Matt Cassel Likely To Miss Week 1

Matt Cassel suffered a significant knee injury in the Chiefs 14-10 loss to the Seahawks on Saturday. The injury is to his right knee specifically the MCL. It is reportedly not torn but the MCL is definitely sprained. There are conflicting rumors about whether it is a grade 1 or 2 sprain, which would be different timetables altogether for his recovery.

As of right now, Cassel is out 2-4 weeks, meaning he will miss the start of the regular season. Yahoo reports that Tyler Thigpen will start while Cassel is injured but I wouldn't rule out Brodie Croyle just yet. Keep it tuned here for updates on Cassel as this story develops.



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Roundup 8/27

ROY WILLIAMS INJURED

Cowboys #1 WR Roy Williams injured his shoulder after a collision with CB Orlando Scandrick while practicing a goal line play. Williams was down on the ground longer than normal before rising and screaming out in pain.

You may remember that Williams injured his collarbone a couple of years ago while with the Lions and missed significant time. If this is the same kind of injury, then Williams may miss a lot of time. This gives a huge boost to Patrick Crayton and Miles Austin as Tony Romo will need to find somebody to throw to. I will update Williams condition as soon as I find out more details.


BRANDON MARSHALL SENT HOME

The Broncos have sent disgruntled WR Roy Williams home from practice after his blatant disregard for the coaching staff and all authority during Wednesday's practice. Marshall is clearly trying to get out of Denver and I will stand by my prediction that Marshall winds up with the New York Jets before the regular season starts. If not, he will without question be suspended by the Broncos and miss several weeks due to this behavior. Major news sources are predicting that Marvin Harrison may get a call soon but I wouldn't rule out Matt Jones either.


CULPEPPER IN

As most of you know by now, I am entrenched in the Superdraft experience right now. I am in my Las Vegas hotel room writing this after talking with a couple of fellow writers about some QB competitions going on right now. Word is spreading that Daunte Culpepper is just a few solid performances away from securing the starting QB gig in Detroit. Matthew Stafford is the future, but Culpepper has done great all camp long and has given the team the opportunity to let Stafford learn from the sidelines for awhile instead of feeding him to the wolves. I like Culpepper as a fantasy sleeper this year at least for the first half of the season.



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Anquan Boldin Hurts Hamstring

It has just been relayed to me that Cardinals WR Anquan Boldin injured his right hamstring on Tuesday night's practice and didn't participate in any of Wednesday's session. It has been labeled as just a "tweak" by the training staff but it is still unlikely that he will play in Friday's preseason game against the Packers.

You may remember Boldin had trouble with his left hamstring last season but had been relatively healthy up until this point. Check back here for further updates as we hear them.



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Roundup 8/26

JETS NAME STARTER

Head coach Rex Ryan has informed all three Jets QB's that Mark Sanchez will be the starting QB in week 1. This is hardly a surprise as Sanchez was drafted to be the starter, the team brought no veterans in to compete for the job and Sanchez has greatly outperformed Kellen Clemens during camp this summer. Look for the Jets to eventually acquire a WR for Sanchez to throw to before the start of the regular season.


BILLS GET GOOD NEWS

Preliminary tests on Fred Jackson's injured thumb/wrist have come back negative for a break or torn tendon. The injury has been diagnosed as a sprain and he is at this point questionable for the opening week of the season. Either way, Dominic Rhodes figures to be involved more so in the offense in the first couple weeks of the season.


INJURY NEWS

Shaun Hill has left 49ers practice today due to lower back spasms. He didn't get hit or seem to do anything to directly affect his back especially since he came out after just one play of today's practice. This is a situation to watch as backup QB Alex Smith is out for awhile with a thumb injury so Nate Davis and Damon Huard will likely be the only QB's to man the ship on in their next preseason game on Saturday.

Broncos backup QB Chris Simms is expected to miss at least a month after going down with a high ankle sprain on Tuesday. This kid just cannot stay healthy it seems! The Broncos signed journeyman Ingle Martin IV to take snaps as the #3 QB in Denver until Simms comes back.


TRADE RUMORS

The Jacksonville Jaguars are sniffing around Kansas City about the availability of third string QB Tyler Thigpen. Thigpen would be a perfect fit in Jacksonville as they run a similar offense to which the Chiefs wound up playing in last year when Thigpen took over. The Jags are in pursuit of a QB in a big way as their faith in Todd Bouman has faded tremendously.



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Roundup 8/25

STAY AWAY FROM SEAHAWKS

Rumors that All-Pro LT Walter Jones may be done for the season have started swirling around NFL inner-circles today. Jones is having major setbacks from his microfracture surgery he had in his knee this offseason causing him to undergo another surgery on the same knee last week. All of this is on top of the back spasms that Jones has been having which cut his rehab time and his practice time short. These are big time problems and will keep Jones out for at least half of the season. Thus, he may wind up on the PUP list to start the season. Either way. this is a tragic blow to the Seahawks offensive line that has not lost their starting left tackle, center and right tackle to injuries. I have officially downgraded all of the Seahawks skill position players as a result of this and have doubts on whether Matt Hasselbeck will make it through the season unscathed.


MOVIN' ON UP

Rookie RB James Davis is running with the fist team offense now in Browns camp. Davis has been very impressive the past couple of weeks both in practice and in preseason action. He is a vast improvement over Jamal Lewis at this stage of Lewis' career and with Jerome Harrison more suited for a third down type role, the sky is the limit for Davis. Draft him as the Browns starting RB now, several spots ahead of where you were ranking Jamal Lewis.


GAME ON

Brian Westbrook will play in the teams third preseason game against Jacksonville much to everyone's surprise. Head coach Andy Reid said that Westbrook will start the game and get a few carries early on in the contest. This is good news for anybody who still has faith in Westbrook, but just remember to handcuff LeSean McCoy securely to Westbrook this season.


LOSING GROUND

Lions rookie RB Aaron Brown has has some dazzling moments in camp this summer, but his failure at blitz pickup has hurt his chances to get on the field quite a bit. Brown was originally thought to be used as a weapon out of the backfield on third downs and as a nice complement to Kevin Smith, but he is a liability at this point and will struggle to see action early on in the regular season.


INJURED

Bills RB Fred Jackson was taken to the locker room after suffering a thumb injury at practice today. Jackson was in obvious pain and looks like he may have broken a bone or badly sprained a ligament in there while holding a block in practice. This would be a big blow if he misses any time because Marshawn Lynch is already suspended for the first 4 games of the season and that would leave just Dominic Rhodes in the Bills backfield. Stay tuned...



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Roundup 8/24

INJURED FRENCHMAN

What do you mean Pierre Thomas isn't French? Anyways, Thomas is dealing with a sprained MCL ligament in his knee. The coaching staff and trainers say it is just a grade "0" sprain but still worth considering on draft day. Thomas is a sleeper on just about every draft list out there but any damage to an MCL is worth keeping an eye on. These type of injuries have a habit of getting worse as more and more stress is placed on them. As much as I do not like Mike Bell, his name must be at least brought into the conversation at this point. Both Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas suffering from knee issues means in all likelihood one of them goes down for the count this year in which Bell then becomes relevant. That is until the team realizes they are about to rely on Mike Bell and go out and sign a real RB...like Edgerrin James. D'oh!


DON'T BUY THE HYPE

Javon Walker has been taken off of the PUP list by the Raiders and is talking all kinds of smack about how good he feels and so on and so forth. Please don't buy in! This guy is insane and those who have been watching his little "workouts" on the sidelines at Raiders camp say that he hasn't shown a damn thing out there yet despite what both he and some press outlets have said. Chaz Schilens and Darrius Heyward-Bey are the only Raiders receivers worth a pick on draft day. And if you are really daring, go ahead and take a shot at Louis Murphy. But stay the heck away from Javon Walker.


MICHAEL VICK UPDATE

For all of you who still care, Michael Vick is going to play in the Eagles preseason game on Thursday against the Jaguars. He won't be eligible to play in a regular season game until week 7 but I thought that maybe you would like to know.


MY FIRST DRAFT OF THE SEASON

I will be doing my first actual league draft of the season in about an hour from now. It is the Fantasy Football Search Expert League which I plan on winning this year. It is a 14 team league in which I have the 8th pick. I am hoping that LaDanian Tomlinson falls to me at this pick but if not it just many be a WR for me. As T.O. would say: Get ya popcorn ready!!


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Shaun Hill Is The 49ers Starting QB

Head coach Mike Singletary has officially named Shaun Hill the 49ers starting QB come week 1 of the regular season. This decision was no doubt made easier due to Alex Smith's sprained thumb suffered in last weeks preseason game. Hill has clearly outperformed the former #1 pick and should provide the Niners with a stable presence all season long.

Hills's fantasy value should not at all be based on last years inflated stats because that was a result of Mike Martz high flying passing attack. The 49ers will be a run the ball team focused on gaining positive yards, taking time off the clock and not making mistakes. I would advise Hill at nothing more than a mid level QB2 usable during bye weeks this season.


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Nate Washington Leaves Practice With Injury

Titans WR Nate Washington has left practice after injuring his upper leg during a one on one drill against CB DeMarcus Faggins. He ran the route but went down after the pass fell incomplete clutching his right thigh. This is most likely a hamstring injury and could prove costly to the Tennessee passing attack.

Washington had been doing quite well working out of the slot this summer. He provides the Titans with a legitimate deep threat and quick strike target, something desperately lacking last season. Washington is certainly draftable but we'll have to see what his status turns out to be now because hamstring injuries can linger.



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Seahawks Sign Edgerrin James

The Seahawks and free agent Edgerrin James have agreed on a one year $2 million contract. Edge will be brought in to compete with Julius Jones and T.J. Duckett possibly for a starting position. Both Jones and Duckett have struggled at times this preseason so it is no surprise that the team is bringing in another RB.

While this is a good move for the Seahawks, I don't see much fantasy upside for Edgerrin James here. The Seahawks offensive line is in ruins right now with Walter Jones out after another knee surgery, Chris Spencer being diagnosed with a torn thigh muscle and Ray Willis having knee trouble. Also, James does not possess the lateral quickness necessary to really succeed in a zone blocking scheme such as the Seahawks play. James is a solid RB who can break a few tackles and get to the second level on occasion but he doesn't have the speed anymore to break the long runs even if he was given room to do so. He's an above average pass catcher though and should catch a bunch of passes which gives him a bit of an upgrade in PPR leagues.


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Roundup 8/23

GETTING BETTER

Donnie Avery is hoping to get back into action soon. Avery ran on the side today and looked pretty good. He is way ahead of schedule in returning from a stress fracture in his leg. Avery is itching to get back onto the practice field and although he won't be fully healed for another week or two this is a good sign that he may be ready to go by the start of the regular season. Laurent Robinson is still my top fantasy Rams WR right now, but Avery when healthy is a playmaker and should be considered a possible sleeper.


REAL DEEP SLEEPER

Just for you loyal Draft Kit subscribers, I've got a sleeper that nobody in any fantasy league will draft this year but who I think just might make a difference at some point. That player is RB Marcus Mason currently of the Washington Redskins. This kid is a fast, powerful runner who has the skills to be a star in this league if given an opportunity. The Redskins had him in camp last year and he led the league in preseason rushing for which he was released. He bounced around some practice squads before being signed by the Jets late last season. He has yet to carry the ball in an NFL game but I strongly believe that will change this year. Even if Washington cuts him loose again, this time there are 31 other teams out there who could use a dynamic back like Mason. Believe me, there are scouts out there talking this kid up to their personnel guys as we speak. I wouldn't draft him just yet, but keep an eye on him and where he lands this season. He'll eventually work his way onto a roster and then into the lineup. From there the sky's the limit.


THE PLAYMAKER

Last year I drafted Browns WR Josh Cribbs. This guy is fast and can cut on a dime. With Devin Hester receiving all of the kick return praise, Cribbs was outproducing Hester on all returns. I figured that sooner or later the Browns would want to get a playmaker like Cribbs on the field and get him the ball. Well, they figured that out a little too late for fantasy purposes but the new regime seems to want to include Cribbs in actual receiver packages. He is at this point the teams #3 WR. Combine that with his return ability and you have yourself a pretty valuable fantasy player. Cribbs is a middle round pick in leagues that credit return yardage for points.


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Seahawks Offensive Line Is A Disaster

First starting LT Walter Jones goes down with back spasms, then he goes in for knee surgery and now comes word that starting RT Ray Willis is having knee issues of his own. Willis is a good run blocker but not great in passing situations but his loss would leave the Seahawks crazy thin at the tackle position and desperate to sign another body immediately.

Willis didn't play in Saturday's preseason game and sources have told me that he's been missing time in camp all summer long due to some knee issues. The Seahawks cannot afford for him to go down in the middle of a game and thus one would think he may have to go in and have it looked at and possibly cleaned out soon. Maybe the team is waiting for Walter Jones to come back before sending Willis down a similar road but it looks like they may soon not have a choice.


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Roundup 8/22

QB DERBY

The Buccaneers were all set to name Byron Leftwich their starting QB early next week but Luke McCown went ahead and kept himself in the race while Leftwich dropped himself a peg. McCown went 6/9 for 51 yards and thew 2 TD's in the Bucs 24-23 win over the Jaguars. Leftwich went 6/12 63 yards and no TD's. In fairness, McCown was blessed with great field position in leading both of his scoring drives. The best QB on the field tonight was rookie Josh Freeman who scored on a 28 yard run of his own late in the game to preserve the win. Leftwich will win the job and the announcement may still come shortly, but with tonight's results McCown may have bought himself another few practices.

Alex Smith may have sealed his own fate with a terrible interception he thew during his tour of duty tonight. Smith was just 3/9 and only connected on short dump off passes. Shaun Hill didn't look any better but has a sizable lead entering what will probably the final week of the QB competition in San Francisco.


DON'T BE FOOLED

Tim Hightower looks like he'll win the starting RB job in Arizona to start the season, but this is mostly because of Chris Wells nagging ankle sprain. "Beanie" Wells is the must own RB on the Cardinals and the way this is shaping up you may be able to get him with a much later pick in the draft than if he was healthy. The ankle is not a concern to linger around for much longer and once he gets back to 100% watch out for a dynamic fantasy stud playing against just four and five man fronts. Hightower is nice as insurance to Wells but don't trick yourself into thinking you are drafting a starting RB no matter what the first depth chart of the regular season may say.


WR MOVING UP

I've been telling you about Jacksonville WR Troy Williamson's emergence during training camp and now it has officially carried into gameplay. Williamson caught 3-147 yards tonight including a 74 yard bomb to start the game. He has not lost any of that electrifying speed that he had in his South Carolina days and it appears that he's finally taking his career seriously and putting in the work that his coaches have always complained about him slacking on. It appears that he's locked up a starting WR spot opposite Torry Holt at this point and he is a guy who you should keep your eye on in the later rounds of your draft.



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Roundup 8/21

SAINTS LOSE LT

Saints All-Pro LT Jamaal Brown will go under the knife tomorrow in order to repair a sports hernia. Brown sought additional testing for the pain in his upper groin area, that had him on and off the practice field for weeks. The final blow came during a scrimmage with the Houston Texans today when Brown was overcome with pain and felt like he had been shot during a pretty basic pass blocking play. The hope is to get him back for the start of the regular season, but I doubt that will happen. Sports hernia's are difficult to recover from fully right away and he will need awhile to get back up to speed. Expect Drew Brees' blindside to be a swinging gate until around week 3 when Brown comes back, hopefully healthy.


DERAILED

Those of you holding out hope for former Michigan star RB Mike Hart can give it up now. Hart reinjured himself in Thursday's preseason game, this time suffering a sprained ankle. Hart is coming back from major ACL reconstruction and has not ran well in camp this summer. This latest injury could put him in danger of starting on the PUP or being placed on IR which would end his season.


A STARTER IS NAMED

Though no official word has leaked out yet, the 49ers have told QB Shaun Hill that he will be their starter in week 1 of the regular season. Head coach Mike Singletary told Hill that he will be evaluated after every performance and that he has earned the starting nod with a very solid camp. Singletary went on to say that nothing is promised and that Hill will have to earn his job each and every week.



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Roundup 8/20

NO WORRIES

Everybody who is freaking out about Ben Roethlisberger leaving practice on a gold cart can breathe easy now because he is fine. Big Ben was injured while being rushed by Jerome Harrison and LT Max Starks got pushed back by Harrison into Roethlisberger. Starks wound up rolling over Roethlisberger's right ankle and injuring him in the process. Roethlisberger stayed on the ground for quite awhile being attended to before finally getting up and being helped off of the field. He was slowly limping around the field before putting some ice on the back of his ankle and being driven in a golf cart back to the locker rooms.

Roethlisberger himself told a couple of people that the injury wasn't that bad and that he'd be OK. Adam Schefter and Jay Glazer have both chimed in on their Twitter accounts saying that Big Ben will indeed be fine and that this was just a superficial injury. Sleep well Steelers fans!


BUSH UPDATE

The injury that had Reggie Bush limping off of the practice field today was a strained calf. It had really looked as if it was another knee injury which would have been catastrophic to his fantasy value. Still, you just cannot like the fact that Bush gets dinged up in almost every game and nowadays in every other practice session. His value in non-PPR leagues should be very low as he just isn't a big threat to score more than 4-6 TD's and has some major injury concerns. In a PPR league however, Bush remains a good RB2 for your team but chances are somebody will take him earlier than that so please let them.


I HEART TWITTER

I just got a tweet from Terrell Owens that says "Congrats 2 our #1 draft pick Aaron Maybin!! He will b officially joining the Buffalo Bills 2morr!!" I guess that means that the Bills finally signed their #1 draft pick in Aaron Maybin after nearly a 3 week holdout. I really love living in the information age..


RISING

Jacksonville Jaguars WR Troy Williamson is making a strong play for the WR2 position with the team. Williamson has been getting an extended look ever since Mike Walker went down with an injury and Williamson has done nothing to disappoint. He still has the blazing speed which made him the 7th overall pick by the Vikings in 2005. Head coach Jack Del Rio recently praised Williamson for his hard work this camp and acknowledged that he has played himself into an expanded role.



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Reggie Bush Injured Again

A source watching the Texans and Saint scrimmage today has informed me that Reggie Bush has left the field limping noticeably. He was seen briefly talking to an assistant coach before hobbling back to the locker room where 2 trainers quickly caught up to him.

This could be just another flare up of his surgically repaired knee or another type of injury such as a sprained ankle or something of that nature. I doubt that any major knee injury to him would result in him walking off the field under his own power. But it should still be noted and kept in your memory banks for when it is your pick in the third round and you have that itch for a former college star RB. Stay away at all costs!


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Roundup 8/19

Uh-OH

Seattle Seahawks LT Walter Jones has undergone another surgery on his left knee, the same one that he had microfracture surgery on in the offseason. This is a big blow to the Seahawks who now find themselves tragically thin on the offensive line. Jones has been out for most of camp due to back spasms which had just flared up on him again during Monday's practice. Jones is in danger of missing quite a bit of time as he fully recovers from both the knee and back issues. I would expect him to not be ready for the regular season and miss up to 4 regular season games. Even when he comes back it is without a doubt that Jones will be a shell of his former self. RT Sean Locklear will move to the left side now to protect Matt Hasselbeck's blind side. I would go ahead and downgrade the entire Seahawks offense just a little bit upon this news.


LET GO

The Raiders have released power blocking fullback Lorenzo Neal. Wow. This is quite a shocker as nearly every single fantasy expert raved about what a great pick up this was because of all the great RB's that Neal has blocked for in his career. Either the Raiders RB's don't like running behind a lead blocker, or the Raiders are just an ignorant franchise. I would expect another team to quickly scoop up Neal, providing that he is indeed healthy and interested in continuing his career.


LIFTING THE FOG

Finally, the story of what is REALLY wrong with Dallas Clark has come out. Clark suffered another concussion a couple of weeks ago and has been held out of all team activities since then. The team never gave a reason for Clark missing time, only telling the local media that he was "day-to-day". I speculated last week that something must be wrong with Clark as he usually isn't a practice ditcher and the team was abnormally hush-hush about his situation. This is because Clark has had previous concussions and was undergoing detailed testing this time in order to make sure he was OK to resume practicing. He will play in the Colts second preseason game against the Eagles.



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Jets Inquire About Brandon Marshall

The Jets have made contact with the Denver Broncos concerning disgruntled WR Brandon Marshall. Contact was made late in the day on Tuesday and talks were very casual in nature.

But my source inside the Jets organization paints an entirely different picture. The Jets front office is poised to make a big splash in acquiring a big play WR and will do so in any means necessary. There have been numerous discussions involving GM Mike Tannenbaum, head coach Rex Ryan and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer about how to upgrade the WR position.

The options laid out clearly have Brandon Marshall as the #1 target at this point. A few weeks ago, Plaxico Burress was their main target until his indictment on gun charges blew up that possibility. Now the Jets are hoping to land a veteran WR in a trade with Marshall, Deion Branch and Santana Moss having been discussed. If a trade does not work out, the team will look into signing one of the free agents still available with Marvin Harrison being at the top of that list.

It has been made perfectly clear to me though that the Jets will indeed be upgrading their WR position within the next couple of weeks. David Clowney is leading the way for the WR2 role, but nobody in the organization sounds very enthused about that scenario.



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Jaguars WR Issues

During the first week of training camp, WR Mike Walker flashed great route running ability and a fine chemistry with QB David Garrard. Then he injured his lower leg and has not been heard from since. Walker has now missed 11 straight practices and has lost his grip on the Jags WR2 spot to...believe it or not...Troy Williamson!

Williamson has been quite good both in practice and in the Jags first preseason game where he caught 4-74 yards. There has never been a doubt about Williamson's speed but his hands have been extremely disappointing throughout his career.

Needless to say, the Jaguars are looking for better performances out of their WR corps. The injury to Walker is much worse than originally let on and some have speculated that it may actually be a knee or high ankle sprain. In that case, Williamson is much more likely to win the job. Overall, the whole passing offense has been disappointing this summer despite a major upgrade to their offensive line. Garrard has not made the progress coaches would have hoped and at this point is incapable of making much out of also ran WR's like Walker and Williamson.


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Roundup 8/18

BIG HOLE



Seahawks All-Pro LT Walter Jones left practice today after aggravating his ailing back while taking reps with the first team offense. A short time into drills, he fell to one knee wincing in pain until trainers attended to him and took him to team headquarters for further testing. Jones' back has been acting up all summer since coming off of major knee surgery. This is often the case when linemen are having leg trouble they wind up develop back issues because their technique is all out of whack. This would be a devastating injury if the Seahawks lost Jones for any extended period of time. The Seahawks line was already suspect to begin with but without Jones, this would become an instant liability.


AIN'T THAT A KICK IN THE HEAD?

Lions placekicker Jason Hanson went under the knife today to correct a lingering knee problem that has been bothering him since late last season. Although the team is not reporting it, the surgery is believed to be on his right kicking knee and thus merits attention. I expect the Lions to be a better team this year and their offense to truly surprise people. The team has brought back Swayze Waters, a rookie that was with the team earlier in the offseason but released just last week.


SPEAKING OF DETROIT

I am officially changing my opinion on Daunte Culpepper this season. I had honestly totally written him off and given the starting job in Matthew Stafford in my mind already. But Culpepper has had a terrific offseason. He's slimmed down noticeably (25+ lbs) and had better mobility and arm strength then he demonstrated last season. Culpepper is doing so well that there is talk that the Lions will allow Stafford to sit and watch for at least a few weeks of the regular season before they hand over the keys to him. It all depends on how well Culpepper holds up and the progress that he continues to make.



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Favre Is Already "Camping" With Vikings

Just a few hours ago Brett Favre was boarding a plane in Mississippi and now he is already on the ground in Minnesota with a signed contract, a jersey and a helmet. Favre trotted out to the practice field to visit with his new teammates and the coaching staff this afternoon. He eventually threw a couple of balls around but didn't do any drills or heavy work.

There are already reports that Favre is starting for the Vikings this Friday night which just shows how orchestrated this whole thing really is. Don't buy into Favre too much this season or trust me, you will get burned.


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Chaz Schilens Leaves Practice With Injury

The Raiders WR1, Chaz Schilens injured his lower leg in a non-contact injury while running a route in practice this afternoon. The Raiders are holding a scrimmage against the 49ers for the next couple of days. Schilens was cutting on a route when he went down. He was able to get up but had to be helped to the locker room. He is currently undergoing treatment by the medical staff. We'll have an update when one becomes available.


***UPDATE***

Well that didn't take very long! Schilens has been diagnosed with a broken bone in his foot that will keep him out of action for at least 4 weeks. He is on crutches for the time being. He did talk briefly with reporters and said that it would take a miracle for him to be ready by the start of the regular season.

Huge blow to the Raiders offense as Schilens was actually looking quite good and was really their only weapon through the air at this point. Expect even more running of the football now and for the team to possibly add a veteran WR or at least a camp body to cover what is now a giant opening at the wide receiver position.


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Roundup 8/17

DROPPING THE 'BOMB'

A little over an hour ago we were issued a forward from a colleague telling us that a "bombshell" of a story was brewing in Denver and that the news was big. Well, I've spent that last hour or so on the phone, texting & emailing everybody I've ever known trying to get a scoop. Come to find out the "bombshell" was Marshall and his agent meeting with Josh McDaniels and other members of the Broncos front office to voice his displeasure with his current contract. Marshall once again made his demand for either a new deal or a trade and was told, no dice. His agent left the premises and Marshall hung out in the weight room briefly before retiring to his room. It appears that he will hold out from team activities for awhile until he gets his way. At this point, Marshall is far too risky to take in the early rounds and I personally would stay away until the later middle rounds before taking a flier. He is just too unpredictable to waste an early pick on right now and for at least the short term future.


CHIEFS UNHAPPY WITH RECEIVERS

Head coach Todd Haley went out of his way today to blast the performances of his WR corps so far this summer. Haley is unimpressed and wants to get more out of the supremely talented Dwayne Bowe and he is calling for anybody else on the squad to step up. Shortly after this tirade, Jeff Webb was sent packing and former Broncos and Falcons WR Ashley Lelei was signed. Lelei will get a shot to compete and at this point could wind up making the team. Heck, anybody who can run a decent route and catch the football could make the Chiefs at this point. I am not a fan of Devard Darling or Terrance Copper at all. Engram is only useful as a WR5 if he plays in the slot and Mark Bradley is limited in ability. That leaves just Bowe as a worthy fantasy pick here. Don't worry about his current status as the Chiefs "backup" WR as this is nothing more than the worlds biggest motivation tactic. Bowe is too talented to keep off the field especially with the lack of talent already on display in K.C.


SLOWING DOWN

Ricky Williams is nearing the end of the line. Every single report I've gotten from south Florida says he looks heavy and slow. Sometimes players come into camp out of shape and get better as the conditioning starts to work but this isn't the case with Williams. He wasted his prime football years, smoking pot and going on walkabouts instead of using that time to establish himself as a legit NFL RB. Now it appears it is too late. The Dolphins may wind up cutting Williams and pursuing another veteran RB such as Edgerrin James or Rudi Johnson.


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Carson Palmer Has High Ankle Sprain

The tiny little ankle injury that Carson Palmer suffered in Friday's preseason opener has turned out to be a high ankle sprain. The Bengals have been downplaying the injury saying it is just a moderate leg injury but a high ankle sprain has been known to take a long time to heal. As it stands now, Palmer will not play in the Bengals next preseason game and will be held out of practice until further notice.

This is a definite situation to monitor. Palmer presents great value at the QB position in the middle rounds of drafts, where he seems to be going normally. With him healthy, the Bengals have a much better offense than they trotted out for most of last season so this news is worth keeping up on in the coming days and weeks.



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Bulger Injures Hand

Just got an update from Rams camp where Marc Bulger is no longer participating after injuring his right hand. Evidently the Rams were practicing in doors due to rain in the area this morning when Bulger suffered the injury taking a snap from center.

Bulger came out for the afternoon session, which was outside this time but he is not throwing or participating. His hand is currently taped and the word around campus is that he will be taken in for X-rays this evening. Stay tuned...



***UPDATE***

Bulger has indeed had X-rays on his injured right hand and has been diagnosed with a small fracture in his pinkie finger. Although he should be fine, he will miss up to 2 weeks of practice and the next 2 preseason games.

The fracture doesn't need a cast, but will require him to tape it up for the foreseeable future and will not be able to grip or throw a ball for up to 2 weeks.

Kyle Boller takes over for the short term and will lead the first team offense for awhile. This is a great opportunity for Boller. I really like him here in St. Louis as the kid is pretty darn talented and just never got a break in Baltimore. I honestly believe his is a better pure QB than Marc Bulger and that may be seen by the coaching staff very soon. Keep a close eye on how Boller is progressing in practices and in the next couple preseason games.


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Roundup 8/16

GOOD NEWS

Cowboys WR Roy Williams X-ray on his injured left wrist came back negative for any fracture. The injury is being classified at a sprain for the time being and he is expected to be ready for the next preseason game.


Saints WR Lance Moore was back at practice and participating in full contact drills for the first time since having shoulder surgery in the offseason. Moore had been doing cardio and route work while taking it easy on the shoulder. He has now lost the red shirt and is good to go from here on out.

Brandon Marshall was back at Broncos practice on Sunday and says that it was a hamstring injury and not his surgically repaired hip that has kept out for the first two weeks of camp. Now that he's been cleared of all legal issues he can get back to being a legit #1 WR once again.


SIGNED

The Ravens signed QB Cleo Lemon today despite receiving positive reports on John Beck's collarbone. There were many reports that Beck had suffered a broken collarbone but those rumors are definitely not true. Especially considering that Beck was back at practice today and although he was not airing it out just being on the field is a sing that he will be OK.



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Roundup 8/15

INJURED

Giants rookie RB Andre Brown will miss the entire 2009 season after rupturing his achilles tendon at practice Friday night. Brown was a strong sleeper candidate this year in what was a crowded Giants backfield. Both Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw gain value as a result of this news. It is now a very safe idea to draft Jacobs in the second round and handcuff him to Bradshaw later on to secure what will be a very productive backfield once again this season.

Knowshon Moreno's knee injury is better than expected after MRI results revealed just a sprained MCL. Moreno was injured in the second quarter of the Broncos first preseason game. It hasn't been revealed yet what grade of a sprain this is, but the Denver Post is calling it a 1-2 week injury. Realistically, this means Moreno is out for the remainder of the preseason but should be good to go by the start of the regular season.

The Ravens got new that their fourth round pick, WR Marcus Smith will miss the season after tearing his ACL in the preseason opener against the Redskins. Justin Harper's sleeper appeal just got a heck of a lot better.


STRUGGLING

Both Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson had poor outings against the Packers tonight. Each thew an interception and only Quinn led the Browns into Packers territory where Phil Dawson missed a field goal try. In all the Browns scored zero points and threw four interceptions while earning just eleven first downs in the game. Really a pitiful performance tonight and it doesn't look like it's going to get much better anytime soon.

Jay Cutler also didn't have a great debut in a Bears uniform as he went 5-10 for 64 yards and tossed 1 interception in his brief appearance. He later explained that the Bears were using a "vanilla" offense and that the real system won't be opened up until the regular season. Riiiiiiiiiiight, Jay. We in Chicago have heard this for years and you aren't going to fool us with that company line B.S. Cutler will make the Bears offense better, but he won't quite reach the numbers he was on pace for while in Denver under the Mike Shanahan regime.



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The Michael Vick Aftermath

I am only going to write this last post about Michael Vick and then it is time for all of us to move on. Huge stories like this in the preseason worry me because fantasy players tend to draft guys like this way too high based on hearing their names a lot on TV and reading them in the newspapers. Remember Brett Favre last year? Taken way too high in all drafts. I am expecting the same for Vick, who shouldn't be taken at all, this year.

I have personal knowledge that the Jacksonville Jaguars were desperately seeking Michael Vick. I have also learned that the Bengals were involved as well and actually made an offer to Vick's camp. The problem was that Vick's mentor, Tony Dungy wanted him to sign with a team that had firm leaders and a stable program in order for Vick to learn good ethics both on the field and off.

The Eagles are not the best fit for Vick, as he'll be fighting to earn a #2 or #3 QB job there this was more about life than it was football. For that, Philadelphia really is the best place for him right now.


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Braylon Edwards Leaves Practice

The Braylon Edwards on again/off again foot injury has reared it's ugly head again as Edwards left the practice field yesterday after aggravating his foot during one on one drills. He was able to walk off the field fine and was seen point to his feet as the training staff attended to him. He spent the remainder of the practice riding a stationary bike.

Head coach Eric Mangini is running a pretty tough camp and we have really come to find out how soft this Browns team had become under Romeo Crennel. Mangini is pushing the 'tough guy' image a tad much but I can understand his point clearly. Many coaches would let their start WR just sit out the day and tend to the injury rather than put him on a stationary bike and have him spin some laps. But when you have a anemic soft squad like this, conditioning is really a big factor and Mangini is pushing them rather hard and making no friends along the way. The obvious hope is that the Browns start winning games later in the season by beating better but less conditioned opponents. This will allow the players to then 'buy in' to the Man-genius way going forward.

Edwards should be fine as this is just probably a flare up of his previous foot injury that kept him from the first week of camp. We'll post updates as we find out more information.


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Donte Stallworth Suspended For 2009 Season

Not that it is a big surprise or anything but Browns WR and convicted murderer Donte Stallworth was suspended by the NFL for the entire 2009 season. He will have to apply for reinstatement before next season and thus will have to be on his best behavior until then. It would be a shock if the Browns didn't wash their hands of him immediately and allow him to pander for a job Michael Vick style upon reinstatement next year.

Speaking of Michael Vick, does ANYBODY else on this planet find it strange that Vick will have served nearly three times the prison sentence and lose far more both professionally, monetarily and personally than Stallworth? I mean, Stallworth voluntarily got drunk, got behind the wheel of a car and killed another human being in cold blood. I love dogs and animals as much as the next guy but when training dogs to fight is a worse crime than KILLING A HUMAN BEING...I am just not sure what kind of society we are now living in?


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Roundup 8/12

STILL NO DEAL

The agent for Cincinnati Bengals first round pick Andre Smith submitted the team another contract proposal this afternoon in hopes of getting talks back on track. It appears that the Bengals really have minimal interest in getting Smith to camp and appear more interested in drawing lines in the sand and not offering anything but last years slotted amount for this pick. Somebody might want to tell owner Mike Brown that is just doesn't work that way.


The Cincinnati situation is in stark contrast to the San Francisco 49ers attempts to sign their #1 pick Michael Crabtree. Crabtree is seeking an equal or better deal that Darrius Heyward Bey who was taken three picks before Crabtree. In this case, the player and/or his agent is trying to circumvent the slotting system and get paid as if he was a top 5 pick instead of the number 10 selection in the draft.

Despite these two situations being totally different from a bargaining standpoint the results will be the same. Neither Andre Smith or Michael Crabtree will make it to camp in time to put in the necessary work and learn all they need in order to develop the way that these fine prospects could. More often than not, this is very destructive for the young player and very rarely does a holdout that lasts all of camp or longer, ever live up to the spot in which they were taken in the draft.


WHAT DO I ALWAYS SAY ABOUT LAST YEAR?

Last year is OVER and should not be a major influence on who you draft and where this season. Stop pouring over last years stats! They are meaningless at this point and will only serve to confuse you. Remember last year's golden boy? The guy people kept on their rosters during his entire PUP list stay and who was still being traded even while on the PUP list? That's right, Ryan Torain of the Denver Broncos. Well he was cut today after hurting his knee a little bit. See, Torain was a system guy. The NFL is full of system guys and even though systems change all the time, players contracts don't. Thus, guys who were studs or sleepers last year simply don't fit anymore.


TITANS FIND USE FOR VINCE YOUNG

Interesting to note that the Titans have installed some good ole' college 'option' plays to their playbook. They were working on some of those plays in practice today with Vince Young under center for all of them. Chris Johnson was the lead RB in most the formations as well. It seems like pretty dangerous combination, having Young and Johnson on the option running behind a pretty good offensive line. It'll be interesting to see if and when they run out of this formation in an actual game or not. Maybe Jeff Fisher is just trying to find the next "wildcat" formation or just wants to get Vince Young a bit of attention.


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Roundup 8/11

First of all I want to give out a great big THANK YOU to all who listened to the debut of Fantasy Football Tonight, the official podcast of Fantasy Football Search. We are currently the most listened to football show on Blogtalkradio and owe it all to you guys who read our site and call the show and join us at the meet & greets on our training camp and fantasy convention tours. It's you guys that make it worth all of the hard work, miles traveled and sleepless nights we take on in order to satisfy your fantasy football needs.




KENDRA'S HUSBAND INJURED

So what if Hank Baskett went down with a knee injury in today's practice? Well usually I might agree with that but now it gives me the authority to run a totally appropriate picture of Baskett's wife, Kendra. In case some of you actually do care on Hank's well being, he is awaiting results from an MRI to determine the full extent of his injury. He is buried in the Eagles WR rotation now anyways and may have a lot more time on his hands to spend with his pregnant spouse when final cuts are announced.



JETS NOT TRADING THOMAS JONES

Please trust me when I stress to you guys that the Jets have no intentions of trading starting RB Thomas Jones. This is nothing more that a flat out rumor that was gotten out of control earlier today. I have in straight from the Jets organization that they have never been in any type of discussions about Thomas Jones with any team. The Jets will employ a 3 headed RB monster this year with Jones, Leon Washington and rookie Shonn Greene. All 3 have fantasy potential and could be very productive running behind what is the best offensive line in the NFL.


KICKER NEWS

Tampa Bay kicker Matt Bryant is nursing a sore right hamstring which is causing him significant pain and limiting him in his fierce competition with Mike Nugent. Bryant is trying to battle through, but he is very slowly losing his job to Nugent. In today's practice, even when he made 3 straight field goal attempts, Bryant left the field with his head shaking and before throwing his helmet and walking to the locker room. Nugent will win this job and be a pretty decent fantasy sleeper this season.

Green Bay kicker Mason Crosby is having a legendary poor training camp. Those covering the Packers camp say that Crosby at times looks like he has never kicked a football before. Several times he has failed to get any elevation on the ball, reminiscent of a scene from an underrated movie Necessary Roughness. The problem seems to be a true slice when the ball comes off of his foot. Special teams coaches are working very hard to correct this issue with Crosby but the team may have to bring in a kicker soon if the problem doesn't get cured soon.



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Megatron Update

The WR commonly known as (at least on this blog!) Megatron, that is Calvin Johnson to you outsiders has been diagnosed with a sprained ligament in his thumb. His temporary cast is already off and he participated on 7 on 7 drills this morning at Lions camp. He may miss the Lions first preseason game just as a precaution but he will be fine.

Megatron is one of my personal favorites in fantasy football. The guy is unguardable and I don mean that as if he just has great speed or size. He has unbelievable size, strength, speed, hands, coordination and most of all work ethic. He is a one of a kind talent and despite playing on a weak team and one that will probably run the ball quite a bit, he is still the second best WR option in fantasy football next to Larry Fitzgerald. We are only a year or two away from Megatron being the #1 overall fantasy pick in drafts.


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Roundup 8/10

THEY KILLED KENNY!

Well not really, but the Bengals did cut RB Kenny Watson today. For all of you who fought with me before last season about Watson being a sleeper I think that it is safe to award me the victory on that one. This move is not that surprising when you think about it. Watson was making close to $1 million this year and was going to be behind both Brian Leonard and rookie Bernard Scott on the depth chart. The Bengals had been sniffing around Edgerrin James before camp began and my sources indicate they may once again be in the market for a veteran RB. Stay tuned...


STEVE SMITH UPDATE

Smith had X-rays on his injured right shoulder and they were negative. He is still in quite a bit of pain however and the belief is that he will be brought back to Charlotte for an MRI and further testing. Speculation is already that Smith will not be back at practice for awhile and won't be participating in at least the first preseason game this week.


DOWN GOES BRYANT

Tampa Bay WR Antonio Bryant is expected to miss 3-4 weeks with a partial tear of the meniscus in his knee. He is due to undergo surgery to repair the tear and will miss all of the preseason. I would doubt if Bryant is ready to go by the start of the regular season either do to the nature of this surgery. He will not have lateral movement for a few weeks and then will have to work back up to a reasonable skill level to compete. This is cause to drop him even farther down your draft boards folks.


WHISPERS

I'm hearing that Ben Utecht's concussion the other day was far more significant than originally let on. He lost conciseness, can't remember how it happened and is still very woozy. He has had prior concussions and it is being circulated that he may be in danger of being placed on the PUP list or possibly injured reserve, which would end his season. The Bengals are currently searching for a TE to at least bring in to compete in camp.

The Eagles are also in the market for a TE after the rash on injures they have seen to Cornelius Ingram and Matt Schobel. They had fullback Leonard Weaver lining up at TE in practice today.

It is becoming very real that Patrick Ramsey will pass Vince Young on the QB depth chart by the end of training camp. At that point, Young will without question be either traded or released. His career has been a huge disappointment and should be made into a video that every first round draft pick has to watch before signing their first contract.


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Panthers WR Steve Smith Carted Off Field

All-Pro WR Steve Smith was carted off of the practice field after a nasty collision with defensive back Chris Gamble. The two got tied up going for a ball and Smith fell hard to the ground and suffered an injury to his right arm. It is not yet clear if it is his wrist or possibly his shoulder that got injured on the fall. He was screaming in pain right away and coaches and fellow players had to calm him down until the cart got to him.

The training staff is working on him now and we'll provide more details as they become available.


***UPDATE***

Steve Smith suffered an injured right shoulder in the collision with Chris Gamble. He is being taken for X-rays and possibly further testing soon. Panthers beat reporters tell me that it doesn't look good for the standout WR and that he will certainly miss some if not all preseason games.


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Calvin Johnson In A Cast

Detroit stud WR Calvin Johnson is currently in a thumb cast after jamming his fingers in practice on Sunday. This came as a big surprise to those covering the team including my Lions beat reporter who had spoken with Johnson briefly after workouts Sunday. The team is saying that the cast is only precautionary and that X-rays and further tests are on the way. The hope is that there isn't a fracture in there because that will cause Johnson to miss some time and possibly a regular season game or two.

Calvin Johnson is poised to become one of the top fantasy players, not just WR's this season. There isn't a more naturally gifted, hard working player in the NFL. He is the kind of player you absolutely dream about and anybody who snatches him up in their draft, thumb injury or not will be very happy with him all season long.


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Eagles Backup QB Carted Off

Kevin Kolb has been carted off of the practice field in Eagles camp with a knee injury. Details are sketchy at this time but reports are that while it didn't look bad, Kolb was in obvious pain. He was unable to walk under his own power and thus he will probably be missing quite a bit of time.

A.J. Feeley will step into the backup QB role now in Philadelphia for the foreseeable future. Kolb was drafted with the intent on taking over for McNabb one day and that day almost came last season only to see McNabb step up to the challenge and reclaim the role. Feeley will not put any more pressure on McNabb's job security that is for sure.


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Willie Parker Dealing With Back Spasms

It has come to my attention that Steelers RB Willie Parker is suffering from lingering back spasms. They have kept him from participating in team drills for most of training camp and also led to the team using backup RB's Rahshard Mendenhall and MeWelde Moore a lot more. To no one's surprise, both Mendenhall and Moore have been singled out by coaches for making standout runs at times this summer. It is kind of hard to stand out when you are only participating in 50% of team activities.

Rashard Mendenhall is the perfect low level sleeper candidate this year. He is young, coming off an injury of his own yet is on a great team that always runs the ball well. He is a strong runner and has a lot to prove this year after wiping out in his rookie campaign. He will also come quite cheap as many will rush to handcuff Parker with MeWelde Moore who did an awesome job filling in for Parker last season. Trouble is, the Steelers have a big financial commitment to Mendenhall and not to Moore. Therefore, Mendenhall is more likely to cut into Parker's time this year and steal the spotlight.


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Hakeem Nicks Misses Practice

Giants first round pick Hakeem Nicks missed the last two practice sessions with a strained right hamstring. It is not considered serious but missing time during camp is a great way to get yourself lost in a crowded WR shuffle. The Giants have not been impressed with any of their in house candidates to fill the shoes of Plaxico Burress. Each receiver brings an element or two to the table, but none have come close so far to presenting the total package.

The key element here will be who franchise QB Eli Manning feels most comfortable with. Steve Smith is the guy who will get the most receptions on the season but he is not a big downfield threat or a red zone target. Therefore, Domenik Hixon, Nicks, Mario Manningham and Sinorice Moss all have a chance to be fantasy producers this season. Yet, none of them have hit the ground running thus far.

I still am a fan of Derek Hagan. He is not getting any time whatsoever in camp and thus I doubt he will even make the team if this keeps up. But, if Nicks and/or others continue to miss time or underperform, Hagan could get a shot and make a late run at a roster spot.


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Roundup 8/8

KEEP AN EYE ON...

Jake Allen - WR -- Packers -- This kid is putting on a hell of a show up at Packers camp lately. I must admit that I hadn't even heard of him until he crept up in my notes two days in a row this week for making some outstanding plays. Allen has the size (6'4" - 195 lbs.) and speed to play at a big time level. He comes from a small division III school (Mississippi College) and was on the practice squad for awhile last season. He has the look of a natural NFL WR and if he doesn't stick with Green Bay when camp breaks, I would bet that he is scooped right up by a team in need of a playmaking WR.


INJURED

DeShawn Wynn banged up his knee in practice late on Thursday and was unavailable for the teams scheduled intersquad scrimmage tonight. The team is taking some precaution with Wynn right now as they have been most impressed with his dedication this offseason and his performance during camp so far. Many believe that Wynn will be listed ahead of Brandon Jackson on the teams depth chart when it premiers in a few weeks. They will give him a couple of days to see how the knee responds but if it is still bad at that point they will send him for an MRI.

Mike Walker, the Jaguars WR and David Garrard's new favorite target got rolled up on in tonight's scrimmage and sustained a lower leg injury. It appears to be an ankle injury and not a knee which is very good news for the Jags offense.


STILL WAITING...

Drew Rosenhaus has sent out yet another Twitter message informing us that Edgerrin James is still on the open market and in great shape. The problem is that Rosenhaus and James are still seeking starter like money and length of contract which is just impossible at this point. If James wants to play football this year or ever again for that matter he had better be willing to accept a secondary role on a team that can use some depth in the backfield.


WIN A PRIZE

I still have a few Fantasy Football Search T-shirts to give away to the fist 3 people who sign up for our Season Pass & Draft Kit for 2009. Please go and sign up for the kit and then email me right away at thefantasyscout@gmail.com and I will have the shirts sent out immediately.


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Roddy White Finally Arrives in Falcons Camp

Things certainly fell into place for Roddy White this summer. After holding out for 7 days, White was able to secure himself a big salary bump, a long term commitment and the respect he so much craved for. The Falcons gave White a 6 year $50 million deal in order to end his holdout and get back to camp as soon as possible.

Without White, Matt Ryan's chances would have been futile against a much harder schedule this season. I guess that Robert Ferguson and Marty Booker will not quite cut it in Atlanta all season but they both have a chance to make their presence known.


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Luke McCown To Get First Start For Bucs

Despite being outplayed thus far in training camp by Byron Leftwich, Luke McCown will start the Bucs first preseason game against the Tennessee Titans.

I really wouldn't read that much into this decision as McCown entered camp as the QB1 but most certainly will not hold it into the regular season. Leftwich has vastly outplayed McCown so far in camp and the offensive players are already talking like the job is Leftwich's to lose.

The thing to look for in whoever wins the starting QB job here is who they are comfortable throwing to. Whether it is a WR, TE or RB each QB has their guys they are comfortable with and those are the kinds of WR's you need to target in your drafts.


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Roundup 8/7

INJURED

We've confirmed that the injury suffered by Cleveland Browns RG Rex Hadnot is indeed a torn ACL and he will most likely be placed on injured reserve and miss the entire season. Ryan Tucker will most likely get the first shot at holding the position down, that is if he can finally stay healthy himself.

49ers WR Brandon Jones will miss up to eight weeks with a fracture in his right shoulder. Jones was off to a good start in camp this year too and was expected to see a boost in playing time up until Michael Crabtree were to finally sign. This will likely make him once again worthless for any fantasy purposes.


SIGNED

As I said in last night's roundup, the Broncos and Knowshon Moreno announced that they have agreed to terms on a 5 year $23 million contract. Head coach Josh McDaniels announced that Moreno will still have a shot to earn the starting RB role in Denver but that he has some serious ground to make up in the next couple of weeks.

The Lions signed one of my favorite arena league receivers and former Kansas City Chief Bobby Sippio. He's probably just another camp body to fill in while Bryant Johnson recovers from his golf cart accident but he is a guy to keep an eye on. Sippio is Dwayne Bowe's cousin and he's got incredible hands. The guy can catch anything thrown at him enough so that the Chiefs signed him to a contract one hour into a workout in which he wasn't even supposed to be a part. Good luck Bobby!


ARROW UP

Texans WR Andre Davis is close to securing the WR3 role after excelling so far in camp. Davis has been on the come the past couple of years and has vaulted over the inconsistent Jacoby Jones. I believe that Davis or Jacoby Jones has a real chance at outperforming Kevin Walter this season. Both players are far more talented and Davis has been pleasing the coaching staff quite a bit so far this summer.

David Garrard's favorite target seems to be Mike Walker. Despite signing former All-Pro Torry Holt, Garrard says that he believes that when healthy Walker is "one of the best WR's out there." Anytime a QB is this into one of his WR's it is jackpot for fantasy owners because you know exactly where the ball is going on Sunday's.


ARROW DOWN

With each passing day it is becoming more and more likely that the Browns will flat out cut Jamal Lewis before the regular season. James Davis is getting the majority of first team reps while Jerome Harrison is fitting into a third down and change of pace type role. Lewis may wind up being the odd man out as the new coaching staff cleans out the cobwebs so to speak.


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Another Denver WR To Watch

The other day I told you about Josh McDaniels comments about Eddie Royal surpassing the numbers of Wes Welker in his offense. Today I got word that another Broncos WR is making waves and starting to come into his own and that is Jabar Gaffney.

You may remember that Gaffney played for McDaniels in New England and did quite well in spurts in this same offense. With Brandon Marshall still not practicing, Gaffney has received plenty of first team snaps and is running pristine routes and catching everything intended for him.

I can't help but wonder if it will indeed be Gaffney who breaks out this season and not Eddie Royal? Royal is talented for sure and everybody is raving about him and expects him to be the Wes Welker of this offense. Well, I am starting to believe that Gaffney will wind up being the beneficiary of the new system here in Denver and the missed time of Brandon Marshall.

Gaffney is surely available in the later rounds of most fantasy drafts. I think in a PPR league, he is a perfect deep sleeper because he has a great chance to really be the Wes Welker of Denver. He knows the system, knows where to be at all times and is shifty and nimble enough to make the tough catches in traffic. Keep him on your radar my friends.


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Hasselbeck's Elbow Sore

Slow news day so far but I can't help but feel that this is the calm before the storm. Reports out of Seattle are that Matt Hasselbeck has a sore throwing elbow. A Tacoma Tribune article states that while Hasselbeck has been icing his arm every day after camp, it is no big deal and is more of a precaution.

But my on the spot reporter is saying something a little different. Evidently, Hasselbeck's elbow is of concern and for multiple reasons. He started out camp on fire, tossing passes all over the place and looking quite good in fact. The icing started a few days after the start of camp around the same time his performance dropped. All of a sudden, Hasselbeck was getting picked over and over again and even took himself out of practice briefly and had Seneca Wallace finish up with the first team.

My people are telling me that Hasselbeck's throwing motion is all out of whack right now. He isn't using his lower half at all and must be putting much more stress on his arm and specifically that elbow as a result. The speculation over there is that maybe his back still isn't 100% or he is possibly still worried about letting it fly and thus his mechanics are all out of sorts.

Either way, this is a situation to keep monitoring. Hasselbeck is a consistent fantasy performer when healthy and with a passionate T.J. Houshmandzadeh now to throw to, he could have a real good bounce back season. Or, he could hurt himself again and be useless to all who draft him. We at Fantasy Football Search will be monitoring his progress and will relay any and all information right back here.


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