Fantasy football: Upgrades, downgrades, no change

By Mark P. Stopa, Special to the Rocky

Published September 18, 2008 at 10:02 a.m.

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There’s a lot to discuss as we head into Week 3 of the NFL season, so let’s get right to it. “Upgrades” means I like the player more than the market.“Downgrades” are players the market likes more than it should. “No change” means the market is just about right.

Upgrades

Donovan McNabb, QB, Eagles: Monday night in Dallas, McNabb reminded everyone what he can do when healthy. Not only did he look good on the road against a top defense, but he did so with starting wideouts Reggie Brown and Kevin Curtis sidelined. DeSean Jackson’s emergence has certainly helped (his boneheaded play at the goal line notwithstanding), as does getting to throw to Brian Westbrook. Brown is back this week. Once Curtis joins him, McNabb becomes a guy you leave in your starting lineup each week without even thinking about matchups.

Philip Rivers, QB, Chargers: As long as LaDainian Tomlinson is nicked up, the Chargers are not going to run as much as usual. Hence, Tomlinson’s loss is Rivers’ (and Darren Sproles’) gain. Rivers looks fine coming off ACL surgery, and with three nice weapons in the passing game (Antonio Gates, Chris Chambers and Vincent Jackson) he’s worthy of starting in 12-team leagues.

Bills offensive players: The Bills have suddenly emerged as one of the better teams in the AFC, and it’s not all because of their defense and special teams. They are not as wide open as the Broncos, but offensive coordinator Turk Schonert (last year's QB coach) has loosened the reigns with good results. Trent Edwards, while unspectacular, is better than you think. He does not throw interceptions and thus will likely wind up a top-15 QB in leagues that penalize for picks. Fred Jackson is a top-10 running back waiting to happen if Marshawn Lynch gets injured. In fact, Jackson is playing so well even with Lynch healthy that he’s become a flex option in deeper leagues. Consider him Felix Jones-lite. Lynch looks terrific, too –- he’s a stud running behind a really good offensive line. Lee Evans is developing a rapport with Edwards and is going to catch some long TDs. He’s a nice buy -- low right now. Don’t go crazy here, though –- Robert Royal, Josh Reed, Roscoe Parrish and James Hardy are still waiver-wire fodder.

Tony Scheffler, TE, Broncos: I listed Jay Cutler, Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal as upgrades last week but didn’t mention Scheffler. This week, let’s eliminate any ambiguity: If you can get in on any part of the Broncos’ passing offense, do so. While you are at it, add kicker Matt Prater, too. This is the AFC’s version of the Cowboys, but without a stud running back like Marion Barber to steal the touchdowns. As for Scheffler, he’s an every-week starter.

John Carlson, TE, Seahawks: The carnage at wide receiver in Seattle has left Carlson as Matt Hasselbeck’s best (and only) reliable option in the passing game. Until Deion Branch and Bobby Engram return, Carlson is a top-10 tight end.

Downgrades

LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, Chargers: Remember when Marshall Faulk was the consensus No. 1 fantasy pick and was viewed as head and shoulders above every other player, but then one year the injuries started piling up and he was never the same? There are definitely parallels here. If you own LT, you can’t cut him and you can’t trade him (with his trade value so low) –- all you can really do is try to pick up Darren Sproles and hope that Tomlinson either gets healthy (enabling you to start LT) or is made inactive (so you can bench LT and start Sproles).

Raiders passing game: JaMarcusRussell might be a good player one day, but right now he’s absolutely atrocious. He’s also killing any value that Javon Walker and Ronald Curry may have had. Since the Raiders love to run the ball when the score is close, the only chance that Russell, Walker and Curry have to help a fantasy team is late in games when the Raiders are on the wrong end of a blowout. Don't stake your fantasy fortunes on that.

Ryan Grant, RB, Packers: Grant had a juicy matchup last week against the same Lions defense that Michael Turner torched in Week 1, yet did nothing. I don’t know if the problem was his hamstring or something else, but I’m concerned. Although I am optimistic that Grant will turn it around on a good Packers offense, he's never performed over a full season. And Brandon Jackson looked good enough last week to at least siphon off some carries long term.

All Rams: St. Louis has played two games and has yet to run an offensive play in the opponent’s red zone. I don’t care who the Rams were playing –- that is unacceptable. Until the Rams show some life on offense, Steven Jackson, Marc Bulger and Torry Holt all merit downgrades.

No change

Braylon Edwards, WR, Browns: Week 1, Edwards was coming off of an injury and dropped a long pass that would have been a TD. Week 2, he was playing in 40 MPH winds, hindering the Browns’ ability to throw downfield. But Edwards is healthy now and, even in Cleveland, the Browns may not face weather that bad again this year. Edwards is still an athletic freak and the Browns’ defense is still so bad that it will force the offense to throw for four quarters. Don’t worry about Edwards.

Joseph Addai, RB, Colts: His poor performance is largely the product of facing two good run defenses, including Minnesota’s -- the best in the league. I am a little concerned about the Colts' offensive line, but Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday seems tbe coming back soon. Plus, the Colts schedule is more favorable later in the year (Browns, Bengals and Lions in Weeks 13-15). Don’t panic -– Addai should be fine. A key here is the health of Manning's knee and whether it will soon allow him to get in position to hand the ball off to Addai on those patented Colts stretch plays instead of the pitch plays they've been forced to resort to in weeks 1 and 2.

Michael Salfino contributed to this report.

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