Projo Fantasy Sports Blog

By David Ferris

If you read every single news item from the NFL this month, you'd never have time to eat, sleep, and shower. Here's a condensed version for you, all the news fantasy owners need to know four weeks into August (and with three preseason game in the books).

Damon Huard is a journeyman and an ordinary quarterback, but his appointment to the starting spot in Kansas City is good news for all the skill players on this offense, especially Larry Johnson. Second-year QB Brodie Croyle simply isn't ready to play at this level yet, something the KC coaches were wise to accept.

To anyone who overreacted to Vince Young's meltdown in New England, you can come in off the ledge now. Young threw for two scores and ran for a third in one half of play at Buffalo, and more importantly, he completed 13-of-19 throws. He'll have his share of messy passing games as the year goes along, but the production from his legs can't be ignored. As for the receivers in this team's offense, note that Young seems to look for his old college buddy, TE Bo Scaife, more than anyone else.

Travis Henry has no job-security concerns in Denver, but Cecil Sapp's solid performance against Cleveland (11 carries, 54 yards) might have him pushing Mike Bell for the backup position.

The Lions aren't worried about Jon Kitna's back spasms, but the situation in the backfield is enough to cue up "Panic in Detroit." Kevin Jones (foot) won't be ready for the start of the season, and Tatum Bell left Saturday's game in the first half with a shin injury (believed to be minor). T.J. Duckett and Brian Calhoun shouldn't be regular backs for a good offense, but by default Mike Martz might have to incorporate these guys into his game plan.

Top-shelf QBs Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Drew Brees all looked letter-perfect in Week 3 and probably don't need another snap this summer. Tony Dungy was so content with what the passing game did in the first half against Detroit, he decided to pull Manning a quarter ahead of schedule (the original plan had Manning going three quarters).

You may not know much about WR Jacoby Jones yet, but you will soon enough. He played his college ball at Lane, a tiny school in Tennessee, but attracted enough attention for Houston to take him in the third round of April's draft. This month he's been doing all he can to blow his cover, running two punts back for touchdowns and scoring a third time on a reception. Jones will be the team's No. 2 or No. 3 wideout right out of the box, and he could make a Devin Hester-like impact on returns. Most of your opponents won't know who he is, so wait until the last two rounds to make a selection.

PK Neil Rackers went far too early in drafts last summer, as everyone overpaid for his 2005 stats. An ordinary season followed, and now Rackers comes at a reasonably cost again, so perhaps it's time to jump back on board. He's yet to miss a kick in the preseason, including a couple of bombs (50, 59 yards), and don't forget the kicker-friendly dome he's playing in half of the time. You should never be the first owner in your league to take a kicker, of course, but you can still be patient at this position and have a good shot to land Rackers.

RB Michael Turner has a high-ankle sprain and might not be ready to play until October. This might keep LaDainian Tomlinson on the field a little longer than usual even in blowout games, and it also means Darren Sproles could be incorporated more into the offense.

Anyone who tries to pigeonhole Bernard Berrian as merely a deep threat doesn't know what they're talking about. Berrian's more technically sound on intermediate and shorter routes than he's given credit for, and he's got a strong rapport built up with QB Rex Grossman (they've hooked up on a pair of scores this month). Berrian is capable of producing like a Top 15-20 receiver, without the sticker price to match.

While your opponents are overzealously reaching for Eagles WR Reggie Brown in the first third of the draft, why not wait and go for the value with WR Kevin Curtis? The savvy free-agent pickup has quickly grasped Andy Reid's offense, and Curtis probably has 40 percent chance to be this team's most productive receiver.

Don't be surprised if the Cowboys kick Martin Gramatica to the curb; he missed an extra point in the last preseason game, and also came down with a strained hamstring. Rookie Nick Folk stands to take the job if Gramatica can't, and the Dallas offense is capable of supporting a Top 10 fantasy kicker.

Someone has to catch the ball when Minnesota throws it this year, and it looks like WR Bobby Wade is going to be the first option. Wade had five catches for 85 yards against Seattle, and he also threw a touchdown on a gadget play (it makes no sense for teams to use these trick plays in the preseason, of course, but that's beside the point). Wade is completely off the radar in most leagues, and makes a nice late-round selection.

Laurence Maroney looked solid enough in his debut Friday at Carolina (15 carries, 58 yards), but note that Sammy Morris took some of the short-yardage work away.

Daunte Culpepper, believe it or not, has actually looked solid in Oakland's preseason games, and it looks all but definite he'll begin the year as the team's starter. Some stability at the position has a trickle-down effect on the rest of the skill players here, so give a mild nudge forward to LaMont Jordan, Ronald Curry (who scored last week) and Jerry Porter.

While he got plenty of help from the leaky San Diego secondary, Matt Leinart looked very sharp in his extended action Saturday. It remains to be seen what his upside will be in Ken Whisenhunt's offense, but I can't imagine Leinart having a bad year. And don't overlook No. 3 WR Bryant Johnson, who's turned into one of the better deep threats in the league.

WR Santonio Holmes looks ready for a major step forward in his second season, not that his rookie year was a washout by any means (49 catches, 824 yards). He's made at least one big play in every preseason game this summer.

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