Empty the Bench

(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Are we just experiencing the annual NFL Fatigue and getting more psyched about the return of the NBA, or was yesterday kind of a “blah day” in the NFL?

- It was one of the league’s top rushing defenses versus the league’s absolute worst rushing offense, and the latter surprisingly won out in Green Bay. The Packers have finally found their RB1, as Ryan Grant recorded his second 100+ yard rushing game in three weeks with an improbable 139-combined yards, 1-TD performance against the Vikings. It was the first time any opposing back has crossed the century mark against Minnesota, and Grant’s 30-yard TD scamper was the longest of the season for any Packers’ RB. Grant should be a solid flex-play from here on out, with favorable matchups coming up against Carolina and Detroit in Weeks 11 and 12.

- Fox broadcaster Daryl “Moose” Johnston may have accidentally revealed the secret to Eagles’ HC Andy Reid’s two-point conversions: “a little card.” Johnston explained that they keep a little card in a little chest on the sidelines, and that the little chest is locked and requires a key to be opened. ETB did some research last night, and we found out that it’s not just a little chest with a little key. Reid actually blows a tiny whistle, a small dwarf emerges with a little pillow, and on that little pillow rests the little key for the little chest hidden on the sidelines containing tiny plays for Eagles football games.

- The Rams and Saints played like we all expected them to this season, both putting up and giving up points, and it ended in a 37-29 Ram victory—their first of the season. Steven Jackson returned and only posted a middling 3.5 YPC, but he did manage 100 total yards, 5 receptions, a rushing TD and… a passing TD. His beleaguered owners will take it. Meanwhile, Reggie Bush carried the ball just 7 times for 17 yards, but he did score early and also caught 5 passes. Bush should have lit up this Rams defense, and while he was dealing with injuries all day, it’s looking more and more like Bush will never be an every-down back in the NFL. He’s got loads of potential and tools to work with, and he can be a great offensive option, but he’s just not that good of a running back.

- In addition to Bush being limited heading into the game Sunday, he also suffered a minor concussion, but it shouldn’t affect his status for next week. We saw LenDale White and Adrian Peterson go down as well. It was a scary moment in the third quarter after AP got upended by Packers CB Al Harris. Peterson rolled on the ground in pain, and it appeared to be a serious injury, but he was seen walking on the sidelines later in the game. He’ll get an MRI this morning, and depending on the results could miss a few weeks. Chester Taylor should be owned in all leagues, and could be a reasonable flex play next week at home versus the Raiders.

We don’t know much about LenDale’s injury, other than that it was a “leg injury”, but the game announcers said he would have been available to return if the Titans weren’t getting blown out. White looked like a solid play heading into the day against the Marcus Stroud-less Jags, but he managed an abysmal 12 yards on 9 carries.

- If you weren’t surprised that James Thrash caught two TD passes for the Redskins (and almost nabbed a third) in their wild 33-25 loss to the Iggles, maybe this will get your eyebrows raised: Thrash’s second-quarter TD grab was the first for a Redskins WR all year long. That means we’re still waiting for Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle-El to find the endzone after nine games.

- Despite the two short touchdown passes to Roy Williams (6 receptions, 45 yards, 2 TDs), Jon Kitna was just awful against the Cardinals in the Lions’ embarassing 31-21 loss in Arizona. The same problems that have plagued him all year–holding the ball much too long in the pocket and turning it over at inopportune times–were an issue yet again, as Kitna took 4 sacks, threw 2 INTs, and lost 2 fumbles. The Arizona defense is better than advertised, but that’s unacceptable. The turnovers are really killing his fantasy value.

- Though he said after the game that he “takes full responsibility for the interceptions,” Peyton Manning looked whiny on the sideline minutes after Adam Vinatieri missed that chip shot, and though he probably won’t say publicly, we get the feeling he blames Vinatieri for the loss more than he blames himself. The fact is that when you put the balance of a game in the hands of an idiot kicker, even one with a history of performing in the clutch like Vinatieri, you have not done your job. The second consecutive loss for Indy lies squarely on the shoulders of Manning and the Colts’ special teams.

- We didn’t think he had it in him, but KC Chiefs Priest Holmes seemed to hold up to the pounding of a full game’s workload against the Broncos, exceeding HC Herm Edwards’ projections by getting 22 touches (20 carries and 2 catches) and 79 total yards. In contrast, rookie Kolby Smith was a complete non-factor with a whopping 2 carries for 2 yards. Larry Johnson will probably not be ready for a few more weeks, if at all, so Holmes should continue to get about 15-20 carries/per for the time being. He doesn’t do much for us, but you could do worse for a flex play.

- We say bah-humbug to Warrick Dunn and his second straight week of scoring a touchdown. With Jerious Norwood inactive (ankle), Dunn carried the ball 26 times in the team’s 20-13 victory over the sputtering Carolina Panthers, totaling 140 combined yards on the day and making it more improbable that we see noteworthy fantasy contributions from Norwood this season. He’s going to be a great value pick next year, though.

- If you were on the fence about which Packers wide receivers were most likely to succeed against the Vikes, Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, and James Jones made the answer simple by all posting damn near identical stats. Driver and Jennings each caught 4 balls for 63 yards, while Jones hauled in 3 for 62. Of course, Ruvell Martin, the one Packers’ WR that no one started, also joined the party by catching 4 passes for 57 yards and 2 TDs.

- Derek Anderson kept it going on Sunday against an extremely tough Pittsburgh pass defense, and he’s basically an every-week start at this point. Anderson didn’t even play especially well, but he tossed 3 first-half TD passes and his wideouts and TE continue to make him look good. For the rest of the game Anderson managed to complete just 16 of 35 pass attempts for 123 yards, but fantasy owners aren’t complaining. He is this season’s waiver-wire treasure thus far, with 20 TD passes, 247.9 passing yards a game and just 9 INTs—and he didn’t even start Week 1.

- It’s time to admit that the Cincinnati Bengals offense is a good-not-great unit. The offensive line is playing poorly, Carson Palmer can’t find the endzone and the running backs aren’t keeping defenses honest with the rushing attack. The Bungles failed to find the endzone against a soft and banged-up Baltimore secondary, but still managed to win with seven FGs. On the other side, the Ravens offense has reached new depths of embarrassment. They managed just 206 yards passing and 60 yards rushing against one of the NFL’s absolute worst defenses, and would have been shut out if not for a late, garbage 1-yard TD plunge by Willis McGahee.

- For those of us who own Travis Henry and Selvin Young, Henry’s deactivation was actually good news. We knew who to start, and we were excited about the young kid. Henry has looked injured and ineffective for a while now, and Selvin Young continues to impress with his burst and ability to break tackles. Young had a huge game, finishing with 20 rushes for 109 yards (5.5YPC) and a TD, plus 3 catches for 20 more yards. Here’s hoping Young gets to carry the load from here on out.