Ouch, it had been a good couple of weeks when it comes to the 3 Players to Watch, but last week was just brutal. Only Dante Stallworth made a positive impact, though even he picked up just 13 yards with 1 TD. I don’t even want to get into the performances, or lack there of, by J.T. O’Sullivan and Sammy Morris. I guess you can’t be right all of the time, but this was a flat out brutal performance by yours truly. Hopefully, this week is a much better week.
Chad Pennington – Maybe it’s time that fantasy owners are finally convinced that he is worth owning. Somehow he’s still owned in just 50% of Yahoo leagues, despite 893 yards, 4 TD and 2 Int over his past three games. I know, it’s Pennington, he has no arm strength and is bound to regress. It’s what we all want to believe, except for the fact that he is taking on the Denver Broncos, the team who has allowed the fifth most yards/game through the air thus far this season (240.0). They are also tied for fourth with three other teams, having allowed 12 passing TD’s already this season. Just looking at the way he has been playing, you would think that his hot streak is likely to continue for another week. I wouldn’t hesitate to use him.
Warrick Dunn – He has rushed for 423 yards in the 8 games this season, sharing carries with Earnest Graham, so it’s not like he is that big of a sleeper pick. Still, with the Kansas City Chiefs on the schedule this week, it seems like almost a guarantee that he makes a positive impact, even with only a handful of carries. The Chiefs are by far the worst team in the league defending the run, giving up 196.9 yards per game on the ground, as well as 14 TD’s. I’d feel very safe using him this week if I had him on my bench.
Gamble Selection of the Week
Reggie Williams - I’m going to go a bit out on a limb here, so I’m going to preface this by saying that he is probably a choice that should be used only in the case of an emergency. Still, I think he is certainly someone worth watching. After averaging nearly 42 yards/game last season, he has just 17 catches for 162 yards over the seasons first seven games. You have to think that sooner or later things are going to turn around for him and he’ll have a breakout game. He is capable, having posted a 6 catch, 128-yard game last season against the Saints. The Bengals don’t give up a lot of yards through the air, at only 191.1, but they have allowed 13 TD’s. That’s where I can see Williams making an impact, putting up a line of something like 4 catches, 60 yards and 1 TD. That certainly would be a positive impact on any league that requires three starting WR.
