Fantasy Football Notes 8/25/2009

- If you saw my sleeper picks, you saw the name Leon Washington on there.  If you watched Monday Night Football last night, you now know why.  Washington rushed for 48 yards on 8 carries and caught two passes for 35 yards including a TD reception.  The Jets will figure out real quick that if you put the ball in this guy's hands, good things will happen.

(Photo by AP)

- DeAngelo Williams owners look here!  According to ESPN.com Pat Yasinskas, Williams will still get the bulk of the carries even if Jonathan Stewart is healthy.  This is what every Williams owner wanted to hear.  If you haven't had your draft yet, move him up your charts just a bit.

- For those of you that bought your T.J. Duckett Seahawks jersey, you now have a collectors item.  Duckett was released by Seattle after they signed veteran RB Edgerrin James to a one year deal.  Until James can get up to speed on the playbook, Julius Jones will be the man unless some unknown can step up.  Problems with the running game, just means more passing for the Hawks and increases the value of anyone in their passing game.

- Ravens second year back RB Ray Rice looked decent in limited action against the Jets last night.  More intriguing was the fact that Rice received goaline carries.  LeRon McClain was a big TD monster for them last year, but if Rice can add goaline back to his resume, he'll be one of the more complete backs in the game.

- Pierre Thomas of the Saints is currently dealing with an MCL sprain, however is coach Sean Payton said that its "nothing significant".  Thomas owners can only hope and pray that he'll be ready for Week 1 when they take on the Detroit Lions.

- If you were holding onto Alex Smith, thinking that someday the former number one overall pick would develop into something, I have bad news for you.  Coach Singletary has made Shaun Hill, the undrafted QB from Maryland, his starter.  Hill is a decent QB2 and better QB3.  He served me well down the stretch last season.

- All 5 Detroit Lions fans can now breath a sigh of relief.  Calvin Johnson returned to practice after missing two weeks with a sprained thumb.

- Brian Westbrook has looked good in practice and has increased his workload every day.  Its still not clear how quickly he'll get into game shape, but if we've learned anything, its that Westbrook can turn it on like a switch.

- According to the Cowboys beat writer for the Ft Worth Star-Telegram, Roy Williams will catch at least 70 passes for 900 yards and 8 TDs.  Interesting projection, but Terrell Owens caught 69 passes for 1052 yards and 10 TDs last year and he's much more talented than Williams.

- St Louis Rams top receiver, Donnie Avery is progressing really fast and is looking very likely to play in Week 1.  Its surprising to see him heal this quick from a stress fracture.  My only concern here would be him coming back too early and getting re-injured.

Posted Aug 25 2009, 10:47 AM by Nick Fruscello
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Comments

KevinZuk wrote re: Fantasy Football Notes 8/25/2009
on Tue, Aug 25 2009 3:47 PM

Hey Nick,

Always love the Notes posts.

I drafted 11th for that PPR league last night and I'm horribly pessimistic about my team, mostly at QB, but elsewhere too (Defense, backup RBs). Nothing is worse than playing with a team you don't like except maybe LOSING with a team you don't like.

I may not be able to pull off a blockbuster yet, but which of these players would bring back a top tier QB if I offered him up in a trade and who should I hold on to? Here are my draft results:

1. Andre Johnson

2. Chris Johnson

3. Tony Gonzalez

4. Dwayne Bowe

5. Derrick Ward

6. LenDale White

7. Matt Cassel

8. Kevin Walter

9. Fred Jackson

10. New York Jets Defense

11. Nate Washington

12. Percy Harvin

13. Chris Henry

14. Trent Edwards

15. Nate Kaeding

Thanks for your help, Nick, and thanks for the "favs" spot on here, too!

Nick Fruscello wrote re: Fantasy Football Notes 8/25/2009
on Tue, Aug 25 2009 4:05 PM

Hey Kevin,

Is this the same 7 points for a TD pass league?  Matt Cassel isn't bad actually.  He'll throw a ton and he'll be playing in KC's spread offense.  Assuming he survives the season, he'll have nice stats at the end of the year.  If you had to trade someone, trade LenDale White.  To get a top tier QB, one of your top three picks.  Even that may not happen.  Look at other teams and see who has two good QBs and look at what they're lacking.  If I had to get a top QB, I would try to trade Gonzalez.  You don't want to lose Andre Johnson and Chris Johnson is your best RB and if you lost him, you would be really thin at that position.

Again, if I was in that situation, White would be the trade bait and unless a really nice offer came by, I would hang onto my top 5.

KevinZuk wrote re: Fantasy Football Notes 8/25/2009
on Tue, Aug 25 2009 4:33 PM

Hah, good call on Cassel. Like I said, I'm not very optimistic about my team right now, but if a few things go really right (Cassel or Edwards putting up numbers, Henry playing well all season without a court date, Ward being a serviceable starter, etc.)

All that being said, would I be out of my mind to start Edwards at NE week one over Cassel at Baltimore? It seems obvious that Edwards will be behind and thus, have to throw it more against a slightly weaker defense. What do you think?

And yes, it might be another squeaker year to get into the playoffs for me...

Nick Fruscello wrote re: Fantasy Football Notes 8/25/2009
on Wed, Aug 26 2009 11:18 AM

Oh geez.  Good question on the QB start.   Neither looks like a good start.  When it doubt, go with the better talent and in this case, its Cassel.  Edwards did lousy against the Pats both times they played each other and this will be Brady's big return to the Patriots in Foxboro.  While Cassel doesn't have a great matchup either, the Ravens don't have Rex Ryan or Bart Scott now and they're all another year older and slower.  I don't think Cassel will clean up, but he should do a little bit better than Edwards.