Darrell Jackson is finally practicing again, but early reports aren't overly positive. From Instant 49ers:

Darrell Jackson figures to be the likely starter at split end. He seems to be holding back a little, perhaps because of the toe injury that plagued him from the end of the season through the offseason. There is some question whether he'll be able to hold up.

Figures? Likely? We love Matt Maiocco 49ers blog, and feel like he's telling us something with his wording. Don't forget that Jackson is playing a new position (split end instead of flanker). Remember, there is a reason Seattle was willing to dump him for a fourth-round draft pick to a division rival.

We're staying far away in fantasy leagues because of Jackson's durability concerns and the fact he's joining an inferior offense. All those drops will be noticed when he's not getting ten targets a game.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 11:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

So it looks like all the Cecil Sapp hype is having an effect on Mike Bell's draft stock.

After narrowly passing him up in my last round of my Mock Draft, I ended up getting him 24 picks later with the 139th pick of the draft. I've been watching Sapp as closely as anyone, but this is still a great value for a young running back like Bell. Denver has needed to use multiple running backs for the last three years and Mike Shanahan loves playing depth chart games.

There is risk, but it's worth it this late. At some point, you have to look beyond this week and see the big picture. Bell is a nice RB4.

Note: I'm taking off for a wedding in Boston shortly. If the "scheduling" posts fuction worked, I'd spread out the next couple entries. But it doesn't.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 11:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (119)

Lions rookie quarterback Drew Stanton is done for the season. He wasn't expected to contribute much as a rookie, but placing him on injured reserve despite a relatively minor injury is a bad sign for his development.

The number three QB in most dynasty leagues this year, it's not a huge surprise that Stanton was slow to pick up the Mike Martz offense. Even veterans are. J.T. O'Sullivan and Dan Orlovsky should now both have roster spots, and Jon Kitna has more job security than ever. Hopefully Martz is still around to mentor Stanton once he's ready to play.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 10:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

I’m writing up a two-part column projecting the amount of carries for each team around the league. I have the Titans pegged around 385 carries from the running backs, which is a little above average. Jeff Fisher likes to pound the ball, but a below average offense should keep the totals in check.

It’s time to reassign the carries after Chris Henry’s poor camp. He’s looks to be a distant third to two veteran runners, LenDale White and Chris Brown. We had him projected for 110 carries, which made him the 45th ranked running back. I see a lot of owners drafting him as a sleeper in the ninth-round or so. At this point, I think it’s throwing away a pick. This kid is too raw. I’m taking 55 carries from him, and splitting them up between White and Brown. Here’s how I’ll give the carries now.

Continue reading "Projecting Change: Titans RBs (again)" »

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 05:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

New Fantasy Fix is up. Tiffany and I talk the news of the week and look who is rising and falling on draft boards. We start taping two shows per week on Monday, and will have 6 season preview specials rolling out later in August.

While we're promoting, check out Evan Silva's excellent position battles update posted today.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 05:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

We've written in inordinate amount about the Jaguars tight end battle this summer. A winner is emerging, and thankfully it's Marcedes Lewis.

At 270 pounds, Lewis might be too big to be a true seam stretcher in the mold of Antonio Gates. But his improved blocking and solid hands could make him a 45-catch, 550-yard, 5-TD type of fantasy option in the mold of Randy McMichael.

Lewis is yet another reason to wait on tight ends this season. I wouldn't take him as a starter, but he's a high upside TE2 in deep leagues. We'll upgrade him soon. His biggest downside is the competition in Jacksonville: Jermaine Wiggins and George Wrighster.

Wiggins is going to come off the bench. Love this quote from Mike Tice, who has a rare coaching habit of being forthright. He says Wiggins, "Does everything well but nothing great."

That's Wiggins' career epitaph.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 10:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This year's Mike Bell: Not Mike Bell

It's August, do you know who your Denver Bronco backup running back is?

Regular readers of the blog this summer could probably guess.

Cecil Sapp has taken second team snaps since training camp opened and Mike Bell enthusiasts need to take notice. Maybe it's just Shanahan playing with the depth chart (like he did last year with Tatum), but all the uncertainty puts a dent in Bell's status as one of the best backup running backs in fantasy football.

It also makes Sapp one of the most interesting deep sleepers in the NFL. Broncos preseason games will be worth watching again.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 06:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Remember when Priest Holmes signed last week? That was fun.

One week later, though, Priest Holmes still hasn't practiced with his new team. He says he might not for another few weeks. Could the Chiefs really put him on the Week 1 roster without seeing him play in the exhibition season?

I don't feel quite as strongly about this issue as Jason Whitlock, who believes Holmes' neck was never that hurt in the first place. But I have my doubts whether he'll play a snap for Kansas City this year.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 02:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

The best catch of training camp was made by Courtney Roby in Tennessee Tuesday. Or at least the best pictures. Nice job there by George Walker of the Tennessean.

Roby, incidentally, is now running with the first team over Roydell Williams. With Eric Moulds playing well, it will be interesting to see who starts at wideout for the Titans in the preseason.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 02:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

During the course of the preseason, we update our draft guide's bust list when appropriate. Donte' Stallworth is very close to getting added.

Full disclosure: I'm a Patriots fan and I have a soft spot for Stallworth after watching him play for the Saints. After Randy Moss signed, though, I just didn't see Stallworth having the sort of consistency that owners will desire with a WR3 pick (he's currently being taken as the 30th wideout). It's a complex offense, everyone will get their share of big games, everyone will get ignored at times. The reserves (Wes Welker, Reche Caldwell, perhaps Jabar Gaffney) are going to produce more than on most teams.

Continue reading "Potential Bust: Donte' Stallworth" »

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 01:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)