Fantasy Football: Monday News and Notes

Half of you must be as irritated as I am this morning. I'll explain why as we get into this. Talk about one of the weirdest days of fantasy football on record. That's really the only way to describe it. 

• How many of you watched Donovan McNabb look lost yesterday? I drafted him in one of my leagues, figuring he was healthy enough to get the job done and really carry the Eagles this year. I figured that the healthy receivers and a solid running back should more than give him what he needed for a successful season.
  
• The last two weeks have been just rough to watch. McNabb is becoming a matchup play in my book, at least in leagues where there are options available. He SHOULD have success against San Francisco next week.
• Brandon Marshall also didn't bother to take the field on Sunday. The Bucs tough secondary shut down the Broncos passing attack on nearly all fronts.
  
• To Jay Cutler's credit, he didn't force the ball to Marshall like he did last week, and he made the Bucs pay for blanketing Marshall with double coverage. Cutler threw only one touchdown pass, and the team relied on the hard running of Michael Pittman to take the game down.
• The Jaguars running duo did virtually no running against the Steelers. Their line is certainly beat up, but they need to find a way to get these two going or it's going to be a rough season in Jacksonville.
  
• David Garrard managed to find some daylight last night in the Pittsburgh secondary, but too many drives went three-and-out. The disparity in plays run in the first half was ugly, and likely wore down the Jags defense. That game plan needs to go back to the drawing board.
• DeAngelo Williams did all the damage for the Panthers on the ground this week, as Jonathan Stewart struggled to get anything going at all. Williams scored three touchdowns, likely irritating many owners who had him on the bench in favor of more consistent options. As we continue to look at the season, both these backs can be started, but neither should be more than a flex option in most formats. That's strictly because of the consistency aspect to it.
• Trent Edwards was starting to become a viable fantasy option in deeper leagues, but that has certainly been put on hold after the vicious hit that he took yesterday against Arizona. Edwards was knocked out of the game, but can be put on hold strictly because of the team's bye next week. It's not likely he'll be available in Week Seven, but not out of the question. Stranger things have happened.
• Matt Schaub may have been ill and unable to play, but you have to think that Sage Rosenfels just saved Schaub's job for him. Rosenfels was erratic at best, and managed to commit several key turnovers that likely made it impossible for the Texans to bench Schaub. He nearly had several others as well. While the play calling was an issue (where was Steve Slaton in those last five minutes?), there is no excuse for that loss.
• Kyle Orton, fantasy football quarterback. Wrap your head around that one and get back to me.
• Brian Westbrook suffered broken ribs in his return to the Philly lineup. Not a good thing, obviously. Upgrade Buckhalter and grab him if you can on waivers. Buckhalter suddenly has more and more value.
• As long as the Dolphins continue to add wrinkles to the "Wildcat" formation, expect defenses to be slightly confused...or to study more game tape of Arkansas' offense last season. The Dolphins used it 12 times yesterday, scoring on one key play and averaging over four yards per carry. Not quite the explosion they had against the Patriots, but not a bad showing. Ronnie Brown had over 100 yards again, and scored. He's starting to look like a steal in many drafts.
• Brian Griese will be a mid-week call for the Bucs, meaning we could see some more of Jeff Garcia running the Tampa offense. Garcia is more mobile, and provides a better deep threat for the receivers. Griese has been mistake prone. Neither should be options in anything more than deep 12-team leagues.
• Larry Johnson is playing games with fantasy owners. Mike Florio pointed it out, in his piece on SportingNews.com, that the Chiefs are going to see many more games like the one yesterday and very few like the win against Denver. They will be playing from behind, and that's not conducive to running the football.
• Johnson has some left in the tank, and there are teams that would be willing to pay for it. Watch for him to be traded. If not before the deadline, then certainly before next season. It will only enhance his value.
• Terrell Owens is still seeing very few targets per game, thanks largely to coverage. Not necessarily a bad thing, as long as the team is winning, but Owens isn't happy when he isn't getting the ball. It's been proven at each step along the way. That's been quarterback poison. Ask McNabb.
• In fact, Romo only needed to drop back to pass 23 times the entire game. Felix Jones and Marion Barber continue to carry the day for the Cowboys. The team is going to do well when they run the football effectively. A team that can't stop the run like Cincinnati is going to see a heavy dose of it. It will reduce the touches for the Dallas receivers, but they will have big games. After all, Romo still had three touchdown passes.
• As we look at tonight's game, it has to be pointed out that the Vikings are still having trouble against the pass, and the Saints have three receivers that could burn them. Drew Brees has been electric and has been able to spread the ball around to each receiver, making them all equally valuable (or not valuable).
• Deuce McAllister could find rough going tonight, as the line up front for Minnesota is strong. Reggie Bush should have a better game than Deuce, but I thought that last week too.
• On the Minnesota side, they get Bryant McKinnie back in the lineup and will look to Gus Frerotte to manage the game without getting them too far behind. The Saints defense isn't as stout against the run as some of the other teams Minnesota has faced, so look for both Peterson and Taylor to have good days today. Frerotte should even find Berrian for a touchdown pass...and that would be one more than McNabb threw this week.

Apologies for leaving the late games unattended on Friday. Unfortunately, other duties called and this slipped through. Expect a solid update tomorrow in our Week Five Hangover.