Week 7
10/20/06
Steppin' Up
Philip Rivers, SD: With the
loss of Drew Brees to the New Orleans Saints via free agency,
Rivers was a bit of question mark heading into the season as San
Diego's starting quarterback. In Week 1 he threw just 11 times.
With LaDainian Tomlinson and Michael Turner manning the Chargers
backfield, it was expected we would see his number of attempts
limited throughout the season. Instead, Rivers has attempted 30
or more passes in 3 of his last 4 games, throwing for more than
230 yards per contest. He has at least 1 touchdown pass in each
game and is completing 68.6% of his passes on the season. With
games against the Chiefs, Rams, Browns and Bengals in the next
4 weeks, expect him to keep his touchdown streak alive and continue
his 200 plus yard outings.
Drew Brees, NO: The addition
of Brees in the offseason, along with a number of other moves,
has given new life to the Saints franchise after suffering through
a 3-13 season last year. Seventh round draft pick Marques Colston
has provided Brees with a big target in the end zone, while number
two overall pick Reggie Bush gives him a dangerous receiving threat
out of the backfield. Credit should also be given to Sean Payton,
who was hired as head coach following Jim Haslett's six-year tenure.
These changes have helped get Brees off to a great start. The
Saints QB has completed 66.8% of his passes and averaged 253 yards
per game. Following this week's bye, he has a few difficult match-ups
against the Ravens and Steelers, but he should prove a valuable
fantasy starter in games against the Buccaneers, Bengals,and 49ers.
Steppin' Down
Jake Plummer, DEN: A borderline
fantasy starter over the past two seasons, Plummer is off to a
terrible start with the Broncos this year. He has thrown for less
than 175 yards in 4 of their 5 games to date, completing only
53.1%of his passes. The one-time Cardinal is also struggling to
find his targets in the end zone, throwing just 3 touchdown passes
to 5 interceptions on the season. Following his 11 of 18, 102-yard
performance against the Raiders last week, it can't even be advised
to start Plummer against favorable opponents.
Steppin' Up
Travis Henry, TEN: Six weeks
into the season, it appears we have our answer as to who will
be the Titans' primary ball carrier. Chris Brown began the year
as Tennessee's starting tailback, but has quickly worked himself
into Jeff Fisher's doghouse.In the last 2 weeks, Henry has carried
51 times for 301 yards (5.9 YPC) and 1 touchdown. LenDale White,
who missed last week's game due to illness, may continue getting
8-12 carries per contest when the Titans return to action, but
expect Henry to handle the majority of carries the rest of the
way. White may see more chances as once the Titans are eliminated
from playoff contention. It's still unlikely they would bench
a productive Henry simply to take a look at what they'll have
in the future with White.
Carnell "Cadillac" Williams,
TB: Through the first three games of the season, Williams
was averaging just 35.6 yards a game for a total of 107 yards
on 42 carries (2.5 YPC). When Chris Simms was hospitalized with
a ruptured spleen following a Week 3 loss to the Panthers, Jon
Gruden was forced to go with rookie sixth round pick Bruce Gradkowski
as his starting quarterback. There was little reason to expect
Williams would turn things around. However, he has carried 39
times for 205 yards, raising his YPC to a respectable 3.9 on the
season. While Williams may not live up to the expectations placed
upon him at the start of the year, owners that used a first round
pick on the "Cadillac" can at least expect him to perform
as a reliable #2 RB the rest of the way.
Steppin' Down
Ron Dayne, HOU: Not that anyone
was expecting much from Dayne this year, but when he took over
as Houston's starting tailback in Week 2, there was reason to
believe he'd have value as a 3rd or 4th fantasy back on your roster.
In his four starts with the Texans, Dayne hasn't impressed and
is in jeopardy of losing his starting role. Even if he were to
retain his position atop the depth chart, there's little reason
to hold onto him, as indicated by his 2.9 yard average on 57 carries
this season with 0 touchdowns. At this point, it appears either
Wali Lundy or Samkon Gado will emerge as the more valuable ball
carrier in the Texans backfield.
Steppin' Up
Joey Galloway, TB: Coming off
a career year in 2005, there were high expectations placed upon
Galloway entering the 2006 season. After a Week 1 performance
in which he recorded zero receptions, many were prepared to quickly
write him off and look elsewhere for help at the wide receiver
position. In Week 2, Galloway pulled a 180, catching 9 passes
for 167 yards and following it up with his first touchdown reception
in Week 3. Bruce Gradkowski took over for an injured Chris Simms
in Week 5 and made a quick connection with Galloway. In Gradkowski's
two starts, Galloway has caught 11 passes for 177 yards and 1
touchdown--bringing his season totals to 21 receptions, 346 yards
and 2 touchdowns. As long as Galloway remains injury free, expect
him to continue his solid production. Value him as a mid-to-lower
level #2 receiver in fantasy leagues.
Deion Branch, SEA: It took
awhile, but Branch finally delivered for fantasy owners that took
the risk of drafting him. After a holdout over a contract dispute
with the Patriots that lasted one week into the regular season
Branch finally made his first start since joining the Seahawks.
He delivered with 6 receptions for 76 yards and 2 touchdowns against
the Rams. While Darrell Jackson will continue to function as Hasselbeck's
primary target in Seattle, you can expect Branch to continue getting
4-6 receptions on a weekly basis now that he has supplanted Nate
Burleson in the starting line-up.
Steppin' Down
Troy Williamson, MIN: With 10
receptions for 179 yards the first two weeks of the season, Williamson
was well on his way to climbing the ranks among wide receivers
this year. In the 3 games since then, he caught just 8 passes
for 77 yards and is yet to score a touchdown in any game. While
it isn't time to bail on the second year receiver, his lack of
production in recent weeks is a concern. For the time being, consider
him a low end #3 fantasy receiver. If you have better options
on your bench, don't be reluctant to start them until we see Williamson
produce again within the Vikings offense.
Steppin' Up
Randy McMichael, MIA: After
a slow start to the season in which McMichael recorded 6 receptions
for 59 yards in 3 games, he has picked up his play as of late
and become a frequent target of QB Joey Harrington. In Harrington's
two starts, McMichael has 14 receptions for 156 yards, but he
has yet to reach the end zone. His 18 of 24 receptions and 210
of his 269 total yards for the season have come in the last three
outings. Now that McMichael is once again being incorporated into
the Dolphins offense, consider him a must start on a weekly basis.
Alex Smith, TB: Smith has been
on a hot streak lately recording 12 receptions for 98 yards and
2 touchdowns in his last three games. While most of that yardage
came in Week Three's game against the Panthers, he has still been
a frequent target of Buccaneers rookie QB, Bruce Gradkowski. Unless
Smith is going to record touchdowns every week, he'll need to
begin gaining more yards on his receptions before he can be considered
a solid starter at the position. For the time being, he is a solid
back-up that could produce as starter as the season progresses.
Consider trading for him if you are weak at the TE position.
Chris Cooley, WAS: Like McMichael,
Cooley is another tight end that lacked in production over the
first three weeks of the season. In Washington's last 3 games
however, he has 10 receptions for 138 yards and 1 touchdown. Playing
in Al Saunders system, it was only a matter of time before Cooley
would be better utilized within the offense. While he may disappear
at times throughout the season, Cooley should be considered a
lower lever starter at TE in fantasy leagues for the remainder
of the season.
Steppin' Down
Heath Miller, PIT: Coming off
an impressive rookie campaign in which he scored 6 touchdowns
and caught 39 balls for 459 yards, Miller was expected to be a
value pick and build upon those numbers this season. He produced
in Week 1, catching 3 balls for 101 yards and a touchdown, but
he's been miserable since. In the Steelers 4 games since then,
Miller has just 7 receptions for 83 yards and no touchdowns. He
may become a frequent red zone target for QB Ben Roethlisberger
as the season progresses, but for the time being he is an unreliable
starter and is best used as a #2 TE in fantasy leagues.
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