8:38 PM Mon, Sep 01, 2008 | Permalink
Mike McDermott  Email
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By Michael Salfino
We'll focus like a laser beam on game action next week when the scores count. But this final preseason week, we paid scant attention to the games - meaningless even by preseason standards - and chose instead to zero in on the news that is breaking too fast and furious for most to follow. Here's a summary and the context you need to be up-to-date.
LenDale White was one of the few starters who played. He's had his best summer as a Titan; but rookie Chris Johnson is going to get 10 to 15 touches per game and Vince Young ran with abandon in the final tune-up, totaling 57 yards on three scrambles. White's not really a playmaker, but an old-school plodder. The jet-propelled Johnson offers upside as a fourth back in point-per-catch leagues.
Forget about DeShaun Jackson's decent summer. He's a rookie whose size likely limits him to slot duty. Hank Baskett is the starter in Kevin Curtis' absence, and Curtis is recovering very quickly and might be back by Week 3. Curtis is the best value here, in the latter part of the middle rounds of your fantasy drafts.
The smart guys are all investing in Texans WR Kevin Walter, who continues to get too little respect form the broader market. The Texans have two decent QBs and no running game. Andre Johnson (groin) cuts both ways: if he's healthy, Walter operates under the defensive radar; and, if he's hurt, it's target city. Take him as your fourth, knowing he'll play like a WR3.
Kurt Warner showed again that he favors Anquan Boldin in the passing game. Remember, Larry Fitzgerald's big second half came when Boldin was hobbled by a bad hip. What I noticed again last week is that Warner looks off Boldin at the snap of most pass plays and then fires it to him quickly by design. That doesn't leave Warner time to look back to Fitzgerald if Boldin is covered. And it's why Warner is turnover prone - he's sensing the coverage before he throws, not seeing it first. Who does he think he is, Peter Parker?
Rudi Johnson getting cut by the Bengals opens up the door for Chris Perry. But Kenny Watson is the better runner. Perry is still using his status as a former first-round pick as currency, even though he's spent basically his entire, multi-year career sidelined with an assortment of injuries.
Count on a RB committee in Houston, where Steve Slaton, who is a darling right now, is too small (195 pounds) to hold up as feature back. I'd place the smaller bet instead on Chris Taylor, realizing the ultimate starter there might not yet even be in camp. Don't waste your time with Ahman Green, who's ready for the glue factory.
Move Brandon Marshall up your lists and Jay Cutler, too, as Marshall's suspension was trimmed all the way down to one game (from three). Mike Shanahan doesn't think he has a feature back with rookie Ryan Torain (elbow) out at least another month. So more passing may be in order.
Initial reports that Fred Taylor was arrested proved false. He was merely ticketed and thus does not face even the threat of suspension. So Maurice Jones-Drew owners will still have reason to pout unless Father Time finally catches Taylor and gives him the old horse collar.
The suspension of Vikings LT Bryant McKinnie (personal conduct violation) is terrible news for the team and especially Adrian Peterson. Sacks kill drives and thus limit rushing attempts. The plan at the moment is for seven-year backup Artis Hicks to face Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (Packers), Dwight Freeney (Colts), Julius Peppers (Panthers) and Kyle Vanden Bosch (Titans). Those four have 225 career sacks.
Looking for another Derek Anderson? Keep dreaming, as odds are always decidedly against any first-year QB producing two TDs per game. But the big sleeper among current non-starters is Dan Orlovsky of the Lions. He had a good summer, sees the Browns one freak WR and raises them one (Calvin Johnson and Roy Williams) and plays behind a weak starter (14 picks the last eight games for 35-year-old Jon Kitna).
I still like Cardinals No. 2 back Tim Hightower, but it's tough to earn keep as a goal-line back when the coaches think you can't hold on to the ball. Hightower fumbled in back-to-back preseason games. He loses another one on Sunday and he risks getting buried.
Patriots RB LaMont Jordan (undisclosed) had 50 total yards Thursday and seems likely again to significantly cut into Laurence Maroney's value for as long as his back can hold up.
It's always best to invest minimally in rookie receivers. The cheapest one I like the most is Josh Morgan of the Niners. He's under the radar because he's been out sick and he was drafted low because of off-field issues. But he's a first-round talent in a Mike Martz (Niner) offense. Grab him very late.
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