Week 8 Blog – Around the League (Updated: 10/29)
Oct. 29, 2011 – 11:00 AM
In a somewhat surprising move, the Cowboys waived Tashard Choice. More surprising than waiving him was the fact that they couldn’t trade him before the trade deadline. It could be that DeMarco Murray, who exploded in week seven, wasn’t really trusted until last week. It could also be that Choice just doesn’t command any trade value, but I find that at least a bit difficult to believe given the state of some of the running games around the league currently. He’ll certainly land somewhere soon, Miami is a good bet as it stands and why is it that the first coach that comes to mind is Shanahan? We’ll see. Upgrade Phillip Tanner.
Peyton Hillis appears to be sidelined yet again in week eight but is making the trip, so be sure to check the reports on Sunday AM to ensure that Hardesty is starting. Even if Hillis does play, expect his role to be very limited.
You have to sit Andre Johnson this week, almost regardless of whether or not he’s active on Sunday. 70-75% isn’t good enough for Johnson to be in the lineup.
Start all of your PIT receivers this week unless you have better plays. With Heinz Ward out, Emmanuel Sanders moves up to WR2 against a very suspect Patriot secondary. Brown moves up to WR3 and should be able to get deep as well. This is a very young and very good Pittsburgh receiving group.
Which rookie receiver is #3 overall in receiving yards after week seven? Did you guess Doug Baldwin? Neither did I.
Thinking a bit about the plight of Chad OchoCinco-Johnson, how do you think he has to be feeling right now? After all the antics, distractions and hoopla, Jackson finds his way to New England and is almost never heard from on a weekly basis. And immediately following his departure, Cincinnati brings in a rookie receiver AND quarterback and find themselves at 4-2 in the tough AFC North division. I suppose that could even apply a bit to Carson Palmer, who has to have thought at least once that A.J. Green would be nice to be throwing to on Sundays.
In Arizona, Robert Housler will be getting more time at tight end. Speaking of the Cardinals, you’re likely sitting everyone not named Larry Fitzgerald this week. Truth be told, I’d like to be sitting Fitz this week as well, but remember our mantra here at DLF.
Brandon Jacobs is expected back in the lineup this week so you can downgrade Bradshaw just a bit … but he’s starting on your roster regardless.
Marshawn Lynch is starting this week unless something seizes up in the pregame warm-up. Against Cincinnati this week, he doesn’t make a great play but could get a short yardage touchdown.
With Mark Ingram sidelines for New Orleans, Pierre Thomas should get a heavier workload and Chris Ivory will pick up short yardage duty for the first time in 2011. Thomas has a chance to put up good numbers this week.
With every passing hour, no pun intended, Matthew Stafford gets more likely to start. He all but assured to be the starter on Sunday so you can drop Shaun Hill.
Might slip in one more update tonight!
Oct. 28, 2011 – 8:00 AM
Not sure what I was thinking last night when I posted that Best looked to be starting this week, that couldn’t be further from the truth. All expectations are that Best will be sitting through next week’s bye. There simply isn’t a good enough reason to rush him back when he could take the next two weeks to further clear.
Beanie Wells is a game time decision but all indications are that he will NOT be starting this week. Up against a tough Baltimore defense, it’s a good pass to take. Instead, the Cards will turn to a combination of Alphonso Smith and LaRod Stephens-Howling to carry the load. Neither should find much room but Stephens-Howling could have value as a RB3 in PPR leagues.
In Indianapolis, Addai is likely out again as the Colts rushed him back far too quickly from a hamstring injury. Delone Carter should pick up the bulk of the carries but I still feel he’s too one dimensional to have much value. I still prefer a healthy Donald Brown over Carter. But if pressed to start one of them, you’re better off starting Carter and hoping for a goal line dive.
Oct. 27, 2011
It’s week 8 already. How time flies!
Since writing my last piece about Chris Johnson, I find myself continually drawn back to it. In fact, I’ve found myself again watching past games trying to find something I’ve missed, some sort of single key that will open the door to past production. Perhaps it’s only week eight vs. the Colts that is needed. Coach Munchak is said to be giving Johnson 20+ carries this week in attempt to better gauge the run-game. We’ll see.
In my weekly waiver wire research, I stumbled across an interesting little nugget. Did you know that it’s highly likely that the season ending injury to Rashad Jennings wasn’t a torn ligament? In fact, no report at all has been given describing the injury that landed him on the IR. On Oct. 12, Jennings tweeted that he would be cleared to resume football activities in the next week. Very curious! Obvioulsy Jack Del Rio had a reason for ending Jennings’ season when he did, but the good news is that it obviously wasn’t a torn ligament. My guess is a high grade MCL sprain that could have sidelined him up to 8-10 weeks.  Make a quick check of your free agent pool to see if Jennings has been dropped.
Fred Davis has obviously become the tight end of choice in Washington. Sounds like Chris Cooley won’t be back in 2012. Shanahan is saying all the right things, but that’s easy to do when Cooley is on the I.R.
In Seattle, Marshawn Lynch is likely to be back in the lineup after aggravating a nagging back injury. He’s up against a noteworthy Bengal defense and likely won’t find a lot of success. In non-PPR leagues, he’s worth a shot as he’s the only option in the short yardage game or at the goal line. He is playing at home and has two touchdowns in his last two played games.
Stanford’s Andrew Luck continues to display NFL skills and is already the number one pick in the 2012 draft. Miami or Indi? For the record, early word out of Indianapolis is that the Colts wouldn’t use the first pick on Luck. Early word out of Miami is that they certainly would. Looking into my crystal ball, Luck is headed to Miami as long as his father finds that an acceptable location.
As I mentioned two weeks ago, I am not surprised to see the Lions skidding a bit. And sure enough, Stafford is hobbled yet again. For the record, it appears as if Stafford is a “go” this weekend for the game vs. Denver but owners shouldn’t be too surprised if/when Stafford suffers a multiple week injury. Jahvid Best looks to be starting as well and I fear for his safety.
In Denver, Tim Tebow turned a great five minutes of football, winning in Tebow-like fashion. I just don’t see him evolving into a great NFL quarterback, but the kid has a knack for winning and isn’t afraid of the pressure.
Terrell Owens has the talent to still be playing football, but where is head? That question alone will keep him off of an NFL roster until we get closer to the playoffs. Which receiver is on a roster first in 2011, Moss or T.O.?
How bad were the Ravens on Monday night. Flacco looked like a deer in the headlights and for the first time, I question whether or not he has the mental fortitude to lead a team like the Ravens. You have to believe that the defensive leadership on the team are beginning to question whether or not they can win with Flacco at the helm. I do. At least the Cardinals come calling in week eight, which should allow Flacco to bounce-back.
In Houston, I think Coach Kubiak is capable. But the fact that he spent so much time with Mike Shanahan has always knocked him down a few levels in my book. True to that statement is the game that is being played with the media once again about an injury, this time with Andre Johnson. To hear Kubiak speak, there is little doubt that A.J. will be on the field on Sunday. Speak to A.J. however, and you’d think he just came off the surgeon’s table and was weeks away. Someone missed an injury update meeting. I’ll side with player in this case and guess that they won’t risk playing Johnson.
Speaking of Shanahan, the mystery will be answered on Sunday as to who has the upper hand for the starting running back duties now that Tim Hightower is out for the remainder of the season. Look for Torain to command the bulk of the work. The Shanahans are just easy not to like.
Fred Jackson just keeps getting it done. I think Spiller could be a good gunner on special teams after he’s done playing receiver. To his credit he did pull down five receptions for 39 yards against the G-men. Quick! Sell High!
That Houston offensive line just has the ability to open monster holes. I don’t care who’s back there at running back, they’re going to score well. Foster looks strong and he’s got uncanny vision and change-of-direction skills for a back of his size.
This week’s most spirited and emotionally charged game will be between the Dallas Cowboys and the visiting Eagles. The Iggles remain in last place in the division but no team is running away with it. A win here by Vick and company and things get very interesting. A win here by Vick and company also should begin the chant for backup quarterback Stephen McGee. I think Romo is on a tighter leash than is believed. And what about DeMarco Murray this past week? Amazing. I don’t like his chances to repeat such a performance any time soon and I also happen to believe he’s a great sell high candidate, but how can you? He’ll give it a go again vs. the Eagles but I don’t think he’ll top the 100 yard mark.
Need a dark-horse player for this weekend. I like the match-up that Jerome Simpson has vs. the Seahawks. All attention will remain on rookie phenom A.J. Green and Simpson has more skill than given credit for. Simpson has yet to find the end zone in 2011, but I believe this is the game in which he does.
I read that Seahawk quarterback Tarvaris Jackson was limited today. Hasn’t that pretty much defined his career to date?
More soon ….
You can find Jeff on Twitter at @dlf_jeff
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