Mendenhall Breaks Out Sunday Night

Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall has been dogged since having fumbling problems as a rookie, but an injury to Willie Parker, put Mendenhall into the starting lineup on Sunday Night Football against the San Diego Chargers and the real Rashard Mendenhall finally showed up.

He showed up with a break out performance rushing for 165 yards on 29 carries and two touchdowns. He added 26 yards on two catches.

Mendenhall was the Steelers #1 pick of the 2008 draft out of Illinois, but missed most of the season with a knee  injury.

The Steelers would like to have a pounding-back like Mendenhall to complement the speed of Willie Parker.  Both can be good fantasy backs because Mendenhall will get the goal line carries and Parker has the big-play-ability and should get more receptions.

Sin City Scout

Glen Coffee, Handcuff to Starter

I handed it to you. I handed you Glen Coffee.

If you were one of the three people who read my "Handcuff Hero" column in the preseason about Glen Coffee, I can only hope you listened. And since one of those people was me and one was my mother I hope you, lone true reader, listened.

Somehow Coffee is still available in 42% of ESPN.com leagues. So if yours is one of them, I'm going to skip to the part where I tell you to run out and get him because if you wait until you're done reading this he might be gone. Go head. I'll wait.....

Ok, so now that you have Coffee, should you start him? What's he going to do this week? Well, let me make that part short and sweet: START GLEN COFFEE THIS WEEK!!!

Some rankings have Coffee as a flex option this week. That is to say he would be somewhere in the 20-30 area in terms of running backs. I'm here to tell you he should be higher than that.

Coffee is an outstanding talent, who led the NFL in rushing yards this preseason. He's playing on a 49ers team that runs the ball a lot and when they are passing, often passes the ball to their Running Back. On top of that the 49ers are playing the St. Louis Rams who are 27th in the NFL against the run. What more do you need to know here?!? A projection? Ok, I'll give you a projection:

Final line for Glen Coffee:
22 carries, 109 yards, 1TD. 4 Receptions, 19 yards.

Don't make me say I told you so.

PCB Scout

Questions? Comments? Random nonsense? Email me: pcbscout(at)gmail.com

Browns RB Harrison Could Start

Cleveland running back, Jerome Harrison could get the start against the Cincinnati Bengals if starting running back Jamal Lewis can't go.

Lewis is nursing a hamstring injury and is listed as questionable.

Harrison played solid against the dominating Ravens rushing for 52 yards on 16 carries and caught 5 passes for 33 yards.

Rookie 6th-round-draft-pick, James Davis, should also see a share of the carries if Lewis is out, but Harrison should have more fantasy value, especially in a PPR league.

Harrison was a 5th-round pick in the 2006 from Washington State where he broke the record for most consecutive games with 100 or more yards by a Pac-10 runner, with 16.

He is small at 5'9, so he doesn't look like an everyday back, but his big-play ability combined with his good hands can make him a solid fantasy backup in deep leagues.

Sin City Scout

RB Report Week 3

LeSean McCoy - Eagles: 20 carries - 84 yards 1 TD - 1 Rec - 9 yards
Still available in some leagues and will make a  good start when often-injured Brian Westbrook is out.

Glen Coffee - 49ers: 25 carries - 54 yards  
Frank Gore is out  and Coffee will start.

Fred Taylor - Patriots: 21 carries -105 yards 1 TD, 1 Rec - 4 yards
Laurence Maroney  left the game with a thigh injury and Taylor looked good and could keep getting the majority of the carries.

Jamaal Charles - Chiefs: - 6 carries - 36 yards - 3 Rec - 34 yards
He was much more effective than Larry Johnson and his playing time could increase.

Jerome Harrison - Browns: 16 carries - 52 yards, 5 Rec - 33 yards
Big-play type, but not an ever down back, but Jamal Lewis' age and injury, he should get some good running time as well as use as a third-down back.

Maurice Morris - Lions: 8 carries - 10 yards 1 TD
Kevin Smith is listed as a limited practice participant Thursday, so he could still start. Morris is only worth a look if desperate.

The Saints RB Situation: Week 3

Wow! This is my third column this year about someone named Pierre. My second in two weeks. Either I'm embracing my French culture more or more guys named Pierre are becoming solid athletes. Probably both.

Ok, let's get to the stuff you care about. And yes, I mean you, the one person who reads my column.

Before the season began Pierre Thomas was on everyones radar, and why wouldn't he be? This is a guy who was responsible for tremendous output in the final 7 weeks of last season, out of no where. This is also a guy who was slated to get the bulk of the carries for an offense that is among the most explosive in the league.

Then came the MCL sprain. All of the sudden, Thomas owners went from being excited about the potential value of their pick to that terrible position fantasy owners dread. That awful spot when a guy goes down with a week to week injury. Now you're constantly searching for updates on his injury status. Is he going to play? Is he going to get touches if he does? Is it bad that my week depends entirely on the previous weekends fantasy results? Ok, maybe that's just me.

In his absence, Mike Bell has done an outstanding job (see my preseason column about Mike Bell... you're welcome) and it started to look like Thomas would take a back seat. However, the tables have turned. Now it's Bell who is down with an MCL sprain.

Thomas returned to action last week, which tells me he's ready to go. Granted he was not effective in his one touch, but let's be serious, it was one touch.

Bell on the other hand has not participated in practice this week and if he doesn't participate again on Friday, I would not expect to see him on the field against Buffalo. That should allow Thomas to slip back in as the premier rusher for the Saints, with Reggie Bush continuing to get his usual action.

There's one more thing to consider though; Is Thomas startable against a Buffalo defense that's only allowed 65 yards per game on the ground? Let's break this down, shall we?

We already know Buffalo has been effective so far stopping the run against the Patriots and Buccaneers. Neither of those are marquee rushing attacks. Also, while they've allowed only 65 yards per game on the ground, in each games they've allowed 9 receptions to running backs for an excess of 60 yards per game. To top that off, the Bills lost their Middle Linebacker Paul Posluszny in the opening game and are using a backup in his place.

Another thing to consider here is the motivation to run the ball. I expect the Saints will outmatch the Bills and get up early, allowing them to lean a bit harder on the running game. On top of that they are expecting rain in Buffalo on Sunday, which could force the Saints to commit to the ground game more than usual.

Because of those factors, I am starting Pierre Thomas this Sunday as a RB3/Flex. To give you an idea of what range of players to consider him in; my RB1 and RB2 are D'Angelo Williams and Ryan Grant. I would not start Thomas over either of those players, but I am starting him ahead of Jamal Lewis and Julius Jones.

Let's just hope I'm right about Pierre. The rest of my week depends on it.

PCB Scout

Questions? Comments? Random nonsense? Email me: pcbscout(at)gmail.com

Seahawks RB Forsett Gets Playing Time

Seattle Seahawks running back, Justin Forsett, rushed five times for 35 yards and caught six passes for 57 yards in Sunday's loss to San Francisco.

It is early, but so his role as a receiver out-of-the-backfield might make him a worthwhile fantasy back in PPR leagues. 

The 7th-round-draft-pick is likely too small (5-8) to be an every down back, but he could play a role similar to Leon Washington did for the Jets in 2008.

In the end, Julius Jones is solid at best and the fact is he is often-inured.  That should give Forsett plenty of opportunities to shine in 2009.

Sin City Scout

Barber Out, Choice In...Maybe

The news is bad, but not horrible for Marion Barber owners.  He was expected to miss at least one game and possibly two due to his injury, but Monday's MRI confirmed that Barber has nothing worse than a he strained quadriceps and he received treatment Tuesday and hopes to play on Monday night against the Panthers.

Tashard Choice will be worth picking up if available and will make a solid start Monday night against the Carolina Panthers in Dallas if Barber is out.

Naturally, Felix Jones will also see more action, likely either way, which is great news after his big game on Sunday night.  He is a must start.

Sin City Scout

The Clock is Ticking.......

There are only a few hours left until we can all enjoy the greatness that is the NFL.

Here are some players to keep an eye on during the first week.

Rashard Mendenhall RB PIT– The second year RB out of Illinois should provide a change of pace for Steelers. Willie Parker is still the main guy, and if healthy will see the majority of the carriers, but with Mendenhall’s size 5’10” 225 he should be used a lot to punish the defenses, and wear them out as the game goes on. Could they be the next thunder and lighting duo?

Carnell “Cadillac” Williams RB TAMPA – He is currently the starter in Tampa according to several websites, and this comes a bit of shock to me. It’s not that he isn’t talented, but that the Bucs went off and signed Derrick Ward in the offseason, and like me people I projected him to be the starter with Earnest Graham backing up. I was a big fan of Mr. Williams coming out of Auburn so I hope that this is his breakout year.

Mike Bell RB NO - Given the current injury status of Pierre Thomas, and Reggie Bush look for Bell to get a lot of carriers against Detroit. So far in the preseason he has look pretty good. I see Bush being the starter this week, but I think Bell will get significant amount of carriers.

Lee Evans WR BUF – This is a player that has always interested me. At times he can be a beast then other times he doesn’t do anything. Personally I think that is more of a reflection on the offense then on Evans. The real question will be how T.O. will effect Evans production. My bet is he will actually trend upward due to being opposite a player many defense will have a tendency to cheat a safety towards.

New York Giants WR Group – Who will step up to be Eli’s main go to guy? Steve Smith and Domenick Hixon are listed as the starters with Sinorice Moss, Hakeem Nicks, and Mario Manningham backing them up. I’m putting my money on Steve Smith. This is more of a gut feeling then anything. In fact while writing this blog I jumped over to my league and added him to my team.

- Texas Scout

Cadillac Could Start?

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back, Carnell "Cadillac" Williams apparently has been listed as the #1 running back on the Buccaneers' initial regular season depth chart.

This says a lot for someone who rushed the ball only 8 times for 54 yards in his only preseason game.

"I really feel like I'm better than ever," Williams said Thursday at Raymond James Stadium, after the Buccaneers' 10-6 preseason loss to the Miami Dolphins, his only game. "Physically I have no ailments and mentally, at this point, I'm stronger than ever. My knees are something I'm not worried about."

Williams has been disregarded in most fantasy drafts in favor of Derrick Ward (listed at No.2) and Earnest Graham (listed at No. 3). And while the three will make for the dreaded running-back-by-committee, the Cadillac can be purchased for the price of a an end-of-the-draft-clunker.

Sin City Scout

2009 Dynasty Rookie Rankings: The Long Shots (21-30)

When entering the final rounds of your rookie-only drafts, here are some players who you should be willing to take a chance on:



21. Austin Collie, WR, Indianapolis Colts - Collie may split the #3 WR role in Indy this season with Pierre Garcon, but he should be ready to take the role on next year, with a possibility of become a starter in the future. Collie is about as sure handed as they come, and Peyton loves to have guys that won't drop his perfect passes.



22. Deon Butler, WR, Seattle Seahawks - Like Collie, Butler is another rookie who could claim the #3 WR spot on his team this season. Butler has impressed his coaches in Seattle during training camp, and with Deion Branch possibly spending his last year in Seattle in 2009, Butler could be competing for a starting role in 2010 if he continues to impress.



23. Glen Coffee, RB, San Fransisco 49ers - Coffee could be the "Thunder" to Frank Gore's "Lightning".....if he can earn the right to split carries. In this scenario, Coffee could also become the goal line back, making him worth a top 30 rookie pick.



24. Mike Goodson, RB, Carolina Panthers - DeAngelo Williams had a career year once Jonathan Stewart joined the fold last year. This makes you wonder if the Panthers could plug-in another speed back in Williams' place. Enter the incredibly speedy Goodson, who could get an opportunity in the future to take on the DeAngelo Williams role if Williams' gets injured or wants more money.



25. Javon Ringer, RB, Tennessee Titans - Like Goodson above, Ringer would take over for Chris Johnson in case of injury. Even though he slipped in the draft, Ringer did nothing but perform beautifully in college, and could surprise if given an opportunity to start in Tennessee's run-heavy scheme.



26. Mike Thomas, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars - With very limited options at WR, Thomas could have an opportunity to start, especially with only oft-injured Mike Walker standing in the way.



27. Chase Coffman, TE, Cincinnati Bengals - While Brandon Pettigrew is the most balanced TE in the draft, the last time I checked you don't get fantasy points for blocking. Definitely more of a receiving TE, Chase has the speed and hands needed to stretch NFL defenses and make the big catch. Coffman has a great shot at contributing immediately after key injuries to two Bengal TEs during the offseason, and could become a beneficiary of Carson Palmer's return from elbow issues.



28. Gartrell Johnson, RB, San Diego Chargers - Could he be LT's replacement? He is versatile RB with upside who is worth a shot with a late round pick.



29. Derrick Williams, WR, Detroit Lions - With franchise QB Matt Stafford and stud WR Calvin Johnson in Detroit, Williams could see nothing but single coverage on the other side of Megatron if he eventually takes the #2 receiver spot. He also has a chance to contribute early as the #3 WR if he can win the job.



30. Ramses Barden, WR, New York Giants- Barden is a huge 6'6 WR from Cal Poly and is extremely raw, but geez.....he's HUGE!!!. Barden has the physical tools to succeed like no one else....the only question if he can learn the system and perform as well against a higher level of competition.



and a few others....



Johnny Knox, WR, Chicago Bears - Juaquin Iglesias may have been the first receiver taken by the Bears in draft this year, but undersized WR Johnny Knox has impressed the Chicago coaching staff this offseason, and could develop into a good #2 if given the opportunity with Jay Cutler at the helm.



Brandon Tate, WR, New England Patriots - Tate may not play much this season due to a knee injury suffered last college football season, but he has starter potential once he returns. Oh...and that Brady guy would be throwing him the ball, too.



Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Detroit Lions - He's huge, he should start right away, and he could be a red zone freak in Detroit. He won't be explosive, but he could be a very solid mid #1 fantasy tight end very soon. Now, if only the Lions could get in the red zone more often....



-Scout Widget