News: Scout.com reports Sunday that LB Tavares Gooden, who was cut by the Ravens on Saturday, agreed to terms with the 49ers. Terms of the one-year deal were not disclosed. Gooden played mostly as a reserve the last three years in Baltimore.
Analysis: Gooden has considerable speed for his position which makes him a solid special teams option, but he may have the chance to play more defense in San Francisco too. Fantasy owners should keep an eye on his progress, but Gooden remains a player to be avoided in most IDP leagues for now.
News: The Ravens listed LB Tavares Gooden as probable for Saturday's Divisional Playoff Game at Pittsburgh. Gooden has been dealing with a shoulder injury.
Analysis: It appears like Gooden will play against the Ravens. Keep an eye on his progress, but he has minimal Fantasy value in IDP leagues. Don't plan on drafting Gooden in the majority of formats in 2011.
News: Baltimore LB Tavares Gooden dislocated his shoulder during the Week 16 20-10 win in Cleveland. Gooden may be able to return for Week 17 against the Bengals but will consult with doctors. “With Tavares, we’ll just have to see over the course of the week,” coach John Harbaugh told the team's official site after the game Sunday.
Analysis: Gooden didn't pick up any stats in the Week 16 game and has done little all year for the Ravens. He has low-end Fantasy value in IDP leagues, when healthy. He can be dropped off all Fantasy rosters at this time.
News: Ravens LB Tavares Gooden (separated right shoulder) said on Monday that he'll be a game-time decision for Week 9 against the Dolphins. Gooden hasn't played since suffering the injury during a Week 2 loss to the Bengals. “If I continue to improve at practice, hopefully I'll be cleared to play,” he said.
Analysis: Gooden has just four tackles in two games this season and does not pose much Fantasy value, even when healthy. Continue to ignore the former Hurricane in all IDP formats.
News: The Carroll County Times reports that an MRI on Ravens LB Tavares Gooden's injured shoulder revealed a dislocation. He is likely out 4-6 weeks.
Analysis: Gooden is a backup ILB for Baltimore and his presence will not be missed in IDP Fantasy play. Continue to ignore him, healthy or not.
News: Ravens LB Tavares Gooden had an MRI on his left shoulder on Monday. Coach John Harbaugh said it was too early to determine the severity of the injury.
Analysis: Gooden was injured in Week 2 against the Bengals. "I landed funny," he said after the game. He is in his third NFL season, but he is still just a backup LB for Baltimore. His injury won't affect many Fantasy owners. Continue to ignore him.
News: Ravens LB Tavares Gooden said he is going to get an MRI on his left shoulder. Gooden was injured in Week 2 against the Bengals. "I landed funny," he said. "Right now, I don't know what it is. I'm praying." Gooden had two tackles (one solo) in the game.
Analysis: Gooden is in his third NFL season, but he is still just a backup LB for Baltimore. His injury won't affect many Fantasy owners. Continue to ignore him.
News: The Ravens listed the following players as inactive for Week 16 against Pittsburgh: LB Tavares Gooden, QB John Beck, DB Ed Reed, WR Justin Harper, DL Kelly Talavou, DB Keith Fitzhugh.
Analysis: Outside of Ed Reed, none of the players listed here have any real Fantasy appeal. Keep them off Fantasy rosters until further notice.
News: The Ravens inactives for Week 15 against Chicago include QB John Beck (emergency), LB Tavares Gooden and DB K.J. Gerard.
Analysis: None of these players are worth using in Week 15 against Chicago. When active they have minimal Fantasy value.
News: Baltimore listed the following players as inactive for Week 4 at New England: QB John Beck, RB Jalen Parmele, LB Tavares Gooden, DL Oniel Cousins, TE Tony Curtis, DL Brandon McKinney and DL Kelly Talavou.
Analysis: There are no shocking names on this list. Most of these players are reserves or contribute on special teams for the Ravens. They have little to no Fantasy value. Keep them reserved Week 4.
News:The Sports Xchange reports that Ravens LB Tavares Gooden's right knee sprain is not considered serious. Gooden, who was scheduled to undergo a magnetic resonance imaging exam Monday, said after the game Sunday that someone rolled onto his knee while blocking on a kick return midway through the third quarter of a Week 1 win over the Chiefs. "We think right now it's a mild sprain," Harbaugh said. "We'll see how it responds this week."
Analysis: Gooden has potential to be a high-tackle linebacker for the Ravens this year, but only if he's healthy. He might miss a couple of weeks depending on the MRI results.
News: Ravens LB Tavares Gooden sprained his knee against the Chiefs in Week 1. The extent of the damage will be determined after he's examined on Monday.
Analysis: Gooden has potential to be a high-tackle linebacker for the Ravens this year, but only if he's healthy. He might miss a couple of weeks depending on the injury.
News: The Ravens placed rookie LB Tavares Gooden on injured reserve Tuesday with a hip injury. The third-round pick out of Miami has been dealing with the injury since training camp.
Analysis: Gooden wasn't expected to start, so he didn't have any Fantasy value. Obviously, you should leave him on waivers in Fantasy IDP leagues.
News: Ravens QB Troy Smith, DB Evan Oglesby, LB Tavares Gooden, WR Marcus Smith and DL Kelly Gregg are all inactive for Week 1 vs. Cincinnati.
Analysis: The Ravens are without two potential starters Week 1 -- Smith and Gregg -- because of injuries and ailments. The remaining inactive players have no Fantasy value when playing. Keep all these players reserved Week 1.
News:Ravens cornerbacks Chris McAlister (right knee) and Samari Rolle (left leg) and David Pittman (foot) and linebacker Tavares Gooden (hip) were back at practice Monday and are expected to play in the club's third preseason game at St. Louis.
Analysis: None of these players are worthy of IDP league consideration. Ignore them for now.
News: The Ravens signed rookie LB Tavares Gooden to a three-year, $1.76 million contract Sunday night. The third-round draft pick from the University of Miami received a $610,100 signing bonus with base salaries of $295,000 in 2008, $385,000 in 2009 and $470,000 in 2010, according to NFL Players Association figures. Gooden recorded 216 career tackles, one sack and one interception for the Hurricanes. He moved to middle linebacker as a senior and registered a career-high 100 tackles. He's slated for immediate special-teams duty and will compete for playing time in the Ravens' dime package.
Analysis: Gooden will have minimal Fantasy value in 2008. Don't plan on drafting him in most IDP leagues this year.
News: Notable 2008 draftees who landed with the Ravens include: LB Tavares Gooden, DBs Tom Zbikowski and Haruki Nakamura, DT Oniel Cousins, WRs Marcus Smith and Justin Harper and RB Allen Patrick.
Analysis: None of these players figure to be locks for starting spots at this point, but there's undeniable talent in Gooden and Zbikowski. Both players should evolve into starters in Baltimore. Smith, a former running back, is a muscular wideout with decent explosion but is more of a short-area receiver and not a deep threat. Harper is a tall (6-foot-4) wideout without much bulk or quickness and iffy hands. Patrick is the former backup of Adrian Peterson at Oklahoma but is injury prone and more of a power rusher. None of these players can be expected to help seasonal Fantasy owners at this point. Gooden, Zbikowski and Smith are fine middle- to late-round options in keeper and rookie-only formats this summer. Everyone else listed above can be ignored at this point.
