After some disjointed thoughts about the Browns earlier today, let's talk about the Broncos.

1. Jay Cutler is the answer to two key questions I think about it a lot. A) What player in the NFL do you most enjoy watching? B) Who would you start a franchise with?

Cutler games are always good times. No one makes tougher throws and he can mix it up with velocity and some low percentage touch passes like he did last night. The Browns secondary is awful, but Denver still had no business winning that game. The Broncos had absolutely no running game and no defense. Brandon Marshall dropped passes and caused an interception because he read coverage wrong. I truly believe they would be the Lions if you replace Cutler with a league average starter. Say Gus Frerotte.

2. Daniel Graham also dropped a potential touchdown, killing a drive. Brings back good memories!

3. Ryan Torain era: fun while it lasted. I started him in two leagues last night and got 12 points. That appears to be all I'm getting the rest of the way. Selvin Young doesn't look close to healthy. Denver will have to go with Peyton Hillis and some players to be named later (Tatum Bell?) at tailback. It's easy to forget they also lost Anthony Alridge earlier this year. Maybe they should trade their defensive coordinator for Reuben Droughns. Expect a lot of empty backfields and pass attempts for Cutler. It puts him in a difficult spot, but he'll rack up fantasy points through volume.

Continue reading "Jay and Silent Ryan" »

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 02:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (12)

A chat is on the way on Season Pass. Tiffany and I talk four of the big games from the weekend below. Sunday Night Football after the jump and some stray Broncos thoughts coming right up here.

Continue reading "Separation Sunday" »

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 01:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

What a great Thursday night game between the Broncos and Browns. It re-affirms my belief that you never know when you are going to see one of the best games of the year, and that you don't need quality teams to produce it. Bears-Broncos in Week 12 was near the top of my list from last season and featured to sub-.500 teams. Like last night, it more or less ended the season of one team. Here are a few thoughts on the Browns after their loss.

1. That's it for Romeo Crennel in Cleveland. You can't lose that game when the Broncos have no defense or running game. It wouldn't shock me if the firing happened before the end of the season, but it would surprise me if Crennel was back next season. He's failed to improve their defense.

2. Great effort by Brady Quinn, although I didn't expect anything less. He was ranked tenth. He made good decisions, bought time in the pocket, and was calm. I was impressed how well he knew the offense. All great signs, but he'll have to face a real NFL defense soon. Even Tyler Thigpen threw for 280 and 2 in his second NFL start if the matchup is right. The only thing Quinn didn't do is throw the ball down the field. Which doesn't help...

Continue reading "Say Goodbye to Romeo" »

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 09:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (10)

Sage Rosenfels is good at math: "I've been a backup for eight years,” Rosenfels said. “So if there are 32 teams, for eight years that's 256 times that teams have said, ‘This guy's not our starter.' I think there’s some (naysayers) out there.”

I just watched the Texans-Vikings shortcut. Rosenfels had no problem moving the ball: 247 yards and two scores in one half. After the Baltimore matchup, he'll be a borderline QB1. I love Gary Kubiak's play-calling. He gets people wide open.

My weekly picks are up. It's probably the most exciting thing going in my life right now.

Rotoworld has Twitterfied. I'm not even sure what Twitter is exactly. That makes me feel old, but we're all over it. Check it out

Random thought: The Titans aren't just three games ahead of their division; they are two games ahead of an overachieving Steelers team for home field advantage. Should we be concerned they could rest starters early? My gut says Jeff Fisher isn't the type - not before Week 17.

Set your lineups early this week. Tiffany joins me in previewing the Browns-Broncos game below, while Brady Quinn says something he'll never do. (He also says his favorite song of all time is Another One Bites the Dust in our Waiver show. Hmm...)

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 06:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (28)

Sports hernias can often be a frustrating injury to return from. Not for Kevin Curtis. Any doubt about his recovery were put to rest last Sunday against the Seahawks when he caught six passes for 83 yards.

It wasn't just the numbers. Curtis showed that his short area explosion is back on a 26-yard catch in the fourth quarter. He ran a great route, caught a pass near the sideline, then made a sudden cut inside to almost score. He's 100%.

Curtis saw 11 targets in the game, while DeSean Jackson saw six. I think they will share Donovan McNabb's attention equally the rest of the way, but Curtis will be steadier. Reggie Brown saw only one target against Seattle, but scored a touchdown on it.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 10:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Today feels like Christmas, if you had to wake up before 6AM to stand in line 70 minutes to pick out a present for that night. And if they let Jewish people (and everyone else) celebrate without feeling like they are squatting in someone else's house.

It's hard to concentrate, but I've motored through the Season Pass rankings, a slew of videos, and other things you couldn't possibly care about. You come for the fantasy goodies, and a few of emailed to ask if I agree with Chris Wesseling's quarterback waiver rankings I must say I do mostly. That's why we hired them. Dissension in the Rotoworld ranks is not allowed!

My only quibble: I'd put Shaun Hill ahead of Brady Quinn, assuming you didn't need Quinn this week. Quinn will be the highest ranked for Week 10. Love that 49er schedule and the Martz history. I'd put Leftwich lower if only because he's such a rental. In Ray Rice, Ryan Torain, Jamaal Charles, and Selvin Young, there are legitimately exciting running back pickups this week. (Yes, Young qualifies in the reduced Denver backfield). Torain is a bigger wild card than Rice, who is a proven dynamic back. I aim for home runs, though, and would roll with Torain. I would take either top-two running back over any signal caller, then get a quarterback in the next round. If you have a bidding system for free agents, this is the week to blow your cash.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 04:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Every Catholic's favorite dreamboat is finally getting his shot. Forget the election, National Brady Quinn day on Thursday is the big event of the week. At least if you have NFL Network.

Quinn's healing powers may not be able to fix Cleveland's poor wideout depth or Braylon Edwards' ugly case of the drops. But he can put up solid QB2 numbers at worst against Denver, Buffalo, and Houston over the next three weeks. After that, he probably won't be a fantasy option: Indy, Tennessee, and Philly are on the docket.

Quinn is a better bet than Sage Rosenfels this week because of the matchups, but Sage should be the superior option over the next month overall. Rosenfels figures to return to the bench in December, while Quinn should keep the gig the rest of the season. Who you take depends on your short and long-term needs. I'd lean Sage unless you need someone this week.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 05:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Matt Schaub turned out to be what we thought he would be - good and bad. He put up 250 yards-per-game and ten scores in only seven starts, but he couldn't stay healthy for long. Bummer. He's expected to miss at least a month with a torn MCL. Fox raises the possibility that Schaub could to injured reserve, but that sounds unlikely at this point. I would hold on to Schaub until we know more.

Sage Rosenfels can turn the ball over with anyone, but his aggressiveness makes him a similar valued fantasy player to Schaub. Sage threw 15 touchdowns in only 240 pass attempts last season. He's averaged 7.6 yards-per-attempt this season, just under Schaub's number. That would put him in the top-ten in the league. I would make Rosenfels my top waiver choice if you just lost Schaub or need a quarterback. He should be a borderline QB1 or better when the matchup is right. (And yes, I'd take him over Daunte Culpepper. C'Mon people!)

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 02:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)