News: The Falcons released three veterans — defensive end Chauncey Davis, linebacker Coy Wire and defensive tackle Trey Lewis — and 14 other players on Friday. The team made the cuts in order to get closer to the 53-man roster limit. The team also waived tight end Marquez Branson, fullback Lucas Cox, center Paul Fenaroli, safety Matt Hansen, wide receiver Brandyn Harvey, running back Gartrell Johnson, defensive end Tom McCarthy, cornerback Kamaal McIlwain, center Ryan McMahon, safety Rafael Priest, defensive end Kiante Tripp, safety Suaesi Tuimaunei and linebacker Bear Woods. The Falcons also reached an injury settlement with wide receiver Andy Strickland.
Analysis: The veterans may have a chance to catch on with another team, but their chances of being put into significant role are minimal at this stage. None of the players listed are worth owning in Fantasy.
News: Atlanta announced Thursday it has extended to contract of DL Trey Lewis. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Lewis, recorded two tackles in the Falcons' season opener against Pittsburgh, but was inactive the remainder of the season.
Analysis: Lewis was originally selected by Atlanta in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. In four seasons with the Falcons, he has totaled 35 tackles, with a career-high 19 stops during his rookie season. He is not a worthwhile option in any Fantasy format.
News: Atlanta RB Michael Turner, QB Matt Ryan, DB Chris Houston, RB Verron Haynes, TE Jason Rader, WR Brian Finneran and DL Trey Lewis have been listed as inactive for the team's Week 14 game against the Saints.
Analysis: Ryan and Turner are clearly solid Fantasy options when healthy but the rest of these players have little to no Fantasy value.
News: The Falcons listed the following players as inactive for Week 13 against Philadelphia: RB Michael Turner, WR Michael Jenkins, QB Matt Ryan, DB Charlie Peprah, LB Spencer Adkins and DL Trey Lewis.
Analysis: Turner, Jenkins and Ryan have Fantasy appeal, but Fantasy owners have no use for the other players on his list. Leave them reserved in all leagues.
News: The Falcons listed the following players as inactive for Week 11 at the N.Y. Giants: QB John Parker Wilson, RB Michael Turner, RB Jerious Norwood, LB Spencer Adkins, WR Brian Finneran and DL Trey Lewis.
Analysis: Aside from Turner and Norwood, none of the players listed have any real Fantasy appeal. Leave them on waivers until further notice.
News: Atlanta has listed the following players as inactive for Week 10 at Carolina: DB Charlie Peprah, 3rd QB John Parker Wilson, RB Jerious Norwood, LB Spencer Adkins and DL Trey Lewis.
Analysis: When healthy, Norwood steals a handful of touches as Michael Turner's backup, but he still doesn't do enough on a regular basis to be starting in Fantasy. Keep him reserved until further notice. The rest of the players listed above have no Fantasy value for Week 10 or any other week at this point.
News: The Falcons listed the following players as inactive for Week 2 vs. Carolina: QB John Parker Wilson, RB Verron Haynes, LB Spencer Adkins, DB Tye Hill and DL Trey Lewis.
Analysis: None of the players listed are expected to have any Fantasy appeal this season.
News: The Falcons have named their inactives for Week 1 vs. Miami: DB Tye Hill, DB William Moore, LB Spencer Adkins, DL Trey Lewis and QB John Parker Wilson.
Analysis: None of these players have any Fantasy value. Continue to ignore them in all formats.
News: The Atlanta Falcons signed linebacker Coy Wire and cornerback Blue Adams, placed defensive tackle Trey Lewis on the active/non-football injury list, reached an injury settlement with linebacker Travis Williams and waived cornerback Glenn Sharpe.
Analysis: None of the above players are worth a look in Fantasy play at this point.
News: The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports that Falcons DT Trey Lewis had a freak accident down a flight of stairs and is forced to restart his rehab on his surgically repaired right knee. "He's having some surgery this week," agent Richard Katz said. "Basically, he's lost the three months that he's been rehabbing."
Analysis: Even if healthy enough to play, Lewis isn't expected to post big stats. Ignore him in IDP league play.
News: The Falcons placed defensive tackles Rod Coleman and Trey Lewis on injured reserve on Tuesday, ending their seasons. The club also signed free agent defensive tackle Jesse Mahelona, activated defensive end Kevin Huntley from the practice squad and signed defensive end Derrick Jones to the practice squad.
Analysis: The re-shuffling of their defensive interior is not going to help their defense at all. Bet they wish they still had Grady Jackson. The Falcons DST is not worth starting in any Fantasy league as they host the Colts in Week 12 on Thanksgiving, and none of the above players mentioned are worth a look in IDP leagues, either.
News: Walking with a limp and his arms around two trainers, Falcons DL Trey Lewis hobbled off the field Week 11 against the Buccaneers after suffering a knee injury in the first quarter. He did not return.
Analysis: As mostly a space-filler on the defensive line, Lewis doesn't have any Fantasy value. He recorded only one tackle before leaving. The Falcons host the Colts on Thanksgiving Day in Week 12.
News: Rookie sixth-round pick Trey Lewis will now take over as a starting defensive tackle after the Falcons released Grady Jackson in a surprise move Tuesday.
Analysis: Lewis has 15 tackles. He made two starts when Rod Coleman and Jonathan Babineaux were held out because of knee injuries. As mostly a space-filler on the defensive line, he has no Fantasy value.
News: Rookie defensive tackle Trey Lewis, a sixth round pick from tiny Washburn, will make his first career start against the Houston Texans on Sunday. "It's kind of big switch since last week I was inactive," Lewis said after practice on Thursday. "It goes to show you that you've just got to be ready. I've been practicing real hard so I'm ready to take the challenge." Lewis will start for Jonathan Babineaux, who suffered a stretched knee ligament and could be out for three weeks. Babineaux was replacing former Pro Bowl selection Rod Coleman, who is out with a quadriceps and knee injury.
Analysis: It's not often that a player goes from being inactive one week to starting the next, but that's exactly what's happened to Lewis. The Falcons play at Houston in Week 4, but Lewis is not an advisable start as a) he's a rookie, b) he's making his first start and c) the Falcons D isn't very good.
News: The Falcons list of inactives for Week 3 against the Panthers includes DB Daren Stone, DL Rod Coleman, TE Dwayne Blakley and DL Trey Lewis.
Analysis: These players are all either reserves or minor starters on defense. None accumulate meaningful Fantasy statistics. Keep them reserved in all formats.
News:The Sports Xchange reports Falcons rookie DL Trey Lewis continues to emerge as one of the late-round sleepers of the draft. Lewis had four solo tackles against Jacksonville in Week 2 as a backup to starter Jonathan Babineaux.
Analysis: Lewis eventually could be moved to nose tackle once Rod Coleman returns from arthroscopic knee surgery but his quickness and ability to maintain gap control have proven to be a bright spot. Lewis is more important to the Falcons than Fantasy owners at this time and can be ingored in Fantasy leagues.
News: Falcons backup DT Trey Lewis, a rookie from Washburn College, was moved from the outside technique to nose tackle, where the coaches see him playing long term, reports The Sports Xchange. The move also was made because injured starter Rod Coleman is set to begin practicing at the outside technique tackle after missing all offseason workouts and training camp with ruptured right quadriceps.
Analysis: Lewis is more of a run-stuffer and will not produce enough stats to help your Fantasy team, so ignore him in IDP leagues this year.
News: The Falcons and rookie DT Trey Lewis agreed to a four-year deal.
Analysis: Lewis will provide depth along the D-line but won't put up stats that will help Fantasy owners. Ignore him for now.
News: Aside from top pick DE Jamaal Anderson, the Falcons' 2007 draft class includes: Texas OL Justin Blalock, Arkansas CB Chris Houston, Illinois State WR Laurent Robinson, South Florida LB Stephen Nicholas, Georgia TE Martrez Milner, Washburn DT Trey Lewis, Auburn CB David Irons, Ohio State C Doug Datish, Maine SS Daren Stone and Virginia RB Jason Snelling.
Analysis: Blalock and Datish are quality players who should start sooner than later along the Falcons' O-line (Blalock as soon as this year). Houston and Nicholas will compete for starting jobs on defense, but Laurent Robinson might just be the best Fantasy sleeper in the crew. A 6-foot-1, 193-pound speedster (4.41 in the 40-yard dash), Robinson could be a situational deep threat receiver for the Falcons this year, possibly replacing Roddy White or Michael Jenkins as soon as 2008. The rest of the players will provide depth and help out on special teams.
