News: The Miami defense might change at SLB with Ikaika Alama-Francis replacing rookie Koa Misi, who has had trouble holding the corner on run plays. Alama-Francis worked with the first team Sunday.
Analysis: Alama-Francis has yet to become a viable option in Fantasy IDP leagues during his career. Still, as a starter he could gain value. Keep him on waivers for now.
News: The Dolphins have announced the following players as inactive for Week 17 vs. Pittsburgh: QB Tyler Thigpen, DL Ryan Baker, DB Evan Oglesby, DE Lionel Dotson, DL Ikaika Alama-Francis and WR Patrick Turner.
Analysis: While rookie WR Turner might have some value in deeper keeper leagues, none of these guys have any Fantasy value in seasonal formats. Continue to ignore them.
News: The Dolphins have listed the following players as inactive for Week 16 vs. Houston: QB Tyler Thigpen, DB Evan Oglesby, DL Ikaika Alama-Francis, RB Kory Sheets, DL Lionel Dotson and WR Patrick Turner.
Analysis: While rookie WR Turner might have some value in deeper keeper leagues, none of these guys have any Fantasy value in seasonal formats. Continue to ignore them.
News: Miami has listed the following players as inactive for Week 15: QB Tyler Thigpen, RB Kory Sheets, DB Evan Oglesby, DE Lionel Dotson, DL Ikaika Alama-Francis and WR Patrick Turner.
Analysis: While rookie WR Turner might have some value in deeper keeper leagues, none of these guys have any Fantasy value in seasonal formats. Continue to ignore them.
News: The Dolphins have listed the following players as inactive for Week 14 at Jacksonville: RB Kory Sheets, LB Erik Walden, DL Lionel Dotson, DL Ikaika Alama-Francis, WR Patrick Turner and QB Tyler Thigpen.
Analysis: While rookie Turner might have some value in deeper keeper leagues, none of these guys have any Fantasy value in seasonal formats.
News: The following Dolphins players have been declared inactive for Week 13 vs. New England: RB Kory Sheets, DE Lionel Dotson, WR Patrick Turner, QB Tyler Thigpen and DL Ikaika Alama-Francis.
Analysis: While Turner might have some value in deeper keeper leagues, none of these guys have any Fantasy value in seasonal formats.
News: Linebacker Matt Roth was released Tuesday by the Miami Dolphins, a move that came a week after coach Tony Sparano lauded his work off the bench. The Dolphins also signed cornerback Evan Oglesby and defensive end Ikeaika Alama-Francis. Defensive tackle Jason Ferguson was placed on injured reserve with a season-ending leg injury, and safety Nate Ness was released. Ferguson was injured in last week's win over Carolina.
Analysis: Roth missed training camp and the season's first five games with a groin injury, then compiled four tackles in Miami's last four games. Still, Sparano said Roth was "really impressive" in a 25-23 win over Tampa Bay on Nov. 15. Roth had his best season last year, moving from end to linebacker. He since lost his starting role to Jason Taylor. Oglesby has spent time with Baltimore and Dallas. Alma-Francis was a second-round pick by Detroit in 2007. None of the players listed above has any Fantasy value at this time. Keep them off rosters.
News: The Detroit Lions announced Sunday that they have traded QB Kevin O’Connell to the New York Jets for an undisclosed future draft pick. The team also released DE Ikaika Alama-Francis, CB Cletis Gordon and WR Adam Jennings.
Analysis: None of the players released above were going to be Fantasy options for the Lions this season anyway. Leave them on waivers in all Fantasy leagues.
News: Lions LB Ryan Nece (six tackles, half a sack), DL Cory Redding (five tackles, sack), DL Ikaika Alama-Francis (four tackles, half a sack) and DL Jared DeVries (three tackles, fumble recovery) all chipped in with nice contributions in a Week 7 loss to the Texans.
Analysis: None of these players contribute on a consistent enough basis to be of any use in Fantasy play.
News: The Lions listed the following players as inactive for Week 6 at Minnesota: QB Drew Henson (third QB), QB Jon Kitna, DL Landon Cohen, DL Ikaika Alama-Francis, DL Andre Fluellen, DL Damion Cook and LB Gilbert Gardner.
Analysis: Aside from Kitna, of the players on this list should be considered viable Fantasy option. They are not in a position to contribute regular stats as they aren't in line for regular playing time. They've got some depth chart climbing to do and should be left on the waiver wire.
News: Detroit has listed the team's inactives for their Week 1 contest against the Falcons. The players are as follows: QB Drew Stanton, CB Ramzee Robinson, DE Ikaika Alama-Francis, LB Gilbert Gardner, DT Andre Fluellen and DE Landon Cohen. T Damion Cook is officially off the roster.
Analysis: None of these players are expected to produce significant stats on a regular basis to begin with. Keep them off of Fantasy rosters until further notice.
News: The Lions inactives for Week 13 at Minnesota include DL Ikaika Alama-Francis, QB Dan Orlovsky (3rd QB), DB Greg Blue, RB Tatum Bell, DB Dovonte Edwards and RB Jon Bradley.
Analysis: Bell's Fantasy value has dropped since Kevin Jones has returned. Keep him reserved in all leagues. All the other players have minimal Fantasy value.
News: Notable inactives for the Week 12 Packers-Lions game include: For the Packers, WR Shaun Bodiford, TE Bubba Franks, DL Justin Harrell, DL Daniel Muir, DL Jonny Jolly, DB Will Blackmon and DB Nick Collins. For the Lions, DL Ikaika Alama-Francis, QB Dan Orlovsky, RB Tatum Bell, DB Dovonte Edwards, DB Greg Blue and DL Shaun Cody are inactive.
Analysis: No real big surprises here. Franks will miss his fifth straight game with a knee injury. Bell hasn't played for the Lions since Week 5. On the defensive side of the ball, Aaron Rouse will start in place of FS Nick Collins for Green Bay. From a Turkey Day perspective, the players out for this game would be like if the person bringing yogurt, tuna and bologna couldn't make it. You're not really missing out on much.
News: The Lions' list of inactives for Week 9 at Arizona includes QB Dan Orlovsky, DB Lamarcus Hicks, DB Tony Beckham and DL Ikaika Alama-Francis.
Analysis: These players don't make enough of a statistical contribution to have any value in Fantasy. The Lions host the Giants in Week 11.
News: The Lions inactives for Week 9 against Denver include QB Dan Orlovsky (3rd QB), RB Tatum Bell, DB Dovonte Edwards, DL Ikaika Alama-Francis, DL Kalimba Edwards and DB Tony Beckham.
Analysis: Keep Bell reserved in all Fantasy leagues. The other players have minimal Fantasy value and should not be used.
News: The Lions listed QB Dan Orlovsky (third QB), RB Tatum Bell (coach's decision), DB Dovonte Edwards (coach's decision), DB Idrees Bashir (ribs) DL Ikaika Alama-Francis and Kalimba Edwards as inactive for Week 8 at Chicago.
Analysis: None of these players should be activated in Fantasy play until further notice. It appears the Tatum Bell ship has sailed in Detroit.
News: The Lions inactives for Week 7 against the Bucs include: QB Dan Orlovsky (3rd QB), DB Stanley Wilson, DB Dovonte Edwards, TE Sean McHugh, LB Anthony Cannon and DL Ikaika Alama-Francis.
Analysis: All of these players have minimal Fantasy value and should be kept reserved in all leagues.
News: The Lions inactives for Week 5 against Washington include: DB Keith Smith, RB T.J. Duckett, LB Anthony Cannon, DB Alex Lewis, DL Ikaiki Alama-Francis and QB Dan Orlovsky (No. 3 QB).
Analysis: Keep all of these players reserved for Week 5 in all Fantasy leagues.
News: The Lions' list of Week 2 inactives for Sunday's game against the Vikings includes QB Dan Orlovsky, LB Anthony Cannon, DL Ikaika Alama-Francis and DL Jared DeVries.
Analysis: These players are all either reserves or starters who don't contribute meaningful statistics. None deserve consideration in Fantasy leagues.
News: Notable Lions inactive for Week 1 at Oakland include Dan Orlovsky (3rd QB), WR Brandon Middleton, DL Ikaika Alama-Francis and DL Jared DeVries.
Analysis: Keep all of these players reserved in Fantasy leagues for Week 1. Most of the inactive players have little to no Fantasy value when in the lineup.
News: Aside from first-round pick WR Calvin Johnson, the Lions' 2007 draft class includes: Michigan St. QB Drew Stanton, Hawaii DE Ikaika Alama-Francis, Boise State FS Gerald Alexander, N.C. State CB A.J. Davis, Texas Tech OG Manuel Ramirez, Alabama A&M LB Johnny Baldwin and Alabama CB Ramzee Robinson (who was the final pick of the draft).
Analysis: Stanton has a real live arm with good mobility and size. If he studies under Lions offensive coordinator Mike Martz long enough, he could be the long-term answer at quarterback for the Lions. We advise people watch his preseason games if only to check him out for future use. Alama-Francis is another high-motor D-lineman that will fit into Detroit right away as a situational pass rusher once he recovers from a chest injury. Alexander needs an opportunity to start before being considered for Fantasy play, but he's got some potential for tackles and pass defense stats. The rest of the class will provide depth for the Lions and compete for spots along the depth chart.
