News: Jacksonville placed DB Darcel McBath on injured reserve Tuesday because of a broken hand. The Jaguars, who now have 28 players on injured reserve this season, signed seven-year veteran DB C.C. Brown to take his place.
Analysis: Brown has not played in the NFL this season after being released by Detroit last year. He played in 15 games with the Lions and registered 46 total tackles and forced a fumble. Fantasy owners should continue to ignore him in all formats.
News: Lions safety C.C. Brown left the team's Week 8 game against the Redskins with a right knee injury. He needed help getting off the field after making a hit on Washington RB Keiland Williams.
Analysis: Brown hasn't been a helpful Fantasy option for a long time. The injury shouldn't impact anyone in Fantasy.
News: The Lions have signed safety C.C. Brown. Brown, a sixth-year pro who began his career in Houston, started seven games for the Giants last season. He was benched after a poor outing in a loss to Philadelphia in early November and finished with 69 tackles, three passes defensed and three forced fumbles last season. Brown was initially tendered an offer as a restricted free agent this winter, but the Giants withdrew the offer after signing free agent safety Deon Grant. The Lions have five safeties on the roster: Louis Delmas, Marquand Manuel, Marvin White, Ko Simpson and Daniel Bullocks, but Simpson and Bullocks are coming off microfracture knee surgeries last fall.
Analysis: Brown has the chance to play right away for the Lions, but he has minimal Fantasy value. Ignore him on Draft Day in all IDP leagues.
News: The Giants decided Friday to insert Aaron Rouse into the starting lineup at safety for Sunday's game against the Chargers. Rouse will replace beleaguered veteran C.C. Brown, who has been beaten twice on deep passes for touchdowns during the losing streak. In making the switch, coach Tom Coughlin said Rouse plays the ball better in the air than Brown, so he will be paired with Michael Johnson. "We have three guys, they all play a lot," Coughlin said. "The third safety played 26 snaps the other day. So we are just going to try to maneuver around a little bit and defend the deep ball better, that's all."
Analysis: Neither defender is worth owning in IDP league play at this point. Neither one is especially skilled at safety, either.
News: Several Giants defenders played well Sunday against the Cardinals. DB C.C. Brown had 11 tackles and a forced fumble. LB Antonio Pierce had 10 tackles. DB Terrell Thomas had seven tackles and an interception. DL Mathias Kiwanuka had two tackles and a sack. LB Justin Tuck had five tackles and a forced fumble. LB Danny Clark as one tackle and a sack. DL Osi Umenyiora had a tackle.
Analysis: The Giants should play well Sunday at the Eagles. Plan on starting all your regular Giants defenders in IDP leagues in Week 8 at Philadelphia.
News: Safety Kenny Phillips' season with the New York Giants ended just days after the best game of his career. Phillips, who had two interceptions in Sunday night's win over Dallas, was placed on injured reserve by the Giants (2-0) on Thursday because of an unhealthy left knee. The team also announced it was awarded safety Aaron Rouse off waivers from Green Bay. Phillips had been bothered by the knee since training camp. An MRI on Wednesday revealed that the patella femoral arthritis in his knee has worsened. A final determination has not yet been made on how to treat the condition. Phillips was leading the team in interceptions (2) and tackles (16) and was tied for the lead in passes defended (2). With Phillips out, C.C. Brown will start Sunday at Tampa Bay. Rouse, 6-4 and 227 pounds, had nine tackles in Green Bay's 31-24 loss to Cincinnati last week. He had three solo tackles in the season-opening victory over Chicago. Injuries in the secondary have become a concern for the Giants. Cornerbacks Aaron Ross and Kevin Dockery missed the opening two games with hamstring injuries and don't appear ready to play this weekend.
Analysis: It's safe to release Phillips in all IDP leagues and hope he can return at 100 percent in 2010. When healthy, he is worth using as a No. 3 DB. Keep an eye on Brown's play against the Bucs, and maybe he can be a suitable replacement for Phillips. Rouse has minimal value heading into Week 3, and hopefully Ross and Dockery can return soon. The Giants DST is still worth starting against the Bucs this week.
News: Safety Kenny Phillips was missing at the Giants' practice, increasing concerns about the left knee that has bothered him for the past month. A Giants spokesman said Thursday that he had no immediate word on Phillips. Coach Tom Coughlin said last week that dealing with Phillips' injury this season would be a matter of maintenance. However, he did not practice on Wednesday and was not at practice Thursday. Phillips had two interceptions in the Giants' 33-31 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night. Injuries in the secondary have become a concern for the Giants (2-0). Aaron Ross and Kevin Dockery missed the opening two games with hamstring injuries and don't appear ready to play Sunday at Tampa (0-2). S Michael Johnson isn't downplaying the impact of Phillips' knee injury. "It would be a major loss," Johnson said. "I look at him as a Pro Bowl-status player." CB Corey Webster said New York's secondary strategy will be unchanged without Phillips in the lineup. "(Safety C.C.) Brown has been preparing like a starter," Webster said. "We're going to call it the same way."
Analysis: It sounds like the Giants will be without Phillips against Tampa Bay, and Brown could replace him in the starting lineup. Keep an eye on Phillips' status and see what develops, but the Giants DST should still be considered a No. 1 option at the Bucs.
News: The New York Giants padded their defense a little more on Wednesday, signing former Houston Texans safety C.C. Brown. Brown is the fourth defensive player signed since free agency opened last week, joining linebacker Michael Boley, defensive end Chris Canty and defensive tackle Rocky Bernard. "C.C. is a young veteran safety," general manager Jerry Reese said. "He is a physical player who has played a lot of football in this league in his short career. We expect him to come in and create great competition at this position and strengthen it as well."
Analysis: Brown isn't expected to start, and that's the only way he'll warrant Fantasy use. Keep him off of rosters.
News: The Houston Texans placed DB C.C. Brown on injured reserve and signed FB Cecil Sapp on Tuesday. Brown broke his arm against Jacksonville on Sunday and had surgery on Monday. Sapp spent five seasons with the Broncos and scored two touchdowns in 2007.
Analysis: Sapp was on IR with the Broncos earlier this season, but Denver then cut him. He has apparently recovered from his hip flexor problem, but will only be a backup in Houston and he has no Fantasy value. Brown can also be ignored in all formats now he's done for the year.
News: Texans safety C.C. Brown broke his arm and will have surgery Monday. Head coach Mitch Kubiak wasn't sure how long he will be out after the game.
Analysis: Obviously, this is going to keep Brown out for a while. Fantasy owners who were clinging on to him in larger IDP formats should cut ties with him until further notice.
News: The Baltimore Ravens-Houston Texans game was rescheduled to Nov. 9 after Reliant Stadium was severely damaged by Hurricane Ike, meaning both teams will not play in Week 2. The new date also affects the Cincinnati Bengals' schedule. Houston was originally scheduled to play the Bengals on Nov. 9. Now, those teams will play on Oct. 26 and Cincinnati will take its bye week on Nov. 9, when the Texans now play the Ravens.
Analysis: It's all a little confusing, but basically Fantasy owners need to treat Week 2 as a bye week for the Texans and Ravens. So if you have any players or either defensive unit active, get them reserved immediately. The Texans will next play at Tennessee in Week 3.
News: The Texans re-signed safety C.C. Brown on Monday. Brown started each game last season and finished with 83 tackles, an interception, three fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles. A sixth-round pick in 2005, Brown has appeared in 47 games with 44 starts for Houston. He has 260 tackles and three interceptions in his three-year career.
Analysis: Brown hasn't been very productive throughout his NFL career, though he did show glimpses of some potential last season. Ultimately figure Brown for a low-end reserve IDP option in 2008 league play.
News: Texans DB C.C. Brown had 84 tackles (64 solo), one interception, three fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles in 16 games in 2007.
Analysis: Brown is a decent source of tackles but little else. Don't plan on drafting him in any Fantasy leagues in 2008.
News: Texans DB Fredrick Bennett (eight tackles), LB DeMeco Ryans (six tackles), DB Jamar Fletcher (four tackles), DB Von Hutchins (four tackles), DB C.C. Brown (three tackles, one fumble recovery), DL N.D. Kalu (half a sack) and DL Omobi Akoye (half a sack) all made nice contributions in Houston's 28-14 win over the Buccaneers in Week 14.
Analysis: Ryans is one of the leagues top three Fantasy LBs and the only one in this group worth starting in Week 15 against the Broncos.
News: Notable Texans defenders from Week 11 vs. New Orleans include: LB Morlon Greenwood (nine total tackles, one interception), CB C.C. Brown (seven solo tackles, forced fumble), CB Von Hutchins (nine total tackles, interception), LB DeMeco Ryans (10 total tackles) and DE Mario Williams (six total tackles, sack).
Analysis: Of these defenders, Greenwood, Ryans and Williams are worth using on a regular basis in IDP leagues. The Texans play at Cleveland in Week 12.
News: Houston starting strong safety C.C. Brown picked off Cleo Lemon in the Texans' 22-19 victory over Miami in Week 5. The pick was the third of his three-year career. Brown also led the Texans in tackles on Sunday with eight.
Analysis: Brown has the occasional big game and this was one of them. Consider him nothing more than a backup DB in all IDP formats for the Texans' Week 6 trip to Jacksonville.
News: The Texans are looking to sign players to beef up their depth in the secondary after strong safety Glenn Earl and cornerback Jason Horton suffered season-ending injuries Saturday. Earl fractured his foot and will have surgery on Tuesday, while Horton broke his arm and will undergo surgery Monday. Third-year player C.C. Brown will move from free safety to take Earl's place.
Analysis: Brown racked up 76 tackles with one sack and one interception last season. His stats should remain the same, outside of a few more chances for interceptions. He remains a low-end Fantasy DB at this time.
News: Texans WR Jerome Mathis (hamstring) is doubtful, DL Lional Dalton (neck) is questionable, while DL Anthony Weaver (knee), DL Mario Williams (foot) and DB C.C. Brown (toe) are listed as probable for Week 16 vs. Indianapolis.
Analysis: Williams is the only injured Texan worth using for Fantasy purposes in Week 16.
News: Texans RB Jameel Cook (knee) is out, DB C.C. Brown (foot) is doubtful, while WR Jerome Mathis (groin), DL Anthony Weaver (knee) and DL Mario Williams (foot) are probable for Week 15 at New England.
Analysis: Williams is the only player worth using for Fantasy purposes in Week 15. Ignore the other injured players.
News: The Texans gave up four touchdowns in a 34-6 loss against Dallas. They only sacked Cowbous QB Drew Bledsoe twice with DB C.C. Brown and LB Demarco Ryans. Brown led the Texans with 10 tackles, and Ryans was second with nine. DB Dunta Robinson had five tackles. And DL Mario Williams had six tackles.
Analysis: Keep the Texans DST reserved in Week 7 along with all these players.
