| QB's | | | | I'll be the first to admit I didn't this one coming. 32 |
| Kyle Boller, Baltimore Ravens 226 pass yds, 3 | | | | carries for 178 yards and a TD? Wow! I think it's |
| TD's, 1 INT | | | | safe to say Henry has a firm handle on the |
| Kyle Boller had the starting job for 3 years | | | | starting job, as Chris Brown only got 3 carries & |
| before the Ravens had seen enough. They | | | | LenDale White didn't even get one. I can't really |
| brought in the injury plagued Steve McNair and | | | | say it's time to jump on the bandwagon & |
| thought they had solved all their quarterback | | | | depend on him as a Fantasy starter, because that |
| woes. Unfortunately, McNair has not lived up to | | | | defense still isn't very good, they have a rookie |
| expectations and got hurt (again) in the loss to | | | | QB starting & they are a young team that are |
| the Panthers last week. Boller came in and played | | | | going to make mistakes, all resulting in Tennessee |
| well, however 2 of his 3 TD passes were the | | | | to force to pass the ball more than run it. Plus, |
| product of luck more than skill. They came off of | | | | Henry is very fragile & they probably will want to |
| tipped passes in the air that found their way into | | | | get White more carries down the road. While |
| Mark Clayton's hands. Boller has shown flashes of | | | | Tennessee has a couple of good matchups |
| talent in the past, but is way too inconsistent. The | | | | (Indianapolis, Buffalo & 2 against Houston), the |
| Ravens have a BYE next week and expect | | | | rest are hit or miss. With no crystal ball to look at, |
| McNair to return the following week. Don't buy | | | | you still have to be wary about his production & |
| into this performance. PASS | | | | playing time as the season wears on. I want to |
| Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers 344 pass yds, 2 | | | | say watch, but because running backs are a rare |
| TD's | | | | commodity, this will probably be your last chance |
| Before people get on my back about my "PASS" | | | | to grab him. BUY, but watch very carefully. |
| from last week, please note that he just went up | | | | Najeh Davenport, Pittsburgh Steelers 78 rush yds, |
| and shredded a very mediocre 49ers defense. Do | | | | 1 TD |
| I think Rivers is a good QB? Absolutely. Is he a | | | | The Steelers have been searching for that big |
| starting FANTASY QB? I'm still going to say no. If | | | | bruiser since Bettis retired to begin the season. |
| you look at the rest of his schedule, he goes up | | | | Najeh Davenport was supposed to be that guy, |
| against some tough pass defenses, while the run | | | | but he began the season with a nagging calf |
| defenses he will be playing during that time are | | | | injury, keeping him out early in the season. It |
| pretty weak. The run game will rule supreme | | | | looks as if that is finally starting to heal, based on |
| during that stretch. Certainly you can't look past | | | | the playing time he had on Sunday. Most of his |
| his last 2 performances, but I can't recommend | | | | time came after Pittsburgh was slaughtering the |
| him at this point as described above. However, do | | | | Chiefs, but looked good and was productive. |
| keep your eye on him. WATCH | | | | Davenport was a great backup in Green Bay |
| Chad Pennington, New York Jets 175 pass yds, 2 | | | | before going on the IR in his final season with |
| TD's | | | | them, so lingering injuries are a concern. He's |
| Pennington has been a mixed bag so far this year. | | | | definitely a talented back, but the opportunity |
| Against the Dolphins, Pennington showed the good | | | | hasn't arrived yet. Willie Parker has actually looked |
| side of him, throwing for 175 yards, 2 TD's & no | | | | great in goal line situations, so there is no reason |
| INT's. While it was nothing to write home about, it | | | | to believe Davenport will be stealing those carries |
| was still a solid performance none the less, coming | | | | away anytime soon. Until then, he doesn't hold |
| after the 71 yard, 0 TD, 3 INT performance | | | | any fantasy value. If you are a Parker owner, |
| against the Jaguars the previous week. Looking at | | | | WATCH. Everyone else, PASS |
| the rest of his schedule, he has some really good | | | | Marion Barber III, Dallas Cowboys 57 rush yds, 1 |
| matchups blended in with some really bad ones. | | | | TD |
| It's hard to recommend Pennington as a front line | | | | You may look at Marion Barber's stat line and |
| starter, but he is definatley worthy of a roster | | | | think, "Big Deal!" But did you know that this is his |
| spot. BUY, but pick and choose your matchups. | | | | fourth consecutive game with a TD? Barber is |
| Matt Leinart, Arizona Cardinals 232 pass yds, 2 | | | | constantly being featured in short yardage |
| TD's | | | | situations, meaning more goal line carries, giving |
| While Arizona has no excuse for losing that game | | | | him HUGE fantasy value. While he isn't the |
| on Monday, you can't blame Matt Leinart, who | | | | featured back, Julius Jones is known to be injury |
| had another solid outing by throwing for 232 | | | | prone & the Cowboys don't have any very tough |
| yards & 2 TD's. While I think highly of Leinart, | | | | run defenses the rest of the way. The guy is |
| there are some things to be concerned about. | | | | averaging 5 yards a carry & getting quite a few |
| First off is that his offensive line is horrible. That'll | | | | touches each game. What are you waiting for!? |
| lead to lots of sacks, which in turn could lead to | | | | BUY |
| more turnovers (e.g. Look at what happened | | | | WR's |
| Monday). Secondly, he has thrown all his | | | | Mark Clayton, Baltimore Ravens 101 rec yds, 2 |
| touchdowns in the first quarter, leading me to | | | | TD's |
| believe he is having a hard time making changes | | | | If you read about Kyle Boller above, then you |
| after the defense adjusts to him. Could it be a | | | | know not to read much into Mark Clayton. The |
| personnel issue? Well, Dennis Green fired his | | | | two touchdowns were off of tipped passes that |
| offensive coordinator after the game and | | | | luckily fell into Clayton's hands for touchdowns. If |
| replaced him with Mike Kruczek, the quarterback | | | | you take those away, he would have had 3 |
| coach, who says he has a close personal | | | | catches for 25 yards. McNair doesn't look |
| relationship with Leinart. We'll see if things change, | | | | particularly impressive right now & Boller still hasn't |
| but Leinart has some killer matchups down the | | | | proven much. The Ravens just recently fired their |
| road along with some great weapons. Despite the | | | | offensive coordinator Jim Fassel, leaving Brian |
| concerns, this guy has great talent. Don't miss out! | | | | Billick to call the plays. We'll see if that has any |
| BUY | | | | effect. For now, until we see more out of the QB |
| Alex Smith, San Francisco 49ers 214 pass yds, 2 | | | | position, you've got to look else where. PASS |
| TD's, 1 INT | | | | Drew Carter, Carolina Panthers 65 rec yds, 1 TD |
| I noted last week that if you threw out the game | | | | & Nate Washington, Pittsburgh Steelers 68 rec |
| against Kansas City, Alex Smith had been very | | | | yds, 1 TD |
| consistently productive. He has a tough stretch | | | | I decided to bunch Drew Carter & Nate |
| coming up, starting with this last week against | | | | Washington together because they both are |
| San Diego. Much to my surprise, Smith played | | | | nearly in identical situations. Both players are good |
| very smart, turning the ball over once while | | | | #3 wide receivers on their respectable teams, but |
| throwing 2 TD's. As a matter of fact, the whole | | | | they don't have much to offer in terms of |
| offense actually did well in the first half. If it | | | | fantasy value. While Steve Smith (Carolina) & |
| wasn't for a very poor defensive effort, they | | | | Hines Ward (Pittsburgh) have injury concerns |
| could've won this game. In any case, Smith is | | | | which could make them look like a good pickup, |
| growing up. He has 8 TD's compared to 4 INT's, | | | | there should be other options out there. Until their |
| and played well against a tough San Diego D. I | | | | roles increase... PASS |
| can't recommend him the next 2 games (Chicago | | | | Do you have questions regarding your Fantasy |
| & Minnesota), but after that, he may reach top | | | | Team? Send them to Alex The Great at Every |
| Fantasy QB levels with all the weak secondaries | | | | week I will answer a couple questions and post |
| he'll be facing. He has the weapons to do so. BUY | | | | them directly at |
| RB's | | | | This article is dedicated to the most charismatic |
| Travis Henry, Tennessee Titans 178 rush yds, 1 | | | | and heroic king of all times! |
| TD | | | | |