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Fantasy Updates
 Jackson: Back still giving me problems
Steven Jackson, RB STL
News: Rams RB Steven Jackson said in an interview with CBSSports.com that the back injury that caused him problems toward the end of the season -- he missed a game in Week 16 against Arizona and also missed the Pro Bowl -- is still bothering him in February. "My back is still giving me problems," Jackson said. "It's herniated discs. Anyone who has that injury knows it isn't any fun. You just have to rehab it, and I'm trying to avoid surgery. I've seen three different doctors on it, and they all said that surgery is not needed. It's one of those things I have to just gut it out and really rehab." But Jackson added "I'll be ready for training camp."
Analysis: Jackson ended 2009 with excellent yardage numbers -- 1,416 yards on 324 carries and 322 yards on 51 catches -- but his four touchdowns really hurt Fantasy owners over the course of the season. He vows that will change in 2010. "I only had four touchdowns, and I know a lot of people were disappointed with that," Jackson said. "But I'm in the yard-making business. I deal with real estate first. I think I'm a Top 5 draft pick in Fantasy Football. I believe that stat-wise I will have my most impressive season that I've ever had, including 2006." That would be impressive since Jackson had 1,528 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns and 90 catches for 806 yards and three touchdowns in 2006. We're not sure if he can reach those marks again, especially with a bad back, but he should be considered a No. 1 Fantasy RB as long as he's healthy.
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Light confident in Welker's recovery
Wes Welker, WR NE
News: Patriots left tackle Matt Light said in an interview with CBSSports.com that he expects WR Wes Welker to recover at 100 percent following surgery to repair the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligament in his left knee. Welker, who was injured in the season-finale against Houston, had surgery Feb. 2. Recovery time could be anywhere from 6-12 months. It does not appear likely that Welker will be ready to play in the 2010 season opener, although that has not been ruled out. "He's kind of going through the gauntlet right now," Light said. "You have an injury like that, and you don't know what to expect. But the guys that know Wes and the guys that have played with Wes understand that he's a gamer. He's going to do everything he can to get back out there on the field. He'll be very workmanlike in his approach doing that. As a teammate, I have no concerns as to where he's going to be. When he's ready to play he'll be back out there making plays the same way he's done his entire career. He's a guy you want to play with. He's a guy you want as a teammate, you want him in the locker room, his passion and drive for what he's done is the best of the best."
Analysis: Welker finished the regular season with 123 catches for 1,348 yards and four touchdowns. He is a solid Fantasy option in all leagues when healthy, and that's what you'll have to monitor heading into 2010. He's still worth drafting with a mid-round pick, and you can expect him to play a significant role as his health improves. Plan on drafting him as a No. 3 Fantasy WR and hope for a speedy recovery.
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Martz: Olsen still must block
Greg Olsen, TE CHI
News: Speaking on 670 The Score (WSCR-AM) in Chicago, new Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz praised TE Greg Olsen for his versatility but also said that a primary duty will be blocking. "He's a different tight end than I've had in the past, but all tight ends, their first responsibility, they have to put their hand down on the line of scrimmage and be a successful blocker. They have to be able to do that job and do it well, and then they move into receiving," Martz said. "To just skip by that and say, 'Okay, he's a terrific receiver,' then you may as well just put another wide receiver in there. And he can do these things, and that's where [defenses] have a really difficult time with a tight end that is as well-rounded as he is, that can move around and get isolated on 'backers, can put his hand on the ground and block a defensive end yet get down the field and stretch the defense."
Analysis: Initially this statement was taken as a sign that Olsen will be called on to block more and catch less, but Martz really is just stating basic facts about tight ends. Chances are Martz has already recognized Olsen's abilities and seen how reliable he was for QB Jay Cutler last season and won't remove him from the offense going forward. It is a little nerve-racking to look back on Martz's history with tight ends and realize that they've never been a big part of what he does, but as NFL analyst and former Martz protege Marshall Faulk said during Super Bowl week, Olsen "will be the best tight end that [Mike Martz has] ever had." Olsen had his best season in 2009, his first with Cutler, catching 60 balls for 612 yards and a whopping team-high eight touchdowns (all scored in six games over the course of the season). The Martz factor is something to be concerned about, but so long as you don't reach for Olsen you should be fine. Consider him a middle- to low-end No. 1 Fantasy TE worth a pick in the middle to late rounds this summer.
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Light praises Brady in comeback
Tom Brady, QB NE
News: Patriots left tackle Matt Light said in an interview with CBSSports.com that QB Tom Brady played well in 2009 after coming back from missing the 2008 season with a knee injury. In 2009 Brady completed 371 of 565 passes for 4,398 yards, 28 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. His completion percentage of 65.7 was seventh in the NFL and his passer rating of 96.2 was ninth. He also played all 16 games and the first-round playoff loss to Baltimore despite nagging rib and finger injuries. "He did everything he had to do to get back out there and play," Light said. "He played the entire season. He was healthy. He went through a lot of things as far the bumps and bruises that everybody takes, and he stayed out there. That's all you can expect from a guy that comes back from an injury. To put any more weight on it than that gets a little nitpicky. You can't say that his performance had anything to do with our overall outcome. We just weren't able to get it done in certain areas of the game, and unfortunately that led to us having a first-round exit in the playoffs."
Analysis: Brady didn't have a career year in 2009, but he certainly played like a No. 1 Fantasy QB. He will enter 2010 as a No. 1 option again, and he will face questions about the recovery of WR Wes Welker (knee), who could miss the start of the season. Still, Brady plays in a pass-oriented offense that features Randy Moss, and he will continue to post outstanding stats. Consider Brady as a No. 1 Fantasy QB worth a pick beginning in Round 2 in all leagues.
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 Martz: Hester's role to shrink
Devin Hester, WR CHI
News: Speaking on 670 The Score (WSCR-AM) in Chicago, new Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz said that WR Devin Hester's role in the offense will be similar to Az-Zahir Hakim's slot role back in the Rams' offense of the late 90s/early 2000s. Martz also says Hester might return to special teams. "Devin Hester in [the Hakim] role could just be stupid good," Martz said. "What we could do with him inside, the matchups that we could get with him on third corners, on safeties and linebackers would be absolutely remarkable. We haven't talked personnel yet so I'm kind of out of line with this, but it would be very difficult for him to take every snap at wide receiver and play at a high level on special teams. We have to look at that and it's one of the things that we have to talk about. But the role that I have in mind for him will allow him to do both and do both at a high level."
Analysis: Hester's future in Fantasy is up in the air considering that his offensive coordinator is already slotting him in a limited role in early February. Hester also recently disclosed that an early-season shoulder injury compounded with ankle and calf injuries hindered his production last year. Hester set career-highs in receptions and receiving yards with 57 catches for 757 yards (13.3 avg.) and matched his career-best with three touchdowns, but his season was considered a disappointment. On the plus side, he caught at least four passes in nine contests and had at least 70 receiving yards in seven outings. But his future in the Chicago offense could really put the brakes on his potential. It's something we'll have to watch out for this offseason. He's no better than a low-end No. 3 Fantasy WR and a late-round pick at this juncture.
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 Marshall likes Moreno's potential
Knowshon Moreno, RB DEN
News: Broncos WR Brandon Marshall said in an interview with CBSSports.com that he expects RB Knowshon Moreno to improve in 2010. As a rookie in 2009, Moreno had 947 rushing yards on 247 attempts with five touchdowns and 213 receiving yards on 28 receptions with two receiving touchdowns. "He's tough," Marshall said. "And whenever you're tough, you have a chance. He's a guy who wants to be great. He's going to compete every day in practice. He works his butt off. He's going to be a great back in this league for years to come."
Analysis: We like the high praise for Moreno, and we agree with Marshall. Go into 2010 with Moreno as a low-end No. 1/high-end No. 2 Fantasy RB starting with a pick in Round 2 in all leagues.
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Marshall wants to be No. 1 Fantasy WR
Brandon Marshall, WR DEN
News: Broncos WR Brandon Marshall said in an interview with CBSSports.com that he's "going for the throne" as the No. 1 WR in 2010. Marshall, who will be a restricted free agent this offseason and is subject to trade rumors, said if he was drafting a Fantasy team he would take himself "with the first pick, first round" no matter where he plays. Marshall, who made the Pro Bowl in 2009, is coming off another outstanding season with 101 catches for 1,120 yards and a career-high 10 touchdowns. He's had more than 100 catches each of the past three seasons and said "every year one of my goals is to have 100 catches, and hopefully I can go four years in a row."
Analysis: Marshall is aware of his status as a standout player for Fantasy owners. "I think more people know me as Brandon Marshall the Fantasy Football player than Brandon Marshall the football player," he said. "It's just fun. A lot of people enjoy it." Now Fantasy owners want to know where Marshall will be in 2010. The Broncos are rumored to be talking with several teams about Marshall in a trade, including Seattle, Washington, Chicago, Baltimore, St. Louis, Miami and Arizona. But it's also very likely Marshall could return to Denver in 2010. Keep an eye on where Marshall ends up, but he's proven he can be an elite Fantasy option with different quarterbacks since he went from Jay Cutler to Kyle Orton without a problem. We like Marshall as a No. 1 Fantasy WR, and he would be worth drafting as early as Round 3 in all leagues.
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Campbell could have company in 2010
Jason Campbell, QB WAS
News: The Washington Post reports the Redskins are looking into spending the No. 4 overall pick in the NFL Draft on a quarterback that new coach Mike Shanahan can develop. The story says the Redskins are considering former Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford or former Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen. While Shanahan hasn't said anything about his plans for the position, the most likely scenario would be to retain restricted free agent Jason Campbell and groom a young QB like Bradford or Clausen. Campbell said in a recent interview with CBSSports.com that he's excited about playing for Shanahan as well as his son, offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, who spent last season in the same role with the Texans. "You look at the offense he ran in Denver, and then the offense his son ran in Houston and how Matt Schaub took his game to another level, I definitely feel like we have the right leadership to turn our team around," Campbell said. "Coach Shanahan is going to find a way to get our running game going and create opportunities for our passing game. We're excited."
Analysis: Campbell had a career-best season in 2009, completing 64.5 percent of his passes (327 of 507) for 3,618 yards (7.14 yards per attempt) with 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions, adding 236 rush yards, a rushing touchdown and three fumbles lost. "I feel like I matured a lot and was able to overcome a lot because I was faced with a lot of adversity," Campbell said about 2009. This isn't the first time he's heard about being replaced -- the Redskins attempted to trade for Jay Cutler last offseason -- but with a new regime, Campbell could have to compete for his job. Still, we expect Campbell to start for the Redskins in 2010. He should be drafted as a No. 2 Fantasy option with a late-round pick, and hopefully the father-son combo of Mike and Kyle Shanahan can help Campbell's stats improve.
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Cribbs fond of Harrison
Jerome Harrison, RB CLE
News: Cleveland WR Josh Cribbs said in an interview with CBSSports.com that Browns RB Jerome Harrison has the potential to be a solid player in 2010. Harrison came on for the injured Jamal Lewis in 2009 and finished the season with 194 carries for 862 yards and five touchdowns and 34 catches for 220 yards and two touchdowns. Most of that damage came in the final three games (107 carries for 561 yards and five touchdowns), and Cribbs said Harrison can build on that coming into this season. "That's a great talent," Cribbs said. "He's going to be a great talent in this league for years to come. He's young and he's ready to play. That's a great player right there."
Analysis: The Browns are also confident in Harrison, but Browns GM Tom Heckert might want to give Harrison help in 2010. "He did a heck of a job at the end of the season, but whether a guy like Jerome can carry the ball that much throughout the whole season, that's a little difficult to say," Heckert said in the Cleveland Plain-Dealer. "But at least he proved that he can play in the league. It was unknown until this year, so I think he did himself a favor and we think he's a good player." Harrison could share carries with Chris Jennings and James Davis, but we like Harrison as the No. 1 option with the Browns. If that's the case as expected then consider Harrison a No. 2 Fantasy RB on Draft Day and plan on taking him around Round 3 or 4 in all leagues.
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Martz keeps gushing over Cutler
Jay Cutler, QB CHI
News: Speaking on 670 The Score (WSCR-AM) in Chicago, new Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz continued to show respect and optimism for Jay Cutler. The Bears quarterback will work with Martz this season in an attempt to revitalize Chicago's plain offense. Considered a difficult coordinator to deal with in the past, Martz is not just defending his ways but also discussing Cutler's potential in the offense, going as far as comparing him to Kurt Warner, who effectively established Martz as an explosive play caller. "He's got Kurt's accuracy with a stronger arm," Martz said. "You can't put a fence around Jay and say, 'This is what he is.' There's nothing that Jay can't accomplish in the passing game."
Analysis: Martz also cited Cutler's accuracy under duress as a huge positive for his game. Nearly every quarterback under Martz has put up awesome stats thanks to not only the scheme but also the number of attempts they have. Trent Green, Kurt Warner, Marc Bulger and Jon Kitna have all seen their numbers pop under Martz's tutelage. Cutler's should be no different, and when you consider his skills as a passer, the potential is there for a big season. While the Bears' receiving corps isn't well known, it is promising with the likes of Devin Aromashodu and Earl Bennett working with the more known Devin Hester and Greg Olsen in the coming season. Cutler emerges as a low-end No. 1 Fantasy QB worth a pick between Rounds 6 and 7 in drafts this summer.
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Campbell likes outlook for Thomas, Kelly
Malcolm Kelly, WR WAS
News: Redskins QB Jason Campbell said in an interview with CBSSports.com that he expects Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly to make tremendous strides in 2010, which will be their third year in the NFL. "I'm definitely excited about those two," Campbell said. "Devin is a guy who is big, fast and strong. He really came a long last year. Malcolm is a long-arm guy who can go up and get the ball. Once we continue to work with him and he continues to get more comfortable he can definitely become a big-time receiver for us and a possession receiver." Thomas finished the season with 25 catches for 325 yards and three touchdowns, all career highs. And Kelly also set career highs with 25 catches for 347 yards.
Analysis: We expect Thomas and Kelly to improve in 2010, especially with the addition of Mike Shanahan as the head coach. The Redskins have to decide if Campbell will remain the starting QB, but that's a move we expect to happen. And the Redskins actually have some talent in the passing game with Santana Moss, Chris Cooley and Fred Davis. But there is room for Thomas and Kelly to make an impact, and they are worth drafting as late-round fliers. Thomas has more upside in standard leagues based on his big-play ability, and Kelly has higher value in leagues where receptions count.
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Campbell fond of Cooley, Davis
Chris Cooley, TE WAS
News: Redskins QB Jason Campbell said in an interview with CBSSports.com that he's excited about having Chris Cooley healthy in 2010 to pair with Fred Davis. Cooley was put on injured reserve in 2009 with a broken ankle, which opened the door for Davis to finish the season strong. But Campbell said the Redskins should be able to use both tight ends this season. "It's a very good problem to have," Campbell said. "Fred Davis, no one knew what to expect from him. He definitely answered the call. Cooley is a very good tight end. I'm just excited about both of them being together. You can put both of them on the field together and let them make plays. Now defenses can't just key on one guy. It's going to create opportunities for Santana [Moss] and a lot of our younger guys."
Analysis: We think Cooley will return as the starter, but he will lose some production because of Davis. The Redskins also have to decide if Campbell will remain the quarterback, and what happens with the QB situation will obviously impact Cooley and Davis as well. But Cooley has been a No. 1 Fantasy TE for most of his career, and we think he can get back to that level. Plan on drafting him with a mid-round pick after all the elite tight ends are off the board, and he should definitely be considered a sleeper. Davis is worth a late-round pick, and hopefully, as Campbell said, the two can play well in tandem.
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Cribbs sees potential in young receivers
Mohamed Massaquoi, WR CLE
News: Browns WR Josh Cribbs said in an interview with CBSSports.com that he's confident in Mohamed Massaquoi and Brian Robiskie heading into 2010. Both were rookies in 2009, and Cribbs said they have plenty of potential. Massaquoi finished his rookie season with 34 catches for 624 yards and three touchdowns. Robiskie only appeared in 11 games and finished with seven catches for 106 yards. "They are already great athletes," Cribbs said. "They step in and do what the coaches ask for. Those two are great guys. They have lots of time to let their talent progress. Mohamed Massaquoi made a lot of clutch catches for us. As soon as we get that quarterback situation corrected they'll find their perfect targets. And Brian Robiskie, when he was active, he did make a mark."
Analysis: Like Cribbs said, when the Browns figure out the QB situation with Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson then the young receviers could start to blossom. We like Massaquoi as a No. 4 Fantasy WR coming into 2010 with a late-round pick in all leagues. He should be a quality reserve and played well as a rookie. Robiskie has a lot to prove, but he could be worth a late-round flier in deep leagues. The Browns passing game needs to improve, and Massaquoi and Robiskie could help with good years in their sophomore season.
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Cribbs confident in Quinn, Anderson
Browns, TQB CLE
News: Browns WR Josh Cribbs said in an interview with CBSSports.com that he's confident whoever the starting QB is in 2010 will be successful. Cribbs pointed to the addition of new team president Mike Holmgren as the reason either Brady Quinn or Derek Anderson will get the job done. But Cribbs shed no light on who will start in Week 1 since none of the Browns know if Quinn or Anderson is the starter, and it will be an open competition throughout the offseason. "We have Holmgren coming in," Cribbs said. "He's going to assess the situation. He said he will not have a quarterback controversy in Cleveland. He will declare a quarterback before the start of football business. I'm confident that whoever is at the helm will get the job done. Whoever it is, I know they are going to wear a captain's mark on their chest and lead this team."
Analysis: New Browns GM Tom Heckert said in the Cleveland Plain-Dealer the Browns are still undecided on Quinn and Anderson. "It's probably a little too early to say," Heckert said. "It's a difficult decision and we have to get together and we have not made any decisions on anybody. That's going to be something that's going to happen down the road. They both have talent, there's no doubt about it. They both played well at times and we'll have to wait and see what happens." We like Quinn ahead of Anderson for Fantasy owners, but whoever starts for the Browns is a No. 2 Fantasy QB at best. Cleveland is lacking weapons in the passing game, including Cribbs, and the Browns' passing attack has a lot to be desired heading into 2010.
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Peppers doesn't want long deal
Julius Peppers, DE CAR
News: Julius Peppers no longer wants a long-term contract with Carolina, saying the Panthers have ignored him this offseason. In an interview aired Tuesday morning on Charlotte radio station WFNZ-AM, the five-time Pro Bowl defensive end indicated he's irritated by the team's "silence" and has changed his stance on whether he wants to continue his career in Carolina. While agent Carl Carey said last week he believes the Panthers aren't interested in retaining Peppers, team officials haven't announced their plans for the impending free agent. "How can you say you want to be somewhere when you're not really sure if they want you there because they're not even talking to you?" Peppers said.
Analysis: After being held to a career-low 2 1/2 sacks in 2007, Peppers bounced back with a career-high 14 1/2 sacks in 2008. After recording 10 1/2 sacks in 2009, Peppers made the Pro Bowl and earned a $1.5 million bonus. He's a free agent again this offseason, but the franchise tag would cost the Panthers just over $20 million in guaranteed money. The Panthers have until Feb. 25 to use the franchise tag. The best-case scenario for Peppers is that he stays in Carolina. He'd remain a defensive end there and be one of the premier options in Fantasy, well worth an early-round pick in IDP drafts. The worst-case scenario would be if Peppers left for a team running a 3-4 scheme because then he'd be an outside linebacker and wouldn't total as many stats as he potentially could as a 4-3 lineman. We'll keep you posted on Peppers throughout the offseason.
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Peppers upset with Panthers
Panthers, DST CAR
News: Julius Peppers no longer wants a long-term contract with Carolina, saying the Panthers have ignored him this offseason. In an interview aired Tuesday morning on Charlotte radio station WFNZ-AM, the five-time Pro Bowl defensive end indicated he's irritated by the team's "silence" and has changed his stance on whether he wants to continue his career in Carolina. While agent Carl Carey said last week he believes the Panthers aren't interested in retaining Peppers, team officials haven't announced their plans for the impending free agent. "How can you say you want to be somewhere when you're not really sure if they want you there because they're not even talking to you?" Peppers said.
Analysis: After being held to a career-low 2 1/2 sacks in 2007, Peppers bounced back with a career-high 14 1/2 sacks in 2008. After recording 10 1/2 sacks in 2009, Peppers made the Pro Bowl and earned a $1.5 million bonus. He's a free agent again this offseason, but the franchise tag would cost the Panthers just over $20 million in guaranteed money. The Panthers have until Feb. 25 to use the franchise tag. The Panthers DST is not a strong option heading into 2010 to begin with, but if they lose Peppers they won't be worth considering at all. We'll keep you posted.
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