DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

April 21st, 2010 11:37pm PST

David's Daily Digest

[My Take]

More football news and happenings from around the league; here’s the latest I am hearing, reading, and following with my take on things and how they will impact the coming fantasy week……

Player Notes From Across My Wire...

League lowers the Hammer on Big Ben....
The League handed down it's punishment of Steelers’ quarterback Ben Roethlisberger suspending him for six games. The move was expected, but maybe not as harsh although Big Ben will have a chance to have his punishment reduced to four games if he complies with certain league conditions. As a result of the suspension Roethlisberger has become the heavy subject of trade rumors and his fantasy stock is tumbling by the second.

Owens the latest subject in DC...
There is nothing imminent going on in DC, in fact there's not a lot of activity at the moment, but with quarterback Donovan McNabb endorsing the acquisition of wide receiver Terrell Owens it could be a matter of time before we see some action. Head Coach Mike Shanahan has no interest in signing the outspoken Owens, but with the draft less than 24 hours away a lot could change. Owens opposite Santana Moss just sounds like a good move, but we'll have to wait and see.

Holt joins the Pats....
The former Pro Bowl receiver Torry Holt signed a one year deal with the New England Patriots adding some depth and veteran experience to motley cast of receivers. Holt won't be reborn in Foxboro playing behind Moss and Welker, but he'll fit in nicely and add another reliable set of hands. Expect Holt to have limited value seeing limited snaps behind the Pats top twosome of Moss and Welker. With Edelman playing well last season in the absence of Welker, Holt will have to compete for the number three spot.

IDP Notes

Vikings add some help to secondary...
The Vikings undoubtedly are trying to improve one of its weak links from a year ago. There's no question when Antoine Winfield went down last season the Vikings secondary struggled mightily. With the signing of former Eagles (and Jets last season) cornerback Lito Sheppard (19 career interceptions), the team is hopeful that it has addressed some of those issues. The former Pro Bowler gives the defense added depth and adds another playmaker in the secondary.

Taylor crosses the line, turns gang-green...
Despite all of the things he has said in the past about the fans in New York, linebacker Jason Taylor has signed with the Jets. Taylor has agreed to a two-year deal and will join a very aggressive Rex Ryan defensive scheme. Expect Taylor's value in IDP leagues to rise come draft time.

Check back with "Your Fantasy Sports Home" for more Football to digest....

FSH: WATERCOOLER CHAT

October 30th, 2009 11:55pm Pst

WATERCOOLER CHAT

The Weekly Waiver Wire

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

Even though we have reached Week 8 there’s no need to panic, as long as Wayne “the Wire” is working overtime relief is on its’ way. Last Sunday there was plenty of let down with some of last weeks waivering choices, but with a whole new slate of games this weekend Wayne’s got the scoop on a few options off the wire.

Again fantasy owners are going to have to manage the bye week with players like Chad Ochocinco, Tom Brady, and Big Ben on siesta. With the well running dry and most of the stones over-turned, owners can still find a couple of plays for Week 8 to fill their vacancies.

So once again grab a cold one (better make it two) and take note of these week 8 Waiver Wire options;


Week Eight

On Sunday the Jaguars will roll into Tennessee with the memory of a week 4 throttling over the Titans. The Jags passing fired on all cylinders and took advantage of a severely handicapped secondary. Even though Tennessee will have the services of Courtland Finnegan back, I like wide receiver Torry Holt this week. There's no doubt Finnegan is going to have hbis hands full with Sims-Walker, so expect to see Holt roaming free from time-to-time. Holt and his quarterback are developing a great rapport and over his last two games he's seen 21 balls in his direction. Holt has lost a step and he is no number one fantasy receiver, but this week he should be a good start.

Whenever you have a player matching up with the Rams, they instantly become a consideration. In seven games this season the Rams have allowed a 100-yard rusher twice with Ryan Grant missing that plateau by one yard. This week running back Kevin Smith will get his shot. Smith has not been particularly successful this season with the Lions typically falling behind, but this Sunday they should be able to stay with the run longer than usual. Smith has also shown his versatility as a pass receiver with 20 receptions this season. The Lion's running back may not hit the century mark on the ground, but he should easily total 100 yards on Sunday and find the endzone at least once.

With the well drying up these days there doesn’t seem to be much left, but if you look at the bottom you might find the Eagles rookie receiver Jeremy Maclin available as a waiver option this week. He’ll face a tough Giant’s defense on Sunday, but one that has had its’ struggle with the pass game the past couple of weeks. With a lot of attention being focused on receiver DeSean Jackson, Maclin could see some favorable coverage and with his steady diet of seven targets per game he could be very productive. The Giants have been burned deep quite a bit in recent weeks and Maclin has already shown some big play capability. Consider the rookie a nice fill in option to get through the week 8 byes.

“Wayne’s Word”

This week’s word for the week is David Garrard. With the Jaguars playing the Titans on Sunday, it’s hard to ignore what Garrard did in week 4; 300-yards passing, three touchdowns. Tennessee is a little healthier this time around, but not much better off than their previous matchup with Jacksonville. Garrard will have his full compliment of weapons, Jones-Drew, Sims-Walker, and Holt and with the Titans making a change at quarterback that could mean better field position. Garrard is still available in quite a few leagues and should make a healthy fill-in for Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger, and Carson Palmer fantasy owners.

Playing Fantasy GM.

Don-Peitro “The GM” Zamboni

Cut your losses now
Sometimes you just have to know when to call it a day and cut your losses. In the case of running back Larry Johnson, not performing on the field and now in hot water off the field; it’s time to go.

The GM Game

You’re always going to have those players you drafted with a lot of question and concern surrounding their fantasy value. When the season opened, players like LaDanian Tomlinson, Larry Johnson, and Terrell Owens were going to be drafted based on their historical merit. Like Owens and Tomlinson, Johnson was not taken as high as in the past, but he was drafted much higher than he is performing. With so much value vested in this player, what’s a fantasy GM to do?

Hardly Worth the Risk….

With LJ we knew he’d be a risky play in 2009. During the offseason there was plenty of talk about trade or even release, but by the same token he was just two seasons removed from back-to-back 1,700-yard rushing seasons. From a fantasy perspective, before the 2009 campaign began, it appeared he had mended some of the fences and was ready to play. Here we are seven weeks in and our fears are realized; it just doesn’t fit. Johnson is not going to flourish in Haley’s offense and true to form, he doesn’t know how to stay out of his own way. Recent tweets and comments made to the media have the Chiefs running back in deep water, currently suspended, and the way things look likely unemployed. There are not too many teams that want to deal with this headache, fantasy owners can do themselves a favor by addressing the inevitable and clearing roster space now. Jamal Charles is no LJ, but he’s a better fit in the spread style offense head coach Todd Haley likes and as the team’s number one he should be more effective as a fantasy back.

Keep checking back for more football....

By David G. Ortega

FSH: THE FANTASY SPORTS ZONE (QWIK FIXX)

October 22nd, 2009 10:37pm PST

THE FANTASY FIXX

Target Practice: Week Seven in the NFL

As we get deeper into the fantasy season, mistakes are magnified and each loss becomes monumental. There’s no room for error and every owner hoping to extend the fantasy season needs to be on top of the numbers as well as the injuries.

With week seven next on the slate, it’s too late into the season to be counting on luck, it’s time to start doing your homework. If you are hoping to set that winning lineup, then you have once again targeted the right place, because we have your weekly fix right here!

Who’s worried….

The signs are there and it appears his time could be coming now. The Bears tight end Greg Olsen still has yet to put up number one tight end numbers, but his time could be nearing closer than you think. Last Sunday Olsen caught five passes for 57 yards and a touchdown, ranking 5th in fantasy scoring for tight ends. The bigger number to pay attention looking ahead is the 11 passes thrown in his direction (ranked tops for TE’s in week six).

The Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Bowe has yet to set any fantasy scoring sheets on fire this season, but his dormant beginnings could be changing soon. In his last two starts Bowe has managed to snag 11 passes for 183 yards and a touchdown. The hidden value here is the 24 passes that have gone in his direction as well. Expect Bowe to only get better.

Despite the past two relatively quiet weeks for Giant’s receiver Steve Smith, fantasy owners should take comfort in knowing he’s still on Eli’s radar every Sunday. In his last two starts Smith has only seven receptions, but he was targeted 11 times; a slight drop from what he had seen. With Hixon a healthy return and the rookie Nicks emerging, Smith is still Eli’s go-to and should find an easier time this weekend to get open. Smith leads the NFL with 41 receptions and ranks in the top five in passing targets; don’t worry.

The Vikings and quarterback Brett Favre’s newest weapon this season appears to be their 3rd year receiver Sidney Rice. Over the past four weeks Rice has been seeing a steady diet of seven targets per game and when he’s been on the radar, he’s been productive. Over the same span he’s averaged 4.5 catches, 91-yards, and a half touchdown per game (that’s 12 fantasy points per game).

It’s a gradual and steady growth for the Bronco’s wide receiver Brandon Marshall. Week six was hardly a big week after going three straight with a touchdown. Marshall only caught five passes for 49 yards last Sunday, but over his last four starts he has had no fewer than six targets in each game while averaging eight over that stretch. The biggest key for the Bronco’s receiver is his level of efficiency; catching nearly 70 percent of the passes thrown his direction and averaging over nine fantasy points per game.

Keep your Eye on these gems…

On Monday night against the San Diego Chargers, the Bronco’s tight end Tony Scheffler had his 2009 coming out party. Scheffler caught six passes for over 100 yards and scored an important touchdown in the Monday night matchup. It was the tight end’s first big game this season and more importantly over the past two weeks, he has seen an increased activity in the Bronco’s passing game. In his last two starts Scheffler has seen 12 balls thrown his way and in that stretch he’s grabbed 10 of those throws. Keep your eye on Scheffler, it’s starting to look more and more like the Broncos will be getting him more involved in the vertical game.

Since his glory days as part of the “Greatest Show on Turf” the Jaguar’s wide receiver Torry Holt has not been as productive. Last season was his lowest totals for yards and receptions since his rookie season, but 2009 looks to be a different story. Holt is not lighting any fires at the moment, but he’s been very steady over the past couple of weeks. Holt has 12 receptions for 196 yards and has been targeted 21 times. He may not be considered a weekly must start or reliable fantasy starter, but ranking in the top 25 in both yards and receptions he’s worth watching.

Here is the breakdown for fantasy pass catchers (targets) this season;

Through Six weeks:

Top-30 Targeted Pass-catchers

Player.....................................Targt Recpt FPTS
Johnson, Andre WR HOU............66 36 78
Moss, Randy WR NE....................58 38 71
Smith, Steve WR NYG..................55 41 75
Burleson, Nate WR SEA...............54 32 53
Houshmandzadeh, T.J. WR SEA.....53 31 43
Ochocinco, Chad WR CIN............53 29 59
Ward, Hines WR PIT....................52 41 67
Welker, Wes WR NE....................52 36 54
Fitzgerald, Larry WR ARI..............50 35 64
Holmes, Santonio WR PIT............49 28 48
Wayne, Reggie WR IND................48 32 68
Daniels, Owen TE HOU...............47 32 58
Holt, Torry WR JAC...................47 27 38
Smith, Steve WR CAR.................47 21 26
Mason, Derrick WR BAL.............46 26 53
Winslow, Kellen TE TB...............46 29 51
Boldin, Anquan WR ARI..............44 29 32
Clayton, Mark WR BAL...............44 20 37
Gates, Antonio TE SD................44 29 52
Manningham, Mario WR NYG......44 24 61
Marshall, Brandon WR DEN.........43 29 55
Rice, Ray RB BAL......................43 33 93
Clark, Dallas TE IND...................42 35 54
Sims-Walker, Mike WR JAC.........42 28 55
White, Roddy WR ATL...............42 27 61
Carlson, John TE SEA................41 24 38

Cooley, Chris TE WAS................41 27 40
Jackson, DeSean WR PHI...........41 19 49
Johnson, Calvin WR DET............41 22 39
Royal, Eddie WR DEN................41 18 13

[points based on traditional scoring]

Check back every Monday for more “Fantasy Fixx”

FSH: MORE FANTASY TALK

September 11th, 2009 9:37pm PST

A Big Arm with Big Hopes

Time to bounce back….

Following the 2008 season there were probably many folks who did not believe that David Garrard was a ready for primetime NFL quarterback despite his strong 2007 season. Well could that be any further from the truth?

Last season was not only one to forget for Garrard, but one the Jaguars would also love to forget as well. Finishing the season with a 5-11 record, one area of big concern for the Jags was the offense and it’s lack of production in the passing game (ranked 15th last season). The passing game only generated 15 touchdown passes (ranked tied for 24th) and averaged only 6.7 yards per pass (ranked tied for 19th). Upgrades are going to be a priority in 2009.

While Garrard’s ineffectiveness (13 interceptions) last season seemed to be a major cause for the offenses deficiencies, the truth of the matter is the real cause was up front. Garrard was a victim of his team’s bad luck. A decimated with injury offensive line and poor pass protection were the biggest culprits for the team’s offensive demise. Garrard was hit and hurried countless times last season and the line surrendered 42 sacks (ranked 25th).

With a new season on the horizon, the team is healthier and seems to be addressing many of these needs from last seasons’ debacle. In the offseason the team acquired veteran receiver Torry Holt, who they believe has something left. Holt will give Garrard that veteran leader and go-to receiver over the middle that he can look to in crunch time. The sudden emergence of wide receiver Troy Williamson (22-yards per catch this preseason) could give the offense that boost it needs to stretch the field. Joining the cause once again this season to help Garrard and the offense will be 6-foot six-inch tight end Marcedes Lewis who can beat the defense down the seams.

Just two years ago, Garrard ranked among the best passers with a 102.2 passer rating. This preseason he’s already shown glimpses of returning to that form with great accuracy (28 of 43 passing, 65 percent completion). Garrard also adds that extra dynamic of mobility rushing for 322 yards in 2008. In the offseason the team addressed their biggest concerns by drafting offensive lineman Eugene Monroe with the 8th overall draft pick. He’s still a work in progress, but his addition will give the line depth and plenty of size (Monroe is 6’5” and over 300-lbs).

2008 is now a distant memory for Jacksonville and quarterback David Garrard. With the 2009 season already underway, it’s time for big arms, to aim for big dreams and reach new heights. Garrard is going to be well overlooked in many fantasy drafts and will fall to the late rounds. With a late round pick he’s a great value QB2 and he’ll offer plenty of upside. (2009 Predictions: 285 of 440 passing, 3,315-yards passing, 24 touchdown passes, 9 interceptions, 205 rushing yards, 2 rushing touchdowns)

By David Ortega


Check back for more “Fantasy Talk”

FSH: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

May 1st, 2009 11:30pm PST


David's Daily Digest
[My Take]

The draft is nearly a week old and many of the faces we saw last weekend are now in camp with their new teams getting ready for the upcoming NFL season. While we still have a ways to go, it will be interesting to follow the progress of the many that are expected to make noise in 2009. Well there's not a lot of noise being made just yet, but here are some newsmakers worth noting and my take on what to expect....

My Take...

WR KEVIN CURTIS HAS A SECOND SURGERY
The Eagles wideout underwent a second procedure on his sports hernis. According to Andy Reid, it was merely a follow-up. Curtis is expected to be ready for training camp. With the addition of Jeremy Maclin, Curtis could be looking to rebound big this season and return to his 2007 form when he caught 77 passes for over 1,100-yards.

WR ANQUAN BOLDIN HOPEFUL FOR TRADE
The Cardinal's disgruntled receiver has not made any committments to reporting to training camp in July. He's still unhappy about not getting a new deal and it sounds like his stance of wanting out of Arizona remains. Regardless if Boldin leaves or stays, he'll still be a top 15 wide receiver in fantasy in 2009. His value could rise or fall a little depending on where he ends up.

WR TORRY HOLT LOOKING TO REBOUND IN 2009
The Jaguar's new receiver is hoping to rebound in 2009 after a sub-par performance last season with the Rams. Holt is a hard worker, but it's hard to imagine he'll return to form and produce the same type of numbers he did as part of the "Greatest Show On turf." The Jags are a more conservative offense, run first then pass. Holt may have a good campaign this coming season, but his biggest impact will be making big catches on third down and helping develop some of the younger talent in camp.

QB KURT WARNER EXPECTED TO BE READY
The Cardinal's quarterback is recovering from his arthroscopic hip surgery, but he's expected to be ready at the start of training camp in July. Warner had a big year in 2008 and with Larry Fitzgerald the best receiver in the game today, he should be a solid once again in 2009.

WR DJ HACKETT COULD BE HEADED TO DC
The Redskins invited Hackett to their three-day minicamp and have offered him the veteran-minimum one year deal. Last season Hackett was a complete bust in Carolina not seeing much action and only playing in nine games. He only started two games and caught just 13 passes, but if he ends up in DC, he could turns things around playing under his old offensive coordinator and now Redskin's head coach Jim Zorn.


IDP Notes:

The "Bad Boys" of the NFL are keeping busy these days like their offensive counterparts. Here are just a few noteworthys with my take what you can expect from the Dark-side.....

LB DERRICK BROOKS SEEING LITTLE INTEREST
The former Buccaneer has not received many calls since his release by the team. Brooks was hopeful to play another season, but that looks like a stretch for the 15-year veteran. He could end up finding work by the time training camps start, but he'll hardly be worth drafting in IDP leagues.

LB KARLOS DANSBY A LATE ARRIVAL
The Cardinal's linebacker was a late arrival to minicamp, but he is with the team practicing. There was some thoughts that his late arrival could be a reflection of his desire to get a long-term deal done. It will likely get done soon enough, so IDP owners can relax and expect big numbers from Dansby in 2009.

DL JASON TAYLOR STILL PLAYING THE WAITING GAME
It looks like Taylor will have to wait a while before he even finds out where he'll end up. Recent reports are the Dolphins are in no rush and while the Patriots may have some interest nothing seems imminent. It's too early to be concerned about Taylor's draft value in IDP leagues. It does seem certain he will play in 2009, but owners will have to remain patient.

LB SHAWNE MERRIMAN RETURNS TO THE FIELD
The Chargers pass rush specialist returned to the field on Friday for the first time since having surgery to repair his torn LCL and PCL. Merriman is expecting a big season and if he's healthy, he likely will. He could be one of the top grabs at the linebacker position in most IDP leagues this summer.


Check back with "Your Fantasy Sports Home" for more Football 411.....

FSH: FANTASY FIXX

March 24th, 2009 11:47pm PST

Fantasy Fixx

FF Radar

With the 2009 fantasy football still about four and a half months away before the diehards start heating up, continuing with my Fantasy Football Radar watch I'd like to highlight a couple of the receivers that should be on your scopes this coming draft.


The Good Hands People...

The Vikings shook things up a bit in Minneapolis when they traded for the services of quarterback Sage Rosenfels, indicating that the team did not have full confidence in either Gus Frerotte or Tarvaris Jackson to be the starter in 2009. Despite all the chatter that Jackson will have the shot at the starting position, the smart bet is Rosenfels. His presence in the pocket and under center should legitimize the Vikings passing game, enough to elevate wideout Bernard Berrian. Last season Berrian caught 48 passes for 964-yards and seven touchdowns with pedestrian play at the QB position at best. Rosenfels is no Brady, but he'll upgrade the position and should elevate the Berian's productive to a solid WR2 level. The Vike's receiver is a shoe-in to catch 60-70 balls next season and with his big play ability (20-yards/catch), he'll easily top 1,000-yards and figures at worst to duplicate his seven scores from a year ago. Owners will need to eye Berrian as a solid mid-round selection.

Another receiver that should benefit greatly from off-season changes is the Chief's wideout Dwayne Bowe. With the recent acquistion of quarterback Matt Cassel to the lineup, Bowe should only improve his 86-catch and 1,000-yards in 2008. New head coach Todd Haley has been noted as saying he believes Bowe is "a work in progress" and it sounds like the new head chief believes Bowe can only get better. Cassel had a breakthrough season in 2008 and is expected to elevate the Chiefs passing attack in 2009 which will be be good news for fantasy owners looking to snag the Chiefs top receiver. Bowe will also benefit from the addition of Bobby Engram, who will likely see a lot of work in the slot position. If Tony Gonzalez remains a Chief in 2009, with the new head coach implementing a heavy passing oriented offense, fantasy owners can expect a big season from Bowe. His numbers in 2009 should fall somewhere in the neighborhood of 90-95 receptions and over 1,200-yards receiving. Gonzalez has been the primary weapon of choice in the red-zone the last couple of seasons, but at 6'2" and 220 pounds Bowe could change all of that this coming season.

(Photo by Jarrett Baker/Getty Images)

The Bills made some big changes in the offseason or at least big noise by signing the modest and quiet wide receiver Terrell Owens. The soft-spoken wideout has never been shy about letting the world know just how good he is and may not waste that much time sharing this with his new team. With T.O. attracting so much attention off the field, he may even draw some extra coverage on it. This could very well help the Bills new "other receiver" Lee Evans. In recent seasons, Evans has been the go-to receiver basically flying with only one wing. Now that he'll have Owens lining up on the other side, the Bills leading receiver in 2008 that has averaged over 1,000-yards receiving the past three seasons could see a spike in his receiving totals from a year ago. Even with little help Evans averaged over 16-yards/catch and finished with over 1,000-yards receiving. He saw his touchdown numbers drop to a career-low total of three in 2008. Owens presence should lend some big help to the Bills big-play receiver who will undoubtedly see more single coverage deep and easily improve on his scoring totals from last season. A lot of folks are going to buy into the T.O. hype and believe he's going to be the man in Rochester, but fantasy owners will need to keep abreast Evans who could be a possible steal, as he will surely fall considerably in many fantasy drafts.

(Photo by Dilip Wanat/Getty Images)

As we continue to stroll out wide, we have to redirect our attention to St.Louis where one of the league’s worst teams will going small on the outside. With the departure of longtime receiver Torry Holt and free agent bust Drew Bennett the Rams young and unproven receiving corp has gotten very small. Inheriting the mantle of go-to-receiver will likely be 5'11" wideout Dennis Avery. The speedy receiver out of the University of Houston had moments of brilliance in first half of the 2008 season, exploding onto the scene in Weeks six through eight catching 14 passes for 291-yards and scoring twice. The rookie receiver then ran into a wall and disappeared at time in the second half struggling to get open and running sloppy routes. The kid is a work in progress, but with Holt gone he'll get a lot of offseason work and could be poised to spring board in 2009. Because of his late struggles, some fantasy owners may overlook the talented speedster and he could be available as a nice late round sleeper with greater reward in the latter half of the 2009 season. Mark your draft boards, Avery could be another steal in the upcoming drafts.

(Photo By Jiim Rogash/Getty Images)

And lastly...Larry Fitzgerald is number one


The last receiver I will mention in the segment happens to be the undisputed and unanimous number one receiver in all fantasy drafts. If he's not, someone is drinking the wrong kool-aid. The Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald blew up last year down the stretch and well into the post-season. In four playoff games Fitz set a new NFL playoff record catching 30 passes for 546-yards and seven touchdowns in one of the most dominant receiving performances that we have seen in the modern day era. Fitzgerald's impressive run not only elevated to the top spot, but demonstrated just how good this incredible talent really is. With Warner signed and indications that the team could be on its way to resigning Anquan Boldin, expect nothing less than the best from Fitz in 2009!

(Photo By Kevin Terrell/NFL.com)

Check back for more Fantasy Fixx!

FSH: MONDAY MORNING HUDDLE

March 16th, 2009 11:07pm PST


[The Tuesday Edition]
MONDAY MORNING HUDDLE


Talkin Sum Football

Where will Holt land?...
Just this past weekend the Rams decided to part ways with veteran receiver Torry Holt for obvious cap reasons. Now a free agent, Holt could be a busy man and a popular among the free agent headlines. The former Rams receiver was nearly traded to the Titan's prior to his release, but that deal stalled when Holt would not restructure his contract.

The biggest reason for his release was his decline in production (64 receptions in 2008) and his inflated salary. While at 32, his age has to be a consideration, one thing that should not be overlooked when evaluating his 2008 performance was the play of his quarterback. In 2008 the Rams offense struggled with pass protection allowing 45 sacks and turning the ball over 23 times. Certainly there has been a decline in performance, but when your offense is this bad, numbers don't always tell the tale.

(Photo by Simon Bruty/SI)

Holt is still capable of being a productive receiver in the right situation. He has great hands, runs smart routes, he's just lost a step and no longer has that separation, but utilized more as a possession receiver I think he could still flourish.

A couple of places that could come calling where he could actually fit well could be Detroit, Minnesota, New York, and Denver. It's easy to see a talent like Holt should have little trouble finding new work, so long as his ego does not get in the way.

The Lions could be a suitable choice at the expense of winning now. With a veteran wideout on the squad, a player like Holt could help further the development of the Lion's young talented receiver, Calvin Johnson. In Minnesota, the Vikings made a big play for T.J Houshmandzadeh, but Holt could offer some help at the position at a tremendous discount. He'd also help with the development of the Vikings deep threat, Bernard Berrian.

With the loss of Amani Toomer and the status of Plaxico Burress up in the air, Holt could be a possible solution for the Giants as well. The team is loaded with a handful of young receivers (Steve Smith, Domenik Hixon, Sinorice Moss) and Holt's veteran leadership would be priceless. In Denver, the team is going to have to deal with the impending situation that looms concerning it's own young receiver Brandon Marshall. Marshall following his 4th arrest just a couple of weeks ago could be looking at an extended suspension.

With Marshall out, the team will have definite need at the position and could go shopping.

Fantasy Fixx

FF Radar
With so many players changing their zip codes and putting on new uniforms it can become very confusing and frustrating trying to keep up. One of the big questions fantasy owners will ask, "now that my guy has changed teams how will this impact his performance in 2009?"

A good question and concern for every owner and one that I will tackle throughout the NFL offseason as we patiently watch veteran players, young skilled talents, and last season's bust look to bounce back with a fresh start and new scenery.

A couple of notable players that have already found new residence and should be on fantasy owners radar, to no surprise quarterback Matt Cassel in Kansas City and the Vikings new quarterback Sage Rosenfels. Cassel was traded from New England to KC just a few weeks ago and is indirectly responsible for the current upheaval in Denver.

(Photo by John W. McDonough/SI)

Last season, when Tom Brady went down with a season ending injury in week one, many prognosticators had written off the Patriots as done for the season as well. Enter Mr. Cassel and his history of not having started a game since high school. Under the tutelage of his offensive coordinator (new Denver head coach) Josh McDaniels, Cassel flourished as a passer and team leader guiding his troops to 11 wins in 2008. The former Patriot also became relevant in fantasy leagues, passing for almost 3,700-yards and throwing 21 touchdowns. Now that he is in Kansas City, he'll have the opportunity to throw to a hall of fame tight end and one of the leagues up and coming superstar receivers. Keep him on your radar as a possible top 10 fantasy quarterback in 2009.

(Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

The Vikings pulled off a surprising deal when the trading period opened on Feb. 27th. The deal brought quarterback Sage Rosenfels to Minnesota and sent a 4th round pick to Houston. There's no question that Rosenfels was brought in to start, but the word heading into camp is Tarvaris Jackson will be given every opportunity to win the starting job. The smart money will be on Rosenfels who should be able to put up decent numbers in a run-first program. While in Houston he did not get many opportunities under center he did start five games in 2008 averaging 240-yards passing with four touchdowns (although he did have nine picks). Now that he is a Viking, he'll have the explosive Bernard Berrian on the outside and with Sidney Rice possibly resurfacing into the mix, Rosenfels could be a nice insurance sleeper pick for 2009. Keep him on your radar as a late round back-up selection.



WHAT'S IN THE MIX
...Latest News, whispers, and tid-bits...

Staying Focused...
With every team in the NFL trying to improve their squad for the 2009 season, there's no question that two teams have been pretty busy this offseason; the Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots.

The Broncos apparently have tipped their hand by inviting Ohio State's Malcom Jenkins in for a private workout. The defensive back could be a solid pick for the Broncos who have the 12th selection in the NFL draft. This would be a great indication of the team's focus on repairing the 29th overall ranked defense in 2008. The team has already been plenty busy with numerous free agent signings this offseason, with the premise being on the defensive side. Some of the notable acquisitions include DB Brian Dawkins, LB Andra Davis, DB Renaldo Hill, DB Andre Goodman, and DL Darrel Reid.

(AP photo)

Like the front office in Denver, the Patriots have been very active this offseason with many releases as well as surprising acquisitions. The first big move made was the trading of quarterback Matt Cassel to Kansas City for the 34th overall pick. The team also signed free agent running back Fred Taylor in hopes of upgrading a ground game that was injury riddled and stagnate last season. Other signings include free agents DB Leigh Bodden, DB Shawn Springs, WR Joey Galloway, and WR Greg Lewis. There are many contradicting trade whispers circulating about linking the Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers with the Pats, another indicator that the NFL Professor (Belichik) is still in the lab working hard.

Check back every Monday for more Monday Morning Huddle!