News: The Lions continued trimming their roster Friday in preparation for the regular season and released the following players: defensive backs Alphonso Smith and Ross Weaver; defensive linemen Edmon McClam, Tracy Robertson and Ugo Chinasa; tight ends Alex Gottlieb and Austin Wells; wide receivers Wallace Miles and Nate Hughes; and linebacker Carmen Messina.
Analysis: Some of these players were able to make an early impression in training camp and survive the first round of cuts. However, neither of them were ultimately expected to make a Fantasy impact this season and should be left on waivers at this point.
News: Multiple sources reported n Wednesday that the Lions claimed former Jaguars receiver Nate Hughes off of waivers. He was let go in Jacksonville for his lack of progress behind rookie players.
Analysis: Hughes spent last season on injured reserve. He earned a roster spot in 2009, but was waived after dropping two passes in the end zone. He worked his way back from the practice squad, though he may end up there once again with a new club. The Lions are fairly set at WR, so Fantasy owners should not consider him to be an option in any format on Draft Day.
News: The Jaguars waived receiver Nate Hughes on Monday. He fell notably behind rookies already in training camp. He was not expected to be a big contributor on the team even if he had made the club out of training camp.
Analysis: Hughes spent last season on injured reserve. He earned a roster spot in 2009, but was waived after dropping two passes in the end zone. He worked his way back from the practice squad, though he may end up there once again. Fantasy owners should not consider Hughes to be an option in any format, so ignore him on Draft Day.
News: The Jaguars signed veteran linebackers Tony Gilbert and Kris Griffin and also added second-year defensive tackle Leger Douzable. To make room for them, the team waived wide receiver Nate Hughes and safety Terrell Whitehead.
Analysis: None of these players were or are expected to be regular stat contributors in the first place. Keep them off of Fantasy rosters.
News: Jaguars WR Nate Hughes had one catch for 20 yards Sunday at New England.
Analysis: Hughes is a low-end Fantasy WR in all leagues and should not be used in Week 17 at Cleveland.
News: Jaguars WR Nate Hughes, RB Montell Owens, RB Brock Bolen and QB Luke McCown didn't record offensive statistics against the Colts in Week 15.
Analysis: None of these players ever contributes enough statistically to make an impact in Fantasy. Leave them all on waivers for Week 16 at New England.
News: Jaguars RB Greg Jones, WR Nate Hughes, TE Zach Miller, RB Montell Owens and QB Luke McCown all dressed for a Week 14 loss to Miami but failed to record an offensive stat.
Analysis: None of these players are worth using in any leagues for Week 15 vs. Indianpolis. Ignore them in all leagues.
News: Jaguars WR Nate Hughes had one catch for 35 yards and a touchdown Sunday against Houston.
Analysis: Despite the touchdown, Hughes is a low-end Fantasy WR in all leagues. Don't plan on using him in Week 14 against Miami.
News: Jaguars WR Nate Hughes, DB Rashean Mathis, DL Derek Landri, DL Greg Peterson and DB Michael Coe were all listed as inactive for the team's Week 12 game at San Francisco.
Analysis: Mathis has some low-end Fantasy appeal when healthy but the rest of these players are not worth owning in Fantasy.
News: Jacksonville had the following players active for Week 11 against Buffalo without any of them picking up statistics: Backup QB Luke McCown, WR Nate Hughes, FB Montell Owens, TE Ernest Wilford and TE Zach Miller.
Analysis: The fact is that none of these players were or are expected to produce enough stats to warrant Fantasy use. Keep them off of rosters for now for Week 12 at San Francisco.
News: The Florida Times-Union reports the Jaguars are thin at WR after Troy Williamson was lost for the season with a torn labrum and Nate Hughes was waived. It now means that rookies Mike Thomas and Jarett Dillard, who were both inactive the first two games, will likely make their debuts against the Texans on Sunday. They'll join Torry Holt and Mike Sims-Walker as the team's four wide receivers. Another rookie who could make his debut is TE Zach Miller, who has been sidelined since the first preseason game at Miami, when he broke a bone in the back of his kneecap. Because Miller is ready to resume practicing, the Jaguars cut Greg Estandia.
Analysis: As we told you with Williamson, it's safe to release him in all leagues. The same goes for Hughes and Estandia since they are without jobs. Keep an eye on the progress for Thomas, Dillard and Miller, but they have minimal Fantasy value heading into Week 3 at Houston.
News: The Jaguars have released receiver Nate Hughes and tight Greg Estandia a day after the players made mistakes in a 31-17 loss to Arizona. Hughes, who had three catches for 15 yards this season, dropped a fourth-down pass in the end zone in the fourth quarter that would have cut the deficit to seven points. Hughes was near tears in the locker room and was released early Monday. Estandia was flagged for illegal motion in the second quarter. One of eight penalties for Jacksonville, it wiped out a 15-yard gain. The Jaguars signed rookie cornerback William Middleton off Atlanta's practice squad and added free agent safety Courtney Greene to replace Hughes and Estandia. The team also waived safety Michael Desormeaux from the practice squad and replaced him with first-year linebacker Justin Roland.
Analysis: The fact is that none of these players were or are expected to produce enough stats to warrant Fantasy use. Keep them off of rosters for now.
News: Jacksonville WR Nate Hughes caught two passes for 8 yards Week 2 in a loss to the Cardinals.
Analysis: Hughes is in his second season for the Jaguars and doesn't figure to factor too much into the passing game, which isn't very good anyway. Leave him on waivers for Week 3 at Houston.
News: Jaguars backup FB Montell Owens (one rush, three yards) and backup WR Nate Hughes (one catch, seven yards) both chipped in a Week 1 loss to the Colts.
Analysis: Neither of these guys is expected to see enough of the ball this season to be worth using in Fantasy play. The Jaguars host the Cardinals in Week 2.
News: Jaguars WR Nate Hughes, who seems to be making his way up the depth chart, says the difference for him has been getting more comfortable. "I don't think I've improved, it's a feel and I'm not having to think as much which makes me play faster," he said Thursday. Hughes had three catches for 21 yards in Monday's preseason opener at Miami.
Analysis: Hughes is competing for a roster spot with the Jaguars and has minimal Fantasy value. Ignore him in all leagues on Draft Day, but he could be worth adding off the waiver wire if he starts out playing well.
News: WR Nate Hughes, DB Calvin Lowry, LB Thomas Williams, DL Mkristo Bruce, DL Atiyyhah Ellison and Paul Smith (third QB) are all listed as inactive for Week 17 against the Ravens.
Analysis: None of these players have any value in Fantasy and they should all be left on waivers. Ignore them.
News: The Browns have waived WR Nate Hughes, LB Xavier Mitchell and DB Darnell Terrell.
Analysis: None of these players are expected to be productive enough for Fantasy play. Ignore them for now.
