Fantasy Football Stock Report, News & Notes: 08-11-2010
We are back with another fantasy stock report and some news and notes from around the league.
Stock Up
Players whose fantasy stock is on the rise.
Brandon LaFell, Carolina Panthers (WR) – As of Tuesday LaFell was working out with the first team offense.
Bottom Line: With Muhsin Muhammad retiring the Panthers are looking for another big receiver to take his place. Dwayne Jarrett has never been the guy they thought he would and barring an injury or major regression one should expect LaFell to be the guy opposite Steve Smith when the season opens.
Pierre Garcon, Indianapolis Colts (WR) – Pierre Garcon was listed, along with Reggie Wayne, as a starting receiver on the Colts depth chart released this week.
Bottom Line: Nobody is going to see more balls thrown their way than Wayne and Dallas Clark, but being in the starting lineup ensures that he should see more balls than Anthony Gonzalez and Austin Collie.
Brandon Lloyd, Denver Broncos (WR) – Lloyd has been lining up as one of the Broncos starting receivers this week.
Bottom Line: It is hard to say whether Lloyd is a leading candidate for one of the starting jobs or whether he is out there due to rookies Eric Decker and Demaryious Thomas battling injuries.
Mike Thomas, Jacksonville Jaguars (WR) – Thomas reportedly is in the lead for the #2 receiver job opposite Mike Sims-Walker.
Bottom Line: Thomas generally catches whatever comes his way, but it remains to be seen whether he has the chops to be a play maker at receiver. He was used largely as a possession guy last season and only averaged 9.4 yards per catch. Keep an eye on how he performs in the preseason games this summer.
A. J. Feeley, St. Louis Rams (QB) – Feeley remains the starting QB in St. Louis.
Bottom Line: Don’t jump on Feeley as a starter just yet. I still expect him to be “beaten” out by Bradford by the end of camp. Keep an eye on how this plays out over the next couple of weeks.
Steve Johnson, Buffalo Bills (WR) – Johnson has reportedly emerged as the leading candidate as the other starting receiver opposite Lee Evans in Buffalo.
Bottom Line: Evans is really the only Bills receiver worth keeping an eye on right now. With so many questions at quarterback and along the offensive line one should not expect much more than 50 or 60 catches from any Bills receiver this season.
Stock Down
Players whose fantasy stock is on the decline.
Willie Parker, Washington Redskins (RB) – Parker was listed as the #4 running back behind Ryan Torain on the Redskins’ initial depth chart.
Bottom Line: Parker seemingly has one foot out the door in Washington. It seems unlikely Shanahan would have him taking up a roster spot when they could give that to a younger, less expensive back.
Sam Bradford, St. Louis Rams (QB) – Bradford is still the #2 quarterback on the depth chart behind A. J. Feeley
Bottom Line: I still expect that Bradford will “win” the starting job by the end of camp.
Sidney Rice, Minnesota Vikings (WR) – Rice has yet to hit the practice field for the Vikes as he rehabs a hip injury suffered in the NFC title game in January.
Bottom Line: Rice is targeting the first game of the year for his return even though his agent said he might be ready to go by the start of camp. There is growing speculation that he is using this as a ploy to get more money without officially holding out from camp.
Austin Collie, Indianapolis Colts (WR) – Collie probably becomes the odd man out with Garcon holding a starting job.
Bottom Line: With Garcon being elevated up the depth chart I have a sneaking suspicion Collie becomes the guy who loses the bulk of his playing time to Anthony Gonzalez.
Dwayne Jarrett, Carolina Panthers (WR) – With LaFell moving up to the first team Jarrett could be looking for a new team by the end of the summer.
Bottom Line: Jarrett entered the camp as the starter by default and nobody really thought he was a serious threat to win the starting job this summer.
James Hardy, Buffalo Bills (WR) – Hardy has reportedly fallen behind Steve Johnson in the battle for the second starting receiver job.
Bottom Line: Hardy was considered the favorite to win the job entering camp. Stay tuned though.
News & Notes From Around the League
Texans’ defensive end Mario Williams received some good news earlier this week after being told he would not need surgery on his ailing hip and just needs to more rest and treatment.
Giants safety Kenny Phillips returned to practice for the first time this year on Monday. He saw only 12 snaps in practice and it remains to be seen how much the Giants plan on using him.
Falcons defensive end Jamaal Anderson, believed to be down to his last chance in Atlanta, has reportedly beefed up to 295 pounds and is having the best camp of his career.
Falcons top pick linebacker Sean Weatherspoon has been working out with the first team defense at the weakside linebacker spot which is where Mike Peterson lined up last season.
Packers top pick Bryan Bulaga has been seeing time at left guard with the first team offense this summer. There is no official word as to whether this is a permanent move or if the Packers are just trying to figure out a position to get him on the field this season until Chad Clifton is ready to give up the starting job at LT.
Saints safety Darren Sharper has yet to practice and does not know when he will be able to make it back onto the playing field. There is growing speculation that the Saints may move him to the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list to start the season.
Second year corner back Asher Allen was listed as the Vikings starter opposite Antoine Winfield on the team’s initial depth chart released this week. He currently holds the edge over rookie Chris Cook and veteran Lito Sheppard. If Sheppard loses out to either Cook or Allen one can expect he will be traded or released by the end of camp.
There is growing speculation that the Browns may end up moving top pick Joe Haden to safety as he has been a disappointment in camp and there are some serious questions as to whether he has the speed to play corner in the NFL.
The Bengals have signed running back James Johnson on the heels of Brian Leonard suffering a significant foot injury in Sunday’s game. There is no word on how long Leonard will be out but there is speculation that he could miss some of, or possibly all of, the regular season.
