Footballguys Daily Email - Volume 9, Issue 113 (Thursday, August 14th)
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Hi Folks,
Welcome to Friday. The weekend is here and it's shaping up to be a great one as we've got preseason games plus lots of training camp battles that are winding down. We've got lots of new content on the website for you plus tons of news and notes. Let's get to it. JSITE NEWS
A.
New Stat Projections
You know the drill by now - another day means a new set of stat projections. Let the other guys in your league draft off old cheatsheets. You'll have up to the minute stat projections in every category that matters.
B.
163 Cheatsheets
We felt like we were slacking a little with the 159 cheatsheets so we kicked it up to 163. If you don't want to spend the few minutes to enter your league data into the Draft Dominator or My FBG, just check out our 163 cheatsheets and you're sure to find one close to your league that'll work.
C.
New Expert Rankings
Same story as the projections - don't use stale rankings when we've got what you need that's right up to date.
D.
New Draft Dominator Application
New stat projections means a new Draft Dominator. You know what to do.
E.
New VBD App
For you guys that like the Excel VBD App, we've got the new one ready with new projections.
F.
New Projections Dominator App
New projections mean a new Projections Dominator Application.
G.
Interview With Alex Kaganovsky and Dave Gerczak of FFPC
Continuing on with our interview series, Mark Wimer interviews Alex Kaganovsky and Dave Gerczak of the Fantasy Football Player's Championship contest.
H.
Identifying Sleepers - Quarterbacks
Jeff Tefertiller takes a look at identifying quarterback sleepers.
I.
Identifying Sleepers
Jeff Tefertiller takes a look at identifying sleepers from all positions.
J.
Draft Slot Study - From the #4 Position In a 14-team League
Chris Smith examines the strategies for drafting from the #4 spot in a 14 team league.
K.
2008 Dark Phoenix - Preseason Week 1
Cecil Lammey is back with his Dark Phoenix feature digging deep for the most info you'll find on some players that are getting overlooked by many.
L.
2 QB Or Not 2 QB
Jeff Pasquino looks at changing a league to a scoring system that starts two quarterbacks.
M.
Know Your League (ADP)
Clayton Gray takes a look at understanding your league and how Average Draft Position factors in.
N.
Know Your League (League Size)
Clayton Gray takes a look at understanding your league and how League Size factors in.
N.
Footballguys Subscription - Your Key To Dominating - Money Back Guarantee
For the price of a couple of pizzas, you can have access all season long to the kind of info we offer. From up to the minute cheat-sheets to uber detailed training camp reports every week to all the weekly information you'll need all the way up till the Super Bowl. If you don't think it's a great deal, we have a money back guarantee. Click on the headline link to see the Why Subscribe page if you still need more info.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1. IND - Colts Say QB Manning On Schedule To Start Week 12. NO - Saints RB Bush Likely Out For This Week's Game With Knee Swelling
3. TEN - RB Johnson Shooting For Rookie Of The Year - Overtaking White?
4. NO - Saints RB McAllister, WR Colston Expected To Play
5. NYJ - Jets Not Expected To Keep QB Ainge
6. ATL - Falcons WR Robinson Working To Regain Starting Spot
7. ARZ - Cardinals QB Warner Likely To Start vs. Chiefs
8. CIN - Bengals RB Johnson Looks To Be Ready For Game Action
9. SEA - Seahawks QB Hasselbeck Returns To Practice
10. GB - Packers QB Flynn Could Be No. 2 QB
11. OAK - Columnist: Raiders Passing Attack A "Disaster"
12. JAC - Jaguars WR Williams Progressing Well
13. NYG - WR Burress Says He'll Play In Opener
14. TB - QB Garcia Doubtful Saturday
15. BAL - No Raven QB Set Himself Apart But Boller Probably In Lead
16. DEF - NE - Patriots Sign Former Broncos S Lynch
17. DEF - NO - DT Hollis To Miss At Least Two Months
IND - Colts Say QB Manning On Schedule To Start Week 1
Source: Mike Chappell, Indianapolis Star
The Indianapolis Colts remain confident their two-time NFL MVP quarterback will be ready for their Sept. 7 regular-season opener against the Chicago Bears.
"He's doing exactly what we thought he would do," coach Tony Dungy said after this morning's workout at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. Tom Santi had a similar procedure two weeks before Manning's operation and the rookie tight end began running after practice earlier this week. Santi, Dungy said, "is about ready to come back and practice and I would imagine Peyton will be a couple of weeks behind him. But as far as being on target, having no real setbacks, he's doing fine. "He's rehabbing, (regaining) the range of motion, doing what they're asking him to do. He's throwing some. He's lifting. He's staying active. At some point he'll get the OK (to practice)."[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
You have heard the rumors buzzing with negative whispers about Manning. Everyone seems to know a cousin's girlfriend's sister's boyfriend that "knows a guy" that's close to a Colts source that's saying Manning won't be ready for Week 1. That's not what the Colts are saying though. To be fair, you'd do well to take optimistic statements from Bill Polian with a large grain of salt. But everything we've been hearing from normal sources are saying that Manning is still on schedule. Stay tuned here.
NO - Saints RB Bush Likely Out For This Week's Game With Knee Swelling
Source: Mike Triplett, New Orleans Times-Picayune
According to Saints Head Coach Sean Payton, RB Reggie Bush probably won't play in Saturday night's preseason game against the Houston Texans. Bush has had some swelling in his left knee which has kept him out of practice two days this week, though an MRI earlier this week showed no damage to his knee.
This is the same knee that sidelined Bush at the end of last season, when he tore his posterior cruciate ligament. But he has been healthy and full speed throughout the offseason, and he thinks the swelling is just a result of the heavy camp workload.[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
The team is officially minimizing this but there are a few whispers out there from folks that are worried this is a little more serious than the Saints are saying. We'll obviously keep an eye on it for you and see if he's able to practice. As is the case with Duece McAllister, if Bush were to be limited, that would open the door for Pierre Thomas to see more work.
TEN - RB Johnson Shooting For Rookie Of The Year - Overtaking White?
Source: Jim Wyatt, The Tennessean
Titans running back Chris Johnson has set the bar high for his first NFL season.
"My main goal is to win rookie of the year,'' Johnson said Wednesday. "I want to come in and do the same thing Adrian Peterson came in and did last year. I think that is possible.'' "It motivates me because every time we are on TV and every time we play a game it is campaigning for the rookie of the year, and he'll be one of the competitors trying to get rookie of the year,'' Johnson said of McFadden, who he called a friend. "But I feel like if I do what I have to do to help this team succeed, then the rookie of the year should come, and everything else should fall into place for us as a team.'' He's expected to split carries with third-year pro LenDale White, but could earn significant playing time, and perhaps even emerge as the starter, if he's effective early in the season.[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
It may not be the best thing for a team when a player is talking about individual awards like this but from a Fantasy Football angle, you love to see stuff like this. What's interesting too is that Jim Wyatt, who follows the team very closely, feels that it's possible Johnson might overtake LenDale White at some point. The way Johnson is talking, he certainly doesn't sound like he's planning on being on the sidelines too much.
NO - Saints RB McAllister, WR Colston Expected To Play
Source: Teddy Kider, New Orleans Times-Picayune
New Orleans Saints RB Deuce McAllister could play in Saturday's preseason game. According to HC Sean Payton, McAllister will play. "Yeah, right now the plan is. We'll see where he's at. I want to make sure he gets enough carries in either this preseason game, or No. 3 before we move on." McAllister has not played since Sept. 24, when he tore his left ACL. Payton also said he expects WRs Marques Colston & Devery Henderson, along with CB Tracy Porter to play Saturday. "I think you're going to see a number of the guys that we didn't see in Week 1 up for Week 2, barring any injury right now, " Payton said.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Great news for McAllister. Pierre Thomas is the guy everyone is raving about but his opportunities will be very much affected by how McAllister looks. Let's see #1 if he's able to play Saturday and #2 How he performs in the game.
NYJ - Jets Not Expected To Keep QB Ainge
Source: Rich Cimini, New York Daily News
According to reports from the New York Daily News, it is unlikely that the Jets will rookie QB Erik Ainge. His performance has reportedly been underwhelming during camp, and although the team does not want to cut him, they can't keep Ainge unless they go with four quarterbacks.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
With Brett Ratliff playing very well, he seems to have leaped over Ainge in camp. If the Jets don't keep 4 QBs, it looks like Ainge could be looking for work.
ATL - Falcons WR Robinson Working To Regain Starting Spot
Source: Orlando Ledbetter, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Falcons WR Laurent Robinson returned to practice last week after missing a week with a tailbone injury. While many expected Robinson to seize the starting job opposite Roddy White, the missed time may have cost him his projected starting job to Michael Jenkins. "I have to make some plays and show them that I can still play," Robinson said. "It's eating me up. I'm trying to do everything I can to get it back."
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Keep an eye on Robinson here. The Falcons are flying pretty well below the radar but this offense has a chance to make a few waves. A lot will depend on their quarterbacking situation but if they can sort that out, these guys have a shot.
ARZ - Cardinals QB Warner Likely To Start vs. Chiefs
Source: Mike Tulumello, East Valley Tribune
Arizona Cardinals HC Ken Whisenhunt wants QB Kurt Warner to get some time with the starters, and the best way to assure that is to put him in at the start. "I'm thinking about starting him in the game so we can control the reps. You don't know how that's going to play out," Whisenhunt said. In addition, Whisenhunt said that DT Darnell Dockett has a mild pectoral strain and will sit out. "But I don't think it's anything that's very serious," the coach said. Also sitting out will be S Antrel Rolle (sore foot). WR Early Doucet is doubtful with a hamstring injury. CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie's status is unclear as he has a sore ankle.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
The feel seems to be that the team is pleased with how Leinart's improved and that they want him to be their starter. This seems almost like an appeasement to Warner. Anything short of him looking phenomenal in this game will probably mean that Leinart is the guy. At least until Leinart falters in the regular season...
CIN - Bengals RB Johnson Looks To Be Ready For Game Action
Source: Geoff Hobson, Bengals.com
Cincinnati Bengals HC Marvin Lewis said today that three players who didn't play Monday night will possibly go Sunday night against the Lions. Those players would be RBs Rudi Johnson and DeDe Dorsey and RT Willie Anderson. WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh (hamstring), won't play and Lewis said Houshmandzadeh hasn't passed enough of the medical and strength tests to return to practice.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
A little more on the story from yesterday. Lewis says that Rudi Johnson should be ready to play. As we noted yesterday, there's nothing like a nice game from the backup to speed the healing of the injured starter. It's time for Johnson to deliver something so we'll be watching this one.
SEA - Seahawks QB Hasselbeck Returns To Practice
Source: Danny O'Neil, Seattle Times
DE Patrick Kerney, RT Sean Locklear, RB Leonard Weaver and QB Matt Hasselbeck all returned to practice on Thursday morning for the Seattle Seahawks.
Hasselbeck isn't likely to start in this week's game though as he hasn't been able to work with the first team. "I have got a feeling (about who will start) based on reps," Hasselbeck said. "But I haven't been told anything." "I knew at some point this preseason they were going to give Charlie (Frye) more reps," Hasselbeck said. "More opportunities to show what he can do in a game. I've got a feeling, but that's all it is. A feeling."[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Let's see how Hasselbeck does here and if he's able to keep practicing. A tight back is always something of a concern so be careful here.
GB - Packers QB Flynn Could Be No. 2 QB
Source: Tom Pelissero, Green Bay Press-Gazette
Brian Brohm remains the Green Bay Packers' No. 2 QB, but fellow rookie Matt Flynn's recent play has put him in position to make a push for the job. "I think Matt's definitely closing the gap, there's no doubt about it," HC Mike McCarthy said after Wednesday's night practice. "I think he's really been pushing Brian here probably about the last eight to 10 days." It was in Monday's exhibition opener that Flynn seemed to make his move. "I think Matt is getting more comfortable," McCarthy said. "Brian was more comfortable quicker, in the earlier part as far as the (organized team activities), understanding what we're doing. I think they're both good young prospects."
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Just for you guys keeping up your depth charts at home. Packer fans hope they don't need either one of these guys.
OAK - Columnist: Raiders Passing Attack A "Disaster"
Source: Kerry McDonald, Contra Costa Times
According to McDonald, the Oakland Raiders will need every one of their rushing yards, because the passing game has been a disaster. QB JaMarcus Russell's pure passing, except for their first night practice has been a disappointment. It's not all his fault. TEs Zach Miller and John Madsen and WR Todd Watkins have been relatively sure-handed, everyone else has been prone to to the drops. Russell has also missed his share of open receivers.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
This is just one beat writer's opinion. But it's a guy that sees them work every day. Bottom line is it doesn't do anything to change our mind that we're pretty leery of the Oakland passing game. Which is a shame as I like JaMarcus Russell and think he's a great talent. He just has to have players around him.
JAC - Jaguars WR Williams Progressing Well
Source: Michael C. Wright, Florida Times-Union
Jacksonville Jaguars WR Reggie Williams said he began running Monday and could be ready to practice sometime next week.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Good news for Williams and the Jaguars here. Let's file this one away and see if he's able to get back out on the field next week.
NYG - WR Burress Says He'll Play In Opener
Source: Ralph Vacchiano, NY Daily News
Despite missing nearly all of training camp, Giants WR Plaxico Burress (ankle) said he'll be ready for the first game of the regular season. The receiver again said he will not return to practice fully until he's 100%, but he expects to be near that by the time the Giants play the Redskins on Thursday night, Sept. 4. "If I'm not, I'll be pretty close," Burress said. "I'll be a lot further along than I was last year. The more I rest, the more I take care of my ankle, I'll be close to 100%. If I'm not 100, I'll probably be 95, 96. It'll definitely take that." Burress is also dealing with sore feet as a result of the orthotics he's required to wear in both shoes. But he plans on practicing as long as he can stand to.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
I wouldn't be surprised to see a similar situation to what we saw last year with Burress limited in practice each week but he winds up playing and playing well in the games. He's got a proven track record or producing like this so it's not a huge worry.
TB - QB Garcia Doubtful Saturday
Source: Tampa Tribune
Buccaneers QB Jeff Garcia is not expected to play this Saturday against the Patriots. Garcia is still nursing a calf injury that has kept him sidelined for 12 of 16 practices at camp. "It's hard to imagine (him playing) at this point. It is Wednesday and he's not able to move around at full speed," HC Jon Gruden said. "I'd like to see him start and finish a practice before we declare him ready to play." Backup QB Luke McCown will fill in for Garcia as the starter.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Not a big surprise here. But this is Garcia's team it would appear and he'll be the guy as soon as the calf is ready. He's just happy that Brett Favre is a Jet.
BAL - No Raven QB Set Himself Apart But Boller Probably In Lead
Source: Mike Preston, Baltimore Sun
Per Mike Preston, "None of the quarterbacks separated himself from the others in training camp, but if the Ravens had to choose a quarterback from what happened in camp, Kyle Boller clearly was the winner. A lot of the players prefer Troy Smith, but Boller was more consistent and made less mistakes."
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Ugh. It's not a really pretty sight here for the Ravens QB. Boller is probably the safe choice, with Smith behind and then rookie Joe Flacco will likely get a shot at some point. Not a lot to get excited about with this passing game.
DEF - NE - Patriots Sign Former Broncos S Lynch
Source: NFL.com Wire Reports
The New England Patriots Thursday reached an agreement with former Broncos safety John Lynch. The deal is reportedly a one-year contract worth $1.5 million.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
There is talk that the Patriots may experiment with Lynch moving him around from safety to linebacker. I'm not sure how much Lynch has left in the tank but he's a quality locker room guy that you'd think would have to bring some veteran leadership to the team.
DEF - NO - DT Hollis To Miss At Least Two Months
Source: Mike Triplett, New Orleans Times Picayune
Saints DT Hollis Thomas will miss a minimum of two months with a torn right triceps, according to HC Sean Payton. Thomas suffered the injury during 1-on-1 pass-rushing drills on Wednesday, and he had surgery on Thursday morning. The injury could threaten his season, and potentially his career that has spanned 13 seasons. For now it appears DL Kendrick Clancy will take over at nose tackle.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Tough break for Hollis and the Saints. Let's see how Kendrick Clancy fares in his spot.
That'll do it for today, Folks. Have a great Friday and we'll see you tomorrow with the update.
J