by Cameron Dark

As you are likely well aware, Week 7 claimed the feet, ankles, hamstrings, and other body parts of many a RB. With other RBs already out for some period of time (LeGarrette Blount, Peyton Hillis, Felix Jones, and Jahvid Best) as well as the bye weeks upon us, you were probably already running thin at RB, and last Sunday certainly didn’t help. Let’s take a look at some of Sunday’s key RB injuries and try to provide some solutions to your problem.

Tim Hightower, Washington

Here’s a guy who’s been a real enigma all season. After being traded from Arizona, he came out of training camp and the preseason as Washington’s #1 guy.  He started the season solid, producing double digit fantasy points in each of his first 3 games. But then he got injured, tried to cover it up, was benched, and finally took over the reins again last Sunday before tearing his ACL and being placed on IR. Pick up Roy Helu immediately if you can.  He has looked pretty strong in the limited time we’ve been able to see him play, and being just one spot behind the injury prone Ryan Torain on the depth chart makes me think we’ll see plenty of Helu before the season is done.

Earnest Graham, Tampa Bay

Graham was starting to gain some steam with the absence of starting RB LeGarrette Blount.  But that has unfortunately come to end for him with a torn Achilles. He wasn’t much more than a temporary bye week replacement or Blount handcuff to begin with, and Tampa has a bye Week 8 with Blount expected to return Week 9 anyway, so Graham’s fantasy relevance was already near its end.

Darren McFadden, Oakland

Here we go. Run DMC has been one of those guys labeled as “injury prone” for a long time now, and here’s the start of it for the 2011 season. McFadden has been diagnosed with a “mildly sprained foot.” And while that doesn’t sound too bad, you should still be closely monitoring his condition if you’re a McFadden owner. Luckily for you, the Raiders are on bye Week 8, so he’ll have an extra week to rest before likely suiting up for Week 9. You may have a dodged a bullet this time, nameless McFadden owner, but you ought to be actively seeking a way to get talented backup Michael Bush on your team as soon as possible.

Beanie Wells, Arizona

Beanie has been a pleasant surprise for his owners, ranking 15^th overall among RBs despite only playing 4 full games. He took a sidelining hit last Sunday, however, and now has some kind of knee problem which we’re still not clear on. The bottom line is he’ll likely be out this week and possibly next, so you probably need someone to turn to this week as a fill-in. I suggest LaRod Stephens-Howling. Going up against the stiff Baltimore Ravens’ run D, it’s unlikely that any Cardinals RB has success this week, but Stephens-Howling  can at least provide you with some receiving and special teams production on top of the minimal rushing production he or any of the other Cardinals RBs might have. You’re not too excited about it if you have to start Stephens-Howling, but he’s someone you know is going to get touches. If you’re a Beanie Wells owner, pray that this injury has no lasting effects on his play and that he can continue to give you the kind of production he’s been giving you so far.  But be prepared for what could be a rough Week 8.

Willis McGahee, Denver

Chalk McGahee up as another pleasant surprise for his owners, who probably drafted him in the later rounds as a potential TD vulture to be used as a bye week replacement or handcuff for Knowshon Moreno. Now he’s the starter for Denver and getting enough production to make him a starter for many fantasy teams. Unfortunately for you McGahee owners, however, he fractured his right hand last Sunday and has to get surgery, keeping him on the sidelines for at least a week or 2. If you’ve still been holding onto Moreno, it’s time to use him. But if not, and if you don’t have anyone else you can use, consider Lance Ball. He was actually the guy getting the carries in overtime Sunday over Moreno, so expect him to get a decent chunk of the carries. How effective he’ll be remains to be seen, but he’s someone you can get some points out of if you’re in a pinch.

Marshawn Lynch, Seattle

Lynch was a late scratch from last Sunday’s lineup against Cleveland, leaving many fantasy owners out to dry with a dead spot on their roster. He was suffering back spasms pregame that prevented him from being able to take the field for the actual game. His status is looking better for this Sunday, however, which is good to see considering he was really starting to come on in the past couple weeks before his bye. He should be available Week 8, but those spasms could flare up at anytime, including game day, leaving his status constantly in question. It’s tough to trust either of his backups.  I’d go with Leon Washington if I had to pick one, but neither of them looked good at all last week. Try to pick up some of these other backups if you don’t have any other RB to use.  I just don’t see either Forsett or Washington getting any kind of production against what has been a solid Cincinnati run D.

So there you have it. There are some other banged up guys — Mark Ingram (heel) and Mike Tolbert (hand/hamstring) most notably — but I expect both to play. Keep an eye on Ingram, but if he doesn’t play it’ll be tough to pick up either of the other New Orleans RBs if you don’t already have them. Hopefully some of this has helped you prepare for Week 8 despite a potentially injury-ridden team, and let’s all pray that this week won’t contain as many injuries as last week.

Tuesday Night LAP Dance
Leonard A. Pappano
October 11, 2011

The LAP Dance is for entertainment purposes only. It employs literary devices such sarcasm, satire, stereotypes, exaggeration, complete fabrications and slander (or is it libel?). The opinions and delusions expressed are purely those of the author. Any offense given is unintended. Please read at your own risk.

** I wonder what went through Al Davis’ mind when he saw God wearing a Franco Harris jersey and drinking a beer with Art Rooney….

** With the ball only a few yards away from the end zone, we watched Texans QB Matt Schaub inexplicably flip a short pass directly to Raiders S Michael Huff on the last play of the game, preserving a Raiders win. Without a hint of sarcasm, DS writer Kevin English blurted, “That pass was for you, Al.” Indeed.

** Speaking of the Raiders win on Sunday, it was moving to see HC Hue Jackson drop to his knee after the win – while Mark Davis was tearfully celebrating from the owner’s suite. That is exactly what Davis meant to his family, and what he meant to the members of an iconic franchise. To my mind, Davis’ greatest moments came back in the 1960s when in 1963 he refused to let the Raiders play a preseason game in Mobile, Alabama because of the state’s segregation laws. And again in 1965, when Davis supported protesting players and helped move the AFL All-Star game from New Orleans to Houston because of racial barriers in New Orleans. Jim Crow was an insult to anyone with a sense of common decency. And Davis stood up and did the right thing at a time when it wasn’t necessarily a popular decision.

** Our very own DJ Sanzotta calculated fantasy points per touch. The leaders at RB were Darren Sproles, Michael Bush and Beanie Wells. At WR it was Dez Bryant, Denarius Moore, and Miles Austin. And at TE it’s Rob Gronkowski, Scott Chandler, and Jared Cook.

** Lions WR Calvin Johnson has 9 receiving TDs – most of any WR through the first 5 games since 1940. At his current pace, Johnson would break Randy Moss’s single-season record of 23 TDs set with the Patriots back in 2007.

** Giants DE Jason Pierre-Paul is one of those rare guys who gets drafted for freakish athletic ability… but then actually pans out. He’s second in the NFL with 7 sacks, and looks to be headed to the Pro Bowl in just his second year as a pro. Yes, my man crush is official.

** Despite outscoring opponents 111-106 this year, the Vikings are 1-4. Remarkably, they also have a plus 3 turnover ratio. It’s truly a team that has found ways to lose.

** A quick shout out to Duane Campbell who took down $100 in the FREE Draftstreet.com fantasy salary cap game a few weeks ago. If you missed it last month, the folks at Draftstreet are setting up another free roll for Draft Sharks readers. They specialize in daily and weekly fantasy leagues — with cash prizes – by putting together your very own Dream Team. Hurry on over right now and compete to win $300 this week. Yep, it’s a FREE shot at cash prizes, so check it out right now.

** One thing that might have sunk QB Kyle Orton as the Broncos starter – his INT ratio. Nearly 4.6% of his passes have been intercepted this year. He seems to be in good company with Pro Bowlers Michael Vick (4.1%) and Philip Rivers (3.8%) right behind him.

** Patriots QB Tom Brady threw his first ever regular season red zone INT at home vs. the Jets. That’s pretty impressive for a guy playing as long as he has.

** Spotted after the Bears/Lions game last night was Kid Rock in the Lions locker room sporting a t-shirt that read, “If you don’t like Hank Jr. you can kiss my a**” My two cents: I think Hank was way off base to compare President Obama to Hitler. On the other hand, I don’t like a lot of what Sean Penn and Tim Robbins have to say about politics – but I’m not about to go to burn my “Mystic River” or “Shawshank Redemption” DVDs. I’d like to hear Hank belt out the Monday Night Football song because it’s a great song.

** The Panthers have 6 rushing TDs this season, 5 by rookie QB Cam Newton. There’s no way the kid bangs out 16 rushing TDs this season…. Or is there? In any event, Cam’s a near lock to beat the eye-popping 9 rushing TDs that Michael Vick put up last year.

** The Tampa Bay Bucs have led the league in sophomore jinxes in recent years. First it was former WR Michael Clayton tanking in 2005. Then 2005 Rookie of the Year, Cadillac Williams, bit it back in 2006. Now last year’s rookie sensation, WR Mike Williams, is on pace for about 600 yards and 3 TDs. That would be way off the mark of 964 yards and 11 TDs he notched last year.

** A few years back, I was in my front yard with a bunch of guys passing a football around. One of my buddies takes a close look at the ball and yells, “Hey – isn’t this an autographed ball. I see it’s signed, but I can’t make out the name anymore because it’s all smudged…” It was autographed by former Bears DE and Hall of Famer Dan Hampton – a guy I once hired for a WCOFF party, and had the opportunity to chat with at length. I always make sure to use that ball when it’s wet or muddy outside.

** The NFL announced that the league will keep playing a regular season game in London from now till 2016. Never let it be said that continued failure ever stopped a bad idea when it comes to marketing NFL football outside the U.S.

** Titans RB Chris Johnson wanted to assure fans in a recent tweet: “Never gonna stop my grind. All the greats go in slumps Imma gonna be out of it. It just makes the success that much sweeter.” The Titans are dead last in rushing as a team with 66.6 yards per game. CJ signed a $53.5 million deal this offseason.

Lenny Pappano

DraftSharks.com

Cam Newton has been one of the biggest surprises through 5 weeks

by Cameron Dark

With the NFL season a little more than a quarter through, it’s time to take a look at the decent sample size we’ve been given and address some things. What’s changed since late August? Who has surprised us in positive ways, and who has disappointed us to no end? Let’s take a look.

Surprising Studs

Cam Newton, QB, Carolina

#1 overall draft choice Cam Newton burst onto the NFL scene Week 1 with an offensive explosion, passing for 422 yards and 2 TDs. Nearly everyone was surprised, but we all had a little skepticism.  And justifiably so.  But after five weeks, it’s time to say that Newton is here to stay. He has thrown for 7 TDs and rushed for 5, meaning he’ll get you the fantasy points you need on the ground if he can’t through the air. Plus he has a veteran receiving corps that has shown the experience and talent to make up for Newton’s mistakes.

Fred Jackson, RB, Buffalo

Just when we thought we’ve seen all Fred Jackson had to offer, he breaks out and surprises us in brand new ways. Jackson has been a man this year, with 5 TDs and 4 games with over 100 total yards. The other game? 98 total yards. This revitalized Buffalo offense is being run through Jackson; he’s getting plenty of carries and lots of dump passes from Ryan Fitzpatrick. He’ll rack up ample yards week in and week out. While he may not finish the season atop the RB rankings like he is now, expect plenty of production from Jackson for the rest of the season.

Jimmy Graham, TE, New Orleans

Graham is the all around perfect tight end. He’s 6’8 with great hands and ridiculous athleticism. He has made the most out of the targets he’s gotten and shown Drew Brees he deserves even more.  Graham is currently on a 3 game streak of over 100 yards, has by far the most targets on the team, and has reeled in 3 TDs to boot. A new #1 receiver has emerged in New Orleans, and his name is Jimmy Graham.

Disappointing Duds

Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta

The BC grad came into the season with tons of hype. And why not? He has a fantastic receiving corps and one of the most reliable RBs in the game to lean on as well. Those who bought the hype, however, are hurting now. He’s the 18^th overall fantasy QB, leaving many questioning why Ryan isn’t getting the job done. With a 7:6 TD:INT ratio, Ryan is having accuracy problems and trouble moving the ball effectively. He has thrown as many times as Tom Brady, but with over 500 less yards, showing Ryan simply isn’t taking shots down the field. He’s being limited as a distributor in the offense, not the leader and gunslinger good fantasy QBs are, so his ceiling for scoring potential is lower than most. Until the philosophy in Atlanta changes a little and he starts throwing the deep ball and spreading the field, Ryan won’t put up the numbers we expected.

Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Pittsburgh

Let’s be honest — despite the Steelers’ offensive line woes, Mendenhall is still struggling. His highest yardage game has only been 66 yards against the not-so-terrifying Seahawks. He looked awful against Indianapolis, usually a great matchup, only managing to run for 37 yards. Drafted in the late 1st to early 2nd-round, Mendy has been a disappointment. It’s been widely noted how many carries he got during the playoffs, and some of that mileage may be wearing him down now.  But I’m still keeping the faith he’ll bounce back. The O-Line will trouble him all season, keeping him from reaching his full potential. But at the end of the day, he’s still a talented RB on a run-heavy team.  You can’t dislike that. Sure, I’m worried he never gets it going this season, but just looking at what he did last year, I have to believe he will become relevant again. He won’t be the #1 guy most everyone drafted him as, but he’ll find his stride and give you some good games.

Dallas Clark, TE, Indianapolis

Not much to say here. I feel bad for anyone who drafted him still thinking Manning would play. He just isn’t used with Painter and Collins the way he was with Manning, and he won’t put up the numbers we’ve come to expect of him. Cut him and move on.

The Browns defense could be a sneaky fantasy option over the next 3 weeks

by Jared Smola

If you’re playing the matchup game with your defense this season, we’ve got a few teams to consider adding for the next quarter of the season.  But first, let’s look at how the teams we recommended prior to Week 1 fared…

Arizona Cardinals (Weeks 1-5): ranked 20th among defenses

Cincinnati Bengals (Weeks 1-5): ranked 13th

Tennessee Titans (Weeks 1-4): ranked 11th

Oakland Raiders (Week 1-3): ranked 10th

Some mixed results, but you wouldn’t have been any worse off with those units than you would have been with teams like the Steelers, Patriots, or Bears, who were all among the top-7 defenses off the board this summer.

Here are teams with a favorable string of upcoming matchups…

Cleveland Browns

Week 6 – @ Oakland Raiders

Week 7 – vs. Seattle Seahawks

Week 8 – @ San Francisco 49ers

* DROP *

Week 9 – @ Houston Texans

Miami Dolphins

Week 6 – @ New York Jets

Week 7 – vs. Denver Broncos

Week 8 – @ New York Giants

Week 9 – @ Kansas City Chiefs

Week 10 – vs. Washington Redskins

* DROP *

Week 11 – vs. Buffalo Bills

Cincinnati Bengals

Week 6 – vs. Indianapolis Colts

Week 7 – BYE

Week 8 – @ Seattle Seahawks

Week 9 – @ Tennessee Titans

Week 10 – vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

* DROP *

Week 11 – @ Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Week 6 – @ New York Giants

Week 7 – BYE

Week 8 – vs. Washington Redskins

Week 9 – vs. New York Jets

* DROP *

Week 10 – @ Dallas Cowboys

Oakland Raiders

Week 6 – vs. Cleveland Browns

Week 7 – vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Week – BYE

Week 9 – vs. Denver Broncos

* DROP *

Week 10 – @ San Diego Chargers

Darren Sproles has scored the most fantasy points per touch through 4 weeks

by D.J. Sanzotta

Which RBs are doing the most with their opportunities?  Here’s a look at the top-20 RBs in fantasy points per touch (rush or reception) through 4 games.