News broke today that Browns TE Kellen Winslow has been hospitalized for an undisclosed illness. The Browns don't play till Monday night so if it's not serious he could play, but follow the news before including him in your lineup, if this is something long-term.

UPDATE: Pro Football Talk has the details of the undisclosed illness. It might have been better off left undisclosed.

It was just announced that the roof at Reliant Stadium in Houston was damaged and this week's Baltimore/Houston game is going to be postponed; essentially both teams are getting their byes this week and the games are going to be shuffled around to take place during Baltimore and Houston's original byes.

More details here: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5999358.html

Hi everyone, hope you all had a great holiday weekend! Now it's time to get ready for the regular season. And if you're looking for a quick fantasy game, or are new to fantasy football and want to get a taste of what it's like, we introduce again the Extra Points Survivor League!!

The concept of survivor fantasy football is simple, but the game is quite challenging. Every week, you pick one team you think will win that week. If the team you picked wins, you live to pick another week. If the team you pick loses, you are eliminated from the competition. That's it! You can only pick a team once during the game, so pick carefully.

To sign up go to http://football.fantasysports.yahoo.com/survival, and sign up for our private group (you'll need a Yahoo ID to participate, but it's free to create one). Use Group ID #20916 and password xppodcast.

Whoever is the last survivor will win a fabulous prize! It's free to join, so get going! Sign up for our group; entry is first come, first served. If there is interest beyond 50 people (Yahoo's limit for our group size) we will start a second league. If you have any ?s, e-mail extrapointspodcast@gmail.com or post a message on the new forums.

Good luck, and may the best survivor win...

Scott and Steve

Mentioned as a possibility in this week's podcast, Priest Holmes made it official today: he will retire after reaggravating the neck injury that took him out of football for 2 years. With Larry Johnson out for at least another few weeks, untested rookie Kolby Smith will be KC's top running back. Yeah, if I was a Holmes or Johnson owner, I'd be looking elsewhere too...

 

Things are going from bad to worse for Carolina: Jake Delhomme will have season-ending surgery on his elbow, and David Carr left Sunday's game for a while with a back injury (though the Panthers somehow still managed to beat the Saints).

Carr's status thiscoming weekend against ARI is uncertain. Carolina's only other QBs are Matt Moore (Oregon State) and Quintin Porter (Boston Coll.), both undrafted. The Panthers may also try to bring in outside help. Maybe Drew Bledsoe will un-retire. Maybe Dan Marino will. Maybe they'll grab the first guy to walk by the Panthers practice facility (it could be you, Mr. Bledsoe!). In this season of walking wounded, anything is possible. So if you're a Carr owner, just make sure he'll be playing before you start him.

On the positive side of injury news for a change, apparantly Alex Smith of the 49ers will not need surgery on his separated shoulder. He is aiming to come back in 2 weeks against the Giants (the Niners are on bye this week). That's not confirmed yet, but he should be back this season.

There's sure to be more enthralling injury discussion on this week's show!

FOX 31 News in Colorado is reporting that Broncos RB Travis Henry has tested positive for marijuana and could be suspended for one year per the league's substance abuse policy.  Henry was due to rotate out of the program following Week 3, but this positive test apparently happened before then.

Henry is filing suit against the NFL to throw out the test because of procedural issues, but should that fail, Henry could be suspended immediately afterward.  If you own Henry, you need to grab Selvin Young or any other startable running back ASAP.  Henry's suspension could come down at any time, at which point you'll need to have Plan B in place.  As the undisputed starter, Young has quite a bit of potential and could very well be an every-week starter. 

Well, it took a really long time, but it looks like the Raiders finally got their man: reports are that the team has finally come to terms with the #1 pick from this year's draft, QB Jamarcus Russell. The contract is for 6 years and a max of $68 million. While Russell could be practicing in a few days, it remains to be seen when or if he will play in a game this season.

Apparantly the Browns have had enough with Charlie Frye (it took them this long!?), as he's been traded to Seattle. That leaves Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn, and you wonder how long Romeo Crennel will wait before throwing Quinn into the fire...

Dallas WR Terry Glenn will miss at least two weeks with swelling in his knee, after missing the entire preseason following arthroscopic knee surgery. Patrick Crayton is expected to fill the starting role that Glenn is vacating, and should be picked up in all leagues where he is still available.

Last minute tidbits: the Falcons officially named Warrick Dunn their starting RB, putting Jerius Norwood in the backup role.

The Browns named Charlie Frye as their starting QB. [cricket noises...] That is all.

In a surprise move, the Jaguars have announced that David Garrard, not Byron Leftwich, will be their starting QB this season.  Leftwich will be traded or released by Saturday's deadline for teams to reduce their roster size to 53. 

Downgrade all Jacksonville receivers; Garrard's passing was anemic last season, and there's no reason to believe that he's finally learned how to throw for big yardage. As for Garrard himself, draft him only as a backup QB, and even then there are better options. Maurice Jones-Drew's value should remain unchanged at worst and may slightly increase; he had some of his best games with Garrard under center.

As for Leftwich, I wouldn't be at all surprised to see him wearing a Falcons jersey by Labor Day...

First they draft a franchise quarterback who they can't manage to sign, and now word comes down that new head coach Lane Kiffin's doctors are 95 percent sure that Kiffin's come down with mononucleosis. Kiffin's apparently going to continue coaching while he recovers, but he's not to yell or exert any energy until he's better, which could take weeks or even months. I got mono my sophomore year of college, and I nearly had to repeat the semester because of it. It took me about a month to recover, and I felt like death warmed over throughout that time, and that was with adequate time to rest and recover. With all the stress and long hours involved with being the head coach of an NFL team, I'd be willing to gamble that Kiffin's not going to be better for a while. It's hard to say whether being sick for an extended period of time will affect his coaching ability, but without JaMarcus Russell, it's probably better that you avoid the Raiders offense, mono or no mono...

Eagles TE LJ Smith was carted off the field after aggravating his already injured groin in practice. The prior injury was a sports hernia, which was operated on in May.

If you were targeting Smith as your potential starting tight end, you'll probably want to look elsewhere if he doesn't rebound (and improve) right away. He's generally been a productive value pick at TE in the effective Eagles offense, but if he continues to struggle with injuries you'll be better off finding someone else to start for your team.

In Duante Culpepper news, he's working out for the Oakland Raiders, mainly as a precaution since contract negotiations with Jamarcus Russell have stalled (for the time being at least). Just keep an eye on this.

Frank Gore has apparently fractured his hand in practice, and will be out for a minimum of a week, and as much as the whole preseason. This is probably the best possible time for this type of injury to happen, honestly, since he'll only miss the preseason and should be ready to start the season. However, it's a situation to monitor; if Gore doesn't bounce back quickly, then it might be worth dropping him down your draft list. Of course, that could also mean that you could be able to get him later than you otherwise would have if you're willing to take a chance on him. Of course, we'll keep an eye on the situation and give you updates as they arrive.

Rotoworld.com just posted an excellent article on bad habits that fantasy owners fall into.  I highly recommend that you head over and read it to get yourself into the right mindset to prepare for your fantasy draft.  I've personally fallen into some of these traps and seen others fall into the others, and any of them can hurt your chances pretty badly.

We'll have the first of our draft preparation episodes available this week to talk about the specific players.  Be sure to go back to our tutorial episodes from last summer for more general, strategy-oriented advice.  And remember that everything that we say is just our opinion, based on our experiences; you should always make sure to consult multiple sources and then make the decisions that are right for your team and your league. 

AP is reporting that KC has reached an agreement to send QB Trent Green to Miami in exchange for a 5th round draft pick. Green is expected to be in South Florida for the Dolphins minicamp starting Friday, but as of yet neither team has confirmed the deal has actually taken place.

It is also surmised that Green will become Miami's #1 QB and they will look to ship out Duante Culpepper. But in another strange twist to this very strange saga, apparantly Culpepper--who is his own agent--doesn't want to be traded! So he knows (theoretically) he won't be the starter in Miami, he knows they drafted a QB (John Beck) who they will likely groom for the future, yet he wants to stay there. Huh?!?

And this leaves the Chiefs with who as their #1 QB? Damon Huard? Ouch.

David Carr inked a 2-yr. deal with the Panthers to be Jake Delhomme's backup. I still maintain he should be a starter, but I guess a backup job is better than no job.

Good move/bad move for Carr? Good move/bad move for the Panthers? Send us your opinions at extrapointspodcast@gmail.com, and we'll try to include them in our NFL Draft preview show, which should post just before the draft in late April.

--Scott

Just when you thought the coaching carousel had stopped spinning, the Chargers announced that they fired head coach Marty Schottenheimer on Monday. It's rather odd that they waited this long to make this move given that the scouting season is well underway, but there still seem to be some reasonable head coaching candidates available, including Norv Turner and Ron Rivera, so hopefully the Chargers won't be saddled with someone who hasn't coached in ten years or so like the Raiders did last season...

Cowboys coach Bill Parcells announced in a statement Monday morning that he is retiring from coaching football. The announcement comes more than two weeks after their last-second playoff loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

While this announcement does end the speculation of whether or not Parcells would continue to coach, it does put the Cowboys in a disadvantageous position, given that the Senior Bowl is approaching very quickly and most of the other vacant head coaching jobs have already been filled. There is no indication of who the Cowboys plan to interview, or if the process had already begun, just in case.

We'll have details on the implication of this announcement as well as the other coaching changes throughout the league in our coaching carousel episode in late February.

Over the last few weeks Nick Saban kept saying there was no way he was leaving Miami, and how committed he was to owner Wayne Huizenga. Well, the team confirmed yesterday that Saban...surprise!...was leaving Miami to coach the University of Alabama. He will reportedly get $32 million over 8 years.

It seems to be a good move for Saban, who was stellar as a college coach, leading LSU to the national championship in '03, but mediocre at best in the pros (15-17 record with the Dolphins). But kind of sucks for Miami.

And it proves the old adage: never believe a word that comes out of any coach's mouth. :)

The Arizona Cardinals and Atlanta Falcons made the first two moves of the offseason, firing coaches Dennis Green and Jim Mora, respectively. Neither move is completely surprising, given Arizona's disappointing season following the signing of Edgerring James and drafting of Matt Leinart, and Atlanta's slide following a 5-2 start and subsequent sniping between players and coaches in the media.

We'll have a full wrap-up of all the coaching changes around the league after all the empty coaching positions have been vacated and filled, likely in late February.

Cadillac Williams has been downgraded to out for Week 16's matchup against Cleveland. He was not on the plane with the rest of the team.

Michael Pittman will start in Cadillac's place, with Mike Alstott expected to get 3rd down and goal line carries. If you were relying on Cadillac, Pittman might not be a terrible play given the matchup, if you're lacking in alternatives.

Maurice Jones-Drew owners, the news you've been waiting for all season has arrived. Fred Taylor has been downgraded to out for Week 16's game against the Patriots. Granted, the Pats are a tough matchup, but there's no possible way you can sit MoJo unless your other rubbing backs are LT and LJ. Get him in your lineup if you have him.

49ers WR Antonio Bryant has been suspended for four games as a resuilt of his drunk driving arrest last month. Should the Niners miss the playoffs, Bryant's suspension would carry over to the first two games of 2007. Bryant's been inconsistent of late anyway, so hopefully you haven't been relying on him; he's obviously safe to drop at this point.

Bryan Gilmore will assume a starting role, if you're in a bind. Expect Vernon Davis to see more balls going his way as well, so he may be worth a start this week if you were on the fence.

Clarity from the Patriots: Will wonders never cease?

Both Laurence Maroney and Chad Jackson have been ruled out for Week 14's game against Miami. Jackson's been a non-entity for the most part in New England, so that should affect the receiving situation significantly. Upgrade Dillon slightly, but keep in mind that the matchup is a formidable one; he's still not a great option, but he's a better one than he would be if he were sharing carries.

ESPN is confirming that Jake Delhomme is expected to miss Sunday's game against the Giants. Chris Weinke would be making his first start in almost 5 years.

While one Carolina offensive starter is on his way out, another is poised to come back. DeShaun Foster practiced yesterday (Wed.), and is probable for Sunday. John Fox said that if Foster is healthy, he will have the #1 RB spot, ahead of impressive rookie DeAngelo Williams.

So if you were planning on starting Williams this weekend, you may want to reconsider (though keep up with the news in case Foster's condition takes a turn for the worse).

The Charlotte Observer is reporting that Panthers QB Jake Delhomme has a partially torn ligament in his thumb and could miss Week 14's game against the Giants. If he does sit, Chris Weinke would start at QB. If you're relying on any Carolina players this week, monitor this situation closely; as disappointing as Delhomme has been this season, if he doesn't play, the whole offense could suffer.

Whatchoo talkin' bout, Willis? (Sorry, couldn't resist.) We're talking about Willis' ankle injury that kept him out of practice Wednesday. McGahee was wearing a protective boot that is supposed to come off Thursday, and he sounded optimistic about his chances of playing Sunday against the Jets. It goes without saying that you should be paying close attention to the Sunday inactives if you intend to start McGahee, and you'll probably want to sit him anyway unless the news over the next two days is overwhelmingly positive, considering that the Bills play in the late game this week.

Of course, if Anthony Thomas is available following McGahee's return, you might want to look into grabbing him while you can if you need RB help. Even if McGahee does play, he could be limited if the ankle gives him trouble.

A friendly reminder: The Bengals and Ravens play tonight, so make sure to get your lineups set if you're looking to start anyone on either of those teams.  (Of course, chances are you won't be able to actually see the game because of NFL Network stupidity, but that's beside the point...)

So a Green Bay quarterback suffered a season-ending injury in Sunday's game vs. the Pats. But it wasn't the one you might think...

Green Bay's BACKUP QB, Aaron Rogers, broke his foot in the 3rd quarter (so now he has an excuse for his paltry 4 for 12 performance). He will require surgery and is out for the rest of the year.

The Packers are optimistic that Brett Favre will be healthy enough to start next Monday night against Seattle. He has started 251 consecutive games, after all. The team will evaluate his injured elbow throughout practice this week. If Favre can't go, the Packers' 3rd string QB is Ingle Martin (how's that for pulling a name out of thin air!?!), a rookie, 5th round draft pick out of Furman College.

The team is also considering signing any available veteran they can get--too bad the Pats snatched up Testaverde last week!--or pulling fans out of the stands at Lambeau.

Needless to say, if for some reason you still had anyone associated with the Green Bay offense in your lineup, now is the time to remove them.

We talk about injuries and being on the inactive list all the time on our show, so thought it appropriate to draw your attention to this week's Tuesday Morning Quarterback article (at least the beginning portion, though read the whole thing if you can, as it's top-notch as usual).

He writes about how the injury reserve and inactive lists really don't make much sense, as players on them are paid to sit on the bench, and players on IR can't come back to play later in the season even if they've recovered from their injuries.

TMQ posits that the IR, inactive system, and team roster limits are obsolete now that a salary cap limits what every team can spend. Its an interesting viewpoint, though I'd be interested to hear a counter-argument.

Have an opinion on this? Leave us a comment, or e-mail us at extrapointspodcast@gmail.com and we may read your message on the show!

Saints WR Joe Horn is inactive for today's game against Tampa Bay. Needless to say, get him out of your lineup ASAP, and downgrade Drew Brees as well; without his main target, Brees may have a harder time against the TB secondary.

Lots of updates to the injury report, and little good news to report:

Byron Leftwich has been downgraded to questionable and is unlikely to start this week against Tennessee. David Garrard, who did little in terms of stats but who did manage Jacksonville to a victory in Week 8, will get the start. Once again, downgrade all the Jacksonville receivers and upgrade Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew, both of whom will likely get another healthy workload this week.

Terry Glenn was added to the injury report as probable with a quadriceps injury Friday. Glenn wasn't a particularly exciting start anyway, given the matchup against a suddenly healthy Washington secondary and the fact that his targets have dropped with Romo under center. Sit Glenn if you can, but check the Sunday inactives if he's still your best option.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the matchup, Santana Moss was downgraded to doubtfulwith a hamstring injury and has ruled himself (unofficially) out for Sunday's matchup against Dallas. Get him out of your lineup, and downbgrade Brunell as well; Moss is essentially his only legitimate weapon, as both Brandon Lloyd and Antwaan Randle El have been mostly ineffective this season.

Plaxico Burress was downgraded to questionable with a back injury. He apparently hasn't practiced all week and will be a game-time decision against Houston.

Raiders WR Jerry Porter is expected to start today, after an extended stay in head coach Art Shell's doghouse. Porter has been either benched or suspended in every game so far this season.

While he may take a week or two to ramp up, if you need help at WR, Porter may not be a terrible player to grab off the waiver wire. He's a talented receiver, and the Raiders offense seemed, at least against the Cardinals, to be starting to come together. If you aren't going to be giving up too much, Porter could be a good high-risk/high reward investment.

Chiefs QB Damon Huard suffered an undisclosed injury during practice on Thursday, putting his status for Week 8 in doubt. Since Trent Green is not expected to return for another few weeks, rookie Brodie Croyle is expected to start if Huard can't go.

Monitor this situation closely; if Huard sits, downgrade the remainder of the Chiefs offense, especially the wide receivers. Even Larry Johnson could be negatively affected if the Seahawks decide to give up the pass to shut down the run.

Rudi Johnson was added to the injury report as probable after not participating in team practice Thursday. If you're counting on Rudi, you should at least start to prepare a Plan B just in case. He is probable, which is a good sign, but any addition to the injury report mid-week is never good, and it never hurts to be prepared for the worst...

Bill Parcells made it official today: Tony Romo will start at QB for the Cowboys thiscoming Sunday. Since Romo has had such little NFL experience, all bets are off concerning Terry Glenn and (cringing) Terrell Owens, though I'd imagine Romo would throw to Glenn a lot since he's a veteran and can probably do the most with poor throws.

All we can say is good luck Tony, you're going to need it...

First Shaun Alexander breaks his foot, and now QB Matt Hasselbeck is expected to be out for two to four weeks with an MCL sprain. Seneca Wallace will start in his place, and he supposedly is a decent replacement, but he turned the ball over three times in a quarter and a half of relief following Hasselbeck's injury.

We will, of course, have full analysis on the next episode of Extra Points.

Eagles RB Brian Westbrook also downgraded to questionable on the injury report, though that was after he completed a full day of practice on Friday. Westbrook has been all over the injury report the last few weeks and has still played, and reasonably well at that, each of the those weeks, but the situation bears monitoring. Of course, if you're a Westbrook owner, you should be used to this drill by now.

So remember how we were talking about a risk of Leftwich getting injured on this week's show? Well, he experienced soreness in his left ankle--the same one that kept him out of 5 games last season--and did not practice today. He is listed as questionable for Sunday's game vs. Houston.

David Garrard is Leftwich's back up. Follow this situation closely if you were planning to start Leftwich.

Patriot Nation's dream could just come true this Sunday; the Miami Sun-Sentinel is reporting that Daunte Culpepper could sit out Week 5's game against New England due to a shoulder injury. HC Nick Saban insists that the decision to bench Culpepper would be purely medical, and would have nothing to do with the fact that he's been playing abysmally so far this season.

If Culpepper does sit, Joey Harrington would likely start in his place, prompting the question of whether an injured Culpepper would be more or less effective than a healthy Harrington. In either case, Ronnie Brown aside, the Miami offense as a whole will likely be extremely disappointing against the NE defense this Sunday. If you have any other options, it is highly suggested that you use them. If you have no choice but to start Culpepper, pay very close attention to the Sunday inactives this week.

After another pitiful performance by Kurt Warner, Dennis Green finally said enough is enough and named Matt Leinart Arizona's week 5 starter against Kansas City. He even announced it in the Week 4 postgame news conference, no less!

Kansas City has the #2 pass defense in the league right now (who knew!?), so this week might not be the best to start Leinart. And the next several weeks don't get any easier, as AZ plays Pittsburgh, San Diego, and Seattle. Plus he's a rookie in his first NFL start.

So if you have another QB option, I'd hold off on Leinart. But if you're in a bind, be aware that he will be starting.

Seeking to recover from their 0-3 start, the Titans have named Vince Young as their starter against Dallas this weekend. It goes without saying that you should no longer have Kerry Collins in your lineup.

Rookie QBs often struggle, and the Cowboys defense is not only good, but also coming off a week of rest, so it might be wise to reconsider starting Drew Bennett or David Givens if you have other options. Vince Young himself could be a decent spot starter for you this week if you're really desperate, but try to look for any other options first.

For what it's worth, at the news conference today TO claims he never attempted to commit suicide, he just had an allergic reaction to medication, and the whole thing was all a big misunderstanding. He also said he may even be ready to play this week vs. TEN. I still think there's no way he's missing Week 5 in Philly.

I said before the season started I wouldn't touch TO with a 10-ft. pole, and I stand by that opinion. And that's the last thing I'll say about this whole situation.

--Scott

The AP is reporting that, according to a Dallas police report, Terrell Owens overdosed on painkillers he was prescribed for his broken finger in an apparent suicide attempt. The report states that he was depressed and swallowed 35 pills, including two more as rescue workers arrived.

Owens had said on Tuesday that his injury was not serious and that he would practice this week, but obviously his availability is uncertain at this time for Week 4 and beyond. The Cowboys have planned a press conference for 2:30 PM Eastern Time.

So all of you who had visions of riding Matt Lienart to victory this week may have to be patient; ESPN reports that Dennis Green has changed his mind overnight and Kurt Warner will start after all.

Given that Denny Green likes to change his QBs like most of us change our socks, this situation could change daily until Sunday, so if you're planning on starting any members of the Arizona offense, you'd be well advised to keep a close eye on the situation.

For those of you who chose Shaun Alexander as your #1 RB, I have some bad news: the Seahawks star has a broken foot, and will be out for a couple of weeks at a minimum. Time to start making alternate plans. Also, word out of Chiefs camp is that Trent Green will miss Week 4 due to the lingering effects of his concussion.

And apparantly the Cardinals have had enough of Kurt Warner's inconsistency and susceptibility to turnovers. It is reported that rookie QB Matt Leinart will start in his place this weekend vs. ATL.

Well, that didn't take long, now did it?

RB Ahman Green apparently tweaked his hamstring and has been added to the injury report as questionable. Needless to say, a mid-week downgrade is a very bad omen, and coupled with Green's storied injury history, it would be prudent for Green owners to watch the Sunday inactives very closely this week.

If Green can't go, then Vernand Morency and Noah Herron would likely split carries. The RBBC lowers the potential value of both, but the matchup against Detroit is favorable, so if you're in dire straits, it might be worth looking for one or the other on the waiver wire.

As speculated on our message board(!), Titans backup QB Billy Volek was dealt to the Chargers for a future draft pick. After TEN signed Kerry Collins, Volek dropped to the third spot (why? Volek was great filling in for McNair last year) and decided he could do better elsewhere.

So now he'll be #2 in SD, behind Philip Rivers. Is this an improvement? Probably, and he could provide some fantasy value should Rivers start to struggle (or get hurt). But, based on Rivers's performances in the first two weeks, that doesn't seem likely. So Volek might be worth picking up if you have Rivers and want some insurance, but otherwise I can't see this increasing his fantasy value that much.

Want to get in on the debate? Join our message board!

Thanks to Kjell1979 from the message board for alerting us that both Deion Branch and Steve Smith will be inactive for Week Two. Adjust your lineups accordingly.

Don't forget to sign up for the message board to hear and discuss news like this as it happens!

It's reported that Green Bay and Houston have swapped backup running backs. We'll have full analysis on the next episode of Extra Points. For now, if either player is on your waiver wire, it's worth grabbing them if you have room on your roster, because the value of both backs increases with this trade.

So, the drama ends. Deion Branch is now a Seahawk. The Patriots got a first-round pick in compensation, which will in no way help the passing game this season.

Branch will certainly be successful in the Seahawks' offense, though it will take him a few weeks to acclimate himself to the offense. Wait until he has a big game before you start him.

As for the Patriots, hopefully Doug Gabriel is as good as he's supposed to be, because the passing game without Branch against the Bills didn't look all that great, and the competition isn't likely to get much easier...

The Washington Post's Redskins blog quotes RB Clinton Portis as saying that he feels like he is at 75% and doesn't want to rush himself back and consequently hurt himself for the long haul, so he'll sit out if he doesn't feel 100%. Since Washington is slated to play Monday night, avoid Portis at all costs. If you have no other choice, try to grab Ladell Betts off your waiver wire if he's still available; he's likely to shoulder most of the load if Portis sits, and the matchup against Minnesota is a favorable one.

Ben Roethlisberger has been ruled out for Week 1 following an emergency appendectomy. He will be week-to-week following Week 1, so keep a close eye on the situation if this affects you. Charlie Batch is expected to start at QB, so downgrade the rest of the Steelers offense accordingly.

In response to Deion Branch's threats to hold out until Week 10 if he is not traded, the Patriots have traded for Doug Gabriel, formerly of the Oakland Raiders, for an undisclosed draft pick. Gabriel is arguable a better receiver than anyone in New England's current receiving corps, so he should start. If he learns the offense quickly, he could turn into a #1 receiver and become a genuine fantasy asset.

Back in Oakland, this move helps both Jerry Porter and Ronald Curry, who move up to the #2 and #3 slots, respectively. Porter has had a disasterous preseason to this point, so Curry could end up being Oakland's #2 receiver before long. The only question is how effective Aaron Brooks will be in that offense once the regular season starts.

The Texans have made it official: Domanick Davis has been placed on injured reserve, ending his 2006 season before it even began.

Currently, the Week 1 starter is slated to be Wali Lundy, who will split carries to some degree with Vernand Morency. Both should move up on your draft sheets. Also monitor the Texans' waiver moves, as they may try to gain some experience at RB by picking up someone who was released following this weekend's cuts.

It appears that Domanick Davis's nagging knee injury is more serious than he and the Texans had anticipated. The situation is so serious that some rumors have suggested Houston is actually considering releasing him (after passing on Reggie Bush in the draft! see below). While this seems unlikely (because he is injured, he cannot be cut without receiving compensation from the team), it does seem quite possible that if the injury persists, the Texans could put him on injured reserve. That would effectively sideline Davis for the entire 2006 season.

Davis said this week that his condition has become "increasingly frustrating." He hasn't played in any preseason games, and hasn't practiced in weeks. This is certainly not good news, and while he could still make a recovery and be active for the season, his performance will certainly be impacted by the injury.

In other words, Davis's risk as a fantasy selection just went way up, so keep this in mind as you're drafting. We already had Davis as a risky pick in our non-top-tier RB show a few weeks back; now with this injury situation I would say he becomes very risky.

Also, this means that not only did the Texans pass on taking Reggie Bush in the draft, but the RB who they were going to rely on--and made them feel they didn't need Bush--might be out for the entire season. Ouch. If you're a Texans fan, I feel very very sorry for you.   --Scott

QB Kerry Collins, formerly of the Oakland Raiders, has reportedly been signed to a one-year deal by the Tennessee Titans. While nothing definitive has come out regarding how this affects Billy Volek's chances to start, it stands to reason that, since Vince Young is clearly the Titans' QB of the future, that Tennessee would not have signed Collins if they were happy with Volek's performance. As a result, drop Volek down, if not off, your draft board.

As for Collins, he could be a sneaky play as a backup QB, but certainly not as a starter. This may hurt Drew Bennett's fantasy value somewhat, since most of his value is predicated on his relationship with Volek, but otherwise, Collins shouldn't be considered a downgrade from Volek in terms of the Tennessee receivers.

WR Donte Stallworth has been traded to the Eagles for a linebacker and a draft pick. Getting a veteran receiver (such as he is) has to help McNabb a bit, though it is fairly late in the preseason for Stallworth to have to learn a new offense. Bump up both players' values a bit, but not significantly.

Also, Reggie Bush benefits from this trade, especially in points per reception leagues, as he is essentially the #2 receiver behind Joe Horn following this trade.

According to the Jaguars' web site mailbag, Greg Jones is out for the 2006 season with a torn ACL. More on this as it develops, but get Jones off your draft board in the meantime. Obviously, we'll have news on who to look for to back up Fragile Fred Taylor as this story develops.

Hot on the heels of the Jets' failed acquisition of Lee Suggs from Cleveland, the Jets have now traded for RB Kevan Barlow, previously of the 49ers, pending a physical.

Barlow's shown what he's capable of as a starting RB, which isn't much, and he was expected to start in San Francisco until he would inevitably lose the job to backup Frank Gore at some point this season. He's only slightly safer in New York, given that there's less talent coming up behind him, though this obviously hurts Cedric Houston's fantasy value. (That said, if Barlow does end up losing the job due to injury or incompetence, Houston could be a sneaky late round pick.)

This helps Frank Gore's fantasy value quite a bit now that he's guaranteed the starting role for the 49ers. He's still an injury risk, but he's performed quite favorably in relief of Barlow, and he could be an interesting asset in the late 3rd or early 4th round of a 12-team draft.

Koren Robinson was arrested last night for suspicion of drunken driving. Given that Robinson has been suspended for substance abuse before, and the Vikings have behavioral clauses in his contract, this could knock Robinson off the field for a substantial amount of time, possibly the full season, either due to a league suspension (which could be a full season suspension, given that he's already been suspended for four games for drug use) or because the Vikings can get out of his contract. He was released by the Seahawks in 2005 because of a similar offense.

Needless to say, drop KRob way down in your rankings, if not completely off the board entirely. He's not a consistent enough receiver on a good enough passing team to take a chance on him.

Clinton Portis was injured while attempting a tackle on an interception during Sunday night's preseason game against the Bengals. Early reports state that Portis has a separated shoulder that subsequently slipped back into place; he will likely sit out the rest of the preseason and be questionable for Week 1. If he does recover as expected from this injury (which he should with adequate rest), his draft value should stay where it is, but monitor the situation carefully if you're planning on drafting or keeping Portis.

Portis also had some comments on the circumstances that led to his injury: "For whoever's watching: Let's get rid of some of these games," Portis said, his left arm in a sling. "Four games is ridiculous. Then you play a 16-game season and the playoffs behind that."

From your mouth to the commissioner's ears, Clinton...

Ok fantasy players, time to breathe easy and adjust drafting lists: Reggie Bush has reported to Saints training camp and has signed his contract, reportedly worth upwards of $62 million, with $26 mil guaranteed (not too shabby).

From the article: "With Deuce McAllister being a more bruising, straight-ahead runner, Bush is expected not only to run the ball as a tailback but also to catch the ball out of the back field on screen or swing passes. He could also line up in as a slot receiver, creating yet another concern for defenses already trying to cover wideouts like Joe Horn and Donte Stallworth."

Does this mean he can peacefully coexist with Deuce? Hmmmm...

An MRI has confirmed that Falcons WR Brian Finneran has a torn ACL and dislocated knee, and as a result he will be placed on injured reserve, ending his season. This hurts Michael Vick's value, as Finneran was Vick's only legitimate receiving threat last season. Time will tell if another #1 receiver emerges, but our advice regarding Vick stands true; avoid Vick unless rushing is worth significantly more than passing in your league's scoring system, and even then approach Vick with caution.

ESPN is reporting that Reggie Bush and the New Orleans Saints have agreed to a six-year contract and that Bush will report to camp ASAP. Obviously, this restores Bush's draft value back to its original potential, but keep an eye on reports from training camp to see how the position battle between Bush and Deuce McAllister progresses.

ESPN is reporting that Oakland WR Jerry Porter has asked to be traded. Apparantly he hasn't been getting along with Art Shell. This can't be good news for QB Aaron Brooks either, going into his first season with the Silver and Black. For a profile of Brooks' draft potential, listen to this week's show! (to be posted in the next few days...)

Also, Pats WR Deion Branch is expected to hold out from training camp while he continues contract negotiations.

There will be more news on these situations in the coming weeks, and nothing is set in stone, but just keep these news items in mind as you think about your upcoming fantasy draft...

It's pretty much a foregone conclusion that someone in your league will take Reggie Bush in your fantasy draft. If you were thinking about it, you may want to reconsider:

It looks like Reggie Bush is going to be holding out from training camp unless something changes drastically before Thursday. Talks have reportedly been non-existent, and there are rumors swirling that he might not only hold out from training camp, but he might decide not to play in 2006 and re-enter the 2007 draft at a price he feels he deserves. While that seems unlikely, an extended holdout could hurt Bush's value drastically, especially with Deuce McAllister still on the roster. Remember Cedric Benson and Thomas Jones last year and how much Benson's playing time was hurt by an extended hold-out.

If you're considering drafting Bush for a redraft league (i.e., the basic league where you can't keep any players from year to year), monitor the situation carefully; of course, if you're in a dynasty or a keeper league, an extended holdout might be a good thing to help you pick up Bush at a discount for next season and beyond.

Apparently, Chris Brown's agent has notified the titans that his client requests to be dealt before the season starts. Whether he can be moved or not remains to be seen, but apparently he's concerned about the fact that he's in a contract year and the backfield in Tennessee has gotten crowded. Interested teams include Houston (who could certainly use a better backup for often-injured Domanick Davis than Antowaine Smith), Denver (who also has a crowded backfield, incidentally, but whose system fits Brown's style well), and, interestingly, Minnesota, where the coach who helped him lead the Big 12 in rushing now works.

Of course, we'll keep you posted on the podcast as things develop. If Brown does leave, LenDale White could become one of the most interesting rookies on the draft board this season not named Bush.

Drafting was the specific topic for the show posted this past Monday, and will be a running theme as we go over notable players by position in the next few weeks.

It's been a while since I looked at espn.com's fantasy sports section, but I discovered the other day that they have a free mock draft tool. So I wanted to present it as another draft preparation option.

Clicking here will take you to the "lobby" page.   --Scott

More bad news for Steelers fans: The Associated Press reports that Santonio Holmes, first-round draft pick WR for the Pittsburgh Steelers, was arrested for a second time since being drafted, this time for domestic violence.  He was first arrested over Memorial Day weekend for disorderly conduct.  Since two convictions usually results in a league suspension, this news could have fantasy impact and potentially affect Holmes' draft value; we'll keep you up to date as the situation unfolds.

It appears Big Ben had a Big Close Call. Despite being thrown from his motorcycle and landing head first on the pavement without head protection, Roethlisberger's worst injury following the crash seems to be a broken jaw, which should heal in time for training camp. Other injuries included a chipped tooth, broken jaw, head lacerations, and minor knee damage. Early reports seem to indicate that he should be fully healed by the end of July, at which point we hope that he starts to ride his motorcycle with a helmet.

Ben Roethlisberger, the Super Bowl winning QB for the Pittsburgh steelers, was injured in a motorcycle accident Monday morning.  Early reports state that he is conscious and that the injuries are not life-threatening, but also that Big Ben was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.  There is no word yet as to the severity of the injuries, but we will keep you posted as the story develops.

Just when we thought we wouldn't be hearing any relevant NFL news for a while, something pretty major comes out: pending a physical, Steve McNair will be traded from Tennessee to Baltimore in exchange for a fourth--or potentially third--round 2007 draft pick (is this what it's come to? McNair, a former MVP and one of the top QBs in the league, is now only worth ONE third or fourth round draft pick? Ouch).

I guess the tiff over (not) allowing him to use the Titans' practice facility, which was reported on Extra Points, turned out to be a sign of things to come.

Steve (my cohost, not McNair) and I recorded this week's show before the news broke, but definitely stay tuned next week when we'll discuss the deal's impact on the Titans and the Ravens. Does the trade change McNair's fantasy draft status? Should it? Tune in for our perspective!

--Scott

It's amazing that people are talking about this in mid-May, but they are, so here it is. Read this article for thoughts on how Reggie Bush and Deuce McAllister might be used in the Saints offense. Just things to keep in mind come fantasy draft time (as is McAllister's health).

Fox Sports is reporting that Jaguars WR Jimmy Smith has decided to call it a career. He is expected to announce the decision at a press conference today. The 37-year old #1 receiver caught 70 passes for over 1,000 yards and six TD's in 2005.

The retirement leaves Jacksonville's receiving corps dangerously thin, with Ernest Wilford currently at the top of the depth chart, and second-year player Matt Jones at #2. We will, of course, have detailed analysis of the effects of the Smith retirement on an upcoming episode of Extra Points.

The Cleveland Browns traded QB Trent Dilfer to the 49ers in return for QB Ken Dorsey and a 7th round draft pick in '07. Dilfer is expected to back up Alex Smith, at least to begin with...

Hopefully Dilfer can impart much wisdom on Smith, who struggled mightily last year. However, both are risky fantasy prospects at this point.

 

Despite some claims that were slightly more credible than previously, Ricky Williams has reportedly lost his appeal of his alleged violation of the NFL's drug policy. Since this was his fourth violation, he will be suspended for the entirety of the 2006 season, and can be reinstated at this time next year.

Obviously, this sends Ronnie Brown's fantasy value through the roof. Brown was excellent last year in a running back by committee situation, and can only benefit from the extra touches. The Dolphins still have Sammy Morris and Travis Minor on the depth chart, but neither is a serious threat to steal a significant number of carries from Brown.

Assuming his offensive line gives him more than three seconds to throw the ball this year, David Carr should have some great targets. Eric Moulds finalized his contract with the Texans this week, for $14 million over 4 years and a $5 mil signing bonus.

Question now is will Carr also be able to throw to/hand off to Reggie Bush, who the Texans are eyeing with the first pick in the draft.

Listen to this week's show for more on the fantasy impact of the Moulds deal.

OK, Patriots fans, you can breathe easy again; the reports of the so-called "liquored-up kicker" coming to Foxboro were apparently greathly exaggurated, as Mike Vanderjagt has agreed to terms with the Dallas Cowboys, who were extremely challenged in the kicking game last season. Vanderjagt was the most accurate kicker in the NFL in 2004 and was considered a top-tier kicker last season, but it bears mentioning that the Colts play in a (windless) dome; he'll find it much more difficult to be as consistent as he's been when kicking outdoors for home games as well as away games.

Brooks to Moss, all season long? It's a distinct possibility, now that the Raiders have signed the beleaguered ex-Saint to their roster. Coach Art Shell won't go so far as to call him the starter, but with Marques Tuiasosopo as the only other QB on the roster who could conceivably fill the role (and the odds of the new Raiders regime reliving that particular failed experiment are fairly slim), it's hard to say how he couldn't be, unless he's just being brought in to keep things warm for a promising rookie QB, since the Raiders have been showing a lot of interest in Mensa candidate Vince Young. We'll have more on this as it develops.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it's the end of an era. Adam Vinatieri has reached a deal in principle with the Indianapolis Colts. From a fantasy perspective, Adam's still Adam, and kicking in a dome for at least eight games a year can only help one of the most accurate and clutch kickers in the game. As a Patriots fan, though, this royally, royally sucks...

In a move that should not come as a surprise to anyone following the signings of Jon Kitna and Josh McCown, the Detroit Lions have finally parted ways with Joey Harrington, closely following statements from offensive coordinator Mike Martz that Harrington is "their man." It's not clear whether Harrington has been released or not, but the fact remains that he will not be playing in a Lions jersey in 2006.

Yup, that's right, just a few years after standing triumphantly on the star in Texas Stadium, Terrell Owens has signed a multi-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys. Suffice it to say that this will have an immediate effect on every member of the Dallas offense. Look for in-depth analysis on the next episode of Extra Points.

Well, despite my comments on this week's show, all-Pro LB Willie McGinest, a free agent after being released by the Patriots last week, yesterday signed a new contract with the Cleveland Browns. I guess it's not that unexpected, as the Cleveland head coach is Romeo Crennel, former Patriots defensive coordinator. But it's still sad to see McGinest, a Patriot for his entire career up to now (12 years), go to a different team. See, you never know what will happen with free agency! --Scott

The golden goose gets to live another day. The NFL and NFLPA have finally agreed on an extension to the collective bargaining agreement, after numerous delays, avoiding financial chaos and an impending work stoppage in 2008. No word yet on what the salary cap under the new agreement will be, or when exactly free agency will begin, though it's almost certainly going to be delayed to give teams a chance to understand the new financial landscape.

Apparently, it's not just cuts before the CBA deadline. Both Shaun Alexander and Ahman Green have signed deals tonight to stay with their current teams. This makes Alexander a sure top-3 pick for this year's fantasy draft. Ahman, on the other hand, might be worth a later pick if he can stay healthy, if Samkon Gado doesn't win the starting job, and if new coach Mike McCarthy sticks with the run more consistently than Mike Sherman did...

I hate to disagree with my cohost, but I couldn't care less what Vince Young's Wonderlic score is, and the fact that people are even talking about this is absolutely ludicrous. First of all, there is now some conjecture over whether or not that report of his score of 6 is accurate. But let's leave that aside. I looked at the test that Steve provided a link for, and all I can say is that unless he'll be talking about fractions and logic puzzles in the huddle, there is no way a score on the Wonderlic test can possibly predict Vince Young's ability as an NFL quarterback.

The Wonderlic, like the SAT or any other standardized test, does not test a person's intelligence. It simply measures a person's ability to take a standardized test. It is a way to provide a common basis of comparison for people with widely variant backgrounds. But as with the SAT for college admission, you cannot use a standardized test as the sole basis for determining someone's ability or potential.

What people should really look at with Young, both actual NFL owners and fantasy team owners, is how the U. of Texas offense was structured, and how similar that could be to NFL offenses. This will give you an idea about his ability to run an offense of a certain complexity. Or once he is drafted in real life, look at his "supporting cast" and coaches, to see if he'll be able to ease in to a starting role or if he's being thrown into the fire and will have to carry a team by himself right away. Obviously the first scenario is preferable.

Here's what, to me, says the most about Vince Young's potential. I went into the Rose Bowl this year with great anticipation about seeing Reggie Bush, who I had heard many amazing things about but hadn't actually seen play very much. When the game was over, I was mildly impressed with Bush, but was mesmorized by Vince Young. He, virtually singlehandedly, carried Texas to victory. When the Longhorns had the ball down the stretch needing a touchdown to win, I remember thinking to myself, "Self, Vince Young is going to win this game for Texas." Which is exactly what happened. When you can drive for the winning score in the national championship game, one of the most pressure-packed environments in all of American sports, you're ok in my book.

Now, I'm not saying Young is perfect. Espn.com Page 2's Bomani Jones points out some other reasons to be skeptical about him (and while I agree with Jones that it's not such a smart move to have a family friend as your agent, I can understand it). So if you're not going to look at Young as a possible (high) draft selection, make sure it's for the right reasons. In other words, don't base your decision solely on the supposed results of a questionable and completely irrelevant test.

--Scott

If you were thinking about Vince Young as your fantasy team's savior next year, you might want to think again. Reportedly, Young's score on the NFL's Wonderlic test, which measures player intelligence, is a pitiful 6 out of 40. By comparison, the lowest ranked QB in last year's draft class scored a 13. This by no means eliminates Young from NFL draft consideration, but it's sure to knock him down some slots, and this makes him even more of a risky pick for your fantasy team than a normal rookie QB.

ESPN's Page 2 has a set of 15 sample Wonderlic questions to further illustrate how bad a 6 is. We're not talking brain surgery here...

So two weeks ago I sing Carson Palmer's praises and he goes down on the second play, and this week I do the same for Nick Goings, use one of my precious trades to pick him up in the playoff fantasy league, and he gets a concussion so bad that he needs help just to stay upright. So if you picked him too and are wondering why he's not in the game, that's the reason. (Well, that and being down by 20 points in the 3rd quarter doesn't do much for your running game, either...)

-Steve

Word out of Seahawks camp is that Shaun Alexander has been practicing with the team this week, is basically at full strength and will start on Sunday against Carolina in the NFC Championship Game. Plan your playoff fantasy team accordingly...

The news just isn't getting better for Carson Palmer following last weekend's injury. His surgeon called the injury "devastating and potentially career-ending."

Apparently, the knee dislocation did further damage than a typical ligament tear, and the doctor described the ligaments as not torn, but shredded. However, the doctor also said that the knee was not damaged beyond repair, and that there was a chance that Palmer could play football again. That being the case, his prospects for next season look fairly bleak.

So much for Volek being a good start this weekend. According to The Tennesseean, Matt Mauck has been informed that he'll start if McNair can't go. Apparently, Norm Chow thinks that Mauck is "spunky", but you don't get points for spunk in your fantasy league. Given the uncertainty around both who's going to start and what Mauck can do given the opportunity, you're best looking elsewhere for QB help if you need it.

Our discussion on this week's show of college bowl games to watch to get an early look at next spring's NFL (and your fantasy team) draft prospects brings up an interesting conundrum. If the Texans lose in Week 17, they will be assured of the #1 pick in the draft, and therefore will win the Reggie Bush Sweepstakes outright. If they win (vs. SF), 5 teams will be tied for the worst record in the league, and each will have a chance at getting the #1 pick.

So, should the Texans lose on purpose to assure themselves of getting Reggie Bush? What a fascinating ethical question! On espn.com SportsNation, 67% of respondents to that question said they would support their team tanking to get a #1 pick. What do you think? Go to our message board and vote in the poll, and tell us your opinion!

Apparently, Marvin Harrison was downgraded to out on today's revision of the injury report. The silver lining is that makes at least one Colts starter's playing time clear for this weekend. Needless to say, get him out of your lineup if you haven't already.

Just in time for your fantasy playoffs, a number of reliable running backs are unlikely to play this weekend:

Domanick Davis's knee isn't getting better, and there's talk of him possibly needing surgery. Jonathan Wells filled in admirably for Davis last week against Arizona. While you may need to temper your expectations given the tougher matchup against Jacksonville, Wells would still be a solid start.

Rotoworld is reporting that Lamont Jordan has been ruled out against the Broncos. Zack Crockett and Justin Fargas are next in line, but it's hard to say what the split will be or how effective either one will be against a tough Denver run defense.

Ronnie Brown hasn't been practicing, and he's unsure of whether he'll be able to go this weekend. If Brown sits, Ricky Williams becomes an excellent start against the Titans; given what he's been able to do with half the carries, he could blow up with a full workload.

On the other side of that matchup, both Chris Brown and Travis Henry have missed portions of practice this week. Henry is closer to playing than Brown, but monitor this situation closely if you are relying on either one to play this weekend.

This is probably old news by now, but in case you haven't heard, Tony Dungy has taken a leave of absence to be with his family after his son was found dead in his Tampa apartment. We at Extra Points offer our deepest condolences to the entrire Dungy family and anyone else who was affected by this tragedy.

In case you were worried, we will be posting this week's show either tonight or tomorrow, in time to get your lineups ready for Saturday's games (remember, there are 3 games on Sat. this week! NE vs. TB, KC vs. NYG, and DEN vs. BUF). We apologize for the delay...

...but in the meantime, please visit our message board! There's a link on the right side of this page. Vote in our poll on whether or not you think Indy should rest their starters. Ask us a fantasy football question! Ask Scott a soccer question! Or post some comments for us and your fellow listeners. It's loads of fun!

Curtis Martin is going to have season-ending surgery on his knee, and will miss his first start since 1998 (wow- that's amazing for any player, but even more so for a running back). Cedric Houston gets the nod in his place.

So if you were holding onto Martin (like me), time to find a replacement.

Curtis Martin has been downgraded to questionable and will be a game time decision against Oakland. Even if he does play (which isn't out of the question; you have to go back a long time to find a game that Martin missed due to injury), according to Herm Edwards, Martin is basically playing at half speed anyway. Cedric Houston is next on the depth chart, but he's not a great play, even against Oakland, given the Jets' offensive struggles this season.

This is just too bizarre. I'm not even going to try to comment on the article; it more or less speaks for itself...

OK, Moulds is really suspended now. Get him out of your lineups if you've been holding out hope.

It looks like the media jumped to conclusions, once again. Now, ESPN is reporting that Eric Moulds was simply "excused from practice" on Wednesday and Thursday, and his status is unclear against New England this week.

In any case, even if he's not suspended, you're well advised to find another starting WR this week; how much Moulds will play is uncertain, suspension or no suspension, and Losman clearly favors Lee Evans anyway, so Moulds probably isn't a good play against the Patriots, despite the favorable matchup.

Reports are surfacing today that the Bills will suspend WR Eric Moulds for this Sunday's game vs. New England. However, Bills owner Ralph Wilson has the final say on the length of the suspension. The team did not disclose a reason for the suspension, but there is some conjecture that it stems from Moulds missing a mandatory team meeting on Monday. He had also criticized the team's play-calling (and their lack of including him in it) in the Bills' loss to Miami last weekend, when they relinquished a 20-point 4th quarter lead. Moulds was apparantly "shocked and confused" by the decision when coach Mike Mularkey broke the news to him earlier this week.

So if he's in your lineup for this week, look for a replacement!

CBS reported that, when asked if his thumb is broken, Ben Roethlisberger replied, "I don't think I can disclose that." He may as well have just taken the Fifth and would have given less of an answer.

If you were planning on playing Big Ben or any of the Steelers receivers this week against the Bengals, you may want to consider your other options; if the thumb really is broken, he's not going to be throwing well, and if he aggravates the injury, then he may end up getting knocked out of the game all together.

CBS's pre-game show just announced that Charlie Frye, not Trent Dilfer, will start for the Browns this week. Get Dilfer out of your lineup if you had him in line to start for you.

Detroit RB Kevin Jones has been downgraded to questionable, and will be a game-time decision. We all know the drill on mid-week downgrades by now; if you need an excuse not to play Kevin Jones, this is a very good one. If Jones doesn't go, Artose Pinner and Shawn Bryson will likely split carries, but a RBBC on a team that's struggled to run the ball all season doesn't really seem like a recipe for success if you need a fill-in RB...

Neil Rackers will miss at least one game after hurting his calf in practice. That's very bad news if you're a Rackers owner, because he's been easily the most consistent kicker in the league this year. The Cards don't have a replacement yet, but there should be plenty of acceptable options available for you on the waiver wire, so take a look and pick someone up before Sunday...

Be afraid, be very afraid...

The Parker news is good for owners of Fast Willie, but is cancelled out by the fact that Maddox is starting, especially against Baltimore. I think we've all learned our lesson from the last time Maddox started; downgrade the Steelers offense as a whole. Parker coming off injury with Maddox under center is not a recipe for success.

Thomas Jones is expected to start for the Bears this weekend vs. Carolina. Adjust your lineups accordingly...

Apparently, Vikings coach Mike Tice took a pretty good hit to the knee on Sunday; it was bad enough that he apparently sprained his MCL and will require surgery.

"This is an insignificant injury," Tice said. "You can't keep me off the sideline. MCL, PCL, ACL, cartilage, I don't really care. I don't have to tackle or block or do any of those things. I just walk up and down, talk in the headphones."

That sound you hear is thousands of fantasy owners groaning in disappointment...

With Thomas Jones likely out for Week Ten, it looks like holdout boy Cedric Benson will finally get his first start of the season, against San Francisco, no less.

If you've been holding onto him, get him in your lineup, and if you can still grab him (though he's probably gone after filling in admirably for Jones last week), do so immediately. Adrian Peterson will also see playing time, and Lovie Smith will give more carries to who plays better throughout the game; since Peterson was averaging around 9 yards per carry last week, he could be a sneaky play as well.

It's only a matter of time before the Packers have open auditions for running backs. Another Green Bay RB went on IR today: Walt Williams. No, I haven't heard of him either; about the only fantasy significance that move has is narrow the list of available running backs in Green Bay to two: Samkon Gado and ReShard Lee. Since Lee left last week's game with an acute case of the dropsies, you can probably safely start Gado without having to worry too much about a RBBC situation.

Joey Harrington will start for the Lions this Sunday in place of the still-injured Jeff Garcia. Hopefully you weren't depending on this outcome for your fantasy team, but we just thought we'd point it out! Good luck in Week 10!

Both rotoworld.com and espn.com are now reporting that Priest Holmes is likely out for the rest of the year. Complications from neck and shoulder injuries should keep him sidelined for the remainder of the season. Obviously you never hope someone gets hurt, but this is good news for Larry Johnson owners (like Steve!). For more fantasy football perspective on Priest's injury, be sure to listen to this week's episode of Extra Points!

There was no joy in Philly today as Andy Reid announced that Terrell Owens will not play for the Eagles again this season, and possibly ever again. T.O. will remain on team suspension for three more games (the maximum a team can suspend a player without pay), and then the Eagles will deactivate him for the rest of the season. Tune in to this week's show for more on how T.O.'s departure will impact the Eagles!

It was only a matter of time before something happened as a result of T.O.'s public criticism of the team this week, and ESPN is now reporting that he's been suspended indefinitely for conduct detrimental to the team. It goes without saying that you should get him out of your lineup immediately, if you haven't already.

The Texans' web site is reporting that Domanick Davis hasn't practiced all week due to inflammation in his knee and is unlikely to play against Jacksonville.

If you're in a bind and need a warm body at RB, Jonathan Wells and Vernand Morency are due to split carries in Davis' place. You should pretty much look at either one of these guys as an absolute last resort, though, given that they're untested running backs in the terrible Houston offense, plus the fact that they're going up against a stout Jacksonville defense. But either one will likely be better than not playing a RB at all.

Following up on the story we touched upon in this week's show, Reuben Droughns has pleaded not guilty to drunken driving and other charges. A trial date has been set for December 16th (Week 15). The Browns have said that he won't be disciplined until the trial has been completed. This is good news from a fantasy standpoint, but take the next few weeks to get your Plan B in order; you don't want to take any chances during the fantasy playoffs, and if Droughns is convicted and the team is out of the playoff hunt by that point, they'll almost certainly bench him at what would be the worst possible time for your fantasy team.

Rotoworld is reporting that Priest Holmes is likely to miss this week's contest against the Raiders due to complications from the concussion that he suffered this past week that knocked him out of the game. Larry Johnson owners, this is the moment you've been anticipating. LJ is a must-start against the Raiders if #31 doesn't start; the Raiders allow the fifth-most fantasy points per game to the RB position, and you know the Chiefs love to run the ball.

Even if Priest plays, he's likely to be limited in the game, so LJ should still be a fairly solid start. Keep an eye on the news on Sunday, but this could be big...

More QB shuffling! The 49ers have announced U. of Washington alum Cody Pickett as their starter for this weekend's game against the Giants. Cody will be the Niners 4th different starting QB in 5 weeks. And Pickett is even trying to a pull a "Troy Brown": he plays on special teams too! Despite his versatility, Pickett is a very risky fantasy move until he proves himself. Additionally, not that we would recommend them anyway, but we would certainly stay away from Niners' receivers until they get a QB who lasts longer than a week...

...and just when you thought the Niners had used up every scrub QB in this hemisphere, this week they signed the Bachelor himself, Jesse Palmer. Since both Alex Smith and Ken Dorsey are hurt, Palmer slides in to the #2 spot right away. Pretty sweet deal for him. Seriously, next thing you know they're going to be taking fans from the stands to be QB. Hey, I have two legs and two arms, give me a shot!

Lots of movement at QB this week:

• Roethlisberger out this week after arthroscopic surgery on his knee; Charlie Batch will start against the Packers. Hopefully he'll hand off the ball more than Maddox did, but be cautious about the Pittsburgh offense nonetheless.
• Garcia's leg is acting up, so Harrington gets the start against the Vikings. If you held on to Joey, this is the one game where it might be worth playing him...
• McNabb is listed as questionable after missing two straight practices; Koy Detmer will get the start if he can't play, which will mean that you should bench all your Eagles, since Koy Detmer against an angry Redskins defense is not a recipe for fantasy success.

Apparently, despite having a bye and week 6 to rest his ankle, Fred Taylor has been downgraded to questionable. As I say every week, being downgraded mid-week is usually a bad sign. Of course, if you drafted or traded for Taylor, you had to know that there would be weeks like this.

Supposedly, if Taylor can't go, Greg Jones and Alvin Pearman would split carries. Either one would be a decent play against the Rams, given how well both produced against Pittsburgh. Keep your eyes open for this one, and try to grab either Jones or Pearman now if you can for insurance if you own Taylor...

It's more or less been all over the news that Alex Smith is sitting out this week and Ken Dorsey is starting in his place. As far as your fantasy team goes this week, this news story should be a non-issue; against the Bucs, I'd recommend sitting all your Niners regardless of who's under center, and even more uncertainty at QB means even more reason to do so. However, keep an eye on this situation. A good game by Dorsey, however improbable that may be, might mean a QB controversy in SF and might make guys like Brandon Lloyd and Arnaz Battle startable again. I wouldn't bet on it, but keep that possibility in mind with respect toward next week's waiver wire...

This has absolutely no fantasy implications whatsoever, but I had to share anyway. Chad Johnson this week on Green Bay cornerback Al Harris: "There are two things for Brother Harris this week," Johnson said. "The bad thing is he has to cover me. The good news is he can save 15 percent by switching his (auto) insurance to Geico."

Heads up for Holt owners: He's been downgraded to questionable and Fox Sports is reporting that he's not going to play. I wouldn't panic until they announce the official rosters, but it's good to have a plan B set up just in case. Holt was questionable going into last week's game against the Colts, but he wasn't downgraded at the last minute like this, which is generally a pretty bad sign. If you were worried about Holt's performance with Jamie Martin under center before this morning, this should be the last shove that you need to put him on the bench.

Steve McNair didn't travel with the team to Arizona, so Billy Volek is going to get his first start for the season. Volek filled in admirably for McNair at the end of last season, so this shouldn't hurt any part of the Titans offense except for McNair himself. If you were planning to start McNair or are otherwise in QB troubles this week, Volek would be a fine one-week start. He's a good QB in his own right, and anyone can look like a stud QB when they get to play against the Cardinals...

Make sure to set your lineups ASAP; the NFL has rescheduled the KC/Miami game to 7 PM Friday night due to Hurricane Wilma. Don't get caught off-guard!

Well, it appears Alex Smith is going to have to be "the guy" for the 49ers. Yesterday (Tuesday) SF traded former starting QB Tim Rattay to the Buccaneers for an undisclosed draft pick. Although Rattay has a few years of starting QB experience--and was actually halfway decent last year when he wasn't hurt--he is currently Tampa Bay's #3 QB, behind newbies Chris Simms and Luke McCown. Apparantly Simms is going to get the nod this weekend, but depending on how he does, and with Brian Griese sidelined for the foreseeable future, Rattay might rise up the depth chart very quickly. Even so, I think Rattay (or Simms for that matter) is still a risky fantasy pick-up at this point... ...as is Alex Smith. Yes, he will now be the undisputed starter, but he is a rookie, he looked very shaky in his first start, and now there is TREMENDOUS pressure on him and him alone to rescue the 49ers. And this isn't like Roethlisberger in Pittsburgh, who could count on a decent offensive line and defense to keep games close. It's a lot for any rookie to handle, even the #1 pick. Welcome to the NFL, Alex Smith!

The Bucs have added Michael Pittman to the injury report as questionable due to a shoulder injury. It's never a good thing when a player is added to the injury report past Wednesday, so keep a close eye on both Pittman and Cadillac's statuses come Sunday. Pittman's injury might make it more likely for Cadillac to play, but if both can't go, either Mike Alstott or second year man Earnest Graham would get the start, but neither is really a reliable play against Miami.

Apparently, Julius missed practice for the third straight day today, and while Parcells won't rule him out, he says he's never played a running back who hasn't practiced at least once that week.

If Tyson Thompson is still available, grab him now; he's likely to get the bulk of the carries and performed will in relief of Julius last week against the Eagles. As an added bonus, the Giants are a pretty good team to run on, so playing Thompson could really help out your week, if not longer. High ankle sprains tend to linger for several weeks, so Thompson could be a good filler player for more than just Sunday.