Del Pilar's Digest: Around Fantasyland 24-hour pregame prep

First off, thoughts and prayers are with Lions RB Jerome Harrison, who failed his physical following a trade to the Eagles but may have had his life saved as it was discovered he has a brain tumor. He'll undergo treatment, and the early prognosis is good. The team placed him on the reserve/non-football illness list.

Week Seven is here, and the following teams are on byes: Bills, Bengals, Patriots, Giants, Eagles and 49ers. That means you lose some big guns this week: QBs Tom Brady, Eli Manning and Michael Vick; RBs Fred Jackson, Cedric Benson, Ahmad Bradshaw and Frank Gore; WRs Stevie Johnson, A.J. Greene, Wes Welker and Hakeem Nicks; TEs Jermaine Gresham, Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez and Vernon Davis.

 

Whitehurst to try to impress

Seahawks QB Charlie Whitehurst will start this weekend and will need to make a big impression if he wants to seize the starting job from Tarvaris Jackson (pectoral). Apparently the coaching staff sees something in Whitehurst that none of us does. Whitehurst will use WR Doug Baldwin, who went 8-136-1 on nine targets in Seattle's last game, and Ben Obomanu, who had 6-51-1 on 10 targets.

 

Time-share in Dallas

Cowboys RBs DeMarco Murray and Tashard Choice will share carries  this week, and maybe they go with the hot hand, but Choice will probably assume the third-down, pass-receiving role. Against a reeling Rams team struggling to compete, Murray makes a No. 2 back if he sees the bulk of the carries, but you're safer slotting him as a flex with Choice a bye-week or injury fill-in.

 

An already muddled situation

Redskins WR Tim Hightower (shoulder) returned to practice this week and is probable, which assumes he should be almost 100 percent. This muddles up a great matchup against the Panthers. Look for the team to let Ryan Torain have first crack against the Panthers' weak run defense, but even if they crack, there should be enough to go around for Hightower to be a flex, bye-week or injury fill-in. There may also be enough touches for Roy Helu, but right now he has no value outside larger leagues as depth.

 

Boller to start

Raiders QB Kyle Boller will now start instead of Carson Palmer. It's absurd to expect Palmer to be ready in a few days after just arriving. He knows head coach Hue Jackson from their time in Cincinnati, but Jackson was the WR coach and not the offensive coordinator there. Palmer has a playbook to learn, and regardless, neither player is fantasy-worthy this week.

 

Fantasy starters

Texans QB Matt Schaub (chest, shoulder) practiced Friday and will play this week. He makes a low-end No. 1 fantasy quarterback this week.

Broncos RB Willis McGahee (back) is probable with just soreness and will play after going through a full practice Friday. He's a No. 2 back this week.

Chargers RB Mike Tolbert (concussion) practiced this week and will play. He's merely a flex or bye-week and injury fill-in.

Chargers RB Ryan Mathews (calf) is not on the injury report and is good to go this week. He's a No. 1 fantasy back this week.

Chiefs RB Jackie Battle (concussion) practiced this week, is not on the injury report, will play and should see most of the carries. He's a flex position back.  

Colts RB Joseph Addai (hamstring) practiced in full Friday and is expected to play. This devalues RBs Donald Brown and Delone Carter. Don't drop them, but wait until Sunday and see if we get an update. Remember, they play in the Sunday-night game.

Dolphins RB Daniel Thomas (hamstring) is probable this week and, though limited, will still play. He was limited last week and played also, so he should be good to go.

Steelers RB Rashard Mendenhall (knee) practiced in full Friday and will play this weekend. He makes a No. 1 fantasy back this week against the Cardinals' defense.

Chargers WR Vincent Jackson (hamstring) practiced in full this week and will start but will also see Jets CB Darrelle Revis on him at times. You don't really bench him, but be realistic this week with your expectations.

Dolphins WR Brandon Marshall (quadriceps) went through a full practice Friday and is good to go against his former team this week. He's a No. 1 wideout.

Steelers WR Mike Wallace (hamstring) went through a full practice, is probable and a No. 1 fantasy receiver this week. 

Texans WR Jacoby Jones (groin) was limited in practice Friday and a late addition to the injury report this week. Watch Sunday-morning reports, but he's probable, making him a flex position play this week. 

Vikings WR Percy Harvin (ribs) was limited in practice, but that's for precaution more than Harvin not being able to play. He's probable this week and is a flex or bye-week play.

Chargers TE Antonio Gates (foot) practiced in full Friday and is questionable. If he's healthy, he'll play, and they'll use him accordingly. If he plays, he'll have a role. He's always worth starting when active. 

Panthers TE Greg Olsen (turf toe) practiced in full Friday, is probable and will play. He's a No. 1 receiver, but let's hope he's healed. Turf toe is one of those touchy injuries like a hamstring; it's easy to aggravate it.

Saints TE Jimmy Graham (ankle) was limited in practice but is probable and expected to play. If he plays, you start him.

 

Out or consider other alternatives ...

Rams QB Sam Bradford (ankle) will be a game-day decision, but right now he looks like a young quarterback and has no fantasy value. A high ankle sprain takes much longer than a week to heal.

Seahawks QB Tarvaris Jackson (pectoral) has not been ruled out but did not practice this week. Backup Charlie Whitehurst has been named the starter. You do the math.

Browns RB Peyton Hillis (hamstring) did not practice this week and you should look toward alternatives, including backup Montario Hardesty, who will see most of the carries.

Bucs RB LeGarrette Blount (knee) is out, and Earnest Graham will replace him in the lineup. Graham makes a No. 2 fantasy back going against a Bears team that can struggle against opposing backs. 

Although Lions RB Jahvid Best (concussion) is technically still not ruled out this week, he's out. Look for backup Maurice Morris to start and see most of the carries.

Falcons WR Julio Jones (hamstring) is still out indefinitely. Look for the team to continue using Harry Douglas and a rotation of receivers. However, Douglas will be the primary player QB Matt Ryan looks for out of the backups.

Ravens WR Lee Evans (ankle) has not practiced this week and is out indefinitely. Look for Torrey Smith to start this week, and until we hear something on Evans, look for him to keep starting. He's only a No. 3 receiver this week.

Texans WR Andre Johnson (hamstring) has been ruled out this weekend. Look for WRs Jacoby Jones and Kevin Walter to try to take advantage of the extra looks. Both players make flex position receivers.

Raiders PK Sebastian Janikowski (hamstring) will miss a few weeks, and unless you have an extra roster spot, you should drop him until he's ready to come back. He's likely out this week.

 

The 'B' team ...

Dolphins RB Reggie Bush (groin, neck) practiced Friday and will play but has minimal fantasy value. He's only an injury fill-in at this point.

Bears WR Devin Hester (chest) practiced this week and will play, but he's an inconsistent player and only a bye-week or injury fill-in play.

Broncos WR Demaryius Thomas (hand) practiced this week and will play. He returns to a run-first team, a new quarterback in Tim Tebow, and Eric Decker as a starter at wideout with Brandon Lloyd having been traded to the Rams. He's a watch-list player his first game back. 

Broncos WR Eddie Royal (groin) practiced this week and will share time with Demaryius Thomas. Eric Decker is the No. 1 receiver now, and Royal will not see enough touches to have fantasy value.

Bucs WR Sammie Stroughter (foot) is out this week but did practice, so he's close to returning. He has no fantasy value at this time.

Seahawks WR Mike Williams (concussion) returned to practice this week and will play. He has no fantasy value with a new quarterback in Charlie Whitehurst. And with the emergence of Doug Baldwin and Ben Obomanu playing well, Williams will have to fight for playing time. 

Cardinals TE Todd Heap (hamstring) is a game-time decision, and if he can't go, look for Rob Housler's role to increase. A less-than-100-percent Heap and a rookie in Housler translates to no fantasy value.

Lions TE Tony Scheffler (concussion) was limited in practice this week but is probable and expected to play. He is too inconsistent, and while he may vulture a TD or two, he has minimal fantasy value.

 

Rounding it out

Jets RB Joe McKnight (knee) is probable and practiced this week. He has no fantasy value.

There are mixed reports as to whether Bears WR Earl Bennett (chest) will or won't play Sunday, despite the fact that he has fully participated in practices this week. Regardless, he has no fantasy value.

Chiefs WR Jonathan Baldwin (thumb) will be a game-time decision this week. Until he gets his feet wet and some time on the actual playing field, he has no value.

Rams WR Mark Clayton (knee) will not be activated from the PUP to play this week. He's still someone to pick up and stash as he was riding high last year until his injury. 

Redskins WR Anthony Armstrong (hamstring) practiced this week but expects to return to action this week after being out since Week Three. He has no value at this time.

Seahawks TE Zach Miller (concussion) is out this week and has been a fantasy nonfactor this year and has no fantasy value. 

Texans TE James Casey (pectoral) has not practiced this week and is unlikely to play. He has no fantasy value.

Source: http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/10/22/del-pilars-digest-around-fantasyland-24-hour-pre-4

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