Projo Fantasy Sports Blog

By David Ferris

You saw what Adrian Peterson did when finally given the rock Sunday, and ditto for Maurice Jones-Drew. Other No. 2 backs who deserve to be similarly liberated, even if the results might not be quite as explosive: Marion Barber (does everything better than Julius Jones, including block); DeAngelo Williams (far more explosive than DeShaun Foster); Adrian Peterson, Chicago style (call him Deep Dish – and please, call Cedric Benson a cab).

It's all well and good that Washington took Clinton Portis off the injury report this week, but he certainly didn't run like someone who's healed. Tread very carefully here, and if you can still get most of the sticker price, do some selling. This isn't to suggest that Ladell Betts can fix this ground game – he's been running in quicksand all year

Playing the matchups is always the way to go with your fantasy defense, and no team hands out the goodies more than Detroit, with its leaky protection scheme. Tampa Bay gets fat this next week, with Denver waiting for Week 9 and Arizona in Week 10. Check your waiver wire, and remember to not invest anything substantial in this position when you draft next summer.

Scouting Notebook favorite Derek Anderson had another big game Sunday, a mark-your-territory effort if there ever was one (had he flopped against Miami, it may have encouraged the Browns to start the clock on Brady Quinn). Instead the Browns head into their bye at 3-3 and the status quo lives. The Browns put out the most entertaining (and fantasy-friendly) three hours in the league right now; no one can stop them, they can't stop anyone. Go where the numbers are.

Ever notice what Tom Brady does after a touchdown pass? Usually nothing – no pointing to the sky, no Snoopy dance, no silly posturing. Perhaps this is a subtle key to his success – when you play a position that requires calmness and constant focus, no need getting too excited about anything.

I can't see how Eric Mangini can continue postpone the inevitable. Kellen Clemens won't save this season, but he'll give the Jets a significant head start on 2008. Jerricho Cotchery, a good player to begin with, stands to gain the most from a switch to Clemens

Quick Hits: Devin Hester isn't real, kids. A video-game company made him up . . . Brian Griese may not be a savior, but he's produced in two straight weeks, and he faces Detroit's Cover-0 next week . . . Winning team, good defense, drive-and-staff offense; that's the formula Matt Stover has been cashing in on for years . . . When I watch Matt Jones, the words "sunk cost" jump out at me – scaling higher than Jones does on one of those ill-conceived fade passes around the goal line . . . Rust or no rust, Vinny Testaverde showed he's still better than David Carr (I suppose that's always going to be true). And with that, Steve Smith lives . . . Not that Randy Moss owners have any reason to be unhappy, but keep in mind he had two touchdowns overturned Sunday in addition to the one that stood up. It was a day of hat tricks around the league, and he was very close to adding his name to the list. Brady has to be pinching himself – Reche Caldwell was his featured receiver last year, for crying out loud . . . The Chiefs allowed some garbage stuff to the Bengals late, but don't be fooled – this is an underrated defense, and at the end of the day, an underrated team. Perhaps the Chiefs can make a run at a winning record again . . . Jeff Garcia still scrambles a bit to make a play, but don't look for rushing yards from him at this point in his career. He's got just 30 of them through six games . . . Cleo Lemon certainly is a work in progress at this stage of his career, but I saw resourcefulness and moxie at Cleveland. Miami should give Lemon some time to establish himself before looking at John Beck in December . . . The Jaguars front seven was gouged in Week 1, but it's been exacting revenge ever since. Find an excuse to not use your runners against this nasty group . . . Imagine how good Jason Campbell would be if his wide receivers could catch. That group handed away a game Washington had no rights losing . . . At the end of the day, Chad Johnson is the mouthiest No. 2 wideout in the league. Still a talent, but T.J. Houshmandzadeh is the soul of that passing game.

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