After disappearing in Oakland the past couple seasons, Randy Moss burst back onto the fantasy map with a nine-catch, 183-yard effort vs the Jets. Although he was seen limping a bit on the sidelines, Moss looked like the phenom he used to be in Minnesota before injuries and a poor attitude dismantled his status as an elite receiver in the game. New England definitely appears poised for another run at the Super Bowl.
Rookies RB Adrian Peterson, WR Calvin Johnson and RB Marshawn Lynch lived up to all the buildup as each found the end zone in their pro debuts. Also, WR Ronald Curry snared 10 catches for 133 yards, RB Chris Brown ran wild for 175 yards off the bench, WR Antwaan Randle El posted a career-high 162 yards through the air, and QBs Eli Manning, Tony Romo and Ben Roethlisberger threw four TDs in the opener.
We’ll break down an action-packed Week One of the NFL season in this edition of Chutes ‘n’ Ladders – featuring the top free agents and major injury news from around the league.
Free Agents
Quarterbacks
Jake Delhomme, CAR 18-for-27, 201 yards, three TD, 12 yards rushing
Josh McCown, OAK 30-for-40, 313 yards, two TD, two INT
Chad Pennington, NYJ 16-for-21, 167 yards, two TD
David Garrard, JAC 17-for-30, 204 yards, TD, 24 yards rushing
Trent Green, MIA 24-for-38, 219 yards, TD
Matt Schaub, HOU 16-for-22, 225 yards, TD, INT
Tarvaris Jackson, MIN 13-for-23, 163 yards, TD, INT, 10 yards rushing
Jeff Garcia, TB 19-for-27, 201 yards
Jason Campbell, WAS 14-for-21, 222 yards, two INT, 29 yards rushing
Rex Grossman, CHI 12-for-23, 145 yards, INT
J.P. Losman, BUF 14-for-21, 97 yards, INT, 13 yards rushing
Damon Huard, KC 22-for-33, 168 yards, two INT
Derek Anderson, CLE 13-for-28, 184 yards, TD, INT
Kellen Clemens, NYJ 5-for-10, 35 yards
After beating out Daunte Culpepper late in preseason, McCown performed fairly well in his Raiders debut. He connected 19 of his 30 completions to Curry and LaMont Jordan out of the backfield, finishing with over 300 yards in the air. Oakland erased a 17-0 deficit, took a 21-20 lead and then fell apart at the end as the Lions triumphed in the opener. McCown did sustain a minor hand injury late, but it sounds like he’ll remain behind center. "Josh is our starter right now and we're very pleased with a number of things he did [Sunday], and we're going to stay with him for now," head coach Lane Kiffin said. Oakland takes on Denver in Week 2. … Delhomme tossed three scores in the opener as Carolina upset St. Louis. Steve Smith accounted for 118 of his 201 passing yards and one TD, while up-and-coming WR Drew Carter found the end zone on two of his three receptions. Delhomme will have a much more difficult matchup against Houston in Week 2, so don’t expect another three TD performance – he only did that once in all of 2006. … Schaub, Jackson and Campbell all performed well in their new starting roles, each notching victories. You know the Falcons are kicking themselves for letting Schaub bolt to Houston after the Michael Vick fiasco. Along with the Niners’ Alex Smith, he’s going to be one of the best breakout players in 2007 behind center.
Running Backs
Derrick Ward, NYG 13 rushes, 89 yards, four rec, 27 yards, TD
Justin Griffith, OAK three rec, 21 yards, TD
Maurice Morris, SEA three rushes, 15 yards, rec, 34 yards, TD
Jesse Chatman, MIA seven rushes, 15 yards, six rec, 48 yards, FL
Lawrence Vickers, CLE two rushes, eight yards, two rec, seven yards, TD
Sammy Morris, NE 11 rushes, 54 yards, two rec, 11 yards
Heath Evans, NE two rushes, one yard, TD
Najeh Davenport, PIT eight rushes, 43 yards, rec, 17 yards
Michael Pittman, TB three rushes, six yards, five rec, 32 yards
Michael Turner, SD 10 rushes, 41 yards
Ron Dayne, HOU 13 rushes, 33 yards
Look for Ward to be the most popular free agent addition in all of fantasy football this week. He replaced the injured Brandon Jacobs and rushed for a career-high 89 yards, including a 44-yard dash. Jacobs is expected to be out 3-to-5 weeks, so consider Ward a formidable No. 3 RB for the time being. Reuben Droughns will now be the immediate backup. … The Dolphins appear set to use a two-RB backfield under new coach Cam Cameron. Ronnie Brown was unspectacular with 32 yards rushing and 40 yards receiving, while Chatman managed 63 total yards. After Cameron tutored the great L.T. in San Diego’s offense the past few years, it looked like Brown was in store for a huge year. However, he’s proven he’s not ready to shoulder the whole load. Consider grabbing Chatman and utilizing him as your flex option if you’re weak at RB. … With New England absolutely manhandling the Jets Sunday, Laurence Maroney was lifted midway through the third quarter and Sammy Morris entered at RB to tick the clock away. He finished with 54 yards, while FB Heath Evans was rewarded with a one-year TD plunge after strong blocking. Both are not great fantasy options. … Monitor Carnell Williams’ health throughout the week as well – Pittman would be a decent pickup if he’s unable to suit up next week vs the Saints, who allowed 164 rushing yards vs Indy – sixth worst in the league. … In keeper leagues, keep an eye on Turner, the Speed Burner, in San Diego (discovered by the Germans). He’ll likely bolt this offseason for a big free agent deal and be the No. 1 guy somewhere in 2008. He’s probably the game’s best backup at this time.
Wide Receivers
Antwaan Randle El, PIT five rec, 162 yards
Shaun McDonald, DET six rec, 90 yards, TD
Wes Welker, MIA six rec, 61 yards, TD
Amani Toomer, NYG nine rec, 91 yards
Brandon Marshall, DEN five rec, 52 yards, TD
Drew Carter, CAR three rec, 19 yards, two TD
Jason Avant, PHI three rec, 54 yards, TD
John Broussard, CLE two rec, 55 yards, TD
Sam Hurd, DAL rec, 51 yards, TD
Mike Furrey, DET five rec, 52 yards
Brandon Stokley, DEN three rec, 65 yards
Bobby Engram, SEA three rec, 64 yards
Randle El mustered a career-high 162 yards (73% of QB Campbell’s passing yards). That’s almost half the receiving yards he compiled in all of 2006 (351 yards), so don’t expect this trend to continue. Santana Moss and Chris Cooley are still much more reliable receiving options. … The Lions looked very strong offensively vs. Oakland Sunday, piling up 36 points in the win. Their pass attack is absolutely dangerous with four bona fid receiving threats and a strong-armed field general. McDonald, who was spectacular in the preseason, found the end zone and posted an impressive 90 yard-game. With Roy Williams their No. 1 WR, No. 2 selection Calvin Johnson already ready for the pro-game and Mike Furrey entrenched in the slot role, McDonald is low on the depth charts, making him a gamble in fantasy. However, Detroit likes to go four-wide often, so he’s definitely worth considering in large leagues. Expect his numbers to finish below the aforementioned trio though. … The Patriots went to Randy Moss early and often, as he posted the most receiving yards ever by a Tom Brady receiver – wow, the future looks bright. Welker, who was Miami’s leading receiver last season, posted a stellar 61 yards and a TD. He’ll be a fine slot receiver along side Donte Stallworth and Moss. Consider him a decent No. 3 WR in all fantasy leagues.
Tight Ends
Heath Miller, PIT four rec, 35 yards, TD
Eric Johnson, NO eight rec, 57 yards
Justin Peelle, MIA two rec, 12 yards, TD
Marcus Pollard, SEA five rec, 43 yards
Jeff King, CAR five rec, 35 yards
Matt Spaeth, PIT rec, five yards, TD
Miller and Johnson are each legitimate starting fantasy football TE’s in their well oiled offenses. After sitting out the majority of the past few years via injuries in San Francisco, Johnson is ready for a big year in New Orleans. Grab him if he’s still available. Miller and Spaeth both caught scores from Ben Roethlisberger in the opener as Big Ben threw four scores. Miller is ready to break out this year in Pittsburgh – he’s one of the top-10 fantasy TE’s in 2007. The rest of the tight ends on this list are not worth your attention.
Major Injuries
Eli Manning was dropped on his right shoulder by Cowboys’ Anthony Spencer Sunday night, knocking the quarterback out of the game in the fourth quarter. He was seen on the sidelines with a team doctor working his hand around the right shoulder area, visibly wincing in pain. After undergoing an MRI on Monday, the quarterback is believed to be sidelined anywhere from one week to a month’s time. Some reports show Manning day-to-day still, while others are even showing him out of action around five weeks. Nevertheless it seems as if Jared Lorenzen, the Pillsbury Throw Boy, will replace him if he is indeed out of action. The enormous southpaw is not a great fantasy play against the improved Packers defense.
Brandon Jacobs will miss three-to-five weeks after spraining his MCL in Sunday night’s game against Dallas. Derrick Ward replaced him with 116 total yards and is expected to start against Green Bay next week. Free agent acquisition Reuben Droughns could also get some touches in the backfield, but isn’t a worth free agent pick-up.
Eddie Kennison injured his right hamstring on the Chiefs' first play from scrimmage in Sunday's opener against Houston. The 6-foot-1, 201-pound Kennison got the ball from quarterback Damon Huard on a reverse, ran 5 yards, then pulled up lame after going out of bounds. Kennison ripped off his helmet and pounded it on the turf as he limped to the bench.
D.J. Hackett, who left Sunday's game against the Buccaneers in the first quarter with a right ankle injury, will be examined Monday. He’s questionable for week 2.
Chester Taylor was receiving treatment Monday for a painful injury on his side that sidelined him in the first quarter of the season opener Sunday. Taylor's condition was called a bruised hip after the 24-3 victory over Atlanta, but coach Brad Childress said Monday that the injury was to Taylor's oblique, a muscle near the lower part of the rib cage. Taylor's status will be in question this week, though Childress sounded as though he expected him to play Sunday at Detroit. Taylor was at the team's practice facility at 8 a.m. Monday for treatment with the goal of being ready for Wednesday's practice. "He's a pretty tough guy," Childress said, adding: "There's nothing structurally wrong. It's just extremely uncomfortable right now." Rookie Adrian Peterson, who was supposed to split the carries with Taylor, rushed for 103 yards on 19 attempts and turned a short catch into a 60-yard touchdown.
QB Jeff Garcia and RB Cadillac Williams both left Sunday's game against the Seahawks with injuries in the third quarter. Williams has an unspecified rib injury and was being evaluated following the Bucs' 20-6 loss. "I don't like to think about injuries, certainly at the quarterback position or any position," coach Jon Gruden said. "When Carnell is laying out there, you don't like to see it." Also, WR David Boston didn't play after injuring his foot in pregame warmups. Garcia was "dinged" after getting hit while scrambling for a first down midway through the third quarter. He was taken to the locker room and examined by team physicians before returning to the sideline and re-entering with 7:48 left in the fourth quarter. The vagabond QB finished 19-of-27 for 201 yards.
Meanwhile, Williams got hit simultaneously by Josh Kerney, Brian Russell and Lofa Tatupu at the end of a 4-yard run. After a moment on the turf holding his arm, Williams walked slowly to the bench with trainers at each side. A few minutes after that, he walked slowly and unsteadily to the locker room. Gruden was unclear as to the severity of the injury. "I don't know that it's broken," he said. Williams rushed for 60 yards on 12 carries, including a 20-yard run, before he got hurt. Michael Pittman replaced him and would get the nod if the Cadillac is stuck in the garage next week.
Jaguars K Josh Scobee will miss 6-8 weeks with a strained hamstring. Scobee managed to kick a field goal Sunday, but clearly was hurting. Jacksonville will try out a few veterans on Tuesday, including John Carney, Mike Vanderjagt and Billy Cundiff.
Bills TE Kevin Everett will spend one to two days under sedation as doctors evaluate the extent of a severe spinal injury that could leave him paralyzed. Agent Brian Overstreet said that his client had some "sparse movement." “The next couple of days is going to be critical," said Overstreet. "Our concern is for him to come out of this healthy and, hopefully, be able to walk again." Everett sustained what the team called a cervical spine injury when he ducked his head while driving in to tackle Denver's Domenik Hixon during the second half-opening kickoff. Everett dropped face first to the ground after his helmet hit Hixon high on the left shoulder and side of the helmet. Replays showed the player twitching for a few seconds as he attempted to get up before falling back to the ground. Everett had his eyes open but showed no further signs of movement during the next 15 minutes as the team's medical staff and emergency personnel carefully placed him on a backboard and, with the player's head and body immobilized, loaded him into an ambulance at the Broncos 30.
Week Two Schedule
Sunday, Sept. 16 1:00pm ET
Houston @ Carolina
Buffalo @ Pittsburgh
Indianapolis @ Tennessee
Green Bay @ New York Giants
New Orleans @ Tampa Bay
Atlanta @ Jacksonville
San Francisco @ St. Louis
Cincinnati @ Cleveland
Sunday, Sept. 16 4:15pm ET
Seattle @ Arizona
Minnesota @ Detroit
Dallas @ Miami
New York Jets @ Baltimore
Oakland @ Denver
Kansas City @ Chicago
Sunday, Sept. 16 8:15pm ET
San Diego @ New England
Monday, Sept. 17 8:30pm ET
Washington @ Philadelphia