FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

Thursday Edition

November 2nd, 2012

David’s Daily Digest

Sproles Out with Hand Injury

The Saints will be without running back Darren Sproles (hand) this Monday night when they face the Philadelphia Eagles. Sproles underwent surgery for a broken hand and will be unavailable for Monday’s matchup. With Sproles out, running back Pierre Thomas will see a boost in his fantasy value and likely an increased workload against the Eagles. Thomas should make a nice flex play for week 9.

Jones to Get Another Start

The Cowboys have ruled out running back DeMarco Murray for Sunday, meaning back Felix Jones is expected to start once again. Jones (knee) is listed as probable and expected to play in the Sunday night primetime matchup against the Falcons. Jones has not done a whole lot the past couple of games, but could be more of a factor against the Falcons 26^th ranked run defense. Jones is nothing more than an iffy flex option for this week.

Nelson Will Be a Game-Time Decision

Wide receiver Jordy Nelson (hamstring) is expected to be a game-time decision, although he was able to do some work. It’s sounding more like there’s a good chance that Nelson could be on the field, but owners will have to wait until Sunday morning to find out. Even when a healthy Nelson has played wide receiver Randall Cobb has been effective. If you are looking for a strong flex play, Cobb could fit the bill this week against the Cardinals.

Robinson Probable for Sunday Versus Lions

The Jaguars could see the return of wide receiver Laurent Robinson this Sunday against the Lions. Robinson has missed the past three games due to injury and in the three games he has played he’s been a non-factor. Wide receiver Cecil Shorts has really emerged as the current go-to guy, so don’t expect much this week from Robinson if he does return.

Dwyer Doubtful for Sunday

With both Mendenhall (Achilles) and running back Jonathan Dwyer (quad) listed as doubtful for Sunday, it appears Issac Redman is in line to start for the Steelers. Redman himself is nursing an ankle injury, but is expected to play Sunday and will get the start with Dwyer sidelined. Although Redman gets a good week 9 matchup (against the Giants 19^th ranked run defense) this Sunday, he has missed the past couple of weeks and will likely split carries. Play him at your own risk.

Tannehill Uncertain for Sunday

The Dolphins could be without the services of their rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill, whose status remains uncertain for Sunday against the Colts. Tannehill suffered a knee injury last week and has been limited in practice this week. If Tannehill can’t go back up quarterback Matt Moore would get the start. The Colts have fared well against the pass this season, so whether it’s Tannehill or Moore, any fantasy value for the Dolphins would come from the run game; the Colts rank 27^th against the run this season.

By David Ortega

FSH: SUNDAY SPORTS SECTION

September 19th, 2010, Sunday

The Sunday Sports Section

What’s the Latest

The Viking’s wide receiver Percy Harvin is expected to start on Sunday and should be a focal point in the team’s passing game. Harvin had been struggling with migraines, but the latest issue has been his hip.

The Cardinal’s struggling ground game is not likely to receive a boost from running back Chris Wells who is not expected to play. Wells is dealing with a knee injury that will likely keep him sidelined today.

It looks like the Browns will be making a quarterback change today with Jake Delhomme likely sidelined be sidelined with an ankle injury. The latest news indicates back up Seneca Wallace is expected to make the start today against the Chiefs.

The Rams running back Steven Jackson and wide receiver Laurent Robinson both practiced Friday and are expected to start today against the Raiders.


Today’s In & Out

Some early actives and inactives for today’s games…

In…

• Raven’s tight end Todd Heap and linebacker Ray Lewis are both active today.
• The Buccaneer’s tight end Kellen Winslow (knee) has been cleared and is expected to play today against the Panthers.
• The Vikings declared Percy Harvin as active today matchup against the Dolphins.
• The Bear’s wide receiver Earl Bennett will be active today against the Cowboys.
• Quarterback Michael Vick will get the start today against the Lions.
• The Panthers will have cornerback Chris Gamble who has been declared active today.

Out today;

• Bengal’s Running back Brian Leonard is inactive for today’s game against the Ravens.
• Viking’s cornerback Cedric Griffin will not play today against the Dolphins.
• Dolphin’s linebacker Channing Crowder has been declared inactive for today’s game.
• Bils’s linebacker Paul Posluzny (knee) will not play today against the Packers.
• Eagle’s quarterback Kevin Kolb and linebacker Stewart Bradley are listed as inactive today.
• Lions’ middle linebacker DeAndre Levy is inactive today against the Eagles.
• Falcon’s safety Erik Coleman has been declared inactive today against the Cardinals.

FSH: SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL NOTES

September 28th, 2009 9:57pm PST

Sunday Night Football Notes

Week three Injury round-up


(Monday, Sept 28th update)

Bears:
According to the Associated Press linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer should be able to play in week 4 after leaving Sunday’s game with a rib injury.
Bills:
According to head coach Dick Jauron, both defensive backs Leodis McKelvin (broken leg) and Donte Whitner (injured thumb) will be out indefinitely. McKelvin is expected to be for an extended period while Whitner is having surgery to repair the thumb. He will be evaluated on a weekly basis.
Colts:
According to the National Football Post defensive end Dwight Freeney will undergo an MRI on Monday to exam his right quadriceps. Freeney is noted as saying he “felt something pop.”
Dolphins:
Quarterback Chad Pennington will miss the remainder of the 2009 season after suffering a torn capsule in his shoulder according to ESPN. The Associated Press is reporting that Pennington will seek a second opinion.
Lions:
Running back Kevin Smith left Sunday’s game in the third quarter with a shoulder injury. According to Profootballtalk.com a league sourced says his injury will be “week to week.”
Niners:
Running back Frank Gore left Sunday’s game with an ankle injury and did not return. According to an NFL Network report he suffered a high ankle sprain and is expected to miss at least two weeks.
Patriots:
Running back Laurence Maroney suffered a thigh injury in Sunday’s win over the Falcons. He says he will be fine although he did not play in the second half. Defensive tackle Vince Wolfork also suffered an ankle injury, but his injury is not expected to be long term.
Rams:
Quarterback Marc Bulger injured his shoulder Sunday against the Packers and left the game early. The early report is a bruised rotator cuff according to the team. His availability for week 4 is questionable. Wide receiver Laurent Robinson suffered a broken leg in Sunday’s loss against the Packers. He will miss the remainder of the season.
Redskins:
According to the Associated Press the team expects defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth to be fine after being forced out of Sunday’s game with a strained glut muscle. Haynesworth will undergo an MRI on Monday according to the team.
Titans:
The Nashville Tennessean reports that defensive back Vincent Fuller suffered a fractured arm on Sunday and underwent surgery Monday. He is expected to miss 4-6 weeks. Defensive back Courtland Finnegan suffered a hamstring injury as well in the team’s week 3 loss, but the extent of his injury is unknown.

By David Ortega

Check out more “Sunday Night Football Notes” every week!

FSH: WATERCOOLER CHAT

September 23rd, 2009 10:15pm PST

WATERCOOLER CHAT

The Weekly Wavier Wire

Wayne "The Wire" Bosco
(Courtesy of the Fantasy Football Gang)

Now that we have two weeks of NFL action in the books we can make a better read on who is managing to get their jerseys a little more dirty from week to week. According to our pal Wayne here are a few of week three's best waiver wire options;

Week Three

With Marion “the Barbarian” Barber ailing on the Cowboys sidelines, it sounds very possible he could miss action this week. Although he is practicing, back up running back Tashard Choice becomes an interesting and valuable option. If you have room on your roster, this kid could be the goods once he gets on the field. Don’t expect the Cowboys to rush Barber back out too quickly, if he sits Tashard is a great waiver wire choice this week.

The Steelers’s back up running back Rashard Mendenhall is climbing the stock charts this week with Fast Willie Parker still running in first gear. With the team looking to get the running game out of the gates, Mendenhall could see quite a few more carries in week 3. With the Steelers facing the Bengals this week, it could be a great opportunity for Mendenhall to make a little noise.

After two weeks working Josh McDaniels passer friendly offense, quarterback Kyle Orton is not exactly tearing down the house, but he has become more than just a serviceable fantasy QB2. Orton has passed for more than 500-yards and thrown two touchdowns. With a big time receiver like Brandon Marshall we know his touchdowns will increase, but at a pace to pass for 4,000-yards Orton is a steal off the wire.

With the great Wes Welker getting close to returning, don’t expect to hear a whole lot more of wide receiver Julian Edleman (ankle). The one game wonder is likely to take a back seat to the emerging Joey Galloway. When Welker does return, Galloway figures to be the non-starting mainstay in the offense and his five receptions in week 2 could be an indication of his growing involvement. The Patriots offense is typically a highly productive unit and Galloway looks like a solid candidate to benefit.

Another appealing option at the receiver spot is the Chicago Bear’s Johnny Knox. In only two short weeks we have already seen this kid can fly, but the chemistry he is quickly developing with his big arm quarterback is just the beginning of great things to come. He’s looked good so far and will get better, grab him if you can.


“Wayne’s Word”

If your roster is lacking quality depth or is weak at the receiver spot, two options fantasy owners need to jump on are; Steve (no the other one) Smith-NYG and Laurent Robinson-STL. In two games this season, both relatively unknown fantasy receivers have emerged as reliable pass receiving options in their respective offenses. Both look to be the odds on favorites to lead the clubs in receiving and could very well turn out to be PPR gold.

Playing the Fantasy GM

Don-Pietro "The GM" Zamboni

What do you do with these guys?

Always the growing concern of any fantasy GM, what do I do with my high pick when he’s not producing or I know his production is about to take a serious hit. It’s never an easy decision or easy balance, but there are always options. So what do you do with the LT’s, the Matt Forte’s, and the Laveranues Cole’s; let’s take a look;

The GM Game
Owners that drafted San Diego Charger LaDanian Tomlinson could be facing the toughest dilemma of all. In recent years while LT has produced (just not to his level), he has often come at a high cost. With the former NFL MVP sidelined and not practicing, what good will he do on your bench another week. His value has dropped, but it’s still early enough in the season for you to get something for him. Trade him now (but get good value) and avoid the headache.

Unlike the LT dilemma, Matt Forte’s 117-yards of offense and zero touchdowns are nothing to panic about just yet. He’s got a new quarterback and both are still feeling each other out and trying to find balance on offense. Fantasy owners need to exercise self-control and extreme patience. The good sign, Forte has 38 carries in two games and in week 2 he caught five balls. He will be involved in the offense and eventually produce.

The same can be said of Bengal’s wide receiver Chris Henry. Through two games the lanky wideout has just two receptions, but does have a touchdown. Quarterback Carson Palmer is still working his way back to his old form. As he gets better, so will his awareness and with Henry standing at 6’4” Palmer will find him. Henry is not an every week starter just yet, so patience again will be the key.

The same can’t be said for wide receivers Laveranues Coles and Lance Moore. Coles is really struggling this season in his new home with just three catches. His last two seasons in New York were average at best and after nine seasons in the NFL it appears his best days could be well behind him. Last season Moore emerged as a favorite in the Saints offense, but he’s been slow to heal with recent injuries and Colston’s healthy return has not helped. If you are carrying these two, you might need to check out this week’s waiver wire. Lastly in this addition of the GM game, running back Correll Buckhalter appears to be running on borrowed time. With Knowshon Moreno’s healthy return in week 2, Buck could be looking at his workload being lightened soon. Moreno appears to be the favorite in Denver, so it could be time to shelve Buck or if you didn’t draft the rookie trade Buckhalter to the guy who did. Everyone loves handcuffs.

Keep checking back for more football....

By David G. Ortega

FSH: THE FANTASY SPORTS ZONE (DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH)

September 17th, 2009 11:37pm PST

“Diamonds in the Rough”

(Fantasy Sleepers)

Players you should watch and a few to grab!
As the season progresses every week we’ll be watching for those potential studs in the making, not to be confused with the one night stand or the dreaded flash in the pan. Each year owners are constantly being burned by that player who blows up one week, then decides to hibernate the rest of the year. While there are no guarantees in life or fantasy football, we’re doing our homework so you don’t have to. After 16 games in week one, we’ve pinpointed a number of worthy candidates that appear ready to blossom at a moments notice.

In New Orleans….
While Mike Bell was never slated to start for the Saints, he's no longer a well kept secret in New Orleans. The former Denver Bronco and fourth year running back earned himself some playing time this preseason by impressing head coach Sean Payton with some purposeful hard-nose running. Once the Saint's projected starter Pierre Thomas went down, Bell was elevated to the starting lineup and answered the call with a big week one performance; 28 carries for 143 yards. Even with Thomas set to make his return, Bell should still be in line to see his share of carries. Bell was originally slated to be the team's designated goal line back, add to the mix a regular slot in the rotation and he’s a keeper. Bell is still not owned in many leagues and should be grabbed, he's going to be a regular producer.

In St.Louis…
The Rams offense has not been much to speak of since the Warner-Holt-Faulk days, but with an equally awful defense, the team is going to play a lot of catch-up this season. One bright spot has been the arrival of wide receiver Laurent Robinson. As early as the preseason Robinson began to show promise and in week one, while not spectacular he did turn in a credible job with five catches for 87 yards. The real secret that makes Robinson so appealing, it’s clear he has quickly developed chemistry with the Ram’s passer, but he’s quickly emerging as the team’s favorite and go-to receiver. Avery was the preseason favorite on the squad, but it was Robinson who led the team with 10 targets on Sunday. If you are in need, Robinson’s numbers look to only get better.

In Seattle….
It was T.J. Houshmandzadeh who made the biggest fantasy news this past offseason in Seattle, but perhaps something owners should have been paying attention to was the return of wide receiver Nate Burleson. The former Vikings wideout is coming off an injury shortened 2008 season and it’s easy to forget that in 2004 and 2007 he caught at least 50 balls, including nine touchdowns (each season). In the offseason Burleson showed great explosiveness and he’s always had very good hands. This will be his fourth season with Seattle and now healthy he’s primed to have a very good season. In week one he led the team with seven receptions and 11 targets. Overshadowed by the presence of Housh, Burleson could sneak his way to a nice 2009 season. He’s a nifty grab if you can get him now.

In Chicago…..
Well this certainly looked like a match made in heaven once the Bears acquired the rights to quarterback Jay Cutler via trade. The arrival of Cutler would unite the Bears new stud quarterback with his former teammate and go-to receiver at Vanderbilt, Earl Bennett. The 2nd year receiver played in 10 games last season, but failed to record a single catch. We can already see the Cutler affect after one game. In Week one Bennett not only caught seven passes, but he was looked for often. Bennett saw a total of 13 tosses in his direction. While his week one numbers were lacking, the fact Cutler will look to him so often is more than promising. Bennett entered the 2009 season virtually irrelevant, but Jay is quickly making him a mainstay. He’s worth grabbing now for future play that figures to improve.

Worth keeping your eye on for now….

One game does not make a career, but while the Jets rookie quarterback appears stead fast to be a playa in this league, give him a couple of starts before you commit the farm.

The Raiders appear to have something going with quarterback JaMarcus Russell and rookie wideout Louis Murphy. The rookie receiver with blazing speed already appears to be a favorite, but be cautioned when Chaz Schilenz returns the team could shake up the line-up.

The Titan’s passing game looked pretty healthy in week one against a good Steelers defense. This week they will face a suspect secondary that was lit up by a rookie last Sunday. Keep an eye on wideout Nate Washington who should be close to full-speed. Washington was signed in the offseason and has the tools to be an explosive downfield receiver, but he needs to be healthy.

Remember to check back for more "Diamonds in the Rough!"