Skinny Posts is my look for the stories beneath the box score while watching preseason game tape

Seahawks vs. Packers

Nate Burleson: He started over D.J. Hackett and broke a terrible Nick Collins tackle for a 55-yard gain. It was surprising to see Marquand Manuel catch Burleson from behind. Not sure what to think about Burleson starting; I will watch to see if Hackett starts this week.

Brandon Jackson: I wanted to watch this game solely because of Jackson (13-54-1). He had a great night, largely because the Green Bay offensive line dominated. If you close your eyes, you can almost see Ahman Green. Jackson did his damage inside the tackles and ran over a few people. No matter when Vernand Morency is healthy, Jackson will play in the red zone. Jackson got the ball twice in a row from the seven, using good vision to score.

His pass blocking was also solid, a problem for him early in camp. One weakness: He was targeted a handful of times, including on an 11-yard screen pass, but dropped two others. All in all, this was among the biggest efforts for any fantasy player this preseason. It should earn him the primary back role.

Continue reading "Skinny Posts: Packers rookies go wild" »

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 02:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Mark Clayton is ranked as our 25th best receiver going into the season. That's higher than his average draft position, and puts him at the top of our list of possible third receiver in fantasy leagues.

Clayton got lucky last season with a few tipped passes, but he's one of the best emerging deep threats in football. He's also the top wideout on his team. So does the news regarding his ankle injury change our draft board?

Continue reading "Mark Clayton Injury Impact" »

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 12:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I posted Matt Pitzer's debut column under the Daily Dose today, so some of the material I was collecting will go here.

First up is Robert Ferguson's signing in Minnesota. Like Keenan McCardell and Eric Moulds' signing elsewhere, Ferguson's addition is an indictment on the younger options in Minnesota. Ferguson, though, is still in his upper twenties and has a bit of upside if healthy. Which he never is.

Continue reading "Rice growing stale" »

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 11:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

LenDale White is one of Rotoworld's favorite value plays this season, but he's missing practices at a bad time. White has been out for more than a week, and Titans RB coach Sherman Smith threw down the gauntlet Monday, challenging White to get back on the field. Missing practices wouldn't be a huge deal for a veteran, but it's a consistent problem for White as a pro.

Continue reading "LenDale better hurry up" »

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 10:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Not a good sign for the Bears when the Chicago Sun-Times' lead football article Wednesday morning is about fifth-graders giving Rex Grossman advice about taking snaps from center.

''It's very easy to take snaps,'' said fifth-grader Jimmy Smolik, 10, a quarterback for the St. Linus Hawks in Oak Lawn. ''Just open your hands and wait for the ball, and then you close your hands.''

Continue reading "Rex's little helpers" »

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 09:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Two quarterback battles we've been tracking all offseason appear to be winding up. This article sure makes it sound like Brodie Croyle is the man in Kansas City, barring a complete collapse this weekend. Which I wouldn't totally discount.

Charlie Frye, meanwhile, is closing in on the Browns job. In yet another odd presser, Romeo Crennel said the quarterback battle was between Frye and, well, a mystery man. While Crennel said Monday that Derek Anderson would play second in the game, it appears that Brady Quinn is going to get his shot. And logically, Quinn is the unnamed quarterback, even if Frye is the heavy favorite.

Continue reading "QB Decisions in Cleveland, Kansas City?" »

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 05:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It’s hard to get excited about Larry Johnson ending his holdout. It’s a front page sports story concerning a top-five fantasy player, but it simply doesn’t have much affect on fantasy football. The only possible surprise in this holdout would have been if Larry Johnson was still unsigned two weeks from now.

Herm Edwards plays to win the game, but Larry Johnson also plays to get paid on the Monday after the game. LJ is a smart guy, one that knows his earning power may never be higher, and he held out to get the best deal possible. Good for him.

Continue reading "Larry Johnson's signing doesn't change risk" »

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 02:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (12)

Monday was not a good morning for Ronnie Brown supporters, owners, and relatives. The Miami Herald said the starting job in Miami was an "unexpectedly open competition" between Ronnie Brown and ... Jesse freaking Chatman. Dolphins coach Cam Cameron cited Brown's relative inexperience in career carries, going back to Auburn.

Cameron wasn't happy that Brown couldn't score in the open field, a legitimate gripe, saying in another Herald article, "The expectation is when you're in the open field, that better be a house call. Everybody wants that.''

Continue reading "The Ronnie Brown dilemma" »

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 09:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (11)

Bill Belichick has successfully trained the media in Boston that injuries are a part of life, and shouldn't be in the headlines.

That's why an All-Pro like Richard Seymour can miss all training camp, and no one says a peep. Even Randy Moss' injury has received relatively little attention considering his fame. So should fantasy leaguers be concerned?

Continue reading "Is Randy Moss a concern?" »

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 06:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

* Deep dynasty league name to watch: rookie TE Brad Celek of the Eagles. Also in that column is a note about Tony Hunt's emergence as Philly's goal-line back, which probably should have made today's Daily Dose.

* There was also a nice position battle breakdown on the Inquirer website.

* LaMont Jordan's patient keeper league owners should reward themselves by reading this roundup of his first preseason game.

Continue reading "Linked: Monday Afternoon" »

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 03:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)