News: Cardinals defensive back James Sanders started in Week 3 against the Eagles with Adrian Wilson (ankle) inactive. While he recorded just one tackle, the 28-year-old made a huge play in the second quarter. On the final play of the first half, Michael Vick dropped back from the 1-yard line and was blindsided by Kerry Rhodes. Sanders picked up the loose ball and returned it 93 yards for a touchdown. It was Sanders' third career touchdown.
Analysis: Sanders had some productive seasons with the Patriots but has never been a huge option in Fantasy. Continue to ignore him in the majority of IDP formats.
News: Safety James Sanders has agreed to a deal with the Arizona Cardinals, he said via Twitter. The 29-year-old veteran started six games for Atlanta last season after spending his first six years with the New England Patriots. Sanders had visited the Cardinals on Tuesday. The deal is thought to be for one season, per The Sports Xchange.
Analysis: Sanders will likely provide depth for the Cardinals behind Adrian Wilson and Kerry Rhodes. Don't count on him for quality stats.
News: Falcons DB James Sanders came up big Week 13 at Houston, totaling 10 solo tackles and one fumble recovery. Sanders now has 18 tackles in his last two games.
Analysis: What is one man's trash is another man's treasure. That seems to be the case with Sanders, who landed on his feet in Atlanta after New England cut him loose in late August. Sanders wasn't doing much to begin the season, but he has now stepped into the starting lineup and is producing. Sanders might be a decent Fantasy DB down the stretch.
News: The Falcons agreed to terms with safety James Sanders Tuesday, but have yet to sign the defensive back. Atlanta is at 80 players and cannot sign Sanders without cutting someone currently holding a roster spot. Sanders was released by New England Monday.
Analysis: Sanders could work his way into the Falcons' starting lineup later this season, and when that happens, could be a low-end No. 3 Fantasy DB. We wouldn't own him until it's clear that he'll have a lot of playing time.
News: The Falcons signed safety James Sanders to a deal, one day after he was cut by the Patriots.
Analysis: Sanders could work his way into the Falcons' starting lineup later this season, and when that happens, could be a low-end No. 3 Fantasy DB. We wouldn't own him until it's clear that he'll have a lot of playing time.
News: The Patriots announced on Monday that they shed several players en route to figuring out the final 53 men who will be on the regular-season roster. Among the casualties were DBs James Sanders, Jonathan Wilhite and Malcolm Williams, tight end Garrett Mills, offensive lineman Mark Wetterer, defensive linemen Kade Weston and Clay Nurse, wide receivers Tyree Barnes and Darnell Jenkins and kicker Chris Koepplin.
Analysis: Outside of reserve DBs Sanders and Wilhite, none of the players mentioned above had much of a chance to crack the final roster. Either way, none of the options were expected to make a big Fantasy impact in 2011.
News: Patriots DB James Sanders recorded his third interception of the year in Week 13 against the Jets. He picked off QB Mark Sanchez late in the game to help preserve the 45-3 win. Sanders also had six tackles in the blowout.
Analysis: Sanders has three interceptions in his last four games with 17 tackles over that span. He set a new career best his his most recent interception and has been solid player in the Patriots secondary. With Chicago up next on the schedule, continue to view Sanders as a low-end Fantasy DB in most IDP formats.
News: Patriots DB James Sanders recorded his second interception of the season in Week 11 against the Colts and possibly saved the New England victory. With the Colts trailing 31-28 and deep in Patriots' territory, Sanders picked off Peyton Manning inside the New England 10-yard line to seal the victory. "For a minute I was thinking 'Deja Vu.' We knew that if we didn't make a play, we were going to lose the game." He finished with seven tackles, four solo in the victory.
Analysis: Sanders has played well of late, but normally doesn't see the field consistently enough to rack up enough stats. However, he now has recorded an interception in two straight games and has racked up three passes defended over that stretch. As long as he keeps making plays in New England's secondary, consider him a viable low-end Fantasy DB in most IDP leagues heading into Week 12.
News: Patriots DB James Sanders broke the Week 10 game against the Steelers open with an interception of QB Ben Roethlisberger in the fourth quarter. He returned it 32 yards for a touchdown to extend the New England lead. He added four tackles (three solo) in the win.
Analysis: Sanders scored his first pro touchdown since his rookie year of 2005 on Sunday night. Still, he is not seeing as much playing time as he used to in the Pats secondary so he is not worth owning in Fantasy play.
News: Patriots LB Jerod Mayo (seven tackles), DB James Sanders (seven tackles), DL Ty Warren (six tackles), DL Jarvis Green (four tackles, sack) and DL Derrick Burgess (three tackles, sack) all chipped in with nice outings in a Week 14 win over the Panthers.
Analysis: Mayo is the only really Fantasy-viable member of this group, while Warren and Burgess have minimal value in deeper IDP leagues. Only use Mayo in Week 15 at Buffalo.
News: Patriots LB Adalius Thomas, RB Fred Taylor, DB Terrence Wheatley, DB James Sanders, DL Ron Brace and WR Joey Galloway have all been ruled inactive for Week 6 vs. Tennessee.
Analysis: Thomas is a bit of a surprise inactive. He wasn't on the injury report all week, but he did miss practice Thursday and Friday for unknown reasons. We wait to hear for further explanation on Thomas' absence. Taylor is still out battling an ankle injury and Galloway still isn't playing because of ineffectiveness. Keep all of these players reserved for Week 6.
News: Patriots WR Joey Galloway, DB Terrence Wheatley, DB James Sanders, DL Terdell Sands and DL Ron Brace have all been ruled inactive for Week 5 at Denver.
Analysis: The Patriots brought in Galloway this offseason to be a reliable No. 3 wide receiver. He has been anything but that and has now been inactive for two straight games. He has minimal Fantasy appeal until further notice. Make sure to keep all these players reserved for Week 5.
News: In the Patriots' Week 3 win over the Falcons, notable defenders who provided good stats include: DB Brandon McGowan (five solo tackles, forced fumble), James Sanders (four total tackles, fumble recovery) and LB Gary Guyton and DB Brandon Meriweather (seven total tackles each).
Analysis: Of these defenders, only Meriweather and Guyton are useful as No. 3 options at their respective positions. McGowan and Sanders aren't productive enough for Fantasy use. The Patriots host the Ravens in Week 4.
News: The Patriots re-signed starting safety James Sanders and reserve linebacker Eric Alexander on Thursday. Sanders, a fourth-round pick in 2005, has started 36 games over his first four seasons in New England. He has 198 career tackles, five interceptions and a sack. Alexander was signed as a rookie free agent in 2004. He appeared in only one game last season because of a hamstring injury. The Patriots also released linebacker Darrell Robertson, who spent part of last season on the practice squad.
Analysis: None of these players are expected to produce enough stats to warrant use in Fantasy leagues. Keep them all off Fantasy rosters for now.
News: The Patriots inactives for Week 16 against Arizona includes QB Matt Gutierrez (3rd), DB James Sanders, RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis, LB Gary Guyton and LB Tedy Bruschi.
Analysis: Keep Bruschi reserved in IDP leagues and keep Green-Ellis out in all leagues at this time. The other players have minimal Fantasy value even when active.
News: QB Matt Gutierrez (3rd QB), S James Sanders, RB BanJarvus Green-Ellis, LB Tedy Bruschi and TE Tyson DeVree were listed as inactive for Week 15 at Oakland.
Analysis: Green-Ellis has marginal value in Fantasy when healthy and starting and Bruschi is questionable for the remainder of the season, but the rest of these players have no Fantasy value.
News: New England DB James Sanders left in the third quarter of Sunday's Week 14 win over the Seahawks with injured ribs. He finished with one tackles.
Analysis: Sanders is a low-end DB in IDP leagues. He doesn't get enough tackles or sacks to help your Fantasy team. Even if healthy, don't use him in Week 15 at Oakland.
News: Patriots DB James Sanders had a career season in 2007. He set new career highs in tackles (71 total, 52 solo) and interceptions (two).
Analysis: Sanders is a low-end DB in IDP leagues. He doesn't get enough tackles or sacks to help your Fantasy team. Hopefully he continues to improve and adds to these totals, which would increase his Fantasy value in 2008.
News: Patriots LB Tedy Bruschi (nine tackles), LB Adalius Thomas (seven tackles), DB Rodney Harrison (six tackles), LB Junior Seau (five tackles, half a sack), DB James Sanders (four tackles, pass defended) and DB Asante Samuel (four tackles, pass defended) all had nice contributions in New England's 28-7 win over the Dolphins in Week 16.
Analysis: Thomas is a solid No. 2 Fantasy LB, while Samuel and Harrison are nice No. 2 DB options. Those three are the only starting options in IDP leagues among this group for Week 17's game against the Giants.
News: Patriots inactives for their Week 15 game vs. the Jets include: QB Matt Gutierrez, WR Chad Jackson, WR Troy Brown, DB Rashad Baker, DB James Sanders and TE Benjamin Watson.
Analysis: Gutierrez will serve as the No. 3/emergency QB and Kyle Brady will start at tight end over Benjamin Watson. It should also be noted that the Patriots opted to sit two receivers this week, possibly a sign that they will be more run-heavy than normal thanks to the weather. WEATHER: Rain and wind between 20 and 30 m.p.h.
News: Patriots DB James Sanders had an interception -- his second of the season and second in two games -- Week 13 at Baltimore. He also collected five tackles.
Analysis: With 55 tackles and two interceptions this season, Sanders is slowly gaining momentum as a Fantasy IDP player. He's nothing more than a low-end option, though.
News: Patriots strong safety James Sanders had his first pick of the season Week 12 against the Eagles. He also had five tackles.
Analysis: With 50 tackles on the season, Sanders isn't much worth using in Fantasy IDP leagues.
News: With Rodney Harrison suspended, third-year S James Sanders will likely be moved into the starting lineup for the Patriots’ Week 1 game at the Jets, The Boston Globe is reporting. "James played quite a bit for us last year, played well and did a solid job," said New England head coach Bill Belichick. "I'm sure we'll call on him to do some things, but how exactly all of that will unfold, some of that is dependent on what our situation is and who the Jets have in there and so forth."
Analysis: Even with some starting time possibly coming his way, Sanders has minimal Fantasy value at this point.
News: New England DB Rodney Harrison was listed as doubtful Wednesday. He probably will miss his fifth consecutive playoff game over two seasons Sunday when the Patriots play for the AFC championship against the Indianapolis Colts, the team he was playing against when he sustained the first of two serious injuries this season. His primary replacement is second-year pro James Sanders.
Analysis: Keep Harrison benched for the Fantasy Playoffs unless he's able to play in the Super Bowl if the Patriots advance that far.
News: The Patriots held the Texans to just 198 yards and seven points in a Week 15 win. The Patriots forced QB David Carr to throw four interceptions (Asante Samuel, Ellis Hobbs, Richard Seymour, James Sanders) and sacked him four times (Tully Banta-Cain 2, Mike Wright and Roosevelt Colvin). Even the special teamers got involved as Hobbs returned a kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown.
Analysis: The Patriots dominated the Texans in Week 15 and Fantasy owners were rewarded. Consider the Patriots DST a solid option in Week 16 at Jacksonville. Seymour and Colvin are the only players that should be used in IDP leagues at this time.
