Fantasy Football and NFL News, Rumors and Injury Updates

NFC South Fantasy Outlook

November 15, 2007 @ 13:43:10

By Michael Egnak
Edited by Tim Heaney

Note: All statistics appearing in this article are from Weeks 7-10, unless otherwise noted.

Do Not Bench List - All Positions

Quarterback Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints: Brees was 25-for-36 for 272 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in Week 10 against the St. Louis Rams. Brees is averaging 318.0 passing yards, 2.75 touchdowns and 0.75 interceptions over his past four games. Even though he is a weak play for Week 11 against the Houston Texans, he is still worth starting for your fantasy team.
Wide Receiver Marques Colston, New Orleans Saints: Colston caught eight passes for 129 yards Week 10 against the St. Louis Rams. After a very slow start to his 2007 season, Colston has come on strong over his past four games. He is averaging 7.25 receptions for 104.5 receiving yards with 0.75 touchdowns over that timeframe. Colston is a weak play for Week 11, but he is still worth using as a No. 1 fantasy 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	152.7	0.33	0.33	5.3	0.00
David Carr	Carolina Panthers	3	70.0	0.33	0.33	7.0	0.00
Vinny Testaverde	Carolina Panthers	2	117.5	0.00	0.50	4.5	0.00
Jeff Garcia	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	3	259.7	1.33	1.00	27.0	0.00

Harrington - Harrington was 19-for-26 for 192 yards with one touchdown Week 10 against the Carolina Panthers. Most importantly, he helped lead the team to its third win of the 2007 season. Quarterback Byron Leftwich (ankle) is again unlikely to play, so Harrington should have another chance to try to steal the starting job back. Harrington is a weak play for Week 11 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and should remain benched.

Carr - It's a different week, but the same shaky quarterback situation remains. Carr (concussion) missed the team's Week 10 game and will be evaluated Wednesday, Nov. 14, to determine his status for Week 11. Even if he is healthy enough to player, there is no guarantee that Carr will be the starter. While it may be best to just avoid the Panthers' starting quarterback completely, keep tabs on the situation throughout the week.

Testaverde - Testaverde (Achilles') was able to make it through most of the team's Week 10 game against the Atlanta Falcons, but his sore Achilles' tendon forced him to miss the last play of the game. He was 13-for-28 during the game, and he threw for 153 yards. His status for Week 11 will be determined this week, so he is worth keeping an eye throughout the week. However, he is a weak play that should be benched if he does get the starting nod against the Green Bay Packers.

Garcia - Garcia was 18-for-28 for 196 yards with one touchdown as the Buccaneers downed the Arizona Cardinals in Week 9. He also carried the ball seven times for 26 yards during the game. Garcia is a weak play Week 11 against the Atlanta Falcons as a low-end No. 1 quarterback.

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	24.67 (39.35)	4.00 (47.85)	72.3	0.67	1.33	17.3	0.00
Jerious Norwood	Atlanta Falcons	2	7.50 (7.98)	1.50 (11.96)	38.5	0.00	1.50	0.5	0.00
DeAngelo Williams	Carolina Panthers	3	9.33 (13.76)	1.67 (27.74)	18.7	0.00	2.67	7.0	0.00
DeShaun Foster	Carolina Panthers	3	20.33 (29.98)	2.00 (33.29)	61.3	0.33	1.33	5.3	0.00
Reggie Bush	New Orleans Saints	4	19.75 (31.57)	3.50 (35.48)	51.8	0.50	6.00	34.5	0.50
Aaron Stecker	New Orleans Saints	4	7.50 (11.99)	2.00 (20.27)	21.5	0.25	1.75	8.5	0.00
Earnest Graham	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	3	30.67 (40.03)	3.67 (42.17)	92.7	0.33	5.33	41.3	0.00

Dunn - Dunn performed well again Week 10, gaining 89 yards off of 26 carries. He also had 51 receiving yards through three receptions. Dunn scored on a 30-yard run earlier in the game as well. With running back Jerious Norwood (ankle) expected to play Week 11, Dunn is unlikely to see as many carries as he has been the past couple weeks. However, he should still do well enough to make for a solid No. 2 fantasy running back for your team against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Norwood - Norwood (ankle) missed the team's Week 10 game, but he is expected to return for Week 11 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Wait and see how he practices before deciding to use him for the game.

Williams - Williams is earning less than half of the time running back DeShaun Foster is now, but there is a slight possibility he could reenter the picture as Foster (toe) missed practice on Wednesday, Nov. 14. Williams earned just seven carries in Week 10 for 27 yards. If Foster isn't 100 percent for this coming week, Williams could see some value. There was no clear update on the situation at press time, so do your best to keep up with the news.

Foster - Foster (toe) is seeing the majority of time in the team's backfield, earning 20 carries Week 10 for 59 rushing yards. He also caught one pass for five receiving yards. He's a solid No. 3 fantasy running back against the Green Bay Packers Week 11. Foster did not participate in practice on Wednesday, Nov. 14, but it was reportedly not considered a serious injury. Monitor his status as it could affect Williams' value too.

Bush - Bush (concussion) was forced to leave the Week 10 game early because of a concussion. He finished with just seven carries for 17 rushing yards and one touchdown along with five receptions for 27 receiving yards. He also converted two two-point conversions during the team's fourth quarter comeback attempt. He will be reevaluated Wednesday, Nov. 14, but he is expected to be able to play in Week 11. He's a strong play worth using as a starting running back for your fantasy team if he does play against the Houston Texans.

Stecker - Even with running back Reggie Bush (concussion) taking an early exit from the game, Stecker was only able to earn three carries for 26 yards with a touchdown Week 10. He also had one catch for eight yards. Stecker is a strong play for Week 11 against the Houston Texans, but his value is still limited to that of an injury replacement player.

Graham - Graham was solid Week 9 against the Arizona Cardinals, earning 124 yards and one touchdown on 34 carries. He should be well rested coming off the Bye Week, making him a solid No. 1 fantasy running back Week 11 against the Atlanta Falcons.

Wide Receivers

Player	Team	Gm	Util (%)/G	RZ (%) Plays/G	Rec/G	Rec Yards/G	Rec TD/G
Roddy White	Atlanta Falcons	3	9.00 (14.36)	0.33 (3.99)	5.67	74.0	0.33
Steve Smith	Carolina Panthers	3	9.67 (14.25)	0.67 (11.10)	3.33	31.3	0.00
Joey Galloway	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	3	10.67 (13.92)	0.33 (3.83)	5.33	81.7	0.67
Ike Hilliard	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	3	9.33 (12.18)	0.67 (7.67)	6.33	61.7	0.33

White - White was fairly productive against the Carolina Panthers Week 10, hauling in six passes for 57 receiving yards. It was the eighth consecutive game in which White recorded at least 55 receiving yards in a game. Even though he has been consistent this season, he is still a weak play for Week 11 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He is worth using as a low-end No. 1 or a No. 2 fantasy wideout for the week.

Smith - You don't often see Smith taken off the Do Not Bench List, but that isn't even the biggest surprise for his fantasy owners this week. Smith caught five passes for 61 yards Week 10, but it was one of his better performances over the past three weeks. The receiver that many drafted as their No. 1 wideout has struggled a lot since quarterback Jake Delhomme (elbow). In the three games Delhomme was healthy for, Smith averaged 5.3 receptions, 93.7 receiving yards and 1.3 touchdowns per game. In the six games he's played without Delhomme, Smith has averaged 4.8 receptions, 51.5 receiving yards and 0.3 touchdowns. What's worse is the trend shows no sign of turning around. He's had two games of less than 20 yards receiving and has just two games of 61 yards or more without Delhomme. As a result, Smith should be viewed as a weak play for Week 11 against the Green Bay Packers. He is only worth using as a No. 3 fantasy wide receiver, and he could find himself benched by some fantasy owners.

Galloway - Galloway caught five passes for 84 yards with one touchdown Week 9 against the Arizona Cardinals. He is a weak play for Week 11 against the Atlanta Falcons, but he is still worth using as a low-end No. 1 or a No. 2 fantasy wide receiver.

Hilliard - Hilliard has been consistent in the team's passing offense. He caught seven passes for 70 yards Week 9 against the Arizona Cardinals, and has caught seven or more passes in four of his nine games this year. Despite his steadiness this year, he is a weak play for their upcoming game and should only be used as a No. 3 fantasy wideout.

Tight Ends

Player	Team	Gm	Util (%)/G	RZ (%) Plays/G	Rec/G	Rec Yards/G	Rec TD/G
Alge Crumpler	Atlanta Falcons	1	2.00 (1.06)	0.00 (0.00)	2.00	39.0	1.00
Jeff King	Carolina Panthers	3	7.33 (10.81)	0.33 (5.55)	4.67	42.3	0.00
Eric Johnson	New Orleans Saints	4	4.00 (6.39)	0.50 (5.07)	3.50	37.0	0.25
Alex Smith	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	1	3.00 (1.31)	1.00 (3.83)	2.00	13.0	0.00

Crumpler - In his first game back after knee and ankle injuries, Crumpler caught two passes for 39 yards and a touchdown. He is still a weak play for Week 11 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but he is worth using as a low-end No. 1 tight end.

King - King didn't do too much Week 10 against the Atlanta Falcons, catching just two passes for 31 yards. He's cooled off a bit from his strong start to the season, but he is still worth using as a low-end No. 1 tight end in Week 11 against the Green Bay Packers. Consider him a strong play for the game.

Johnson - Johnson caught three passes for 38 yards with one touchdown Week 10 against the New Orleans Saints. Johnson is a strong play for Week 11 against the Houston Texans and is a solid starting option for some fantasy teams.

Smith - Smith (ankle) returned to action Week 9 and caught two passes for 13 yards, but he aggravated his ankle twice during the game. He should be fine for Week 11, but fantasy owners may want to err on the side of caution and keep him benched until they are sure he is close to 100 percent healthy.

Place Kickers

Player	Team	Gm	XPA/G	XP/G	FGA/G	FG/G	Kick Pnts/G
Morten Andersen	Atlanta Falcons	3	1.67	1.67	2.33	2.33	8.7
John Kasay	Carolina Panthers	3	1.00	1.00	0.67	1.00	3.0
Olindo Mare	New Orleans Saints	4	3.00	3.00	0.75	1.25	5.2
Matt Bryant	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	3	1.67	1.67	1.67	2.67	6.7

Andersen - Andersen again showed solid accuracy Week 10, converting both of his field goal opportunities against the Carolina Panthers. He was good from 36 and 47 yards on his two field goals. He's worth using as a No. 1 place kicker for your fantasy team in Week 11. Keep in mind his age as he has struggled with longer field goal chances this season.

Kasay - Kasay was 2-for-2 on field goal opportunities in Week 10, converting field goal of 29 and 31 yards against the Atlanta Falcons. With the team's offense struggling so much, he isn't getting a chance to earn many points for himself or his fantasy owners. As a result, he's a weak play who should be benched Week 11 against the Green Bay Packers.

Mare - Even though the team scored 29 points, Mare accounted for just one point during the Saints' Week 10 loss to the St. Louis Rams. Down 34-7 late in the game, the Saints opted to go with two-point conversion attempts with their fourth quarter touchdowns, leaving Mare on the bench. It's highly unlikely Mare will see another game like he did in Week 10, especially when he faces the Houston Texans in Week 11. He is a strong play for the game, but still limited to being a low-end No. 1 place kicker for the game.

Bryant - Bryant struggled Week 9, converting just one of his three field goal chances against the Arizona Cardinals. He was good from 32 yards, but he missed field goal attempts from 58 and 26 yards during the game. He is still worth using as a low-end starting option for your fantasy team for Week 11.

Defensive Teams

Team	Gm	Off Pnts Allw/G	INT/G	Sacks/G	FR/G	DEF/ST TD/G
Atlanta Falcons	3	15.0	1.67	1.3	0.67	0.0
Carolina Panthers	3	23.7	0.67	1.7	1.33	0.3
New Orleans Saints	4	20.2	0.75	2.8	0.25	0.2
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	3	17.0	0.67	1.7	0.00	0.0

Falcons - The Falcons' defense held the Carolina Panthers to just seven offensive points and 235 net yards in Week 10 while recording two sacks and two turnovers. Their next opponent will be slightly tougher, as they'll face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 11. The Falcons defense should be considered a low-end starter if you need a defense for the week. Otherwise, keep them on your bench.

Panthers - The Panthers' defense did manage to return a fumble recovery for a touchdown Week 10 but that was one of the few highlights for them. They allowed 20 offensive points and 277 net yards while recording just two sacks. They get to go against the Green Bay Packers in Week 11, making the Panthers' defense a weak play that should stay benched.

Saints - The Saints' defense was torched by the St. Louis Rams for 37 offensive points and 409 net yards in Week 10, and they failed to create one turnover during the game. They did manage four sacks, but that was really the only positive for their defense. They should have an easier time against the Houston Texans Week 11, but the Saints' defense is still only worth using as a low-end No. 1 team defense.

Buccaneers - The Buccaneers' defense held the Arizona Cardinals to just 10 offensive points and 195 net yards Week 9 while recording two interceptions. They'll try to repeat their strong performance in Week 11 against the Atlanta Falcons, but should be considered a weak play and remain on your bench.

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.