Fantasy Football Bums

Chris Johnson To Score 21 TDs??

In response to fan requests for his numbers this season, Chris Johnson tweeted his expectations. He predicted 1,500 rushing yards with 15 TDs and 600 receiving yards with six TDs and ended his tweet with "What yallthinkboutthat."  Well, I think he's dreaming.  He will be the featured back for the Titans, but LenDale White is still there and will vulture many goal-line opportunities.  21 total TDs??  No way.  But, with all that said, Johnson is worth a late 1st round pick.  Early 2nd at the latest.

 

MJD Will Be The Man

Maurice Jones-Drew said that even though he's the No. 1 RB on the Jaguars now, he still expects all the backs to play a role.  Don't count it that, though.  MJD is going to get the ball a ton and will be one of fantasy's top backs.  Greg Jones, Rashad Jennings, Alvin Pearman and Chauncey Washington will be used merely to spell MJD.  Draft him top 5.

 

Felix Jones To Get The Ball Plenty In Big D

Cowboys RB Felix Jones is expected to handle kickoff returns again this season, according to dallascowboys.com.  The Cowboys consider Jones their most explosive player and are looking to get the ball in his hands at least a dozen times a game on carries, receptions and kick returns. Don't expect to see him on punt returns, however, as he's had trouble fielding the ball cleanly.  Still, from a fantasy standpoint, it's always nice to hear that a team wants to get a player the ball anyway they can.

Carson Palmer "100%"

According to nfl.fanhouse.com, Bengals QB Carson Palmer said Friday that his elbow is now 100 percent healthy.  "I'm great. I feel great. I'm 100 percent healthy, throwing, lifting, running all that stuff," said Palmer.   He admitted just three weeks ago that his arm strength still needed work, but he's now confident that the elbow won't adversely affect his 2009 season.  He just might be a QB you can draft a little later than normal for a QB with his talent due to his 08 season.

Remember Cadillac Williams??

St. Petersburg Times thinks RB Cadillac Williams will start training camp on the "physically unable to perform" list.  If he's on the PUP list for training camp, he can come off at any time and it gives the Bucs more flexibility. But if he starts the regular season on the PUP, he has to sit out the first six games of the season. The Times noted that Cadillac has been "running vigorously" for months now and is way ahead of scheduale.   Still, draft him in your fantasy league at your own risk.

How Ready Will Lance Moore Be??

Saints WR Lance Moore, who had shoulder surgery, expects to be 100 percent by two or three weeks into training camp, reports canalstreetchronicles.com.   Moore will be held out of full contract drills at the beginning of camp, but he's confident that the recovery won't linger into late August.  He is a fantay injury risk, but will be the Saints WR2.Though he'll be an injury risk in fantasy circles, he's on track to start opposite Marques Colston in Week 1.

 

Lower Numbers On the Way For Antonio Bryant??

Bucs WR Antonio Bryant thinks he'll possibly have lower numbers this season because the team plans on spreading the ball around more, according to the St. Petersburg Times.  Tampa's QB situation, to say the least, is unsettled.  After his big season last year, he will probably face more double teams.  He just might be right.  Stay tuned...

 

Yes, The Lions Have More Than Calvin Johnson

When you think of Lions WRs, you tend to only think about Calvin Johnson.  And for good reason.  He is an elite WR and will go early in most Fantasy Drafts.  But doesn't logic dictate that whoever lines up opposite Johnson will benefit??  Enter newly acquired Bryant Johnson.   Bryant Johnson should benefit as he still has the speed to get downfield and all of his experience in the slot has improved his play over the middle. Other factors that should help Bryant Johnson get more opportunities with the Lions are the addition of rookie tight end Brandon Pettigrew and free agent slot receiver Dennis Northcutt - who will both put more pressure on the defense - and a greater emphasis on the running game.  But the will still have a rookie QB. 

Childress Willing To Wait

Vikings coach Brad Childress is willing to wait for a decision from retried QB Brett Favre. "He is pushing to see if he feels like he can make it back. He is not going to play this game unless he can play the way that everybody is used to seeing him play, and it is a work in progress," Childress said earlier this week. "I know everyone gets concerned about, is it the fourth of July, is it the week of the 13th, is it the week of the 20th now, when is it going to be? "It doesn't have to be a minute before training camp, but I think if he is going to do that, he won't miss a day of training camp." Childress added, "I think he is a top-five passer in the NFL, and obviously if he has all of his faculties, if he can play the way he wants to, there is no reason he can't be that way," reports the Star Tribune.

Favre earlier this week said he'd give the Vikings an answer by July 30.  One day before the start of training camp.

The Latest On Thomas Jones

Jets RB Thomas Jones is hoping to get a new contracat.  How did the Jets respond??  By drafting RB Shonn Greene out of Iowa in the 3rd round.  Jones skipped the majority of spring minicamps hoping the Jets would upgrade his deal.  It didn't happen.  Now the New York Daily News is reporting that Jones isn't a lock to report to training camp.  The Daily News thinks that he will show, but it's not a lock.  If you draft Jones in your Fantasy Draft, make sure you cuff him to Shonn Greene, who makes an excellent choice in keeper leagues.

 

Who Will Start At TE For Browns??

Browns new head coach Eric Mangini used TE Dustin Keller quite well when he was running the Jets.  So who will be his "Keller" in Cleveland??  Looks like Browns second-year TE Martin Rucker might get a shot.  He ran with the first team at OTAs, and could beat out Robert Royal to start if Rucker suddenly learns to block, reports the Kansas City Star.   A likelier scenario would have Rucker as the pass-catching No. 2 tight end behind Royal, a more traditional player at the position.

Which TO Will The Bills Get??

Which TO will the Bills get this year??  The boarderline Hall of Fame WR which takes the fantasy world by storm??  Or the difinitive locker room cancer?? FOXSports' Jay Glazer predits that Terrell Owens will "absolutely not" cause any problems during his first year in Buffalo.  Glazer points out that Owens' first season in a new city almost always goes smoothly. "The second year, the third year, that's when the true T.O. starts to come out," Glazer says. That's why Buffalo only gave him a one-year deal.

 

Derrick Ward To Be The Man in Tampa

According to FOXSports' John Czarnecki, "everyone knows" that Derrick Ward will be the Bucs' featured offensive player this season.  Ward has the talent and he's got the contract, so it is more than likely that Ward will play more than Earnest Graham.  But who will get the goal-line carries??

 

Chiefs Sign Cassel To New Deal

The Kansas City Star reports that the Chiefs have signed QB Matt Cassel to a six-year contract. ESPN's John Clayton reports the deal is worth over $10 million a year, with $30M guaranteed.  Cassel came over from New England in an offseason trade.  Cassel is 27 years old and has 1 year of starting experience.

 

Hester's Numbers To Drop

If you're planning on drafting the Bears Defense and Special Teams in the hopes that Devin Hester will score you 7 extra TDs, think again.  Hester is now and every-down WR.  His return yardage will take a hit because of it.  He might still return SOME punts, but Danieal Manning has emerged as Chicago's kick return guy, and look for more Garrett Wolfe.  In the punt return department, watch for  Nathan Vasher and Earl Bennett.  So the days of Hester being a triple threat are slowly coming to an end. 

Patriots Running Game - A Four Headed Monster??

it comes to fantasy football, the New England Patriots running game has been the most difficult to figure out.  Sammy Morris gets a lot of buzz.  They signed Fred Taylor this offseason as well.  Laurence Maroney was supposed to be the guy, but he's regressed every season.    But what about Kevin Faulk.  You rarely hear about him, but the Boston Globe points out something interesting.  Kevin Faulk has played 43.5 percent of New England's tailback snaps over the last two seasons, more than any Patriots runner during that span.  The Globe does expect Fred Taylor to get the second most snaps in the Patriots' backfield this season, behind only Kevin Faulk.  Even if Faulk plays more, Taylor will probably start. Either way, Belicheck usually rides the "hot hand."

 

Bum #2's Defense/Special Teams List

Rank	Defense/Special Teams	TO	Sacks	PPG	TDs	Bye
1	Pittsburgh Steelers	42	48	17	3	8
2	New York Giants	29	46	17	4	10
3	Minnesota Vikings	31	43	21	5	9
4	Tennessee Titans	29	44	18	6	7
5	Baltimore Ravens	29	31	19	5	7
6	Philadelphia Eagles	33	44	18	5	4
7	New York Jets	34	42	21	5	9
8	Miami Dolphins	30	40	20	4	6
9	Dallas Cowboys	26	50	22	3	6
10	New England Patriots	29	32	20	4	8
11	Carolina Panthers	30	38	21	3	4
12	Chicago Bears	28	30	22	6	5
13	Green Bay Packers	29	30	22	5	5
14	Washington Redskins	24	35	19	3	8
15	Tampa Bay Bucs	21	31	22	4	8
16	San Diego Chargers	26	38	22	4	5
17	Indianapolis Colts	28	30	20	4	6
18	Arizona Cardinals	29	31	25	4	4
19	San Francisco 49ers	24	31	24	3	6
20	Buffalo Bills	25	31	22	5	9
21	Atlanta Falcons	23	33	21	4	4
22	Houston Texans	26	30	24	4	10
23	Oakland Raiders	25	33	24	4	9
24	Seattle Seahawks	23	36	23	4	7
25	Jacksonville Jags	25	31	23	3	7

The rest:   Cleveland, New Orleans, Denver, St Louis, Kansas City, Cincinnati, Detroit 

Will Tarvaris Jackson Get Traded??

NFL Network reports that they've been hearing rumors that Vikings QB Tarvaris Jackson might request a trade if the Vikings sign Brett Favre.  You might giggle at the thought of a teaming trading FOR Jackson, but he has a better starting record than Jay Cutler.  He has a better TD/INT ratio than Jay Cutler.  It sounds crazy, but the Vikes would be able to unload him for probably a 4th round pick.

 

Jets Cut Bubba

The Jets have released TE Bubba Franks.  Franks, apparantly, was too hurt up to practice after the Jets signed him this past May.

With Mason Retired, What Happens To Ravens Passing Game?

So now what happens to Ravens passing game??  The Ravens new #1 WR is Mark Clayton.  I've never been a big fan of Clayton.  He has been inconsistent at best, in my view.  So what about new #2, Demetrius Williams??  Well, his fantasy value certainly goes up.  Entering his 4th season in the NFL, he's a physically gifted and fast wide receiver who can stretch the field.  But really hasn't made an impact yet.   Keep an eye on Ravens news to see how Williams does.  Also, Baltimore might go after a free agent like Matt Jones or try to trade for someone like Brandon Marshall.  But right now, Williams just might now be worth a late round fantasy flyer.