Owners of some big-name backs face decisions
What a headache it has become to be a Ryan Grant owner.
Or a Maurice Jones-Drew owner.
Or a Darren McFadden owner.
All three of these running backs - especially Grant and Jones-Drew - were thought to be solid cornerstones to fantasy teams just two to three weeks ago. Now they are all dealing with injuries and/or offensive line issues.
To me, Grant has been the biggest disappointment because I stuck my neck out and ranked him eighth in my preseason article. Consider the guillotine halfway down its path toward my head.
A hamstring injury has turned him into a liability and bench fodder. After a 92-yard opener against a stingy Minnesota defense, he managed just 20 yards on 15 carries against the sickly Lions.
His owners should bench him in favor of their third RB and make sure to pick up Brandon Jackson, who had 61 yards on 7 carries and a TD last week. If Grant happens to be inactive this week, then Jackson is a solid play against Dallas.
Jones-Drew fell to me in the beginning of the fourth round in one of my leagues, and I was giddy when it happened. Now I'm searching for Kleenex to wipe away the tears. Devastating injuries to the offensive line have crippled the Jacksonville Jaguars' running game as is evidenced by the numbers of Jones-Drew (12 carries, 30 yards) and Fred Taylor (23-67).
This week, the Jags have a juicy matchup in Indy, but watch Jones-Drew's status as he nurses an ankle injury and may not be able to go.
McFadden exploded last week with a 164-yard, 1-TD effort and looks like he could be every bit as dangerous as Minnesota's Adrian Peterson.
But his owners need to pick up Michael Bush because McFadden has a turf toe injury that bears watching, and starter Justin Fargas is out for at least a few weeks with a pulled groin. Bush (16-90, TD) is certainly capable and could start this week at Buffalo.
My teams: I won my unit-league (1-1) game 106-77 thanks to huge performances from everybody. My regular team (0-2) fell 109-103 thanks to a boneheaded decision to sit Clinton Portis in favor of Ryan Grant.
Good bets
• Bills WR Lee Evans vs. Oakland. After a busted 2007 campaign, it appears that Evans (8 catches, 179 yards) is back.
• Patriots QB Matt Cassel vs. Miami. This is a risky play, but Cassel figures to throw at least 2 TD passes against a weak Dolphins defense.
• Niners WR Bryant Johnson vs. Detroit. The Lions can't stop anybody, and Johnson (9-126) is off to a decent start. Smells like a rose to me.
• Seahawks RB Julius Jones vs. St. Louis. Since Seattle is down to me and my brother as the team's top two receivers, I'm guessing Mike Holmgren is going to turn to the running game - a lot. Lord knows, we won't get open that often.
• Falcons RB Michael Turner vs. Kansas City. The Chiefs have allowed 426 yards on the ground in two games, including 300 to the Raiders last week. Watch for Turner to bounce back after a disappointing Week 2.
• Jaguars RB Fred Taylor vs. Indianapolis. The Colts have allowed both of their opponents to go over 180 rushing yards, so while Taylor is off to a slow start, he should pick it up Sunday.
• Chargers QB Philip Rivers and WR Vincent Jackson vs. the Jets. San Diego is really mad after losing its first two games in excruciating form. The Chargers will want to show a national TV audience their season is far from over.
Bad bets
• Bucs RB Earnest Graham at Chicago. The Bears won't allow Graham to duplicate what Jonathan Stewart accomplished last week, especially in the home opener.
• Panthers RB Jonathan Stewart at Minnesota. It's going to be tough sledding for the rookie against the league's best run defense.
• Vikings WR Bernard Berrian vs. Carolina. Minnesota switched QBs from Tarvaris Jackson to Gus Frerotte, which is good news for the team's fans but not for Berrian owners. Frerotte doesn't have nearly the arm of the erratic but powerful Jackson.
• Browns QB Derek Anderson at Baltimore. Browns are struggling and the Ravens had last week off. This should be a low-scoring, grind-it-out affair.
• Cincy's Carson Palmer and Chad Johnson at New York Giants. It's time to bench all Bengals until further notice.
jdietz@dailyherald.com
• Read more from John at ffmastermind.com, and hear him each Thursday in the 1 p.m. hour with Mike Murphy on WSCR 670-AM.