August 14, 2006

CLINTON PORTIS DISLOCATES SHOULDER, STATUS IN QUESTION

by JJ Cameron

Portis is HurtFantasy football owners that hold the number-four pick in this year's draft are all muttering the same thing as Clinton Portis right about now:

Do we really need preseason games?!?

Portis separated his shoulder against the Bengals last night, trying to tackle a defender after an interception. The All-Pro - whose status for the season opener is now unclear - what not pleased about being in the game inthe first place.

"After that 8-yard run, I was like, 'Get me out of that game,'" Portis said. "That's what I was thinking. It's football. It can happen to anyone. It happened to me."

And now the injury bug has happened to a number of fantasy football players. After Larry Johnson, LaDainian Tomlinson and Shaun Alexander, Portis was pretty much the consensus next pick.

Now? It's up in the air. Tiki Barber is the next back on most people's list, but age must catch up with the Giants star at some point … right? Bottom line: if your draft is not for a couple weeks, refresh the Web every few minutes and check out Portis' status.

     
   
     

August 13, 2006

BUSH DOMINATES, CULPEPPER, ROETHLISBERGER STAY HEALTHY IN PRESEASON DEBUTS

by JJ Cameron

Bush is QuickHmmm … perhaps dating a beautiful actress will work out okay for Reggie Bush after after. Or it could just be that incredible talent.

Whatever the reason, the Saints rookie ran up 59 yards on just six carries in his preseason, NFL debut. He also grabbed two passes for 10 years, exciting New Orleans fans down south and rising up fantasy football draft boards around the nation.

Other notable preseason news includes healthy sets of downs for Daunte Culpepper and Ben Roethlisberger. Miami and Pittsburgh may have both lost, but their fans don't care. The quarterbacks walked away from the action in one piece.

     
   
     

August 11, 2006

PANIC IN CAROLINA: STEVE SMITH STILL INJURED

by JJ Cameron

Smith Celebrates
He took over fantasy football last season as much as any player since Peyton Manning … the year before.

Nevertheless, Steve Smith dominated his position in 2006 and made himself the obvious first wide receiver taken in any fantasy draft this season. Okay, so the Files still have Terrell Owens going first, but Smith is still really good.

These two wide outs have something else in common, though: both have injured hamstrings. In fact, Smith will miss Carolina's first preseason game this weekend as a result of it. He's missed 13 straight days of training camp overall.

It's a bit early to panic and change up your fantasy draft board - but this is certainly something to keep your eye on.

     
   
     

August 10, 2006

CULPEPPER TO LINE UP UNDER CENTER FOR PRESEASON OPENER

by JJ Cameron

Are you ready for some football, Daunte Culpepper?!?

Fortunately for Miami fans, the answer appears tobe YES. Culpepper will start theDolphins' exhibition opener Saturday, less than 10 months after a serious knee injury ended his 2005 season, coach Nick Saban said Thursday.

Culpepper Loks GoodWhen the Dolphins acquired Culpepper in March from the Minnesota Vikings, there were concerns he might not healthy for the start of the regular season. But he has participated in every training camp practice and received medical clearance to play Saturday against Jacksonville.

"He has done everything in practice that he needs to do," Saban said. "And he wants to play."

Like all starters, though, he won't see very much action. Saban will give snaps to other quarterbacks on the roster, including new backup Joey Harrington, Cleo Lemon and Brock Berlin.

     
   
     

August 9, 2006

RUMORS OF ROMANCE SWIRL AROUND REGGIE BUSH

by JJ Cameron

Nia and Reggie
Where should you draft Reggie Bush in your fantasy football league? It's probably the most common question
The Files staff receives.

On one hand, we have no idea how many touches the phenom will have in New Orleans per game. Or how the speed of NFL defenses may catch up to him.

On the other hand, have you seen some of this guy's cuts? He could sprint circles around any team.

Now there's a third hand. What about off the field distractions slowing Reggie down? Sources close to Nia Long claim her and Bush are not seeing each other … but hey took a picture together at a party and speculation has not stopping swirling since.

The plot thickens, however, as a TMZ.com source identified Reggie as the unknown man who Nia was with last month at an LA mall when a fight broke out between the running back and Long's ex, Massai Z. Dorsey.

Oh, snap! And not the football kind! It's hard to say how dating a famous beauty will affect the Saints star, but it could be worth keeping your eye on.

     
   
     

OUR FAVORITE MARTIN ON WAY OUT?

by JJ Cameron

Marshall Faulk looks to be on his way out of football. Priest Holmes is questionable. And the latest veteran, running back standout to have his future in doubt?

Curtis Martin.
End of the Line?
Two sources close to the Jets star told the New York Daily News that the running back talked about retirement before deciding to give it a go for another season, while one of the sources told the newspaper: "I'd be really shocked if he came back."

Martin was placed on the physically-unable-to-perform list at the start of training camp after he underwent arthroscopic right knee surgery in December. At the time of the surgery, he said he expected to start running again in February. He also said there was no ligament or structural damage.

However, according to several reports out of the New York area, Martin's knee has virtually no cartilage left.

"The guy is bone-on-bone on the knee and can't play," a source told Newsday.

As far as fantasy football drafts go, well Martin shouldn't have been in your top 10 running backs anyway. His replacement would be Derrick Blaylock, an average veteran. He could be worth a third RB position on your squad because someone needs to run the ball in New York.

     
   
     

August 4, 2006

TERRELL OWENS INJURES HAMSTRING; SADLY, NOT LIFE THREATENING

by JJ Cameron

TO Works OutUh-oh, Dallas fans. Terrell Owens missed practice Friday with a sore left hamstring. He was nowhere to be found on the field, but rather on the exercise bike.

Sadly, for all TO haters, the injury doesn't appear very serious. He said Thursday he wasn't sure whether he'd be ready to practice for Friday's two workouts or Saturday's controlled scrimmage. However, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said he's not too worried and there are no plans for Owens to undergo an MRI.

He's still our top-rated wide receiver and probably worthy of a first round selection in your fantasy football draft. But he still sucks big time.

     
   
     

August 3, 2006

MOCK FANTASY FOOTBALL DRAFT: ROUND 6

by Michael Stephens

… And the Fantasy Football Files Mock Draft rages on into yet another round here today. The teams are starting to come together, and it's going to be a battle each and every week, from the looks of things. Until T.O. gets suspended indefinitely and Larry Johnson blows out his knee, etc.

But for now, it's anyone's game. You've seen the picks from rounds one, two, three, four and five. Now let's get the show on the road and see how picks 51-60 overall went down in our continuing fantasy draft mockery.

Jeremy Shockey

Round Six. The Draft Order:

51. Jeff_Probst_wannabe
52. JamalLewisMustDie
53. Montana2Rice
54. The Deciders
55. Team Ecosystem
56. GoldGlove24
57. Employee001
58. the iForce
59. KissMyTightEnd
60. The Jackie Joyner Kersey Experience

The Unedited Sixth Round:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Jeff_Probst_wannabe]: Cedric who? I'll take Thomas Jones any day. Or at least on this day. The guy gets overlooked every year, and I just nabbed him out from under all of you. That's right, bitches, get ready for it.

[JamalLewisMustDie]: JamalLewisMustDie would rather die than select Jamal Lewis for a second consecutive year. But, JLMD is feeling some loyalty to the Ravens, and will henceforth sign Todd Heap to a one-year deal.

[Montana2Rice]: Feeling the need for a little Shock therapy, I'll keep the tight end trend going with Jeremy Shockey.

[JamalLewisMustDie]: Mine is better.

[Montana2Rice]: You will die alone.

[Employee001]: You bastard! You know I wanted Shockey!

[Montana2Rice]: I want to sleep with Beyonce tonight. Sometimes we have to get used to disappointment.

[The Deciders]: Alright, moving on. Some of us have work e-mail accounts, remember! Anyhoo, I've never heard of Lee Evans before right now, when I looked at his stats online. This guy is apparently really good! An on my fantasy team!

Al Gore

[Team Ecosystem]: I was going to take Al Gore, but since he is out promoting his new movie and not reporting to camp, I'll take the next best thing, Frank Gore.

[GoldGlove24]: Chris "day-to-day" Brown.

[Employee001]: No idea why I am picking a guy who is holding out and not looking like he's showing up to camp anytime soon. I might as well be taking Al Gore… but I will nonetheless take Deion Branch. If he shows up, he will catch the football many times, at least 10 of them in the end zone.

[the iForce]: As a proud secular Jew, I will extend an olive branch to the Islamic community with the selection of Muhsin Muhammad.

[KissMyTightEnd]: I select Marc Bulger. And I have no idea why.

[The Jackie Joyner Kersey Experience]: In an effort to assemble the most upsidest team ever, I'll take Laurence Maroney.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Rundown, Sans Commentary…

51. Jeff_Probst_wannabe — Thomas Jones, RB, Chicago
52. JamalLewisMustDie — Todd Heap, TE, Baltimore
53. Montana2Rice — Jeremy Shockey, TE, N.Y. Giants
54. The Deciders — Lee Evans, WR, Buffalo
55. Team Ecosystem — Frank Gore, RB, San Francisco
56. GoldGlove24 — Chris Brown, RB, Tennessee
57. Employee001 — Deion Branch, WR, New England
58. the iForce — Muhsin Muhammad, WR, Carolina
59. KissMyTightEnd — Marc Bulger, QB, St. Louis
60. The Jackie Joyner Kersey Experience — Laurence Maroney, RB, New England

THROUGH SIX ROUNDS, BY TEAM:

The Jackie Joyner Kersey Experience:
Larry Johnson, RB, Kansas City
Domanick Davis, RB, Houston
Reggie Bush, RB, New Orleans
Javon Walker, WR, Denver
Joey Galloway, WR, Tampa Bay
Laurence Maroney, RB, New England

KissMyTightEnd:

LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, San Diego
Marvin Harrison, WR, Indianapolis
Randy Moss, WR, Oakland
Reuben Droughns, RB, Cleveland
T.J. Duckett, RB, Atlanta
Marc Bulger, QB, St. Louis

the iForce:
Shaun Alexander, RB, Seattle
Antonio Gates, TE, San Diego
Brian Westbrook, RB, Philadelphia
Tatum Bell, RB, Denver
Chester Taylor, RB, Minnesota
Muhsin Muhammad, WR, Carolina

Employee001:
Tiki Barber, RB, N.Y. Giants
Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona
Willie Parker, RB, Pittsburgh
Plaxico Burress, WR, N.Y. Giants
DeShaun Foster, RB, Carolina
Deion Branch, WR, New England

GoldGlove24:

Edgerrin James, RB, Arizona
Willis McGahee, RB, Buffalo
Julius Jones, RB, Dallas
Chris Chambers, WR, Miami
Andre Johnson, WR, Houston
Chris Brown, RB, Tennessee

Team Ecosystem:
Rudi Johnson, RB, Cincinnati
Chad Johnson, WR, Cincinnati
Kevin Jones, RB, Detroit
Santana Moss, WR, Washington
Tony Gonzalez, TE, Kansas City
Frank Gore, RB, San Francisco

The Deciders:
Peyton Manning, QB, Indianapolis
Carnell Williams, RB, Tampa Bay
Torry Holt, WR, St. Louis
Corey Dillon, RB, New England
Dominic Rhodes, RB, Indianapolis
Lee Evans, WR, Buffalo

Montana2Rice:

Clinton Portis, RB, Washington
Ronnie Brown, RB, Miami
Anquan Boldin, WR, Arizona
Roy Williams, WR, Detroit
Joe Horn, WR, New Orleans
Jeremy Shockey, TE, N.Y. Giants

JamalLewisMustDie:
Terrell Owens, WR, Dallas
Lamont Davis, RB, Oakland
Warrick Dunn, WR, Atlanta
Reggie Wayne, WR, Indianapolis
Carson Palmer, QB, Cincinnati
Todd Heap, TE, Baltimore

Jeff_Probst_wannabe:
Steve Smith, WR, Carolina
Steven Jackson, RB, St. Louis
Hines Ward, WR, Pittsburgh
Tom Brady, QB, New England
Deuce McAllister, RB, New Orleans
Thomas Jones, RB, Chicago

     
   
     

DOMANICK DAVIS STILL SUFFERING FROM KNEE INJURY; AVOID AS A FIRST ROUND PICK

by JJ Cameron

Davis is Hurt
In case Houston fans weren't already lamenting their team passing on Reggie Bush, word comes out of Texans' camp that starting RB, Domanick Davis, is still injured.

After two days of participating in training camp practice, Davis went for an MRI on his sore knee and sat out of practice for the second straight day on Monday. Looks like the runner's surgically repaired knee isn't healing as quickly as he'd hoped.

Head coach Gary Kubiak expects to know the future of Davis soon.

"I think we're going to know a lot more about that knee and how he's doing, probably, over the next week," Kubiak said. "(Head athletic trainer) Kevin (Bastin) feels good about it. Domanick feels good about it."

Houston doesn't have awful back-ups. Antowain Smith won a Super Bowl with the Patriots and even second-year back, Vernand Morency, has been solid.

For fantasy football owners, however? Forget it. Davis is certainly out of the first round of any draft now.

     
   
     


 
     
     
   
     
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