AFC South Fantasy Outlook

September 20, 2007 @ 16:00:00

By Joe Book
Edited by Herija C. Green

AFC South

Do Not Bench List - All Positions

• Quarterback Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts: No defense is good enough to scare owners into sitting Manning. It's too bad that the records Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre is breaking this season may not last long.
• Running Back Joseph Addai, Indianapolis Colts: Addai has proven to be a phenomenal option as a No. 1 running back, averaging 115 all-purpose yards and 1.0 touchdown per game. He's a starter every week in every format.
• Wide Receiver Marvin Harrison, Indianapolis Colts: The ageless wonder may end up getting out-produced by wide receiver Reggie Wayne this season, but he's still a solid No. 1 option as long as Manning is on the field.
• Wide Receiver Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis Colts: Wayne figures to be one of the top wide receivers in the NFL and in fantasy leagues for years to come. He's a fixture in any fantasy lineup, regardless of the matchup.
• Wide Receiver Andre Johnson, Houston Texans: (Injured, not expected to play) Johnson (knee) is doubtful to play this week with a sprained left knee. When healthy, he's a top-10 receiver, even with a sub-par offense.

Quarterbacks

Player	Team	Gm	Pass Yds/G	Pass TD/G	INT/G	Rush Yards/G	Rush TD/G
Matt Schaub	Houston Texans	2	226.0	1.50	0.50	1.0	0.00
David Garrard	Jacksonville Jaguars	2	238.0	1.00	0.00	23.5	0.00
Vince Young	Tennessee Titans	2	131.0	0.50	0.50	37.5	0.50

Schaub - Potentially without Andre Johnson and facing a stingy Colts pass defense, there are many better options at quarterback in Week 3. He can still be used as a decent No. 2 option if you play in leagues that start multiple quarterbacks.

Garrard - The surprise opening day starter has had two nice games, but the Denver Broncos defense has allowed only 85.0 passing yards per game in the opening two weeks. Find someone else to lead your team this week or play him as a weak No. 2 fantasy signal-caller.

Young - He hasn't given fantasy owners much passing, but Young is always a threat to post great rushing statistics. He has a good matchup this week against a Saints team who has given up 265.5 yards and 2.50 touchdowns per game to the position. Play Young as a weak No. 1 this week.

Running Backs

Player	Team	Gm	Util (%)/G	RZ (%) Plays/G	Rush Yds/G	Rush TD/G	Rec/G	Rec Yards/G	Rec TD/G
Ahman Green	Houston Texans	2	17.50 (30.76)	3.00 (35.19)	72.0	0.50	2.00	11.5	0.00
Ron Dayne	Houston Texans	2	16.50 (29.00)	2.00 (23.46)	38.5	0.00	0.50	5.0	0.00
Fred Taylor	Jacksonville Jaguars	2	12.00 (21.75)	0.00 (0.00)	36.0	0.00	0.50	5.5	0.00
Maurice Jones-Drew	Jacksonville Jaguars	2	11.50 (20.85)	3.00 (37.60)	31.5	0.00	2.00	19.0	0.00
Chris Brown	Tennessee Titans	2	16.50 (23.58)	3.00 (20.08)	104.5	0.00	1.00	2.5	0.00
LenDale White	Tennessee Titans	2	17.50 (25.01)	6.50 (43.51)	65.0	0.50	1.00	3.5	0.00

Green - While the Texans have used a committee approach at running back, Green is still the main attraction. He has a nice matchup this week against a Colts defense allowing 97.5 yards per game to running backs this year. He should be used as a low-end No. 2 or solid No. 3 running back with a strong play.

Dayne - Dayne has received more carries than expected in the first two games. He lit up the Colts in Week 16 last season and continues to split carries rather evenly with Green this year, but he shouldn't be played as better than a weak No. 3 or injury replacement this Sunday.

Taylor - While splitting time with Jones-Drew, Taylor has played two poor games to start the 2007 season. He's a risky play against a Denver run defense that has been surprisingly easy to move the ball against. Use Taylor as a weak No. 3 this week.

Jones-Drew - Everyone's favorite fantasy back down the stretch in 2006 has opened 2007 with a couple of forgettable performances. Like Taylor, Jones-Drew is a shaky No. 3 against Denver in Week 3.

Brown - Brown didn't follow his fantastic first game with anything special, but he should be considered a solid No. 2 running back with a strong play against a Saints defense which has allowed three rushing touchdowns already.

White - He has been used in the red zone twice as much as Brown, and he has the lone touchdown among them. Consider him a solid No. 3 option this week with a strong play capability.

Wide Receivers

Player	Team	Gm	Util (%)/G	RZ (%) Plays/G	Rec/G	Rec Yards/G	Rec TD/G
Anthony Gonzalez	Indianapolis Colts	2	2.00 (3.37)	0.50 (4.95)	1.50	24.5	0.00
Dennis Northcutt	Jacksonville Jaguars	2	7.50 (13.60)	0.50 (6.27)	4.50	66.0	0.00
Ernest Wilford	Jacksonville Jaguars	2	2.50 (4.53)	0.50 (6.27)	1.50	26.5	0.00
Eric Moulds	Tennessee Titans	2	2.50 (3.57)	0.50 (3.35)	1.50	11.0	0.00
Brandon Jones	Tennessee Titans	2	6.00 (8.58)	1.00 (6.69)	3.00	31.5	0.00

Gonzalez - The rookie hasn't shown much in his first two games. Until he does Gonzalez should be on your bench.

Northcutt - Even though he has emerged as the No. 1 receiver in Jacksonville, he's a weak No. 3 or injury replacement fantasy option this week against a solid Denver defense allowing only 61.0 yards per game to receivers.

Wilford - Wilford has been the forgotten man in the Jaguars offense this season. He has fallen to be the third option in the offense, and should be riding fantasy pine this week.

Moulds - He hasn't had the impact that fantasy owners had hoped, and he is being outperformed by both Jones and wide receiver Roydell Williams. Keep Moulds glued to the bench until further notice.

Jones -Young has looked to Jones more often than anyone else this season but that isn't really saying much given the state of the Titans passing game. Find Jones a spot next to Moulds on your bench this week.

Tight Ends

Player	Team	Gm	Util (%)/G	RZ (%) Plays/G	Rec/G	Rec Yards/G	Rec TD/G
Owen Daniels	Houston Texans	2	4.00 (7.03)	0.50 (5.87)	3.00	36.0	0.00
Dallas Clark	Indianapolis Colts	2	8.00 (13.49)	1.50 (14.86)	4.50	58.5	0.50
George Wrighster	Jacksonville Jaguars	2	1.00 (1.81)	0.00 (0.00)	1.00	10.5	0.00
Bo Scaife	Tennessee Titans	2	3.50 (5.00)	1.00 (6.69)	1.50	13.0	0.00

Daniels - Daniels has emerged as a decent fantasy tight end. The Texans don't have a strong receiving corps outside of Johnson, and Daniels should get more red zone looks as the season goes on. The Colts have a strong linebacker group, so Daniels is a flex or bench option this week.

Clark - Manning has developed a good rapport with Clark, who caught seven passes and a touchdown last week. He's a solid No. 1 tight end with a weak play this week against Houston.

Wrighster - Wrighster has been a complete non-factor in Jacksonville's offense and should not be on your roster.

Scaife - Scaife falls into the same category as the Titans' other receivers; if Young can throw, he could be productive. Sit Scaife this week, and wait for a better matchup.

Place Kickers

Player	Team	Gm	XPA/G	XP/G	FGA/G	FG/G	Kick Pnts/G
Kris Brown	Houston Texans	2	3.00	3.00	2.00	2.00	9.0
Adam Vinatieri	Indianapolis Colts	2	3.50	3.00	3.00	2.50	10.5
John Carney	Jacksonville Jaguars	1	1.00	1.00	2.00	2.00	7.0
Rob Bironas	Tennessee Titans	2	1.50	1.50	2.00	2.00	7.5

Brown - Playing in a warm climate should help Brown, both this week against the Colts and for the rest of the season. He's a weak No. 1 option this week as the Texans aren't expected to light up the scoreboard.

Vinatieri - Vinatieri is one of the top kickers in the league, despite a sub-par performance last week. He's as solid as they come as a No. 1 kicker, though has a weak play this week.

Carney - The veteran Carney scored seven points in his Jacksonville debut, but he should be benched against a solid Denver defense in Week 2.

Bironas - He has a booming leg and has improved his accuracy, but with a Tennessee offense that isn't scoring much, Bironas generally isn't a good fantasy option. This week he's a weak No. 1 kicker or bench play against the Saints.

Defensive Teams

Team	Gm	Off Pnts Allw/G	INT/G	Sacks/G	FR/G	DEF/ST TD/G
Houston Texans	2	12.0	1.50	3.0	2.00	1.00
Indianapolis Colts	2	12.0	1.00	2.0	1.50	0.50
Jacksonville Jaguars	2	10.0	0.50	4.5	0.00	0.00
Tennessee Titans	2	16.0	0.50	2.5	0.50	0.00

Texans - Houston has a much improved defense, but is no better than a weak No. 1 or bench play this week against the high-powered Colts offense.

Colts - They still tend to struggle against the run, and the Colts are a weak No. 1 defense this week even against a Houston offense that is expected to be missing their top receiver.

Jaguars - After giving up nearly 300 yards rushing against Tennessee, the Jaguars defense settled down last week. They should be benched this week against a very good Denver offense.

Titans - The words "Titans" and "defense" might not be used much in the same sentence this season, and they shouldn't be used this week against a Saints offense waiting to breakout as anything other than a desperation play.

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Joe Book
Joe has been with KFFL since 2007.

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