First Response: Better late than never

Senior Fantasy Writer

Dec. 6, 2009

Sunday was about as wacky a day as you will find in the NFL. It was a crazy day for Fantasy owners as well.

The Raiders went into Pittsburgh and upset the Steelers. Tom Brady threw an interception on what should have been a game-winning drive in Miami. Jay Cutler didn't throw an interception at all.

There was plenty more, including the wild play with Robert Meachem, which we'll address below. But some old faces at running back, who have been disappointments recently, came out to help your Fantasy team in a big way.

The Fantasy playoffs start in Week 14 in the majority of Fantasy leagues, and Week 13 was crucial for plenty of owners to clinch a final spot or secure a first-round bye. It's a good thing Jonathan Stewart, Cedric Benson and Matt Forte decided to have productive games.

Fantasy Football - First Response: Better late than never : FantasyNews.CBSSports.com

With DeAngelo Williams (ankle) out, Stewart got the start against Tampa Bay and had 26 carries for 120 yards and a touchdown. This is why you drafted Stewart with the chance that if Williams had to miss time then Stewart would step up and play well.

Stewart might not play at this level again with games remaining against New England, Minnesota, the Giants and New Orleans, especially if Williams returns from his injury, but he was a great starting option once Williams was inactive.

Benson, who has missed the past two games with a hip injury, returned to the starting lineup against Detroit and had 36 carries for 110 yards and caught two passes for 15 yards. He proved that Larry Johnson won't be a factor as long as Benson is healthy since Johnson had just two carries for 4 yards.

Benson showed no ill effects from the hip injury, so look for him to finish the season strong. He has a tough matchup in Week 14 at Minnesota, but Benson has run well against Pittsburgh and Baltimore this year, so it will be hard to bench him against the Vikings.

Forte, one of the biggest busts this year, had a perfect matchup against the Rams, and he responded with 91 rushing yards and a touchdown with a lost fumble. It wasn't a great game for Forte, but given the way his year has gone, you'll take the 13 Fantasy points.

Forte might not be a good Fantasy option again any time soon with games against Green Bay, Baltimore and Minnesota over the next three weeks before ending the season at Detroit. Hopefully you used Forte since he came through for you.

It wasn't all rosy on the running back front. Michael Turner (ankle) was out, and Jason Snelling and Jerious Norwood struggled against the Eagles. Steve Slaton (neck) also missed the game against Jacksonville.

And we had some disappointing games from Frank Gore, Maurice Jones-Drew, Ricky Williams, Marion Barber, LeSean McCoy and Laurence Maroney. But for the first time in several weeks we didn't have any major injuries at running back, and there was also a glimmer of hope in Cleveland with how Jerome Harrison played against San Diego.

Harrison, who started for the injured Jamal Lewis (head), had 10 carries for 35 yards and caught seven passes for 62 yards and two touchdowns. He's going to be a hot commodity on the waiver wire this week with some great matchups remaining against Kansas City, Oakland and Jacksonville.

Let's take a look around at the rest of the Week 13 action.

Start of the Week review: The Steelers didn't have a good day Sunday against Oakland with a crushing upset that may cost them a spot in the playoffs, but Rashard Mendenhall was great for Fantasy owners. Mendenhall had 20 carries for 103 yards and a touchdown against the Raiders. We actually hoped he would do better than that based on the matchup, but we'll definitely settle for his 16 Fantasy points, which left him as a No. 1 option in the majority of leagues.

Sit of the Week review: Tim Hightower was playing Sunday night against Minnesota. He was active despite a thumb injury, but the Vikings were a tough matchup for him. The Vikings came into the game at No. 2 in run defense, and only two running backs had scored against them this season with Ray Rice in Week 6 and Justin Forsett in Week 11

Insane stat line of the day: Jason Witten now has two games in a row with solid production, and Fantasy owners are wondering where this has been all season. He had his second consecutive game with over 100 yards receiving with 14 catches for 156 yards at the Giants. Witten has turned his dismal season around and is now playing like a No. 1 Fantasy option again. Hopefully this will continue for the final four games of the year.

Out-of-nowhere stat line of the day: Nine quarterbacks threw for at least 300 yards Sunday, but some of them were a little unexpected, especially Jason Campbell (367 yards, three touchdowns and one interception against New Orleans), Chad Henne (335, two touchdowns and one interception against New England) and Bruce Gradkowski (308 yards and three touchdowns at Pittsburgh). Throw in Brady Quinn's performance (271 yards and three touchdowns at San Diego) and you had some outrageous Fantasy outings from some unexpected passers. It's hard to count on these quarterbacks going forward, but Henne has a great matchup in Week 14 at Jacksonville, Quinn still has games remaining against Kansas City and Jacksonville, Gradkowski plays Cleveland in Week 16 and Campbell now has five touchdown passes in his past two games.

Guy we were way right about: We loved the matchup for Denver rookie running back Knowshon Moreno at Kansas City, and he didn't let us down. Moreno had 21 carries for 86 yards and two touchdowns against the Chiefs. He shared carries with Correll Buckhalter, who also did well with 12 carries for 113 yards. But Moreno ended up as a No. 1 Fantasy running back with his standout performance Sunday.

Guy we were way wrong about: Brandon Jacobs proved he has some breakaway speed against Dallas when he scored on a 74-yard catch. Jacobs took off down the sideline on a swing pass in the third quarter and raced in for a touchdown. He also added 13 carries for 39 yards and another touchdown. Jacobs came into this game with only one touchdown in his past five meetings with the Cowboys, who only had three running backs score rushing touchdowns against them this season. Jacobs' two touchdowns helped the Giants keep their playoff hopes alive.

Overachieving defense of the week: The Panthers DST has put together some good games this season, but they were a solid unit Sunday and a No. 1 Fantasy option against Tampa Bay. The Panthers came away with five interceptions against rookie quarterback Josh Freeman and two sacks in a 16-6 victory. Carolina might not have much success in Week 14 at New England, but the Panthers took advantage of a rookie quarterback making too many mistakes this week.

Underachieving defense of the week: How much do the Steelers miss Troy Polamalu, who is out with a knee injury? They allowed the Raiders to score 27 points with no turnovers and only two sacks in Pittsburgh. Bruce Gradkowski and Louis Murphy picked apart the defense, and the Steelers DST was terrible. The Steelers need Polamalu back ASAP otherwise the DST is a risky Fantasy option in Week 14 at Cleveland. That's how bad it's become for the Steelers DST.

Names to add to your scout team ...

Chad Henne, quarterback, Miami (335 passing yards, two touchdowns and one interception against New England)
Bruce Gradkowski, quarterback, Oakland (308 passing yards, three touchdowns and 20 rushing yards at Pittsburgh)
Brady Quinn, quarterback, Cleveland (271 passing yards and three touchdowns against San Diego)
Correll Buckhalter, running back, Denver (113 rushing yards and three catches for 15 yards at Kansas City)
Jerome Harrison, running back, Cleveland (35 rushing yards, seven catches for 62 yards and two touchdowns against San Diego)
Leonard Weaver, running back, Philadelphia (37 rushing yards, two catches for 63 yards and a touchdown at Atlanta)
Louis Murphy, wide receiver, Oakland (four catches for 128 yards and two touchdowns at Pittsburgh)
Davone Bess, wide receiver, Miami (10 catches for 117 yards and a touchdown against New England)
Devin Thomas, wide receiver, Washington (seven catches for 100 yards and two touchdowns against New Orleans)
Evan Moore, wide receiver, Cleveland (six catches for 80 yards against San Diego)
Brian Robiskie, wide receiver, Cleveland (four catches for 69 yards against San Diego)

Injury alerts ...

Matt Schaub, dislocated left shoulder, considered questionable for Week 14 against Seattle
Tom Brady, arm, considered probable for Week 14 against Carolina
Vince Young, knee, considered questionable for Week 14 against St. Louis
Matthew Stafford, left shoulder, considered doubtful for Week 14 at Baltimore
Mark Sanchez, knee, considered questionable for Week 14 at Tampa Bay
Devin Hester, calf, considered questionable for Week 14 against Chicago
Antwaan Randle El, shoulder, considered questionable for Week 14 at Oakland

The last word: Plenty of Fantasy owners are wondering how the Robert Meachem fumble return for a touchdown will be scored, and here is the CBSSports.com official explanation. You can find this in the Help Center link in your league home pages.

"During the New Orleans Saints vs. Washington Redskins game Drew Brees threw an interception to Kareem Moore of the Redskins. Moore returned the interception 14 yards and was then stripped by Robert Meachem, who recovered the fumble and returned it 44 yards for a touchdown.

This is scored as a defensive fumble recovery and a defensive touchdown for the Saints DST. Meachem will not be awarded any Fantasy points for this play. By rule, when there is a change of possession via turnover, the offensive team becomes the defense and the defense becomes the offense."

Hopefully this explains the situation. Meachem still had an outstanding game against the Redskins with eight catches for 142 yards and a touchdown, and he continues to prove he should be starting in all leagues as a solid Fantasy option. He has six touchdowns in his past five games.

What stood out to you this week? How did your Fantasy teams do? Drop us a line and tell us about it at dmfantasyfootball@cbs.com. Be sure to put Attn: Week 13 in the subject field. Please include your full name, hometown and state and we'll respond to as many as e-mails we can.

Garrett: Murray tweaked hamstring
DeMarco Murray, RB, DAL
5/21/2013

News: Cowboys coach Jason Garrett told the media Tuesday running back DeMarco Murray tweaked a hamstring over the last week. The team opted to be conservative with him and had him sit out practice on Tuesday. Murray was spotted on the sidelines during the Cowboys' first day of OTA workouts.

Analysis: Murray's injury history goes a long way back -- and the Cowboys know it. Keeping him healthy will be a tough chore for the next several months but taking careful, proactive steps like this will keep him from being absent. His health will remain key as he's missed nine games over his first two seasons in the league and has had the injury bug biting him going back to his high school days. But Murray had 10-plus Fantasy points in half of his 10 games last season and has the confidence of the coaching staff. He's a moderately risky No. 2 Fantasy running back expected to get taken between 25th and 40th overall on Draft Day.

Amendola gets to work with Brady
Danny Amendola, WR, NE
5/21/2013

News: The media got to check out the Patriots' second day of OTA workouts in New England. The Boston Globe reports new Pats wideout Danny Amendola spent a lot of time with Tom Brady, working primarily in the slot. According to the Patriots' official website Amendola looked sharp, ran his routes well and got in and out of his breaks quickly. He appeared comfortable which shouldn't be surprising given his past work in Josh McDaniels' offense. "It's familiar," Amendola said. "When Josh was in St. Louis, I got to know it pretty good. It's a little more intricate out here. It's something to grasp. I'm learning every day. It's the verbiage. That's the most important thing, the vocabulary of the offense. I'm learning, day in and day out, studying at night."

Analysis: Amendola is vitally important to the Patriots' offense after the team let Wes Welker go in free agency last year. It's tough to expect Amendola to completely replace Welker in their scheme but he has the potential to be a major factor if he can stay healthy. That's a big if -- he's missed 20 games over the last two seasons. So long as you accept Amendola as an injury-risk who doesn't have the experience of being a volume receiver like Welker, you'll be fine. Amendola is safest as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver with a pick in Round 7 or 8.

MJD's training moves to Miami
Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, JAC
5/21/2013

News: Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley confirmed that running back Maurice Jones-Drew will step up the intensity in his workouts in Miami with noted trainer Pete Bommarito. MJD is working his way back from a Lisfranc injury. Bradley is fine with the move because he and Jones-Drew are on the same page with where the running back is at, according to the Florida Times-Union. Bradley especially wanted Jones-Drew in camp while the team installed the offense. "It’s going to take some time and it should come back," Bradley said of Jones-Drew's injured foot. "We're just taking the next step in the rehab process."

Analysis: Expectations remain MJD will be ready for the start of training camp in July and potentially be on the field for a June minicamp. Fantasy owners need to see him before drafting to have some level of confidence in his game. The injury he suffered is a tough one to come back from. On the plus side, Jones-Drew had at least 1,600 total yards in each of his previous three seasons before 2012 when he held out of training camp and ultimately got hurt after six games. Some will be afraid to draft the 28-year-old but most owners should go ahead and consider Jones-Drew a Top 15 running back for now, making him worth a pick between 20th and 30th overall in drafts assuming he is a full participant in Jags camp. That seems to be on pace to happen.

Uninfected Gronk has surgery
Rob Gronkowski, TE, NE
5/21/2013

News: Rob Gronkowski had successful surgery on his left forearm Monday and doctors found no infection inside according to multiple reports. He had a new plate installed in his arm to keep things in place inside his forearm and should be done having surgery there. A consultation on his back is expected within the next three to four weeks with surgery to potentially follow.

Analysis: Great news! Unless there's a setback with the arm or a serious issue with his back Gronkowski should be ready for the start of training camp. That makes him a safer pick in Fantasy Football since he'll have the time to get ready for the season and potentially play 16 games. We're not out of the woods yet but be ready to consider Gronk with a Top 20 pick in drafts this summer.

Romo out until minicamp
Tony Romo, QB, DAL
5/21/2013

News: The Dallas Morning News reports Tony Romo had a cyst removed from his back and will be out until at least Cowboys minicamp in June. He should be fine for training camp. "If this was the regular season and I had to play next week, I could," Romo said. "This is just about being smart. That’s why I did it now. This will have no effect on training camp. No way will it have an impact. And I still think there’s a good chance I’m on the field for minicamp."

Analysis: Romo isn't a quarterback anyone is targeting on Draft Day, he's more like a passer you'll settle for starting in Round 6. There's nothing wrong with that: Romo was one of 10 quarterbacks to average over 20 Fantasy points per game (in standard formats) and has consistently put up big numbers, albeit not amazing numbers. Fantasy owners can win with Romo as their starter.

Miller works with first team
Lamar Miller, RB, MIA
5/21/2013

News: The Miami Herald reports that Dolphins running back Lamar Miller opened with the first team during Tuesday's OTA workout. The report says Miller "showed his usual good burst." Daniel Thomas and Marcus Thigpen got work behind Miller.

Analysis: Miller is expected to start for the Dolphins this year, and he should enter training camp as a potential No. 2 Fantasy running back worth a pick as early as Round 4 in the majority of leagues. He recently said his goals for the season were 1,500 yards and 5.0 yards per carry. We hope he can live up to his words because he could be a special Fantasy option if that happens.

Bolden misses OTA workouts
Brandon Bolden, RB, NE
5/21/2013

News: The Boston Globe reports running back Brandon Bolden was absent from OTA practice Tuesday after spraining his ankle while training. He's expected to return in late May/early June.

Analysis: Bolden is expected to be buried on the depth chart behind starter Stevan Ridley, among others. He's unlikely to help Fantasy owners in 2013 so long as Ridley is healthy.

Taylor has hernia surgery
Jamar Taylor, CB, MIA
5/21/2013

News: Dolphins rookie cornerback Jamar Taylor had surgery to repair a hernia and will cost him up to three weeks of practice time. He's a candidate to be back for a June minicamp and should be OK for the start of training camp.

Analysis: Taylor was impressive at the Senior Bowl and certainly erased any concerns about his overall athleticism with a stellar performance at the combine. Taylor is a better all-around player than former Boise State standout Kyle Wilson, who was selected by the Jets 29th overall in 2010. But since he's a corner, he has minimal Fantasy value. Ignore him in most standard IDP leagues, and he's only worth a late-round pick in rookie-only IDP formats.

Goodson will plead not guilty
Mike Goodson, RB, NYJ
5/21/2013

News: The Newark Star-Ledger has learned Jets running back Mike Goodson will plead not guilty to drug and weapons charges stemming from a mid-May arrest. His lawyer is confident jail time will be avoided. A hearing is scheduled for June 12.

Analysis: Goodson is taking in Jets workouts from the sideline, a sure sign that his roster spot is up in the air. Between the courts and the league there's no guarantee that Goodson will play for all of the 2013 season. For now owners shouldn't have him on their radars, though if his attorney is as innocent as he suggests, that would change before the majority of people hold their Fantasy drafts.

Giants remain confident with Cruz
Victor Cruz, WR, NYG
5/21/2013

News: USA Today reports that Giants chairman Steve Tisch remains confident a deal with receiver Victor Cruz is coming soon. "We're talking. (Cruz's agent) Tom Condon is talking to (Giants general manager) Jerry (Reese) and I'm personally confident that Victor wants to be a Giant, will be a Giant," Tisch said. "He's a great guy. It's just taking its time." The report says Cruz and the Giants have made some progress but a deal isn't imminent, despite a report from the New York Post stating the sides were at the "2-yard line." At this point, it seems they're barely in the red zone, but things could change as the spring winds down. Cruz has yet to sign the tender he was extended as a restricted free agent that would pay him $2.879 million. The Giants could lower the rate to $630,000 if Cruz hasn't signed by June 17, but that might only strain the negotiations.

Analysis: We hope that Cruz is signed prior to training camp because we don't want to see a potential holdout. Continue to monitor what develops, and if Cruz signs on time then he would remain a high-end No. 2 Fantasy receiver worth a pick as early as Round 4. If he ends up holding out then his value will decline.

More Updates

1	Peyton Manning, DEN, QB
2	Drew Brees, NO, QB
3	Tony Romo, DAL, QB
4	Cam Newton, CAR, QB
5	Tom Brady, NE, QB
6	Aaron Rodgers, GB, QB
7	Robert Griffin III, WAS, QB
8	Russell Wilson, SEA, QB
9	Andrew Luck, IND, QB
10	Michael Vick, PHI, QB
All Rankings

1	Adrian Peterson, MIN, RB
2	C.J. Spiller, BUF, RB
3	Marshawn Lynch, SEA, RB
4	Alfred Morris, WAS, RB
5	Frank Gore, SF, RB
6	Arian Foster, HOU, RB
7	DeMarco Murray, DAL, RB
8	Jamaal Charles, KC, RB
9	Stevan Ridley, NE, RB
10	LeSean McCoy, PHI, RB
All Rankings

1	Calvin Johnson, DET, WR
2	Dez Bryant, DAL, WR
3	Demaryius Thomas, DEN, WR
4	Brandon Marshall, CHI, WR
5	Wes Welker, DEN, WR
6	Eric Decker, DEN, WR
7	Reggie Wayne, IND, WR
8	Steve Smith, CAR, WR
9	Victor Cruz, NYG, WR
10	Marques Colston, NO, WR
All Rankings

1	Rob Gronkowski, NE, TE
2	Antonio Gates, SD, TE
3	Aaron Hernandez, NE, TE
4	Jason Witten, DAL, TE
5	Greg Olsen, CAR, TE
6	Jimmy Graham, NO, TE
7	Tony Gonzalez, ATL, TE
8	Dwayne Allen, IND, TE
9	Kyle Rudolph, MIN, TE
10	Delanie Walker, TEN, TE
All Rankings

1	Matt Prater, DEN, K
2	Stephen Gostkowski, NE, K
3	Shaun Suisham, PIT, K
4	Adam Vinatieri, IND, K
5	Blair Walsh, MIN, K
6	Nick Novak, SD, K
7	Garrett Hartley, NO, K
8	Jason Hanson, DET, K
9	Mason Crosby, GB, K
10	Josh Brown, NYG, K
All Rankings

1	Steelers, DST
2	49ers, DST
3	Broncos, DST
4	Chargers, DST
5	Seahawks, DST
6	Bengals, DST
7	Bills, DST
8	Patriots, DST
9	Texans, DST
10	Packers, DST
All Rankings