WR Watch: Week 5

Miles Austin - Cowboys: 10 catches - 250 yards 2 touchdowns
The preseason sleeper woke up and had a career game against the Chiefs.  He should move in as Romo's second favorite receiver which means more targets, though don't expect many more 10 catch games.

Chris Henry - Bengals: 3 catches - 91 yards
He has been a non-factor thus far, but finally showed up with a big 73 yard catch.  There are too many targets in Cincinnati, but at least keep an eye on Henry.

Mike Wallace - Steelers: 2 catches - 52 yards 1 touchdown
It is hard to get excited about a Steeler #3 wideout, but he is putting up decent numbers.

Eddie Royal - Broncos: 10 catches - 90 yards
He finally came up big in PPR leagues, but his value is steal shaky with a conservative Bronco offense and a slightly above average Orton throwing to him.  Nevertheless, he has been cut and is worth a look if you can snag him.

Donnie Avery - Rams: 5 catches - 87 yards 1 touchdown
Avery is the real-deal, but the Rams aren't.  Still, they can improve a bit as the season progresses and Avery will be the man in St. Louis.

Hakeem Nicks - Giants: 4 catches - 49 yards 1 touchdown
Nicks has the knack for finding the end zone, but with Manningham and Smith playing well, starting him would be a roll of the dice unless a starter is injured.

Jeremy Maclin - Eagles: 6 catches - 142 yards with 2 touchdowns
He showed his big-play ability by scoring on deep passes of 51 and 40 yards while starting in place of Kevin Curtis.  Good bye Kevin Curtis.

Austin Collie - Colts: 8 catches - 97 yards 2 TD's
He's has surpassed Garcon in fantasy value and could keep Gonzales out of the starting line if he continues to play well.

Josh Morgan - 49ers: 4 catches passes 78 yards
Back-to-back solid games for Morgan makes him a viable low-end fantasy receiver.

When Will Warner's Luck Run Out?

Coming into 2008 Arizona Cardinal quarterback, Kurt Warner, was not even on most mangers fantasy radar as the job was expected to go to former #1 pick Matt Leinart.

30 touchdowns, and 4,583 yards later, Kurt Warner was every managers free agent dream come true.

What was more amazing, the 38-year-old, fragile quarterback didn't miss a game in 2008. Part of that is due to Warner's amazing quick release, but more of it was due to shear luck.

Thus far in 2009 Warner has continued to have solid protection, though the hits are adding up.  His game, on the other hand, has seen a dramatic drop off from his 2008 performance.  Warner has thrown for 863 yards and a mere 4 touchdowns against 4 touchdowns.  Not horrible, but not what some fantasy managers expected.

There is not likely to be a controversy anytime soon, but it could happened by week six or seven if he and the Cardinals do not improve. But Warner owners should have a bigger worry. His potential for injury.

While it is impossible to guess when a player will be injured, the odds suggest Kurt Warner is way overdue.  And if Warner gets injured, say a concussion, it will likely mean the end of the road for him. 

Enter back up quarterback Matt Leinart.

The 10th overall-pick from USC has been a disappointment thus far, but not a bust.  While he was expected to be starting by now, the Cardinals, like fantasy  mangers, did not expect Kurt Warner to resurrect himself.

Leinart actually had a very solid rookie season throwing for 2,547 yards and 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 2006.  He regressed early in 2007 and that is when Kurt Warner ran away with the job.

Now Leinart has had the time to mature and learn from the great Kurt Warner and is primed to start again in the NFL.  The only question is when.

Warner owners would be wise to pick up Leinart now or in the next few weeks as an insurance policy.

All other owners should grab Leinart if they have an extra roster spot open for a prospect.  It can payoff big if Kurt Warner finally goes down to injury.

Sin City Scout

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

Rookie WR Massaquoi Comes Up Big

Cleveland Brown rookie receiver Mohamed Massaqoui caught 8 passes for 148 yards in the Browns 23-20 overtime loss to the Bengals.

Massaquoi was drafted in the second round out of Georgia where he caught 158 passes for 2,282 yards (14.4 avg) and 16 touchdowns in his career.

With Brady Quinn he only caught 2 passes in three games, so this could be a fluke or he just has a connection with Derek Anderson. Either way he is worth a look if you need a receiver and should go on everyone's radar.

Sin City Scout

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.

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

WR Watch: Week 2

Mario Manningham - Giants - 10 catches -150 yards 1TD

Mike Sims-Walker - Jaguars - 6 catches - 106 yards 1 TD

Johnny Knox - Bears - 6 catches - 70 yards 1TD

Devery Henderson - Saints - 3 catches - 71 yards

Chansi Stuckey -  Jets - 4 catches  - 64 yards 1 TD

Julian Edelman - Patriots - 8 catches  -  98 yards

Laurent Robinson - Rams - 6 catches - 54 yards 1 TD

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

WR Robinson Becoming Rams' #1

Donnie Avery was supposed to be the main man in St. Louis with the departure of the great Torry Holt, but his preseason injury has given third-year wideout Laurent Robinson the chance to step up and Robinson has done just that.

He caught 5 passes for 87 yards in his debut as a Rams' starter and came back and caught 6 passes for 54 yards and his first Ram touchdown in the Rams 9-7 loss to Washington.

Laurent Robinson was drafted in the third-round by Atlanta in 2007 and had a good rookie year catching 37 passes for 437 yards and a touchdown.

He fell out of favor in 2008 due to injuries and the rise of Roddy White.

In three preseason contests, Robinson has caught 10 passes for 137 yards.

Considering the Rams have done very little, Robinson is putting up some solid starts.  He is worth a look if you are in need of a wide receiver.

Sin City Scout

WR Watch: Week 1

Here are the list of possible free agent receivers to watch after their week one performance:

Michael Clayton - Tampa Bay - 5 catches  95 yards

Percy Harvin - Minnesota - 3 catches 36 yards 1 TD

Mark Bradley - Kansas City - 4 catches 78 yards

Mark Clatyon - Baltimore - 5 catches 77 yards 1 TD

Chansi Stuckey - Jets - 4 catches - 64 yards 1 TD

Steve Smith - Giants - 6 catches 80 yards

Laurent Robinson - St. Louis  - 5 catches 87 yards

Earl Bennett - Chicago - 7 catches - 66 yards

Kenny Brit - Tennessee - 4 catches 88 yards

Devone Bess - Miami - 7 catches - 57 yards

Andre Cadwell - Cincinnati - 6 catches 54 yards

Louis Murphy - Raiders - 4 catches 87 yards 1 TD

- Sin City Scout

WR Gage Comes up Big in Loss

Tennessee Titan wide receiver Justin Gage caught 7 passes for 77 yards and 1 TD in the Titans 13-10 overtime loss to the Steelers in Pittsburgh.

Gage was very good when he was healthy in 2008. He was excellent in the preseason. He just had a pretty darn good game against the tough Steeler defense...He just may be the real deal...if he can stay healthy.

Gage is likely available in your league and is worth a definite look if you are in need of a receiver.

Sin City 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

Draft Risers & Fallers

Moving Up

Chris Henry - The once troubled receiver is having a great training camp and preseason and back on the fantasy radar. With a healthy Carson Palmer, the Bengals pass game could finish among the top five and Henry could finish as the #2 statistically in front of Laveranues Coles at a much cheaper draft price.

Ray Rice - He continues to start at running back, but he will split carries with Willis McGahee. He has the talent to be a stud and can catch passes too.

Rashard Mendenhall -He will likely be the goal line back in Pittsburgh and the Steelers are adamant about getting him the ball and at least creating a two-back attack.

Bernard Scott - He is about to pass Benson in the rankings if he continues to play well. He could be the starter by seasons end.

Carnell Williams - The former #1 pick looked good in his preseason debut, but he has a lot of competition with Derrick Ward and Earnest Graham.

Earl Bennet - The young, upcoming WR could be the #1 man in Chicago. He played college ball with Cutler.

Sam Hurd - The injury to Williams put Hurd on the radar. He has been very good in camp and has surpassed Miles Austin at this point.

Moving Down

Marion Barber - There is not a reason other than the worry of Felix Jones and Tashard Choice eating into his time, but nevertheless his ADP is below his ranking. If you are picking between 20-25 and he is there, he is a bargain.

Jonathan Stewart - His achilles injury is a worry, especially for someone who missed almost all of his 2008 training camp and preseason. Stewart has a ton of talent and if healthy is better than Williams. He is out of the top 50, but could be a draft day bargain in the right spot.

Antonio Bryant - His injury, though not serious, combined with QB questions and a shaky history has Bryant falling below his value.

Ben Roethlisberger - His poor fantasy 2008 performance combined with more off season turmoil has his draft stock tumbling.

Draft Bargains

Chris Cooley - Simply because he caught only 1 TD in 2008 he has fallen far past his value. If you need a stud tight end at a cheap price wait until the 8th round or so and grab Cooley.

Kellen Winslow - Owners are staying away from Winslow after a horrible 2008 and his subsequent trade to the QB-troubled Bucs. Whoever the QB is, the tight end over the middle will do well and Winslow has overall #1 TE talent.

Correll Buckhalter - He is currently the starter in Denver with Knowshon Moreno injured and if Moreno is healthy, he should still see plenty of playing time. He has been going near the bottom of the drafts so grab him late, but grab him.

Chris Chambers - He is still the starter in San Diego with Phillip Rivers throwing to him. He has big-time talent, but has injury issues has scared away owners. Nevertheless he can have some big games and he is falling far in the draft.

Sin City Scout