Projo Fantasy Sports Blog

By Michael Salfino

The first half of the third preseason game is the closest thing we'll get to a 2008 dress rehearsal. So let's review what we saw this weekend from the NFL balcony, focusing on players auditioning for more prominent offensive roles.

Peyton Manning's status is a big meatball hanging out there for those drafting this week. The Colts only say that there's a "good chance" Manning (knee) will be ready for the opener, though they are more concerned about "the big picture" (i.e., Manning's long-term health). Since Manning hasn't practiced yet all summer, err on the side of caution and assume he's going to miss two games.

Carson Palmer was literally bloodied and the Bengals offense looked anemic again versus the Saints, not exactly the Steel Curtain. Downgrade all Bengals. Things haven't been right with this offense since early in 2007. Note that RB Chris Perry again looked like a stiff in his bid to seize the RB reigns.

Matt Leinart, three picks, looked like he never took an NFL snap on Saturday night versus the Raiders. This is very troubling when you're in your third season. Significantly upgrade Kurt Warner (21 TDs the last eight games of '07), who the Cardinals announced as the Week 1 starter. Warner at QB means more red-zone trips for the Cardinals. So Tim Hightower is a guy I'd like as my No. 4 back, given he'll get the cheapies. Edgerrin James is ready for the glue factory and Hightower definitely looks like a feature back with the ball in his hands. But consider Warner's fragility and James' proven ability to pick up the blitz; then James keeping his starting job makes some sense.

J.T. O'Sullivan was predictably named the Week 1 starter for the Niners. But we still wouldn't take him as anything more than our third QB. Frank Gore is slightly more attractive now. But Randy Moss remains the better option in the middle of the first round. You need a guaranteed playmaker and championship cog with that premium of a pick.

Kevin Jones (Bears) is a talented guy who looked healthy this weekend and thus is likely to push rookie Matt Forte for carries. The only way to return value in the Bears offense given their uncertainty at QB is to get the vast majority of attempts. Forte thus gets a downgrade to No. 3 fantasy back, Jones becomes a reasonable No. 4.

Patrick Crayton scored again, but be careful here because he's the Cowboys' clear third receiving option (behind Terrell Owens and Jason Witten) in the red zone, where the Cowboys prefer to run with Marion Barber.

Aaron Rodgers bounced back, shining with the Packers' starting unit at Denver. He showed good mobility on a bootleg pass on the first snap and then coolly found Donald Driver out of the shotgun for a red zone TD. The QB sneak for a score could be a harbinger, as the Packers lack a strong goal-line runner.

Ryan Grant (hamstring) didn't suit up again for the Packers and is sliding down draft boards, now going about 14th on average. Owners must be worried he's a half-year wonder like Gary Brown years ago with the then Houston Oilers. The Packers have a very good line and defense, thus providing a nice environment for a back. I can't see taking Larry Johnson ahead of Grant, given the Chiefs offensive struggles and Johnson's questionable health.

Don't draft Denver's Selvin Young thinking he's going to be your starter. This situation is very fluid. Goal-line carries are in question. Andre Hall looked spry on a few runs with the first unit. And the Broncos noted Ryan Torain's first-round ability when they drafted him. Torrain (elbow) should be back by midseason at the latest and remains the keeper-league play.

Detroit rookie Kevin Smith impressed again with a scintillating sideline-to-sideline run -- breaking tackles, cutting against the grain and then outrunning the defense before going airborne to find paydirt. Tatum Bell again did nothing: 4 carries, 9 yards.

Remember, the Panthers clearly don't think DeAngelo Williams can be "the guy," given how they drafted Jonathan Stewart 13th overall. We don't yet know how they feel about Stewart, who showed an extra gear on his long TD run versus the Redskins.

Fred Taylor (Jaguars) just keeps on charging -- breaking tackles and making guys miss in the hole. He's not worth starting, but he prevents Maurice Jones-Drew from getting the week-to-week touches you need from even a No. 2 fantasy RB.

Robert Meachem used his size to grab a badly underthrown Drew Brees bomb. More importantly, that came in the first quarter with the Saints' first unit.

Rashard Mendenhall had a bad first-quarter fumble, meaning it was not especially forced. He did most of his damage against the Vikings backups with the Steelers second unit. But he did continue to show good feet, balance and a running compass stuck on north-south -- the way they've always liked it in Pittsburgh.

 Tags  Aaron Rodgers Andre Hall Carson Palmer Chris Perry DeAngelo Williams Edgerrin James football Frank Gore Fred Taylor J.T. O'Sullivan Jonathan Stewart Kevin Jones Kevin Smith Kurt Warner Larry Johnson Marion Barber Matt Forte Matt Leinart Maurice Jones-Drew Michael Salfino NFL Scouting Notebook Patrick Crayton Randy Moss Rashard Mendenhall Robert Meachem Ryan Grant Ryan Torain Selvin Young Tatum Bell Tim Hightower

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