News: The Cowboys have released kick returner Allen Rossum four weeks after he injured his hamstring the only time he touched the ball for Dallas. The Dallas native was signed to handle kickoff and punt returns before the Atlanta game in October. He was hit hard returning the first kickoff by the Falcons and didn't return.
Analysis: Rossum became expendable when Patrick Crayton returned a punt for a touchdown against the Falcons and did it again a week later against Seattle. Felix Jones became the primary kickoff returner when he came back from a knee injury. He's not worth taking off waivers.
News: The Cowboys listed the following players as inactive for Week 11 against the Redskins: QB Stephen McGee (3rd QB), DB Ken Hamlin, DB Allen Rossum, LB Jason Williams and DL Curtis Johnson.
Analysis: Hamlin wasn't much of a Fantasy factor in the first place -- the Cowboys defense will miss him more than Fantasy owners. Keep him and the rest of the players listed above off Fantasy rosters across the board.
News: Dallas DBs Ken Hamlin (ankle) and Allen Rossum (hamstring) have been ruled out of the team's Week 11 game against Washington.
Analysis: Neither of these players are recommended option in IDP formats and should continue to be ignoed.
News: The Cowboys' list of inactives for Week 10 at Green Bay includes QB Stephen McGee, DB Allen Rossum, DB Mike Hamlin, LB Steve Octavien and LB Jason Williams.
Analysis: None of these players ever contributes enough statistically to matter in Fantasy. Leave them all on waivers.
News: Dallas DB Allen Rossum has been ruled out of the team's Week 10 game against the Packers with a hamstring injury.
Analysis: Rossum is not a relevant Fantasy option in IDP formats and can continue to be ignored across the board.
News: Dallas has listed the following players as inactive for Week 9 at Philadelphia on Sunday night: DB Allen Rossum, DB Mike Hamlin, LB Steve Octavien, LB Jason Williams and QB Stephen McGee (3rd QB).
Analysis: Rossum is not a relevant Fantasy option in IDP formats and can continue to be ignored across the board with the rest of the players listed above.
News: Dallas DB Allen Rossum has been ruled out of the team's Week 9 game against the Eagles due to a hamstring injury.
Analysis: Rossum is not a relevant Fantasy option in IDP formats and can continue to be ignored across the board.
News: Newly signed kick returner Allen Rossum is out two to four weeks because of a hamstring injury sustained on his first return with the Cowboys. Rossum was supposed to handle kickoffs and punts but went down in the first quarter Sunday against Atlanta. Felix Jones will be the primary kickoff returner and Patrick Crayton will handle punts. Crayton returned a punt 73 yards for a touchdown against the Falcons. Miles Austin used to be Dallas' kickoff returner, but his rapid rise as a receiver has made him too valuable for it.
Analysis: Rossum was just a low-end Fantasy option before the injury and should now be benched for at least the next two weeks.
News:Allen Rossum joined the Dallas Cowboys on Wednesday, two days after being released by San Francisco. Rossum is second in NFL history with 14,987 return yards. The 12th-year player is the only one in NFL history to have a kickoff return for a touchdown with five different teams - Philadelphia, Green Bay, Atlanta, Pittsburgh and San Francisco. Dallas will be his sixth team. Rossum says it's a dream come true to be a member of the Cowboys. He played high school at Dallas Skyline before going to Notre Dame.
Analysis: The Cowboys expect Rossum to return kickoffs and punts when they play their next game Oct. 25 against Atlanta. He is a definite improvement to the unit, but he is only worth a look in IDP leagues that reward special-teams yardage.
News: Top return man Allen Rossum was released by the San Francisco 49ers on Monday, creating roster room for newly signed rookie receiver Michael Crabtree. Rossum was surprised by the move when summoned to a meeting with coach Mike Singletary. He also spoke with general manager Scot McCloughan. The 33-year-old player ranks second in league history with 14,987 return yards. He hadn't been active the past two games after playing in the first three to start his second season with the 49ers. "Unfortunately, as this business goes, sometimes decisions are made that you don't understand, but you have to live with it and they have to live with it as well," Rossum said in the parking lot before leaving. "I don't think I've disappointed anybody when I've stepped on the field."
Analysis: Rossum doesn't post enough stats to warrant Fantasy use. Keep him off of rosters.
News: The 49ers' list of inactives for Week 5 against the Falcons includes QB Nate Davis, LB Jeff Ulbrich, DB Reggie Smith, LB Marques Harris, DB Allen Rossum and DL Ricky Jean-Francois.
Analysis: None of these players contributes enough statistically to matter in Fantasy even when active. Leave them all on waivers.
News: The 49ers signed free agent defensive lineman Demetric Evans and re-signed kick return specialist Allen Rossum on Tuesday. Evans, who signed a two-year deal reportedly worth $3.8 million, spent the past five years with the Redskins, starting 11 games last season and making a career-high 3 1/2 sacks. The veteran interior lineman has 207 tackles and 13 sacks in his seven-year career, playing both at defensive tackle and defensive end. Evans is expected to compete with Kentwan Balmer, last year's first-round pick, for the starting spot at left defensive end in the Niners' 3-4 scheme. Rossum played in 13 games last season, his first with the 49ers. He ranked third in the NFC with 26.8 yards per kickoff return, including a 104-yard return for a touchdown against Arizona.
Analysis: Neither player is expected to be productive enough to warrant Fantasy use. Keep them off of rosters.
News: The San Francisco 49ers have announced the inactives for their Week 15 game at Miami. Not in uniform will be: QB Jamie Martin (third QB), DB Allen Rossum (ankle), RB Frank Gore (ankle), DB Reggie Smith (coach's decision), DB Dashon Goldson (knee) and LB Roderick Green (coach's decision).
Analysis: Gore wasn't expected to play and he was declared active a couple of hours before kickoff. None of these other players have anything more than minimal Fantasy value.
News: The Niners listed QB Jamie Martin, DB Allen Rossum, DB Nate Clements, DB Dashon Goldson, LB Ahmad Brooks and WR Josh Morgan among their inactives for Week 14 against the Jets.
Analysis: These guys don't do enough statistically to matter in Fantasy even when healthy. Leave them all on waivers.
News: The 49ers have announced the inactives for their Week 13 game at Buffalo. Not in uniform will be: QB Jamie Martin (third QB), DB Allen Rossum (ankle), DB Reggie Smith (coach's decision), DB Dashon Goldson (knee), WR Arnaz Battle (foot) and WR Josh Morgan (groin).
Analysis: Battle is the only guy in this list with any Fantasy value, and his is very minimal. Continue to ignore all these guys for the foreseeable future.
News: Niners DB Allen Rossum will miss Week 13 at Buffalo with the ankle injury that occurred Week 12 at Dallas.
Analysis: Rossum factors mostly as a return man and has minimal appeal in Fantasy IDP leagues. Leave him on waivers.
News: 49ers veteran kick returner Allen Rossum left Sunday's game at Dallas with a sprained right ankle sustained while waiting to return a punt. Rossum was moving to field a punt in the second quarter when he suddenly dropped to the ground. The ball then bounced over him, and was downed by the Cowboys at the 1. After trainers tended to Rossum on the field and helped him to his feet, the player walked off the field without an assistance. He was taken to the locker room for X-rays and his return was questionable.
Analysis: Rossum, in his 11th NFL season, has 11,613 career kickoff return yards, second-most in NFL history behind Brian Mitchell's 14,014, and had a 104-yard touchdown this season. He also has 2,893 career punt return yards. Unless special-teams yardage means something in your league, Rossum isn't worth owning in Fantasy play.
News: Niners DB Allen Rossum, who mostly returns kicks, left Week 8 against the Seahawks with a hamstring injury. He had 78 total return yards.
Analysis: As a return man, Rossum rarely factor in Fantasy. Keep an eye on this injury as the team head into its Week 9 bye, but you wouldn't want to start Rossum anyway Week 10 at Arizona.
News: Niners DB/KR Allen Rossum left Week 7 at the N.Y. Giants with a groin injury. He did not return.
Analysis: Rossum is used mainly as a kick returner, but he does see some time on defense and on offense. His appeal in Fantasy remains limited, though, outside of leagues that reward kick return yardage.
News: San Francisco DB Allen Rossum actually caught a pass in Sunday's loss to the Eagles. Rossum's catch went for four yards.
Analysis: Rossum doesn't normally catch passes and isn't considered viable in Fantasy, whatsoever, in Week 6 against the Giants.
News: The 49ers DST had one interception, one fumble recovery and no sacks Sunday at New Orleans. Allen Rossum had four kickoff returns for 149 yards and Michael Robinson had one kickoff return for 7 yards. Patrick Willis recovered the fumble, and Takeo Spikes had the interception.
Analysis: The 49ers DST is not worth using most weeks and should be reserved in Week 5 against New England.
News: Niners DB/KR Allen Rossum was brought in on offense in Week 3 against Detroit and he scored on a 1-yard touchdown.
Analysis: Rossum is used mainly for special teams due to his speed. He was used down by the goal line to get to the end zone with his speed, beating everyone to the corner. He is pretty much a special teams player and doesn't offer much value to Fantasy owners. It's still safe to ignore Rossum in most Fantasy formats.
News: San Francisco DB Allen Rossum didn't pick up any defensive stats on Sunday in Week 1 against the Cardinals. He did return two kicks, however. Rossum's average was 29 yards per return and his long went for 44 yards.
Analysis: Rossum is pretty much a special teams player and doesn't offer much value to Fantasy owners. It's still safe to ignore Rossum in most Fantasy formats.
News: 49ers DB Allen Rossum (back) missed Friday's preseason finale against the Chargers. He was injured in the team's third preseason game against the Bears.
Analysis: Rossum is pretty much a special teams player and doesn't offer much value to Fantasy owners. It's still safe to ignore Rossum in most Fantasy formats.
News: San Francisco DB Allen Rossum left Thursday's preseason game against the Bears with a lower back contusion after getting tackled on a kick return.
Analysis: Rossum is not a good IDP player but does add value to the Niners' special teams. San Francisco's DST would be affected if Rossum was forced to miss any time in the regular season. Check back to find out the extent of the injury.
News: Kick returner Allen Rossum signed with the 49ers, joining his fifth NFL team. Rossum, a 10-year veteran who also plays cornerback, is second in NFL history with 13,269 career return yards and 10,520 kickoff return yards. He ranks first among active players with 2,749 career punt return yards, and has seven career touchdowns, all on kick returns. Rossum was released by Pittsburgh on Tuesday after a fairly unproductive season with the Steelers, but he returned a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown against San Francisco in September. He's likely to handle kickoff and punt return duties with the 49ers.
Analysis: Rossum is not a good IDP player but does add value to the Niners' special teams.
News: The Steelers have released veteran TE Jerame Tuman, LB Clint Kriewaldt and CB/KR Allen Rossum.
Analysis: While all three veterans have plenty of experience, none post enough stats to warrant use in Fantasy play. If anything, Rossum will help someone's DST unit in 2008 because of his kick-return abilities. But all three should be off your Fantasy radar.
News: Steelers DB Allen Rossum only had five tackles in 2007, but he did play well on special teams. He had 38 kickoff returns for a 23.3-yard average and one touchdown and 36 punt returns for a 6.4-yard average.
Analysis: Rossum is worth using in leagues where you get points for returns. Otherwise don't plan on using Rossum in any leagues in 2008.
News: The Steelers' list of inactives for Week 17 at Baltimore includes DB Allen Rossum, LB Andre Frazier and LB Clint Kriewaldt.
Analysis: None of these players does enough statistically to have any Fantasy value. Keep all reserved.
News: FB Dan Kreider and WR/KR Allen Rossum played in Week 7 at Denver, but he did not posts any offensive statistics.
Analysis: Neither Kreider or Rossum are worth a look in any Fantasy leagues at this point. The Steelers play at Cincinnati in Week 8.
News: According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, the Steelers will remove WR Santonio Holmes from returning kicks and punts and replace him with newly-signed Allen Rossum. Coach Mike Tomlin hasn't committed to Rossum returning punts and kickoffs in the team's season opener Sunday in Cleveland. But all indications point to him doing just that.
Analysis: A great DST unit adds a little sizzle with the addition of Rossum. Continue to view the Steelers DST as a startable unit for Fantasy play, especially since Rossum should be good for at least one TD this season.
News: The Pittsburgh Steelers acquired cornerback-kick returner Allen Rossum from the Atlanta Falcons on Saturday for a conditional 2008 draft pick. Rossum, a 2005 Pro Bowl player as a return specialist, holds Falcons team records for kickoff and punt return yards and also had two punt return touchdowns. The former Notre Dame player broke into the NFL as a third-round pick with Philadelphia in 1998 before being traded to Green Bay in 2000. He signed with Atlanta as a free agent in 2002.
Analysis: Rossum had a 59-yard kickoff return that set up a score in Atlanta's 24-19 exhibition victory over Cincinnati on Monday. He had a concussion last week and did not return any kicks Thursday against Baltimore. Last season, Rossum averaged 7.8 yards on 37 punt returns, the lowest average of his career. He averaged 14 yards in 2003 and 12.4 in 2004. The Steelers tried several players as kickoff and punt returners without much success during the preseason -- a holdover problem from a season ago. They were 26th in the league in kickoff returns and 19th in punt returns during their five exhibition games. Rossum is merely a Fantasy option in leagues that reward return yards. Other than that, he has no Fantasy value.
News: For Sunday's regular-season home finale against Carolina, the Falcons have named DB Jimmy Williams the starting right cornerback. He will replace Allen Rossum, who has started or played most of the snaps at right cornerback the past month and will remain as the nickel back in five-man coverages.
Analysis: Consider Williams a No. 3 DB in IDP leagues for Week 16.
News: Falcons DB Allen Rossum (hamstring) and CB Omare Lowe (hamstring) are listed as questionable for Week 6 vs. N.Y. Giants.
Analysis: Rossum has little value in Fantasy football but does impact Atlanta's DST unit. He is a valuable player though to Fantasy leagues that score return yards. Lowe on the other hand has no Fantasy value.
News: CB DeAngelo Hall left Monday's game at New Orleans in the first quarter due to a strained left calf injury. Allen Rossum has replaced him in the secondary.
Analysis: Hall, who was also expected to see time on offense, is now questionable to return to the game. We'll monitor his status and let you know if he gets back on the field or not.
News: Falcons return specialist Allen Rossum seems to have put a disappointing 2005 season behind him. Other than a bad decision to let a kickoff roll to the 5-yard line in the third quarter at Carolina, he made excellent decisions behind his blocking wedges. He averaged 29 yards on three kickoff returns and ran back three of six punts for a 9.7 average.
Analysis: Rossum has little value in Fantasy football but does impact Atlanta's DST unit. He is a valuable player though to Fantasy leagues that score return yards.
News: Return man Allen Rossum (knee) was inactive for Atlanta's Week 15 loss to Chicago.
Analysis: Rossum has little value in Fantasy Football but does impact Atlanta's DST unit.
News: DeAngelo Hall is expected to return punts for the Atlanta Falcons in the absence of Allen Rossum (knee, questionable) in Week 14. "Oh man, I'm real jacked up. I'm real excited," Hall said.
Analysis: Rossum has no real individual value in Fantasy Football.
News: Falcons PR Allen Rossum sprained his knee at Carolina in Week 13.
Analysis: The team's primary punt return man, Rossum won't be back in the game.
News: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Edgerton Hartwell had surgery to repair his torn right Achilles' tendon Monday morning. DB Chris Cash also underwent surgery to repair two broken bones in his right forearm. Both were placed on injured reserve.
Analysis: The Falcons DST will see a few changes this week, due to these injuries. Either OLD Keith Brooking or OLB Ike Reese will move into Hartwell's spot inside, both have played the position before. "I'm completely comfortable with whatever they decide is best for our football team," Brooking said. "We have a lack of depth there, so we need to get our best players on the football field." Demorrio Williams could replace Brooking at WLB or Michael Boley would replace Reese at SLB. Allen Rossum would probably step in for Cash. No matter what changes are made, start this DST unit at New Orleans in Week 6.
News: According to published reports, Rossum will miss Sunday's game at Buffalo due to a hamstring injury.
Analysis: With Rossum on the sidelines, WR Romby Bryant is next in line for kick return duties and second-year CB DeAngelo Hall will see work returning punts. Keep him reserved in all IDP leagues for Week 3.
News: According to reports, the Atlanta Falcons have re-signed Allen Rossum to a four-year contract.
Analysis: Rossum has little individual value, but he's still one of the league's most productive return specialists.
