Crazy day here, but I'll be talking fantasy today on Patriots.com at 4:15 PM if anyone is looking to kill some time. Now you'll hammer me for saying I'm a huge homer.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 03:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)

Looks like Ahman Green isn't going to be receiving those weekly roster bonuses anytime soon. The Texans probably regret giving Green another chance instead of cutting him before the year. Let the Steve Slaton era begin!

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 05:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Maurice Jones-Drew owners can be thankful he only has to play Tennessee one more time. They can't be too thankful that his offensive line is falling apart at the seams.

The interior of the line has been gutted, with two guards likely out for the season, and C Brad Meester out another month. (Update: Both guards are now officially out for the year.) The top backup tackle, Richard Collier, was almost fatally shot and will miss the season. Another backup guard is hurt. The Jaguars are quickly threatening the '07 Rams to be the most banged-up line I've ever seen.

All of this should worry owners of David Garrard and Maurice Jones-Drew. Their offense was built on the big uglies up front. MJD has less margin for error than most fantasy starters. If you are splitting touches, those touches better be effective.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 02:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (11)

Another one bites the dust. Marques Colston was the latest victim of the Week 1 carnage, and fantasy owners will be scrambling to fill his WR1 production. I wouldn't look to fill it with Saints. David Patten is certainly worth owning, but he's the only wideout likely to be remotely consistent. Devery Henderson has failed in his other eight lives. Lance Moore, Robert Meachem, and Devery Henderson will also be competing with the three useful tight ends New Orleans has, not to mention the running backs. The Saints will spread it around.

If there are benefactors to this injury, they are already in people's lineups. Reggie Bush and Jeremy Shockey combined for 15 targets in Week 1, and that number could go up. Pierre Thomas and the Saints running game may also see more attempts, which could hurt Drew Brees slightly.

Sean Payton finds a way to get production in the passing game, so don't expect Brees to fall off a cliff. Just don't expect any of the Saints wideouts to suddenly turn into Colston. There are better pickups elsewhere.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 10:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (27)

Vince Young is hurting in a few ways. And according to the Nashville Tennessean, the Titans may be preparing for life without him. Kerry Collins may keep the Titans job even when Young gets healthy. And that assumes Young even wants to come back, which is in some doubt. While his mother rightly asks for some "space" and "love," the NFL waits for no one.

It's a sad story for a kid who probably rose too far, too fast. He doesn't seem ready for the responsibilities he's been given. Some time away might be good for him. Fantasy leaguers should see how this week shakes out, but Young won't be worth hanging onto if this is indeed Kerry Collins' team. It's also sad that I can call a 25-year-old a 'kid" now.

These late night posts brought to you by my wife's trip to her parents

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 11:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Tiffany and I taped a waiver wired show today, like we will every Tuesday. Bonus points go to Ms. Simons, playing in pain with a broken foot. If only Donte' Stallworth was so tough.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 11:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Remember that waiver list I posted last night? That was made before Eddie Royal dropped that bang thang on DeAngelo Hall. The kid embarrassed the overrated former Falcon.

Now I'm not usually into rookie wideouts. Especially ones who weight 182 pounds. But I'm a sucker for precise routes, and Royal's footwork is intense. Sure, Brandon Marshall wasn't there and Royal is unlikely to top 140 yards again. Who cares? He's clearly the second receiver on a team with a great playcaller and a great quarterback. I'm not ready to call him an every-week WR3, but he should be owned in all leagues for depth. He'd top my receiver list.

***

He comes in second on Chris Wesseling's list. Silva, by the way, is chatting at 3 ET on Season Pass.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 02:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

How I'd rank some of the players available in many leagues. (And it's hard to make a list to cover each league, but we'll try). It's only Week 1. Unless you lost someone or drafted a clear bust, you probably don't even need to make a move. But it never hurts to investigate upgrading your last roster spot if you can. This list is not exhaustive; Chris Wesseling will bring you Waiver Wired tomorrow.

Quarterbacks

1. Matt Cassel
2. J.T. O' Sullivan
3. Trent Edwards
4. Kerry Cocktail Collins
5. Damon Huard

Running Backs

1. Pierre Thomas
2. Sammy Morris
3. Kenny Watson: Shockingly available in 1/3 of leagues.
4. Derrick Ward
5. Chris Taylor

Wide Receivers

1. DeSean Jackson
2. Matt Jones: I'm a sucker. Still only a deep leaguer.
3. Bryant Johnson
4. Courtney Taylor
5. Hank Baskett
6. Logan Payne

Tight Ends

1. Randy McMIchael
2. Dante Rosario: Seriously, he's talented. Not a fluke.
3. Anthony Fasano
4. Bo Scaife

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 09:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (16)

Not just for the Patriots, but for his fantasy owners. I looked at how Brady's injury changed Sunday's game, the season, Brady's career, and the NFL this year in the Daily Dose. In Boston, they asking who matters more: Brady or Belichick?

I'm as loyal a Belichickian as they come, but the results of the poll I linked to surprised. Belichick and the rest of a strong roster can keep the team afloat, sure. But I think even the head coach would agree the team would have a better chance at a title, at least for this season, with the quarterback instead of the one pulling the strings.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 09:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (12)

Fun week. The one in which Season Pass and Draft Guide collide, the last drafts of the year, some new work responsibilties, and wife's graduation from Culinary School to boot. (Congrats!). And now we get to the fun stuff. The final rankings are up, and here are the changes:

RB: Jamal Lewis is down and Jerome Harrison is up. Even if Lewis plays, he's not at 100% in a tough matchup. ... Willis McGahee is down and Ray Rice is up. If McGahee is active, though, I'd avoid using either Raven as a RB2. ... Willie Parker is up, with Rashard Mendenhall down. For now, the rookie doesn't appear to be a huge threat. ... Kevin Smith moved up. For this week anyhow, I had him too low. I don't expect Rudi Johnson to have a huge role.

WRs:Antonio Bryant moved up. You knew that was happening. ... Patrick Crayton moved up a bit. ... DeSean Jackson and Hank Baskett got a boost with Reggie Brown off the list. Jackson is still a rookie, though. And still a poor WR4. ... Javon Walker's poor hammy helps Ronald Curry. ... Matt Jones is back on the board with Jerry Porter out. Jones is worth a look in deep leagues. Deeeep leagues people.

TEs: Ben Watson is off.

Here's the official injury report.

Fantasy Fix Live Sunday at 11AM.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 05:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (11)