News: Arizona agreed to terms with former Pittsburgh DL Nick Eason on a two-year contract Thursday, according to ESPN. Eason, who spent the last four years with the Steelers, will be reunited with Cardinals defensive coordinator Ray Horton from their years in Pittsburgh.
Analysis: Eason racked up 16 tackles and 1.5 sacks while appearing in all 16 games for the Steelers last season. The 31-year-old veteran matched a career-high with five starts, but will likely have a limited role with the Seahawks. Leave him untouched in all Fantasy IDP drafts.
News: Steelers DE Nick Eason sprained his right MCL in a Week 12 win at Buffalo.
Analysis: Eason doesn't do a whole lot for the Steelers as a reserve DL, and might be back on the bench in Week 13 at Baltimore, as he was filling in for the injured Brett Keisel. Continue to ignore Eason in IDP Fantasy play, healthy or not.
News: The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports DE Nick Eason, an unrestricted free agent who started five games in 2009, will re-sign Thursday with the Steelers. Eason, who turns 30 next month, has served as a backup the past three seasons. With veteran Travis Kirschke expected to retire, Eason's role could expand, along with Ziggy Hood, last year's first-round draft pick, and second-year-player Sunny Harris. Eason totaled 16 tackles in eight games last season.
Analysis: Eason has minimal Fantasy value, but he could see a boost, along with Hood and Harris, if Kirschke retires as expected. Still, none of these players are worth drafting in the majority of leagues. Ignore them all in IDP formats on Draft Day.
News: The Steelers' list of inactives for Week 15 against the Packers includes WR Limas Sweed, QB Charlie Batch, DB Keenan Lewis, DL Ra'Shon Harris and DL Nick Eason.
Analysis: None of these players contributes enough statistically to have significant Fantasy appeal.
News: Steelers QB Charlie Batch, CB Keenan Lewis, RB Carey Davis, SS Troy Polamalu, DT Ra'Shon Harris and DE Nick Eason have been listed as inactive for the team's Week 14 game at Cleveland.
Analysis: Polamalu is the only played listed that is relevant in Fantasy play. The rest of these players can be left on waivers.
News: The Steelers have announced the following players as inactive for Week 12 at Baltimore: QB Ben Roethlisberger, QB Charlie Batch, DB Keenan Lewis, DB Troy Polamalu, DL Ra'Shon Harris and DL Nick Eason.
Analysis: Roethlisberger is the only offensive player on this list with any Fantasy value, and had already been declared out earlier this week, so he should be on your bench at this point. Polamalu is a solid IDP option when healthy, but he was also ruled out before Sunday. Continue to ignore all the other guys in Fantasy play.
News: Steelers safety Troy Polamalu did not practice all week because of a left knee injury and will not play Sunday in Kansas City. He may miss the following week's game at Baltimore as well. Polamalu sat out the Steelers' second through fifth games with a ligament tear, only to injure the same knee during an 18-12 loss to Cincinnati last Sunday. Polamalu's latest injury is to a different ligament. He wore a heavy brace as he watched practice this week. Also, defensive end Travis Kirschke will sit out his third consecutive game with a torn left calf muscle. He had been filling in for Aaron Smith, who is out for the season with a torn right rotator cuff. Nick Eason will start again at left defensive end. Tyrone Carter will start at safety.
Analysis: Keep Polamalu benched while Carter is at best a low-end replacement for him. You can probably find better off waivers. Kirschke and Eason aren't worth using in Fantasy play.
News: Steelers LB Lawrence Timmons (ankle) and DE Travis Kirschke (calf) did not practice Monday. Coach Mike Tomlin said he's more optimistic about Timmons' injury than Kirschke's. Kirschke replaced injured DE Aaron Smith in the starting lineup three weeks ago. DE Nick Eason, who was inactive for four of the first five games, and rookie DE Ziggy Hood, who averages only six plays a game, would take Kirschke's place if he can't play against Denver in Week 9.
Analysis: Keep an eye on the status for Timmons and Kirschke heading into Week 9. Timmons is a No. 3 LB in IDP leagues when healthy, and Kirschke is a low-end DL but a big part of the Steelers' run defense now that Smith is out.
News: The Steelers listed the following players as inactive for Week 5 at Detroit: DB Troy Polamalu, QB Dennis Dixon, DB Keenan Lewis, RB Willie Parker, WR Shaun McDonald and DL Nick Eason.
Analysis: Aside from Polamalu and Parker, none of the players on this list are expected to have any Fantasy value this season. Leave them on waivers in all leagues.
News: Pittsburgh released RB Isaac Redman on Monday. They brought back DE Nick Eason.
Analysis: Redman was in town just long enough to watch Rashard Mendenhall explode and make him completely unnecessary. Redman -- and Eason for that matter -- do not need to be on Fantasy rosters for Week 5.
News: The Steelers' list of inactives for Week 3 at Cincinnati includes DB Keenan Lewis, RB Frank Summers, WR Shaun McDonald, DL Nick Eason and QB Dennis Dixon.
Analysis: None of these players does enough statistically to matter in Fantasy even when active. Leave them all on waivers.
News: The Steelers' list of inactives for Week 2 at Chicago includes LB Arnold Harrison, QB Dennis Dixon, DL Nick Eason, DB Keenan Lewis and WR Limas Sweed.
Analysis: None of these players does enough statistically to matter in Fantasy even when active. Leave them all on waivers.
News: The Steelers have listed QB Dennis Dixon (third QB), DB Joe Burnett, DB Keiwan Ratliff, WR Shaun McDonald, DL Nick Eason and LB Lawrence Timmons as inactive for Week 1 vs. Tennessee.
Analysis: The biggest inactive for Pittsburgh is Timmons, who is out with an ankle injury. He is one of the Steelers' starting linebackers and a decent low-end Fantasy LB when healthy. The remaining inactive players have little to no Fantasy value when healthy.
News: The Steelers listed RB Carey Davis, QB Dennis Dixon, LB Andre Frazier, DL Nick Eason, DL Casey Hampton and DL Brett Keisel as inactive for Week 5 at Jacksonville.
Analysis: None of these players does enough statistically to matter in Fantasy even when active. Leave them all on waivers.
News: Steelers DL Nick Eason (groin) has been ruled out for Week 5 at Jacksonville. Eason will miss his first game of 2008 after being active for the first four.
Analysis: Eason has eight tackles, 1/2 sack and one pass defense this season. He is part of a rotation for Pittsburgh and has little to no Fantasy value when healthy.
News: Notable Steelers performers from Week 1 vs. Houston include: LB James Harrison (nine total tackles, three sacks, forced fumble), LB LaMarr Woodley (three solo tackles, one sack, one interception) and SS Troy Polamalu (three solo tackles, interception). DE Nick Eason and LB James Farrior combined for a sack.
Analysis: Of these players, Harrison, Polamalu and Farrior are Fantasy mainstays. Woodley could be too after not making a huge impact as a rookie. Check him out off the waiver wire in most IDP leagues. The Steelers play at the Browns in Week 2.
News: The Steelers and DE Nick Eason agreed to a two-year deal, keeping him in Pittsburgh.
Analysis: Eason is a reserve lineman in the Steelers' 3-4 scheme. Forget about him in Fantasy play.
News: Defensive end Nick Eason, who played for the Cleveland Browns the past two seasons, signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Tuesday. Eason, a fourth-round draft pick by the Browns from Clemson in 2003, was waived by Cleveland in 2004. He spent part of the 2005 season on the Denver Broncos' practice squad before rejoining the Browns late that season.
Analysis: The 6-foot-3, 305-pound Eason would replace Rodney Bailey, who signed last week with the Arizona Cardinals. Eason had 23 tackles last season. In 30 career NFL games, he has 44 tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble. Bailey had six tackles in 12 games as a backup for Pittsburgh last season. He's not worth using in Fantasy play.
News: Browns DL Nick Eason (foot) has been upgraded from questionable to probable for Week 17 at Houston.
Analysis: Eason is not a recommended Fantasy option for Week 17.
News: Browns WR Dennis Northcutt (shoulder), DL Alvin McKinley (shoulder), LB Andra Davis (concussion), LB Chaun Thompson (thumb), DL Nick Eason (foot), LB Mason Unck (groin), DB Leigh Bodden (ankle) are listed as questionable for Week 17 at Houston.
Analysis: Davis is the only injured player worth using in Week 17 if he is ready to play. Ignore the other players.
News: Browns LB Mason Unck (groin), DL Ted Washington (knee), DL Nick Eason (foot), LB Willie McGinest (pectoral), DL Alvin McKinley (shoulder), TE Darnell Dinkins (neck), LB Andra Davis (concussion), DB Leigh Bodden (ankle) and WR Dennis Northcutt (shoulder) are listed as questionable for Week 16 vs. Tampa Bay.
Analysis: Davis is the only injured Brown that should be used for Fantasy purposes in Week 16. Ignore the other players for now.
News: Notable Browns on their Week 15 injury report include: LB D'Qwell Jackson (toe, doubtful), QB Charlie Frye (wrist, questionable), TE Kellen Winslow (knee, questionable), CB Leigh Bodden (ankle, questionable), LB Willie McGinest (pectoral, questionable), DE Nick Eason (foot, questionable), DT Ted Washington (knee, questionable), WR Dennis Northcutt (shoulder, questionable) and LB Mason Unck (groin, questionable).
Analysis: Of these players, Winslow is sure to play, but the rest are not. Frye will try to practice, but if he can't play, Derek Anderson will start. The rest of the players mentioned are either fringe IDP options or not reliable players for Fantasy use.
News: The following Browns defenders were listed on the team's Week 13 injury report: DL Orpheus Roye (knee, doubtful), DE Nick Eason (knee, questionable), LB Willie McGinest (chest and ankle, questionable), CB Leigh Bodden (ankle, questionable), SS Brian Russell (elbow, questionable) and LB Mason Unck (groin, questionable).
Analysis: Of all these players, only Roye and McGinest are worth owning in the deepest of IDP leagues. The Browns host the Chiefs in Week 13.
News: Browns LB Willie McGinest (calf), CB Gary Baxter (pectoral), CB Leigh Bodden (ankle), DE Nick Eason (ankle), DB Justin Hamilton (ankle), DE Orpheus Roye (shoulder) and DB Brian Russell (elbow) are listed as questionable for Week 5 at Carolina.
Analysis: McGinest and Russell are decent bye-week replacements in IDP leagues, while Roye is a solid No. 2 defensive lineman for Week 5 at Carolina. The other players are wait-and-see Fantasy options at this point.
News: DB Gary Baxter (pectoral), DL Nick Eason (ankle) and Justin Hamilton (ankle) were all inactive for Week 4 at Oakland.
Analysis: When healthy, these three players are not useful in IDP leagues. The Browns play at Carolina in Week 5.
News: Browns DL Orpheus Roye (shoulder), DL Simon Fraser (shoulder), DL Nick Eason (ankle) and TE Darnell Dinkins (hamstring) are listed as questionable for Week 4 at Oakland.
Analysis: These players should be reserved for Week 4, if unable to play against Raiders.
News: The Browns inactives in Week 3 vs. Baltimore were RB Reuben Droughns, DE Orpheus Roye, CB Gary Baxter WR Joe Jurevicius (ribs), DL Nick Eason (ankle), OL Isaac Sowells, and TE Darnell Dinkins (hamstring).
Analysis: Droughns is the only player on this list that could have been considered a viable starter in Week 3. The rest of these players should be reserved in all formats.
News: Browns DL Nick Eason (ankle) is out for Week 3 vs. Baltimore, according to coach Romeo Crennel.
Analysis: Eason is not a viable Fantasy option in any league. Ignore him.
News: The San Francisco 49ers signed defensive lineman Nick Eason to their practice squad.
Analysis: Denver cut Eason from their practice squad last week. He has no Fantasy value.
News: Nick Eason was back at training camp on Friday after missing three days for personal reasons.
Analysis: Eason is expected to serve as a backup defensive tackle this season. He has no Fantasy appeal.
News: The Rocky Mountain News reports DT Nick Eason is expected to be at camp on Friday after missing three of six practices for "personal" reasons.
Analysis: Eason is expected to serve as a backup defensive tackle this season. He has no Fantasy appeal.
News: According to the Denver Post, Eason failed to show up at the team's training facility on Tuesday. Team officials had not heard from him but believe he is still in Colorado.
Analysis: Eason is expected to serve as a backup defensive tackle this season. He has no Fantasy appeal.
