Projo Fantasy Sports Blog

By David Ferris

Brian Billick is forgetting one of the cardinal rules with fading veterans – it's better to be a year early than a year late. Steve McNair clearly can't play anymore, but Billick apparently was the last to get that memo. You wonder why the Ravens signed Kyle Boller to a contract extension in the offseason if they're so reluctant to play him. Perhaps a QB change is coming this week, but by now the horse – and the season – is already out of the barn.

The Cardinals haven't always used Larry Fitzgerald in their goal-line package, which is just silly – why take your most talented playmaker off the field in that key area? They didn't make the mistake against the Lions, though, and to the surprise of no one, Fitzgerald scored a couple of touchdowns. When Fitzgerald is healthy and on his game, there is no adequate defense for him. Keep in mind he's still just 24, and start dreaming of the gigantic payoff that may be yet to come.

J.P. Losman's momentum took a hit at Miami – he had plenty of time to make downfield connections, but his throws were inaccurate for most of the day. Things won't get better against New England next week, as Bill Belichick's defense has owned him from the moment he entered the league. And you can be sure the Patriots won't let Lee Evans beat them – he's been a nonfactor in the last three meetings (43 total yards).

After watching Josh McCown stink it up yet again Sunday, there seems to be little reason for the Raiders to keep rookie JaMarcus Russell out the entire season, even with his late signing. Two upcoming games on the road might not make sense for a switch – at Minnesota, at Kansas City – but the home game with Denver on Dec. 2 could be the right time to pass the baton. Of course top-secret head coach Lane Kiffin has the keys on this decision, and he'd rather give out his PIN number than share information with the fantasy football public.

If you needed more proof that Cedric Benson doesn't have it, you got it at Oakland. Benson was handed 29 carries against the league's worst rushing defense and managed just 76 yards, with a long of nine. That's a shameful 2.6 yards a pop.

Quick Hits

Don't look now, but Plaxico Burress has just 81 yards in his last three games. And hey Troy Aikman, it's "Plaxico" and not "Plexico." . . . The Redskins didn't have a single touchdown from a wideout until James Thrash got in against Philadelphia on Sunday. Think about that for a second . . . You can add Joe Gibbs to the list of coaches who don't understand the 2-point conversion. At the pro level, you never go for the deuce until the game situation is clearly defined in the fourth period. The Gibbs reputation has taken quite a hit since he unretired and rejoined the Redskins in 2004 . . . The sooner Travis Henry steps aside and Selvin Young takes over for good, the better off everyone will be. And yes, that includes the Broncos . . . Roy Williams is still capable of dominating when the Lions rediscover their pass-happy playbook. He had two scores at Arizona and lost a third one on a penalty . . . As for Calvin Johnson, the trend is downward. He was targeted just five times at Arizona; perhaps Jon Kitna was hesitant to look his way after Johnson dropped a sure touchdown in the first period . . . Mark Clayton had a 47-yard hookup with Kyle Boller late Sunday, capping his 107-yard afternoon. If Boller gets the call next week against Cleveland, Clayton becomes a solid flex play . . . At this point there's nothing Rudi Johnson can do on a football field that Kenny Watson can't do better . . . If Chris Henry keeps his nose clean for two months, he's got an excellent chance to out-produce Chad Johnson for the remainder of the season . . . I'll admit that I bought into the improvement of the Giants' defense, but Tony Romo ripped up my case with a dominant afternoon. Romo's monster extension was money well-spent by Jerry Jones . . . Marty Booker has entered the witness protection program since Chris Chambers left town. Cut bait . . . Dwayne Bowe's big day was just the latest piece of evidence – there's no reason to fear the Denver secondary. Accept the reality of the season, and let go of the preconceived notions you held in August.

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