Fantasy Football and NFL News, Rumors and Injury Updates

Locker Room Buzz - Week 11

November 16, 2007 @ 16:33:15

By KFFL Staff
Edited by Herija C. Green

Just when you thought the week was going to be interesting enough with the loss of Minnesota Vikings star rookie running back Adrian Peterson (knee), the NFL had to throw another wrinkle into the week by reinstating running back Ricky Williams.

Williams, who is under contract with the Miami Dolphins, was one of the most talented backs to come out of college in the last decade. However, his career seemed to be a circus act right from the start. Whether it was he being dressed up in a white wedding gown while with the New Orleans Saints or him walking away unexpectedly from the Dolphins as training camp loomed, one never knew exactly what they were going to get from Williams. He was, however, dynamite when he was on the field.

In 2002, with the Dolphins, he rushed for 1,853 yards and 16 touchdowns. He chipped in another 363 yards and one score through receptions. In 2003, he had another fine year with 1,372 yards rushing, 351 yards receiving and 10 total touchdowns. From there, it was all downhill. Williams did not play a down in 2004 and played in just 12 games in 2005 due to his off-the-field indiscretions that he rarely tried to hide. His career, for all extensive purposes, went up like a puff of smoke out of whatever choice of paraphernalia he chose to use at the time.

After not playing in 2006, Williams is now back in the NFL. He is still with the Dolphins, although almost everything he knew there has changed since he last sported a helmet. At 30 years of age, Williams' better days are behind him. Teams will approach him with caution, as they should. His days of big deals - or possibly any deal at all - are also easily comparable to smoke dissipating in the air.

The glaring question now is: Does Williams have a future in the NFL? Would any NFL team be interested in him after this year? This week, we polled our network with those two very questions. We were not too surprised by the responses.

Does Williams have a future in the NFL?

Yes: 44 percent
No: 56 percent

Would your team be interested in signing Williams?

Yes: 6 percent
No: 94 percent

While there is a mixed bag on his future potential in the league, the end result of whether or not a team would be willing to take a flier on him appears to be the sticking point. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. It will be interesting to see how Williams and his future play out in the National Football League.

AFC East

Buffalo Bills

Running back Marshawn Lynch is officially listed as out for Week 11. Many fantasy owners are officially listed as angry. Running back Dwayne Wright will hit the field for somewhere between 60 and 65 percent of the snaps with Anthony Thomas serving as the spell back.

The Bills have held five of their nine opponents below 15 points as their second season of Cover 2 defense has been a main factor in their four-game win streak. Instead of sticking with a bland version of that system, they have excelled at mixing in three-deep and zone blitzes.

You think the Patriots game is big? The game against the Jacksonville Jaguars (6-3) next week is the one the Bills are truly circling on the calendar. The Bills are one game behind the Jaguars, who sit in fourth place in the playoff picture. The Bills are tied with the San Diego Chargers and Cleveland Browns, whom they face in Week 15.

Linebacker John DiGiorgio has not missed a beat in replacing linebacker Paul Posluszny (forearm), and has given the team flexibility in its defensive packages.
Forget the battle of the undefeated New England Patriots against the surging Buffalo Bills this week. The real battle will pit quarterback J.P. Losman and Patriots defensive tackle Vince Wilfork in a cage match to settle the score since Wilfork's tackle injured Losman in Week 3. Okay, so maybe this won't be the main event. Losman has said he thought Wilfork's hit was a bit of a cheap shot, but maybe not as cheap as what's expected to hit the Bills this Sunday.

Miami Dolphins

Speaking of Locker Room Buzz, running back Ricky Williams has returned to save the winless Dolphins! Okay, maybe not, but the NFL reinstated the troubled running back this week, and the Dolphins expect him to hit the practice field sometime next week. He is reportedly in good shape, and he could be expected to see game action against the New York Jets in Week 13.

Don't expect him to start; he might be better suited as a change-of-pace power back. This also could be an audition for possible trade suitors. Maybe he'll showcase the dress he wore when he married former NFL coach Mike Ditka.

Although Williams' return has blazed through the national media, current starting running back Jesse Chatman hasn't commented, either on his own impetus or per the team's advisement. Chatman has performed well as a starter, and the dual-threat back would certainly be adamant about keeping his starting job.

Another shakeup brings quarterback John Beck into the starting lineup. Of course, you can expect the Dolphins to be running a bunch this week to try to ease him into the playbook. Scouting reports say he is susceptible to throwing interceptions in the early stages of learning a scheme, but eventually he will decrease his risks over time. Beck was chosen because he looks further downfield than Lemon, who persistently checked down his options and frequently dumped off passes. Wide receivers eventually stopped running hard because they knew he wouldn't find them. Lemon is an unrestricted free agent and believes he can be a starter.

That could be a reason why Ted Ginn Jr. was not involved as much last week. He could be a factor this week with Beck's penchant for the more vertical passing game.
Linebacker Joey Porter reportedly said that he would take Williams on his team if he could help them win a game this year. If Williams does that, they might give him a goody bag.

New England Patriots

The Patriots have no plans to activate wide receiver Troy Brown (knee) or extensively use receiver Chad Jackson right now because there is no real need for them. If receiver Kelley Washington were to get hurt again, maybe they would. They'll wait until the last possible time to decide on Brown. Jackson, a former first rounder, might not have a bright future with the Patriots, but he could probably excel elsewhere. He doesn't seem to be the brightest player, according to sources.

Tight end Benjamin Watson (groin) is not on the injury report, and the Bye week gave him a chance to get to full health.

Hall of Fame coach Don Shula was all over the media hinting that if the Patriots went undefeated "Camera Gate" would be a black mark against them. The Patriots have publicly said they respect him as a coach. Head coach Bill Belichick was very gracious about the comments as well.

The public perception is that the Patriots are running up the score on everyone as recourse for how the whole camera debacle played out. However, this team is that good. The defense hasn't had to be great. Defensive lineman Jarvis Green has handed out t-shirts that say "60 Minute Men" with a fist busting through it as a reminder that the game is 60 minutes long, and they will play hard for all 60. Another reason this team is so good is because they are so focused on winning each individual game. Belichick won't let them lose their focus. The team could go undefeated, but they face a tough Pittsburgh Steelers team soon. The only way Pittsburgh beats them is if they out-execute the Pats, not because of a lack of focus.

New York Jets

The Jets do not see running back Leon Washington as anything more than a role player. He hasn't been real effective in the featured back role, and they'll likely continue to use him for a few carries each game. That's about it, though.

Quarterback Kellen Clemens has some chemistry with receivers Jerricho Cotchery and Justin McCareins, but he doesn't have much of it with receiver Laveranues Coles. Coles was out one game due to a concussion, which has hindered their rapport.
Linebacker Jonathan Vilma (knee) had surgery last week, but the team still won't say what the surgery was repairing. Vilma has vowed to get back before training camp, but he won't make any promises.
Free safety Erik Coleman, once a consistent tackler, has fallen out of favor with the coaching staff. Safety Abram Elam has taken his spot because he's more aggressive and physical than Coleman, which the team felt was lacking from Coleman's game. There's a better than 50 percent chance that Coleman is gone after the season.

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens

The situation the Ravens are at with the quarterback position is auditioning one of their current guys. Quarterback Kyle Boller will be doing just that now that quarterback Steve McNair (shoulder) is sidelined with a shoulder injury. The franchise doesn't believe that he is a starter in this league, but he should get a fair shot at proving them wrong. When head coach Brian Billick was asked if this is the last they will see McNair in a Ravens jersey, the former Super Bowl winning coach said "time will tell."

If the Ravens could take back the releasing of now Cleveland Browns quarterback Derek Anderson they would most definitely do it. In 2005, Boller was hurt in the first game, which led them to picking up quarterback Kordell Stewart for a veteran presence. The team thought really hard at the time about keeping Anderson but didn't want to keep four quarterbacks. Now Cleveland is in the playoff hunt while the Ravens are left hunting for a quality quarterback.

Boller will have to look to another prime target if tight end Todd Heap (hamstring) isn't able to play. Heap is Boller's favorite target in the passing game and it is believed that he favors wide receiver Derrick Mason over wide receiver Mark Clayton, if he were to have to choose. Boller and Clayton are really close off the field but not on the field in terms of chemistry. Wide receiver Demetrius Williams is a big target and one that Boller likes as a deep threat in the passing game.

Cincinnati Bengals

Running back Rudi Johnson's hamstring injury is a factor into why he hasn't been able to run the ball effectively; but it isn't the only reason. Johnson has lost some weight and has chiseled down his frame somewhat diminishing his power running style. The upside to that is he has gained a significant amount of speed and quickness. While he has struggled at hitting holes quickly when they open the offensive line hasn't been helping him out much, either. His style may need to change from a power running back to a more elusive type of guy who can bounce it to the outside if he continues to lose weight.

Defensive end Robert Geathers was moved from linebacker back to end last week due to both linebackers Dhani Jones and Anthony Schlegel playing well. The Bengals have been lacking a pass rush and Geathers is their best guy when it comes to that. He had a career high 10.5 sacks last season compared to just one this season.

The return of wide receiver Chris Henry to the lineup really adds something to the team. He kills teams on third down due to all the weapons the Bengals have on offense; he often gets lost in the shuffle.

Cleveland Browns

Tight end Kellen Winslow has been one of the most productive tight ends this season, but whether it is worth an extension on his contract remains to be seen. According to an insider the team may not be all that keen on locking him up to a long-term deal. They question whether or not he can play out a long contract and if at some point he will breakdown. He is signed for at least two more seasons and it is believed that he could earn all of the money he gave back through the motorcycle stuff through incentives.

It would appear to be a financial mistake if the team were to decide to put the franchise tag of quarterback Derek Anderson after this season. The team could choose to do so, but it is apparently just a rumor that they will at this point.
Despite wide receiver Braylon Edwards having such a great season, it seems far fetched that he would be able to bring down 90 receptions due to the offense having so many options in the passing game. If Anderson can keep up his hot play though, Edwards may get a chance at blowing away his previous season-high of 61 receptions.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Offensive tackle Alan Faneca apparently hasn't chanced his mind as he is expected to leave the Steelers at the end of the year. He was insulted by the team's offer last season when he saw what the other guards were getting. Faneca could very easily make the Pro Bowl this season, which would hike up his price and have potential suitors salivating over his services. The Steelers aren't expected to pay the type of money that Faneca will likely be requesting in the offseason.

The team was able to make a comeback last week against the Browns thanks to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger carrying the team on his back. The team also got contributions from their secondary including getting some plays by safety Troy Polamalu who had struggled in recent weeks.

AFC South

Houston Texans

Quarterback Matt Schaub (concussion) is 100 percent, and the team is expected to use a normal game plan. They wouldn't put him out there if they had to scale the playbook back.

The team isn't regretting signing running back Ahman Green (knee), who will miss Week 11, to a lucrative contract in the offseason. He hasn't given the team what they expected, but they aren't saying anything about regretting the deal. He was given an injury-prone label in the past, but he wasn't hurt as much as his reputation suggested.
Running back Ron Dayne should get 22-25 carries this week, and tailback Adimchinobi Echemandu will likely get a few carries as well.
Wide receiver Andre Johnson (knee) is about 85 to 90 percent healthy. He hasn't practiced or played, and he is missing some timing and rhythm from not being on the field. We aren't sure what will happen when he gets hit, either. Nonetheless, expect him to be involved, but not as much as before. We aren't expecting a 100-yard game, but he could catch six or seven balls. The team expects to move the ball around between receivers.
Losing cornerback Dunta Robinson (knee) was a tough blow, and the team isn't likely to make cornerback a high priority in the offseason. They need a running back and offensive line help. Three starters from the secondary are currently on Injured Reserve.

Indianapolis Colts

Quarterback Peyton Manning threw six interceptions against the San Diego Chargers last week, and it was clear he was forcing too many balls. However, no one realized how good Chargers cornerback Antonio Cromartie was, who picked off three passes. Manning forced the ball to receiver Aaron Moorehead on the first pick. On another interception, Moorehead ran the wrong route and receiver Reggie Wayne quit on a route. Manning threw a ridiculous interception to linebacker Matt Wilhelm, too. If it weren't rainy, four of the picks probably wouldn't have happened.

Wide receiver Marvin Harrison (knee) could be shut down until the playoffs. However, we wouldn't be surprised if he played before then.

Wide receiver Craphonso Thorpe was targeted 10 times last week. This was an anomaly because tight end Bryan Fletcher was dropping passes, and tight end Dallas Clark (concussion) was out. Manning threw 56 times, so someone had to receive the targets.

Special teams coverage has been awful for the Colts, and we're hearing the only way it gets better is if the playoffs come and the team puts starters on special teams.

Two sources told us that newly signed defensive end Simeon Rice is done as an effective player. However, one said he should have something left in the tank. The team believes he can fill in adequately for Dwight Freeney (foot), who is out for the season.

The team feels if they played the Chargers 100 more times, they would win 98 of them. They feel they just have to continue moving their feet forward.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Quarterback David Garrard (ankle) is about 90 percent healthy. The 10 percent is the rust he'll have to overcome. From everything we've heard, he's ready to go and won't be limited. He won't run unless he has to, and they'll encourage him to throw it away if he gets in trouble.

On a sentimental note, underrated running back Fred Taylor surpassed the 10,000-yard rushing mark last week. However, he has missed 32 games in his career, and that has probably robbed him of a legit shot at the Hall of Fame. He has averaged better than 100 total yards per game during his career, and that's another 3,000 yards he has missed. He has never been to the Pro Bowl, which is another knock against him. Because of his lack of notoriety, come Hall of Fame time, "Fragile Fred" may be "Forsaken Fred."

Tennessee Titans

Running back Chris Brown (ankle) is expected to see his first action after missing a few games due to an ankle injury. Expect him to get around eight carries. Running back Chris J. Henry has the potential to be inactive this week if Brown does play. Henry has until Nov. 26 to drop his appeal of his four-game suspension, and he could do so at any time. The team thinks he'll drop it once Brown is ready to return.

Defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth (hamstring) isn't a good bet to go this week, which would mark his second straight missed game. The defense doesn't figure to be nearly as effective without him. They felt his absence last week in stopping the running game.

This team could still compete for a playoff berth, but they may need to pass the ball better. If the team turns quarterback Vince Young loose a little, he should improve his play.

The Titans let running back Travis Henry (Denver Broncos) walk after the season last year because they knew he was just one mistake away from being suspended for a year. They offered him $8 million, and he opted to go to Denver.

AFC West

Denver Broncos

Head coach Mike Shanahan has been impressed with the way running back Travis Henry (knee) has handled the situation centering on his reported positive drug test. Henry has been upfront with Shanahan from the get go, personally informing the coach when the story broke before Shanahan had even heard about it. Despite those warm feelings, Shanahan has gone on record saying he would cut Henry if he is indeed in violation of league rules. Whether or not Shanahan would have taken such a firm stance without the emergence of running back Selvin Young remains a mystery.

The much-maligned Broncos defense seems to be improving over the past month. Cornerback Champ Bailey is back at 100 percent, and the instruction of assistant head coach Jim Bates is slowly starting to have a positive effect on the team. The linebackers have shown the most improvement, but then again they arguably had the most room to improve.

Although we keep hearing wide receiver Javon Walker (knee) is close to returning, there remains an outside chance he could be shut down for the season. However, at this point the team still fully expects him to play.

Curious as to who has the most chemistry with Quarterback Jay Cutler? It appears to be fellow 2006 draft picks wide receiver Brandon Marshall and tight end Tony Scheffler. All three have been throwing and catching together since entering the league and seem to have formed a good relationship both on and off the field.

Kansas City Chiefs

The switch from quarterback Damon Huard (neck) to quarterback Brodie Croyle could allow the team to expand the playbook a bit as Croyle boasts a stronger arm and is an all-around better passer than Huard. While no one views the switch as a panacea for all that ails Kansas City's offense, the hope is that the ability to stretch the field will open up the running game, which would ideally trickle down and help the entire offense.

As for Huard potentially regaining the job, it appears it would take a serious meltdown by Croyle for that to occur. The second-year quarterback would likely have to show he is completely unfit for the position for another move to be made.

Despite modest yardage totals (65 yards on 20 carries) in last Sunday's loss the Chiefs were happy with the play of running back Priest Holmes. They were particularly pleased with his durability and the way he stood up to hits. So much so that they may increase his carries to around 25 this Sunday.

While Holmes got most of the work, running back Kolby Smith carried the ball just twice. Word is that was a result of falling behind, which caused the team to run less, and the lost carries came from Smith's projected workload. Ideally they would like to get him around eight or 10 carries this week, but if they fall behind again then all bets are off.

Wide receiver Eddie Kennison's tenure with the Chiefs could be winding down as the veteran receiver has struggled to stay healthy all season. His inability to stay on the field has made his future prospects a tough read, but we're hearing the team will likely part company with Kennison after the season.

Oakland Raiders

Quarterback Daunte Culpepper is set to get another start this week after two weeks of quarterback Josh McCown (quad) at the helm. Neither man has played very well under center, though McCown has done a little bit better job running the offense. Look for the team to approach the position on a week-by-week basis until they feel quarterback JaMarcus Russell is ready to take over for the club.

Speaking of Russell, there is a decent chance he could make his debut this Sunday on a series or two with a specific package of plays. McCown's health could move Russell into the backup role, which would allow them to bring him in and out of the game - something they can't do if Russell serves as the No. 3. They want to start getting the top overall selection some experience as they prepare him to potentially start a game or two at the end of the season.

Culpepper's presence doesn't figure to benefit any receiver over another as he didn't really build up any chemistry during his tenure as starter. Wide receiver Jerry Porter (knee) caught some big plays with Culpepper at the helm, but he doesn't look like the same player with his knee injury. Wide receiver Ronald Curry should remain the primary third-down option.

While running back Justin Fargas has established himself as the team's primary back, running back Dominic Rhodes has quietly surpassed running back LaMont Jordan for the backup job. Jordan was angry about his demotion from starter to backup, then said all the right things and was dropped to No. 3. He has hadn't anything to say since that happened so the safe bet is he is angry once again. As previously noted, Jordan and Rhodes could both be on borrowed time with the Silver and Black.

Updating an item we've been following for a while, it appears running back Michael Bush (leg) will not be activated before this Sunday's game. Look for the team to wait until this coming Tuesday or Wednesday to make a decision.

From a game plan standpoint look for the team to take a very conservative approach and play a field position game with the Minnesota Vikings this Sunday, similar to the style they played against the Chicago Bears last week. The wild card in the equation could be how Culpepper performs against his former club. We all remember how he dominated the Miami Dolphins in his previous meeting with a former employer.

San Diego Chargers

While the team has not publicly decried the play of quarterback Philip Rivers that appears to be more a case of head coach Norv Turner circling the wagons on the message he wants expressed in public. Privately may be another matter as Rivers has already committed more turnovers in nine games this year than in all of last season. The quarterback says he's not losing any sleep about it, but the fact that he brings it up at all makes the sentiment ring a little hollow to us.

Cornerback Antonio Cromartie has been doing a lot more film study and game preparation lately, and the results are evident. Always an incredible athlete, Cromartie is now putting everything together and has all the makings of a truly special player.

It should be interesting to see what happens when cornerback Quentin Jammer (hamstring) is back at full strength as to who gets the starting nod opposite him between Cromartie and cornerback Drayton Florence. The original plan was to groom Cromartie as a nickel back, but he is really pushing the issue with his incredible play of late.

In regards to San Diego's win over the Indianapolis Colts last week the Chargers aren't trying to convince themselves there wasn't any luck involved after Colts place kicker Adam Vinatieri missed a short field goal. In fact, some players commented about having never felt so bad following a victory. However, the Chargers outplayed the Colts in two of the three facets of the game - defense and special teams - so it wasn't pure luck, either. Regardless of the circumstances you can be sure the team is just happy to have another "W" under their belt.

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys

With quarterback Tony Romo taking over the city of Dallas, one name that has slipped under the radar is former Super Bowl-winning quarterback Brad Johnson. The Cowboys backup doesn't want to be called a mentor, but he might be playing just that role. He has reportedly been a big help to Romo's maturity, and despite his desire to play he fully understands his role in the organization. Well, someone needs to hold placekicks.

Someone who needs to break through holds is running back Marion Barber III, who has seen his numbers dip a bit in the last few games. Fellow halfback Julius Jones has stepped it up in the starting role, acting as a complement to the passing game.

Both cogs in the steady backfield are up for free agency next season. Jones might be playing for a new locale. Although he enjoys playing in Dallas, he might switch over to a team that would have him as the undisputed feature back, specifically in a more one-cut, zone blocking team. Barber is a restricted free agent after this season, and the Cowboys would be expected to put a high tender on him; if a team signed him with a high tender, the Cowboys would receive first and third-round picks from that team.

Defensive tackle Tank Johnson received mediocre reviews from the Cowboys in his first game back. In playing approximately 30 snaps, his technique looked somewhat shaky as he adapted to playing nose tackle. He is expected to ease back into the groove, and if he gets going he gives the Cowboys another serviceable inside pass-rusher.

Despite catching a touchdown in three games this season - including his last two - don't expect tight end Tony Curtis to become a permanent part of the passing game. He has lucked himself into being open in situations where they disguised as a running formation.
There's no update on the condition of wide receiver Terry Glenn (knee), who did not practice all week.

New York Giants

Quarterback Eli Manning took another mass media beating after his two-interception performance against the Cowboys, but the Giants considered the game a vast improvement. Much of the criticism might hinge on a failed opportunity for the Giants to tie the game. Trailing 24-17 early in the fourth quarter, the Giants drove to the Cowboys' 6-yard line before settling for a field goal. Two offensive penalties did them in, but Manning's ineffectiveness in key spots has not helped his cause. Either way, the Giants need him to step it up in the second half.

Wide receiver Plaxico Burress (ankle) is expected to play this Sunday, but he likely won't have a strenuous practice for the rest of the season. His ankle swells up after games, and it even looks like he's struggling once he hits the field. He hasn't scored a touchdown in his last three contests, and the Cowboys pretty much shut him down last week.

Since they pretty much have no one else that can stretch the field, the Giants are expected to keep Burress out there until he can't manage the pain. Wide receiver Amani Toomer and tight end Jeremy Shockey are possession and seam threats, so they can't perform that role.
Wideout Steven Smith (hamstring) could help New York to stretch the field, but he's still banged up. He started running a few pass routes, but he will be out once again this week.
Burress's ineffectiveness contributed to Shockey's 12 receptions last week. He had a lot of catches that went for less than 10 yards, and he didn't break any big gains. The Giants didn't seem to take advantage underneath. The Cowboys played toward the deep ball, and limiting the Giants to short routes seemed to have worked.

Philadelphia Eagles

Did quarterback Donovan McNabb save his season last week in the 33-25 comeback victory over the Washington Redskins? McNabb threw for three of his four touchdown passes in the second half, including two in the fourth quarter that went for more than 40 yards. Our source says that if things go poorly for him this week, he's back to square one in job security, which in essence is square zero. The Eagles pretty much need to make the playoffs for McNabb to lock it up for next season.

Tight end L.J. Smith was able to open up the air game for McNabb while catching a key touchdown late in the third quarter. Smith finished with four catches for 49 yards. Smith has long been a favorite target of McNabb's, so his return to the playbook could help the offense drastically. He also contributed in the blocking scheme, taking out Redskins safety LaRon Landry on a 57-yard touchdown reception on a screen to running back Brian Westbrook.

Washington Redskins

Coming off a disheartening loss to the Eagles, the Redskins shift to another divisional opponent in Week 11 when they square off against the Cowboys. Last week against the Eagles, quarterback Jason Campbell went 23-for-34 for 215 yards and three touchdowns. All three of his scoring passes came within the red zone, meaning the Skins didn't get the chance to run the ball there as they normally do. Play calling might have had its hand in allowing Philadelphia to rally; Washington continued to run the ball to knock more time off the clock, but they wound up settling for a field goal early in the game and it ended up hurting them in the long run.

Running back Clinton Portis carried the ball 30 times and hit triple-digits in rushing yardage for the second straight game. His 137 rushing yards marked his second-highest output of the season, and it seems as if running back Ladell Betts still won't get many chances. Offensive coordinator Al Saunders prefers to have Portis pound away, and those fantasy owners who drafted Betts as a high-risk/high-reward pick are not pleased. Portis continues to be effective in his carries, though, so the trend is likely to continue.

After wide receiver Brandon Lloyd (collarbone) was placed on Injured Reserve this week, the pecking order looks to shape up with wideout Antwaan Randle El as the top option and struggling receiver Santana Moss (heel) at No. 2. The rest of the ladder offers wide receivers Keenan McCardell, Reche Caldwell and the newly signed Jimmy Farris, a third-year player from the University of Montana.
Moss admitted this week that he doesn't know how much work he can handle. He could prove to be useful in running short routes for this coming week.

NFC North

Chicago Bears

Quarterback Brian Griese (shoulder) appears to be a lame duck in Chicago. The injury is to his non-throwing shoulder, and we're hearing the team has had a faction that wanted quarterback Rex Grossman all along. He's the draft pick, and they want to see what he can do. The injury was an easy reason to give to make the change.

If Grossman struggles, we may see quarterback Kyle Orton under center. If the team is bad enough, look for Orton. There's no reason to go back to Griese unless Grossman went down and were to miss time.

Expect running back Adrian N. Peterson to get more playing time this week. We don't expect him to be real successful as a feature back, but he should get more carries in Week 11.
The team doesn't appear likely to admit they were wrong about their assessment of running back Cedric Benson. They'll ask him to work hard in the offseason, but they have to bring in another capable back. Benson could be competing for a job next year.
Receiver Bernard Berrian's value should go up a bit with Grossman throwing to him.
Wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad may not disappear with Grossman throwing, though. He had a 35-yard catch from Grossman against the Raiders.
Tight end Desmond Clark is on the field more and will probably be more effective. The team knows tight end Greg Olsen needs to get involved, too, and they went away from him against the Oakland Raiders.

Detroit Lions

The Lions set a record for futility on the ground last season, and we're hearing the team just executed poorly then gave up on the run. The team felt they could attack the Arizona Cardinals outside throwing the ball. Offensive coordinator Mike Martz has taken a lot of heat for it. He has been assigned a big chunk of the blame because the end around was a disaster, and they had two runs on first down that lost four yards. Then they just gave up on the run.

Running back Kevin Jones (foot) is good to go this week. His pain is bad the day after a game, but it gets more and more tolerable as the week progresses. Expect this the rest of the year and maybe longer. Look for him to have between 10 and 15 carries this week. The Lions want to get running back T.J. Duckett involved more, and if KJ were to go down, Duckett would likely shoulder the load in the backfield.

The team wanted to get wide receiver Calvin Johnson (back) more involved last week, and they threw to him early in the game. However, he landed on his back and aggravated his injury. There was another designed play later in the game, but quarterback Jon Kitna was sacked and fumbled.

Johnson said his back feels good. Sources say his expectations weren't too high entering the season. He has essentially been banged up since Week 3, it's a tough offense to master and the offense has struggled. All of these have factored into his struggles.

Green Bay Packers

Quarterback Brett Favre threw the ball 46 times in a shutout win last week, but that was because the team controlled the ball so much. They still ran almost 30 times and want to run more. Surprisingly they were able to run on what was perceived to be one of the best run defenses in the league - the Minnesota Vikings.

Running back Ryan Grant was able to get outside the defensive tackles and exploit a weakness in the defense. He had a great day with more than 100 yards and a score. He's a decisive, strong runner, and he usually picks up a couple yards after contact.

Wide receiver Koren Robinson tied for the team lead in receptions last week with five, and if he continues to produce, expect all the receivers' numbers to go down a bit. Rookie receiver James Jones is still playing more than Robinson, so the two aren't interchangeable.

At the same time, wideout Donald Driver's numbers are extremely low, and that's because the team has four good receivers. Defenses have keyed on Driver, which has left wide receiver Greg Jennings, Jones and Robinson open to fill up the stat column. Eventually defenses should key on those receivers, and Driver should start to produce more.

Minnesota Vikings

Sadly, one week after running back Adrian Peterson (knee) set the fantasy world ablaze with his record-setting rushing performance, he was lost for a couple of weeks due to a knee injury. Expect the team to be cautious with him. There was a bit of confusion when the trainer alluded to Peterson not being ruled out for the game this week. However, that quote was taken out of context, and all they said was he'd play again this year.

Sources are guessing he'll miss three games at least. If he's healthy, they'll play him. Peterson's competitive nature will probably rush him back, but the team won't allow it. He's too valuable.

Look for running back Chester Taylor to get 20-plus carries this week, depending on how the game shakes out. He won't be splitting carries with tailback Mewelde Moore.
Expect Moore to get five to eight carries when Taylor is tired. If a back breaks a 20-yard run, the team always takes them out for a play.
Getting cornerback Antoine Winfield (hamstring) back should be a big plus for the struggling defense this week.

NFC South

Atlanta Falcons

Even as running back Jerious Norwood (ankle) is expected to return for Week 11 after he fully participated in practice Friday, Nov. 16, look for running back Warrick Dunn to get approximately 90 percent of the carries. Dunn has proven he can handle the job, and he has excelled at pass protection.

Expect the Falcons to lean more towards a vertical passing game this week to open things up for Dunn. Quarterback Byron Leftwich (ankle) practiced Friday, Nov. 16, but head coach Bobby Petrino hasn't hinted if he will replace quarterback Joey Harrington as the starter. Petrino is expected to announce his choice Saturday, Nov. 17.

Carolina Panthers

Wide receiver Steve Smith (shin) is "kinda iffy" for Week 11, our source said. The injury might be more serious than first thought. He did not practice all week, and head coach John Fox has shown a pattern to sit those who don't practice all week. Even if Smith played, the Panthers haven't exactly been lighting things up through the air. The Panthers will likely try to control the clock with their running game. If Smith can't go, wide receiver Drew Carter would be the No. 1 target, followed by receivers Keary Colbert and Dwayne Jarrett to round out the top three.

Don't expect Jarrett to see an increased role. They gambled that he would be ready, and he failed. He made a key mistake last week when the ball was thrown to him, but he kept running.

After participating in practice all week and proving that he can play through his injured Achilles' tendon, quarterback Vinny Testaverde (Achilles') is set to once again take the starting snaps for the Panthers this week. The ageless wonder steps in against the Green Bay Packers (8-1). Quarterback David Carr (concussion) also practiced all week, and it seems that they could be sending in the veteran to take some Lambeau lumps in order to rest Carr for some more winnable games.

Second-year running back DeAngelo Williams has broken the hearts of his fantasy owners as he has not taken the steps to overtake fellow back DeShaun Foster. Williams has not been able to get past the first hit, and he has lacked the explosiveness that won him some carries last year. He's not giving the Panthers a reason to slide the carry split in his favor. Look for Carolina to try to control the clock on the road in Green Bay, and for the carries to go 70 percent for Foster and 30 for Williams.

Defensive end Julius Peppers has not earned any discussions of a contract extension with his poor play this year. Peppers has denied rumors that he is unhealthy, and he said that he's merely having a down season. One thing that can't be refuted is that Peppers isn't drawing double teams anymore and that defensive tackle Kris Jenkins is the main target of opposing offensive linemen.

The Panthers are not expected to increase the frequency of their blitz schemes in an attempt to generate some pass rush. The Panthers don't want to burden rookie linebacker Jon Beason with overly difficult schemes. They've been dropping Peppers into coverage to try to light a spark, but that hasn't produced many results.

Fox might be on the hot seat, and his job status could be determined not this week but in the following two weeks at home against the New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers. If they don't win at least one of those games, you could hear some sizzling in Charlotte.
Despite the scattered viewers who enjoy his television banter, former wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson is not missed by the Panthers. They cut him because some of the same outlandish behavior he broadcasts with didn't sit well with the Panthers organization.

New Orleans Saints

The Saints are not worried about running back Reggie Bush's (concussion) durability with his recent concussion. They don't feel the injury is a knock on his durability. Backup running back Aaron Stecker filled in for Bush last week with three carries for 26 yards and a touchdown.

Wide receiver Robert Meachem has taken very few strikes in returning, and insiders are calling it a "redshirt-type" year for him. The fact that New Orleans has an ample amount of receivers ahead of him doesn't provoke the Saints to rush him into the lineup, either.
Not many fans could predict the St. Louis Rams' first victory would come against the Saints, but New Orleans was reportedly saying all week that they were not looking past them.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Running back Michael Pittman is set to return this week, and he could see a 50-50 touch split with fellow back Earnest Graham. Graham has had three straight games of at least 62 yards rushing, and in their last game during Week 9 he carried the ball 34 times for 124 yards and a touchdown. Pittman is generally regarded as a better receiver and blocker than Graham, so that could be his foot in the door for this timeshare.

Despite recording just one total tackle in the Bucs' Week 9 matchup with the Arizona Cardinals, linebacker Barrett Ruud leads the team and is tied for third in the league with 79 tackles.
For the five of you who were curious, don't expect quarterback Jake Plummer to step on the field with the Bucs this year. He's too busy hanging out with Grizzly Adams.

NFC West

Arizona Cardinals

The improved play of quarterback Kurt Warner (elbow) had nothing to do with any sudden healing of his elbow. It was more a situation of the team being ready to play from the start and putting themselves in more manageable game situations that didn't require a lot of shots downfield. As for the injury, it sounds as though Warner may need to wear the elbow brace for the remainder of the campaign.

A two-touchdown performance by tight end Leonard Pope certainly got the attention of fantasy owners, but don't be too hasty to anoint him a legit fantasy option. Pope followed his touchdowns with a fumble and a false start penalty, and he still has some holes in his game. For now it looks like the prudent move would be to take a wait and see approach.

While the Cardinals boast a solid run defense, the Detroit Lions contributed heavily to last week's minus-18 yards rushing by going away from running the ball almost completely. The Cincinnati Bengals could look to move the ball via the air this week as well considering the injuries to safety Adrian Wilson (knee) and cornerback Eric Green (ankle).

With defensive lineman Bertrand Berry (triceps) out for the season, look for the club to replace him with a combination of defensive lineman Joe Tafoya on running downs and linebacker Darryl Blackstock in passing situations.

San Francisco 49ers

Quarterback Alex D. Smith (shoulder) is set to sit out this Sunday's game after looking terrible since returning from a shoulder injury. Apparently lingering effects of the injury are at least partially to blame. One source characterized Smith's play of late as looking like the worst quarterback he has seen in his life. He further estimated Smith at roughly 40 percent healthy and questioned the reasoning behind playing him in that condition. At this point it would appear the decision as to when Smith will return will be left up to him and his representation.

With Smith's struggles this season don't be surprised if the team spends a pick or even two on quarterbacks in the 2008 draft.

The team seems to be getting their ground game going a little bit lately and the switch at quarterback could push running back Frank Gore (ankle) into a more prominent role. As for his condition, the belief is that Gore is certainly healthy enough to surpass the 13 carries he had in Week 10.

Wide receiver Darrell Jackson's disappointing season isn't totally on him as it is also a byproduct of an all-around poor passing game. However, he hasn't done much when given the opportunity.

Not surprisingly it would appear offensive coordinator Jim Hostler's job could be in jeopardy, and even head coach Mike Nolan has said the team has regressed offensively. Hostler's hopes of retaining his job may rest in his ability to get the ball in the hands of Gore and tight end Vernon Davis more frequently moving forward.

Other coaches on the hot seat include wide receivers coach Jerry Sullivan and offensive line coach George Warhop, not to mention Nolan himself if the season continues on its current downward spiral.

Seattle Seahawks

With running back Shaun Alexander (wrist, knee) expected to miss another game this week and the team changing the focus of the offense to feature the pass it could be interesting to see what role Alexander plays upon his return. The obvious solution might be to split time between him and running back Maurice Morris, but the problem with that is the personnel could tip the play selection given Alexander's deficiencies as a receiver. If Alexander were in the defense would likely suspect run, and with Morris on the field they could look to play the pass.

There is some concern that Alexander might just be done, but the odd thing is that he came into camp in tremendous shape and appeared faster than ever. Only time will tell. However, the team holds no illusions about Morris being an every-down back as they feel he is simply not big or tough enough to withstand a weekly pounding over a 16-game slate.

Morris' heavy workload last week (28 carries) was a result of the team running out the clock and not a design of the offense. Assuming Alexander is inactive look for Morris to garner around 18 carries with fullback Leonard Weaver collecting about a half-dozen, which could include potential goal line touches.

Another note on Weaver, the team was thrilled with his blocking last week, and it was their desire to have him concentrate on one aspect of the offense that had a lot to do with his limited touches.
Despite tight end Will Heller catching three touchdowns in as many games the No. 1 job still belongs to tight end Marcus Pollard (knee). Pollard has been moving well in practice this week, which could give the passing game yet another weapon.

Before his injury, wide receiver Deion Branch (foot) and quarterback Matt Hasselbeck had developed a tremendous rapport on the field. It remains to be seen if they can pick up where they left off. Don't be shocked to see Seattle put the ball in the air a ton against the Chicago Bears this week as they are finally expected to have their full compliment of receivers.

The team hopes a steady diet of passing will open up things for the running game down the road, though they've struggled to run the ball all season so there are no guarantees.

When asked if Seattle could be a contender for the NFC one source indicated this weekend was a key test as the Seahawks have lost to several marginal opponents this season. If they beat the Bears then he said he might start believing they are legit.

St. Louis Rams

Running back Steven Jackson logged 28 touches last Sunday, which is way more than the team had planned for him going in. Jackson simply got in there and looked good, and with the team looking to protect the lead they keep feeding him the ball. Jackson came out of it healthy, and we could see more of the same this Sunday against the 49ers. Running back Antonio Pittman will likely serve as the No. 2 back with running back Brian Leonard as the fullback. Both players could see in the neighborhood of six touches this week.

It looks like wide receiver Isaac Bruce (hamstring) just got a bit of a scare last week rather than a full-fledged aggravation of a hamstring injury that cost him two games earlier this season. Bruce has looked solid in practice and in the team's last meeting with San Francisco both he and wide receiver Torry Holt found lots of space to operate in the secondary.

The team's patchwork offensive line enjoyed their finest game of the season last week, putting up a season high in points and yards. However, they are still a work in progress and could have some trouble against an active 49ers defensive line that likes to give their opponents a lot of different looks. Quarterback Marc Bulger helped the offensive line last week by delivering the ball quickly and could look to do the same this Sunday.

St. Louis featured the blitz heavily in Week 10, sacking New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees twice and hitting him numerous times. They might scale that back a bit this week against a 49ers team that will likely be looking to establish the run with Gore.

Defensive end Victor Adeyanju did a decent job of filling in for defensive end Leonard Little (toe), who is out for the season. Adeyanju does a pretty good job holding up against the run, but he is not a polished pass rusher. He was rarely on the field when the team dialed up their blitzes last week. Look for him to see more snaps this week against a much less explosive offense.