was an overall lack of receptions and yards. On Sunday, Fauria saw three targets, caught them all, and they all went for touchdowns. The issue with trusting Fauria, an undrafted rookie free agent from UCLA, is chasing touchdowns. He has seven receptions this season, with five touchdowns. It's dangerous to expect such production moving ahead, but you're probably not going to get burned using him over Brandon Myers, Charles Clay and Brent Celek at this point.

[h=3]Top 32 Defense/Special Teams[/h]<STYLE type=text/css>.mod-inline td img {margin: 0px;}</STYLE>

<CENTER>Rk </CENTER>	Player	<CENTER>Prev. </CENTER>	<CENTER> </CENTER>	<CENTER>Rank </CENTER>	Player	<CENTER>Prev. </CENTER>
1	Kansas City Chiefs	2		17	Houston Texans	10
2	Seattle Seahawks	1		18	Indianapolis Colts	14
3	San Francisco 49ers	3		19	New Orleans Saints	15
4	Chicago Bears	5		20	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	21
5	Cincinnati Bengals	4		21	Atlanta Falcons	17
6	Baltimore Ravens	6		22	Dallas Cowboys	18
7	New England Patriots	7		23	New York Jets	25
8	Denver Broncos	9		24	Detroit Lions	22
9	Green Bay Packers	11		25	Buffalo Bills	28
10	Cleveland Browns	8		26	Minnesota Vikings	24
11	Pittsburgh Steelers	16		27	Oakland Raiders	26
12	St. Louis Rams	20		28	San Diego Chargers	27
13	Arizona Cardinals	12		29	Washington Redskins	29
14	Carolina Panthers	23		30	Philadelphia Eagles	30
15	Miami Dolphins	13		31	Jacksonville Jaguars	31
16	Tennessee Titans	19		32	New York Giants	32

<THEAD>
</THEAD><TBODY>
</TBODY>

[h=3]Top 100 Overall[/h]<STYLE type=text/css>.mod-inline td img {margin: 0px;}</STYLE>

<CENTER>Ovr. Rank </CENTER>	Player	<CENTER>Team </CENTER>	<CENTER>Pos. Rank </CENTER>	<CENTER>Next 3 Weeks </CENTER>	<CENTER>Prev. Rank </CENTER>
1	Adrian Peterson	Min	RB1	@NYG, GB, @Dal	1
2	Jamaal Charles	KC	RB2	Hou, Cle, @Buf	2
3	LeSean McCoy	Phi	RB3	Dal, NYG, @Oak	3
4	Marshawn Lynch	Sea	RB4	@Ari, @StL, TB	4
5	Arian Foster	Hou	RB5	@KC, BYE, Ind	5
6	Matt Forte	Chi	RB6	@Wsh, BYE, @GB	6
7	Alfred Morris	Wsh	RB7	Chi, @Den, SD	9
8	Reggie Bush	Det	RB8	Cin, Dal, BYE	12
9	Peyton Manning	Den	QB1	@Ind, Wsh, BYE	10
10	Knowshon Moreno	Den	RB9	@Ind, Wsh, BYE	18
11	Ray Rice	Bal	RB10	@Pit, BYE, @Cle	7
12	Jimmy Graham	NO	TE1	BYE, Buf, @NYJ	11
13	Doug Martin	TB	RB11	@Atl, Car, @Sea	8
14	Calvin Johnson	Det	WR1	Cin, Dal, BYE	14
15	Frank Gore	SF	RB12	@Ten, @Jac, BYE	15
16	Dez Bryant	Dal	WR2	@Phi, @Det, Min	19
17	Demaryius Thomas	Den	WR3	@Ind, Wsh, BYE	20
18	Wes Welker	Den	WR4	@Ind, Wsh, BYE	23
19	Brandon Marshall	Chi	WR5	@Wsh, BYE, @GB	24
20	A.J. Green	Cin	WR6	@Det, NYJ, @Mia	25
21	Eddie Lacy	GB	RB13	Cle, @Min, Chi	28
22	Drew Brees	NO	QB2	BYE, Buf, @NYJ	21
23	Aaron Rodgers	GB	QB3	Cle, @Min, Chi	22
24	Cam Newton	Car	QB4	StL, @TB, Atl	27
25	Jordy Nelson	GB	WR7	Cle, @Min, Chi	26
26	Trent Richardson	Ind	RB14	Den, BYE, @Hou	16
27	C.J. Spiller	Buf	RB15	@Mia, @NO, KC	13
28	Gio Bernard	Cin	RB16	@Det, NYJ, @Mia	49
29	Larry Fitzgerald	Ari	WR8	Sea, Atl, BYE	29
30	Victor Cruz	NYG	WR9	Min, @Phi, BYE	30
31	DeSean Jackson	Phi	WR10	Dal, NYG, @Oak	56
32	Andre Johnson	Hou	WR11	@KC, BYE, Ind	36
33	Eric Decker	Den	WR12	@Ind, Wsh, BYE	44
34	Tom Brady	NE	QB5	@NYJ, Mia, Pit	31
35	Chris Johnson	Ten	RB17	SF, BYE, @StL	33
36	Stevan Ridley	NE	RB18	@NYJ, Mia, Pit	89
37	Matthew Stafford	Det	QB6	Cin, Dal, BYE	37
38	Torrey Smith	Bal	WR13	@Pit, BYE, @Cle	45
39	Josh Gordon	Cle	WR14	@GB, @KC, Bal	47
40	Andrew Luck	Ind	QB7	Den, BYE, @Hou	38
41	Vincent Jackson	TB	WR15	@Atl, Car, @Sea	48
42	Reggie Wayne	Ind	WR16	Den, BYE, @Hou	46
43	Julius Thomas	Den	TE2	@Ind, Wsh, BYE	40
44	Vernon Davis	SF	TE3	@Ten, @Jac, BYE	80
45	Jason Witten	Dal	TE4	@Phi, @Det, Min	61
46	Tony Romo	Dal	QB8	@Phi, @Det, Min	42
47	Philip Rivers	SD	QB9	@Jac, BYE, @Wsh	43
48	Antonio Brown	Pit	WR17	Bal, @Oak, @NE	55
49	Le'Veon Bell	Pit	RB19	Bal, @Oak, @NE	50
50	DeMarco Murray	Dal	RB20	@Phi, @Det, Min	17
51	Jordan Cameron	Cle	TE5	@GB, @KC, Bal	41
52	Fred Jackson	Buf	RB21	@Mia, @NO, KC	34
53	Lamar Miller	Mia	RB22	Buf, @NE, Cin	51
54	Pierre Garcon	Wsh	WR18	Chi, @Den, SD	54
55	Marques Colston	NO	WR19	BYE, Buf, @NYJ	53
56	Justin Blackmon	Jac	WR20	SD, SF, BYE	74
57	Hakeem Nicks	NYG	WR21	Min, @Phi, BYE	57
58	Steve Smith	Car	WR22	StL, @TB, Atl	66
59	Steven Jackson	Atl	RB23	TB, @Ari, @Car	58
60	Darren Sproles	NO	RB24	BYE, Buf, @NYJ	52
61	Darren McFadden	Oak	RB25	BYE, Pit, Phi	63
62	Robert Griffin III	Wsh	QB10	Chi, @Den, SD	72
63	Anquan Boldin	SF	WR23	@Ten, @Jac, BYE	70
64	Maurice Jones-Drew	Jac	RB26	SD, SF, BYE	68
65	Bilal Powell	NYJ	RB27	NE, @Cin, NO	60
66	Alshon Jeffery	Chi	WR24	@Wsh, BYE, @GB	65
67	T.Y. Hilton	Ind	WR25	Den, BYE, @Hou	71
68	DeAngelo Williams	Car	RB28	StL, @TB, Atl	59
69	Willis McGahee	Cle	RB29	@GB, @KC, Bal	64
70	James Jones	GB	WR26	Cle, @Min, Chi	62
71	Denarius Moore	Oak	WR27	BYE, Pit, Phi	NR
72	Matt Ryan	Atl	QB11	TB, @Ari, @Car	27
73	Russell Wilson	Sea	QB12	@Ari, @StL, TB	73
74	Mike Wallace	Mia	WR28	Buf, @NE, Cin	78
75	Tony Gonzalez	Atl	TE6	TB, @Ari, @Car	75
76	Rob Gronkowski	NE	TE7	@NYJ, Mia, Pit	39
77	Greg Jennings	Min	WR29	@NYG, GB, @Dal	81
78	Keenan Allen	SD	WR30	@Jac, BYE, @Wsh	NR
79	Cecil Shorts	Jac	WR31	SD, SF, BYE	77
80	Antonio Gates	SD	TE8	@Jac, BYE, @Wsh	76
81	Julian Edelman	NE	WR32	@NYJ, Mia, Pit	86
82	Martellus Bennett	Chi	TE9	@Wsh, BYE, @GB	84
83	BenJarvus Green-Ellis	Cin	RB30	@Det, NYJ, @Mia	87
84	Heath Miller	Pit	TE10	Bal, @Oak, @NE	NR
85	Danny Woodhead	SD	RB31	@Jac, BYE, @Wsh	85
86	Terrelle Pryor	Oak	QB13	BYE, Pit, Phi	95
87	Colin Kaepernick	SF	QB14	@Ten, @Jac, BYE	98
88	Steve Johnson	Buf	WR33	@Mia, @NO, KC	79
89	Andre Ellington	Ari	RB32	Sea, Atl, BYE	NR
90	Roddy White	Atl	WR34	TB, @Ari, @Car	92
91	Ryan Mathews	SD	RB33	@Jac, BYE, @Wsh	93
92	Danny Amendola	NE	WR35	@NYJ, Mia, Pit	88
93	Zac Stacy	StL	RB34	@Car, Sea, Ten	NR
94	Kenbrell Thompkins	NE	WR36	@NYJ, Mia, Pit	NR
95	Pierre Thomas	NO	RB35	BYE, Buf, @NYJ	97
96	Dwayne Bowe	KC	WR37	Hou, Cle, @Buf	90
97	Austin Pettis	StL	WR38	@Car, Sea, Ten	94
98	Brian Hartline	Mia	WR39	Buf, @NE, Cin	NR
99	Kansas City Chiefs	KC	D1	Hou, Cle, @Buf	NR
100	Percy Harvin	Sea	WR40	@Ari, @StL, TB	NR

<THEAD>
</THEAD><TBODY>
</TBODY>

 

[HacheMan]

[h=1]Fantasy tips from next-level data[/h][h=3]Should we trust Sam Bradford and Joseph Randle?[/h]By Ken Daube | Special to ESPN.com

Due in part to the fact that he currently ranks seventh among NFL quarterbacks in fantasy points scored, Sam Bradford is now owned in over 83 percent of ESPN.com leagues. Some owners are likely making the jump to Bradford based upon the fact that he's a former No. 1 overall NFL draft choice, and the top-flight production was bound to happen at some point. If you are one of those fine folks, please take a minute to reconsider.

First, Bradford's completion percentage -- 59.5 percent -- is the exact same rate he attained last year, while his yards per attempt has dropped from a career high of 6.7 last year to his career average of 6.2 this season. With those two metrics not improving, it's imperative that we establish what the catalyst is behind the change.

In this case, it's rather simple, as Bradford is performing much more efficiently in the red zone this season. Last season, Bradford threw one touchdown for every five dropbacks in the red zone. This season, that rate has improved to one in three. Based on the fact that the other metrics aren't showing an improvement to explain this increased production, that's one reason to believe that the red zone change is a statistical outlier, and therefore not likely to be continued.

Want another reason to avoid falling into the Bradford trap? He has the single toughest remaining schedule in terms of opponent's average fantasy points allowed to opposing QBs. With an average point total of 12.2 fantasy points per game, Bradford doesn't just have the toughest schedule; it's 12 percent harder than the second-hardest schedule (Joe Flacco, 13.71 points per game) and 53 percent harder than the easiest schedule in the league (Robert Griffin III, 18.59 points per game). In fact, based upon those numbers, Griffin makes an intriguing buy-low candidate right now.

[h=3]On target[/h]
Receiving yardage is the most variable form of yardage, which makes sense because so much of it is dependent on where the quarterback elects to throw the ball. Because of this, variations in the number of times a player is targeted by his quarterback can greatly change a player's value. So while your receiver may have scored 10 fantasy points this weekend, you need to know whether it's reasonable to expect that he can repeat that type of performance on a routine basis. If a receiver had one target that he turned into a 40-yard touchdown, you need to realize that he was one quarterback decision away from posting a goose egg. Conversely, if your wideout had 12 targets and finished with 108 yards receiving, his prospects for consistent fantasy production are significantly greater.
Below, you'll see all the players who are averaging eight or more targets in their past four games, and how many of those targets were on plays that began in the red zone during Week 6.
Note: Targets are not an official NFL statistic. Based on the methodology that stat services use, the number of targets listed may be different than target values listed elsewhere. ESPN Stats & Information's philosophy is to count a target when the analyst thinks the pass was actually intended for the player. Therefore, if a quarterback is obviously throwing a ball away, the analyst will not record a target for that pass. This gives a truer representation of what a target is -- a pass thrown to a particular player, with the intent for that player to catch the ball -- and therefore should be more helpful to the fantasy community.

[h=3]Fantasy insights based on data through Week 6[/h]

<!-- begin inline 1 -->[h=4]Week 6 Targets Report[/h]

Player	Targets*	RZ
Justin Blackmon	14.5	4
Antonio Brown	12.0	2
Julio Jones	11.3	0
Pierre Garcon	11.0	1
Tony Gonzalez	10.7	0
A.J. Green	10.5	2
Josh Gordon	10.5	1
Calvin Johnson	10.3	1
Vincent Jackson	10.3	2
Victor Cruz	10.3	0
Owen Daniels	9.3	0
Alshon Jeffery	9.3	0
Cecil Shorts	9.3	0
Andre Johnson	9.0	0
Antonio Gates	9.0	0
Brandon Marshall	9.0	3
Jamaal Charles	9.0	1
Mike Wallace	9.0	0
Nate Burleson	9.0	0
Stephen Burton	9.0	0
Jimmy Graham	8.8	0
Robert Woods	8.8	0
Larry Fitzgerald	8.5	1
Reggie Wayne	8.5	1
Jerome Simpson	8.3	0
Denarius Moore	8.3	0
Dez Bryant	8.3	0
DeSean Jackson	8.0	2
Jordy Nelson	8.0	1
Julian Edelman	8.0	1
Steve Smith	8.0	2
Torrey Smith	8.0	0
*Target data presented here is average number of targets through the past four games.

<THEAD>
</THEAD><TBODY>
</TBODY><TFOOT>
</TFOOT>

<!-- end inline 1 -->
• With all the injuries to elite wide receivers, I don't know if there is a wide receiver not named Calvin Johnson or A.J. Green who I would trade for Justin Blackmon. The Jaguars played the Denver Broncos surprisingly tough this past Sunday and the main focus of the Jaguars attack was Blackmon. Look for the Jaguars to continue to rely on Blackmon and for those of you who stashed Blackmon to be handsomely rewarded.

• If you are wondering who Stephen Burton is, and why he's on the targets list, you can stop wondering. Burton has been inactive for the Jaguars each of the past three weeks and made this list as he received nine targets while the Seattle Seahawks were blowing out the Jaguars in Week 3. Burton will most likely fall off of this chart next week.

• While the Buffalo Bills' quarterback situation is best described as abysmal, Robert Woods maintains usefulness in deeper leagues. With almost nine targets per game, Woods has attained over 60 receiving yards in half of the Bills' games. Keep him on your bench and when EJ Manuel returns, there's a possibility that he becomes a viable fantasy starter.

• If you want to know what is behind Antonio Gates' resurgence, look no further than his yards after the catch. Last season, he totaled 140 yards after the catch in 15 games. This season, he already gained 228 such yards in just six games. This is a clear indication that foot injuries that have limited his production the past couple of season are behind him, so if you are thinking about selling high on Gates, there's no need for that course of action.

• If you don't know who Jordan Reed is, get to know him immediately. He's an athletic tight end for the Washington Redskins who has made Fred Davis irrelevant. Reed is available in most leagues and makes a nice value as a waiver wire tight end who you can plug in each week.

• While Joseph Fauria might have some of the coolest end zone celebrations since Chad Johnson's prime, don't be fooled into thinking that he's a fantasy commodity. Much like Eddie Royal earlier this season, Fauria is fool's gold, as he is nothing more than a statistical anomaly. Don't be the chump and waste a roster spot on past production that is not going the be duplicated anytime soon.

[h=3]Big plays and up close[/h]
There were eight NFL players who totaled three or more rushes that gained 10 or more yards each. They were: Brandon Jacobs (5), Arian Foster (5), Russell Wilson (3), Griffin (3), Marshawn Lynch (3), LeSean McCoy (3), Frank Gore (3) and Eddie Lacy (3).

Meanwhile, there were 11 players (down from 14 last week) with at least two carries from their opponent's 5-yard line or closer. They were Ben Tate (6), Knowshon Moreno (6), Lynch (4), Fred Jackson (3), Ray Rice (3), Jacobs (2), DeAngelo Williams (2), Joseph Randle (2), Matt Forte (2), Mike Tolbert (2) and Stevan Ridley (2). Of this group, Jackson, Rice, Williams and Forte failed to score on at least one of these attempts.

Those expecting Randle to be usable in DeMarco Murray's absence should rethink their assessment. Five of Randle's 11 carries did not gain positive yardage, and he averaged just 0.28 yards per carry before contact. For perspective, Murray is averaging 3.47 yards per carry before contact this season.

When Jacobs said the San Francisco 49ers were scared to cut him, most of us dismissed it, as it was coming from a washed-up veteran who couldn't accept his time was over. Jacobs is attempting to prove everyone wrong this season, and with David Wilson on the shelf for three to four weeks, Jacobs becomes usable in non-PPR leagues.

The talent disparity between Foster and Tate isn't as great as most people think. Tate leads Foster in several measurables, including yards per carry and yards per carry after contact. The fact that Tate has lost two fumbles on 51 carries is likely what prevents him from becoming a "1B" instead of the clear second option in the Houston Texans backfield. That being said, Tate will be a commodity for rush-deprived teams during this offseason and therefore he has solid keeper value.

The use of Williams and Tolbert inside the opponent's 5-yard line, and their corresponding success, is a blow to Cam Newton's value, even if Newton just had his best game of the season. A substantial part of Newton's fantasy value is grabbing some cheap touchdowns, so make the necessary adjustment to your valuation of Newton.

The loss of Randall Cobb and James Jones is likely a boost for Lacy's value in the short term. The Packers currently rank fifth in the NFL in rushing yards per game, after finishing 20th last season and 27th the year before. View Lacy as a solid RB2 in all formats.

[h=3]Red zone play-calling chart[/h]
Below is a listing of the percentage of run/pass plays each team has executed so far this season in the red zone. Pass plays are defined as any play where the quarterback attempted a pass or was sacked and all other plays are deemed as a rush.


<!-- begin inline 2 -->[h=4]Red Zone Play-Calling Chart[/h]

Team	Snaps	Pass	Rush
Denver Broncos	76	51%	49%
Atlanta Falcons	70	69%	31%
New England Patriots	69	52%	48%
San Diego Chargers	63	68%	32%
Chicago Bears	57	63%	37%
St. Louis Rams	56	63%	38%
Kansas City Chiefs	56	46%	54%
New Orleans Saints	56	64%	36%
Green Bay Packers	56	54%	46%
Cleveland Browns	56	57%	43%
Baltimore Ravens	55	56%	44%
San Francisco 49ers	55	29%	71%
Philadelphia Eagles	55	47%	53%
Houston Texans	53	57%	43%
Detroit Lions	52	62%	38%
Tennessee Titans	52	42%	58%
Seattle Seahawks	51	43%	57%
Dallas Cowboys	50	58%	42%
Carolina Panthers	49	37%	63%
Jacksonville Jaguars	45	73%	27%
Buffalo Bills	44	30%	70%
Pittsburgh Steelers	41	71%	29%
Indianapolis Colts	40	45%	55%
Cincinnati Bengals	39	46%	54%
Minnesota Vikings	37	49%	51%
Washington Redskins	35	69%	31%
Oakland Raiders	35	54%	46%
New York Giants	34	59%	41%
Arizona Cardinals	31	52%	48%
New York Jets	30	53%	47%
Miami Dolphins	28	57%	43%
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	19	68%	32%

<THEAD>
</THEAD><TBODY>
</TBODY>

 

[HacheMan]

[h=1]Best, worst Week 7 matchups[/h][h=3]Start your Cowboys, but consider other options for your Lions[/h]By Scott Kacsmar | Football Outsiders

From answering weekly fantasy questions at Football Outsiders, there's one big problem I see people having: deciding what to dig out of the cemetery that is the 2013 running back landscape.
People who drafted Doug Martin, C.J. Spiller, Chris Johnson and David Wilson with a high pick are disappointed. Even some who spent the No. 1 pick on Adrian Peterson may be wondering why he's not piling up 100-yard games like he did late last season. And then there's Ray Rice, who has rushed for more than 36 yards in a game just once, and Arian Foster, who has only one touchdown.
So what's going on this year?
For a "real football" reason, I would say not many offensive lines are capable of good run blocking right now. Most backs are only as good as their blocking, as it takes elite talent to create yards when there's nothing there. Even the best struggle to do that when they get hit as soon as they take the handoff.
In terms of the fantasy ramifications, I wanted to see just how far the mighty have fallen. So I gathered data on the top 10 fantasy running backs through Week 6 for every season since 2007 to see if things were really that bad this year:

<!-- begin inline 1 -->[h=4]Averages of Top 10 Fantasy Running Backs Through Week 6 (2007-13)[/h]

Season	Attempts	Yards	YPC	Rush TD	Fantasy Points
2007	99.1	479.3	4.84	3.4	90.4
2008	106.0	450.7	4.25	4.4	90.9
2009	99.2	457.2	4.61	4.7	87.7
2010	105.7	495.3	4.69	4.3	93.3
2011	101.0	493.4	4.89	4.2	100.1
2012	104.8	489.2	4.67	4.0	85.7
2013	99.6	457.1	4.59	3.7	90.7

<THEAD>
</THEAD><TBODY>
</TBODY>

<!-- end inline 1 -->Both rushing yards and touchdowns are down this season, but not dramatically so. Plus, average points (90.7) are in line with the previous six seasons. So the cream of the crop is about the same. The big difference is that no one expected to see Knowshon Moreno at No. 4 or Fred Jackson instead of Spiller.
Here are the best and worst fantasy matchups for Week 7:
<OFFER></OFFER>
[h=3]Quarterbacks[/h]
Cam Newton (plus-1 point)

<!-- begin inline 2 -->[h=4]Players With Favorable Matchups[/h]Based on defense-adjusted value over average (DVOA). For more on the methodology, click here.

Pos	Team	Name	+/- Fan Pts
QB	DAL	Tony Romo	+4
QB	IND	Andrew Luck	+4
RB	HOU	Arian Foster	+3
WR	JAC	Justin Blackmon	+2
RB	SD	Danny Woodhead	+2
RB	JAC	Maurice Jones-Drew	+2
RB	SD	Ryan Mathews	+2
WR	CLE	Josh Gordon	+1
RB	NYG	Brandon Jacobs	+1
TE	CLE	Jordan Cameron	+1
QB	PHI	Michael Vick	+1
RB	HOU	Ben Tate	+1
QB	CAR	Cam Newton	+1
WR	IND	Reggie Wayne	+1
WR	TB	Vincent Jackson	+1
WR	IND	T.Y. Hilton	+1
RB	TB	Doug Martin	+1
RB	BUF	Fred Jackson	+1
WR	JAC	Cecil Shorts	+1
TE	DAL	Jason Witten	+1
RB	CIN	Giovani Bernard	+1
RB	BAL	Ray Rice	+1
WR	DAL	Terrance Williams	+1
RB	BUF	C.J. Spiller	+1
TE	MIN	Kyle Rudolph	+1

<THEAD>
</THEAD><TBODY>
</TBODY>

<!-- end inline 2 -->It's been a rough season for Newton and Carolina, but he can still tear up the bad defenses, as he did against the Giants and Vikings. A home game against St. Louis' 26th-ranked pass defense is a great matchup that also should allow Newton to work on his rushing stats (153 yards and two touchdowns).
Tony Romo (plus-4 points)
So the big week did not come against Washington, but Romo now gets the Eagles' 30th-ranked pass defense. Last season, he posted 16.3 and 25.5 fantasy points against Philadelphia in the two meetings. Expect him to bounce back after that quiet Week 6.
Matthew Stafford (minus-5 points)
This projection is so negative due to the Bengals ranking fourth in pass defense. They did a very good job against Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady, yet Buffalo's Thad Lewis accounted for three touchdowns in Week 6. That's just how the NFL works at times.
Calvin Johnson was not his usual self Sunday, and will see a lot of Leon Hall in this one. It won't be every week that Joseph Fauria is a big touchdown target for Stafford, but the quarterback likely still will have a decent day overall. Stafford has attempted at least 32 passes in 25 consecutive games, and has 31 consecutive games with at least 200 passing yards, so you can count on the volume to be there.
[h=3]Running backs[/h]
Arian Foster (plus-3 points)
The passing game's a mess in Houston, but Foster ranks second in the NFL with 531 rushing yards. At least that famous zone-blocking scheme still works. With problems at quarterback and the No. 1 Kansas City defense this week, the Texans had better hope this is a huge game for Foster. The Chiefs rank only 27th against the run.
Brandon Jacobs (plus-1 point)
Was that fool's gold from Jacobs in Chicago (106 yards and two scores), or is he really worth a roster spot? He ran hard for an offense that had done nothing on the ground all season. It helps that the Bears' defense is soft in the middle, but this week the opponent is the Vikings, who rank 28th against the run and allow more fantasy points to running backs than any defense in the league. So yes, you can start Jacobs this week.
Marshawn Lynch (minus-3 points)
Here's your obligatory reminder about the offensive hazards heading into Thursday night games. It's a short week and Lynch is on the road in Arizona, which ranks No. 6 against the run. You're still going to start him if you have him, but lower your expectations, and do not be surprised if Arizona's Andre Ellington has a solid game as the less-heralded back in this matchup.
[h=3]Wide receivers[/h]
Justin Blackmon (plus-2 points)

<!-- begin inline 3 -->[h=4]Players With Unfavorable Matchups[/h]Based on defense-adjusted value over average (DVOA). For more on the methodology, click here.

Pos	Team	Name	+/- Fan Pts
QB	DET	Matthew Stafford	-5
QB	STL	Sam Bradford	-4
QB	HOU	Matt Schaub	-3
RB	SEA	Marshawn Lynch	-3
RB	PIT	Le'Veon Bell	-2
RB	WAS	Alfred Morris	-2
QB	ATL	Matt Ryan	-2
RB	ATL	Jacquizz Rodgers	-2
RB	NE	Stevan Ridley	-2
RB	IND	Trent Richardson	-1
QB	SEA	Russell Wilson	-1
QB	SF	Colin Kaepernick	-1
RB	CLE	Willis McGahee	-1
RB	DET	Joique Bell	-1
RB	ARI	Andre Ellington	-1
TE	DET	Joseph Fauria	-1
RB	IND	Donald Brown	-1
WR	ARI	Larry Fitzgerald	-1
RB	STL	Zac Stacy	-1

<THEAD>
</THEAD><TBODY>
</TBODY>

<!-- end inline 3 -->Loved him last week, but even I was surprised when Blackmon had 14 catches on 20 targets for 190 yards in Denver. He's owned in only 53 percent of fantasy leagues (as of Wednesday), so make sure to pick him up as soon as possible. Unlike the Colts, the Jaguars will keep feeding their stud receiver when they play the Chargers this week.
Speaking of San Diego, if Blackmon's not available, then Chargers rookie Keenan Allen is another receiver to target, as he's come on with 302 yards and two touchdowns in his past three games. Unlike the Eddie Royal revival period, Allen's is meant to last.
Larry Fitzgerald (minus-1 point)
Carson Palmer was supposed to help Fitzgerald get back to elite status this year. While he has matched last season's touchdown total (four), he posted just his first 100-yard game on Sunday. Fitzgerald will be going up against Seattle's No. 2 pass defense with Richard Sherman and company. Your best hope for a big game is vintage Palmer, meaning a lot of garbage-time completions with Arizona way behind in the fourth quarter.
[h=3]Tight ends[/h]
Kyle Rudolph (plus-1 point)
If you watched Rudolph's touchdown against Carolina on Sunday, you know he just needs someone to get the ball in his hands and he'll do the rest. The Giants have allowed the ninth-most fantasy points to tight ends and have allowed at least 27 points in each game this season. After a breakout game in Week 6, the Vikings may finally get back to using the tight end this week. Rudolph's a solid option, especially if you are a Jimmy Graham owner looking for a bye week replacement.
[h=3]Elite players[/h]
These are the elite fantasy players for Week 7 not listed in the above tables. You will want to start these players regardless of matchup on a weekly basis.
With the Saints having a bye week, we needed a few new faces. It must be 2009 again, as we welcome the return of Philip Rivers and DeSean Jackson. Also, after his season-high three rushing touchdowns against Jacksonville, Week 6 favorite Knowshon Moreno becomes a must-start thanks to Denver's record-setting offense.
If Ryan Mathews and Danny Woodhead can run on the Colts (30th-ranked run defense), then Moreno should as well. Then again, we expected the Colts to run and pass all over the Chargers, yet look what happened. The NFL continues to puzzle us each week.

<!-- begin inline 4 -->[h=4]Week 7 Projections for Elite Players[/h]

Pos	Team	Name	Proj	Pos	Team	Name	Proj
QB	SD	Philip Rivers	+1	WR	DAL	Dez Bryant	+1
QB	GB	Aaron Rodgers	0	WR	PHI	DeSean Jackson	+1
QB	DEN	Peyton Manning	-2	WR	CHI	Brandon Marshall	+1
RB	DEN	Knowshon Moreno	+3	WR	DEN	Demaryius Thomas	0
RB	CHI	Matt Forte	+1	WR	DEN	Wes Welker	0
RB	PHI	LeSean McCoy	0	WR	DET	Calvin Johnson	-1
RB	KC	Jamaal Charles	-2	TE	DEN	Julius Thomas	0
RB	DET	Reggie Bush	-2	TE	SD	Antonio Gates	0
RB	MIN	Adrian Peterson	-2	TE	ATL	Tony Gonzalez	0

<THEAD>
</THEAD><TBODY>
</TBODY>

 

[HacheMan]

[h=1]Best bye-week fantasy options[/h][h=3]Which players can fill in effectively over the next three weeks?[/h]By KC Joyner | ESPN Insider

NFL teams might look forward to bye weeks, but fantasy football owners often find them to be the bane of their season.

This week's Fantasy Foresight article aims to help owners with this situation by providing a bye-week fill-in primer. This primer covers which fantasy starters/flex picks are on a bye over the next three weeks, and offers fill-in options ranging from borderline bench candidates who are starting quality given favorable matchups, to waiver/free-agency pickups and long shots who are options in very deep leagues.
[h=3]Week 7 bye[/h]
Fantasy starters/flex picks on bye: Darren Sproles, Darren McFadden, Denarius Moore, Marques Colston, Jimmy Graham, Drew Brees, Terrelle Pryor
Running backs
Lamar Miller/Daniel Thomas vs. Buffalo: Outside of the Week 4 game against Baltimore, when the Bills allowed 24 yards on nine carries, the Bills' run D has given up double-digit point totals to the opposing team's running backs in every contest. Miller has flex or starter role value, and Thomas has long-shot waiver wire value.
Wide receivers
Greg Jennings vs. NY Giants: Jennings is slated to square off against Corey Webster, whose pass-coverage skills are still very hit or miss. The big question is if Christian Ponder or Matt Cassel (or Josh Freeman) can hit Jennings with a long pass, but the favorable cornerback matchup makes Jennings a viable flex option.
Sidney Rice vs. Arizona: Rice will likely benefit from the dual factors of facing Jerraud Powers (a green-rated cornerback, meaning he is a coverage liability) and not lining up against Patrick Peterson.
Tight end
Coby Fleener vs. Denver: Denver strong safety Duke Ihenacho has enough talent to justify his lineup spot, but a combination of mistakes and his being beaten in coverage are major factors why the Broncos have allowed opposing tight ends to rack up 100 or more yards in four of their six games.
Quarterback
Eli Manning vs. Minnesota: Manning has been doing a lot of things wrong this year, but vertical passing is still one of his strong suits. The Vikings have allowed three or more passing touchdowns in four of their five games and 300 or more passing yards in three of their games. Manning has a good shot at increasing both of those totals.
<CENTER>

---

</CENTER>[h=3]Week 8 bye[/h]
Fantasy starters/flex picks on bye: Ray Rice, Matt Forte, Arian Foster, Trent Richardson, Ryan Mathews, Chris Johnson, Alshon Jeffery, Keenan Allen, Torrey Smith, Brandon Marshall, Andre Johnson, Reggie Wayne, T.Y. Hilton, Antonio Gates, Martellus Bennett, Jay Cutler, Andrew Luck, Philip Rivers
Running back
Le'Veon Bell vs. Oakland: Bell is probably not going to be the type of back to break off a lot of long ground gains, but his 16 carries in consecutive games indicate he will be fairly close to a bell cow. That's worth starting value against the Raiders' hot/cold run D.


Wide receivers
Steve Smith/Ted Ginn vs. Tampa Bay: The Bucs might move Darrelle Revis to follow Smith, but the same thing was said before Tampa's Week 6 game against the Eagles and it didn't stop DeSean Jackson from posting six receptions for 64 yards and two touchdowns. Carolina will find ways to get Smith open against the rest of the Bucs' secondary, almost all of whom are a huge step down coveragewise from Revis. Ginn has three games with seven or more points so far, and this could be another of those solid scoring contests for him.
Hakeem Nicks vs. Philadelphia: As noted above, the Giants' vertical passing game is still dangerous, which could be a problem for an Eagles defense that has allowed 36 or more fantasy points to opposing wide receivers in four of their six games this year.
Tight end
Jordan Reed vs. Denver: Reed has caught 17 of the 21 passes thrown his way this year and has tallied a solid 7.8 yards per attempt (YPA) on those throws. He is fast becoming Washington's leading tight end receiving target, and that is a huge plus versus the sieve that is the Broncos' pass defense against tight ends.
Quarterback
Colin Kaepernick vs. Jacksonville (in London): This matchup does has some risk in that the 49ers have to travel to London for a 1 p.m. ET kickoff, but nearly every other factor says this has high upside potential. The Jaguars' defense is in the bottom six of the league in interceptions and sacks, and ranks dead last in rush yards allowed. This could be a contest in which the Niners lean on a Kaepernick-centric game plan with much success.
<CENTER>

---

</CENTER>[h=3]Week 9 bye[/h]

Fantasy starters/flex picks with Week 9 bye: Rashard Mendenhall, Knowshon Moreno, Reggie Bush, Maurice Jones-Drew, Frank Gore, Eric Decker, Calvin Johnson, Justin Blackmon, Victor Cruz, Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald, Demaryius Thomas, Cecil Shorts, Hakeem Nicks, Wes Welker, Rueben Randle, Julius Thomas, Vernon Davis, Peyton Manning, Matthew Stafford
Running back
Chris Johnson vs. St. Louis: Johnson is struggling in large part because the Titans still aren't using the Mike Heimerdinger play-calling elements that made Johnson a dominant force a few years ago, but they are giving him the ball a ton (106 rushing attempts, ranked sixth). That should be good enough against a Rams run defense that has allowed 150 or more yards on the ground in three of their six games.
Wide receiver
Pierre Garcon vs. San Diego: Garcon has seen double-digit target levels in four of his five games this year, and his 59 targets rank eighth in the league. That trend will continue against Chargers cornerback Shareece Wright, who has struggled at times in coverage this year.
Tight end
Kyle Rudolph vs. Dallas: The Cowboys have allowed 9.1 YPA on 56 targets to tight ends this year. In four games, they have given up at least seven receptions to tight ends. Dallas will be paying a ton of attention to stopping Adrian Peterson, so those very bad metric trends will likely continue in this tilt.
Quarterback
Terrelle Pryor vs. Philadelphia: The Eagles recently allowed Tampa Bay rookie quarterback Mike Glennon to go from looking like a rookie in his first start (18.3 Total QBR, five fantasy points) to looking like a starting-caliber QB in his second start (57.5 Total QBR, 18 fantasy points). Pryor's skills are equal or better than Glennon's, so look for him to replicate the latter numbers in this matchup.

 

[HacheMan]

[h=1]Players with best scoring chances[/h][h=3]Marshawn Lynch, A.J. Green and others with ample TD opportunities[/h]By Mike Clay | Pro Football Focus

Six weeks into the 2013 season, it's time for our weekly look at our alternative to red zone data: opportunity-adjusted touchdowns (OTD).

If you're new to the stat, be sure to check out our introduction to rushing and receiving OTD. The OTD metric weighs every carry/target and converts the data into one number that indicates a player's scoring opportunity.

With six weeks in the books, Willis McGahee and A.J. Green sit atop the rushing and receiving OTD leaderboards, respectively.

What other players have the most opportunities to score?

---

​

[h=3]Rushing[/h]

<!-- begin inline 1 -->[h=4]Rushing OTD Leaders After Week 6[/h]

Rk	Rusher	Att	TD	2013 OTD	Week 6 OTD
1	Willis McGahee	59	1	4.8	0.6
2	Marshawn Lynch	117	5	4.4	1.7
3	Jamaal Charles	114	5	4.1	0.8
4	Knowshon Moreno	80	7	4.1	2.0
5	Frank Gore	103	3	3.5	0.8
6	DeMarco Murray	91	3	3.5	0.3
7	Fred Jackson	75	4	3.5	1.5
8	BenJarvus Green-Ellis	89	3	3.3	0.2
9	Ray Rice	71	3	3.2	1.3
10	Arian Foster	117	1	2.9	0.3
11	Jackie Battle	35	1	2.9	0.0
12	Bernard Pierce	73	2	2.6	0.5
13	Matt Forte	100	3	2.4	0.5
14	Adrian Peterson	102	5	2.4	0.1
15	Brandon Jacobs	44	3	2.4	0.9
16	Jacquizz Rodgers	52	2	2.3	0.0
17	Ben Tate	51	1	2.3	2.0
18	LeSean McCoy	123	3	2.2	0.3
19	Maurice Jones-Drew	94	2	2.2	0.3
20	Darren McFadden	67	2	2.2	0.0
21	Trent Richardson	92	2	2.1	0.1
22	Rashard Mendenhall	79	2	2.1	0.0
23	Anthony Dixon	13	2	2.1	0.0
24	Stevan Ridley	67	2	2.1	1.1
25	Le'Veon Bell	32	2	2.0	0.5
26	Ahmad Bradshaw	41	2	1.9	0.0
27	Mike Tolbert	31	2	1.9	1.0
28	DeAngelo Williams	87	0	1.8	1.0
29	Michael Bush	24	1	1.8	0.0
30	Ronnie Brown	23	1	1.8	0.0
31	Joique Bell	53	3	1.6	0.1
32	Danny Woodhead	37	0	1.5	0.3
33	Chris Johnson	106	0	1.5	0.1
34	Ronnie Hillman	36	1	1.4	0.1
35	Reggie Bush	77	1	1.4	0.2
36	Bilal Powell	76	1	1.4	0.6
37	Daniel Thomas	27	2	1.4	0.0
38	Pierre Thomas	59	0	1.3	0.1
39	Mark Ingram	17	0	1.3	0.0
40	LeGarrette Blount	53	1	1.2	0.1

<THEAD>
</THEAD><TBODY>
</TBODY>

<!-- end inline 1 -->
McGahee (4.8) continues to pace the league in rushing OTD. Following Week 5, when he carried the ball inside the opponent's 4-yard line an incredible seven times, McGahee racked up another pair of carries within 6 yards of paydirt in Week 6. McGahee continues to get the rock with the goal line in range, but he simply hasn't produced. He has just one touchdown.

Knowshon Moreno (4.1) didn't see many scoring chances earlier in the season, but that certainly wasn't the case in Week 6. Moreno's NFL-high 2.0 rushing OTD this past week powered him to fourth overall on the season-long list. Moreno carried the ball a whopping eight times inside the Jaguars' 10-yard line in Week 6. He scored on three of the tries, from distances of 1, 3 and 8 yards out. Considering that Moreno had just four carries inside the opponent's 10-yard line through five weeks, it's fair to wonder if Week 6 was an outlier or a sign of things to come.

Through six weeks, DeMarco Murray (3.5) is sixth overall in rushing OTD. Those opportunities have thus far helped him to three rushing touchdowns. An MCL sprain means Murray will miss at least this week's game against the Eagles, which leaves rookie Joseph Randle (0.9) to fill in at tailback. Wondering if Randle will get similar scoring opportunities? Week 6 suggests he will. Randle's 0.9 OTD this past week was ninth-best in the league, and is especially impressive when you consider that he didn't start the game. Randle's 0.9 mark was powered by a touchdown run from Washington's 1-yard line as well as tries from 3 and 15 yards out. Randle will be on the RB2 radar in fantasy while Murray regains his health.

DeAngelo Williams (1.8) has the league's highest rushing OTD among players without a single rushing touchdown this season. Williams has carried the mail five times inside the opponent's 10-yard line, but he has yet to see a look from 1 yard out. It's worth noting that although Williams has converted six of seven tries from a yard out over the last five-plus seasons; a ridiculous 24 of his 38 touchdowns during that span came after scampers of 10 or more yards.

Meanwhile, Doug Martin (1.0) has the league's lowest rushing OTD among players with at least 100 carries this season. Despite already racking up 116 attempts, Martin has yet to see a carry inside the opponent's 5-yard line. In fact, he has only six red zone carries. In 2012, Martin totaled 53 red zone carries, including 16 inside the 5-yard line. Martin has scored only once this season.

Looking at rushing OTD on a team-by-team basis, we see that the Broncos (6.5) pace the league in providing their running backs with scoring opportunities. Rounding out the top five are the 49ers (6.3), Ravens (5.8), Browns (5.7) and Texans (5.3). On the other side of the coin, we have the Buccaneers (1.0). The Redskins (1.2), Jets (2.1), Rams (2.2) and Steelers (2.3) fill out the bottom five.

---

​

[h=3]Receiving[/h]
Note: Remember that receiving OTD is based on the player's distance from the end zone when he is targeted, not the line of scrimmage. This allows us to properly weight throws into the end zone.


<!-- begin inline 2 -->[h=4]Receiving OTD Leaders After Week 6[/h]

Rk	Receiver	Targ	TD	2013 OTD	Week 6 OTD
1	A.J. Green	67	4	5.0	1.2
2	Calvin Johnson	46	4	4.5	0.4
3	Alshon Jeffery	48	2	4.5	0.4
4	Kenbrell Thompkins	49	4	4.3	0.8
5	Wes Welker	50	8	4.0	0.2
6	Jason Witten	48	3	3.9	0.1
7	Martellus Bennett	41	3	3.8	0.0
8	Tony Gonzalez	44	3	3.6	0.0
9	Dez Bryant	53	6	3.6	0.0
10	DeSean Jackson	52	5	3.6	0.9
11	Brandon Marshall	56	5	3.4	1.1
12	Cecil Shorts	62	1	3.3	0.0
13	Julian Edelman	59	2	3.3	1.0
14	Aaron Dobson	39	1	3.3	0.5
15	Michael Floyd	41	1	3.3	0.4
16	Pierre Garcon	55	2	3.2	0.7
17	Larry Fitzgerald	51	4	3.1	0.2
18	Reggie Wayne	50	2	3.1	0.4
19	Vernon Davis	34	6	3.0	0.8
20	Jimmy Graham	57	6	2.9	0.3
21	Jordy Nelson	39	4	2.8	1.0
22	Julius Thomas	43	7	2.7	1.1
23	Steve Smith	39	2	2.6	0.4
24	Victor Cruz	57	4	2.6	0.0
25	Austin Pettis	35	4	2.6	0.0
26	Joseph Fauria	9	5	2.6	1.1
27	Marlon Brown	30	3	2.6	0.5
28	Jordan Cameron	47	4	2.6	0.2
29	Denarius Moore	41	4	2.5	0.1
30	T.Y. Hilton	42	2	2.5	0.2
31	Antonio Brown	50	2	2.3	0.5
32	Julio Jones	57	2	2.3	0.0
33	Coby Fleener	26	2	2.3	0.1
34	Harry Douglas	25	0	2.3	0.0
35	Sidney Rice	27	2	2.2	0.2
36	Eddie Royal	26	5	2.2	0.0
37	DeAndre Hopkins	38	1	2.1	0.4
38	Steve Johnson	36	2	2.1	0.0
39	Mike Williams	28	2	2.1	0.0
40	Demaryius Thomas	47	4	2.1	0.1

<THEAD>
</THEAD><TBODY>
</TBODY>

<!-- end inline 2 -->
With Calvin Johnson (4.5) struggling through a knee injury, Green (5.0) has moved atop the receiving OTD leaderboard. Green took control thanks to a league-high 1.2 OTD mark this past weekend. The Bengals' top offensive weapon scored once on three end zone targets. He's now converted on 30 percent of 10 end zone looks this season, slightly above his career mark of 28 percent.

Since returning from a four-game suspension, Justin Blackmon has a higher OTD (1.9) than all but one player (Keenan Allen). Blackmon's only touchdown in that two-game span has come after a 53-yard run, but he does have four end zone targets. It's worth noting that Blackmon saw eight end zone targets all of last season.

Speaking of Allen (2.0), he's taken clear control of the No. 1 wideout job in San Diego. The rookie has converted one of four end zone targets and has another touchdown from 4 yards out. The 6-foot-2 Allen will continue to see plenty of work near the goal line and is a solid WR3 option.

Joseph Fauria (2.6) was a Week 6 standout, scoring three times (on three targets) against Cleveland. Fauria has only nine targets, but six have come while he was in the end zone, and one other came from 1 yard out. Of those seven looks, he's scored on five. Of the top 68 players in receiving OTD this year, Fauria (ranked 26th) is the only one with fewer than 10 targets.

Quick nugget here: Julius Thomas (2.7) has been targeted inside the opponent's 8-yard line eight times this season. He's converted six into touchdowns.

Our poster boy for OTD underachievement, Michael Floyd (3.3), finally found the end zone on his fifth end zone target of 2013. Floyd has been targeted inside the opponent's 10-yard line 10 times this year, powering him to 15th in receiving OTD.

Kendall Wright (0.9) has the league's lowest receiving OTD among players with at least 40 targets this season. Wright converted his lone end zone target, but has seen only three other looks inside the red zone.

The Bears (14.6) have the highest team receiving OTD this year. The Patriots (13.6), Broncos (12.0), Falcons (11.7) and Cowboys (11.7) round out the top five. The Jets (4.9) are in the basement. The Dolphins (5.3), Buccaneers (5.5), Vikings (5.9) and 49ers (6.2) account for the rest of the bottom five.

 

[HacheMan]

Getting in touch with my inner rage

By Matthew Berry | ESPN.com

He was so excited. That's the thing I remember most.

My 13-year-old step son Matt is a middle child, not just in chronological order of being born, but stereotypically in terms of his personality. He is the quietest of the three boys, only really talking when he is with close friends or family. He gets stuck between wanting to be older and trying to hang with his high school brother, and not totally ready to leave kid mode by playing with his 9-year-old brother.

He's got great discipline. Every other kid I know begs, pleads, borrows and steals to stay up later. This kid, every night at 10, says good night and walks up to his room. We'll be watching a game together or something and I'll say to him, "Come on, it's tied up, why don't you stay till the end of this quarter?" And he's always like, "No. I need my sleep." I bring that up because he has a very strong sense of what is wrong and right and lives by this. And that's important to our tale today.
As is this: Sports come easy to him -- he's been the fastest kid in his grade for quite a while now, and even though he likes being the eighth-grade team's starting running back, he's never that excited when the team wins. He also is not that upset when he loses. In fact, he rarely gets upset or excited about anything. He is a quiet, reserved, even-keeled kid.
Which is why I noticed that he was excited.
He never gets excited. His uncle had recently given him a brand-new pair of expensive shoes for his birthday, but since they didn't quite fit right and the gift had been from out of state, returning them wasn't the simplest thing. So he decided to sell them online and use the money to buy himself a different present.
We encouraged him, because of the whole entrepreneurial aspect of it, and because we had never really seen him this excited before.
So he set up an account and tried to sell the shoes online. He was so meticulous, taking tons of pictures of the shoes to get just the right angle. And then he researched similar shoes on the site, setting the minimum bid price just under competing pairs of shoes. The kid was proud of himself, and when the shoes quickly sold, the smile was a mile wide.


You should have seen him packing these shoes up. It was like he was shipping a Fabergé egg. Or an organ. Wrapping and re-wrapping, making sure it's just right, extra paper and padding, bugging his mom and I to take him to the post office immediately. So we did, he sent it off, and two days later, we got the confirmation that the guy had gotten the package and signed for it. The money was in the account and the kid started going through his old video games, trying to find something else he could sell. He had a new hobby.
Until, just over a week later, Matt notices the money in his account is now gone, replaced by an online notice. The purchaser said the shoes never got there. He'd filed a complaint and he got a ruling in his favor. He got his money back and kept the shoes.
My son is confused, I am confused and I can't seem to find additional information.
The kid emails the guy who bought the shoes asking what the issue is? No answer. He messages him through the website, he emails again, nothing. No response. The guy is a ghost.
The kid doesn't get it. Why won't this guy answer? He got the shoes, why would he complain? Is Matt really out his new shoes and his birthday money?

With nowhere else to turn, I tracked down a phone number for the site. I need to talk to a human being. I wait on hold for more than an hour only to be told it's another site that I need to talk to about this issue. Sigh. So now I'm talking to the other site. They look it up and say they ruled in favor of the other guy because they didn't hear from me. What? Yes, apparently, they emailed me to say they ruled in favor of the other guy and, because they didn't hear from me, they returned the buyer's money.

I look. Yep, spam folder.

OK, I say, you're hearing from me now. I'm told the matter was closed after 14 days. And today is, wait for it, day 15. Of course. I ask for common sense. I have the tracking number and proof the guy signed for the package. They say policy is policy. I ask if I can appeal. She says sure, but you'll be turned down. Policy is policy and they have ruled. I appeal. I'm turned down.

The kid is beside himself. Filled with questions that his right-and-wrong world can't reconcile. "Why would someone do that? But didn't you tell the company we had proof? But what about ... I mean ... Can't we do anything? What about... Did this guy always want to rip me off? What if you called again? ..." Every question, and I have no good answers.
Eventually it sinks in. He's been ripped off and there's no remedy. And he's completely, totally, 100 percent crushed. The enthusiasm is gone. The smile forgotten. The shoulders slump.
He is back to not caring. Aloof. I do what I can. Does he want to go get some ice cream? See a movie, we can go out to dinner and he can pick? I'll buy him any pair of shoes he wants.
Whatever, he says. He no longer gives a damn. About anything.
And this kills me. If you saw how his face when from excited to sad, you'd be furious, too. I am so angry. Angry at this guy for stealing from my kid. I'm angry at the obscure rules and the fact they won't satisfy me. I'm angry that I have no recourse and that there seems to be no logic here. Angry that I had to see that expression on my kid's face. Angry that they made a sweet kid a little more hard-edged and a little less trusting. Angry at everything.
I have what is called "impotent rage." It's an actual term. It describes how I have anger toward this situation and I can't do anything about it. I can't take it out on the company or the individual. I mean, I could, I know the guy's name and address, but there's a certain way to act when you're a grown man in the public eye, and re-enacting the final scene of "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" isn't actually an option. So I'm just stuck, angry, confused, bitter and nowhere to go with any of my feelings. I know the feeling well. And so do you. Because impotent rage might as well also be called fantasy football. You draft your team. You do everything right and by the rules. Logic says you should do well. You're happy and filled with hope. And then it all comes crashing down in a way that makes no sense and you have this terrible frustration that you don't know what to do with.

What the hell happened, C.J. Spiller? Doug Martin and Ray Rice, are you serious with this? Thanks for nothing, Roddy White. Maybe if you sat out a game you'd better by now. And your 1-4 team might actually have a chance to dig itself out. Any day now, Trent Richardson, Colin Kaepernick, Maurice Jones-Drew! Hey, Alex Smith, could you at least try to throw it to Dwayne Bowe? You know, the guy your team pays $56 million to run around out there? Dying to play, Gronk? Really? At this point, I'd rather start your mom. David Wilson (and you, Berry, for continuing to prop him up), Marques Colston, Chris Johnson, Jared Cook ... arghhhhhhh!

There's nothing to do. Because there is nothing you can do. Is it unfair that these studs are underperforming? That you're the one stuck with the bum? That some guy ripped off your kid instead of another? Yes. But as Springsteen once sang, you gotta learn to live with what you can't rise above.

You stop whining, you make some trades, you get more active on the wire, you spend a little more time on setting your lineup. You're 0-6? Well, 7-6 has a shot at making the playoffs. A long shot is better than no shot. Instead of the bitterness, try to focus on the positives, hard though it may be.

You still have a stud QB. You just picked up Keenan Allen. In the grand scheme of things, there are many worse things that can happen to one of your kids, and you can help take the sting out of it by buying him the gift he was going to get himself with that money. You try to move on and you hope for a better tomorrow. Here's to yours starting in Week 7.
And with that, we meander slowly in Love/Hate with all the usual caveats. Not a start-sit column; use my rankings for specific player-versus-player questions. And I am trying to avoid the obvious players: The loves are mostly about guys outside the top 10 or so unless there is a specific reason to discuss them; the hates are more risky, as I'm not hating on guys who are low-ranked -- the fact that they are not that good is why they are lower-ranked. The hates are good players you might be starting or considering starting, but for whom I have lower expectations.

One guy who always helps me rise above is Zach Rodgers of ESPN Stats & Information, so a big shoutout and thanks to him and the gang over there as we get to it.

[h=3]Quarterbacks I love in Week 7:[/h]

Tony Romo, Cowboys: In case you're gun-shy after last week: Romo has more than 500 yards and five scores in his past two games against the Eagles, and with DeMarco Murray expected out for this game, the Cowboys will have to rely on the pass game even more -- which is fine when it's against the 31st-ranked pass defense. Romo is second in the NFL in touchdown-interception ratio, he's completing 75 percent of his passes when throwing from an empty backfield (again, expect less running), he's thrown a TD pass in 19 consecutive games and only two quarterbacks have a better completion percentage on throws 20 yards downfield than Tony. And since it's not like the Cowboys are a stout defense, I see this being a high-scoring game.

Nick Foles, Eagles: Well, if this is going to be a high-scoring game. ... A week after being the highest-scoring quarterback in fantasy, Foles gets a Cowboys defense that gives up the most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. I have Foles as a top-12 option this week, ahead of some much bigger names. The number of possessions along with the need for scoring is a recipe for fantasy goodness (and, oddly, s'mores), and nothing changes this week for these teams.

Philip Rivers, Chargers: Am I really starting Rivers over someone like Tom Brady this week? I am. He's thrown for more than 400 yards in three of his past five games, and the emergence of Keenan Allen adds further incentive to start him. No team has allowed more passing touchdowns this season than the Jacksonville Jaguars.

If you're desperate: I wouldn't call Matt Ryan a desperate play, but I did just want to put something in here to say that, while losing a player of the quality of Julio Jones, and having Roddy White at less than 100 percent isn't ideal, it's still going to be a pass-first offense and he's still a very good quarterback. He'll be fine; use him if you normally would. ... Did you know that Eli Manning is fifth in the league in passing yards and tied for 10th in passing touchdowns? Of course, he's also turning the ball over every other play, but against a Vikings team that gives up more than 300 passing yards per game, it might not matter. He'll be solid Monday night. … At home, off a bye, Ryan Tannehill is a good bet for a solid game against Buffalo.


Quarterbacks I hate in Week 7


Tom Brady, Patriots: This changes if Rob Gronkowski is healthy, but assuming he isn't, Brady falls outside the top 10 for me. Now, I have him just outside my top 10, so it's not like I'm expecting him to be terrible, but, as the wise man once said, "curb your enthusiasm." In 22 regular-season starts against the Jets, Brady has averaged just 241.4 yards and 1.5 touchdowns per game. He put up just 11 points against the Jets earlier this season, and he has 15 points or less in every game but one. I see this as a low-scoring game, and Brady will be fine but not putting up monster numbers this week.

Sam Bradford, Rams: I know, he threw three scores last week. He's the sixth-highest-scoring quarterback in fantasy. But I'm not sure how sustainable the touchdowns are; even in last week's blowout win in which he threw for three touchdowns, he had only 117 yards. In fact, over the past four weeks, Bradford has averaged 195.3 yards per game. And don't look now, but that Carolina defense we talked about in the preseason? It's still legit. No team has allowed fewer passing touchdowns or fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks than your Carolina Panthers.

Joe Flacco, Ravens: Not Wacco for Flacco this week; this is a bad matchup. In five career games at Pittsburgh, Flacco has three games under 200 yards passing, has never had more than two touchdown passes, and for all of the Steelers' struggles this season, they're still statistically the fourth-ranked pass defense in the NFL.


[h=3]Running backs I love in Week 7[/h]

Alfred Morris, Washington: Obvious name, but putting him here in case you were worried about Da Bears. Don't be. They aren't your daddy's Bears run defense anymore. Per the ancient proverb that "If Brandon Jacobs can do it ..." you're starting Morris and you aren't thinking twice about it.

Giovani Bernard, Bengals: His touches have increased in all but one week since the start of the season and Cincy is finally realizing what we all have known since the preseason: He's the best guy they've got, and it's not even close. A career-high 21 touches in Week 6 for the friend of the podcast, and you know you love this matchup. The Lions have allowed the third-most fantasy points to opposing running backs this season, the most yards per carry, and are tied for giving up the most receiving touchdowns to opposing running backs as well.

Eddie Lacy, Packers: Now do you get what I've been talking about? Over the past two weeks, no running back has more carries than Lacy, who is also second in the league in rushing during that span. The Browns have allowed eight rushing touchdowns this season, most in the league, and with injuries to Randall Cobb and James Jones possibly missing this game, expect the Pack to lean on the run even more.

DeAngelo Williams, Panthers: Very simple. We know Williams will get a ton of work and it doesn't get better, matchup-wise. The Rams have allowed the most fantasy points to opposing running backs this season, and since Week 4, no team has allowed more rushing yards than St. Louis. And, gut call here, but I say Williams also gets his first rushing touchdown this year.

Lamar Miller, Dolphins: Two last names, not often a crowd-pleaser. Except when they play Buffalo.

If you're desperate: Despite the splitting of carries, it's hard not to like either Ryan Mathews or Danny Woodhead against a Jaguars team that has allowed seven rushing touchdowns this season, tied for the second-most. ... Since losing Vince Wilfork two weeks ago, the Patriots have allowed the fourth-most rushing yards, making Bilal Powell an interesting flex play in a low-scoring game. ... Brandon Jacobs? Brandon Jacobs. You saw what he did last week, he's the only guy they've got, and the Vikings are tied for fourth in terms of most rushing touchdowns allowed. … I expect more throwing than running, but Joseph Randle should get enough carries against a bad Philly team to be worthy of a flex start. ... Given everything I wrote about the Lions run defense, I wouldn't be shocked if the Law Firm punched one in in this game either.


[h=3]Running backs I hate in Week 7[/h]

Chris Johnson, Titans: My impotent rage at Chris Johnson knows no bounds, especially since I've had him since his rookie season in a deep dynasty league, where I have no choice but to keep him. He has yet to score a rushing touchdown this year, his carries keep going down (just 12.3 carries per game and 1.8 yards per game over the past three), and Johnson's coach was quoted recently as saying they missed Shonn Greene. It doesn't get more insulting than that. It's actually a good matchup, as the 49ers are top-10 in most fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs and have given up over 100 total yards and six scores to running backs in their past five games, so Johnson, based on matchup and touches, is in flex consideration, but ugh. I don't feel good about it. At all.

Le'Veon Bell, Steelers: More fun to say than to spell, Le'Veon is averaging just 2.8 yards per carry this year, and I don't see him doing much against a Ravens squad that has allowed just one rushing touchdown this year. Not a top-20 play for me.

Willis McGahee, Browns: Remember when I was all fired up last week about that trade that was offered to me and then, 15 minutes after it was offered, I went to accept it and was told the guy had made a deal with someone else? Well, the deal that was offered was Vincent Jackson for Willis McGahee. In a PPR. That was how little this guy thought of Jackson. Adding insult to injury, he traded Jackson for Joique Bell. I was bummed because I felt Jackson would bust out against Philly last week (he was in last week's "loves") and I knew McGahee would struggle. Which he will again against Green Bay's third-ranked run defense. McGahee is averaging only 2.8 yards per carry and is getting replaced on passing downs by Chris Ogbonnaya. I'm afraid my window to flip McGahee has closed. Sigh.

Jacquizz Rodgers and Jason Snelling, Falcons: Just in case you were thinking they'll lean on their run game more with the injuries to Julio and Roddy. They might, but I don't think it matters. The Falcons averaged just 60 yards per game last season against Tampa, (by comparison, they averaged over 90 yards against everyone else) and the Bucs continue to play a tough run defense. No team averages fewer rushing yards allowed per carry after contact than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

[h=3]Wide receivers I love in Week 7

Vincent Jackson, Buccaneers: See McGahee, Willis. Hashtag BitterBerry. Since Mike Glennon took over in Week 4, Jackson has averaged 12.5 targets per game, most among wide receivers during that span. Meanwhile, your Atlanta Falcons rank in the bottom seven for the most receptions, yards and touchdowns per game allowed to opposing wide receivers.

Pierre Garcon, Washington: I swear, I'm not a homer. I'm going back to the well on Garcon because of the volume of targets. Seventeen times Garcon has been targeted on throws at least 15 yards downfield this season, more than twice as many as any other Washington player. When they throw deep, they throw to Pierre. Meanwhile, the Bears have allowed the second-most receptions at least 15 yards downfield in the league. Morris will run well, setting up play-action, and I think Garcon gets deep for one on Sunday.

Steve Smith, Panthers: At least seven targets in every game this year, the Rams are tied for the fifth-most fantasy points allowed to opposing wide receivers. This, class, is called "when quantity meets quality." Yummy.

Justin Blackmon, Jaguars: Ha! Like you were ever gonna sit him after last week. Throwing him in here just because I like this stat: Over the past two weeks, Blackmon leads the NFL in targets, receptions, receiving yards and yards after the catch. Small sample size, but from the "He's all they've got" division, it's not like anyone is real scared of San Diego's 25th-ranked pass defense.

Mike Wallace and Brian Hartline, Dolphins: I like guys off bye weeks, especially someone like Wallace who can hopefully develop more chemistry with Tannehill. Matchup play here, as the Bills have allowed the third-most receiving yards on throws at least 15 yards downfield and are tied for third-most touchdowns allowed on such throws. Both guys are deep threats, I have Wallace as a top-20 guy this week and Hartline in flex territory.

Josh Gordon, Browns: Since he returned in Week 3, no one has more targets or receiving yards in the league. At least 12 fantasy points in three of four games this year. Browns won't be able to run it against the Packers, so they'll be throwing. Green Bay has given up at least one touchdown to an opposing wide receiver in every game this year. They'll do it again on Sunday and the player who gets that touchdown is Josh Gordon.

If you're desperate: Not only did Julian Edelman crush the Jets in their last meeting, but it's worth noting that the Jets have allowed the second-most yards after contact to slot receivers this season. ... Since Week 4, no wide receiver has run more routes than Keenan Allen's 119. During that span, Allen is tied for second in receptions and third in yards, and plays the stinky Jaguars. ... Since Ryan Fitzpatrick began starting in Week 5, only Reggie Wayne has more targets out of the slot than Kendall Wright. The 49ers have allowed two touchdowns to slot receivers in the last three weeks.


<H3>Wide receivers I hate in Week 7</H3>
Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals: Yes, he was on the hate list last week too. And that did not, as the saying goes, work out for me. Got a lot of grief about this last week, especially after we all mentioned, both on "Sunday NFL Countdown" and on "Fantasy Football Now" that we were getting "bad vibes" on his availability to play. The source of Fitz probably not playing was a very, very good one, but a lot can happen between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., and Fitz apparently felt good enough to give it a go. And you know what? I still say it was the right call.

Fitz was a beast, but much of that came on one big play that was a bit of a fluke in terms of coverage and missed tackles. Given how ice-cold Fitz had been, the matchup and his injury status, the odds said he wasn't a great play. Doesn't always work out, but you play the odds and many more times than not, the results fall in your favor. And the odds say Fitzgerald is a not a great play again this week. In his past six against Seattle, Fitzgerald has averaged just 4.8 receptions for 66.5 yards per game and only one touchdown. He's still banged up, it's a short week and the Seahawks, even on the road, are generally a tough defense. They're top three in the NFL in both fewest receptions and yards per game to opposing wide receivers this season. You probably don't have better options so you're playing him, but I have him outside my top 20 this week. No matter how it turns out.

Anquan Boldin, 49ers: Six fantasy points or less in four of the last five games, he's not a consistent part of the offense as San Francisco goes to more of a power run game. Less than 30 yards in two straight, I don't like him against Tennessee, as the Titans have allowed just two touchdowns to opposing wide receivers this year, tied for second-fewest in the league.

Steve Johnson and Robert Woods, Bills: Johnson is banged up, they might have Matt Flynn throwing to them, and the Dolphins are the only team in the NFL yet to allow a touchdown to opposing wide receivers. No thanks.

Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs: I'm sorry, America. I have no idea why Kansas City paid this guy so much money if they're not gonna try to get him more involved. I don't buy the "He's washed up and slower" talk. Just seems this offense has gone super-conservative, which, sadly for Bowe owners, is working for K.C., so I don't see this changing. Bowe has yet to catch more than four passes or go for more than 58 yards in a game this season. Sigh. Brutal matchup as well, as no team has allowed fewer receptions or receiving yards to opposing wide receivers than the Texans.

Torrey Smith, Ravens: Now, I own him in two leagues and I'm starting him in both and I have him ranked inside the top 20, so understand that I'm not telling you to bench him (unless of course you have two better receivers, per my rankings). But normally I think he's a low-end top-10 guy. Last season against the Steelers, Smith averaged just two catches and 20 yards per game with no touchdowns. Only the Texans have allowed fewer yards to opposing wide receivers than the Steelers. And in fact, Pittsburgh held both Brandon Marshall and A.J. Green to 52 yards or less with no touchdowns this season. Ike Taylor is having a nice season and should be on Smith most of the game, so yeah, based on talent, I'm starting him, but I'm not using him in salary-cap leagues or our Gridiron Challenge one-and-done game.

<H3>Tight ends I love in Week 7
Jermichael Finley, Packers: The biggest beneficiary of Randall Cobb's injury, Finley had all of his 75 yards last week in the second half. With no Cobb, and James Jones at less than 100 percent (if he even plays), Finley should have a strong game against a Browns team that just struggled to cover Joseph Fauria.

Kyle Rudolph, Vikings: Generally speaking, I can't stand Rudolph as a fantasy player. But this week is one exception. I'd like him even more if Matt Cassel was the starting quarterback, but even if it's Josh Freeman, the Giants have allowed the fourth-most receptions and are tied for fourth-most in touchdowns allowed to opposing tight ends. Plus, new QB, not totally familiar with the playbook, I can see him checking down a decent amount to a big target in the middle of the field.

Heath Miller, Steelers: At least 70 yards in each of the two games since he came back. Ravens allow the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends.

If you're desperate: Jordan Reed has been targeted six times and tallied at least 50 receiving yards in his last two games. They like him in Washington and are trying to get him more involved. ...Over the last two weeks, since Mike Glennon took over, Timothy Wright is second only to Vincent Jackson on the Bucs in targets, receptions and yards. ... With no Julio, and Roddy either out or at less than 100 percent, lots of attention will go to Tony Gonzalez, which means I could see big Levine Toilolo scoring in this one.

<H3>Tight ends I hate in Week 7</H3>

Garrett Graham, Texans: Obviously, the quarterback situation in Houston is, shall we say, not ideal. Add in the fact that the Chiefs have allowed the fewest fantasy points, yards and are tied for the fewest touchdowns (zero) to opposing tight ends this season and you have yourselves an entry on the "hate" list.

Jared Cook, Rams: Last time I put him on the hate list, he went off, so maybe this will spark him to have another big day. Kyle Rudolph certainly did last week against the Panthers. Because otherwise, there's not a lot here. Under 50 yards receiving in five straight games, no scores, inconsistent blocking and route-running, he's not even the best fantasy tight end on his team these days, as Lance Kendricks has scored in three straight games. Can freely be dropped in 10-team leagues.


<H3>Team defenses I love in Week 7</H3>

Carolina Panthers: Available in over 60 percent of leagues, and only the Chiefs have held opponents to fewer points per game than Carolina this season. With Zac Stacy potentially less than 100 percent in this game (he missed Wednesday's practice) and the passing game in St. Louis still a work in progress, Carolina should have a solid day at home. The Panthers are also one of three teams holding opponents to fewer than 300 yards per game (the Texans and Seahawks are the other two).

Miami Dolphins: At home, off a bye, they might be playing against Matt Flynn.

New England Patriots: Hello, Geno Smith.

If you're desperate: The Buffalo Bills are third in the league in sacks and tied for the league lead with 10 interceptions. Tannehill has been known to throw a pick or two, and no quarterback has been sacked more.

<H3>Team defense I hate in Week 7</H3>
Indianapolis Colts: Duh.
Houston Texans: Remember when they were the Texans? The Chiefs don't turn the ball over, the game is at Arrowhead ... no, don't see a lot of potential here.
St. Louis Rams: Last week was a fluke, I'm not buying them on the road at Cam & Co.



</H3>[/h]

 

[HacheMan]

Week 7 flex ranks: Eddie Lacy rising

Eric Karabell

The bye weeks really haven’t hurt fantasy owners much to this point, and this week shouldn’t be any different. After all, we’ll miss a few New Orleans Saints players, but the Oakland Raiders weren’t providing much. But after this week, the flex rankings, in which we combine the best of the running backs, wide receivers and tight ends, will look a lot different. In Weeks 8 and 9, there are a combined 12 teams on bye. That’s a big deal. So enjoy these Week 7 flex ranks, flourished with depth, and hopefully this helps with your decisions. It might not be this much fun to sift through choices again until November!

Feel free to use all awesome information presented to you by the ESPN fantasy staff to augment your decisions -- not make them for you -- and if you still have questions or a unique scoring system, try us on Twitter or in our many chats. As for my Wednesday chat session, here is the link. And here are the staff rankings.

<OFFER>Good luck to all in Week 7 and beyond!

1. Adrian Peterson, RB, Vikings: Six running backs and one wide receiver have more fantasy points, but none of them faces the Giants this week!

2. LeSean McCoy, RB, Eagles: See, it really doesn’t matter who plays quarterback for Philly!

3. Jamaal Charles, RB, Chiefs: His worst game is 15 fantasy points. Think about that for a minute.

4. Arian Foster, RB, Texans: Twenty or more carries in three straight games, despite the mess around him. Just wait until the touchdowns come.

5. Matt Forte, RB, Bears

6. Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seahawks: Seems a bit banged-up, but he played through all this last season. Don’t worry.

7. Knowshon Moreno, RB, Broncos: Probably the biggest surprise of the fantasy season so far, and that includes the guy who hands the football to him.

8. Dez Bryant, WR, Cowboys

9. Brandon Marshall, WR, Bears: You know, Jay Cutler is having a pretty nice season himself!

10. Eddie Lacy, RB, Packers: A Packers running back in the top 10. What a season!

11. Victor Cruz, WR, Giants: Watch Eli Manning and Josh Freeman have monster games this week.

12. A.J. Green, WR, Bengals

13. Wes Welker, WR, Broncos: Peyton certainly shares. Among WRs, Welker has 50 targets, Demaryius Thomas has 49 and Eric Decker has 51. And tight end Julius Thomas has 43. Wow.

14. Frank Gore, RB, 49ers: Amid all the whining about Colin Kaepernick, Gore has averaged more than 100 rushing yards per game over the past month.

15. Reggie Bush, RB, Lions

16. Demaryius Thomas, WR, Broncos

17. Alfred Morris, RB, Redskins

18. DeSean Jackson, WR, Eagles: Presenting the top wide receiver in fantasy through six weeks. Hard to believe, eh? Sell high, but it’s not like the production will stop, either.

19. Ray Rice, RB, Ravens

20. Calvin Johnson, WR, Lions: Yes, you might have better wide receiver options this week. Don’t be afraid to use them.

21. Doug Martin, RB, Buccaneers: Disappointing, but still getting you nearly 10 points per game. So it’s not that bad. Could be worse, really.

22. Antonio Brown, WR, Steelers: Not the tough matchup it might appear, as the Ravens can be thrown on.

23. Pierre Garcon, WR, Redskins

24. Trent Richardson, RB, Colts: As average as he appears, he’s still safely a RB2 capable of scoring touchdowns.

25. Reggie Wayne, WR, Colts: Shootout in Indy with Peyton!

26. Hakeem Nicks, WR, Giants: I doubt the Giants trade him, but Nicks will be a free agent, and free agents generally have something to prove. Neither the Giants nor Vikings can stop anyone.

27. Josh Gordon, WR, Browns

28. Stevan Ridley, RB, Patriots: This is why you shouldn’t fully give up on players. Not a bad idea to sell high, though.

29. Jordy Nelson, WR, Packers: Will likely get a bit overrated now that Randall Cobb is out a while. Still not a big targets guy, and this week he gets Joe Haden.

30. Tony Gonzalez, TE, Falcons: He should pick up some of the slack with Julio Jones gone.

31. DeAngelo Williams, RB, Panthers: Struggling since a nice start, but a good matchup here.

32. Vincent Jackson, WR, Buccaneers

33. Justin Blackmon, WR, Jaguars: You’d think he’d see more double-teams, no? Cecil Shorts isn’t ranked here, but if he plays, I’d take Blackmon.

34. Giovani Bernard, RB, Bengals

35. Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Cardinals: A Thursday option, so you’ll know if he’s playing early enough to use him. And when he plays, use him.

36. Chris Johnson, RB, Titans: Here we go again with this underachiever. Just be patient.

37. Torrey Smith, WR, Ravens

38. Vernon Davis, TE, 49ers

39. Andre Johnson, WR, Texans

40. Eric Decker, WR, Broncos

41. Julius Thomas, TE, Broncos

42. Fred Jackson, RB, Bills: Still getting enough touches to matter, and it’s a nice matchup.

43. Lamar Miller, RB, Dolphins: You’ll never know from game to game what to expect. Just leave him as your flex.

44. Keenan Allen, WR, Chargers: Hotshot rookie has become worth adding, and he faces the Jaguars.

45. Steve Smith, WR, Panthers: No longer elite, but better times should be ahead.

46. Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jaguars: No longer elite, as well, and yes, better times should be ahead.

47. C.J. Spiller, RB, Bills: Clearly not 100 percent, and if you’re wondering why Fred Jackson is ranked better, look at performance. Spiller has 39 fantasy points all year. Jackson has 71.

48. T.Y. Hilton, WR, Colts

49. Alshon Jeffery, WR, Bears: Many of his owners will sit him after Week 6, but that’s a mistake. Check the matchup. He didn’t stop emerging in one week.

50. Antonio Gates, TE, Chargers

51. Bilal Powell, RB, Jets

52. Jason Witten, TE, Cowboys: Good buy-low option, but after he lights up Philly it might be too late.

53. Greg Jennings, WR, Vikings: Season performance doesn’t warrant this rank, but he’s got a quarterback who can throw the ball deep now. It matters.

54. BenJarvus Green-Ellis, RB, Bengals

55. Jordan Cameron, TE, Browns

56. Mike Wallace, WR, Dolphins

57. Anquan Boldin, WR, 49ers: Four fantasy points the past two weeks. They’re running now.

58. Joseph Randle, RB, Cowboys: Figures to start and get double-digit touches with DeMarco Murray out. Don’t get too excited, though.

59. James Jones, WR, Packers: Make sure he plays before you play him.

60. Le’Veon Bell, RB, Steelers: Could be Eddie Lacy with more help around him.

61. Zac Stacy, RB, Rams: Could be Lacy, as well, if he keeps playing well.

62. Kenbrell Thompkins, WR, Patriots: Even if Rob Gronkowski plays, and good luck figuring that out, Thompkins has value.

63. Ryan Mathews, RB, Chargers: Just when you think the guy after him is better, Mathews rushes for 102 yards against the Colts.

64. Danny Woodhead, RB, Chargers: On pace for 99 rushes and 96 receptions. Darren Sproles, indeed.

65. Jermichael Finley, TE, Packers: Worth a bit more with Cobb out.

66. Terrance Williams, WR, Cowboys

67. Andre Ellington, RB, Cardinals

68. Jacquizz Rodgers, RB, Falcons: Running out of time before Steven Jackson returns. Probably one more week.

69. Harry Douglas, WR, Falcons: Well, he’s getting opportunity now.

70. Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Cardinals: He had his chance.

71. Steve Johnson, WR, Bills

72. Brandon Jacobs, RB, Giants: If this wasn’t a 0-6 team, and he ran a bit faster, we’d all realize this is a pretty nice story.

73. Mike Williams, WR, Buccaneers

74. Willis McGahee, RB, Browns

75. Dwayne Bowe, WR, Chiefs: We’re still waiting for a five-reception game.

76. Julian Edelman, WR, Patriots: Last time he played the Jets he caught 13 passes, but for only 78 yards. That’s seven points, unless you’re in a PPR format.

77. Rueben Randle, WR, Giants: One of the few No. 3 WRs worth owning.

78. Ben Tate, RB, Texans: While Foster flourishes, Tate isn’t doing much. The Week 6 touchdown, which came with 12 rushing yards, was a gift.

79. Brian Hartline, WR, Dolphins

80. Donald Brown, RB, Colts

81. Aaron Dobson, WR, Patriots

82. Greg Olsen, TE, Panthers

83. Emmanuel Sanders, WR, Steelers

84. Joique Bell, RB, Lions: Fell from relevancy awfully fast.

85. Brandon LaFell, WR, Panthers: Has outscored Steve Smith so far. At some point, the rankings should show this.

86. Miles Austin, WR, Cowboys

87. Bernard Pierce, RB, Ravens

88. Austin Pettis, WR, Rams

89. Mike Tolbert, RB, Panthers: Seems to be a touchdown machine, but two of his three for the season came last week.

90. Golden Tate, WR, Seahawks: So many people pegged him as a breakout. Haven’t heard much from them lately. Maybe the return of Percy Harvin, eventually, will help.

91. Martellus Bennett, TE, Bears

92. Tavon Austin, WR, Rams: Has six fantasy points in four weeks. Proof that where a player is drafted in real life tells us very little. “The Rams will use him,” everyone said. Have they?

93. Vincent Brown, WR, Chargers: It’s clear that he’s not going to be a fantasy monster, but he is healthy!

94. Chris Ivory, RB, Jets

95. Jarrett Boykin, WR, Packers: Deep-league pickup in case James Jones also sits.

96. Michael Floyd, WR, Cardinals

97. Jerome Simpson, WR, Vikings

98. Bryce Brown, RB, Eagles

99. Ronnie Hillman, RB, Broncos

100. Coby Fleener, TE, Colts

Others: Jeremy Kerley, WR, Jets; Kris Durham, WR, Lions; Jason Snelling, RB, Falcons; Kendall Wright, WR, Titans; Doug Baldwin, WR, Seahawks; Heath Miller, TE, Steelers; Chris Givens, WR, Rams; Brandon Bolden, RB, Patriots; Kendall Hunter, RB, 49ers; Chris Ogbonnaya, RB, Browns; Roy Helu, RB, Redskins; Robert Woods, WR, Bills; LeGarrette Blount, RB, Patriots; DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Texans; Jackie Battle, RB, Titans; Daniel Thomas, RB, Dolphins

 

[HacheMan]

[h=1]Can you trust Rice, Andre Johnson?[/h]
By [FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]Christopher Harris[/FONT] | ESPN.com

Don't forget I do a twice-weekly podcast called the [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Fantasy Underground[/FONT], where Field "Don't Call Me T.J." Yates and I discuss what we've seen on film, and how it relates to your fantasy team. Subscribe on iTunes; that way you'll never miss a show! And while you're at it, follow me on Twitter at [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]@CHarrisESPN[/FONT]. All right, let's get to today's topics:

Three in depth:
1. Breaking down Ray Rice. You want to talk about alarming numbers? Rice has them. He's averaging 2.8 yards per carry this season. (IfTrent Richardson did that, there'd be a riot.) He's on pace for 53 catches, which would be his lowest total since his rookie year. And his "contact" metrics are awful. According to ESPN Stats & Info, of 42 qualified running backs, Rice is 37th in average yards before contact, and 39th in average yards after contact. He's 32nd in fantasy points among RBs; his 19-fantasy-point outing against the Miami Dolphins two weeks ago (during which he averaged 2.7 yards per carry) accounted for more than half his points all season.
The Baltimore Ravens' very first offensive snap against the Green Bay Packers last week illustrates so much of what's going wrong here. The Ravens came out in a formation that screamed "Run!": unbalanced to the left side, with Billy Bajema set back in the tight end slot and extra guard Ricky Wagner on Bajema's outside. The Pack responded with eight in the box. Rice didn't have a fullback in front of him, so we were looking at 7-on-8 for the Ravens, and you've got to be rolling pretty good on offense to make this work. In fact, if I'mJoe Flacco, I'm strongly considering checking out of this play, even if there would only be two receivers running routes. Anyway, Flacco stays in this simple run to the left, and left guard Kelechi Osemele gets to the second level but whiffs on A.J. Hawk. Adding to the problem is that Marlon Brown is asked to dive in all the way from the outside and blockMorgan Burnett, which is basically impossible unless Burnett decides to wait for him. Rice has nowhere to go. It doesn't matter if his hip feels great. It's a 2-yard gain.


On the Ravens' second play, Flacco was entirely at fault, looking downfield for too long and finding nothing, delaying before he finally threw a screen to Rice; by the time he threw the pass, Jamari Lattimore was all over Rice. And yes, I'll give Rice some blame: There was a second-quarter run (at 9:13, for those of you who have GameRewind), when if Rice had seen how far upfield Mike Nealhad taken his pass rush, he would've cut left and found a huge hole. Instead, he plowed straight ahead for no gain.
But make no mistake: This is mostly not about Ray Rice. There are crazy breakdowns up and down this Ravens offensive line. How does a middle linebacker simply get ignored on a sweep, and meet Rice in the backfield? How does Flacco check to plays when Vonta Leach is not in to lead block, and the Pack is showing pure run blitz? Johnny Jolly's return has been a nice story for the Packers, but there's just no excuse, on a second-and-goal from the 2, for Jolly to be slicing into the backfield to meet Rice (Wagner was the culprit on that one). And Leach himself did a crummy job on the third-down play around the right side (though it would've been called back for a Wagner holding penalty had Rice scored).
OK, so it's mostly not Rice's fault, plus he's reportedly healthier now after dealing with that hip injury. But this is cold comfort for those who invested in Rice as a first-round pick. They want production. Is there potential for better results moving forward? That, unfortunately, is where I have to be more equivocal, because it's about whether John Harbaugh can get his line to play better. The Pittsburgh Steelers, this week' opponent, are not the same run-defense team you remember. The New York Jets didn't get in the end zone against them last week and only had 83 yards rushing, but they were awfully close to some bigger running plays (including some read-option plays when if the opposite choice had been made, a big play would've resulted). But by the same token, the Jets' line is playing better right now than the Ravens'. The good news is that Rice probably mostly isn't at fault here. The bad news is we need to see better work in front of him to feel confident. I lowered Rice to No. 13 in my RB ranks this week, his low mark for the season. I'm still probably starting him and hoping for better. But I admit better isn't automatically coming.
2. Has Andre Johnson really been a disappointment? Clearly when the consensus preseason No. 9 fantasy wideout (and my No. 8) currently sits at 33rd in fantasy points per game among WRs, disappointed people abound. The Houston Texans' quarterback situation has grown morose, with Matt Schaub playing poorly and now sitting in favor of Case Keenum this week against a difficult Kansas City Chiefs defense. There's enough reason to panic on AJ. But I'm not there yet.
Check out the leaders in receiving yards per team game played so far this year:

Player	YPG	TD	Fantasy Rank
Julio Jones	116	2	4
Antonio Brown	99.6	2	9
DeSean Jackson	98.2	5	1
Jordy Nelson	96.8	4	2
Torrey Smith	94.7	1	15
Victor Cruz	90.2	4	7
Demaryius Thomas	88	4	8
Andre Johnson	82.5	0	33
Pierre Garcon	81.6	2	14
Vincent Jackson	81.2	2	16

<thead style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;">
</thead><tbody style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;">
</tbody>

One of these things is not like the other. Johnson ranks eighth in WR receiving yards per game -- and third in WR receptions per game -- but because he hasn't found the end zone, the overall results look gnarly. As you can see in this week's WR ranks, I'm the only one still treating AJ like a No. 1 fantasy wideout. And that's understandable! The touchdownshaven't been there, and the Texans' QB situation is a mess.
The great thing about AJ in theory is that you can do anything with him. Heaven knows he can go deep. But he's also intelligent enough to know -- as on his first catch in the first quarter last week against the St. Louis Rams -- that when the corner nominally covering him blitzes, he should break off his route into a short cross, which Schaub hit for a 19-yard gain. His second catch, with the game still close, he had Matt Giordano right on his back, but caught a post-up play anyway, adding to the notion that even when he's covered, he's open. Would I like to see Johnson get loose on a long one to add to his 12 career TDs of 40-plus yards? I sure would; so far this season he's got only four targets that have traveled more than 20 yards in the air. (Last year he had 24.)
As I've said, clearly the major problem is AJ's lack of TDs. Here's a breakdown of where he's scored from during his career:

Yards from end zone	TDs
0 to 10	22
11 to 20	14
21 to 30	4
31 to 40	4
40-plus	12

<thead style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;">
</thead><tbody style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;">
</tbody>

Basically, he'll get you from anywhere. But of course he hasn't yet this year, and that's been frustrating. Instead, DeAndre Hopkins has five red zone targets (to Johnson's three) and the only red zone score among Houston receivers, while Owen Daniels and Garrett Grahamhave accounted for 12 such targets and five such scores. And what adds to this issue is how frequently the Texans have turned the ball over, and had recent games get out of control on them as a result.
But really, there's just nothing you see on tape -- or in the numbers -- to make you believe Johnson is anything other than himself. I know this Chiefs matchup looks bad. I know Keenum is the starter, and his next regular-season NFL throw will be his first. But I'm keeping AJ in a fantasy lineup. He's just that much better than all but a handful of players who play his position, and healthy, I just can't bench him. Not yet, anyway.

3. What do you do with a breakout like Keenan Allen? You could actually argue that at the moment, Allen is the exact opposite of Andre Johnson. He's red-hot. He's found the end zone and topped 100 yards receiving in each of the past two games. So just as there's a temptation to forget exactly who Andre Johnson is and what he's capable of, there's a temptation to believe that it will ever be thus for Allen. And let's be clear: While I'm not succumbing to that notion, this is very much a player I like. As I've written elsewhere, Allen was my second-favorite wideout at this year's combine, someone no less than Bill Polian compared to Reggie Wayne. I do like this player, very much.


So this comes down more to philosophy. At what point do we start treating a rookie wideout like he's a clear fantasy starter? I think it's pretty clear based on this week's ranks (and, um, my entire career) that my threshold is higher than most folks'. Allen did a nice job running around theIndianapolis Colts' secondary on Monday night, but realize that every one of his catches except for his TD was some kind of underneath route. Seven of his nine catches traveled fewer than 5 yards in the air. That's not a knock on Allen, but the next step in his development will be to prove that he can do more than excel when a defense is laying way back. By contrast, Vincent Brown is used more as a downfield threat when Philip Rivers throws it outside.
The bottom line, though, is that it's just really difficult for rookie wideouts to stay week-to-week consistent. Here's a list of rookie wideouts who scored double-digit fantasy points in a game last year and then followed that up with zero the next week: Alshon Jeffery (twice),Justin Blackmon, Stephen Hill, Chris Givens, Ryan Broyles, Mohamed Sanu, Brian Quick andLaVon Brazill. This year Kenbrell Thompkins, DeAndre Hopkins, Tavon Austin, Aaron Dobson,Justin Hunter, Robert Woods, Terrance Williams and Kenny Stills have all had roller-coaster fantasy rides, too. It's not like it's impossible for Allen to become a trusted fantasy weapon. But history tells me it's more likely that Brown will step up one week, Allen the next, and then neither will do anything as Antonio Gates takes a lead role.
That said, I understand that the Jacksonville Jaguars appear to be a nice matchup for the entire San Diego Chargers passing game. They did a good job limiting the (perhaps merciful) Denver Broncos' stable of WRs last week, but gave it up to the Rams and Seattle Seahawks in the two previous weeks. I absolutely understand the temptation of wanting to bet with a winning streak. Just remember what happened to Jeffery this year, after posting 15 catches for 325 yards in back-to-back weeks and entering a delicious Thursday night matchup against the New York Giants. He caught one pass for 27 yards.

Four in brief:


4. Is this finally Eli Manning's week? If it's ever going to happen for Eli, you'd think Monday night at home against the Minnesota Vikings would be the time. Manning posted 28 fantasy points Week 1 against the Dallas Cowboys, back when we didn't know he was about to turn into the living embodiment of Marc Wilson. Since then, he's gone 10, 3, 7, 15 and 7. But the Vikes have yet to hold a single QB this year under his five-week moving average, and have lost the best player in their secondary, Harrison Smith, to turf toe. What's left behind is a mess. Left corner Josh Robinson just can't play and neither can strong safety Jamarca Sanford. Brandon LaFell's TD last week was the easiest 79-yard score you'll ever see, because nobody covered him running up the right sideline. Maybe -- maybe! -- the Giants' offensive line play from last Thursday against the Chicago Bears can carry over, and Manning can get some confidence back. Do I expect it to happen? "Expect" is a strong word when it comes to Eli. But we know he's capable. I would call him my Hail Mary Special this week: He could hurt you again, but he could also save you if you're in need of a big effort.

5. Stevan Ridley will torture you. Will Stevan Ridley torture you? Stevan Ridley just tortured you! I was going to write a longer bit on the way the New England Patriots used their RBs back in '09 and '10, and how I'm worried that '13 will soon be reminiscent of that week-to-week fantasy nightmare. But perhaps it's simply best to choose optimism. I'm not saying Ridley is going to solve the Jets, who boast a fearsome front (Sheldon Richardsonand Damon "Snacks" Harrison are most imposing against the run). I'm really talking about workload. The Pats' primary rusher through six games has gone like this: Shane Vereen, Ridley, LeGarrette Blount, Ridley, Blount, Ridley. Awesome. Ridley did play well against in Week 6 against the New Orleans Saints, but I don't particularly believe the game plan was to feature him. After all, Blount started and got the entire first series, Brandon Bolden got the second series, and Ridley got the third. It was only after he ripped off an 18-yarder on his first carry that New England's coaches evidently got the picture. (And to be fair, Ridley was coming off an inactive week because of a knee injury.) Will the team come into this Jets game with the mentality that they want to feature Ridley, or that they want to find the hot hand again? I wish I knew. I ranked Ridley 20th among RBs despite the tough opponent. But if we don't see him much, you can expect a long disquisition in this space next week.


6. Another reason not to panic on Torrey Smith. I'm on record as saying that Joe Flacco is having kind of a crummy year, and I didn't particularly think he played well last week in a loss against the Packers, despite his 342 passing yards. Smith certainly didn't enjoy the day; he had one catch for 12 yards, while such immortals as Tandon Doss lit it up. Smith's first target came in the second quarter, and was an ugly throw far down the field, while Smith was totally open but Flacco just missed him short. On the very next play, Flacco scrambled right and heaved one really deep, and Smith made a ridiculous catch, but was just barely out of bounds. The Pack played two safeties deep an awful lot of the time, not necessarily rolling help Smith's way, but definitely keeping someone extra on his side of the field. It wasn't a concerted "shutdown" effort, and maybe that's a little worrisome, that Smith can have such a quiet day without pure double-teams hindering him. But the fact remains that Smith is by far the most targeted WR in the NFL on passes that travel 20 yards or more in the air. He's got 19 such targets; the next-closest man is A.J. Green with 14. Deep shots aren't everything, but they help, because it really only takes one such connection to make your WR's fantasy day worthwhile. Despite his slow Week 6, Smith is 12th in fantasy points at his position, so he's had lots of worthwhile days.

7. Any more questions about Carson Palmer? "[Palmer] holds the football too long and takes too many shots, and his decision making is now perennially suspect." These are the words I wrote this spring after the Arizona Cardinals traded for Palmer, as I gave the thumbs-down to the transaction. Palmer just got to play his first national TV game with Arizona, and I assume you now understand why I penned that review. Granted, his offensive line is awful, but that's all the more reason you can't just fling the ball around. His first pick Thursday night was underthrown and deflected into Earl Thomas' hands. His second (which should've been a pick-six) was just ill-advised and misdirected, underpowered and off his back foot. Nobody is denying that Palmer occasionally looks good, like some gray-scale reproduction of his early-2000s self. And yeah, he's probably better than the cavalcade of John Skeltons and Ryan Lindleys. But not much! And the larger point is that every season that goes by when future Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald doesn't have an above-average signal-caller is a wasted season for the organization. No, there probably wasn't a good answer in the '13 draft, and maybe there weren't any other attractive options available for trade. But if the Cards don't take a long look at a first-round quarterback and/or free agent Jay Cutler this winter, they're truly hopeless. Fitzgerald is a shadow of himself right now because of his hamstring injuries, but Palmer's presence pretty much ensures that Fitz will be nowhere close to the No. 1 fantasy WR it seemed he might be in September.

 

[HacheMan]

[h=1]Sneaky pickups entering Week 7

[/h]
[h=5]Eric Karabell[/h]
[FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Josh Cribbs[/FONT] has always been a master in the return game but a tease to fantasy owners interested in him as a sleeper wide receiver, just in case those tremendous skills translated positively to big value. It hasn't happened yet.

Cribbs, who had 11 return touchdowns to his credit but only seven as a wide receiver in his[FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Cleveland Browns[/FONT] tenure, is 30 years old, is coming off offseason knee surgery and, naturally, [FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif]signed a contract[/FONT] with the [FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif]New York Jets[/FONT] this week. He is expected to play Sunday.

Cribbs certainly doesn't lack confidence, telling reporters he will electrify the team. Perhaps that really will be the case. After all, the Jets could use playmakers, and even if Cribbs is a bit slower coming off knee surgery, he can help them as a [FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Devin Hester[/FONT]-type player returning kicks. We’re not blind to the fact that in some custom leagues, return yards and touchdowns play a significant role in scoring, and Cribbs did remain a major weapon in that respect for the 2012 Browns. On offense, he caught seven passes and was given six rushing attempts.

But what if Cribbs was held back by the team, the quarterback, the situation? These Jets don’t exactly have [FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Peyton Manning[/FONT] throwing passes, but the wide receiver depth is ridiculously thin and someone is needed to stretch the field.

Here in the weekly Sneaky Pickups blog entry, we aim to think optimistically big, and while Cribbs hardly warrants immediate attention for 10- and 12-team leagues, we should be open to the fact that this might be a nice fit. Sure, myriad teams had a chance to sign Cribbs, and he still didn't land somewhere until Week 7. His contract with Cleveland ended, and the [FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif]New England Patriots[/FONT] -- Sunday’s opponent, by the way -- took a look at him but did not sign him. Perhaps that’s telling. The [FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Arizona Cardinals[/FONT] and [FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif]New York Giants[/FONT] also had interest, and Cribbs signed with the [FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Oakland Raiders[/FONT] in May before underachieving in training camp and the preseason and getting cut.

However, look whom else the Jets have for rookie[FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Geno Smith[/FONT] to throw to on the field. [FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Jeremy Kerley[/FONT] and[FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Stephen Hill[/FONT] are starting, and each has deep-league value, but after that Cribbs could be next in line.[FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Santonio Holmes[/FONT] seems unlikely to play this week because of a hamstring injury. [FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Clyde Gates[/FONT] is out for the season. [FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Greg Salas[/FONT] was signed off the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice squad.

While we’re at it, Cribbs was used periodically as a runner for the Browns, gaining 381 yards at 6.9 yards per carry in 2009, mostly out of the Wildcat formation. For his career, he has averaged 5.9 yards per rushing attempt and 10.9 yards per reception. With Mike Goodson’s season ending soon after it started, [FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Bilal Powell[/FONT] is being backed up by the brittle [FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Chris Ivory[/FONT]. Cribbs could definitely see the occasional rushing attempt.

I’ll be keeping an eye on Cribbs on Sunday to see how he looks. The odds are stacked against someone at his age, perhaps in his physical state and, despite the lack of depth on the Jets, with a rookie quarterback. But 12 NFL teams are on bye in Weeks 8-9, and like the Jets, you might be desperate. Take a look in deep leagues or formats that count return yards.

Quarterback: If anyone needed a break, it was beleaguered [FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Houston Texans[/FONT] passer [FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Matt Schaub[/FONT]. He’s got it this week. [FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Case Keenum[/FONT] probably isn't a future star, especially going against the [FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Kansas City Chiefs[/FONT]. Still, it is possible Keenum keeps the job if he plays well. ... I've been asked if I think Peyton Manning gets shut down early this season. Well, there are two unbeaten teams in the AFC West, so I doubt it. Add [FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Brock Osweiler[/FONT] for Week 17 now if you must, but I think you can wait two more months. ... Absolutely add Philly’s [FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Nick Foles[/FONT] in case he keeps the job. I just think it’s unlikely. ... Absolutely add Minny’s [FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Josh Freeman[/FONT]. He will torch the Giants on Monday night and keep the job.

Running back: So many unexciting choices, so little time. I’m not buying what [FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Brandon Jacobs[/FONT] is selling, but I can’t see many scenarios in which [FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Peyton Hillis[/FONT] becomes relevant. I’d rather add Cribbs. ... The Bills seem to like [FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Tashard Choice[/FONT] enough to give him nine rushing attempts over the past two games. And the starters aren't durable. ... Detroit’s [FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Joique Bell[/FONT]isn't a lock to play this week, meaning the door could be opening for [FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Mikel Leshoure[/FONT]. Don’t worry, [FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Reggie Bush[/FONT] owners, but let’s remember Leshoure was relevant a year ago. ...[FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif]James Starks[/FONT] will miss another week for the Packers. I’m a big [FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Eddie Lacy[/FONT] fan, but I’d hold on to [FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Johnathan Franklin[/FONT] a bit longer, just in case.

Wide receiver: [FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Harry Douglas[/FONT] is one of the starters for the Falcons and remains readily available, but assuming [FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Roddy White[/FONT] sits, that means [FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Kevin Cone[/FONT] and [FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Drew Davis[/FONT] should get chances. Neither has had chances before, so don’t assume they’ll fail. ... [FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Jarrett Boykin[/FONT]is the obvious name to watch in Green Bay with [FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Randall Cobb[/FONT] out and [FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif]James Jones[/FONT] possibly out, but [FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Myles White[/FONT], promoted from the practice squad this week, could see just as many targets. ... Tampa Bay’s [FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Mike Williams[/FONT] and his sore hamstring could sit out another week or more. [FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Chris Owusu[/FONT] caught three passes last week, and the Falcons do get thrown on. ...[FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Mario Manningham[/FONT] could be starting for the [FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif]San Francisco 49ers[/FONT] in Week 8 against the Jaguars. That sounds nice, eh?

Well, that’s it for this week. Best of luck the rest of Week 7 and the rest of the season!

 

[HacheMan]

Key fantasy injuries for Week 7

Stephania Bell

It’s Week 7, and once again just two teams are on bye. The Oakland Raiders and New Orleans Saints get a brief respite from the physical toll of football (thank goodness, say all the Jimmy Graham fantasy owners). For those who can’t rest this week, who are going to be among the dreaded game-time decisions? Here’s what we know as of Saturday afternoon:

---

​

Quarterbacks

Michael Vick, Philadelphia Eagles, hamstring (Q): Vick essentially removed any mystery about his status Thursday. Last Sunday, he was active as the emergency quarterback, which could happen again this week, but it will be Nick Foles getting the start against the possibly DeMarcus Ware-less Dallas Cowboys. Ware is listed as doubtful with a quad strain but did make the trip to Philly and will likely be a game-time call.

Last week, Vick sounded confident about his chances of playing against the Cowboys, but he acknowledged still feeling discomfort in his leg when he tried to "burst," a sign the hamstring has not fully healed. An aging Vick understands that sitting out now to allow proper recovery is a better option than returning too soon and suffering a more severe injury. Vick also knows if Foles delivers a topflight performance while he’s out that it could encourage the team to continue to rest him. Consider Vick a possibility -- but not a lock -- for Week 8.<!--offer--> Jake Locker, Tennessee Titans, hip/knee (Q): In a bit of a surprise move, it sounds like the Titans could start Locker. He is coming off a sprained hip and knee, which were expected to potentially sideline him through the team’s Week 8 bye. Locker moved better in practice late in the week, including a full session Friday, apparently inspiring enough confidence that the team is considering putting him back on the field.

---

​

Running backs

Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings, hamstring (P): The good news is that the Vikings have listed Peterson as probable, all the more helpful given that the team plays Monday night. Peterson participated in limited practice Thursday, the day he popped up on the injury report with the hamstring problem. He did not practice Friday, raising concern, but returned to limited work Saturday. The hope is that this seemingly mild hamstring issue doesn’t turn into something bigger. But no one is planning on resting Peterson as a preemptive strike.

C.J. Spiller, Buffalo Bills, ankle (Q): The expectation is that Spiller will play, but his ankle is not back to pre-injury form yet. Spiller acknowledges he can’t cut normally on it and is hoping that he will overcome that hurdle by the first game following the Bills' Week 12 bye. Until then, his plan is to continue to play, but fantasy owners should be aware that he is not at full strength and, per his own admission, is not likely to be for a few more weeks.

DeMarco Murray, Dallas Cowboys, knee (D): Despite the doubtful tag and not practicing at all this week, Murray did fly with the team to Philadelphia. He has made it no secret that he would like to play Sunday despite spraining his MCL just last week. His lack of practice activity combined with owner Jerry Jones’ hint earlier in the week that Murray would be out, presumably to help ensure that his injury doesn’t worsen, makes his travel a bit of a surprise. It appears the Cowboys are leaving the door open for Murray to impress them Sunday morning. If he can show the knee is not an issue, he could be granted clearance. Iffy situation.

Zac Stacy, St. Louis Rams, chest (P): Stacy was again excused from practice Wednesday to rest his sore ribs but returned to full practice Thursday and Friday. This is lingering soreness from a rib injury late in the Week 5 game, but Stacy played in Week 6 and is expected to do so again Sunday.

Brandon Bolden, New England Patriots, knee (Q): Bolden’s pattern of limited practices and playing Sunday is expected to continue. These are the Patriots, though, so double check before kickoff.

Joique Bell, Detroit Lions, rib (Q): Bell suffered bruised ribs and left last week’s game early. Rib injuries leave lingering discomfort, but Bell managed to practice on a limited basis each day. Although he told reporters he has improved, the pain is likely to prove to be a hindrance for him Sunday. Whether it’s enough to keep him out remains to be seen, but if he does play, this could become exacerbated as the game progresses.

Arian Foster, thumb/chest/hamstring, and Ben Tate, elbow, Houston Texans (P): The challenges continue for the Texans, who travel to face the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 7. When Matt Schaub injured his lower leg and ankle last Sunday, the Texans were underwhelmed by the performance of backup T.J. Yates. Consequently, Case Keenum was awarded the start this week. It’s entirely possible that the run game gets a boost. Foster got Thursday off but bookended the week with two full practices. Tate practiced fully every day.

Brandon Jacobs, New York Giants, hamstring (Q): Jacobs is virtually the last man standing among the Giants’ running back starters. Or maybe he’s leaning, off that tight hamstring. David Wilson remains out, as does Andre Brown (although he is progressing his running program), and Jacobs, as everyone witnessed last week, is now “the guy." But first he has to take the field. The expectation was that he would rest his legs early in the week with an eye on Monday night. Jacobs was limited in practice Thursday and Friday but did not practice Saturday. Downgrade or proactive rest? There doesn’t appear to be an answer just yet, making his Monday night status worrisome for fantasy owners.

---

​

Wide receivers

Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions, knee (P): This week, all seems right again with the Johnson injury report, as he comes into Sunday’s contest listed as probable after practicing on a limited basis daily. The fact he is still on the injury report tells us the knee is still an issue, but it has clearly improved. Let's hope he will not flare it up during Sunday’s contest against the Bengals.

James Jones, Green Bay Packers, knee (Q): Jones has not practiced since spraining his knee last week. If he is active, there is legitimate reason to be concerned about how productive he can be. This is expected to be a game-time call.

Andre Johnson, Houston Texans, shin (Q): Johnson continues to play as his shin attempts to recover from the deep bruise injury he sustained a few weeks ago.

Miles Austin, Dallas Cowboys, hamstring (P): Austin is expected to play, but no one knows what to expect when it comes to productivity or reliability. The team is trying to control his activity during the week, though that didn’t solve the problem when it did that for weeks during the preseason.

Julian Edelman, New England Patriots, thigh (Q): The good news is that Edelman has practiced every day. With Danny Amendola out with a concussion, the Patriots would like to have Edelman.

Cecil Shorts, shoulder, and Justin Blackmon, hamstring, Jacksonville Jaguars (Q): Shorts insists he’s improving and wants to play Sunday. This is the same guy who couldn’t sleep and couldn’t get his arm over his head just days ago. He did do limited work with the team Thursday and Friday but remains a game-time decision. If he falls on the shoulder on the same side, the pain has the potential to escalate again. Less worrisome, as far as his status, is Blackmon, who is presumably getting even more rest this week with Shorts impaired. Blackmon has indicated he plans to play.

Stevie Johnson, Buffalo Bills, back (P): The best indicator that Johnson is recovering from his back ailment is his consecutive full practice sessions Thursday and Friday. After missing Week 6, Johnson is expected back as the probable tag tells us.

Mike Williams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, hamstring (Q): Williams bumped up to a full practice Friday after two limited days earlier. Time is helping. Williams appears in line to play this week after sitting out Week 6.

---

​

Tight ends

Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots, back/forearm (Q): Here we go. Gronkowski traveled with his teammates to New York on the heels of a declaration made by his agent Drew Rosenhaus on Friday: "Gronkowski has been cleared by all of his doctors to return to play." There has been so much emphasis on the wait for this final clearance that there hardly seems to be any mystery surrounding whether Gronkowski will or won’t suit up. The bigger question is how much playing time he’ll see. Even that could be a decision that remains fluid during the game.

Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers, hamstring (P): Davis is still listed with a hamstring injury, not surprising as he has not looked like he is consistently running well despite playing the past few games. He continues to practice fully daily and is expected to play.

Martellus Bennett, Chicago Bears, knee (Q): Bennett sat Wednesday but participated on a limited basis the remainder of the week. He played through the knee pain last week, and it seems he should again, barring a pregame setback.

Greg Olsen, Carolina Panthers, foot (P): Olsen followed the same practice pattern this week and is expected to play Sunday.

---

​

Kickers

Blair Walsh, Minnesota Vikings, left hamstring (P): Walsh made his field goal, albeit a short one, along with his extra point attempt despite entering the game as questionable. He is trending upward this week in the practice department, though, a positive sign with a Monday night game. After getting Wednesday off to rest, Walsh was listed as limited Thursday and full on Friday. The probable tag tells us the Vikings expect him on the field. He may not be out of the woods entirely, but he appears to be in better shape this week than last.

---

​

Out

Roddy White, WR, Atlanta Falcons, hamstring/ankle: It finally happened -- and maybe should have happened sooner. White is sitting out this week, clearly hampered by his leg injuries. There is no indication as to when he will return.

Steven Jackson, RB, Atlanta Falcons, hamstring: The best thing to be said here is that fantasy owners have been given advance notice that Jackson is definitely out. Not that this is a surprise since he has yet to practice with the team.

EJ Manuel, QB, Buffalo Bills, knee: Manuel suffered an LCL injury in Week 5, and coach Doug Marrone announced this week Manuel is still four-to-six weeks away from returning. Thaddeus Lewis gets the start in his place.

James Starks, RB, Green Bay Packers, knee: Starks is still out despite the rumblings that he was close to returning to action.

Santonio Holmes, WR, New York Jets, hamstring: Holmes will miss another game with a hamstring strain.

Quinton Patton, WR, San Francisco 49ers, foot: Patton fractured his foot and is out for several weeks.

Nate Burleson, WR, Detroit Lions, forearm: Burleson fractured both bones in his forearm, underwent surgery to repair the damage and is out for an extended time. The team hopes he will be able to return late in the season.

 

[HacheMan]

[h=1]Instant Impressions for Week 7[/h][h=3]Waiver pickups Douglas, Reed enjoy big days; issues with top RBs continue[/h]By Christopher Harris | ESPN.com

The immolation of top running backs just keeps coming.

On Sunday, Arian Foster re-injured the hamstring that bothered him after Week 6's big workload and wound up playing seven offensive snaps. Doug Martin nearly caught a third-quarter TD but took a huge shot from Atlanta Falcons safety William Moore and suffered a serious shoulder injury. C.J. Spiller had only nine touches, presumably because his injured ankle just isn't letting him cut, while Fred Jackson had 15 touches and Tashard Choice had six. Ray Rice got a 19-touch workload and made a few fine plays in the passing game, but he averaged only three yards per carry as there was no room for him to run. And Trent Richardson continued to make the Cleveland Browns look smart -- which is often difficult to do -- by fumbling in a key spot Sunday night after showing meager signs of life.


In the cases of Foster, Rice and Richardson, their respective teams have Week 8 byes. Foster's hammy is reportedly not serious, and the hope is that he'll be able to rest up and maybe play thereafter. Meanwhile, the Baltimore Ravens will spend their time off doing some soul-searching on the offensive line. As for Richardson? It won't be a shock if Donald Brown is the starter when the Indianapolis Colts reconvene in Week 9 against the Houston Texans.

The news is worst for Martin, who suffered a torn labrum in his shoulder and will reportedly miss the rest of the season. Mike James is his inheritor in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers backfield Thursday against the Carolina Panthers, at least until and if the Bucs sign some competition.

Finally, in Spiller's case, the Buffalo Bills don't have their bye until Week 12, and it will be tough to predict the exact moment when Spiller's ankle is right and his team is ready to make him its focal point again. As such, he's nothing close to a must-start in the immediate future.

Remember: Be sure to follow me on Twitter @CHarrisESPN for more analysis during the week. For now, let's look at Sunday's other top storylines:

• Owners of another member of the preseason top 10 at running back also had a whiny Sunday, and Alfred Morris didn't even get hurt or do anything particularly wrong. In fact, as the Washington Redskins chewed up the Chicago Bears' alleged "run defense," Morris was the prime weapon. But because the Skins went hurry-up more than they had previously done, Roy Helu played more snaps than usual and wound up stealing three touchdowns from Morris. The totals: Morris had 19 carries for 95 yards, while Helu had 12 touches for 46 yards. These aren't pure, traditional Shanahanigans, because it's not like Morris was benched. But Helu does have 37 touches in the past three contests after having six in the season's first three. Morris will continue to be a must-start, but Helu will continue to be a major nuisance when Washington plays fast.

• After Week 1, I did a Fantasy Underground: Film Room segment about the Bears' improved offensive line, particularly right guard Kyle Long and right tackle Jordan Mills, both rookies. At the end of that segment, I proclaimed that if I could go back a week and re-rank RBs for 2013, I would put Matt Forte well inside my top 10. And that was never truer than on Sunday, despite Chicago's loss. It seems that the new Bears coaching staff doesn't share pre-existing concerns about Forte's short-yardage performance, because the running back got both of his team's carries from inside the Washington 6 and converted both for TDs. But it was his 50-yard score that's my nominee for the run of the week. What an absolute beauty. He found some space up the middle and saw DeAngelo Hall caving in toward him. At top speed, Forte jump-cut around Hall (who, to be fair, may have been blocked from behind), didn't lose an ounce of momentum and took it to the house. You can't count on TDs like this, but Forte is playing spectacularly well.

• However, all bets may be off if Jay Cutler's groin injury causes a lengthy absence. Cutler took a rolling hit from Chris Baker in the second quarter Sunday and had to leave. He was replaced by Josh McCown, and the Bears have already signed Jordan Palmer for QB depth. What will the offense look like if McCown is at the helm? Well, it wouldn't be good news. Brandon Marshall and Cutler have years of experience together, and Alshon Jeffery has eclipsed 100 yards in three of the past four games. I'm not automatically sitting Forte, Marshall or Jeffery in Week 9 against the Green Bay Packers if McCown is the starter, but I'll be watching closely.

• The other QB injury of consequence Sunday was Sam Bradford, who was shoved out of bounds on a scramble, landed awkwardly on his left knee and had to be carted off. The St. Louis Rams have already reported that it's a torn ACL. Their backup is Kellen Clemens, who played badly in the understudy role for the Rams in 2011. You probably weren't all that enamored with the Rams' receiving weapons anyway, but this clinches it. Tavon Austin did make a big play for a long touchdown that was called back by a questionable tripping penalty Sunday, but he also lost a dumb fumble. Bye-bye.


• The Rams are still the only NFL team not to score a rushing TD. Zac Stacy did catch a short TD from inside the Panthers' 5 and has staked his claim as the lead backfield dog. (Daryl Richardson had four touches, compared to 21 for Stacy.) If Bradford is gone and Clemens is under center, it's hard to say exactly what the effect will be. Does the running game finally take off because it will be central to the team's offense, or does it get stifled because defenses don't respect Clemens? Either way, in the current RB landscape, Stacy will usually be a week-to-week flex, but maybe not next week in an awful matchup against the Seattle Seahawks.

• The return of Rob Gronkowski went fairly well for fantasy owners and less well for the New England Patriots. Gronk was relatively quiet in the first half (though he was tackled on the New York Jets 1) as the Pats limited his snaps. But as the game wore on and Tom Brady struggled to hit his outside weapons, Gronk was out there more and more and wound up with eight grabs for 114 yards. It could have been better, as Brady slightly overthrew him on a seam route that Gronk was able to touch with one hand but couldn't quite bring in for a long, potentially game-winning TD. It wasn't enough for the Pats in a sloppy overtime effort, but for Gronk owners, it's sweet, sweet music.

• You know what's not sweet music? Stevan Ridley not touching the ball for the game's first 22 minutes. The box score doesn't look alarming, as Ridley out-touched Brandon Bolden 13-9, with LeGarrette Blount mercifully uninvolved. But the Patriots came out no-huddle and high-octane, trying to stir the echoes of last season, and Ridley doesn't play in that kind of high-speed attack. Bolden is the guy. So yes, Ridley did wind up with a 17-yard TD scamper to soothe his owners, but Bolden is the guy who scored the 1-yard bunny. This particular drama is far from over.

• Calvin Johnson, Dez Bryant and A.J. Green showed why they were my top three wide receivers way back in February. Megatron returned from decoy-hood to put up a monster effort in a loss, and it could have been even better. He basically had a 3-yard TD in the first quarter, as he tapped the ball up in the air to himself but dropped it. But that was just a prelude to 155 yards and two scores, the second of which was a stupid throw by Matthew Stafford, a jump ball from 50 yards away into four Cincinnati Bengals defenders, and ho-hum, Megatron went up and got it. Bryant didn't find the end zone Sunday, but he saw 16 targets, caught eight of them, racked up 110 yards and drew an end-zone interference call. He was unstoppable. And Green matched Megatron's 155 yards, 82 of which came on a TD when the Detroit Lions figured, nah, why bother covering No. 18? Noice.
• Speaking of the Dallas Cowboys against the Philadelphia Eagles, of course a game with an over/under of 54.5 (the weekend's second-highest) was scoreless until there were three minutes left in the second quarter, was 3-0 at halftime and ended 17-3. It goes to show you: Predicting how individual games are going to go is a losing battle. Anyway, Nick Foles was the chief culprit in this one. I mentioned on last week's Fantasy Underground podcast that I was unimpressed with his first-half play in Week 6 against the Buccaneers; I believe my exact words were that he was "channeling Donovan McNabb" with all his throws that hit receivers' feet. That continued in spades Sunday. It was bad. Foles left the game in the third quarter with concussion symptoms, but he had already played himself completely out of the Eagles' long-term plans. Michael Vick can't come back fast enough.

• Colin Kaepernick actually ran the pistol! I saw it with my own eyes! Predictably, one of the first times Kap ran it, he sprinted for a 20-yard TD. In a blowout win over the Tennessee Titans, Kaepernick had to throw only 21 times, which is becoming a troublesome pattern. But 68 yards rushing is excellent. All is not forgiven: I'm still concerned this could be a game-plan-specific result, but Kap will be back to must-start territory next week in a presumed laugher against the Jacksonville Jaguars.


• Despite my best efforts, Harry Douglas came into the weekend owned in only 37 percent of ESPN.com leagues. Perhaps his performance in the first half against the Bucs on Sunday will finally change that. As the boys ate orange slices in the locker room, Douglas was sitting on six catches for 140 yards and a long TD. Considering Douglas and Tony Gonzalez were Matt Ryan's only viable targets, this was pretty unforgivable on Tampa Bay's part. It took Douglas away in the second half, and Roddy White may return in Week 8 versus the Arizona Cardinals. I'm not suddenly buying Douglas as the new Julio Jones, but he'll stick around as a flex. As I've been saying for two weeks, he should be owned in all leagues.

• Jermichael Finley took a big hit from Tashaun Gipson, one I didn't believe deserved the penalty it drew; Finley caught the ball and took a few steps as a runner then got clocked but not helmet-to-helmet, as Gipson's shoulder hit Finley's head. Finley was a ball carrier and thus not defenseless. Either way, Finley needed to be carted off, and his teammates said he was having problems moving his extremities. I did think I saw him giving a thumbs-up on his way out of the stadium, and I hope that's not just wishful thinking. As for Week 8 against the Bears, while James Jones could return from his knee injury, Jarrett Boykin will be a factor. On Sunday, he had eight grabs for 103 yards and a garbage-time TD. He's an add in all leagues, though his startability is related to the futures of Jones and Finley.

• Reggie Wayne suffered a right knee injury Sunday night, on a play where if Andrew Luck had made a more accurate pass or Wayne hadn't twisted awkwardly, No. 87 probably would have scored a long fourth-quarter TD. It was encouraging to see Wayne walk off the field under his own power while putting weight on the knee, but we've since learned it's a torn ACL, ending his season. This development means T.Y. Hilton will become an every-down player and a focal point. The Colts are off in Week 8.

• I locked Jordan Reed in as a must-add in deeper leagues last week, and he may have graduated to 10-teamers with a big performance versus the Bears. Reed was all over the place in a shootout, with nine grabs -- many of the athletic variety -- for 134 yards and a red zone score (from Chicago's 3). Fred Davis was a healthy scratch for this game, which tells you how far out of favor he's fallen. Reed probably had his best game of 2013, he has great talent, and presumably the Skins' eyes are now open. He'll be inside my top-15 TEs once again for next week's tilt against the Denver Broncos.

• The Jets shook things up in their backfield, promoting the more talented Chris Ivory to the starting lineup and leaving the more pedestrian Bilal Powell on the sideline. The result? Ivory had a whopping 35 touches for 102 total yards, while Powell had three touches for six yards. Don't drop Powell just yet, but realize this was always the plan when the Jets traded a fourth-rounder to the New Orleans Saints for Ivory. He won't hold up to that kind of workload, but he's now the guy to consider starting.


• The Miami Dolphins came out of their bye with the belief that Daniel Thomas is a better player than Lamar Miller, which is curious. But there you have it: Thomas played way more snaps than Miller did and out-touched the faster man 13-10. Thomas was the one who played when the Fins needed a pass-blocker, and he also got the red zone snaps. Miller really busted only one play during his limited action, while Thomas busted zero. At the moment, I guess this has to be a situation to avoid.

• Ryan Mathews had his second straight 100-yard game, except this time he even scored a short TD. Of course, he also lost a short TD to Danny Woodhead earlier in the game. The San Diego Chargers are off next Sunday, so we can all forget this headache for the moment. Coming back in Week 9, they'll face the Redskins, and it's possible both Mathews and Woodhead will be flex-worthy in that one.

• Why shouldn't we overreact to a good week or two from young wideouts in less-than-ideal situations? Exhibit A: Keenan Allen. He was close to a bigger day, as he saw two targets from the Jaguars 1 and drew a penalty on both of them. But in the end, he got you three catches for 67 yards while missing time with what appeared to be some kind of leg injury. Exhibit B: Justin Blackmon. He drew tons of defensive attention from the Chargers and had six catches for 58 yards. He lost 13 targets to Cecil Shorts and eight to Mike Brown, who caught five for 120 yards. This isn't to say Allen and Blackmon aren't rosterable and often startable, because they are. But as I wrote in last week's Hard Count, this is the problem with young wideouts. They haven't dealt with all the things defenses can throw at them, and they can disappear. Continue to love them, just don't get carried away.

 

[HacheMan]

Four Downs: Top stars hit by injury

Eric Karabell

Injuries played a larger role than normal in defining the Sunday of Week 7, as several teams lost their starting quarterback (Sam Bradford, Jay Cutler), tight end (Jermichael Finley) and key defensive players (Brian Cushing, Leon Hall), but the fantasy football world is likely more concerned with a pair of top-5 draft day running backs leaving prematurely in the Houston Texans' Arian Foster and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Doug Martin.
Foster, the No. 2 choice in ESPN live drafts, suffered a hamstring injury early in the 17-16 loss to the unbeaten Kansas City Chiefs and did not return. Foster had been playing well this season, averaging more than 162 total yards over the past three games -- albeit sans his trademark touchdowns -- but Sunday he made it through only four carries and 11 yards before leaving with one fantasy point. He was started in 99.8 percent of ESPN standard leagues. Backup Ben Tate, still available in 22 percent of leagues, picked up 17 touches and totaled 55 yards -- not exactly stellar -- but he also left the game for a few plays with sore ribs. Who else is left? Well, let’s not panic here. The Texans get Week 8 off and Foster and Tate could be fine after that, but it’s not a bad idea to spend a speculative deep-league pickup on intriguing rookie Cierre Wood, who was inactive Sunday, just in case.
Martin suffered a left shoulder injury after totaling 54 yards in a loss to the Atlanta Falcons, and some of his owners might not have noticed, since he delivered another frustrating, single-digit fantasy performance, his third consecutive. Martin, considered by some worthy of the No. 2 pick, entered Week 7 with fewer fantasy points than 17 other running backs, including Bilal Powell and Danny Woodhead. The Buccaneers play Thursday night against the Carolina Panthers, and Martin, getting plenty of rushing attempts but not many receptions -- he’s averaging fewer than two catches per game after catching 49 passes as a rookie -- seems a long shot to play. The Buccaneers turned to the seldom-used Mike James next, and he provided four fantasy points. Depending on the severity of Martin’s injury, James would appear to be a deep-league pickup but not one to use against the Panthers.
As for the other aforementioned fallen, Bradford and Cutler began the week tied for sixth among all quarterbacks in standard fantasy scoring, and while neither was overly popular this week -- Cutler was started in 31 percent of leagues, Bradford 15 percent -- there should be little interest in their backups. Josh McCown replaced Cutler and fared fairly well, throwing for 204 yards and a touchdown. Perhaps more importantly, he kept Brandon Marshall relevant. Kellen Clemens is the Rams backup but threw only four passes. Even with 12 teams on bye in Weeks 8 and 9, fantasy owners can do better than looking at McCown and Clemens should they be thrust into starting action. For those in IDP formats, Texans linebacker Cushing (owned in 66 percent of IDP leagues), is likely done for the season with a broken leg, and his loss deflates an already underachieving defense, which is among the most owned (85 percent) but shouldn’t be.


Second down: The uncomfortable sight of carts transporting the fallen off the gridiron overshadowed the successful return of New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, perhaps the player most associated with injury this season. Gronkowski saw a career-best 17 targets -- no other tight end entering the Sunday night tilt saw double digits in targets -- and caught eight of them for 114 yards while also making his mark as a blocker, helping clear Brandon Bolden for a first-quarter touchdown, among other highlights. Of course, Gronkowski's much-heralded return was no surprise to fantasy owners, as he was the seventh-most active at his position, and that figure will rise, even if those owners have Jordan Cameron or Julius Thomas, for example, on the roster. One important point, however: Gronk’s return couldn’t save Tom Brady from yet another disappointing statistical effort, as the future Hall of Famer threw for only 228 yards against the New York Jets, and nary a touchdown. In his past three games, Brady has managed a total of 25 fantasy points, or fewer than Matthew Stafford and Andy Dalton delivered on Sunday alone. Don’t trade for Brady assuming he’s a top-5 guy; he’s not even among the top 15 fantasy passers through seven weeks, and it wasn’t all Gronkowski’s fault.
Third down: Let’s focus on some good news, shall we? Two running backs in the exciting, defense-less Washington Redskins' 45-41 win over the Chicago Bears scored three touchdowns apiece. One was Matt Forte, owned in 100 percent of leagues and now boasting a seven-game streak in double digits in fantasy scoring, though this was the first time he toppled 20 fantasy points (he scored 28). Forte began the week sixth among running backs in scoring -- a clear top-10 option -- and one to trade for, even if Cutler misses time. The other running back piling on the touchdowns Sunday was Roy Helu, angering many an Alfred Morris owner. Morris, a top-10 pick in many leagues, did play well, rushing for 95 yards on 19 carries, but he did not reach the end zone. He’s among the top 10 in rushing yards, and he’s scored three touchdowns this season. Helu, however, matched that total Sunday on 11 carries. Is this an annoying time share? It sure looks like it, with Helu earning extra attention in the red zone, in which each of the touchdowns occurred. Then again, don’t discount Morris, either. The Redskins led the NFL in rushing yards last season, and they’re having similar success so far. Morris remains a must-start, with Helu warranting flex consideration. By the way, we knew the Redskins had major issues on defense, but so do the Bears. Aaron Rodgers, Stafford and Joe Flacco will get to exploit that unit starting in Week 9.
Fourth down: While several beloved, big-name wide receivers who should never be benched were among the highest scorers at the position (Calvin Johnson, Vincent Jackson, A.J. Green), there were notable surprises as well. Falcons fill-in Harry Douglas emerged with 149 receiving yards and a touchdown, earning 20 fantasy points, or double what injured Roddy White had achieved through five games. Even if White (ankle) returns next week, Douglas, the most-added wide receiver in ESPN leagues over the past week, remains a viable starting option, though more in the WR3 range than top-20. Also thriving at this position Sunday were the Miami Dolphins' Brandon Gibson and Green Bay Packers' Jarrett Boykin. Gibson scored two touchdowns on his five receptions, his first scores of the season. Before you spend a waiver pick on him, note that he’s safely behind Mike Wallace and Brian Hartline on the depth chart and the quarterback is hardly Drew Brees. Boykin, blessed with Rodgers throwing the football, is the better addition; James Jones (knee) was predictably inactive Sunday and Boykin topped 100 receiving yards and gets to face the weak secondaries of the Minnesota Vikings, Bears and Philadelphia Eagles the next three games. Boykin will be the hot pickup this week, just like Douglas was entering Week 7.

 

[HacheMan]

Free-agent finds for Week 8

By Christopher Harris | ESPN.com

Waiver-wire news changes fast and furious throughout the week, as injuries and depth-chart shenanigans overtake us. Be sure to follow me on Twitter @CHarrisESPN, and I'll keep you updated as news warrants. Let's get to Week 8's best fantasy roster additions:

(Week 8 byes: Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, San Diego Chargers, Tennessee Titans)

Standard ESPN League Finds

Mike James, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (owned in 0.1 percent of ESPN.com leagues): There were conflicting reports Monday about whether Doug Martin's shoulder injury is season-ending, but there doesn't seem to be much question that he will miss Thursday's game against the Carolina Panthers. James, a sixth-round rookie out of the University of Miami, figures to be the starter for as long as Martin is out. He's a big kid at 223 pounds and runs like it. He's powerful in close quarters and invites contact. A slow runner without many moves, James brought pre-draft comparisons to BenJarvus Green-Ellis, except he's probably a better pass-catcher than the Law Firm. Brian Leonard (0.1 percent) and newly acquired Bobby Rainey (0.5 percent) could get looks, but James is the one worth an add in case Martin is done. Thursday, however, doesn't figure to go well. The Panthers are tough.

Jordan Reed, TE, Washington Redskins (4.0 percent): Last week, I wavered over whether to put Reed on the standard list or the deep one and wound up putting him on the deep. I liked what I had seen, but he had only 17 catches in five games, so it was tough to envision him as a threat to the TE top 10. It's not so tough any longer. Sunday's breakout against the Chicago Bears was legit; Reed was all over the field, making athletic catches, running past defenders and driving hard for extra yards. He ended the day with nine catches for 134 yards and a touchdown. That will probably be his best stat line of the season, but with Fred Davis an afterthought and Robert Griffin III looking Reed's way, I do think the TE-needy in all leagues -- like, for instance, those waiting to see if Jimmy Graham will play in Week 8 -- should consider adding Reed.


Jarrett Boykin, WR, Green Bay Packers (1.6 percent): Here's another player who graduates to the big boys' list after just one week on the deep. Boykin produced eight catches for 103 yards and a garbage-time TD in Week 7. Now, he didn't run in Randall Cobb's slot role; that was undrafted rookie Myles White (0.0 percent), who ran 23 routes out of the slot but caught only a single pass for nine yards. Rather, Boykin was on the outside, opposite Jordy Nelson, who saw a ton of Joe Haden. That raises the question whether it will be Boykin or White who stays more involved once James Jones returns from his knee injury. However, that question likely won't be answered in Week 8 against the Minnesota Vikings, because Jones doesn't seem likely to play. As such, Boykin could be flex-worthy Sunday.

Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Indianapolis Colts (3.8 percent): Reggie Wayne's season-ending ACL tear sends the Colts into their bye looking for solutions. Now, T.Y. Hilton figures to play just about every snap alongside DHB in two-receiver sets. But Hilton is already owned in all ESPN leagues, so if you're looking for a speculative add, you'll have to settle for Heyward-Bey. He did score on a pretty catch-and-run against the Denver Broncos on Sunday night and there's no doubting his speed, but his hands are legendarily inconsistent. LaVon Brazill (0.1 percent), who's back from suspension, will fill Hilton's old third-WR role and could be worth adding in deeper leagues.

Andre Brown, RB, New York Giants (18.1 percent): If you watched the Giants on Monday night, you know the solution to their backfield woes is not currently playing games for them. David Wilson's neck injury will keep him out for an extended period, Brandon Jacobs has a hamstring injury and isn't very good anyway, and Peyton Hillis and Michael Cox took turns being mediocre against the Vikings. That's why you should be adding Brown. He's eligible to play in Week 10, and an immodest workload awaits him. Put him on your bench for a couple of weeks then reap the rewards.

Carolina Panthers defense (41.1 percent): Let's make it a third week in a row for the Panthers as my No. 1 streaming D of the week. They haven't disappointed in either of the past two, scoring 12 standard-league fantasy points against the Vikings two weeks ago and 17 Sunday against the St. Louis Rams. This week, they get the Bucs on short rest, with no Martin. If this unit isn't available in your league, you might consider the New Orleans Saints (20.9 percent), returning home from a bye after a bitter loss to the New England Patriots and facing a Buffalo Bills offense that over the past five weeks has tacked nearly 2.5 extra fantasy points onto opposing fantasy defenses.


Other solid waiver adds, about whom I've written in previous weeks: Zac Stacy, RB, Rams (10.2 percent); Joseph Randle, RB, Cowboys (50.8 percent); Roy Helu, RB, Redskins (37.5 percent); Andre Ellington, RB, Cardinals (18.3 percent); Pierre Thomas, RB, Saints (30.5 percent); Percy Harvin, WR, Seahawks (22.8 percent); Harry Douglas, WR, Falcons (37.7 percent); Terrance Williams, WR, Cowboys (50.1 percent); Keenan Allen, WR, Chargers (35.8 percent); Kendall Wright, WR, Titans (35.4 percent); Heath Miller, TE, Steelers (21.7 percent); Coby Fleener, TE, Colts (31.0 percent); Garrett Graham, TE, Texans (30.0 percent).

Deeper League Finds

Jake Locker, QB, Tennessee Titans (2.4 percent): Locker returned from his hip injury to face the San Francisco 49ers and didn't look particularly great. Before the game was 24-0 in favor of the Niners, Locker was 11-of-16 for 104 yards and an interception. Most of his 326 yards came in extended garbage time, and 66 came on a little dump-off to Chris Johnson. That said, Locker has scored 27, 18 and 21 fantasy points in his past three starts, and more importantly, coming out of his team's Week 8 bye he'll face the Rams and the Jacksonville Jaguars in back-to-back weeks, with a matchup against the Oakland Raiders in Week 12 to boot.

Andrew Quarless, TE, Packers (0.3 percent): Jermichael Finley's bruised spinal cord will cost him multiple games, leaving a vacancy in the Pack's starting lineup. Quarless had a 21-catch season in his rookie year of 2010 but has seven catches in the three seasons since. More of a blocker than a "move" tight end, it's not a fait accompli that Quarless will benefit most from Finley's absence. Brandon Bostick (0.1 percent) is a former basketball player with Finley's kind of crazy athleticism in a 6-foot-3, 260-pound frame. Neither of these tight ends is a must-add at the moment except in the deepest leagues, but each is worth monitoring given the situation.

Brandon Gibson, WR, Miami Dolphins (1.1 percent): I hope by now you understand Gibson's deal. He is reliable but gives you nothing after the catch. At a physical 205 pounds, he's kind of a nontraditional slot player, but that's where the Fins mostly use him and he vultured two red zone scores in Week 7. More valuable in a deep PPR league than anywhere else, Gibson does have 29 grabs on the season, compared to 31 for Brian Hartline and 27 for Mike Wallace.

Peyton Hillis and Michael Cox, RB, Giants (1.9 and 0.7 percent, respectively): As mentioned above, if I'm adding anyone from this backfield, it's Brown, who should return to action after New York's Week 9 bye. Monday night, we saw Hillis and Cox split the job in the absence of Jacobs, and while Hillis did convert a short score, neither man particularly impressed. Add the fact that Jacobs may be in the mix as soon as Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles, provided his injured hamstring heals, and you have a situation for the desperate only.


Lance Dunbar, RB, Dallas Cowboys (1.5 percent): The Cowboys reportedly hope to get Dunbar back to practice this week, which could complicate things in their backfield. As of this writing, it appeared DeMarco Murray was due to miss another game against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, and while Joseph Randle was adequate in a starting role in Week 7, he didn't blow anybody away. Phillip Tanner (0.2 percent) stole a 1-yard TD, and Randle was absolutely adequate otherwise, but no more. Dunbar is the best player of this backup trio, and if he's active for Week 8, I think he'll cut severely into the others' workloads. Overall, it's probably a situation to avoid, but Dunbar has talent.

Benjamin Watson, TE, Saints (0.3 percent): I mentioned lingering questions over Graham's injured foot, and if Graham can't go in Week 8, Watson will inherit his starting job. Watson's days as a dynamic downfield runner are about a decade in the rearview mirror, but he's still a big guy who can catch and rumble.

Riley Cooper, WR, Eagles (2.3 percent): Racking up stats in fluky situations in two straight games, Cooper continues to display a lack of separation skills, and I've seen enough of his rock-like hands in the past to know the drops are coming. There are too many speculative wide receivers out there for me to get excited about chasing Cooper's Week 6 and 7 results.

Michael Crabtree, WR, 49ers, and Nate Burleson, WR, Lions (3.5 and 2.3 percent, respectively): Crabtree is already eligible to return, but his surgically repaired Achilles will require at least another month of recovery time before he's ready to play. Burleson will probably miss another game because of the broken arm he suffered in a car crash. Crabtree is the difference-maker here, and in November, you're going to see lots of folks suggesting you add him. And Burleson still hasn't really been replaced in the Lions' offense. The point is: If you're in a deeper league, beat the rush on these guys.

Other solid waiver adds for deep-leaguers, about whom I've written in previous weeks: Terrelle Pryor, QB, Raiders (27.6 percent); Thad Lewis, QB, Bills (0.6 percent); Brandon Jacobs, RB, Giants (34.4 percent); Jonathan Stewart, RB, Panthers (2.2 percent); Khiry Robinson, RB, Saints (0.7 percent); Chris Ogbonnaya, RB, Browns (2.8 percent); Brandon Bolden, RB, Patriots (2.9 percent); Kendall Hunter, RB, 49ers (5.7 percent); Kris Durham, WR, Lions (0.6 percent); Jeremy Kerley, WR, Jets (3.0 percent); Donnie Avery, WR, Chiefs (7.8 percent); Robert Woods, WR, Bills (8.2 percent); Brandon LaFell, WR, Panthers (5.1 percent); Austin Collie, WR, Patriots (1.6 percent); Charles Clay, TE, Dolphins (43.6 percent); Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Lions (31.6 percent); Jeff Cumberland, TE, Jets (4.1 percent).

 

[HacheMan]

Fantasy injury report: Doug Martin

Stephania Bell

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin left Sunday’s game in the third quarter with a shoulder injury, and early reports sounded encouraging. It was Martin who indicated X-rays on his left shoulder were fine, and that his shoulder was not separated.

But X-rays only tell the bony part of the story. Later media reports indicated Martin suffered a torn labrum, damage to the fibrocartilaginous ring that adds depth and stability to an otherwise shallow and inherently unstable shoulder joint. Depending on the location and extent of the damage to the labrum, the injury can range from something an athlete can play through with intermittent discomfort to something that requires surgery and cuts a season short.

Labral tears are most often associated with throwing athletes, as the repetitive motion of bringing the arm overhead wears down the tissue with time. Acute labral tears like the one Martin apparently suffered are more often the result of episodes where the shoulder is jammed during a hard fall or when contact forces the shoulder to either sublux (slip quickly out of place but pop back in) or completely dislocate, resulting in damage to the surrounding tissue.

Ultimately, the degree of damage and loss of function will determine whether the player can continue to play. At this point, it sounds as if that has not been determined. Presuming Martin undergoes a trial of conservative rehab to see how his shoulder progresses

 

[HacheMan]

Consistency Ratings: Week 7

By Tristan H. Cockcroft | ESPN.com

Lost in the frenzy that is Peyton Manning's record-pace performance -- and, despite failing to exceed 25 fantasy points in back-to-back games, he remains on pace for 441 to easily shatter Aaron Rodgers' quarterback standard -- and all the hoopla this past week concerning his return to Indianapolis, is the fact that his running back is the real fantasy story.

That's right, Knowshon Moreno deserves more attention than he has received, having scored the fifth-most standard fantasy points by any running back to date (105), the sixth-most points per game (14.6), and been the eighth-most consistent player at his position (71.4 percent Consistency Rating). Every metric hails him a top-10 option among running backs going forward, and if you're not willing to accept him as a member of that group, you're severely underrating him.

But such a tack is understandable, if you consider Manning's history.

Change has been the story of Manning's backfields over the years, and since his move to the Denver Broncos last season, he has seen two different running backs make double-digit starts in a mere 23 games (Moreno has 13 starts to ex-Bronco Willis McGahee's 10), another be selected in the second round of the 2013 NFL draft (Montee Ball) and a fourth make a dark-horse push for the starting job this past preseason (Ronnie Hillman).

[h=4]CONSISTENCY RATINGS BENCHMARKS[/h]Using 2013 statistics and fantasy points determined by ESPN's standard scoring, the charts contained in this column rate players based upon how consistently reliable they are. To familiarize you with some of the terminology:
Start: The number of times the player's point total in a given week was worthy of having had him active in an ESPN standard league.
Stud: The number of times the player's point total ranked among the top at his position.
Stiff: The number of times the player's point total ranked among the worst at his position, making almost any waiver-wire option a smarter choice.
These are the benchmarks for what constitutes a "Start," "Stud" or "Stiff" performance, numbers identifying the player's rank at his position:

	<CENTER>Start</CENTER>	<CENTER>Stud</CENTER>	<CENTER>Stiff</CENTER>
QB	Top 10	Top 2	21st+
RB	Top 25	Top 5	51st+
WR	Top 25	Top 5	51st+
TE	Top 10	Top 2	21st+
K	Top 10	Top 2	21st+
D/ST	Top 10	Top 2	21st+

<THEAD>
</THEAD><TBODY>
</TBODY>

Sat: The number of times the player missed a game. Players are not charged "Stiff" points for sitting out, but it hurts their overall Consistency Rating.
%: The player's overall Consistency Rating, calculated as number of "Start" performances divided by scheduled team games.



In fact, in Manning's past nine healthy seasons (2004-10 with the Indianapolis Colts, 2012-13 with the Broncos), eight different players have started at running back for his team: Joseph Addai 49, Edgerrin James 31, Dominic Rhodes 21, Moreno 13, McGahee 10, Donald Brown 9, Mike Hart 1 and Kenton Keith 1.

Plucking a running back behind Manning might have been a challenging task on a weekly or seasonal basis in the past, but in-season Manning's contributions to the offense have actually made the lucky individual among the most consistently reliable players in football. Consider that in Manning's 135 games played since the beginning of 2004, these are his running backs' -- the running back deemed the week's "starter" -- consistency numbers:

Standard scoring: 71.1 percent Consistency Rating (96 Start, 31 Stud, 6 Stiff)
PPR scoring: 71.1 percent Consistency Rating (96 Start, 32 Stud, 10 Stiff)

In six of those eight completed seasons, in fact, the starting running back behind Manning was "Start"-worthy at least 10 times in the given year. In one of the two seasons in which that wasn't true, 2006, Rhodes started all 16 games at the position, but was outperformed by rookie backup Addai (9 Starts, 2 Stud, 56.3 percent Consistency Rating). It seems that whoever is starting is a surefire weekly fantasy play, and Moreno has an excellent chance to not only start all 16 games behind Manning, but also to be the clearest go-to fantasy option since James' 242-point 2004 campaign.

Ball's drafting owners might wonder why it is that Moreno has exploded onto the scene while the rookie has not; it's Moreno's value as a blocker and picking up the blitz that assures him a hefty weekly snap count. Sure enough, he has played the 10th-most snaps of any running back (290, or 41.4 per game).

Those who follow my colleague Eric Karabell's weekly rest-of-year rankings

know that Moreno cracked his top 10 following Week 6. I wholeheartedly agree; those seeking to "sell high" on Moreno might be sorely disappointed to sell him as anything less.

[h=3]Consistency Ratings chart[/h]
Players are initially ranked in order of their Consistency Rating, calculated as the percentage of the player's scheduled games -- not games played, scheduled games -- in which his fantasy point total registered a "Start" score. All categories are sortable, both ascending and descending; just click on the headers to sort.

Players must have at least a 25.0 percent Consistency Rating in either standard scoring or PPR leagues for inclusion in the chart. All defense/special teams are included, regardless of whether they met those minimums.

These statistics are for 2013 only. Statistics for games since 2010 can be found here.

<STYLE type=text/css>.mod-inline td img {margin: 0px;}</STYLE>

Player	<CENTER>Team</CENTER>	<CENTER>%</CENTER>	<CENTER>Pos</CENTER>	<CENTER>G</CENTER>	<CENTER>Start</CENTER>	<CENTER>Stud</CENTER>	<CENTER>Stiff</CENTER>	<CENTER>Sat</CENTER>	<CENTER>PPR%</CENTER>
Jamaal Charles	KC	100.0%	RB	7	7	4	0	0	100.0%
Matt Forte	Chi	100.0%	RB	7	7	3	0	0	100.0%
LeSean McCoy	Phi	100.0%	RB	7	7	3	0	0	85.7%
Peyton Manning	Den	85.7%	QB	7	6	3	0	0	85.7%
Wes Welker	Den	85.7%	WR	7	6	0	0	0	85.7%
Julius Thomas	Den	85.7%	TE	7	6	2	1	0	85.7%
Jordan Cameron	Cle	85.7%	TE	7	6	1	1	0	85.7%
Fred Jackson	Buf	85.7%	RB	7	6	1	0	0	85.7%
Frank Gore	SF	85.7%	RB	7	6	1	0	0	71.4%
Julio Jones	Atl	83.3%	WR	5	5	1	0	1	83.3%
Drew Brees	NO	83.3%	QB	6	5	2	0	0	83.3%
Jordy Nelson	GB	83.3%	WR	6	5	0	0	0	83.3%
Alfred Morris	Wsh	83.3%	RB	6	5	0	0	0	83.3%
Adrian Peterson	Min	83.3%	RB	6	5	2	0	0	66.7%
Arian Foster	Hou	71.4%	RB	7	5	1	0	0	71.4%
DeMarco Murray	Dal	71.4%	RB	6	5	1	0	1	71.4%
Chiefs D/ST	KC	71.4%	D/ST	7	5	2	0	0	71.4%
Matthew Stafford	Det	71.4%	QB	7	5	1	0	0	71.4%
Marshawn Lynch	Sea	71.4%	RB	7	5	2	0	0	71.4%
Knowshon Moreno	Den	71.4%	RB	7	5	3	0	0	71.4%
Seahawks D/ST	Sea	71.4%	D/ST	7	5	1	0	0	71.4%
49ers D/ST	SF	71.4%	D/ST	7	5	1	2	0	71.4%
Brandon Marshall	Chi	71.4%	WR	7	5	1	0	0	57.1%
Dez Bryant	Dal	71.4%	WR	7	5	3	2	0	57.1%
Chris Johnson	Ten	71.4%	RB	7	5	0	0	0	42.9%
Doug Martin	TB	66.7%	RB	6	4	0	0	0	66.7%
Jimmy Graham	NO	66.7%	TE	6	4	3	1	0	66.7%
Garrett Hartley	NO	66.7%	K	6	4	0	0	0	66.7%
Darren McFadden	Oak	66.7%	RB	5	4	0	0	1	66.7%
Aaron Rodgers	GB	66.7%	QB	6	4	1	1	0	66.7%
Matt Ryan	Atl	66.7%	QB	6	4	0	0	0	66.7%
Eddie Lacy	GB	66.7%	RB	5	4	0	1	1	66.7%
Panthers D/ST	Car	66.7%	D/ST	6	4	2	1	0	66.7%
DeAngelo Williams	Car	66.7%	RB	6	4	0	0	0	50.0%
Denarius Moore	Oak	66.7%	WR	6	4	0	1	0	50.0%
Charles Clay	Mia	66.7%	RB	6	4	0	0	0	50.0%
Jermichael Finley	GB	66.7%	TE	6	4	1	2	0	50.0%
Reggie Bush	Det	57.1%	RB	6	4	2	0	1	71.4%
Philip Rivers	SD	57.1%	QB	7	4	0	1	0	57.1%
DeSean Jackson	Phi	57.1%	WR	7	4	2	2	0	57.1%
Matt Prater	Den	57.1%	K	7	4	1	1	0	57.1%
Stephen Gostkowski	NE	57.1%	K	7	4	2	1	0	57.1%
Antonio Gates	SD	57.1%	TE	7	4	0	2	0	57.1%
Andre Johnson	Hou	57.1%	WR	7	4	0	2	0	57.1%
Russell Wilson	Sea	57.1%	QB	7	4	0	2	0	57.1%
Andrew Luck	Ind	57.1%	QB	7	4	1	1	0	57.1%
Demaryius Thomas	Den	57.1%	WR	7	4	2	0	0	57.1%
A.J. Green	Cin	57.1%	WR	7	4	2	1	0	57.1%
Calvin Johnson	Det	57.1%	WR	6	4	2	2	1	57.1%
Dan Carpenter	Buf	57.1%	K	7	4	0	1	0	57.1%
Justin Tucker	Bal	57.1%	K	7	4	1	2	0	57.1%
Robbie Gould	Chi	57.1%	K	7	4	0	1	0	57.1%
Cowboys D/ST	Dal	57.1%	D/ST	7	4	1	2	0	57.1%
Vernon Davis	SF	57.1%	TE	6	4	1	1	1	42.9%
Martellus Bennett	Chi	57.1%	TE	7	4	1	1	0	42.9%
Ryan Mathews	SD	57.1%	RB	7	4	1	1	0	42.9%
Rueben Randle	NYG	57.1%	WR	7	4	1	3	0	28.6%
Jacquizz Rodgers	Atl	50.0%	RB	6	3	2	1	0	66.7%
Antonio Brown	Pit	50.0%	WR	6	3	1	0	0	50.0%
Mason Crosby	GB	50.0%	K	6	3	2	2	0	50.0%
Randall Cobb	GB	50.0%	WR	5	3	0	0	1	50.0%
Jason Snelling	Atl	50.0%	RB	6	3	1	1	0	50.0%
Vincent Jackson	TB	50.0%	WR	6	3	2	2	0	50.0%
Shaun Suisham	Pit	50.0%	K	6	3	2	2	0	50.0%
Steve Smith	Car	50.0%	WR	6	3	0	1	0	50.0%
James Jones	GB	50.0%	WR	5	3	0	2	1	33.3%
Mike Wallace	Mia	50.0%	WR	6	3	0	3	0	33.3%
Danny Woodhead	SD	42.9%	RB	7	3	1	1	0	85.7%
Giovani Bernard	Cin	42.9%	RB	7	3	1	0	0	71.4%
Torrey Smith	Bal	42.9%	WR	7	3	1	1	0	57.1%
Bilal Powell	NYJ	42.9%	RB	7	3	0	1	0	57.1%
Reggie Wayne	Ind	42.9%	WR	7	3	0	1	0	57.1%
Eric Decker	Den	42.9%	WR	7	3	2	1	0	57.1%
Cecil Shorts	Jac	42.9%	WR	7	3	0	2	0	57.1%
Tony Romo	Dal	42.9%	QB	7	3	1	1	0	42.9%
Sam Bradford	StL	42.9%	QB	7	3	0	1	0	42.9%
Jay Cutler	Chi	42.9%	QB	7	3	0	2	0	42.9%
Victor Cruz	NYG	42.9%	WR	7	3	2	1	0	42.9%
Matt Schaub	Hou	42.9%	QB	6	3	0	3	1	42.9%
Larry Fitzgerald	Ari	42.9%	WR	7	3	1	2	0	42.9%
Browns D/ST	Cle	42.9%	D/ST	7	3	0	2	0	42.9%
Colts D/ST	Ind	42.9%	D/ST	7	3	1	2	0	42.9%
Josh Gordon	Cle	42.9%	WR	5	3	1	1	2	42.9%
Dan Bailey	Dal	42.9%	K	7	3	1	3	0	42.9%
Kenbrell Thompkins	NE	42.9%	WR	7	3	0	4	0	42.9%
David Akers	Det	42.9%	K	7	3	1	3	0	42.9%
Jason Witten	Dal	42.9%	TE	7	3	1	3	0	42.9%
Bengals D/ST	Cin	42.9%	D/ST	7	3	0	2	0	42.9%
Andre Ellington	Ari	42.9%	RB	7	3	0	1	0	42.9%
Trent Richardson	Ind	42.9%	RB	7	3	0	0	0	42.9%
Maurice Jones-Drew	Jac	42.9%	RB	7	3	0	0	0	42.9%
Lions D/ST	Det	42.9%	D/ST	7	3	0	2	0	42.9%
Titans D/ST	Ten	42.9%	D/ST	7	3	1	1	0	42.9%
Nick Novak	SD	42.9%	K	7	3	2	4	0	42.9%
Bears D/ST	Chi	42.9%	D/ST	7	3	0	3	0	42.9%
Geno Smith	NYJ	42.9%	QB	7	3	0	4	0	42.9%
Jake Locker	Ten	42.9%	QB	5	3	0	1	2	42.9%
Alshon Jeffery	Chi	42.9%	WR	7	3	2	3	0	42.9%
Steven Hauschka	Sea	42.9%	K	7	3	0	0	0	42.9%
Nick Folk	NYJ	42.9%	K	7	3	0	2	0	42.9%
Eddie Royal	SD	42.9%	WR	7	3	1	3	0	42.9%
Bills D/ST	Buf	42.9%	D/ST	7	3	1	2	0	42.9%
Coby Fleener	Ind	42.9%	TE	7	3	0	4	0	42.9%
Adam Vinatieri	Ind	42.9%	K	7	3	2	1	0	42.9%
BenJarvus Green-Ellis	Cin	42.9%	RB	7	3	0	1	0	28.6%
Rashard Mendenhall	Ari	42.9%	RB	7	3	0	1	0	28.6%
Terrance Williams	Dal	42.9%	WR	7	3	1	3	0	28.6%
Marvin Jones	Cin	42.9%	WR	7	3	0	4	0	28.6%
Marlon Brown	Bal	42.9%	WR	6	3	0	2	1	14.3%
Zac Stacy	StL	42.9%	RB	5	3	0	2	2	14.3%
Pierre Garcon	Wsh	33.3%	WR	6	2	1	0	0	50.0%
Darren Sproles	NO	33.3%	RB	6	2	1	0	0	50.0%
Roy Helu	Wsh	33.3%	RB	6	2	1	2	0	50.0%
Cam Newton	Car	33.3%	QB	6	2	2	2	0	33.3%
Tony Gonzalez	Atl	33.3%	TE	6	2	1	2	0	33.3%
Caleb Sturgis	Mia	33.3%	K	6	2	1	2	0	33.3%
Blair Walsh	Min	33.3%	K	6	2	0	2	0	33.3%
Brian Hartline	Mia	33.3%	WR	6	2	0	1	0	33.3%
Matt Bryant	Atl	33.3%	K	6	2	0	1	0	33.3%
Buccaneers D/ST	TB	33.3%	D/ST	6	2	0	2	0	33.3%
Brandon LaFell	Car	33.3%	WR	6	2	0	3	0	33.3%
Ted Ginn	Car	33.3%	WR	6	2	0	3	0	33.3%
Jerome Simpson	Min	33.3%	WR	6	2	0	4	0	33.3%
Greg Olsen	Car	33.3%	TE	6	2	0	1	0	33.3%
Lamar Miller	Mia	33.3%	RB	6	2	0	2	0	33.3%
Dolphins D/ST	Mia	33.3%	D/ST	6	2	0	2	0	33.3%
Kyle Rudolph	Min	33.3%	TE	6	2	0	4	0	33.3%
Packers D/ST	GB	33.3%	D/ST	6	2	1	2	0	33.3%
Saints D/ST	NO	33.3%	D/ST	6	2	0	1	0	33.3%
Raiders D/ST	Oak	33.3%	D/ST	6	2	0	1	0	33.3%
Marques Colston	NO	33.3%	WR	6	2	0	2	0	33.3%
Sebastian Janikowski	Oak	33.3%	K	6	2	0	4	0	33.3%
Robert Griffin III	Wsh	33.3%	QB	6	2	0	1	0	33.3%
Graham Gano	Car	33.3%	K	6	2	1	2	0	33.3%
Mike Tolbert	Car	33.3%	RB	6	2	0	1	0	33.3%
Vikings D/ST	Min	33.3%	D/ST	6	2	1	2	0	33.3%
Le'Veon Bell	Pit	33.3%	RB	3	2	0	0	3	33.3%
Daniel Thomas	Mia	33.3%	RB	6	2	0	2	0	16.7%
Mike Williams	TB	33.3%	WR	5	2	0	2	1	0.0%
Levine Toilolo	Atl	33.3%	TE	6	2	0	4	0	0.0%
Joique Bell	Det	28.6%	RB	7	2	2	0	0	42.9%
Julian Edelman	NE	28.6%	WR	7	2	0	3	0	42.9%
Ray Rice	Bal	28.6%	RB	6	2	1	2	1	42.9%
Brandon Bolden	NE	28.6%	RB	5	2	0	2	2	42.9%
Michael Vick	Phi	28.6%	QB	5	2	1	0	2	28.6%
Alex Smith	KC	28.6%	QB	7	2	0	2	0	28.6%
Alex Henery	Phi	28.6%	K	7	2	1	2	0	28.6%
Ryan Succop	KC	28.6%	K	7	2	0	4	0	28.6%
Anquan Boldin	SF	28.6%	WR	7	2	1	3	0	28.6%
Cardinals D/ST	Ari	28.6%	D/ST	7	2	1	2	0	28.6%
Nate Washington	Ten	28.6%	WR	7	2	1	3	0	28.6%
T.Y. Hilton	Ind	28.6%	WR	7	2	1	3	0	28.6%
Ravens D/ST	Bal	28.6%	D/ST	7	2	1	1	0	28.6%
Austin Pettis	StL	28.6%	WR	7	2	0	3	0	28.6%
Greg Zuerlein	StL	28.6%	K	7	2	1	2	0	28.6%
Hakeem Nicks	NYG	28.6%	WR	7	2	0	3	0	28.6%
Patriots D/ST	NE	28.6%	D/ST	7	2	0	1	0	28.6%
C.J. Spiller	Buf	28.6%	RB	7	2	0	1	0	28.6%
Phil Dawson	SF	28.6%	K	7	2	0	3	0	28.6%
Justin Blackmon	Jac	28.6%	WR	3	2	1	0	4	28.6%
Steve Johnson	Buf	28.6%	WR	6	2	0	2	1	28.6%
Broncos D/ST	Den	28.6%	D/ST	7	2	0	2	0	28.6%
Scott Chandler	Buf	28.6%	TE	7	2	0	5	0	28.6%
Dwayne Bowe	KC	28.6%	WR	7	2	0	3	0	28.6%
Golden Tate	Sea	28.6%	WR	7	2	0	3	0	28.6%
Chris Ogbonnaya	Cle	28.6%	RB	7	2	0	2	0	28.6%
Ahmad Bradshaw	Ind	28.6%	RB	3	2	1	0	4	28.6%
Bernard Pierce	Bal	28.6%	RB	7	2	0	1	0	28.6%
Ben Tate	Hou	28.6%	RB	7	2	0	1	0	28.6%
Keenan Allen	SD	28.6%	WR	6	2	0	2	1	28.6%
Rams D/ST	StL	28.6%	D/ST	7	2	1	4	0	28.6%
Dallas Clark	Bal	28.6%	TE	7	2	0	3	0	28.6%
Andy Dalton	Cin	28.6%	QB	7	2	1	3	0	28.6%
Colin Kaepernick	SF	28.6%	QB	7	2	1	2	0	28.6%
Jay Feely	Ari	28.6%	K	7	2	1	2	0	28.6%
Mike Nugent	Cin	28.6%	K	7	2	0	2	0	28.6%
Stevan Ridley	NE	28.6%	RB	6	2	1	0	1	28.6%
Kendall Wright	Ten	28.6%	WR	7	2	0	1	0	28.6%
DeAndre Hopkins	Hou	28.6%	WR	7	2	0	3	0	28.6%
Riley Cooper	Phi	28.6%	WR	7	2	1	4	0	28.6%
Jets D/ST	NYJ	28.6%	D/ST	7	2	0	1	0	28.6%
Sidney Rice	Sea	28.6%	WR	7	2	1	5	0	28.6%
Jeremy Kerley	NYJ	28.6%	WR	6	2	0	3	1	28.6%
Josh Brown	NYG	28.6%	K	7	2	0	4	0	28.6%
Zach Miller	Sea	28.6%	TE	5	2	0	2	2	28.6%
Chargers D/ST	SD	28.6%	D/ST	7	2	0	3	0	28.6%
Joseph Fauria	Det	28.6%	TE	7	2	1	4	0	14.3%
Donnie Avery	KC	28.6%	WR	7	2	0	4	0	14.3%
Garrett Graham	Hou	28.6%	TE	7	2	0	4	0	14.3%
Jeff Cumberland	NYJ	28.6%	TE	7	2	0	3	0	14.3%
Brent Celek	Phi	28.6%	TE	7	2	0	4	0	14.3%
Lance Kendricks	StL	28.6%	TE	7	2	0	4	0	14.3%
Kris Durham	Det	28.6%	WR	7	2	0	4	0	14.3%
Da'Rel Scott	NYG	28.6%	RB	5	2	0	2	2	14.3%
Joseph Randle	Dal	28.6%	RB	4	2	0	2	3	14.3%
Pierre Thomas	NO	16.7%	RB	6	1	1	0	0	50.0%
Heath Miller	Pit	16.7%	TE	4	1	0	1	2	33.3%
Jordan Reed	Wsh	16.7%	TE	5	1	1	1	1	33.3%
Redskins D/ST	Wsh	16.7%	D/ST	6	1	1	1	0	16.7%
Steelers D/ST	Pit	16.7%	D/ST	6	1	0	3	0	16.7%
Falcons D/ST	Atl	16.7%	D/ST	6	1	0	3	0	16.7%
Owen Daniels	Hou	14.3%	TE	5	1	0	1	2	28.6%
Jared Cook	StL	14.3%	TE	7	1	1	4	0	28.6%
Kellen Winslow	NYJ	14.3%	TE	5	1	0	2	2	28.6%
Brandon Myers	NYG	14.3%	TE	7	1	0	5	0	28.6%
Daryl Richardson	StL	14.3%	RB	7	1	0	4	0	28.6%
Donald Brown	Ind	14.3%	RB	7	1	0	2	0	28.6%
Delanie Walker	Ten	14.3%	TE	7	1	0	2	0	28.6%
Texans D/ST	Hou	14.3%	D/ST	7	1	0	2	0	14.3%
Eagles D/ST	Phi	14.3%	D/ST	7	1	0	3	0	14.3%
Giants D/ST	NYG	14.3%	D/ST	7	1	0	5	0	14.3%
Jaguars D/ST	Jac	0.0%	D/ST	7	0	0	5	0	0.0%

<THEAD>
</THEAD><TBODY>
</TBODY>