All of my 2008 Fantasy Football Rankings were compiled in early and mid July. Of course, things change once preseason rolls around. The following players have either increased or decreased their fantasy value, depending on how they’ve performed in preseason.
UPDATED Aug. 31, 2008 (new players indicated by arrows)
2008 NFL Preseason – Fantasy Football Stock Up
Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin, WRs, Cardinals 8/25 
I didn’t get a chance to see the Raiders-Cardinals yet, but Kurt Warner has been named Arizona’s starting quarterback for the regular season. Matt Leinart bombed with a 4-of-12 for 24 yards and three interception showing. It’s good that this happened now rather than later; Leinart has thrown nothing but checkdowns this preseason and has yet to prove that he can learn an NFL offense. Warner gives the Cardinals the best chance to win. He’s a very solid option as a starting fantasy quarterback. It’s also safe to draft Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin.
Marion Barber, RB, Cowboys 8/23 Marion Barber looked like a first-round fantasy back, running hard for 75 yards and a touchdown on just 13 carries, and nine receiving yards from two catches. Barber is a top-eight pick in touchdown leagues.
Buccaneers Defense 8/30 Dexter Jackson scored a touchdown on a punt return. Though I’m sure there wasn’t much gameplanning on either side for this Week 4 preseason contest, Jackson’s play-making ability has to be exciting for Tampa Bay fans and Buccaneer defense owners.
Marc Bulger, QB, Rams 8/25 Marc Bulger looked like a different man in his third preseason game. Bulger compiled a quarterback rating of 14 in his two preseason contests, but was 18-of-25 for 182 yards and two touchdowns against the Ravens. Even the incompletions weren’t bad; two were deep shots and another was a dropped pass by Donnie Avery. So, what was the difference? Torry Holt. Enjoying the presence of Holt for the first time this exhibition campaign, Bulger was really sharp all evening. Holt had four catches for 38 yards. To be fair, a number of Baltimore’s defensive starters were missing, including Ed Reed, Chris McAlister, Haloti Ngata and Kelly Gregg.
Jerricho Cotchery, WR, Jets 8/26 AUG. 17: Jerricho Cotchery managed a pair of receptions for 30 yards during Favre’s two drives. With Laveranues Coles spending a lot of time in his hotel room with his beloved Chad Pennington blowup doll, you can tell that Favre already trusts Cotchery as his No. 1 option. Cotchery could be primed for a huge, Donald Driver-like campaign.
AUG. 26: Jerricho Cotchery had just one catch for 30 yards in the first half, but a 49-yard touchdown of his was nullified by a Bubba Franks illegal shift. Laveranues Coles was too busy spending time with his Chad Pennington blowup doll to play.
Jay Cutler, QB, Broncos 8/20 AUG. 20: Denver’s offense operated like an unstoppable machine with Jay Cutler at the helm. Cutler, who was 16-of-20 for 178 yards and a touchdown, did a great job of finding his targets downfield, looking off safeties and maneuvering in the pocket. It’s safe to dub Cutler the No. 7 quarterback in fantasy football behind Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Tony Romo, Drew Brees, Carson Palmer and Ben Roethlisberger.
AUG. 23: Jay Cutler actually started 1-of-7 for 22 yards. Some of the incompletions were his fault, including two overthrows to Brandon Stokley; some of them weren’t (a shot downfield and a tipped pass). However, Cutler was able to rebound off a poor first quarter, going 5-of-6 for 93 yards and two touchdowns in the next 15 minutes, including a sharp 49-yard bomb to Brandon Marshall on a fade pattern.
Rashied Davis, WR, Bears 8/22 Sleeper alert: Who is this Rashied Davis guy? Of course I’ve heard of him, but how did he suddenly become Chicago’s No. 1 receiver and Kyle Orton’s go-to guy? Davis had four receptions for 58 yards and two touchdowns in just one half of work.
Jake Delhomme, QB, Panthers 8/26 For the first time this preseason, Jake Delhomme has proven that he has solid arm strength despite his recent Tommy John surgery. Delhomme started poorly, tossing a pick to rookie safety Kareem Moore on an overthrow to Steve Smith, who was blanketed by double coverage. However, Delhomme finished 11-of-19 for 159 yards, two touchdowns and that interception. I first noticed the arm strength when Delhomme was scrambling out of the pocket and fired the ball to Steve Smith along the sideline. I’m no longer concerned about Delhomme’s elbow, so go ahead and make him your QB2.
Lee Evans, WR, Bills After last week’s abysmal performance, Trent Edwards looked extremely sharp against a very solid Steelers defense. Almost all of Edwards’ throws were on the money, as the second-year signal-caller went 9-of-11 for 104 yards and two touchdowns. Edwards, who showed great presence in the pocket, also scrambled for a 22-yard gain on third-and-13 deep inside his own territory. Edwards converted the first down and later led Buffalo to its second score. Lee Evans caught three balls for 55 yards.
Brett Favre, QB, Jets 8/26 AUG. 17: In case you crawled into a hole in an effort to avoid all of the Brett Favre hype, and you want a brief analysis, you’ve come to the right place. The crowd at Giants Stadium applauded everything Favre did, though he didn’t really make any mistakes, save for one errant throw. Favre’s initial pass was an 11-yard dart to Jerricho Cotchery on a slant. He led the Jets to a touchdown on his second and final drive, finishing 5-of-6 for 48 yards. Dustin Keller caught the score. Favre autographed the ball and gave it to Keller after the game.
AUG. 26: Brett Favre once again looked great for the Jets. He went 9-of-12 for 96 yards. Two incompletions were shots downfield, while the third was a drop by Chris Baker. A beautiful 29-yard pass from a pressured Favre to Brad Smith was negated by an illegal shift penalty called by crooked official Jerome Boger. Boger also nullified an incredible 49-yard Favre-to-Jerricho Cotchery fade touchdown, thanks to another illegal shift by Bubba Franks.
Ted Ginn, WR, Dolphins 8/28 AUG. 19: Ted Ginn made a really nice catch over the middle on Miami’s third drive for a 17-yard gain. Ginn collected four receptions for 58 yards in one half of action. With Pennington under center, Ginn has become somewhat of an intriguing late-round sleeper.
AUG. 28: Ted Ginn is an intriguing receiver in PPR leagues. Chad Pennington loves to throw short stuff, so like Laveranues Coles and Jerricho Cotchery, Ginn figures to garner a bunch of receptions this season. He’s still not much of a factor in touchdown leagues though. Ginn had three receptions for 29 yards against the Chiefs.
Frank Gore, RB, 49ers 8/22 Frank Gore looked great. Gore rushed for 51 yards on just eight carries, and caught two balls for 19 receiving yards. He’s going to be a huge part of San Francisco’s offense, so don’t be afraid to use a top-five selection on him. He could run for 1,000 yards and catch 70 passes.
Andre Hall, RB, Broncos 8/23 AUG. 20: If you drafted Selvin Young in any of your leagues, prepare to send your hate mail to renowned fantasy football hater Mike Shanahan. Young, who gained 36 yards on nine carries, will still be the featured back in Denver’s offense, but he won’t receive many goal-line carries. Whenever the Broncos moved into the red zone, Shanahan put Andre Hall in the backfield. Hall was effective, so consider him in touchdown leagues. Drop Young a bit in your rankings.
AUG. 23: Selvin Young blew by Packers defenders on his first carry, a 20-yard gain. Young finished with 42 yards on six rushes. However, Andre Hall replaced Young on a fourth-and-one on the first drive, which he converted. Hall carried the ball nine times for 46 yards and looked just as good as Young. It’s apparent that Young and Hall are going to split attempts this year – possibly right down the middle. Hall should get all the short-yardage work.
Marvin Harrison, WR, Colts He’s baaack! Marvin Harrison looked solid, catching three balls for 22 yards from Jim Sorgi.
Chris Henry, WR, Bengals 8/19 And I thought the Bengals were trying to get rid of everyone with poor-character traits? Actually, I find it interesting that the Bengals re-signed Chris Henry just one day after Chad Johnson suffered his shoulder injury. If you feel like burning a mid-round pick on Henry, remember that he’s suspended for four games, so the numbers below reflect that*. Also, keep in mind that in seven games last season, Henry collected just 343 yards and two touchdowns. He’s an intriguing option and will take some targets away from everyone, especially Ben Utecht.
DeSean Jackson, WR, Eagles 8/21 AUG. 15: DeSean Jackson had multiple drops, but he finished with seven receptions and 71 yards, and definitely looks like the top wideout on the team.
AUG. 21: Andy Reid seldom plays rookies, but now he has no choice. With Kevin Curtis sidelined with a sports hernia until at least November, DeSean Jackson will get reps with the first team. Jackson is now draftable in every league.
AUG. 23: DeSean Jackson really adds a different element to Philadelphia’s offense. Jackson caught a short pass, but evaded multiple defenders with a devastating cut and ran past everyone else for an additional gain, totaling a net of 23 yards. Jackson led all Eagles receivers with four receptions and 67 yards.
Steven Jackson, RB, Rams 8/21 As expected, Steven Jackson has decided to end his holdout. There’s no reason not to draft Jackson with one of the top picks in your draft.
Brandon Jacobs, RB, Giants 8/26 AUG. 19: So much for running back by committee. Brandon Jacobs received all of the touches with the first team. Jacobs was solid, running for 24 yards on seven carries. His only mistake was a fumble on his fourth rush. It’s safe to draft Jacobs again, although I wouldn’t go nuts because he has durability issues.
AUG. 26: Brandon Jacobs once again started and received all the work early on. All six of his carries came in the first quarter. He totaled 26 yards. Jacobs also caught a 5-yard pass. However, Jacobs missed an assignment on a David Harris blitz, leading to Eli Manning’s second sack of the game. Derrick Ward had all the rushes in the second quarter. He gained 36 yards on four attempts. Ahmad Bradshaw saw seven carries in the second half. He collected 28 yards and a score, but fumbled in the fourth quarter.
Vincent Jackson, QB, Chargers 8/26 In addition to Vincent Jackson’s 59-yard reception, Jackson had two more catches for a grand total of 84 yards in two-and-a-half quarters of action. I think he’s a solid, underrated WR3 and a great WR4. Chris Chambers had one reception for 15 yards. He dropped another pass thrown to him.
Michael Jenkins, WR, Falcons 8/24 Speaking of Falcons receivers, Michael Jenkins really surprised me. Renowned for his dropped passes, Jenkins reeled in all five balls thrown to him, notching a team second-best 44 yards. Jenkins has secured a starting job for now, though he still remains undraftable.
Calvin Johnson, WR, Lions 8/18 AUG. 11: Calvin Johnson caught four passes for 78 yards in just one quarter of action against the Giants’ first-string defense. It looked like New York couldn’t cover Johnson, who seems poised for a huge season.
AUG. 18: Calvin Johnson is unstoppable. We could be talking Terrell Owens-Randy Moss territory. On the first play of the game, Johnson leaped way over poor Leon Hall for a 40-yard reception. On the next drive, Johnson bulldozed Cincinnati’s other starting corner, Jonathan Joseph, and caught a 27-yard touchdown. Johnson finished with 76 yards on three receptions. All this took place in the first two drives of the game. Johnson played on one more possession, but that was a three-and-out with Dan Orlovsky under center. Don’t be afraid to draft Johnson in the fourth round of your 12-man league.
Chris Johnson, RB, Titans Chris Johnson had a few exciting runs against the Rams, including an electrifying 68-yard burst where he just zoomed by everyone. Johnson won’t carry the load or anything, but he’ll be used often in Tennessee’s offense. He’s worth a mid-round pick in a PPR league and a later selection in a non-touchdown league.
There’s no way this guy is going to be an every-down back, but my heart seriously skipped a beat on a few of his carries. He’s really exciting to watch, and with his 4.2 speed, he’s a threat to go the distance on any given play. Johnson finished with 46 yards on eight carries, while his morbidly obese running mate LenDale White chipped in with 39 yards on the same amount of rushes.
Larry Johnson, RB, Chiefs 8/18 I know I’ve been down on him, but Larry Johnson looked great against the Cardinals. Johnson burst for numerous double-digit gains, as he finished with 61 yards on 14 carries. On one play, Brodie Croyle split out wide and Johnson was in the shotgun. Johnson took the snap and converted a third-and-one. What makes Johnson’s performance remarkable is that he was running behind an offensive line that was missing first-round rookie Branden Albert. I’m still not convinced that Johnson can last the entire year as a result of his 416 carries in 2006, but I would definitely consider selecting him now at a reasonable spot in a fantasy draft.
Rudi Johnson, RB, Lions 9/2 Now with the Lions, Rudi Johnson is worth a look late in your draft, as he’ll be the guy to replace Kevin Smith once he wears down. Then again, you’ll always have that clueless guy in your league who takes him six rounds too early because he thinks Rudi is still on the Bengals…
Felix Jones, RB, Cowboys Felix Jones seems like he’s going to be a great weapon for Tony Romo this year. Jones, who looks like he bulked up a bit, made a nice cutback and gained 19 yards on a run in the first quarter. He later eluded several Chargers defenders on a 28-yard reception that was all YAC. Romo looked giddy on the sidelines. Safe to say he wouldn’t be as happy if Julius Jones were still in a Dallas uniform, as the former Cowboy can’t even get past Maurice Morris on the depth chart in Seattle. Felix Jones finished with six carries, 32 rushing yards, two catches and 29 receiving yards.
Matt Jones, WR, Jaguars 8/30 AUG. 27: Matt Jones actually looked pretty decent for the Jaguars. He had three receptions for 45 yards, and made a nice catch that moved the chains for the Jaguars on third down. It’s good Jones has rededicated himself and decided against snorting coke; we all saw what happened to Colin in Season 6 of 90210. Weed and/or steroids should be Jones’ drugs of choice.
AUG. 30: Matt Jones has rededicated himself; not only has he promised to stop snorting coke; he has also vowed to learn the playbook! David Garrard told John Madden that Jones didn’t know the plays last year, but now is on the right track. Go Matt!
Thomas Jones, RB, Jets 8/17 Thomas Jones was able to convert a fourth-and-one at midfield. Doesn’t sound like a huge deal, but Jones had 1,119 rushing yards but only one touchdown last year. He’ll have more short-yardage success in 2008 with all of the extra help the Jets brought in this offseason.
Jon Kitna, QB, Lions 8/25 I don’t know why Jon Kitna and the starting offense saw such limited action, but Kitna went 9-of-11 for 98 yards in two drives. Kitna is now 12-of-14 for 174 yards and a touchdown this preseason. Everyone is down on him because of Mike Martz’s departure, but a more-balanced offense will give Kitna better protection, and consequently more opportunities to score touchdowns.
Derrick Mason, WR, Ravens 8/25 Derrick Mason led the Ravens with six receptions for 85 yards and a touchdown. Most of Mason’s production came on the first drive in the second half. This is good news for Mason owners; he was able to put up respectable numbers with a rookie quarterback at the helm. I still don’t trust Troy Smith to get it to Mason consistently, however.
Brandon Marshall, WR, Broncos 8/29 Brandon Marshall has won his appeal, and will be suspended for only one game; not two.
Darren McFadden, RB, Raiders The Raiders were able to move the chains though with Darren McFadden and Justin Fargas on the ground, as their rushing attack proved to be way too powerful for the 49ers to handle. McFadden totaled 48 yards on 12 carries, while Fargas managed 25 yards on just five rushes. McFadden ran with power and electrifying speed, and he was extremely exciting to watch.
Donovan McNabb, QB, Eagles When Donovan McNabb was actually going against Pittsburgh’s starters, he actually looked the old McNabb (pre-2005). He moved around well in the pocket and all of his throws were right on the money. McNabb finished 10-of-13 for 97 yards and a touchdown.
Robert Meachem, WR, Saints 8/28 AUG. 8: Robert Meachem has arrived. Meachem beat Cardinals second-string safety Aaron Francisco on a 49-yard pass from Mark Brunell. Meachem dived for the ball and was able to prevent it from hitting the ground, landing on Arizona’s 3-yard line. Meachem also took a fourth-quarter catch to the house for 60 yards, as he broke four tackles after the reception. Granted, he was running away from third-stringers, but it looks like Meachem has a chance to put up some very solid numbers this year.
AUG. 28: Two weeks ago, Robert Meachem impressed a national audience by catching a deep pass and avoiding a number of tackles on another reception. Against the Bengals, Drew Brees found Meachem downfield on a 59-yard play, eventually setting up a touchdown. Meachem finished with four catches for 71 yards.
Zach Miller, TE, Raiders Zach Miller had his best performance of his rookie year in the only game JaMarcus Russell started, catching eight balls for 84 yards. Miller picked up where he left off, registering four receptions for 48 yards and a score.
Josh Morgan, WR, 49ers 8/20 Josh Morgan is a stud. He caught five balls for 114 yards and a touchdown – numbers that were indicative of how he dominated Green Bay’s secondary. J.T. O’Sullivan also missed Morgan on what could have been a sixth reception. With Morgan thriving and Bryant Johnson spending too much time nursing his injuries, the seventh-round rookie wideout will be given the opportunity to become the next Marques Colston. Take either Morgan or Eddie Royal in the final round of your fantasy draft.
Santana Moss, WR, Redskins Jason Campbell continued to look really sharp in his second preseason game in Jim Zorn’s West Coast offense. Campbell led the Redskins to a touchdown on the second drive of Saturday night’s contest, finishing 7-of-10 for 71 yards. And it’s not like Campbell was merely checking down; he threw multiple double-digit-yard strikes to his receivers, particularly Antwaan Randle El, who had three catches for 30 yards. With Campbell’s comfort in the new offense, Santana Moss’ numbers will be higher than I previously predicted.
J.T. O’Sullivan, QB, 49ers 8/22 For a game that wouldn’t have shocked anyone if it ended 4-4, the Bears-49ers tilt on FOX was pretty exciting. Both quarterbacks performed surprisingly well, namely J.T. O’Sullivan, who nailed down the starting gig in San Francisco. O’Sullivan was 7-of-8 for 126 yards and a touchdown, giving him a sick YPA of 15.8. The former Saint and Lion led the 49ers to a field goal on a methodical first drive, but exploded on his third possession, throwing deep darts to Vernon Davis (40 yards) and Jason Hill (37 yards). I wouldn’t go nuts and draft O’Sullivan as a starting fantasy quarterback, but he could make for a solid backup and a spot-starter versus porous defenses like the Rams, Lions and Saints.
Panthers Defense 8/26 Carolina’s pass rush was very pedestrian last season, so it has to be a relief for Panther fans that their defensive line completely abused Washington’s front. Early in the game, second-year left end Charles Johnson overpowered Jon Jansen for a sack on Jason Campbell. Later, Julius Peppers plowed Chris Samuels four yards into Campbell. Campbell was sacked four times in the first half.
Chris Perry, RB, Bengals 8/31 AUG. 18: I liked what I saw out of Chris Perry, who started for a dinged-up Rudi Johnson. Perry managed 23 yards on seven carries, which doesn’t sound all that great. However, he ran hard and converted all of his short-yardage situations. Meanwhile, Kenny Watson also looked good, gaining 31 yards on five carries. It’s very likely that the Bengals will utilize a three-way RBBC this season.
AUG. 26: Rudi Johnson is likely to be traded or released soon, probably the latter. This increases the fantasy value of Chris Perry and Kenny Watson, particularly the former.
AUG. 28: With Rudi Johnson still slacking off and missing time, Chris Perry looked very solid, gaining 36 rushing yards on 12 carries and 22 receiving yards on four catches. I believe Perry will get the most touches of any Cincinnati running back this season, barring injury.
AUG. 31: As expected, Rudi Johnson has been released. Marvin Lewis called Chris Perry a “three-down back.” Hope you followed my advice!
Ray Rice, RB, Ravens 8/20 With Willis McGahee taking too long to come back from knee surgery, Ray Rice could be in the starting lineup on Kickoff Weekend. I’m not saying the Ravens are going to bench McGahee in favor of Rice, but the latter should get a solid amount of touches this season. A must-have handcuff for McGahee.
Philip Rivers, QB, Chargers 8/26 The positive Charger fans can take out of this game is that Philip Rivers looked solid despite coming off ACL surgery. I actually said out loud, “So much for that torn ACL” when Rivers completed a 59-yard bomb to Vincent Jackson. After that, however, Rivers nearly threw a pick-six and later hesitated to run on a play in which he could have gained significant yardage on the ground. Rivers was also sometimes favoring one leg. Matt McGuire observed that Rivers looked awkward at times and didn’t seem comfortable dropping back and moving in the pocket. That said, Rivers exceeded expectations, going 11-of-21 for 143 yards.
Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers 8/23 AUG. 11: Some of the guys on NFL Live gave Aaron Rodgers a B+ for his performance against the Bengals. I think it’s insane to give him anything lower than an A+. Not that all of his throws were perfect; I just find it amazing that he was able to perform so well with all of the pressure stemming from the national media and the Brett Favre situation. He showed great composure when he had a ready-made excuse if he had a bad game. Rodgers proved that he could make all the throws, connecting on multiple downfield strikes, and often looking off the safeties like a seasoned veteran. I’ll be shocked if Rodgers has anything short of a very good 2008 campaign. For the record, Rodgers finished 9-of-15 for 117 yards, one touchdown and one pick, although those numbers could have been better if his receivers didn’t drop three catchable balls.
AUG. 23: Aaron Rodgers put on a Pro Bowl-type performance in Denver. Rodgers went 18-of-22 for 193 yards and a touchdown in two-and-a-half quarters, leading the Packers on four scoring drives. By the way, none of Rodgers’ four incompletions were legitimate. Rodgers threw his first away when he was under pressure. The second incompletion was a drop by James Jones. The third was a shot to the end zone at the end of the first half. The last was a nice, deep pass to Jones, who couldn’t get both of his feet inbounds (though Packer fans could argue there was pass interference). Anyone watching the game didn’t hear the Denver crowd chant “In-Com-Plete” too often before Brian Brohm took the field. Rodgers is a decent QB1 in a 12-man league that you can pick up in the middle rounds of your draft.
AUG. 30: Aaron Rodgers threw one pass – it was a 68-yard dart that he threaded between a few Titans receivers. Greg Jennings caught it and ran 68 yards for a touchdown.
Eddie Royal, WR, Broncos 8/20 AUG. 11: Eddie Royal has won the starting job in Denver. I normally wouldn’t recommend drafting rookie receivers, but Royal is worth a look, given that winning a starting gig is no easy feat for a rookie wideout. Let’s see how he performs in the preseason.
AUG. 20: There aren’t many casual football fans who know who Eddie Royal is, but they will soon enough. Denver’s rookie receiver is starting across from Brandon Marshall. Royal snagged in two balls for 67 yards, including a 32-yard reception where the 5-10 Royal leaped over Anthony Henry to secure the football. Royal won’t put up amazing numbers, but he’s definitely draftable as a late-round sleeper.
Matt Schaub, QB, Texans 8/19 Matt Schaub was nearly flawless. He went 14-of-16 for 187 yards and two touchdowns in the first half. The kicker is that he didn’t even have the services of Andre Johnson. Schaub is a nice mid-round sleeper in fantasy. If Johnson stays healthy, there’s a chance Schaub could come close to 3,800 yards and 24 touchdowns.
Steve Slaton, RB, Texans 8/23 AUG. 21: Ahman Green’s always hurt; Chris Brown still sucks; and Chris Taylor’s Chris Taylor. Steve Slaton will get some carries with the first team. Gary Kubiak studied under Mike Shanahan and will always use RBBCs, but Slaton’s not a bad mid-to-late-round sleeper.
AUG. 23: Steve Slaton and Chris Taylor shared carries in the first half and combined for 87 yards on 20 carries. Slaton (10 rushes, 44 yards) looked like the superior runner; on one play, he broke out of tackles and gave a powerful stiff arm to Roy Williams, whom Slaton easily shoved away. At less than 200 pounds, Slaton will never be able to handle the workload on his own. He’ll get a decent amount of touches, however, making him an intriguing late-round sleeper.
Pierre Thomas, RB, Saints 8/28 Pierre Thomas was the best running back on the field for New Orleans. He had five rushes for 46 yards, and four catches for 35 yards. All of this was done in the second half, but all of Thomas’ carries were against Cincinnati’s first-stringers. I don’t expect McAllister to last long, and it’s fairly obvious that Thomas is superior to Aaron Stecker. I still think Thomas is worth a shot late in deep, non-touchdown leagues.
Kevin Walter, WR, Texans 8/19 Matt Schaub often went to Kevin Walter, who caught six passes for 100 yards and a score. With Andre Johnson commanding double teams, Walter and Owen Daniels (three receptions, 61 yards) could be primed for solid campaigns.
Kurt Warner, QB, Cardinals 8/31 AUG. 25: I didn’t get a chance to see the Raiders-Cardinals yet, but Kurt Warner has been named Arizona’s starting quarterback for the regular season. Matt Leinart bombed with a 4-of-12 for 24 yards and three interception showing. It’s good that this happened now rather than later; Leinart has thrown nothing but checkdowns this preseason and has yet to prove that he can learn an NFL offense. Warner gives the Cardinals the best chance to win. He’s a very solid option as a starting fantasy quarterback. It’s also safe to draft Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin.
AUG. 31: Ken Whisenhunt finally confirmed that Kurt Warner is Arizona’s starting quarterback. I’m not sure what took him so long. Just more proof that you can never trust what a coach says.
Kenny Watson, RB, Bengals 8/26 AUG. 18: I liked what I saw out of Chris Perry, who started for a dinged-up Rudi Johnson. Perry managed 23 yards on seven carries, which doesn’t sound all that great. However, he ran hard and converted all of his short-yardage situations. Meanwhile, Kenny Watson also looked good, gaining 31 yards on five carries. It’s very likely that the Bengals will utilize a three-way RBBC this season.
AUG. 26: Rudi Johnson is likely to be traded or released soon, probably the latter. This increases the fantasy value of Chris Perry and Kenny Watson, particularly the former.
Roddy White, WR, Falcons Roddy White is a beast. He caught two poorly thrown balls from Matt Ryan, including one pass that was way behind him. He twisted his entire body around, did a 360 in the air, extended his arms and brought in a 25-yard touchdown. White finished with five receptions, 47 yards and that score.
DeAngelo Williams, RB, Panthers 8/26 AUG. 12: I noticed DeAngelo Williams’ numbers against the Colts (9 carries, 55 yards, 2 TDs) right after the game was over, but I wanted to see how he looked for myself. Williams’ stats, though spectacular, didn’t do him justice. Williams was amazing against the Colts. He ran out of tackles, broke the ankles of defenders with his cuts and blew by the opposition. Where was this last year when I made Williams a sleeper?
AUG. 15: One player who shined for the Panthers against the Eagles was Williams, who followed up last week’s solid performance with 32 rushing yards on eight carries and 13 receiving yards on two caches. Jonathan Stewart managed just three yards on four carries, but he had absolutely no blocking. We’ll have to wait until next week to determine Carolina’s running back situation. Still, the fact remains that unlike last year, Williams is actually running hard. It’s sad that it took Carolina using a No. 1 pick on a running back to give him an incentive to work hard.
AUG. 26: DeAngelo Williams had 101 yards and a touchdown on nine carries. Jonathan Stewart compiled 100 yards and a score on 10 carries. Fantasy owners, of course, are wondering about how both were used. John Fox tipped his hand against the Redskins. Carolina’s starting offense had nine offensive drives. Williams was in on every play of the first, third, fifth, seventh and ninth possessions, while Stewart received all of the work on the second, fourth, sixth and eighth sequences. So, it looks like Williams and Stewart will rotate possessions this year, which is disappointing from a fantasy perspective. They both really looked great though, as both of their touchdowns featured how talented they are. Williams could have scored twice, but he fumbled the ball 10 yards away from the end zone. Steve Smith scooped it up and ran it in from eight yards out.
Ricky Williams, RB, Dolphins 8/28 AUG. 11: There were reports that Ricky Williams was in shape, and it definitely showed. He broke tackles and pushed piles, finishing with 31 yards on five carries. It should be noted that Williams missed a block on Ronde Barber, who sacked John Beck.
AUG. 19: Chad Pennington looked good, but the big story for the Dolphins was Ricky Williams. At age 31, he’s obviously not the old Ricky Williams, but he’s definitely close. Williams compiled 43 yards and a touchdown on just 10 carries. Ronnie Brown, meanwhile, managed just two yards on two rushes. It’s no coincidence then that the Dolphins announced that Williams is the No. 1 running back. This is great news for Miami fans because the oft-injured Brown was extremely unreliable coming off a torn ACL.
AUG. 28: Ricky Williams continues to impress. Williams compiled 47 yards on 12 carries; his YPC average could have been much higher if he didn’t have so many short-yardage opportunities. Williams also caught two balls for eight yards. He’s not the old dominant Ricky, but he’s pretty close. With Ronnie Brown coming off a torn ACL and nursing dozens of other injuries, Williams could total 1,000 yards this year, making him a great RB3 option around Rounds 5 or 6.
2008 NFL Preseason – Fantasy Football Stock Down
Derek Anderson, QB, Browns 8/19 
To say that Derek Anderson had an abysmal performance against the Giants is an understatement. Perhaps something to the tone of “Anderson appeared as though he acquired the worst traits of Rex Grossman, Kyle Orton and John Beck this offseason” would be more sufficient. Sure, Anderson was victimized by a drop or two, but he was wildly inaccurate. There was the low throw to Kellen Winslow for what could have been a first down on Cleveland’s third drive. There was a pass that was behind Travis Wilson. And another that wasn’t close to Steve Heiden. Anderson finished 4-of-10 for 20 yards and a nauseating YPA of 2.0. To make matters worse for the 2007 upstart, Anderson suffered a concussion early in the second quarter. If Brady Quinn looks brilliant next week, Romeo Crennel may say that he’s “easing Anderson back off a concussion” and “doesn’t want Anderson to re-injure himself.”
Bears Defense 8/30 AUG. 22: While the effectiveness of both offenses surprised everyone, the most shocking thing to me was how horrendous Chicago’s defense looked. On the first drive of the game, the Bears surrendered runs of 11, 28, 4 and 16 (the final one to Zak Keasey). Frank Gore and Keasey combined for 73 yards on just 12 carries. And this isn’t a fluke; the Bears had problems containing Larry Johnson two weeks ago and allowed a significant amount of yardage to Julius Jones in a short span last Saturday. Furthermore, how do you allow J.T. O’Sullivan to go 7-of-8 for 126 yards and a touchdown? Where was Mike Brown on the Jason Hill touchdown? A frustrated Brian Urlacher vented about his defense’s terrible performance just one week after he predicted that his stop unit would match the 2006 version.
No surprise that Devin Hester dropped the ball on Chicago’s first drive. I said it once, and I’ll say it again. If utilizing Hester on offense even takes away 10 percent of Hester’s potency on special teams, Lovie Smith is making a huge mistake. Hester is arguably the best return specialist of all time, and he’s such a sub-par wideout; it just doesn’t make any sense.
AUG. 30: If it wasn’t for New England’s pathetic defense, I’d say Chicago’s stop unit has been the most disappointing this preseason. The Bears have now let Brodie Croyle, Charlie Frye, J.T. O’Sullivan and Brady Quinn have their way with them. Quinn was 7-of-9 for 65 yards against Chicago’s starting crew. That said, the Bears are definitely still draftable because of Devin Hester.
Tatum Bell, RB, Lions 9/2 Tatum Bell was cut in favor of Rudi Johnson. There was no reason to draft him anyway.
Drew Bennett, WR, Rams 8/25 AUG. 17: Drew Bennett didn’t really help the Rams’ anemic offense. He caught two passes for 12 yards, but dropped a ball and ran the wrong route on another play.
AUG. 25: Donnie Avery dropped the first pass thrown to him, which would have been good for a 20-yard gain. He also dropped a touchdown late in the first half. That said, Avery looked great on many other instances, registering five catches for 65 yards and a touchdown, including a diving catch along the sideline. Fellow rookie Keenan Burton had three receptions, 63 yards and an amazing one-handed grab thrown behind him. He also had a sliding touchdown, which was the first for St. Louis’ offense this preseason. It’s only a matter of time before either Avery or Burton replaces the ineffective Drew Bennett (no catches) in the starting lineup, though I wouldn’t draft either this year.
Ronnie Brown, RB, Dolphins 8/19 Chad Pennington looked good, but the big story for the Dolphins was Ricky Williams. At age 31, he’s obviously not the old Ricky Williams, but he’s definitely close. Williams compiled 43 yards and a touchdown on just 10 carries. Ronnie Brown, meanwhile, managed just two yards on two rushes. It’s no coincidence then that the Dolphins announced that Williams is the No. 1 running back. This is great news for Miami fans because the oft-injured Brown was extremely unreliable coming off a torn ACL.
Marc Bulger, QB, Rams 8/17 AUG. 11: Not a good start for Marc Bulger. He threw into double coverage on his first throw. His second pass was batted down. His third attempt was tipped and intercepted by Keith Bulluck. He later fumbled and tossed a few more errant passes, as he was under pressure the entire evening.
AUG. 17: Marc Bulger was 7-of-14 for 56 yards and two horrible interceptions. On the second pick that he threw, Bulger stared down his wideout and lofted the ball late toward the sideline, allowing Cletis Gordon to make a routine interception. Note that Torry Holt and Steven Jackson weren’t in the lineup.
Jason Campbell, QB, Redskins 8/30 Jason Campbell has gotten worse each week this preseason. He was 1-of-4 for three yards and a pick versus the Jaguars’ starting defensive unit.
Chargers Defense 8/23 Shawne Merriman has a tear in his PCL and could be out for the year. Stay tuned – but definitely don’t spend a mid-round pick on the Chargers’ defense until we find out what’s going on.
Kevin Curtis, WR, Eagles 8/21 Kevin Curtis has suffered a sports hernia, which will require surgery. He could be out until November, and he may not be 100 percent when he returns. Cross Curtis off your cheat sheet.
Bobby Engram, WR, Seahawks Bobby Engram is out 6-8 weeks with a cracked bone in his shoulder. This is a huge loss to Seattle’s receiving corps, which was already without Deion Branch.
Joey Galloway, WR, Buccaneers 8/27 Jeff Garcia threw one of the worst passes I’ve ever seen in my life in the first quarter. Garcia ran a bootleg to the right, threw a pseudo-jump pass, which floated right into the hands of Reggie Nelson. Later, Garcia lofted a soft pass, which was picked off by an unseen Nelson in the red zone. He finished 11-of-18 for 79 yards, one touchdown and two picks. That’s an abysmal 4.4 YPA for Garcia. I would avoid all Tampa Bay wide receivers until late in the draft, as the former CFL quarterback’s career looks like it’s quickly coming to an end.
Jeff Garcia, QB, Buccaneers 8/27 Jeff Garcia threw one of the worst passes I’ve ever seen in my life in the first quarter. Garcia ran a bootleg to the right, threw a pseudo-jump pass, which floated right into the hands of Reggie Nelson. Later, Garcia lofted a soft pass, which was picked off by an unseen Nelson in the red zone. He finished 11-of-18 for 79 yards, one touchdown and two picks. That’s an abysmal 4.4 YPA for Garcia. I would avoid all Tampa Bay wide receivers until late in the draft, as the former CFL quarterback’s career looks like it’s quickly coming to an end.
David Garrard, QB, Jagaurs 8/30 AUG. 19: While Miami’s offense thrived with Chad Pennington and Ricky Williams, the Jaguars couldn’t get anything going. David Garrard started 3-of-7 for 23 yards, and unlike last week, his stats indicated how poorly he performed. On his first throw, Garrard stared down his receiver and was consequently nearly picked off by Akin Ayodele. He later missed Maurice Jones-Drew and overthrew a wide-open Mike Walker downfield on a crucial fourth-and-two. Garrard finished 7-of-14 for 63 yards. The magic that Garrard and the Jaguars had in 2007 looks like it has vanished.
AUG. 27: David Garrard finished 10-of-16 for 118 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, but he was just 7-of-11 for 65 yards, one score and a pick versus Tampa Bay’s starting defense. Nothing terrible, but through three preseason games, I still haven’t seen the guy who led the Jaguars to a near upset of the New England Patriots in the second round of the playoffs. With Garrard’s struggles, I’m far from confident in my prediction that Jacksonville will win the AFC.
AUG. 30: David Garrard still hasn’t impressed me this preseason. Garrard went 5-of-8 for 58 yards and a touchdown, but also threw an ugly interception against Redskin backups. While many people, including Matthew Berry, are high on Garrard this year, I question the fact that he has yet to assemble a decent preseason outing.
Giants Defense 8/25 Osi Umenyiora is out for the year with a knee injury. Paging Michael Strahan! If the Giants can’t get Strahan on the defensive line, you can knock their projected sack total down by at least 10.
Earnest Graham, RB, Buccaneers 8/27 Warrick Dunn – not Earnest Graham – received the first carry for the Buccaneers. Graham had the second rush – a 1-yard gain resulting in a lost fumble. Each back had five attempts. Dunn gained 12 yards. Graham had a whopping seven.
Ahman Green, RB, Texans Surprise! Ahman Green suffered an injury on his first touch, a 5-yard reception. He strained his groin and will miss next week’s game. Don’t draft this guy; he could double as Mr. Glass in the next Unbreakable movie.
D.J. Hackett, WR, Panthers 8/26 Muhsin Muhammad has already passed D.J. Hackett, and it looks like Dwayne Jarrett is close to doing so as well. Jarrett looked impressive, catching four balls for 40 yards, which doesn’t include a 9-yard reception that was called back because of a penalty. Hackett’s injuries have prevented him from seeing action this preseason.
Matt Hasselbeck, QB, Seahawks Another blow for Matt Hasselbeck. This time, Bobby Engram is out 6-8 weeks with a shoulder injury.
Chad Jackson, WR, Patriots 8/18 Cross Chad Jackson off your fantasy board. He didn’t do anything in the first half and managed just two receptions in the second half. Jackson has really let me down. He has talent, he’s entering his third season and he plays in an offense where any starter can produce. But Jackson just can’t put it together. It’s really frustrating.
Chad Johnson, WR, Bengals 8/20 Bengals.com confirms speculation that the Chris Henry signing has to do with Chad Johnson’s shoulder injury. Drop Mr. Ocho Cinco down on your lists just a bit and watch his progress. I’ll report any information I get.
Darrell Jackson, WR, Broncos Oh, how things change in a few days. Jackson has been benched in favor of rookie Eddie Royal, and is now not a lock to make the team.
Edgerrin James, RB, Cardinals 8/27 AUG. 8: Rookie running back Tim Hightower garnered a lot of snaps and looked really good; he had five carries for 23 yards and a touchdown, and two catches for 11 receiving yards. If you’re thinking about drafting Edgerrin James, keep in mind that Arizona is going to give Hightower plenty of touches, including a good amount near the goal line.
AUG. 27: While Edgerrin James had 26 yards on six carries, Tim Hightower, who saw action with the first string, managed 52 yards and a score on 10 rushes. The only negative thing Hightower did was fumble the ball; he looked really great otherwise. James will get the majority of the carries this year, but Hightower will eat a lot of his touches, especially near the goal line.
Julius Jones, RB, Seahawks 8/26 AUG. 11: Julius Jones gained 12 yards on a second-quarter carry, but managed just three yards on three rushes on his other attempts, and was stuffed on third-and-short. Jones ran with the second-string, which has to be concerning for anyone who has drafted him already. Maurice Morris received all the rush opportunities with the first team.
AUG. 18: While Maurice Morris started last week for Seattle, Julius Jones got the nod on Saturday night. Jones gained 32 yards on seven carries and helped out with a 9-yard reception. However, Jones fumbled and was also whistled for holding. Maurice Morris compiled just seven yards on four carries, but caught two passes for 15 receiving yards. It appears as though Jones and Morris will split carries this season, so I wouldn’t advise taking either guy until the middle of the draft at the very earliest. Morris offers more value because he’s going undrafted in most leagues.
AUG. 26: What we could tell is how Mike Holmgren is going to use his running backs, and it looks like an RBBC all the way. Maurice Morris started. He rushed for 31 yards on five carries, including an 11-gain in which he broke a number of tackles. Morris also had an 8-yard reception. Julius Jones tallied 30 yards on eight rushes and didn’t catch any balls. Morris looked like the superior runner. It appears as though Mike Holmgren is going to mirror what John Fox is doing in Carolina.
Matt Leinart, QB, Cardinals 8/31 AUG. 18: Matt Leinart definitely SHOULD NOT be starting for the Cardinals. You may ask, “Hey, Leinart finished 7-of-11 for 62 yards and a touchdown. What gives?” Well, I’m glad you asked. First of all, all but two of Leinart’s completions came in the second half when the Chiefs were playing their backups despite the fact that Arizona still had its first-string offensive line on the field. Leinart dropped back to throw six times against Kansas City’s starters in the first half. Let’s take a look at each of those instances:
- Leinart’s first pass was thrown into triple coverage. He stared down his receiver. He was nearly intercepted by Chiefs middle linebacker Pat Thomas.
- Throw No. 2 was a short pass to Larry Fitzgerald.
- Leinart overthrew his target and was almost picked off again.
- Jamaica Rector dropped a 6-yard reception.
- Pass No. 5 was a 4-yard checkdown to Tim Hightower.
- Leinart was sacked and fumbled the ball.
AUG. 25: I didn’t get a chance to see the Raiders-Cardinals yet, but Kurt Warner has been named Arizona’s starting quarterback for the regular season. Matt Leinart bombed with a 4-of-12 for 24 yards and three interception showing. It’s good that this happened now rather than later; Leinart has thrown nothing but checkdowns this preseason and has yet to prove that he can learn an NFL offense. Warner gives the Cardinals the best chance to win. He’s a very solid option as a starting fantasy quarterback. It’s also safe to draft Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin.
AUG. 27: Matt Leinart was intercepted on his first pass. I wouldn’t necessarily call it a poor throw; it was a shot downfield to Larry Fitzgerald, which I liked because Leinart has thrown a billion checkdowns this preseason. However, things quickly got worse for the former USC superstar. Leinart’s second interception was pretty bad. Not only did he cross the line of scrimmage when he was scrambling around; he also underthrew his target and tossed the ball right to Stanford Routt. Leinart’s final pick was an ugly duck he heaved downfield into double coverage.
Let’s talk about what the 4-of-12 for 25 yards and three interceptions doesn’t tell you. Even before his final two picks, Leinart really looked confused in the offense. An offensive delay of game here, an intentional grounding there… The offense just didn’t work well with a discombobulated Leinart at the helm. Even the Raiders announcers commented on how disoriented he looked. Oh, and by the way, Leinart nearly tossed a fourth pick on an overthrow to Leonard Pope.
I know Ken Whisenhunt has denied ESPN’s report that Kurt Warner will be the starting quarterback, but if Whisenhunt starts Leinart for one game over Warner, he’s a fool. If Whisenhunt wants to go with a clueless guy who throws nothing but incompletions, interceptions and checkdowns, he can go with Leinart. If he wants to go 5-11 and draft in the top 10 next year, he can start Mr. Beer Bong.
AUG. 31: Ken Whisenhunt finally confirmed that Kurt Warner is Arizona’s starting quarterback. I’m not sure what took him so long. Just more proof that you can never trust what a coach says.
Laurence Maroney, RB, Patriots 8/18 Laurence Maroney struggled to get anything going (7 carries, 15 yards, dropped pass), but that’s to be expected without Tom Brady under center. What concerns me is that the Patriots felt like they needed to bring in LaMont Jordan. I’m not a big fan of Maroney as a fantasy running back.
Deuce McAllister, RB, Saints 8/30 AUG. 28: It was Aaron Stecker, Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush in the first quarter for the Saints. No one really was that great. Bush had six yards on two rushes, as he left early with a minor thigh bruise. McAllister, meanwhile, looked like he was running scared, appearing hesitant to hit the hole. He had nine yards on six carries.
AUG. 30: Deuce McAllister compiled 30 yards on 11 rushes. I didn’t get to see McAllister against the Dolphins, but the McAllister I saw with my own eyes last week looked scared to hit the hole. Coming off two knee surgeries, I don’t blame him. In all honesty, if I were McAllister, I would sit out this year entirely and come back 100 percent for 2009.
Taylor Mehlhaff, K, Saints 8/31 So much for Taylor Mehlhaff being a sleeper kicker. The has-been Martin Gramatica offers no fantasy value.
Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Steelers 8/30 Rashard Mendenhall didn’t appear until Pittsburgh’s fourth drive. His second carry looked like it was going to be a good gain, but Mendenhall fumbled and turned it over. Mendenhall was benched until the second half. He looked really impressive – Mendenhall tallied 79 rushing yards on 15 carries and 15 receiving yards on two catches – but he fumbled it again late in the fourth quarter. I’m not sure if Mike Tomlin completely trusts Mendenhall yet.
AUG. 30 UPDATE: Rashard Mendenhall managed 79 yards on 21 carries. Good news for Mendenhall owners, right? Well, after fumbling twice last week, fumbled once versus Carolina. It’s obvious to say that if Mendenhall keeps fumbling he’ll see less carries because Mike Tomlin won’t be able to trust him. I still think he’s fine in touchdown leagues regardless.
Patriots Defense 8/30 The Patriots couldn’t contain the Ravens’ starting offense two weeks ago. So, it was the first game. Big deal. The Patriots were trampled by Tampa Bay’s rushing attack and watched Brian Griese complete almost every pass he threw. Another fluke? Well, the Patriots were also helpless against the Eagles, as their starting defense surrendered five scores on six drives if you include the Hank Baskett fumble in the end zone which resulted in a touchback. Donovan McNabb was 13-of-17 for 180 yards and a touchdown, and was seldom pressured. Brian Westbrook averaged 4.3 yards per carry (nine rushes, 39 yards). DeSean Jackson made New England’s defense looked old (more on this later).
Even Kevin Kolb was able to led Philadelphia into the red zone by going 4-of-6 for 78 yards on a drive that culminated in a field goal. The big play on that possession was a 42-yard Kolb-to-Michael Gasperson connection, as Gasperson, a camp body, beat second-round rookie Terrence Wheatley, who was playing with the first-stringers, including Tedy Bruschi and Mike Vrabel.
AUG. 30 UPDATE: New England’s defense – and I’m going to hit my CAPS lock key for this – REALLY SUCKS! The starting unit couldn’t prevent David Carr from easily moving down the field on them. Carr, Brian Griese, Luke McCown and Kyle Boller all abused the Patriots’ first-string stop unit this preseason. Can you say 2002 St. Louis Rams?
Adrian Peterson, RB, Vikings As predicted, Pro Bowl left tackle Bryant McKinnie has been suspended for four games. The Vikings have no depth at the tackle position, so Peterson may struggle during the first quarter of the season. I’m not dropping Peterson in my rankings because I already factored McKinnie’s suspension into the equation; this simply cements my belief that Peterson is the No. 6 running back in fantasy football.
Jonathan Stewart, RB, Panthers 8/26 AUG. 15: Jonathan Stewart managed just three yards on four carries, but he had absolutely no blocking. We’ll have to wait until next week to determine Carolina’s running back situation.
AUG. 26: DeAngelo Williams had 101 yards and a touchdown on nine carries. Jonathan Stewart compiled 100 yards and a score on 10 carries. Fantasy owners, of course, are wondering about how both were used. John Fox tipped his hand against the Redskins. Carolina’s starting offense had nine offensive drives. Williams was in on every play of the first, third, fifth, seventh and ninth possessions, while Stewart received all of the work on the second, fourth, sixth and eighth sequences. So, it looks like Williams and Stewart will rotate possessions this year, which is disappointing from a fantasy perspective. They both really looked great though, as both of their touchdowns featured how talented they are. Williams could have scored twice, but he fumbled the ball 10 yards away from the end zone. Steve Smith scooped it up and ran it in from eight yards out.
Limas Sweed, WR, Steelers Limas Sweed ran the wrong route on a third down, dropped a pass and managed just nine receiving yards.
Devin Thomas, WR, Redskins 8/17 Devin Thomas actually played. He returned two punts, one for 32 yards, but failed to register a reception. Even worse, he dropped a pair of passes. Malcolm Kelly is still in the witness protection program.
Javon Walker, WR, Raiders It’s safe to say I wasn’t surprised when Javon Walker dropped a very easy catch that would have been a first down on Oakland’s initial possession. Despite signing a massive contract a few months ago, Walker has looked terrible in training camp and even pondered retirement. The Raiders would cut him if doing so didn’t trigger an enormous cap penalty.
Travis Wilson, WR, Browns 8/31 Not sure why the Browns cut Travis Wilson, but he’s gone.
Selvin Young, RB, Broncos 8/23 AUG. 20: If you drafted Selvin Young in any of your leagues, prepare to send your hate mail to renowned fantasy football hater Mike Shanahan. Young, who gained 36 yards on nine carries, will still be the featured back in Denver’s offense, but he won’t receive many goal-line carries. Whenever the Broncos moved into the red zone, Shanahan put Andre Hall in the backfield. Hall was effective, so consider him in touchdown leagues. Drop Young a bit in your rankings.
AUG. 23: Selvin Young blew by Packers defenders on his first carry, a 20-yard gain. Young finished with 42 yards on six rushes. However, Andre Hall replaced Young on a fourth-and-one on the first drive, which he converted. Hall carried the ball nine times for 46 yards and looked just as good as Young. It’s apparent that Young and Hall are going to split attempts this year – possibly right down the middle. Hall should get all the short-yardage work.
Vince Young, QB, Titans 8/30 AUG. 11: Vince Young could never get going. He finished 4-of-13 for 37 yards, which gave him a YPA less than three, or John Beck territory. Sure, some drops didn’t help Young, but he also had a barrage of poor throws. He seriously didn’t look any better than rookies like Brian Brohm.
AUG. 24: Major concern for Titans fans. Vince Young continued to struggle, going 9-of-18 for 102 yards and a pick. Those numbers, including Young’s 5.7 YPA don’t look terrible, but the majority of his yardage came after the catch. Young began the game throwing short stuff to Chris Johnson, Bo Scaife and the like, who did a good job gaining yardage after the pass. However, Young became wildy inaccurate in the second quarter, launching a number of passes behind his receivers. Young could have easily tossed three picks, though Roydell Williams was nearly responsible for one. I’d suggest that the Titans should start Kerry Collins, but he was 1-of-8 for 20 yards and nearly threw three interceptions himself.
AUG. 30: Vince Young played the entire first half for the Titans despite facing Green Bay’s second- and third-stringers. The result? A woeful 13-of-27 for 134 yards. No one in Tennessee’s receiving corps is draftable, save for Justin Gage really late.
2008 Fantasy Football Rankings – Home Page
2008 Fantasy Football: Mock Draft
2009 NFL Mock Draft
| Quarterbacks | |||
| Tight Ends | Kickers | Defenses | |
| Top 150 | Sleepers | Busts |
