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NFC South Fantasy Outlook

September 27, 2007 @ 16:00:00

By Michael Egnak
Edited by Herija C. Green

NFC South

NOTE: All stats are from the past three weeks unless otherwise noted.

Do Not Bench List - All Positions

Wide Receiver Steve Smith, Carolina Panthers: He wasn't exactly lights out in Week 3. He was held to just one catch for 10 yards and one carry for six yards. Smith averages 5.3 receptions, 93.7 yards and 1.3 touchdowns over his first three games of the 2007 season. He's a weak play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Week 4, but he is still worth using as a No. 1 wide receiver.

Quarterbacks

Player	Team	Gm	Pass Yds/G	Pass TD/G	INT/G	Rush Yards/G	Rush TD/G
Joey Harrington	Atlanta Falcons	3	253.3	0.67	0.67	4.7	0.00
Jake Delhomme	Carolina Panthers	3	205.7	2.67	0.33	8.7	0.00
Jeff Garcia	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	3	198.3	0.67	0.00	4.0	0.00

Harrington - Harrington finally posted a good game for the team, but the end result was still the same. Harrington was 31-for-44 for 361 yards with two touchdowns against the Carolina Panthers, but poor defense and a mental meltdown from Falcons cornerback DeAngelo Hall helped the team lose their third consecutive game to open the year. The team did follow through with their signing of quarterback Byron Leftwich, so Harrington will likely need to continue playing well if he wants to keep the job. He'll face the Houston Texans in Week 4, and he is worth using only as a Bye week replacement.

Delhomme - Delhomme (elbow) was 10-for-18 for 109 yards with two touchdowns during the team's Week 3 game against the Falcons. He was forced to leave early with a strained elbow, making him day-to-day as teams prepare for Week 4. Delhomme has not been ruled out for the week, but there is a chance the supporters of quarterback David Carr will finally get to see their boy start a game for Carolina. If Delhomme suits up, he will be a weak play for the game against Tampa Bay. Obviously his situation is one to keep an eye on throughout the week.

Garcia - Garcia continues to get the job done for Tampa Bay, completing 14 of 22 passes for 151 yards in Week 3 against the St. Louis Rams. Garcia still hasn't thrown an interception this season. He's a strong play Week 4 against the Panthers, but he is still worth using only as a Bye week replacement.

Running Backs

Player	Team	Gm	Util (%)/G	RZ (%) Plays/G	Rush Yds/G	Rush TD/G	Rec/G	Rec Yards/G	Rec TD/G
Warrick Dunn	Atlanta Falcons	3	19.33 (33.01)	3.00 (46.81)	53.3	0.33	3.00	14.3	0.00
Jerious Norwood	Atlanta Falcons	3	10.00 (17.08)	0.67 (10.40)	31.7	0.00	2.00	23.7	0.00
DeShaun Foster	Carolina Panthers	3	17.67 (28.67)	2.67 (32.22)	79.3	0.33	2.00	13.3	0.33
DeAngelo Williams	Carolina Panthers	3	14.00 (22.72)	2.33 (28.19)	46.7	0.00	2.00	11.0	0.00
Cadillac Williams	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	3	17.00 (31.55)	3.33 (45.57)	55.7	1.00	1.00	5.7	0.00

Dunn - Dunn managed 55 yards on 11 carries during Week 3 against the Panthers. He also added four receptions for 13 yards during the game. Dunn is worth using as a No. 2 running back against the Texans in Week 4.

Norwood - Norwood ran for 32 yards on six carries in Week 3, but 26 of those yards came on one run. He added another 34 yards through three receptions against Carolina. Norwood is worth using as a low-end No. 3 running back or an injury replacement in Week 4.

Foster - Foster continues to earn more playing time and continues to do well with it. He ran the ball 20 times in Week 3 against Atlanta, gaining 122 yards and one rushing touchdown during the team's victory. He also caught one pass which went for a 13-yard touchdown. Foster is a strong play for Week 4. He is a solid No. 1 running back for your fantasy team against the Buccaneers.

D. Williams - Williams carried the ball 11 times for 47 yards in Week 3. He is still performing well, but his chances may be a little limited as long as Foster is also playing at a high level. Williams is a strong play for the team's Week 4 game, but his value is limited to that of a low-end No. 3 running back or an injury replacement.

C. Williams - Williams carried the ball 12 times for 46 yards in Week 3 with one touchdown run. He's not racking up a lot of yardage, but he is finding the end zone on a fairly consistent basis. Williams is worth using as a low-end No. 1 or a No. 2 fantasy running back in Week 4 against the Panthers.

Wide Receivers

Player	Team	Gm	Util (%)/G	RZ (%) Plays/G	Rec/G	Rec Yards/G	Rec TD/G
Joe Horn	Atlanta Falcons	3	5.00 (8.54)	0.67 (10.40)	2.00	28.0	0.00
Roddy White	Atlanta Falcons	3	7.00 (11.95)	0.33 (5.20)	5.00	79.0	0.33
Drew Carter	Carolina Panthers	3	3.33 (5.41)	1.00 (12.08)	2.33	28.7	0.67
Joey Galloway	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	3	6.00 (11.14)	0.00 (0.00)	4.33	83.0	0.67
Ike Hilliard	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	3	4.33 (8.04)	0.00 (0.00)	2.67	44.0	0.00

Horn - Even with the team throwing 44 times in Week 3, Horn managed just three receptions for 36 yards during the game. Horn is a weak play for Week 4 and should remain benched in fantasy leagues.

White - White posted his best game of the 2007 season during Week 3, hauling in seven passes for 127 yards with one touchdown. He appears to be Harrington's favorite target, and he should be capable of posting up decent numbers on certain weeks. He is a decent No. 3 receiver in Week 4.

Carter - Carter cooled off a little in Week 3, catching just one pass for 17 yards. He's still averaging nearly a touchdown per game, making him an attractive option in leagues that give a boost to touchdown receptions. Carter is a weak play in Week 4, and his value is limited to that of an injury or Bye week replacement.

Galloway - Galloway caught just four passes for 42 yards during the team's Week 3 victory over the St. Louis Rams. He is a strong play in Week 4 against Carolina. He should be used as a low-end No. 1 or a No. 2 wide receiver.

Hilliard - Hilliard (ankle) was bothered by an ankle injury heading into the Week 3 game, but he still managed to suit up and catch two passes for 32 yards. It is not known if he aggravated the injury any after the game. If he is healthy for Week 4, he would be a strong play against the Panthers. However, his value would be limited to that of an injury or Bye week replacement.

Tight Ends

Player	Team	Gm	Util (%)/G	RZ (%) Plays/G	Rec/G	Rec Yards/G	Rec TD/G
Alge Crumpler	Atlanta Falcons	3	4.67 (7.97)	1.00 (15.60)	4.33	52.0	0.33
Jeff King	Carolina Panthers	3	6.00 (9.74)	0.67 (8.05)	4.33	43.3	0.33
Alex Smith	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	3	3.33 (6.19)	0.00 (0.00)	2.33	31.7	0.00

Crumpler - Crumpler saw a jump in his numbers after the team's Week 3 game. He caught six passes for 63 yards with one touchdown during the game. Crumpler remains a No. 1 fantasy tight end and is a strong play in Week 4 against the Texans.

King - King continues to put up big numbers for a tight end, brining in four passes for 56 yards with one touchdown in Week 3. He has emerged as a starting quality fantasy tight end in offensive coordinator Jeff Davidson's system. However, he is a weak play in Week 4 against Tampa Bay.

Smith - Smith was held to just three catches for 27 yards during the team's Week 3 game against St. Louis. He is a strong play in Week 4 against the Panthers, and he is worth using as a low-end No. 1 tight end or Bye week replacement.

Place Kickers

Player	Team	Gm	XP/G	XPA/G	FG/G	FGA/G	Kick Pnts/G
Morten Andersen	Atlanta Falcons	1	2.00	2.00	2.00	2.00	8.0
John Kasay	Carolina Panthers	3	3.00	3.00	1.33	1.67	7.0
Matt Bryant	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	3	2.33	2.33	1.33	1.67	6.3

Andersen - In his first game back, Anderson successfully converted both of his field goal attempts. However, both attempts came from 24 and 25 yards away. He is a weak play in Week 4 against the Texans, and his value is limited to being a low-end No. 1 place kicker or a Bye week replacement.

Kasay - Kasay nailed his 45-yard and 49-yard field goal opportunities in Week 3, as well as converting all three extra point attempts. He is a weak play in Week 4 against Tampa Bay. Kasay should only be used as a low-end No. 1 fantasy place kicker or as a Bye week replacement.

Bryant - Bryant was able to make his 27-yard field goal opportunity in Week 3, but he missed from 54 yards out early in the game. Bryant is a weak play in Week 4 and should stay benched.

Defensive Teams

Team	Gm	Off Pnts Allw/G	INT/G	Sacks/G	FR/G	DEF/ST TD/G
Atlanta Falcons	3	17.3	0.33	2.3	0.00	0.0
Carolina Panthers	3	20.3	0.00	0.7	1.67	0.0
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	3	12.3	1.33	1.7	0.67	0.0

Falcons - The Falcons' defense allowed 27 offensive points in Week 3 to the Panthers. They did manage three sacks, but they failed to record a turnover and allowed 313 yards during the game. They face the Texans in Week 4, where the Falcons' defense is a weak play and should stay benched.

Panthers - The Panthers' defense allowed 20 offensive points during the team's Week 3 game to Atlanta. They had just one sack, but they recovered two fumbles. The Panthers will play Tampa Bay in Week 4. They are a weak play for the week and should be benched.

Buccaneers - The team's defense allowed just three offensive points to the Rams in Week 3, as well as intercepting three passes and limiting St. Louis to just 245 yards. They also managed one sack during the game. The Buccaneers' defense is worth using as a low-end No. 1 defense or a Bye week replacement in Week 4 against the Panthers.

Author Bio

Michael Egnak
Michael Egnak is a Hot Off The Wire Analyst at KFFL and has been with the company since 2005. Covering both NFL and MLB, Egnak is also a key contributor to KFFL's fantasy services.