Z - From The Sidelines...

Locker Room Buzz - Week 3

September 21, 2007
16:00:00

It has been an exciting year for fantasy owners as star players such as New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and wide receiver Randy Moss have lit up the scoreboard for fantasy owners! The question must be asked, what is their ceiling this year? This combo seems to have much more potential than Moss had with his former quarterback Oakland Raiders backup Daunte Culpepper. That stated, there are some big disappointments this season also.

The league's top three fantasy players entering the season, all running backs, San Diego Chargers' LaDainian Tomlinson, St. Louis Rams' Steven Jackson and Kansas City Chiefs' Larry Johnson, have a combined two touchdowns between them, and one of those is a passing touchdown! Let's not get too disappointed, all three started out slowly last year with one touchdown between them after two weeks of play. What about these three? Will they rebound, and if so, what needs to happen? We cover each running back this week as owners are getting antsy.

As always, the Locker Room Buzz brings you what we hear around the league to help fantasy owners out. We cover it all including Denver Broncos tight end Tony Scheffler and if his lack of numbers will continue.

We delve into Broncos' quarterback Jay Cutler as well. We compared him to Jake Plummer but were corrected with a comparison to Green Bay Packers Brett Favre. Bronco Nation always looking at the positive!

Some other topics we'll be covering: It has only been two weeks into the season, but what about owners of Oakland Raiders running back Dominic Rhodes? Will LaMont Jordan's play keep him on the bench? Will wide receiver Joey Porter make an impact for the Raiders and fantasy owners?

Entering his ninth NFL season, can Arizona Cardinals running back Edgerrin James continue to handle the workload or will the team involve other running backs? What about the Seattle Seahawks and wide receiver Nate Burleson?

What about the San Francisco 49ers and the disappointing play of tight end Vernon Davis? He was many owners' pick to become an elite fantasy tight end this year. It's Locker Room Buzz time, so let's not dawdle any longer - enjoy!

AFC East

Buffalo Bills

The Bills' offense has been miserable the first two weeks, and it wasn't because of the opposing defenses. The play-calling has been conservative, and they executed poorly. Quarterback J.P. Losman simply hasn't been good. He's not finding open receivers, and the game-planning hasn't been impressive. It's too early to say that Losman isn't progressing, though. The team needs to stick with him to see what they have. Weeks 4 and 5 will be a true indicator of what the team can do, but they probably don't have a chance against New England this week.

There isn't much wide receiver Lee Evans can do to improve the offense. He's being double covered, and the team can't figure out where to throw it. He has a poor history against New England, so don't expect him to break out this week.

Miami Dolphins

Quarterback Trent Green (ankle) suffered an ankle injury Friday, but he is probable for Week 3. Green has struggled to start the season, but the team will have to rely on him this season. Head coach Cam Cameron gave him a vote of confidence this week. Let's face it: there's no upside in playing Cleo Lemon, and John Beck isn't ready. They likely will stick with Green all season.

To say running back Ronnie Brown has been a disappointment is an understatement. However, this is the week the team plans to see if he can be the workhorse for them. Expect him to receive a ton of carries this week - more than he has received before. Brown has a good history against the New York Jets as he ran for 237 yards on 40 carries against them last year with a touchdown. If there were ever a game to play Ronnie B, it's this week.

Middle linebacker Zach Thomas (concussion) is out for Week 3, and Channing Crowder is expected to start for him. This is a big blow to the defense - but not because Crowder doesn't have talent. He is talented, but he's not as instinctive as Thomas and doesn't make as many plays.
Tight end David Martin has failed to produce much in the first two weeks, but it's probably not time to forget his name yet. He's still in the team's game plan as most teams respect the run. That will open up the pass to the tight end in time.
Wide receiver Derek Hagan was a favorite of the Dolphins' former regime. The new regime likes him, but they invested so much in Ted Ginn Jr. that Hagan will eventually give way to him. Hagan is still the No. 3 receiver, for now.

New England Patriots

Running back Sammy Morris has been sharing carries with Laurence Maroney by design. Maroney has never carried the load in the pros or in college. Morris has been a bit better than expected.

Wide receiver Wes Welker would start in place of Donte' Stallworth (knee) if he's unable to play. Welker has lined up all over the place. Jabar Gaffney is also a possibility. Remember how good he was down the stretch last season?

Stallworth, for whatever reason, hasn't been a factor yet. Stallworth isn't upset, it's just taking him longer to adapt to a different offense. Quarterback Tom Brady is a very demanding player, and Stallworth isn't a real good route runner. Welker isn't a great route runner either, but he finds ways to get open.

New York Jets

Quarterback Chad Pennington (ankle) should be back under center in Week 3. Kellen Clemens led the team on a late drive that just came up short. If Pennington struggles, don't look for the team to pull him this week. However, if he has back-to-back poor games, he could get benched.

Running back Thomas Jones didn't get much of a chance to run behind his offensive line in the preseason, and he has struggled. He faced two tough defenses to open the season, and he'll be running against a Zach Thomas-less Dolphins defense in Week 3. It's hard to predict, but Jones could break out this week. The team doesn't want to lean on Pennington too much, so Jones could be a big factor.

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens

Quarterback Kyle Boller has played well when given the opportunity the past year-plus. About two weeks ago they extended him for another season, and that buys the team another year to find out if he can still be their future. If he continues to progress, the team could lock him up before he becomes a free agent again. They still have a lot of faith in him. They know starter Steve McNair is wearing down; they'd prefer to have Boller replace him more than they would a young player that they would have to develop all over again. They could still draft a quarterback high next season, though.

Is McNair done? He looked good in the preseason, and he still has the ability. His groin injury occurred early in the Week 1 game, and he wasn't the same, so that could largely explain the grave number of errors he made.

Wide receiver Mark Clayton has not gotten it going yet, but he could soon. Over the next few weeks you should start to see his numbers rise. The team will still spread the ball around, but Clayton's numbers should be the best on the team by season's end. He should be the most reliable of the three receivers.

Cincinnati Bengals

Fifty-one points to the Cleveland Browns in Week 2 leaves many to wonder what happened? Simply, there were a lot of mental errors, poor tackling and rookie mistakes. Cornerback Leon Hall made a few rookie mistakes, while the Browns neutralized defensive ends Justin Smith and Robert Geathers.

We saw running back Rudi Johnson catch some passes last week, and he has really worked on his receiving skills. Running back Kenny Watson is a specialist at pass receiving in the backfield, but honestly, Johnson is better. Rudi has been relentless and has improved a lot in his receiving skills.

Wide receiver Glenn Holt had a big game in Week 2, and it sounds like it should continue. Quarterback Carson Palmer really trusts him. He's tough, has good hands and is a hard worker. He may be someone to watch in your fantasy leagues.

Cleveland Browns

Five touchdowns later, and quarterback Derek Anderson has a slight amount of job security. However, if he has a bad game and another bad half, the questions about when quarterback Brady Quinn will play should begin to roar.

Wide receiver Joe Jurevicius caught two touchdowns last week, but don't expect the Browns to make a concerted effort to get him the ball. Anderson is really comfortable throwing to him, and at one point he looked his way the whole time. Keep in mind, though, that Jurevicius hasn't done much while with the Browns. Therefore, his production could be sporadic.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has been dictating all of the blocking calls for his linemen on each play. This is a little-known fact that should earn respect for Big Ben's maturation as an NFL quarterback.

The Steelers haven't allowed a 100-yard rusher since running back Edgerrin James did it while still with the Indianapolis Colts in November 2005.

AFC South

Houston Texans

Third-round draft pick wide receiver Jacoby Jones will likely start in place of wideout Andre Johnson (knee) in Week 3. Expect Johnson to miss a couple of weeks, which is a shame after he played so well to open the season. The worst-case scenario is five weeks, but the team is hoping to get him back in three. He's in great shape and has no injury history so it's possible. The team will probably go with a committee at receiver. Jones had a great preseason, so this is a big chance for him. Wide receiver Andre' Davis should see a lot of looks as well. Wideout Kevin Walter is expected to start alongside Jones, while Davis should line up in the slot because he can play both spots.

The team has used Jones all over the field to make sure he could move around if needed. The other receivers were non-factors in the first two games because Johnson was so great. If you're looking for a ceiling for Jones this week, five catches is about all you can expect. Tight end Owen Daniels should also have an increased role, and he could sneak in the end zone this week.

If you looked at the box scores, you had to scratch your head at running back Ron Dayne getting nearly as many carries (and actually more in Week 2) as Ahman Green. This hasn't been by design, but it could end up being that way with Green early and Dayne late in games. The team wants to be very careful about wearing Green down. Dayne proved late last season he could be depended on with a great December. He's banged up, so he has started slowly. He's doing what they have asked of him, and the team is happy. Dayne (ribs) doesn't look like he's going to play this week with a rib injury.

The Houston defense has been epic in the first two weeks because of an improved pass-rush, aided by defensive end Mario Williams. Cornerback Dunta Robinson is looking good as is the rest of the secondary. The defense appears well-rounded and fairly deep. The confidence is high because the team has been built around its defense, and it's paying off.

We can't forget about quarterback Matt Schaub. He has given the team confidence, leadership and pumps everyone up. He believes in his teammates, and he makes that clear to everyone. The offensive line is doing well, and Schaub gets rid of the ball so much quicker than former quarterback David Carr (Carolina Panthers). It's too early to say Schaub is for real, but it's starting to look that way.

Indianapolis Colts

Wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez was supposed to be one of the more polished receivers that came out of the draft this season. However he hasn't seen much action. Quarterback Peyton Manning is making him go through the hoops as a rookie and earn trust. Gonzalez has a good attitude, and he expected this. He knows he has to wait for his opportunity and make it happen when it comes. If he has a breakout game - look out. He could be a huge contributor from that point forward.

The team loves using tight end Dallas Clark (neck) in the slot, and he could burn the Houston linebackers if he plays this week. There should be plenty open over the middle due to safety help on receivers Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne. That means dump-offs to running back Joseph Addai and Clark could be imminent.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Jaguars receiver Reggie Williams was a heavy contributor early last season, but he was benched in Week 1 to send a message. He came out last week and scored a touchdown. Good play could continue, so keep him on your fantasy radar. Wideout Dennis Northcutt is still the No. 1 receiving option as a deep threat and sideline receiver. Wide receiver Ernest Wilford is next, but head coach Jack Del Rio called him out last week for poor body language. Williams and receiver John Broussard are fighting for looks after Northcutt and Wilford.

The running game has been a bust thus far. The first two opponents stacked the box because they didn't fear quarterback David Garrard. It should improve this week against a weak Denver Broncos run defense. Running back Fred Taylor should see near 20 carries, and running back Maurice Jones-Drew should get between 10-12. Look for more short passes and dump-offs to Jones-Drew this week.

For those wondering about running back Greg Jones, our sources say he doesn't fit what they are trying to do unless it's third-and-one. The team loves him as a blocker, and he hasn't lost a step after several knee reconstructions. Don't expect more than five carries in a game.

Tennessee Titans

Titans wide receiver Brandon Jones looked like he was heating up last week, but he had a crucial drop. His body language appears as if he is kind of down on himself. He's a good player, but confidence has been a problem since camp.

Receiver Roydell Williams is starting to come alive. He had a good camp before disappearing for awhile. He came on strong last week and should be more involved in the future.

AFC West

Denver Broncos

Broncos tight end Tony Scheffler (foot) is almost 100 percent now, but the team isn't running a lot of double-tight end sets. Why? They finally have a No. 3 receiver - Brandon Stokley - who is able to help the passing game, which is completely different than past years. They'll eventually work in some more double-tight end sets, but it is going to change week-to-week. Thus, fantasy owners cannot get too excited about Scheffler just yet.

Speaking of Stokley, the team likes him and what he is doing. Don't be surprised to see his involvement in the offense continue, but he is third fiddle behind Javon Walker and Brandon Marshall. He is definitely worth a look if you're struggling to find receiver depth.

Quarterback Jay Cutler's on-field mistakes have reminded us he is a first-year starter. Rather than chalking them up to silly young mistakes, it is being looked at more as "Brett Favre-like" mistakes. In other words, they are coming because he is aggressive and trying to make a play. Along the way, mistakes follow. Expect big plays, some come from behind victories and turnovers along the way. In fact, they almost expect him to make a few mistakes per week so don't look for them to pull back the reins to lessen those.

The Broncos continue to have confidence in rookie running back Selvin Young. He will continue to be used when starter Travis Henry needs a blow. Where is Mike Bell you ask? He remains at fullback, where he has been starting to see more playing time. If you're an owner of Henry, Young is your handcuff of choice.

Kansas City Chiefs

Fantasy owners of runner Larry Johnson continue to be frustrated. It isn't a decline of production from LJ, it is more that the team is getting behind, and they are forced to abandon the run. Eventually the team will be able to play their style of football: Pound the ball and use play-action passing. Hang in there LJ owners, eventually you'll get your due.

If things don't start picking up for the Chiefs' offense, we could see a change at quarterback soon. Damon Huard remains the starter, but the leash is getting shorter by the minute, and a benching this weekend wouldn't be a big shock. However, having Brodie Croyle start the following week versus the San Diego Chargers might be a bit too much to handle. Croyle is the better passer, who can come up with some big plays. However, he would also be taking his lumps along the way. There is no fantasy value here!

Rookie wideout Dwayne Bowe had a nice game last week and found the end zone. He almost found it a second time, too. On his touchdown, there has been a lot of talk about him running the wrong route. That wasn't the case, as Bowe broke off his pattern and went for the end zone when Huard was rolling out. He did what he has been told to do. Maybe he could have run somewhere other than where tight end Tony Gonzalez was, who the pass was intended for, but Gonzo may not have been able to come down with the score anyway.

Oakland Raiders

The Raiders are leaning on LaMont Jordan and the running game heavily right now, and that will continue. Once Dominic Rhodes returns from his suspension, look for Jordan to continue to start. Rhodes will, however, spell him. Jordan doesn't have a history of being a 16-game kind of guy, so spelling him is important so they can squeeze a full year out of Jordan.

With the Broncos having receiver Ronald Curry under wraps most of Week 2, quarterback Josh McCown had no problem looking for Jerry Porter. Porter, who found the end zone, could have had a 59-yard score, too, if McCown wasn't off target. By the way, all three of the picks McCown threw in Week 2 were passes intended for Porter. If he is available in your league, he deserves consideration!

The Raiders really need a win right now. Luckily they play the Cleveland Browns this weekend, giving them some hope. McCown, however, needs to put forth his best effort. A bad first half this weekend could force the team to use the hook, while inserting Daunte Culpepper behind center.

San Diego Chargers

Are the wheels falling off in San Diego? Running back LaDainian Tomlinson is averaging 1.9 yards per carry after two games, but LT has played against two tough defenses in Chicago and New England. Defenses, who are loading extra players in the box to stop Tomlinson, are not afraid of the Chargers' receivers. It appears there is some thought process that defenses are daring quarterback Philip Rivers to beat them. So far, it hasn't happened for Rivers. He only has confidence in tight end Antonio Gates and isn't playing as well as he could.

It is not all Rivers' fault, though. While he is quick to zero in on Gates, who leads the league in third-down receptions, he is not comfortable with his young receivers yet. Plus, they had to enter the year with Craig Davis as a starter, and he is someone not many other teams seemed to have a first-round grade on like the Chargers did. The wideouts are young so Rivers needs to develop a rapport with them.

The Chargers had a lot of changes in the coaching staff over the offseason; but is the turnover impacting their on-field play? The tempo may be different as different plays are being called in different situations.

What about the other side of the ball? Defensively, there does not seem to be much of a difference with Ted Cottrell calling the plays versus Wade Phillips calling them. Cottrell gets a bit testy whenever it is suggested he is not as aggressive as Phillips. Losing linebacker Donnie Edwards has hurt in terms of production and leadership, too.

This weekend may tell us what the Chargers are made of. They are motivated to prove they are one of the better teams in the league. It is only two weeks in so it is too early to hit the panic button, but the Chargers have yet to score in the first half of either game. We'll see what this weekend has in store versus Green Bay.

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys

After an explosive game in Week 1 and dud in Week 2, what kind of game is tight end Jason Witten in for in Week 3? He could be used more as a blocker again this week because Dallas may have a hard time running against the Chicago Bears. If Chicago falls back into Cover 2 more, the 'Boys would be able to get Witten involved a lot. San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates had nine catches against the Bears, but he was mostly split wide. Witten will likely line up along the line more.

Wideout Patrick Crayton (finger) will have his dislocated finger taped to his ring finger when he plays this week. It supposedly won't hinder his ability to catch the fooball, and he didn't have problems at practice this week. That's good news for fantasy owners who were expecting him to have an impact when receiver Terry Glenn (knee) went down.

Don't look for wide receiver Sam Hurd to get more time. Last week he played a lot simply because Crayton missed about two and a half quarters.

New York Giants

It looks like running back Brandon Jacobs (knee) will be out closer to the back end of the original three-to-five week prognosis. Jacobs thinks he's about two weeks away. He may get back to practice next week, but don't look for him in a game until at least the week after that.

Running back Derrick Ward has proven a capable replacement for Jacobs in the meantime. He's tough, although he has a long injury history. Running back Reuben Droughns isn't so much a disappointment; the Giants just like what they see in Ward, who catches the ball well. Jacobs is still the team's primary ball carrier when he returns, but it appears that Ward will be the man to spell Jacobs now.

If wideout Plaxico Burress (ankle) can't play or finish this week's game, New York could use both Sinorice Moss and Anthony Mix in that spot. Moss is the likelier replacement because he's more accomplished and has breakaway speed. Mix is 6-foot-4, 235 pounds, though, so he gives them a big target that, if Plax is unavailable, they wouldn't otherwise have. If rookie Steven Smith (shoulder) was available, he'd be the clear-cut choice.

Rookie corner Aaron Ross could supplant either Sam Madison or (more likely) Corey Webster as early as this week, though not necessarily in the starting lineup. Ross is physical and can play press coverage, which the Giants are trying to emphasize. Both Madison and Webster have plenty of experience playing that style, but they aren't showing it. Receivers are coming off the line virtually untouched.

Rookie back Ahmad Bradshaw has fumbled twice (losing one of them) on kickoff returns. Look for Droughns to assume those duties.

Philadelphia Eagles

Philly picked the wrong week to have depth issues in the secondary. The Detroit Lions set up the pass with the ... pass - and then they look to pass. Eagles corner Lito Sheppard (knee) isn't likely to play, so the Eagles hope to bring tons of pressure to hide their mixed bag of misfits, led by cornerback William James.

Quarterback Donovan McNabb has taken plenty of heat, and he seemed to add fuel to the fire this week. In the end, his play on the field will determine his fate. Don't look for the Eagles to go away from this year, but if he doesn't have a very good season or Philadelphia doesn't make the playoffs, they could very well be thinking about a change.

Eagles back Brian Westbrook (knee) is already having injury problems. That doesn't necessarily mean we should look for running backs Correll Buckhalter and Tony Hunt (who should be active this week) to get more action. The Eagles still don't show much desire to run the ball, despite McNabb's struggles. They'll likely to continue to lean on B-West.

Tight ends Matt Schobel and Brent Celek, a rookie, will team up to fill in for L.J. Smith (groin) this week, and likely longer. Celek is a better athlete and receiver, but he missed some blocking assignments in the preseason. Eagles coaches can't stand that, so look for Schobel to be on the field more until Celek gets that down.

Washington Redskins

Entering the season, fantasy owners expected a near split in the Washington backfield, especially given Clinton Portis' knee troubles in the preseason. Last week the University of Miami (Fla.) product carried 17 times, while Betts rushed just six times. Portis is getting back into football shape, and he had the blessing of head coach Joe Gibbs to remove himself whenever he needed a blow. His workload could continue to increase.

The running game has looked effective enough early on, but how much will the loss of right tackle Jon Jansen (ankle) and right guard Randy Thomas hurt it? It may take a couple of games to find out, but the Skins are happy with their depth along the line. Veteran offensive tackle Todd Wade steps in for Jansen, and the club signed Rick DeMulling to cope with the loss of Thomas.

The bottom line: The Redskins are comfortable with all of their plays, regardless of who is running them right now.

NFC North

Chicago Bears

Rookie tight end Greg Olsen (knee) is expected to make his pro debut this week against the Dallas Cowboys. Look for him to be worked into two-tight end sets with Desmond Clark as the starter. The two players are likely to cannibalize each other - statistically, that is - for the first few weeks until everything is fleshed out. (Doesn't that sentence read like the plotline for an upcoming Eli Roth film?)

Olsen shouldn't be viewed as anything more than a No. 3 fantasy tight end at this time.

Despite being targeted a fair number of times so far this year, No. 1 wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad is only putting up nominal numbers. This is due to a combination of the defenses he has faced, the team's paltry quarterback play and Muhammad having lost a step. If the offense picks up some, they will need to incorporate wideout Bernard Berrian more than they have. Look for "Moose" to get more involved, but don't hold your breath, unless you are David Blaine, of course.

Muhammad's ceiling, statistically speaking, is approximately his 60-catch, 863-yard and four-touchdown showing of a year ago.

Detroit Lions

The wide receiver situation in the Motor City is basically a crapshoot after Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson. Wideouts Mike Furrey and Shaun McDonald likely will be interchangeable as the team's No. 3, likely due to the matchup on a week-to-week basis.

McDonald's speed advantage over Furrey could be the determining factor some weeks.

Speaking of Johnson, he should soon assume the starting job opposite Williams - it is only a matter of time. He has picked up the offense well thus far and is on the verge of having a strong grasp of the system.

Running back Kevin Jones (foot) is expected to make his season debut in Week 3, but the exact amount of work he will receive is tough to determine. Don't look for the team to rush him out to carry the rock 20 times, but he should be on the field for 20 plays or so.

If Jones regains his bearings and starts to perform, look for Bell to become the change-of-pace back to spell Jones.

Green Bay Packers

Running back DeShawn Wynn was a hot commodity this week on fantasy waiver wires - rightfully so after scoring two touchdowns in Week 2. Since running back Brandon Jackson has played so poorly as a starter, there is a chance Wynn could steal the job at some point in the coming weeks. Wynn could approach Jackson in carry totals this week. Wynn seems more natural than Jackson in Green Bay's zone-blocking scheme, which is surprising since Jackson has more experience in the system.

Nonetheless, running back Vernand Morency (knee) remains the most talented back on roster but is dealing with a knee strain. The sad part is that Morency may be out for another two weeks and possibly longer.

Wynn is running more instinctually and patient, allowing for holes to open.
Jackson doesn't show any burst and doesn't seem to have a grasp on the zone-blocking system.
In two or three weeks you may be introduced to running back Ryan Grant, who has run well in limited work. He doesn't know the offense well enough right now, though.

The offensive line can be attributed for roughly 60-70 percent of the running struggles. Offensive guard Daryn Colledge has struggled at times, while the team's starting tackles, Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher, are not as good of run blockers as they are pass blockers.

Expect the tight ends to continue to produce - average numbers, albeit - since the running game has struggled so much. It is an extension of the running game that may continue all year.

Defensive end Aaron Kampman could be in for a strong day if San Diego Chargers right tackle Shane Olivea (back) cannot go, which appears to be the case.

Minnesota Vikings

Starting quarterback Tarvaris Jackson (groin) is all but officially out for this week, and journeyman signal-caller Kelly Holcomb likely will get the start in place of Jackson. Holcomb has no experience on the field in a West Coast offense, and despite studying the system since March, he is still green.

The verbiage from the Philadelphia Eagles offense to the Vikings offense is extremely similar, so the learning curve for Holcomb has been shorter than what it typically would take someone to pick up the offense.

Holcomb has no rapport with any receiver on the roster and shouldn't be counted on for fantasy purposes.

Upon the healthy return of running back Chester Taylor (oblique/hip), which could be as soon as this week, he and running back Adrian Peterson could share the backfield together.

Robert Ferguson is the team's most experienced wide receiver, and the team wants to get him more involved. With an undefined role for wide receiver Sidney Rice and general futility from wideout Troy Williamson, Ferguson has solidified himself in the top-three of the corps.

Last week Ferguson was targeted eight times, which is remarkable in this offense.

NFC South

Atlanta Falcons

The team brought in quarterback Byron Leftwich because Joey Harrington is playing so poorly. However, aren't these two the same player? Owner Arthur Blank reportedly pushed for the signing because he doesn't want to rebuild, and the players feel they have a good quarterback in tow now with Leftwich. Leftwich and tight end Alge Crumpler are working together, and Crumpler seemed to like catching Leftwich's balls. Running back Warrick Dunn seemed to hit it off with Leftwich as well. Harrington's time is ticking. The team will give Leftwich a game plan each week, and you could see him as early as the second half of Week 4.

Wide receiver Joe Horn isn't getting open, and observers noticed it halfway through training camp. He's still clearly a starter, but the team is really waiting for Laurent Robinson to step up. Horn is clearly declining.

Atlanta has encountered trouble transitioning to the power-running scheme. They are shifting to a one-block technique, and there are many techniques the team isn't used to using. The line still wants to cut-block, and the staff is trying to break instinctual habits like that. The line is letting too many defenders come in untouched. They aren't accounting for the extra man when the defense overloads a side. You have to feel bad for Harrington, who seems to be a pinata under center.

Carolina Panthers

Look for the Panthers to emphasize the running game this weekend against Atlanta. They are looking to make a statement against a poor run defense. Both running backs DeShaun Foster and DeAngelo Williams could have big days. One can almost expect 15 carries or more for each back.

Tight end Jeff King has been a pleasant surprise, and the Panthers expects to involve him more. He should become more of a factor since the team has no steady option at receiver other than Steve Smith. King could make a nice fantasy backup right now.

Speaking of the receivers, Keary Colbert is still No. 2. Drew Carter is No. 3, and Dwayne Jarrett is No. 4. Carter and Colbert are the same type of player, and each is inconsistent. Look for more of Jarrett at Colbert's expense in the coming weeks.

New Orleans Saints

We are hearing that Saints head coach Sean Payton likes to live up to his reputation as a genius, so he may have gotten too cute with his play-calling the first two weeks. The Saints need to run the ball, but the team has abandoned it in the first two games because of being down early. There's no question running back Deuce McAllister needs to be used a lot more than he is.

Wide receiver Devery Henderson is on shaky ground. He will be in the lineup this week, but he's on a short leash due to drops. If he continues to drop passes look for more of David Patten and/or Lance Moore. Patten is a possession receiver that will work the underneath routes, but age has robbed him of effectiveness going deep.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

It looks like Bucs head coach Jon Gruden has finally realized that running back Cadillac Williams needs 25 carries per game to be successful. They feel like they need to get him the ball, and the team will make a concerted effort to do so. However, Gruden still feels the passing game will set up the running game.

Middle linebacker Barrett Ruud has been an absolute monster the first two weeks. He seemingly came out of nowhere, but he has been coming along for the last couple of years. He's strong in run defense but isn't a great cover guy. He's the real deal, though.

Quarterback Jeff Garcia has been great. He has a veteran presence on the field and has ways of making things happen. He makes plays, but can he stay healthy?

Tampa Bay hasn't used the tight end much after Gruden made it clear for a long time that it would be a part of the offense. Many thought it was coming with the hype over Alex Smith. It hasn't happened yet, though. Garcia is just finding open receivers right now, and Smith should get his in due time. It just has to develop. Gruden loves tight end Jerramy Stevens, but it all comes down to his legal issues. The team should keep him on board if he can postpone the legal issues.

NFC West

Arizona Cardinals

Running back Edgerrin James has been a beast so far but the Cardinals play the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers in the next two weeks. James is pretty healthy and jacked up for this weekend's game, but the team won't be dumb and continue to try to pound the ball if the running game isn't working. They realize there will be games they have to win through quarterback Matt Leinart throwing the ball.

Speaking of James, he wants all of the carries, so he won't be turning down the heavy workload he has been given the first two weeks. Fantasy players have to smile over snagging him in the second or third round after many had given up on him from last year!

Behind James, running back Marcel Shipp was supposed to be chipping in. We haven't seen it so far. Instead it has been third-year running back J.J. Arrington spelling Edge; and it has mostly happened in passing situations. It probably has a lot to do with his receiving ability and speed. Should something happen to Edge, Shipp is still the handcuff.

San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers offense is struggling but don't put all of the blame on quarterback Alex D. Smith. He has not taken a step back but his numbers are struggling due to some things out of his control. He has had six dropped passes, two of which could have been big plays by wide receiver Darrell Jackson. The team isn't converting on third downs, running back Frank Gore has a big load on his shoulders but isn't hitting all the holes he did last year and there have been breakdowns throughout the offense. Smith has, however, held onto the ball too long, taking sacks instead of throwing the ball away. If players around him can start stepping up, his numbers may improve.

One way to start improving Smith's numbers could be getting the ball to tight end Vernon Davis. Don't be surprised to see them concentrate on involving him more. Then again, they really can't involve him any less as his fantasy owners can attest! He wants the ball more and has lobbied for it. Look for them to have a number of plays designed to put the pigskin in his hands.

The 49ers talented "D" now has to live without outside linebacker Manny Lawson (torn ACL), and it appears linebackers Hannibal Navies, Parys Haralson and Brandon Moore could all be counted on to help. Navies appears the most likely replacement, but Haralson may get in on some select spots or pass-rushing situations. Moore, who isn't as good on the outside, could see some time in nickel defenses.

St. Louis Rams

The Rams' slow offensive start and makeshift offensive line aren't helping running back Steven Jackson make fantasy owners happy. The team needs to make a conscious effort to run the football. After starting off stronger with it against the 49ers, they got away from him over the final two and a half quarters. Seeing them try to establish the run early against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers would not be a surprise, but it is tough to say for sure due to the changes on the offensive line.

Using Jackson more would also serve another important task - keeping quarterback Marc Bulger away from unnecessary extra hits in a game. He has an injury history so lessening his blows is crucial.

Drew Bennett made his appearance amongst the receivers last weekend and the team tried to get him the ball in the red zone twice. He also had some nice third down receptions. He is likely going to pilfer other player's numbers in the reception department, and his catches may come at the expense of Jackson. Wide receiver Torry Holt is still clearly the team's go-to guy; he, Bennett and wideout Isaac Bruce should also see the ball go their direction.

The team, by the way, is allowing Holt time off during the week to rest. It appears he is getting closer to being 100 percent healthy. With so many weapons, the Rams could be tough for defenders to cover when they're able to break out of their funk offensively.

Don't look for rookie running back Brian Leonard to be a major factor. He is on the field in two back sets and should be more involved, but strictly as a role player. They're not running enough to need him to spell Jackson, nor have they had the lead where they'd be looking to eat away at the clock. If you need to open a roster spot and have been hanging onto him, it looks like you may have an easy decision to make...

The use of tight end Randy McMichael is still kind of evolving. He had a few catches last weekend and they are expected to make a concerted effort to put the football in his hands. While not a go-to guy, he could still catch around four passes per game so some potential is there for fantasy players. His numbers should come at the expense of tight end Joe Klopfenstein, which shouldn't make fantasy owners lose any sleep.

Seattle Seahawks

Wide receiver Deion Branch is clearly the primary receiving option for the Seahawks, but they want to get the ball into the hands of wideout Nate Burleson, too. These guys are the playmakers the Seahawks have at receiver. If they cannot get open down field, look for the team to work the ball to them short via routes underneath and receiver screens. That should allow them to make plays with their athletic ability. This week they may need a lot of it against the high-scoring Cincinnati Bengals. Also, don't forget about wide receiver Bobby Engram. He is the clutch guy quarterback Matt Hasselbeck looks to when he needs to move the chains.

Speaking of Engram, he has looked as good as ever despite getting up there in age. After some health problems last year, a change in medicine allowed him to bounce right back and he is fine physically. In point-per-reception leagues, he deserves some consideration.

We might start seeing a bit more out of fullback Leonard Weaver, too. He's big, strong and quick, with the ability to add another dimension to the offense. However, a poor preseason has the team's confidence in him a bit shaken. He is starting to see some work in the two minute drills, which could open the door up for more playing time. Eventually they want him to beat out starting fullback Mack Strong.