News: Detroit signed two players Monday, including RB Kevin Smith, to one-year deals. With the additions, the Lions released DB Anthony Madison and RB Eldra Buckley to clear room on the roster.
Analysis: Madison had not been a major Fantasy contributor during his first season with Detroit and had three tackles in five games after being signed in late September. He should remain on waivers in all Fantasy IDP formats.
News: Detroit placed LB Isaiah Ekejiuba (shoulder) on injured reserve on Wednesday, ending his season. Detroit confirmed the signing of CB Anthony Madison as Ekejiuba's replacement.
Analysis: Ekejiuba was a key special teams contributor for Detroit, known for his excellent ball pursuit on kick coverage. He had no Fantasy appeal prior to getting hurt, however. Madison will be too far down the depth chart to make any impact in Fantasy.
News: The Lions signed CB Anthony Madison to their active roster on Tuesday. Madison has spent the past five seasons with the Steelers.
Analysis: Madison was signed in Detroit to provide some depth at CB, but most likely won't make much of an impact on the field. Continue to ignore him in most formats at this point in the season.
News: The Detroit Free Press reports that the Lions signed defensive back Anthony Madison on Sunday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Madison was with the Steelers for the last five seasons, amassing 78 tackles, one sack and an interception while seeing time as a reserve.
Analysis: Madison is going to provide depth in the secondary, as the team deals with some early injuries at the back-end. He as never seen significant NFL playing time, so Fantasy owners should not expect a big impact until he proves otherwise. Ignore Madison on Draft Day in IDP leagues.
News: The Colts have waived defensive end Josh Thomas and defensive back Anthony Madison. Both were waived Tuesday after signing with the Colts to add depth to a defense hit by several injuries.
Analysis: Neither of these players should be owned in any IDP format.
News: No longer needed, kicker Billy Cundiff has been waived by the Cleveland Browns. Cundiff filled in while Phil Dawson missed five games with a pulled right calf muscle. Cundiff made all six field-goal tries for the Browns. The Browns also waived defensive back Anthony Madison.
Analysis: Neither of these players were expected to produce enough stats to warrant Fantasy use. Keep them off of rosters for now.
News: Browns inactives: PK Phil Dawson, QB Brett Ratliff, DB Gerard Lawson, RB Jamal Lewis, DB Anthony Madison, OL Rex Hadnot and Floyd Womack, TE Greg Estandia.
Analysis: Lewis and Dawson were not expected to play Week 4 in the first place and have missed two straight weeks. The rest of these players have little Fantasy relevance.
News: Cleveland was awarded TE Greg Estandia off waivers from Jacksonville on Tuesday and they also signed free agent DB Anthony Madison.
Analysis: The 6-foot-8, 266-pound Estandia spent two seasons on the Jaguars' roster. He made two starts, appeared in 26 games and had 19 catches for 249 yards. Madison played 38 games in three seasons with Pittsburgh from 2006-08. Neither player is expected to contribute enough to be considered viable Fantasy options this season. Leave them on waivers.
News: The Steelers made qualifying offers to restricted free agents cornerback Anthony Madison and tight end Sean McHugh and offers to exclusive-rights free agents fullback Carey Davis. The Steelers also released linebacker Mike Humpal on Thursday. If another team offers a deal to any of the restricted free agents, the Steelers get to match it or be compensated with draft choices. The Steelers retained exclusive negotiating rights with Davis.
Analysis: McHugh was signed to the team in September and did more blocking than anything else. Davis was signed in 2006 and saw limited touches in 2008. Humpal was the first of two sixth-round draft picks by the Steelers in the 2008 draft. None of these guys are worth your worry in Fantasy play.
News: On Tuesday, the Steelers signed CB Anthony Madison, releasing CB Ricardo Colclough to make room for him.
Analysis: Neither cornerback is worth owning in IDP league play as they don't produce many statistics.
News: The Buccaneers added experienced depth to their secondary on Tuesday, re-signing cornerback Sammy Davis, who was released earlier this month in the final cut. Davis, a fifth-year pro who made 31 career starts with San Diego and San Francisco, originally signed with the Bucs as a free agent on March 13. He rejoins a secondary that could be without cornerback Brian Kelly for Sunday's game against New Orleans. Kelly has a strained groin and will be listed as questionable this week. To make room on the roster for Davis, cornerback Anthony Madison was released. The Bucs also released receiver Chas Gessner, cornerback Carlos Hendricks and tight end Matt Herian from injured reserve.
Analysis: Aside from Kelly, who's hobbling, none of these players should be considered for Fantasy play.
News: LB Patrick Chukwurah, DB Anthony Madison, DL Ryan Sims and LB Jeremiah Trotter are inactive for Week 1 at Seattle.
Analysis: Only Trotter is worth a look in IDP Fantasy leagues when he is on the field. However, he will gradually get into the swing of things with his new team and is a reserve for now.
News: On Saturday, the Steelers let go of rookie WR Dallas Baker, TE Cody Boyd, OT Jason Capizzi, TE Jon Dekker, RB Verron Haynes, CB Chidi Iwuoma, CB Jovon Johnson, FB John Kuhn, S Mike Lorello, CB Anthony Madison, CB Grant Mason, DE Ryan McBean, DE Shaun Nua, C Chukky Okobi, DT Scott Paxson, C Marvin Philip, QB Bryan Randall, LB Ron Stanley, OG Cameron Stephenson, OT Brandon Torrey, WR Gerran Walker, LB Rian Wallace and WR Walter Young.
Analysis: Haynes worked hard to come back and rejoin the team as a backup running back, but the roster shakeout didn't work in his favor. He could sign on elsewhere. Young also had a terrific preseason but the team couldn't find a roster spot for him. All of the above players should be considered unusable for Fantasy purposes until they find regular playing time with an NFL team.
News: Rookie CB Anthony Madison was signed to the Steelers roster from the practice squad last Saturday. He replaces CB Ricardo Colclough, who went on injured reserve with a neck injury. The Steelers signed rookie DB Jovon Johnson of Iowa to their practice squad.
Analysis: Neither player has any current Fantasy value in IDP leagues.
News: The Steelers announced the following players on their practice squad: TE Jon Dekker, DE Orien Harris, RB Cedric Humes, QB Omar Jacobs, FB John Kuhn, CB Anthony Madison, DE Shaun Nua and OT Brandon Torrey. WR Marvin Allen is also on there; he is an exemption based on the NFL's International Player Development Program.
Analysis: These players will practice with the team but aren't expected to be active for much of 2006 (if at all). Don't add them to Fantasy rosters.
News: The Steelers cut 22 players in one of the biggest single-day cutdowns in club history, but only wide receiver Quincy Morgan and linebacker Andre Frazier saw much playing time last season out of the players who were cut. Also cut were offensive linemen Tim Brown and Brandon Torrey, tight ends Charles Davis and Jon Dekker, defensive ends Orien Harris, Shaun Nua and Lee Vickers, running back Cedric Humes, fullbacks Branden Joe and John Kuhn, safety Mike Lorello, cornerback Anthony Madison, wide receiver Lee Mays, defensive tackle Scott Paxson, linebackers Richard Seigler and Ron Stanley and wide receiver Walter Young.
Analysis: The Steelers have never cut so many picks since director of football operations Kevin Colbert took over seven years ago, but they have never had so little roster turnover during an offseason. Consider the Fantasy vagabonds useless this season.
News: The Steelers made the following cuts Saturday: punter Mike Barr, offensive linemen Tim Brown and Brandon Torrey, tight ends Charles Davis and Jon Dekker, defensive ends Orien Harris, Shaun Nua and Lee Vickers, running back Cedric Humes, fullbacks Branden Joe and John Kuhn, safety Mike Lorello, cornerback Anthony Madison, wide receiver Lee Mays, defensive tackle Scott Paxson, linebackers Richard Seigler and Ron Stanley and wide receiver Walter Young. Two more roster spots need to be trimmed still.
Analysis: None of these players are viable in Fantasy Football 2006 at this point. Ignore them.
