News: The Chiefs signed linebacker Leon Williams Thursday.
Analysis: Williams has bounced around the NFL and even had 85 tackles in 2007 for Cleveland. But lately he hasn't been a factor and can be left off Fantasy rosters.
News: The Cowboys placed LB Leon Williams on IR with a hamstring injury Friday.
Analysis: Williams suffered the injury at Arizona last week after seeing action in 11 games. He recorded six tackles and added nine tackles on special teams and a fumble recovery. Williams had no IDP Fantasy value when healthy, so continue to ignore him.
News: Dallas LB Leon Williams suffered a hamstring injury on Saturday night in the Week 16 Christmas game at Arizona. Williams left in the third quarter and could not return to the game. He finished his night with no tackles.
Analysis: Williams doesn't often pick up enough tackles to matter in Fantasy IDP leagues. Heading into Week 17 at Philadelphia, he has no Fantasy value, healthy or not.
News: The Cowboys signed linebacker Leon Williams to their reserve/future list. Williams will be eligible to join the team after the season.
Analysis: The former Miami Hurricane has been on and off the Cowboys' roster all season. Don't expect him to contribute stats anytime soon.
News: The Cleveland Browns have waived linebacker Leon Williams. Last season, Williams played in 14 games and was also on special teams. But the 6-foot-2, 250-pounder seemed misplaced in first-year coach Eric Mangini's system.
Analysis: A fourth-round draft pick in 2006, Williams started 12 games over the past three seasons. He made nine starts in 2007, recording 88 tackles and four sacks as the Browns went 10-6 and fell just short of the AFC playoffs. He has no Fantasy value whatsoever at this time.
News: The following Cleveland Browns are inactive for Week 17 at Pittsburgh: DB Travis Daniels, SS Hamza Abdullah, TE John Madsen, TE Darnell Dinkins, WR Paul Hubbard, LB Leon Williams and DT Santonio Thomas.
Analysis: Dinkins didn't contribute much on offense even with Kellen Winslow injured and he has no Fantasy value at this point or heading into 2009. That goes the same for the rest of the aforementioned players above.
News: The Cleveland Browns have announced the inactives for their Week 16 game vs. Cincinnati. Not in uniform will be: RB Allen Patrick, TE Kellen Winslow, TE John Madsen, WR Paul Hubbard, DB Travis Daniels, SS Hamza Abdullah, DE Shaun Smith and LB Leon Williams.
Analysis: Winslow is the only player in this list with any Fantasy value, but he was declared out earlier in the week with an ankle injury. Everyone else can continue to be ignored.
News: The Browns had 17 players on their first official injury report Wednesday compared with six for the Cowboys. Seven Browns were limited, including six key players: Beau Bell (knee), Josh Cribbs (ankle), Sean Jones (knee), Jamal Lewis (hamstring), Antwan Peek (knee), Brodney Pool (concussion) and Ryan Tucker (hip). Seven players participated fully, including four starters. The starters were Derek Anderson, Braylon Edwards (ankle) and Willie McGinest (groin). The others were Darnell Dinkins (hip), Steve Heiden (back), Leon Williams (neck) and Syndric Steptoe (shoulder). Three players did not participate: Kris Griffin (elbow), starting right guard Rex Hadnot (knee) and Martin Rucker.
Analysis: Keep an eye on these players leading up to game time and continue to monitor their progress before setting your lineup for Week 1 against the Cowboys.
News: Browns LB Leon Williams appeared in all 16 games in 2007 with nine starts. He had career-highs in sacks (four) and tackles (85, with 63 solo).
Analysis: Williams will continue to improve in 2008, but he is a low-end LB in IDP leagues. He could have increased value in 2008 if he creates more turnovers, but don't expect that to happen right away.
News: Browns LB Leon Williams had 1 1/2 sacks and nine total tackles Week 14 at the Jets.
Analysis: Williams has 79 tackles and two sacks this season. He could ably serve as a low-end Fantasy LB.
News: Browns LB Leon Williams (seven tackles), DL Shaun Smith (five tackles, pass defended) and LB Andra Davis (five tackles) made nice contributions in Cleveland's 27-20 win over the Rams in Week 8.
Analysis: Davis has minimal Fantasy value as a backup LB in IDP leagues, while Williams and Smith do not put up enough stats on a consistent basis to have any value at this time.
News: LB D'Qwell Jackson (five tackles), LB Leon Williams (five tackles), DB Mike Adams (four tackles), DB Kenny Wright (four tackles) and DE Robaire Smith (four tackles) all had nice defensive contributions in Cleveland's 51-45 win over the Bengals in Week 2.
Analysis: Jackson is the only one of these players with any Fantasy value in IDP leagues.
News: Notable Browns defenders from Week 16 include: CB Daven Holly (one assist, one interception-return for a touchdown), LB Leon Williams (14 total tackles, sack), LB Chaun Thompson (11 total tackles), FS Sean Jones (13 total tackles) and DE Kamerion Wimbley (eight total tackles, two sacks and one forced fumble).
Analysis: Of these players, only Jones and Wimbley are legit must-starts at Houston in Week 17.
News: Browns rookie LB Leon Williams, a fourth-round pick, is expected to make his first start on Sunday against the Ravens in place of D'Qwell Jackson, who has season-ending surgery on Thursday. "I'm ready," said Williams, who got his most significant playing time against Atlanta on Nov. 12, when he was used to "spy" Falcons quarterback Michael Vick. "It's been a long season. It's been a learning process playing linebacker in a 3-4, but I've picked it up gradually and have made progress and now I'm able to display what I've learned. It's an opportunity. I'm going to have fun."
Analysis: Williams is not a recommended Fantasy option at this time.
News: The Browns have listed LB Willie McGinest (ankle), DB Brian Russell (elbow), LB Leon Washington (ankle), DB Justin Hamilton (back) and DT Ted Washington (elbow) as questionable for Week 12 vs. Cincinnati, but the Browns expect them all but Washington and Hamilton to play.
Analysis: All of the above players will not help you capture a championship in Fantasy, including McGinest, whose production has tailed off this season.
News: Browns DB Leigh Bodden (ankle), WR Josh Cribbs (thumb), DB Justin Hamilton (back), LB Willie McGinest (ankle), DB Jereme Perry (ankle) and LB Leon Williams (ankle) are listed as questionable for Week 11 vs. Pittsburgh.
Analysis: None of these players are recommended Fantasy options at the given time.
News: Browns DB Leigh Bodden (ankle) is doubtful, while WR Dennis Northcutt (ribs), DB Daven Holly (illness), LB Willie McGinest (ankle), LB Leon Williams (ankle), LB Matt Stewart (head), DB Jereme Perry (ankle) and DE Orpheus Roye (hamstring) are listed as questionable for Week 10 at Atlanta.
Analysis: None of these players, including McGinest, are recommended Fantasy options at this time. McGinest has not produced up to expectations this season and should not be on your Fantasy team until he start posting serious numbers.
News: Browns fourth-round pick Leon Williams, a linebacker from the University of Miami, signed a four-year contract to be in camp for the Browns. Williams will compete for a spot on the Cleveland LB depth chart.
Analysis: Williams should not be considered in seasonal IDP leagues. In dynasty leagues, he may be worth a flier as a late-round selection.
