Forgot Log-in or  Password? |  Help  Not a member, Register Now!
      
2011 Draft Prep Guide
Fantasy Football Today
Downloadable Draft Kit
Mock Drafts
Draft Analyzer
Player News
Stats
Players
Depth Charts
Roster Trends
Columns
Injury Report
Projections
Rankings
Red Zone Stats
Teams
Schedules
Scores
Standings
Message Boards
Fantasy Games
Commissioner
Free
Premium
Office Pool Manager
Playoff Challenge
2011 Draft Prep Guide
Downloadable Draft Kit
Mock Drafts
Player News
Stats
Players
Depth Charts
Roster Trends
Columns
Injury Report
Rankings
Projections
Teams
Schedules
Weekly Planner
Probable Pitchers
Scores
Standings
Message Boards
Fantasy Games
Commissioner
Free
Premium
Downloadable Draft Kit
Player News
Stats
Players
Columns
Injuries
Projections
Rankings
Teams
Schedules
Message Boards
Fantasy Games
Commissioner
Free
Downloadable Draft Kit
Player News
Stats
Players
Columns
Injury Report
Projections
Rankings
Teams
Schedules
Mock Drafts
Scores
Standings
Message Boards
Fantasy Games
Commissioner
Free
Premium
Downloadable Draft Kit
Player News
Stats
Players
Columns
Injury Report
Projections
Rankings
Teams
Schedules
Mock Drafts
Scores
Standings
Message Boards
Fantasy Games
Commissioner
Free
Premium
No Fantasy Teams Found
 
 

Jamey Eisenberg

Week 6 Fantasy Stockwatch

By | Senior Fantasy Writer


Each week, we'll survey the Fantasy Football landscape and provide you with a list of players whose Fantasy value has increased or decreased over the course of the past week. The arrows indicate which way a player's stock is heading, but you'll have to read what we have to say to know whether you should hold on to a player or make a move to trade him -- or trade for him.

Derek Anderson, QB, Cleveland
Hello, Mr. Anderson. We'll find out if his performance Monday against the Giants means he's back or if it was just a good outing. It helped that he passed for 310 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions without Kellen Winslow (illness), but he finally got Donte Stallworth back on the field. And Braylon Edwards wasn't dropping the ball. But the Browns had two weeks to get ready for this game and now face another tough defense at Washington. If Anderson plays well again, then he's back to being a Fantasy starter. And if he's still available in your league (77 percent ownership on CBSSports.com as of Tuesday) add him now. With the quarterback situation in the NFL dicey, Anderson could be a savior again in 2008 like he was last year.
Carson Palmer, QB, Cincinnati
It sounds like Palmer's season could be over after he saw a New York Mets team doctor about his elbow, and he definitely won't play in Week 7 against Pittsburgh. Now, no one is saying Tommy John surgery yet, but there is plenty of speculation, which would end Palmer's season. If you're holding out hope that Palmer can return, it's time to be realistic and look for a backup plan if you don't have a good one already. Go out and pick up anyone you can, from Gus Frerotte to Brad Johnson at this point, in case Palmer is lost for the year. And don't count on his backup, Ryan Fitzpatrick, who has looked bad in two games against Cleveland and the Jets. If Palmer is out, T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chad Johnson probably won't recover from their bad starts either.
David Garrard, QB, Jacksonville
Garrard is starting to look like a viable Fantasy option again after a rough start. He has at least 200 passing yards and a touchdown in his past three games with no interceptions and has also run for 60 yards and a touchdown over that span. This is similar to how last year started when he became a No. 1 Fantasy quarterback down the stretch. He's not going to post 300 yard games with multiple touchdowns on a weekly basis, especially with his suspect receiving corps, but he can be a weekly starter for you because he won't make many mistakes. If he's sitting on someone's bench and you are dealing with injuries to Tony Romo (broken finger), Matt Hasselbeck (knee) and Palmer, try to trade for Garrard now since he would improve your team.
J.T. O'Sullivan, QB, San Francisco
With a Mike Martz quarterback, especially an inexperienced one like O'Sullivan, you're going to have good moments and bad. Right now, O'Sullivan is dealing with a rough patch after throwing four touchdowns and seven interceptions in his past three games. In the last two against New England and Philadelphia, he hasn't topped 200 passing yards and was sacked four times. It's not time to give up on O'Sullivan yet, especially with how the quarterback situation is right now in the NFL, but you have to be patient with him. He will likely struggle in Week 7 at the Giants on the road, but then he faces Seattle in Week 8 at home. His first meeting with the Seahawks was his best game yardage-wise in Week 2 when he passed for 321 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. When the matchup is right, O'Sullivan could be a good Fantasy option, especially if he's just a one-week replacement on your team.
Thomas Jones, RB, N.Y. Jets
Jones still has a lot to prove to Fantasy owners even after scoring three touchdowns and gaining 78 total yards in Week 6 at Cincinnati. It was a good matchup against the Bengals, and Jones still hasn't topped 100 rushing yards since Week 1 at Miami. But Jones has plenty of favorable matchups the rest of this year with six of his remaining 11 games against poor run defenses in Oakland, Kansas City, St. Louis, Denver, San Francisco and Seattle. He also has three games remaining against Buffalo and New England, which haven't been great against the run either. What that means is hopefully Jones will continue to produce positive results, and his outing against the Bengals was a good start.
Willis McGahee, RB, Baltimore
McGahee doesn't appear to have a serious injury after leaving Sunday's game at Indianapolis, but something isn't right with him. He's not running with the same gusto he had last year, which could be the knee injury from training camp lingering or maybe something else. He hasn't topped 64 rushing yards in a game and has only one touchdown. He's been sharing carries with LeRon McClain, and now Ray Rice emerged against the Colts, which could further cut into McGahee's playing time. McGahee still figures to get the majority of carries, but he might not get enough touches to be a successful Fantasy option. He's the type of player you'll want to trade the minute he has his first good game because he probably won't be consistent every week.
Michael Pittman, RB, Denver
The Broncos finally found a starting running back in Pittman, and Fantasy owners who added him in the first three weeks of the season are reaping the benefits. Pittman could still be available in your leagues (81 percent ownership on CBSSports.com as of Tuesday) so pick him up immediately if he's out there. He will continue to start even when Selvin Young (groin) returns, but he could lose carries. And rookie Ryan Torain is expected to return following the bye in Week 8. But Pittman had the Broncos first 100-yard game this season when he ran for 109 yards against Jacksonville last week. He's also been the goal-line back with four touchdowns and has eight catches for 91 yards. Hopefully he continues to get the majority of touches because Pittman could be the latest star in Denver's backfield.
Earnest Graham, RB, Tampa Bay
The Bucs are going to honor retired fullback Mike Alstott on Sunday against Seattle, and Graham wishes Alstott could still play. Because the Bucs need a fullback right now with injuries to B.J. Askew (hamstring) and Byron Storer (torn ACL), which means Graham could see more time blocking and less time carrying the ball. Against Carolina in Week 6, Graham only had five carries for 11 yards. He did score a touchdown and still had two catches for 47 yards, but Warrick Dunn was the primary tailback with 22 carries for 115 yards. Hopefully the Bucs can add a fullback because Graham's Fantasy value would take a hit if he starts taking hits as a blocker.
Roy Williams, WR, Dallas
Williams got his wish to play with a team that has a strong quarterback and a system he can thrive in with the trade to Dallas. While he'll have to wait at least three games to play with Tony Romo (broken finger), he should thrive with offensive coordinator Jason Garrett calling plays and getting plenty of single coverage because of Terrell Owens and Jason Witten. Fantasy owners who were willing to give up on Williams in Detroit can do cartwheels now that he's in Dallas. Patrick Crayton and Miles Austin, meanwhile, become almost meaningless.
Tony Gonzalez, TE, Kansas City
Fantasy owners hoping Gonzalez would be traded to the Giants or any other team with a better quarterback will be stuck watching him try to catch passes from Brodie Croyle, Damon Huard and Tyler Thigpen. He remains in Kansas City after the trade deadline, and while his value isn't diminished -- he's still a No. 1 Fantasy tight end -- he won't be as good as he could have been. The Chiefs offense won't utilize Gonzalez to the best of his abilities, and Fantasy owners who drafted him will suffer since he remains in Kansas City and not with a better quarterback.

You can e-mail us your Fantasy Football questions to DMFantasyFootball@cbs.com. Be sure to put Attn: Stockwatch in the subject field. Please include your full name, hometown and state. Be aware, due to the large volume of submissions received, we cannot guarantee personal responses to all questions.

 
 
 
Player News
Rashard Mendenhall
PUP list in Mendenhall's future
Rashard Mendenhall, RB, PIT
2:15 PM
News: Steelers GM Kevin Colbert said Monday that there's a good chance RB Rashard Mendenhall will start the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list. If so, he'd be forced to miss at least the first six games of the regular season. Moreover, Colbert is not convinced that Mendenhall will be able to contribute at all in 2012. "I never feel good about an ACL for a year," Colbert said according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Mendenhall tore his right ACL in Week 17 of last season; recovery time for such injuries is anywhere from nine months to a year.
Analysis: With Mendenhall iffy, it's time to start giving some legit consideration to Isaac Redman as the primary rusher for the Steelers in 2012. Redman started the Steelers' playoff game at Denver and had 121 yards on 17 carries and 21 yards on two catches. He'll likely get the first crack at starting in place of Mendenhall. There's still a lot of time between now and the regular season, but for now it's probably safe to expect Mendenhall to not be at even close to 100 percent to start the year, which will absolutely impact his Fantasy value. By August, you might be drafting Mendenhall as a middle- to late-round sleeper you'll have to sit on for a while. We'll keep you posted on Mendenhall as best as we can.

Randy Moss
Moss: I'm coming back
Randy Moss, WR, TEN
10:10 AM
News: Randy Moss took to UStream on Monday morning to announce that he plans to return to football in 2012. Moss didn't play last season after fizzling out with the Titans during a tumultuous 2010. Moss answered fan questions on the live video site and made it clear at the end of his web stream that he intends to play again after stepping away for personal reasons. "Your boy will be back for the upcoming season," he said. "Hopefully I can get on a team and finish this thing the way I want to." NFL Network reports that teams have already been calling his agent following the news.
Analysis: Most people remember Moss for his incredible big plays and ridiculous stats, such as the 17 touchdowns he scored as a rookie, or the record-breaking 23 touchdowns he caught in 2007, or the 14,465 yards he gained from 1998 to 2009. But some will remember him for a very counterproductive 2010 in which he caught just five touchdowns on 28 grabs with three different teams. If he does indeed return to football, where he plays and how quick he is will ultimately determine whether he's worth a late-round flier or something far more substantial.

Calvin Johnson
Lions want to lock up Megatron
Calvin Johnson, WR, DET
9:39 AM
News: Lions president Tom Lewand, who controls Detroit’s salary cap compliance, says the team has had positive negotiations with WR Calvin Johnson over a contract extension. “(Johnson’s) got a good relationship with Matthew (Stafford),” Lewand told a local radio station in Detroit. “There’s a desire to keep that (relationship) together. When that desire exists, you can get deals done.” Johnson is entering a contract year in 2012 and is coming off a sensational season, finishing the regular season with 96 catches for 1,681 yards and 16 touchdowns with another 211 yards and two touchdowns in one playoff game against the Saints.
Analysis: Johnson is not going to leave the Lions if Detroit has anything to do with it, and we expect him to get a big deal soon. Regardless of if he's in a contract year or not in 2012, it's clear Johnson is the No. 1 WR in Fantasy, and he should be drafted in Round 1 in all formats.

DeSean Jackson
Eagles could franchise D-Jax
DeSean Jackson, WR, PHI
9:36 AM
News: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that the Eagles are going to use the franchise tag on WR DeSean Jackson. The report says the Eagles will not let Jackson, whose contract is set to expire, walk without getting something in return. Feb. 20 is the first day NFL teams are permitted to franchise one player before he reaches free agency. March 5 is the deadline. At 4 p.m. on March 13 the league year starts and players with four or more years of service who are not under contract are eligible to become unrestricted free agents. Jackson, who signed a four-year, $3 million deal as a rookie in 2008, will not reach the open market because the Eagles are expected to franchise him. The receiver would stand to earn approximately $9.5 million - nearly $9 million more than he made in base salary last season - if he played next season under the tag. Jackson said immediately following the season finale that he would be fine with the franchise designation.
Analysis: Jackson's play slipped some last season, partly due to his distraction over his contract, but he still caught 58 passes for 961 yards and four touchdowns. His deep routes and ability to take multiple defenders often opened up the Eagles offense underneath. Keep an eye on what happens with Jackson and where he ends up in 2012. With the Eagles he would be considered a No. 2 Fantasy WR with upside, but if he leaves Philadelphia then his value will be determined by who his quarterback is and his contract. He will likely be drafted around Round 5 in most leagues.

Isaac Redman
Redman in line to start for Steelers?
Isaac Redman, RB, PIT
2:23 PM
News: Steelers GM Kevin Colbert said Monday that there's a good chance RB Rashard Mendenhall will start the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list. If so, he'd be forced to miss at least the first six games of the regular season. Moreover, Colbert is not convinced that Mendenhall will be able to contribute at all in 2012. "I never feel good about an ACL for a year," Colbert said according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. That would open the door for Isaac Redman to be the starting rusher entering training camp.
Analysis: With Mendenhall iffy, it's time to start giving some legit consideration to Isaac Redman as the primary rusher for the Steelers in 2012. Redman started the Steelers' playoff game at Denver and had 121 yards on 17 carries and 21 yards on two catches. He's also stepped up while working with Mendenhall and without him, though his one other start in 2011 was a flop (61 total yards, no touchdowns vs. Tennessee). By August we might recommend drafting Redman with a pick in Round 6 or 7 as a good early-season starting option with potential to be a quality Fantasy choice for the entire season. We'll see how the Steelers' run game shakes out.

Steve Slaton
Slaton, Dolphins likely parting ways
Steve Slaton, RB, MIA
12:56 PM
News: The Palm Beach Post reports that RB Steve Slaton is not expected to return to the Dolphins in 2012. Slaton played in three games this season with zero starts after being picked up on waivers before Week 4. He had 17 carries for 64 yards (3.8 average) with one touchdown and a long of 28 and also returned three kickoffs for 85 yards. Slaton was signed as insurance early in the season when both Reggie Bush (groin) and Daniel Thomas (hamstring) battled injuries.
Analysis: Keep an eye on where Slaton plays in 2012, but he likely has minimal Fantasy value. Ignore him in all leagues on Draft Day.

Doug Baldwin
Baldwin already working hard
Doug Baldwin, WR, SEA
11:14 AM
News: The Tacoma News Tribune reports that Seahawks WR Doug Baldwin is already working out with the hope of building on an impressive rookie season. As an undrafted rookie free agent out of Stanford, he was a long shot to make the team last season, let alone lead Seattle in receiving. But that’s what Baldwin did. He finished with a team-high 51 receptions for 788 yards and four touchdowns, good enough for fourth in the league among rookies in receptions and yards. Baldwin also finished 11th in the league in percentage of receptions caught for first downs (78.4 percent), and fourth in the league with 23 catches on third down to move the chains. The hard-working Baldwin said he thinks he can do better. “I felt like the stats and everything (were) real average,” he said. “But you’ve got to have that sense of confidence about yourself when you step out on the field. To be honest with you, I didn’t think I’d have the opportunity to step out on the field that early. And with that, the transition wasn’t really that difficult because we have such a great coaching staff and they explain everything so well that it makes it easier for you to understand it and grasp the offense.”
Analysis: Baldwin’s production in 2011 secured his spot as Seattle’s slot receiver. But Baldwin wants to be considered a compete receiver. “They say that I’m the slot guy, but every year they’re bringing somebody in to try to take your job – that’s the upper management’s job,” he said. “So my job is to make sure that whoever they bring in doesn’t have a chance. That’s why I’m here, to be honest with you. “I want to be known as the greatest receiver who ever played the game, and it’s going to be hard to do that strictly out of the slot.” We like the way Baldwin is talking, and he has plenty of potential heading into 2012. Plan on drafting Baldwin as a sleeper with a late-round pick in all leagues.

Hines Ward
Ward hopes to remain with Steelers
Hines Ward, WR, PIT
9:53 AM
News: Steelers GM Kevin Colbert said Monday that no decision has been made on the future of Hines Ward. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported previously that if the Steelers did decide to release Ward, he was unaware of it. NFL Network reported that Ward won't be back with the Steelers in 2012 but a source close to Ward refuted the report. Ward's 2012 salary is high and he's expected to at least take a significant pay cut, if not get released altogether. Ward has said many times that he wants to end his career in Pittsburgh but he is determined to play somewhere in 2012, even if the Steelers do not want him. Ward, who turns 36 March 8, has played all 14 of his seasons in the NFL with the Steelers and holds nearly every team receiving record.
Analysis: Keep an eye on what happens with Ward and where he ends up in 2012. No matter where Ward plays, however, he would have minimal Fantasy value, and he is not worth drafting in the majority of leagues.

Josh Morgan
Morgan fine, looks at future
Josh Morgan, WR, SF
9:49 AM
News: The Sacramento Bee reports that 49ers WR Josh Morgan left the team facility after a workout Thursday as if there was nothing wrong with him. Morgan broke his lower right leg on Oct. 9 and was placed on injured reserve. He told the Associated Press that he's begun sprinting again, and he promises to be at full speed in the spring. Coach Jim Harbaugh has said the 49ers want to re-sign Morgan, who is a good fit for their power-based West Coast offense. Morgan, however, likely will test the market in free agency before agreeing to a new deal in San Francisco.
Analysis: Keep an eye on where Morgan ends up in 2012, but he has minimal Fantasy value in the majority of leagues. Morgan is the type of player who is more valuable to his team than Fantasy owners.

Jeremy Shockey
Panthers could bring back Shockey
Jeremy Shockey, TE, CAR
9:46 AM
News: The Charlotte Observer considers re-signing free agent TE Jeremy Shockey a "high priority" this offseason. Shockey was the No. 2 TE for the Panthers behind Greg Olsen, and he had a productive season when he caught 37 passes for 455 yards and four touchdowns and missed only one game to injury.
Analysis: Though not the same receiver he was a decade ago, Shockey still is a dependable target, particularly in the red zone. If his asking price is too high, Panthers could turn to Gary Barnidge, who was having a great 2011 camp before breaking his ankle. Keep an eye on what happens with Shockey, and if he returns to the Panthers as expected he would be a No. 2 Fantasy TE on Draft Day worth a late-round pick in deeper leagues.

 
 
 
Top Videos
Rankings