Week 4 of preseason has a lot of starters on the sidelines, but they still have to get some bodies out there to give a “show” to all those people that paid full regular season prices.
Michael Bush: What did seem like a thumb injury that wouldn’t keep him out of the season opener is now a fracture that could keep him out at least a month. Darren McFadden’s value really shoots up, but I do think Bush will come back and play well and could hurt whatever McFadden has built up in this next month.
Montario Hardesty: He finally got into a preseason game, had some nice runs, got into the endzone, and just looked like an every down kinda back. And as I was watching this I was also drafting my Razzball Commenter League team and decided to grab him. Queue sad trombone; he then went and hurt his knee again. Well, not the same knee, but he was on crutches after the game. This should help Jerome Harrison’s cause, but James Davis had a nice final preseason game so he needs to join the muddled Browns RB conversation.
Beanie Wells: He hurt his knee last night. This has been a bad preseason for my man Beanie. He’s having trouble hanging onto the ball and now this. It hurts me deep in the gut, but he needs to be dropped a bit on draft sheets. And Tim Hightower needs to be boosted. And hobbled.
Ahmad Bradshaw: He has semi-officially won the starting job in New York and he looks healthy as well. Jacobs should still be the goal line back, but unless Bradshaw gets hurt I don’t see Jacobs racking up much yardage. Bradshaw will get receptions and the majority of the carries. I’d take him before Jacobs in both PPR and non.
Fred Taylor: He continues to be the lead back for the Patriots. Of course Sammy Morris and Kevin Faulk also see time, but Larry Maroney might as well take a seat in the stands. I guess Taylor is worth grabbing, but it pains me to do so. I very much doubt he’ll stay healthy for long. I’m staying away from the who shituation until Maroney finds his way back to the field.
T.J. Houshmandzadeh: The Seahawks are looking to dump Housh, but his salary will make a trade tough. They could end up releasing him all together, but nothing is imminent. If anything happens with TJ, Mike Williams gets a big boost, and whoever else they have playing wide receiver nowadays.
Brandon Jackson: My man Evan Silva of Rotoworld alerted to me of the play of Brandon Jackson this preseason so I took a look and I can’t say that I disagree. He has looked quicker and more decisive, as if something has finally turned on for him. Ryan Grant had a concussion this preseason and if he goes down this season Jackson looks like he will be able to do some real work.
Correll Buckhalter: Knowshon Moreno should be able to go for week 1, but he didn’t play in the final preseason game and Buckhalter did. Bucky is worth grabbing if you don’t have a strong backup for Moreno.
Ben Roethlisberger: There were rumors that he would try to get his suspension down from 6 games to 3, even though 4 was supposed to be the least he could get away with. So blah, blah, blah and the rumors are going away and he’ll probably serve the mandatory 4 games for groping/molestation/general douchebaggery.
Michael Crabtree: Vernon Davis called him out for not practicing and being an overall wuss-bag. Then coach Singletary took them into the locker room and gave them a good talking too. Now everything is peachy keeneriffic. This is all to say, well, nothing really. Don’t worry about it.
Kevin Smith: He was supposedly on the roster bubble, but it looks like he slid off it, then dodged some rotating nerf sticks and won a chance to backup Mo Morris who is backing up Jahvid Best.
Jeremiah Johnson: Now his foot is hurt. Add that to Slaton’s toe and you have Chris Henry as the backup RB. I am Bear Claw Chris Lapp; bloodkin to the grizzer that bit Jim Britcher’s ass! YOU (Jeremiah Johnson) are molesting my hunt!
Byron Leftwich: There is no official word, but Leftwich hurt his knee, well, one if his lineman did, and there is a good chance Dennis Dixon will start the season as the Steelers QB. I don’t see a huge difference in the two as far as helping or hurting Mendy, Ward and Wallace, but Dixon does keep plays alive longer.
Eric Decker: He caught 10 passes from Tebow and Quinn in the final preseason game and this gels with how he looked out there last week. He could be on track for a nice PPR season.
Sam Bradford: He continues to look good, going 6-6 and a TD in one series against the Ravens. Two of those receptions went to Danny Amendola who is quickly becoming a decent flier in PPR leagues. Bradford has the ability, but just doesn’t have the supporting cast to be fantasy worthy this season.
Jonathan Dwyer: He hadn’t looked good until last week, but now he’s had two good back to back games and is looking more like Mendenhall’s handcuff.
