|
 Chargers WR Jackson arrested for DUI
|
Updated 1/6/2009 |
| Vincent Jackson, WR SD |
|
| News: Chargers wide receiver Vincent Jackson was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of drunken driving. Jackson failed sobriety tests shortly after 2 a.m. on Tuesday morning and was taken to the San Diego County jail and released. He was on probation for a previous DUI arrest, according to a Highway Patrol Officer. Chargers general manager A.J. Smith said he was aware of Jackson's situation. "Obviously we're disappointed," Smith said. "We take these issues very seriously. Moving forward, we will monitor the situation and have no further comment." |
Analysis: Jackson just had the first 1,000-yard season of his career, for a team-high 1,098 yards and seven touchdowns. He became the first Chargers wide receiver to have 1,000 yards receiving since Curtis Conway in 2001. Jackson caught 59 passes, second on the team behind Pro Bowl tight end Antonio Gates, but didn't catch any in Saturday's 23-17 overtime playoff win over Indianapolis. We doubt that Jackson will miss the team's Divisional Playoff Game at Pittsburgh on Sunday, but clearly this is a distraction that he or the Chargers didn't need. He could be subject to a suspension by the NFL, but it might not happen until next year. Consider him a No. 2 Fantasy WR in playoff formats and a No. 3 WR in 2009 Fantasy play. |
 Titans D-line getting healthy
|
Updated 1/6/2009 |
| Titans, DST TEN |
|
| News: The Tennessee Titans got Pro Bowl defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth and end Kyle Vanden Bosch back on the practice field Tuesday. Haynesworth sat out the final two regular-season games with a sprained left knee. Vanden Bosch missed the final three and had minor surgery to repair a groin muscle Dec. 16. Coach Jeff Fisher had said he expected both Haynesworth and Vanden Bosch back for their divisional playoff game. |
Analysis: Naturally, the Titans DST should be considered a good option in the Divisional Playoffs against the Ravens, though there are better elite options among the final eight teams standing. |
|
Packers scatter defensive coaches
|
Updated 1/6/2009 |
| Packers, DST GB |
|
| News: The Packers fired five defensive assistant coaches, including defensive coordinator Bob Sanders. The club ranked 26th against the run and 12th against the pass in 2008. |
Analysis: Such a move was to be expected, particularly after the club's defensive line struggled to put pressure on the quarterback (only 27 sacks). Also, the Packers were awful against the run, especially once they lost LB Nick Barnett to a season-ending injury. Ultimately, this unit won't be any better than a No. 2 option and a good bye-week replacement in 2009. |
|
Harrison gun case still unresolved
|
Updated 1/6/2009 |
| Marvin Harrison, WR IND |
|
| News: A gun owned by Colts WR Marvin Harrison was used in an April shooting, but investigators still can't determine who pulled the trigger, the city's chief prosecutor said Tuesday. Five of the six bullet casings found at the North Philadelphia shooting scene came from Harrison's weapon, but investigators have conflicting witness accounts of who fired it, Philadelphia District Attorney Lynne Abraham said. No charges have been filed in the April 28 shooting and the investigation remains open. The victim has sued Harrison and law enforcement will be keeping tabs on that proceeding to see if any new evidence emerges that could help the criminal investigation, Abraham said. |
Analysis: Harrison finished the regular season with 60 catches for 638 as the torch has clearly been passed to the younger group of receivers in Indy with Harrison no longer the go-to guy. If the veteran returns next season, he will be a matchup-type receiver who won't be much more than a third option when he plays at home in favorable matchups. |
|
Patriots plan to franchise Cassel
|
Updated 1/5/2009 |
| Matt Cassel, QB NE |
|
| News: The New England Patriots plan to put the franchise tag on quarterback Matt Cassel, according to a published report. Cassel's future hinges heavily on Tom Brady's recovery from a season-ending knee injury in the first game this season. Franchising Cassel would keep him from becoming an unrestricted free agent and give the Patriots an option if they feel Brady might not be ready for the start of the 2009 season. If they're confident that Brady will be ready, they'd be able to trade Cassel. The Patriots' plan for Cassel was first reported by the National Football Post. "It's been talked about quite a bit (publicly)," Patriots spokesman Stacey James said Monday. "We won't be commenting on it until something happens. And if we don't use it (the tag), we probably won't comment." |
Analysis: Without a franchise tag, Cassel would become an unrestricted free agent starting Feb. 27. The period in which a team can designate a franchise player is Feb. 5 to Feb. 19. A team can put the franchise tag on one player a year. It would have to pay that player at least the minimum of the average of the five highest salaries of players at the same position, estimated at $14 million for Cassel. Cassel hadn't started in four years at Southern California and three years with the Patriots until the second game of his fourth NFL season, one week after Brady was hurt. Cassel started the remaining 15 games for the Patriots, who missed the playoffs despite finishing at 11-5. He completed 327 passes for 516 yards with 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. His 3,693 yards passing were fourth-most in the AFC, and his 63.4 completion percentage was third-best in Patriots history. It looks as though Cassel has a very good chance of being a starting quarterback in 2009, but we just don't know where yet. This is a situation that Fantasy owners will need to follow in the offseason. If Cassel stays with the Patriots, he has potential to be a low-end No. 1 Fantasy QB. If he gets traded to a non-contender, we are probably looking at Cassel as a No. 2 Fantasy option on Draft Day. |
 Cardinals still unsure about Boldin
|
Updated 1/5/2009 |
| Anquan Boldin, WR ARI |
|
| News: Cardinals WR Anquan Boldin has a strained left hamstring, and his status is uncertain for Saturday night's NFC divisional playoff game at Carolina. "We'll see how it goes this week," coach Ken Whisenhunt said at his Monday news conference. Boldin was injured on a 71-yard touchdown pass from Kurt Warner in the second quarter of Arizona's 30-24 Wild Card playoff victory over the Falcons last Saturday. He returned to play one more series, then limped off the field for good. "When you're dealing with hamstrings you just never know," Whisenhunt said. "I've seen guys that have come back and played a couple of days later, I've seen guys who are out three or four weeks." |
Analysis: Boldin had sat out the final two games of the regular season with a sore shoulder. He scored 11 touchdowns and topped 1,000 yards on the season even though he played in only 12 games, and his injury came on the same kind of big play he so often delivers -- when he's actually in the lineup, that is. You'll obviously want to keep an eye on his status during the week, but if he can suit up this weekend, he's an obvious must-start in Fantasy playoff formats. |
|
Tomlinson injury his 'toughest' yet
|
Updated 1/5/2009 |
| LaDainian Tomlinson, RB SD |
|
| News: Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson isn't sure if a week's worth of treatment and rest is going to be enough to allow him to play. "I don't know. It's tough," Tomlinson said after the Chargers' light workout on Monday. "This is a tough injury. I would probably venture to say it's probably the toughest of my career. We'll see what happens." Asked about his short-term health one day earlier, Tomlinson said: "I'm worried about my health. I'm very concerned." The Chargers continue to say Tomlinson has a strained groin. Reports surfaced Saturday that Tomlinson has a detached tendon. "It's a strained groin. That's what our medical report is," coach Norv Turner said. "I don't think it's any worse, but it isn't any better." |
Analysis: A glum Tomlinson didn't clarify the nature of his injury after Saturday's win over the Colts. "It's a medical issue," he said. "That's all I'll say about it. I'm not a doctor, and I'm not going to stand up here and act like one." Asked if he was advised to have surgery, he said: "I can't answer that." Darren Sproles got most of the team's carries Saturday and played well, so right now, you have to think Tomlinson's prospects for the rest of the playoffs look pretty grim. Keep an eye on this situation because if he needs surgery in the offseason, he might no longer project as a first rounder entering 2009. |
|
Big Ben back on the practice field
|
Updated 1/5/2009 |
| Steelers, TQB PIT |
|
| News: Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger practiced Monday for the first time since sustaining a concussion late in the second quarter of a meaningless 31-0 win over Cleveland on Dec. 28. He has had ongoing headaches, but until Monday didn't pass the memory tests given players who receive a concussion. He took three or four such tests last week. The Steelers host the Chargers in a Divisional Playoff game this week. |
Analysis: Two years ago, Roethlisberger played perhaps his worst game, throwing four interceptions in a loss to Oakland, only a week after getting a concussion. That might be the Steelers' biggest worry this week, how Roethlisberger responds to what he called a "scary" hit against Cleveland. He had only 17 touchdown passes during the regular season, though, making him just a low-end No. 1 QB in Fantasy playoff leagues. And in 2009 drafts, he might only be a No. 2. Keep an eye on he performs in practice this week. |
 Harrison named Defensive POY
|
Updated 1/5/2009 |
| James Harrison, OLB PIT |
|
| News: James Harrison slams down the current version of the Steel Curtain better than any Pittsburgh Steeler, earning him The Associated Press 2008 Defensive Player of the Year award. The linebacker who had a career-high 16 sacks, setting a team record, and led the NFL with a career-high seven forced fumbles, beat Dallas' DeMarcus Ware in balloting by a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters announced Monday. Pittsburgh defense was the league's stingiest in total defense, pass defense and points allowed. Harrison was its main hammer. "That's something that everybody in the league would love to have, to be voted the top player in the league for that year," Harrison said. "In my mind, I think I do -- and it's going to sound boring - what the defense allows me to do and what my teammates allow me to do." Harrison earned 22 votes to 13 for Ware. |
Analysis: Harrison credited defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau's schemes with allowing him, an undrafted free agent from Kent State who was cut several times by Pittsburgh and once by Baltimore, to eventually become a star. "The defense is built to play with 11 guys, and if all 11 guys are on the same page, playing the same defense on the same play, there's nothing that can go wrong and that's just how we feel about it," Harrison said. But fellow linebacker James Farrior, who has seen Harrison develop from a backup to Joey Porter into one of the game's biggest playmakers, sees Harrison as the key. "His whole attitude about football, I think he works harder than anybody else in this locker room," Farrior said. "He has a great work ethic. He's very tuned in to what he has to do to make himself better. That's all he strives for, to try to be better than anybody else, and you can see his determination when he's out there on the field." Harrison has been a solid football player the last two seasons and will be one of the first players in Fantasy IDP leagues off the board in 2009. |
|
McNabb piles up yards at Minnesota
|
Updated 1/4/2009 |
| Eagles, TQB PHI |
|
| News: Eagles QB Donovan McNabb led his team to a playoff victory Sunday at Minnesota, finishing 23-of-34 passing for 300 yards, one touchdown and one interception. His touchdown came on a 71-yard pass to Brian Westbrook in the fourth quarter. |
Analysis: The Eagles benched McNabb briefly back in Week 12 against the Ravens, but the move seemed to inspire him. He finished the season strong, setting a career high with 3,916 passing yards. He struggles with consistency at times, but he remains a No. 1 QB in Fantasy playoff formats for next weekend's game at the Giants. He'll enter next season as a No. 1 Fantasy QB as well. |
|
Jackson makes only one reception
|
Updated 1/4/2009 |
| DeSean Jackson, WR PHI |
|
| News: Eagles rookie WR DeSean Jackson caught one pass for 34 yards in Sunday's Wild Card playoff game at Minnesota. He now has two receptions or fewer in four of his last five games. |
Analysis: Jackson had a decent rookie season, but he finished with less than 1,000 yards receiving and only two touchdowns. On an offense that likes to spread the ball around, he might never emerge as a slam-dunk starter in Fantasy, but he has the upside to serve as a No. 2 WR next season. Keep him active in Fantasy playoff leagues for next weekend's game at the Giants. |
|
Taylor gets more touches than usual
|
Updated 1/4/2009 |
| Chester Taylor, RB MIN |
|
| News: Vikings RB Chester Taylor had made more of an impact than usual Sunday in a playoff game against the Eagles, carrying the ball 12 times for 48 yards and catching five passes for 36. The 12 carries represented a season high. |
Analysis: After spelling superstar Adrian Peterson last year, Taylor fell into more of a backup role this season, getting a few token carries each week -- nothing more. If you draft Peterson next season, you might consider drafting Taylor as a handcuff option, but you can wait until the late rounds to do so. |
|
Shiancoe silenced in playoff game
|
Updated 1/4/2009 |
| Visanthe Shiancoe, TE MIN |
|
| News: Vikings TE Visanthe Shiancoe had only one catch for seven yards in Sunday's playoff loss to the visiting Eagles. Since catching seven passes for 136 yards Week 16 against the Falcons, He has a total of three catches for 21 yards in two games. |
Analysis: Shiancoe had a few big games this season and emerged as a decent target in the red zone. He'll likely never play a big enough role on offense to rank among Fantasy's elite tight ends, but he looks like a decent low-end No. 1 option entering next season. |
|
T. Jackson bombs in playoff start
|
Updated 1/4/2009 |
| Tarvaris Jackson, QB MIN |
|
| News: Vikings QB Tarvaris Jackson, who threw eight touchdowns to one interception over his final four regular-season games, looked more like himself Sunday in a Wild Card playoff game against the Eagles. He finished 15-of-35 passing for 164 yards and an interception. He also ran twice for 17 yards. |
Analysis: Jackson lost his job early in the season to Gus Frerotte, but reclaimed it for those final four games while Frerotte battled a sore back. Always considered a bit of a project, he looked like he might have turned the corner late in the regular season, but his poor performance in this playoff game might seal his fate as a backup next season. Even if he starts, he'll serve as nothing more than a low-end No. 2 Fantasy QB. |
|
Vikings D can't stop Philadelphia
|
Updated 1/4/2009 |
| Vikings, DST MIN |
|
| News: The Vikings defense didn't look especially dominant against the visiting Eagles in Sunday's Wild Card playoff game. It allowed 26 points on 350 yards, though it did record three sacks and one interception. It also recovered a fumble. |
Analysis: The Vikings DST caught fire at the end of the season and solidified its place as a No. 1 unit in Fantasy. It knows how to stop the run, and that shouldn't change next year. Expect to draft it as a No. 1 option once again. |
|
Longwell not needed for field goals
|
Updated 1/4/2009 |
| Ryan Longwell, K MIN |
|
| News: Vikings K Ryan Longwell didn't get an opportunity to kick a field goal in Sunday's Wild Card playoff game against the Eagles. He did, however, nail two extra points. |
Analysis: Longwell didn't get as many field-goal opportunities at the end of the season, which might have had something to do with the Vikings switching from Gus Frerotte to Tarvaris Jackson at quarterback. The Vikings will need to improve their offense in the offseason before we can recommend Longwell as a No. 1 Fantasy kicker in 2009, but he has the potential to serve as one. |
|
Eagles defense scores at Minnesota
|
Updated 1/4/2009 |
| Eagles, DST PHI |
|
| News: In Sunday's playoff game at Minnesota, the Eagles held the hosting Vikings to 14 points on 301 yards. They scored a defensive touchdown on a 44-yard interception return by Asante Samuel and also recorded a sack and recovered a fumble. |
Analysis: The Eagles DST recaptured its status as a top Fantasy unit in 2008, recording sacks in bunches and shutting down opposing offenses time and time again. If you have it a Fantasy playoff league, you have an opportunity to use it again. Keep it active for next weekend's game at the Giants. |
|
Akers huge with four field goals
|
Updated 1/4/2009 |
| David Akers, K PHI |
|
| News: Eagles K David Akers had a clutch performance in Sunday's Wild Card playoff game at Minnesota, hitting four field goals (31, 43, 45 and 51 yards). He also hit two extra points for 14 points. |
Analysis: Counting the regular season, Akers now has 14 points in two straight games. He topped 10 points five times during the regular season and remains one of the most consistent kickers in Fantasy. Keep him active in Fantasy playoff leagues. |
|
Westbrook scores on long reception
|
Updated 1/4/2009 |
| Brian Westbrook, RB PHI |
|
| News: Eagles RB Brian Westbrook, listed as questionable coming into the game after knee and ankle injuries limited him in practice this week, had no trouble playing in Sunday's Wild card playoff game at Minnesota. He even scored a touchdown on a 71-yard reception. He finished with three catches for 83 yards and 20 rushes for 38. |
Analysis: The knee and ankle injuries slowed Westbrook for part of the season, but he looked like himself over the last few games even if he did finish with less than 1,000 yards rushing for the season. He remains one of the best pass catchers out of the backfield and will likely go off the board late in the first round of 2009 drafts. Keep him active in Fantasy playoff formats, obviously. |
|
DB Dawkins plays, records a sack
|
Updated 1/4/2009 |
| Brian Dawkins, FS PHI |
|
| News: Eagles DB Brian Dawkins, on the injury report with a back injury, played in Sunday's Wild Card playoff game at Minnesota. He had six tackles, including five solo, a sack and a forced fumble. |
Analysis: Dawkins had only three sacks and one interception all season, but he also had 75 tackles. He obviously doesn't make the same Fantasy impact he did in his younger years, but he can suffice as a No. 2 DB in Fantasy playoff formats. |
|
Curtis plays, catches four balls
|
Updated 1/4/2009 |
| Kevin Curtis, WR PHI |
|
| News: Eagles WR Kevin Curtis, listed as probable with a calf injury coming into the game, had four catches for 49 yards Sunday in a Wild Card playoff at Minnesota. |
Analysis: Curtis battled injuries early in the season and topped 50 yards receiving only three times in nine games. The Eagles like to spread the ball around, so he doesn't get regular numbers even though he usually starts. Think of him as a No. 3 WR in Fantasy playoff leagues. |
|
Sharper leaves with sprained ankle
|
Updated 1/4/2009 |
| Darren Sharper, SS MIN |
|
| News: The Vikings lost DB Darren Sharper to a sprained ankle in the second quarter Sunday in a Wild Card playoff game against the Eagles. He finished with one tackle. Coach Brad Childress described the injury as a high sprain. "He tried to come in here and get it loosened up," Childress said. "He was all set to go in the second half, and it wouldn't work for him at the level that he would've liked to have it work." |
Analysis: Sharper had only one interception all season and clearly doesn't pile up the big plays like he did in his younger years. Consider him no more than a low-end DB entering 2009. |
|
Peterson has two TDs, but struggles
|
Updated 1/4/2009 |
| Adrian Peterson, RB MIN |
|
| News: Vikings RB Adrian Peterson rushed for 83 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries against the Eagles in Sunday's Wild Card playoff game, but was completely shut down by Philly's nasty defense in the second half as the Vikings wilted in the postseason heat. The league's leading rusher managed just 17 yards on eight carries in the second half. "There were opportunities out there that I felt I left on the field and I'm sick about it," Peterson said. "In a game like this, you can't leave anything on the field. I know, personally, I'm going to learn a lot from this and try to omit those plays and move forward." |
Analysis: Peterson ran for 1,760 yards this season, topping 100 in four of his last five games. As a sophomore, he carried the Vikings into the playoffs after a dominant rookie season and looks like a no-brainer for the No. 1 overall pick in Fantasy leagues next season. |
|
Berrian does little in playoffs
|
Updated 1/4/2009 |
| Bernard Berrian, WR MIN |
|
| News: Vikings WR Bernard Berrian, who had no more than four receptions in any of his last nine regular-season games, had only two for 36 yards in a Wild Card playoff game Sunday against the Eagles. |
Analysis: Berrian had a hot stretch during the middle of the season, but his cold finish left him short of 1,000 receiving yards even though he set a career high with 964. He has plenty of big-play ability, as evidenced by average of 20.1 yards per catch, but don't draft him as more than a No. 2 Fantasy WR in 2009. |
|
Samuel sets record with touchdown
|
Updated 1/4/2009 |
| Asante Samuel, CB PHI |
|
| News: Eagles DB Asante Samuel returned an interception 44 yards for a touchdown against the Vikings on Sunday, the Philadelphia cornerback's NFL-record fourth return for a score in the postseason. He also had a solo tackle. The All-Pro cornerback was bothered by a hip injury in practice this week and listed as questionable. He appeared to aggravate the injury earlier in the second quarter and had to leave the game, but returned on the next possession to make the big play. |
Analysis: Samuel had only four interceptions during the regular season, so he doesn't have much appeal in Fantasy except as a low-end DB in IDP leagues. With so few options available in Fantasy playoff formats, though, you should probably get him active. |
|
Gates hauls in eight passes
|
Updated 1/4/2009 |
| Antonio Gates, TE SD |
|
| News: Chargers TE Antonio Gates was questionable before the Chargers' game but ended up leading the team in receiving with eight catches for 87 yards with a long of 30 yards on the night. Gates suffered from a sprained ankle the entire week in practice, but looked fine against the Colts in a 23-17 overtime win. |
Analysis: Gates appeared to be fine and his stats prove that. You can continue thinking of him as one of the top options at tight end in the league and in Fantasy. He is a must-start in playoff leagues going forward to the divisional playoffs. |
|
McGahee limited to seven carries
|
Updated 1/4/2009 | |
