Week 6...
NFL Weekly Storylines
AFC
The Titans remain unbeaten....
With a little help on Sunday from the stripes, the Titans were able to remain undefeated. In the final minutes of Sunday's tilt with the Ravens, the Titans and quarterback Kerry Collins were the beneficiaries of a questionable roughing the quarterback penalty call that kept the eventual game winning drive alive. The offense struggled a bit in week 5 totaling only 210 net yards against a very good Raven defense. Fortunately the Titans boast a strong defense of their own that kept this affair close all afternoon, close enough for Collins and company to secure the win.
fantasy impact: The offense looked very out of sync, partly due to a disruptive Raven defense and the inconsistencies that come with quarterback Kerry Collins. It didn't help that Collins' favorite target, WR Justin Gage was out of the line-up. The Titans are primarily a running team and will struggle from time to time with the pass against good defenses. One note worth taking from Sunday's win, was the re-emergence of the TE position in the passing game; 9 receptions for 87 yards and a touchdown.
The Phins stun the Chargers...
As is always the case in the NFL, traveling from coast to coast is tough for any team. Just ask the Chargers, who were stunned Sunday afternoon losing to the Miami Dolphins (1-15 last season). Of course this Dolphins team does not seem to resemble that team from a year ago. With new leadership in the front office and on the field, this Dolphins team appears set to begin a new era of winning. Led by RB Ronnie Brown and the "Wildcat" formation, the Dolphins are now 2-2 in the East and appear to be a contender with impressive wins over the Chargers and the Patriots.
fantasy impact: The Dolphins are certainly looking like contenders in the East, but it's early and the jury is still out. What is evident is the play of RB Ronnie Brown. Over the past two weeks, Brown has clearly seperated himself from the running back competiton. RB Ricky Williams will still demand some touches on Sunday, but Brown with his 238 rushing yards and 5 rushing touchdowns in his last two games has made a strong case to be the teams primary ball-carrier.
The Bills lose Edwards, then lose...
Just as the team's really starting to emerge as a potential power in the AFC, they lose their commander on the field and revert to playing more like the teams from their past of mediocrity. It took QB JP Losman and the Bills just two plays to feel the effects of missing their offensive leader Trent Edwards, when they turned the ball over. Sunday was clearly a game that you'd have to chalk up as "one that just got away." The Cards got up on the Bills in the first half and just never looked back. The Bills defense really struggled with the Cardinals passing game and were never able to apply any real pressure on QB Kurt Warner.
fantasy impact: The biggest concern for the Bills and fantasy owners is the health of QB Trent Edwards. While Edwards is considered nothing more than a mid-round QB 2 in fantasy leagues, his presence or absence will have a direct effect on the production of WR Lee Evans and RB Marshawn Lynch. Don't be misled by Losman's 87 yard pass to Evans, the two were only able to hook up one more time for 13 yards the rest of the afternoon. Fantasy owners should check on Edwards' status later in the week.
The Broncos defense finally shows up....
It tooks four weeks of painful watching for Broncos fans, but finally in week 5, the team's defense decided to show up for 60 minutes and the Bronco's improved to 4-1. The defense was not dominant by any stretch, again getting snake bit by the run (139 yards allowed, 6.3 yds/carry). Perhaps the biggest note for fantasy owners in team defense leagues, while the Bucs are not high flying (25 points per game), they were held to 13 points on Sunday (12 less than their average). The Broncos defense also cut out the big play, allowing only one big run for 38 yards and one pass play for 17 yards. There will be bigger tests for this defense down the road, but it's a good sign for a team 4-1.
fantasy impact: The Broncos defense seems to be lacking that big time dominant player that can change the momentum of a game with single play, but there are a couple of notable IDPs fantasy owners need to know about. Likely drafted in most IDP leagues LB DJ Williams plays along side a pair of good linebackers, Boss Bailey (27 solo tackles) and Nate Webster (28 solo tackles).
NFC
Giants still team to beat.
Whether you want to admit it or not, when this season began the Giants were the team to beat. This is what happens when you win a world championship, everyone targets you, you become the hunted and you are the guy on top until someone knocks you off. At the moment no one has come close and the Giants remain the team to beat and on top at 4-0. The Giants are boasting the top offense right now and one of the leagues best defenses. These are the exact ingredients you need to be the best and the man at the top!
fantasy impact: The Giants are getting it done this year in more ways than one; QB Eli Manning is managing the offense very well and making few mistakes (6 touchdown passes and only 1 pick), the running game is healthy and RB Brandon Jacobs is a monster most weeks, and the defense is playing at a high level and pressuring opposing QBs very well (15 sacks this season).
Delhomme looks strong....
The Panthers quarterback is now playing like he did at the start of the 2007 season. In the past two weeks Jake Delhomme is making crisp throws and throwing with great accurracy, completing 67 percent of his passes (34 of 51). Delhomme has gotten his deep threat back, with the return WR Steve Smith back and has wasted little time taking advantage passing for 530 yards in his last two games. The Panthers are looking like a solid contender in the NFC and Jake Delhomme is playing like this season's comeback player of the year!
fantasy impact: One the biggest moves the Panthers made in the off-season that could prove huge for QB Jake Delhomme and fantasy owners was the resigning of WR Muhsin Muhammad. Muhammad appears to be the perfect compliment to WR Steve Smith. Over the past two weeks Muhammad has caught 11 passes for 218 yards with 2 touchdowns, while Smith has caught 12 passes for 192 yards and a score. Smith was out the first two weeks this season, so as these three get more time under their belts, owners can expect to see bigger numbers down the road!
Campbell continues to show growth....
The Redskins seem to be improving and getting better as team, as their team leader matures each week on the gridiron. For two weeks now, the QB Jason Campbell has led his team to impressive road wins over two very good teams; the Dallas Cowboys and the Philladelphia Eagles. Perhaps the biggest reason for Campbell's success is not what he is doing on the field, but more of what he is not doing. The young quarterback, only in his 4th season and second as an NFL starter is making good decisions, smart throws, and NOT making any mistakes. So far this season in 153 pass attempts and 17 runs, Campbell has yet to committ a turnover.
fantasy impact: Okay, go ahead and note, I have officially hexed this guy with that last note, but it's an impressive stat that had to be shared. Campbell is not making any mistakes right now, but he's hardly lighting it up in the fantasy world. The Redskins are balanced and have a lot of playmakers, so as Campbell grows as a passer (and he will), fantasy owners will want to take note, his numbers will get better. He's got a huge arm and can make the tough throws on the move. Fortunately for HC Jim Zorn, he's not asking his young QB to make the tough plays, nor does he need him to.
Other headlines to follow this week...
- Ocho doesn't kiss star, while Palmer continues to play flat.
- Injuries are big in week 5; Westbrook (ribs), Branch (heel),
- Chiefs QB Croyle to return as starter following bye.
- Rams' McMichael placed on the injured reserve, out for season.
- Chambers hurt and LT reinjures toe in Sunday loss to Dolphins.
- Broncos' Royal suffers ankle injury, could miss couple of weeks.
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