Projo Fantasy Sports Blog

By Michael Salfino

The byes start this week, and owners of Larry Johnson, Lee Evans and a host of others feel like their fantasy season is already bye-bye. Should you hang in there? Sell your dregs for pennies on the dollar? Throw some chum into the free-agent waters in hopes of landing a trophy?

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Brian Leonard, RB, Rams: He's the tailback now with Steven Jackson out. The Rams are likely to be a passing team. Marc Bulger (ribs) is being held together with duct tape and probably needs a week or two to heal if his revamped line can possibly keep him clean. (Bulger says his ribs are fine.) You have to move aggressively on all free-agent running backs with a pulse and hope for the best. When it doesn't work out, as happened last week with DeShawn Wynn, shrug it off because the cost was very low.

Bernard Berrian, WR, Bears: He's on pace for 85 catches for 1,170 yards. That's with Rex Grossman, who was emotionally shot. Now, Brian Griese, who is at least a professional, comes in. Griese will feed Berrian the ball more consistently because he'll keep more drives alive than did Grossman. The touchdowns are coming. Act fast, because the Lions secondary (this week's opponent) has been a frightfully easy mark.

LaMont Jordan, RB, Raiders: We liked him in the preseason. But I'd be a seller now if I drafted him as my No. 3 RB. The Raiders still stink. There's a revolving door at QB and eventually JaMarcus Russell is going to step through it and it will get ugly. And there's some chance that highly touted Michael Bush (PUP, leg) is healthy enough by November to be activated and work his way into a RB rotation. Plus, Jordan's back acted up last week and that sidelined him for multiple games in 2006.

Brett Favre, QB, Packers: I feel like I owe him an apology. But the only thing I'm certain I've gotten wrong about him is the degree to which he'll be passing. While the Packers defense is good, this is likely an Eagles situation where there's no back to carry the load no matter what the score. So Favre is going to get lots of attempts. I still think the past two years (47 interceptions, 38 TDs, 6.3 yards per attempt) are a better indicator of Favre's current ability than the last two weeks (1 pick, 6 TDs, 7.9 YPA). The trip this week into Minnesota will be more telling.

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Reggie Brown, WR, Eagles: I said he was too expensive in the preseason, preferring the cheaper Kevin Curtis, who, of course, exploded last week like a Fantasy H-Bomb. But Brown owners are too down right now. He'll have his good days. Brian Westbrook can't stay healthy, so you're going to get 60 percent passing plays at least from McNabb. With that kind of ratio and no one threatening his starting job, a 70-1,100-7 TD season for Brown remains likely.

Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Cardinals: I downgraded him once for the conservative Cardinals playcalling (still a 59/41 run/pass split in the first quarter of games), as well as for not being on the field near the goal line (Anquan Boldin has been the lone receiver there). But his talent is undeniable and the move to Kurt Warner for at least the no-huddle stuff is going to help him. Let's face it: Matt Leinart looks lost in the new system. He's cheap right now. So I'd be trying to buy for, say, Kevin Curtis or some other flavor of the week. (I do like Curtis for five or six more TDs, making him a very solid WR3 in most leagues.)

Plaxico Burress, WR, Giants: His sprained ankle has lingered for eight weeks and he flew to North Carolina to get a second opinion. Don't panic. But he's not practicing and was held without a catch last week until the second half. If not for that, he'd get a second upgrade in this young season to the status of Top 5 fantasy receiver. But keep him in the top 10 for now, as there seems a reasonable chance that he could be slowed all year and/or lose a game around the bye in order to get past the pain. Of course, there's also a some chance that a doctor will find something that will cause him to miss multiple weeks.

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Cadillac Williams, RB, Bucs: Earnest Graham ran roughshod over the Rams in the fourth quarter last week (75 yards, two TDs). Jon Gruden announced that Graham will continue to get carries even when Williams' ribs are fully healed. He seems like a more ideal goal-line back at 5-9, 220; so Williams' fantasy value takes a hit even if that's the limit of Graham's involvement. Williams also fumbled last week, further annoying Gruden.

Adrian Peterson, RB, Vikings: I feel like I'm downgrading Clark Kent here. But it has to be done when the head coach says, "Chester (Taylor) is the starter." The Vikes say they'll resume their committee plan as soon as Taylor's injured hip permits, likely this week. The starter doesn't necessarily play more or even an equal amount. But we have to assume for now that Taylor will cut heavily into Peterson's snaps. And there's not a lot of scoring to go around in Minnesota.

Brandon Jacobs, RB, Giants: I'd look for someone who still buys Jacobs as a feature back when he returns. Derrick Ward has done a fair Tiki Barber impersonation for the Giants, both as a runner and receiver. Reuben Droughns proved a capable goal-line guy versus Washington. There's less and less for Jacobs to do when he eventually gets over his sprained knee (out again this week).

Vince Young, QB, Titans: He's not even looking to run. Running is fun, Vince! There's so much noise now about how great a real player Young is that it's masking the hit his fantasy value has taken. Young will never throw enough to make up for those lost rushing plays and, especially, rushing TDs. Offensive coordinator Norm Chow continues to stick Young behind center when the numbers all around for Tennessee remain much better when he's in the gun.

Laurence Maroney, RB, Patriots: I figured Tom Brady would go all Peyton Manning with those shiny new receivers. But I incorrectly assumed that Maroney would be like Joseph Addai and get enough crumbs near the goal-line to be a top fantasy threat. Instead, he's on the field for less than 50 percent of snaps (even in the early going) and has lost goal-line carries to Sammy Morris, of all people. So, instead of being a featured player in New England's blockbuster offense, he's relegated to a supporting role with no breakthrough in sight. And there's no incentive for the Patriots to change a thing.

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