Like a weekly lunch buffet special, the NFL preseason will give you plenty to chew on. To whet our appetites, here is a brief outline of what to watch for in the coming weeks. Reason? Well there’s value in paying attention to the preseason and training camp battles. If not, you may become last year’s fantasy owner who drafted Donald Brown and Darrius Heyward-Bey and overlooked Ray Rice and Miles Austin.

Let’s discuss the NFC South’s Falcons, Panthers, Saints and Buccaneers:

Atlanta Falcons

• Splitting Norwood We’re going on three years of hype that Jerious Norwood is “this year’s sneaky sleeper pick.” Well, I’m thinking it’s time to shine or ship out. With his young career riddled with nagging injuries and the rise of Jason Snelling, it appears Norwood is working on borrowed time. Let’s see how much of that loan he can cash in this preseason, particularly if he finally looks healthy.
• Working the paint The red zone pecking order materialized quickly last season, beginning with Tony Gonzalez and ending with Roddy White with a little Michael Turner seasoned in. With the potential for “at any moment” Turner or Gonzalez could be lost for weeks at a time to injury; it’s imperative we identify a No. 4 option Matt Ryan will lean to when it counts. If one should surface this preseason, we could be in great shape to position ourselves for a key win in the middle of the fantasy season.  
• Buckeye bubble Michael Jenkins is in prime position to make a fantasy impact with the talent surrounding him and defenses having to focus attention on White and Gonzalez respectively. Jenkins has shown flashes of deep play ability. We just need to see some short game too for us to pull the trigger on draft day. Hopefully, Jenkins will be more of a factor on bubble screens and quick slants. If so, you got your No. 4.

Carolina Panthers

• Moore questions than answers Matt Moore has deservedly inherited the starting job, but if Jimmy Clausen has a lights out preseason, can the Panthers resist? Despite what the media experts will paint, I believe it’s a blank canvas for these guys. If Clausen is as pro-ready as everyone claims he is, then this preseason battle should be intriguing. Whatever plays out, it sure will be fun to watch in the coming weeks.
• So you think you can dance? There aren’t many receivers more fun to watch than Steve Smith, especially when he scores. Smith, along with everyone associated with the Panthers, would love to find a suitable dance partner. It was supposed to be Dwayne Jarrett, but we’re still waiting. Now, the Panthers have a slew of young talent rolling in on the rookie bus to include Brandon LaFell, Armanti Edwards and David Gettis. I take it Carolina is serious about moving forward this preseason. Remember, Marques Colston was a no-name, project player four years ago. I believe that rookie season played out pretty well.
• Russian Rosario Dante Rosario wasn’t much of a factor last season. With two developing quarterbacks this season, a reliable tight end could be a much needed safety valve. If you think I’m nuts, let Rosario’s 14 yards per catch the past three years plead the case for me. If you still think I’m nuts, well you name another Carolina tight end who will do the job.

New Orleans Saints

• Reachin’ for Meachem There probably isn’t a more frustrating situation in our fantasy world than the generosity of Drew Brees. How great would it be if one of these talented receivers stepped up and become a true No. 1 stud. I believe it’s time to publicly announce Robert Meachem’s campaign, which we’ll watch in full view this season – win, lose or draw.
• A shocking treatment What an impression Jeremy Shockey made on the NFL, albeit eight years ago. It’s highly unlikely Shockey will ever stay healthy, so this preseason will be an opportune time for us to see if anybody is willing to step up. I’m thinking David Thomas, but some may say the athletic and raw Jimmy Graham is their choice. Either way, this valued touchdown making position is up for grabs.
• Bourbon repeat As consistent as the Saints’ passing attack has been in recent years, so has their looming quandary in the backfield. Always a question but never a reliable answer. New Orleans’ last impacting running season came from Deuce McAllister in 2002 (351-1,641-8). Heath Evans’ return from injury is a huge boost in blocking, but will Pierre Thomas take advantage to benefit from it? This question probably won’t shake out until the regular season, but if either key back gets dinged up or looks sluggish, there will be reason for concern.   

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• Oskosh-by-Josh As with the other second year starting quarterbacks, all eyes will be on Josh Freeman and his progression. He certainly has the physical tools and mobility needed to play behind a faulty offensive line, but does he have enough grasp of the offense and reading pro defenses to warrant even a late round draft pick? We’ll definitely get some clue in the coming weeks. The first sign will be improved accuracy. As soon as the first overthrow to a back coming out of the backfield occurs, be forewarned.
• Charged with man-Stroughter Sammie Stroughter showed signs last season of moving up the depth chart and into the crosshairs of Freeman’s passes. He was particularly targeted in the red zone, which should result in at least bold print in our preseason checklist. Will he continue his progression this preseason, or will Arrelious Benn jump ahead and steal his spotlight? Although Benn will be on the edge and Stroughter mans the slot, both will be fighting for Freeman’s attention. Any headway made in preseason will certainly transfer into the regular season, kind of like carryover cell phone minutes. 
• Who’s the man? Fantasy relevance is built on touchdowns. So who will score in Tampa Bay? We could easily say the Bucs won’t have any fantasy relevance this year. Fair assessment. But what will we do when we’re facing a depleted lineup mid-season due to injury and false draft evaluation and in need of some Tampa Bay player? The coming weeks may reveal an answer, or at least who will be in position to be our mid-season hero.

Jay-Mo’s other preseason previews:

AFC East | AFC North | AFC South | AFC West

NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC West

Related posts

• 2010 NFL Draft Fantasy Liveblog: Day 2 (153)
• Week 9: Chambers, Lance Long and … Wait, what? (1)
• QB rankings: Settle, don’t reach for a QB (7)
• Dissecting fantasy football auction leads to sound drafting advice (2)
• 2010 fantasy football consensus rookie wide receiver rankings (8)

He’s shown flashes as a receiver, but he’s a complete game-breaker when his electric return game is a factor.

Enter Devin Aromashodu, a third-year receiver out of Auburn. With Hester nursing a calf injury, Aromashodu caught eight of his 12 targets for 76 yards and a TD. He’s available in 99.9 percent of ESPN leagues, but more importantly, gives the Bears another offensive weapon.

Johnny Knox also scored a TD, he made five catches for 83 yards on seven targets. He’s not as available (61% of leagues).

Aromashodu’s the more interesting play here because we’ve seen Knox’s game. We know where it goes. Aromashodu impressed in his first big opportunity. Dynasty-leaguers should make an effort to get him. For redrafters who need help at WR, he’ll probably be one of your better waiver options this week.

We, like all those opposing defenses, all know how much Cutler’s going to have to throw the ball with that club struggling as bad as it is right now.

Who else might provide a boost from the waiver wire realm this week? Let’s take a look:

Chris Jennings – Had 73 yards on 20 carries and managed a 10-yard TD run. He’s available in 98% of leagues but plays for the Browns and won’t have the luxury of playing the bumbling Steelers again this season.

Garrett Hartley – The kicker for the Saints available in 86% of leagues? He had two field goals and two extra points this week. He missed one extra point, but he’s going to be a top-5 kicker the rest of the way. Go get him.

Matt Bryant – Ok, he’s no Garrett Hartley, but Bryant is making the Falcons forget about Jason Elam. He had three field goals and two extra points against the Saints. He’s available in 99.8% of ESPN leagues.

Michael Jenkins – Had three catches for 82 yards and a TD. More importantly, Chris Redman likes throwing to him. It’s Jenkins’ third consecutive game with 76 or more yards and he’s owned in only 5.1% of leagues.

Mike Hart – Had nine carries for 28 yards. Got some love in the Twitterverse, and apparently he was taking goal-line carries from Joseph Addai. He’s highly available, but it’s not time to pick him up yet.

Jason Snelling – He’s only available in about half of fantasy leagues, but as long as Michael Turner is out, Snelling’s a flex play. He had a TD and 92 total yards against the Saints on Sunday.

Jamaal Charles – Somehow he’s still available in more than 20% of ESPN leagues. Charles has scored a TD in each of the last three games and four of the last five. Against the Bills on Sunday, he amassed 143 yards on 20 carries, scored two TDs and made seven catches on eight targets.

Kevin Faulk – He’s not going to get you 100 yards rushing or receiving, or a TD every week, but he could be a cheap somewhat productive flex player if you are needy in that department. And he’s available in 94% of fantasy leagues. This week he had a rushing TD and 58 yards rushing on 10 carries.

Jay Feely – Yes, this is the kicker edition of the Monday update. Feely made four field goals – including a 49-yarder and a 40-yarder – and booted two extra points. He’s available in almost 70% of ESPN leagues, and as long as Kellen Clemens is helming the Jets, expect them to stall out a lot.

Chad Henne – Surprisingly, Henne got little love in the weekly projections at a lot of sites today. The Dolphins were facing the Jaguars. Henne wasn’t great, but he ran for a TD and completed 21-of-29 passes for 220 yards. He threw a pick and didn’t have a TD pass, but he’s a legit NFL QB, especially with no wildcat. Available in almost 95% of leagues

Greg Camarillo – After Davone Bess had a 100-yard receiving game last week, Camarillo comes out and has a 100-yard performance this week. Camarillo caught all seven targets for 110 yards. He’s available in 99.5% of leagues. I can’t guarantee 100-yarders week after week, but maybe Henne starts using him more, making him a flex play for you in the playoffs.

Willis McGahee – Oh, Willis, back in the update, huh? Where have you been? Yes, you’re 76 yards on 12 carries looks great, but let’s not forget you get them against the Browns. Leron McClain scored a TD, too. They even made Troy Smith look good.

Julius Jones, Justin Forsett, Ryan Moats and Chris Brown – This quartet took up most of the space in the backfield for the Seahawks-Texans game. I saw most of the crew mentioned as potential lineup savers and flex plays on sites. They combined for 115 yards and a TD on 32 carries. Bottom line: You don’t want to have to rely on running backs for these teams. If it’s worth anything, Moats was the most effective of the bunch, rushing for 43 yards and the lone TD on 10 carries. He’s available in about 80% of ESPN leagues.

Quinton Ganther – Scored twice and amassed 93 total yards. He was a smart waiver/free agent add  for a lot of players, but he’s still available in 72% of ESPN leagues. He’s the Redskins starter at running back. He shouldn’t be that available.

Darren McFadden – So for a few moments at the beginning of the Raiders-Redskins game, McFadden looked like someone Chinstrap Ninjas should recommend. He finished with 84 yards receiving, including a 48-yarder. Unfortunately, that play came before Bruce Gradkowski blew out both his knees. With JaMarcus Russell calling plays, no Raider should start in a fantasy lineup.

Leonard Weaver – Hey, it was whispered here last week, but not many people took advantage. Know who the Eagles most effective running back was AGAIN this week? Yep, Weaver. He had 33 yards on nine carries (3.7 average) and scored a TD. He’s only owned in 1.1% of leagues. When Westbrook’s out, it’s Weaver’s backfield not McCoy’s.

Hakeem Nicks – Not totally available (only in 45% of leagues), but he did cement his starting status with a 110-yard-and-a-TD performance. He could have had two other TDs.

Kevin Boss – Set a season-high in receptions, matched his second-best yardage performance with 70 and scored a TD against the Eagles on Sunday. He’s available in more than half of all ESPN leagues. He’s a legit fantasy starter, so he’s an upgrade for a couple teams out there.

Who did we miss? Who are we wrong about? Let us know in the comments.

Related posts

• Waiver warning: Don’t jump on all the Lions, Browns (0)
• Notes: Browns vs. Chiefs a fantasy goldmine (0)
• Dissecting NFL box scores from Week 3 [FFB] (0)
• Week 7 waiver wire: Shonn Greene has arrived (1)
• Week 4 pre-game 6-pack: Brent Celek! (1)

I have no excuse, just an apology, and a look at some potential waiver wire adds. Your deadline and the starting time of my real job creep ever closer, so short and fast this week:

Davone Bess – Yes, Ricky Williams had a great game, but the Dolphins only ran the ball 31 times. There are going to be a couple more passes going around without Ronnie Brown around and Bess, who had six catches for 63 yards is a potential Pee-Pee-Aaaaarrrgh pirate. Sorry, I’m tired.

Rock Cartwright – So, Ladell Betts is done for the year with torn ligaments. Cartwright had 13 carries for 57 yards and led the team with seven catches, 73 receiving yards and eight targets.

Mohamed Massaquoi – We’ve touted him here off and on, but in that ridiculous Browns-Lions tilt, he had five catches for 115 yards and a TD. He led the team with 12 targets, twice as many as anybody else. For reference WR Chansi Stuckey, WR Josh Cribbs and TE Michael Gaines scored the other receiving TDs for the Browns. If you’re really hurting, you could think about adding Stuckey and Cribbs.

Brandon Pettigrew – Had six catches for 72 yards and the game-winning TD. More importantly, he was second on the team with eight targets. Only Calvin Johnson had more. Again, for the record, RB Aaron Brown and TE Will Heller scored receiving TDs, but I don’t think they’re worth owning.

Brady Quinn – It came against the Lions, but this will definitely boost Quinn’s confidence. He was 21-for-33 for 304 yards, 4 TD passes and finished with a 133.1 QB rating.

Matt Stafford – Wasn’t as impressive as Quinn, but still threw five TDs and for 422 yards. A Rookie QB on a team that trails a lot is going to throw 17 incompletions and two picks in games. He’s also going to top 300 yards and throw a TD or two in garbage time.

JerMichael Finley – He’s liked here at the Chinstrap Ninjas offices, and didn’t disappoint Sunday with seven catches and 54 yards. He led the team with 10 targets.

Brandon Jackson – Only had four catches for 16 yards, but had six catches for 65 yards and seven targets. I’m not buying him right now.

Chris Chambers – After his four-catch, 119-yard performance against the Steelers on Sunday, he should be owned in every league.

Justin Forsett – Had a TD, but also only nine yards on nine carries. He did, however, lead the team with eight catches, 80 yards and 9 targets.

Jason Snelling – Hope you guys picked up on Snelling last week. He had 89 total yards, 2 TDs on 28 touches. You’re going to have a tougher time getting him this week.

Kevin Boss – Hasn’t been used much in the Giants passing game this year, but broke through with a career day on Sunday. He had five catches for 76 yards and two TDs. He was targeted eight times.

Pierre Garcon – Garcon had six catches for 108 yards and had eight targets. Austin Collie caught his only target for 12 yards. Own Garcon.

Matt Leinart – Went 10-for-14 and amassed 74 yards. Leinart didn’t throw any TDs or picks in relief of an injured Kurt Warner. Warner might be able to go for the next game, but Warner owners want to handcuff Leinart before they absolutely need him.

Brandon Gibson – While Donnie Avery led the Rams with 65 yards receiving, Gibson had 10 more targets than him (17-7). Gibson finished with five catches and 61 yards.

Mike Tolbert – The Chargers fullback had seven carries for 58 yards and a TD. Both Tolbert and Jacob Hester were more productive than Darren Sproles as San Diego tried to run out the clock.

Bernard Scott – Impressive in the preseason, Scott carried some marginally high expectations into the season. He may not continue an ascension to superstar status, but Scott’s 119 yards rushing and three catches for 32 yards are a nice start.

Bruce Gradkowski – Went 17-for-34 with a pick, two TDs and 183 yards. More importantly for the Raiders, he got a win. That’s bad news for the Ninjas – no more JaMarcus Russell jokes.

Kahlil Bell – Had a nice 72-yard run for the Bears. He had three other carries and only got 9 yards out of them. But with Matt Forte’s inconsistency this year, don’t be surprised if Bell gets significant touches the rest of the way.

Jason Avant – Only targeted five times and only had four catches for 26 yards, but he did score a TD. Jeremy Maclin had six catches for 64 yards on nine targets, the second most targeted by Donovan McNabb. This feels like it could be Collie vs. Garcon-lite. I’d rather own Maclin.

Related posts

• Injuries make for several waiver options after Week 10 (0)
• Waiver notes: Aromadoshu, won’t you? (1)
• Notes: Browns vs. Chiefs a fantasy goldmine (0)
• Week 7 waiver wire: Shonn Greene has arrived (1)
• Seriously, you could do worse than Leonard Weaver (1)

Based on this week’s games, and today’s announcements (Dwayne Bowe suspended four games!), there are a couple guys you might want to think about picking up. There are some other guys you want to leave for somebody else.

No time for further rambling, on to the main course:

Larry Johnson – Signed a one-year deal with the Bengals. Does Cedric Benson’s hip flexor concern Cincy? Does LJ just need a change of scenery. More to come in the weeks. I put in some hefty waiver bids and waiver priorities on Johnson in a couple leagues.

Brandon Gibson – Both Gibson and Avery are available in a lot of leagues. You already know to pick up Avery because of his preseason rankings and such, and the fact that he scored two TDs. As for Gibson, he had nine targets, caught 7 for 93. Marc Bulger is still the Rams’ QB, but Gibson is the new No. 2 starter on a team that finds itself trailing a lot.

Ricky Williams – He’s owned in most leagues because of his great recent play, but it’s worth noting that his value spikes depending on the length of time Ronnie Brown will miss.

Josh Freeman – Hey, he’s not awesome, but Freeman hasn’t been awful either. Sunday he threw for 196, a TD, an interception and rushed seven times for 36 yards. Still intrigued by his potential, dynasty-leaguers should be, too.

Bernard Berrian – Despite Sidney Rice’s nuts 7-catch, 201-yard game, Berrian had only one less target (8-to-9). He did far less with his chances.

Ladell Betts – Smart owners who put in waivers for Betts reaped a 26-114-1 game from him against the once stout Broncos defense. Betts has proven himself a better option in the time he’s had to be the main ballcarrier, but coach Jim Zorn said Portis is not getting Wally-Pipp’d. I’d be shocked if Betts doesn’t get more touches for the rest of the season, though.

Chris Simms – Came in for the injured Kyle Orton and put up some disastrous numbers 3-13-1 for 13 yards. Pre-injury Orton, meanwhile, threw two TDs and had 193 yards.

Correll Buckhalter – Benched and finished with 11 yards on two carries. Meanwhile, Knowshon Moreno had an 18-for-97 day. Buckhalter phase out process under way.

Jason Snelling – I put in a handful of waiver claims for Snelling. He’s been on my radar since the preseason and he looked decent in place of the injured Michael Turner on Sunday. Snelling’s not a beast, but is a good pickup if “high” keeps it’s position in front of ankle sprain in the injury column next to Turner’s name.

Jamaal Charles – Surprisingly found him on one waiver wire earlier today. I put in a claim. Now, his 103 yards and a TD came against the Raiders, but Charles has already shown he’s got more to give the Chiefs than LJ did.

Chris Chambers – Put up some solid numbers Sunday – 60 yards on just 3 catches and five targets – but with Dwayne Bowe’s four-game suspension for what seems like PEDs or PED-masking agents – Chambers stocks up considerably. I’d pick him up as your fifth WR. Lance Long is a long shot to reap some big rewards too.

Raiders offense – Stay away. I got one report this morning telling me that Bruce Gradkowski, who came in for a benched JaMarcus Russell, is potentially worth a pickup. I gotta tell you, I wouldn’t give up anything for the players on this team. Too many drops. Too much of a we-can’t-win attitude. Again, I say, stay away. OK, Michael Bush was 14-119 on the ground, but it came against the Chiefs and Darren McFadden’s contribution to the three-headed monster is back.

Spencer Havner – Gawd, this is painful. He’s not even technically a TE, but he’s had at least one TD in three of the last four weeks. If you have some turd sitting as your TE2, having a guy who pops out an occasionally regular TD might not seem too bad. He’s better than Sean Ryan.

JerMichael Finley – Speaking of TE2s, Finley is expected back next week. His arrival could be awesome and cut into Havner’s value. Full disclosure, folks.

Beanie Wells – Wells continues his arrival with two TDs and some nice runs. The Cardinals find a way to make use of his talent the rest of the way.

Steve Breaston – He’s only supposed to be good when one of the big two guys are hurt, but Breaston had a 4-79-1 line on just six targets. If you’re desperate for a WR5 and he’s available, pick him up and start him in a pinch.

Justin Forsett – The initial diagnosis on starter Julius Jones was a broken rib and punctured lung. Luckily for his owners, it turned out to be a bruise that sent some blood into his lung. While I’m sure it was painful, it should recover faster than the initial report suggested. Still, Forsett had a fine 17-123-1 game on the ground and caught 5 balls for 26 more yards. Pick him up. He should get more action at least next week if not for the rest of the season.

LeSean McCoy – His value takes an immediate hike in all formats, including keeper leagues. Brian Westbrook’s concussion Sunday, his second in three weeks, wasn’t as severe as the first, but it proves the fact that severely concussed players tend to keep getting concussed more frequently after the fact. Westbrook might be done. McCoy is his replacement. McCoy gained only five yards on three carries and caught three balls for 12 yards. Hardly great stuff, but he’s shown flashes of brilliance in his rookie campaign.

Jason Avant – Had the best day of any Eagles receiver, catching eight of his nine targets for 156 yards. Jeremy Maclin and Brent Celek each had a TD. DeSean Jackson was targeted a ridiculous 16 times (McNabb threw 55 times and finished with 450 and two TDs). Avant was the new face of the Eagles offense this week. Like Maclin before him, don’t expect this every week, but the Eagles throw an awful lot and that won’t change with Westbrook’s injury.

Ladainian Tomlinson – Turned back the clock for at least a week. He had two TDs and 96 yards on 24 carries. He didn’t have a single catch and was targeted only once. Not sure how you want to take it, because he’s got quite a few miles, but the message he got before the game about his wife being pregnant is significant. Apparently, they had been trying to have a child for years. I wonder how much of that carried over to game day for a couple years? He’ll never be LT circa 2006 again, but I’m interested to see where he goes from here.

Legadu Naanee – He ran one time for 10 yards out of a wildcat and caught three passes for 42 yards and a TD. There are a bunch of Chargers I’d rather have on my team before Naanee, but if the Chargers commit to more Wildcat with him, I could eat those words. He’s a good athlete.

Joseph Addai – Another injury case – there were a lot. Hope most of them get mentioned here – although his wasn’t as severe as several of the others. He hurt his finger and returned to the field. He finished with one TD each on the ground and through the air. Donald Brown was decent, but didn’t get many opportunities. As long as Addai’s finger injury doesn’t radiate down his arm and cause serious problems, he’ll be go and continue to be the Colts best backfield option for fantasy owners. I do like Brown’s long-term value though.

Pierre Garcon – Won the weekly Colts No. 2 wide receiver competition, that I’ve followed in just about every update since I heard they were calling Garcon the next Reggie Wayne. Thing is, Garcon caught only three of his 11 targets, but finished with 50 yards and a TD. Collie was targeted three fewer times and caught three more balls, but finished with five less yards. Confused? Me too, let’s move on.

DeAngelo Williams – His injury had the ESPNers all freaked out on Sunday. He was fine – 19 carries, 92 yards. Jonathan Stewart was better with two TDs and 82 yards on 11 carries.

Jake Delhomme – I know, right, Delhomme. He was 15-for-24, not bad, for 195 yards, not bad again, and two TDs. No picks. That’s right, NO PICKS.

Brady Quinn – Taking over for your JaMarcus Russell line this week, Brady Quinn. He was 13-for-31 with two interceptions and only 99 yards. He finished with a 23.5 QB rating. That, friends, is terrible.

Mike Furrey – Targeted by Quinn eight times and amazingly caught six of them. He only had 30 yards though. I’m not excited, even in PPR leagues.

Joe Flacco – Surprised he didn’t do better than game manager numbers against the Browns.

Ray Rice – He only had 89 yards and a score and caught three passes for 15 yards. I realize those are decent numbers, but it came against the Browns.

Hey, fast report, so sorry for any typos or noun-verb disagreements that you may have experienced during your reading adventure. Thank you for reading this far, and may all your waiver selections turn into keepers.

Related posts

• Waiver warning: Don’t jump on all the Lions, Browns (0)
• Week 9: Chambers, Lance Long and … Wait, what? (1)
• Week 7 waiver wire: Shonn Greene has arrived (1)
• Dissecting NFL box scores from Week 3 [FFB] (0)
• 2010 running back redraft rankings and player capsules (4)

I’ll tell you who, the people with crud filling their RB slots who didn’t heed my advice the last couple of weeks to get him before he had a shot to do anything. Well, with Leon Washington’s season-ending broken leg, Greene will now get plenty of touches.

Get on your waiver wire and start bidding and prioritizing to get the Jets back, especially you dynasty-leaguers. Thomas Jones had another good game this week, but the Jets’ future running back is Greene.

Greene isn’t the only back you should target heavily this week, I’d go after Jamaal Charles, too. You see, Larry Johnson is a problem child. He’s going around tweeting bad things about his coach and Twitter fans. And through it all, LJ displayed elementary school-level grammar errors.

Now I’m no NFL analyst, and I don’t live in Kansas City, but if I’m a member of the Chiefs ownership I’m not happy that an overpaid and underproducing running back is being an ass in a public forum like Twitter. That unlocks the door for Charles.

Charles is better, faster, more explosive than Johnson. He averaged 8.3 yards per carry, gaining 33 yards on just four carries on Sunday. LJ was given the ball 16 times and managed 49, just 3.1 per clip. That should open the door.

This seems like the perfect opportunity for Todd Haley to relegate LJ to the back end of the RBBC and get Charles some more opportunities. A Google search a few minutes ago unearthed a headline that says Johnson has been banned from practice and team activities, so target Charles fast.

What other players should you target in trades and on waivers this week? Here are just a few to target, and a couple to avoid:

Quarterbacks

Alex Smith – His performance Sunday – 15/22, 206 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT – was enough for Singletary to make a change at QB.  Could be a decent play in Week 8 against Indianapolis.

Matt Guttierez – Went 1-for-1 for 3 yards. It’s just a blip. Matt Cassel is still the starter in that fantasy wasteland they call Kansas City. Until there’s more talent than just Dwayne Bowe, we’ll never know what Cassel is capable of post-New England.

Josh Johnson – I’ve been saying he’s someone to watch, and I’m not going to jump off the ship just yet after his terrible performance against the Patriots. He completed just nine of 26 for 156 yards and three interceptions, though he did have one TD pass. I’m not jumping off, but I am standing next to the railing

Bruce Gradkowski – Gradkowski replaced JaMarcus Russell and went 10-for-19, for 97 yards. Those aren’t Tom Brady-esque, but they’re not Russell-esque either. Gradkowski’s rating was 67.2, which is awful, but twice as good as Russell’s 31.1. I wouldn’t waste waiver priority on him, but if you have some turd holding your No. 3 QB slot in deep leagues, Gradkowski might be a little less awful considering the supposed skill position talent in Oakland.

Ryan Fitzpatrick – Wasn’t great, 11-for-22 for 123, but threw a TD. He’ll probably get another start this week, but Edwards is the starter and will retake his spot when he returns. I’m not so sure that’s the best move.

Jason Campbell – Impressed against a crumbling Giants defense, threw 43 times, completed 29 for 284 and 2 TDs. He was picked off once, but Devin Thomas and Fred Davis were the best receivers in the game for the Redskins. If they can emerge and displace some of the coverage on Santana Moss and Randle-El, this offense could start to live up to it’s potential.

Jake Delhomme – Threw for 325 yards! You should pick him up. Just kidding, he also threw three picks. Jake, you are predictable.

Running backs

Donald Brown – While Joseph Addai had a solid fantasy game with 64 yards and a TD, it took him 20 carries. Brown had two carries for 58 yards, including a 45-yarder. He’ll continue to steal carries, but I expect him to be the first Colt out of the block in a RBBC, or the outright starter, next year.

Justin Fargas – The Raiders were in rally mode for a long time against the Jets, but Fargas still managed 67 yards rushing on just eight carries. He added 3 catches for 23 yards, and earned more carries even when Darren McFadden returns from his injury. In related news, Michael Bush did much less (25 yards) with the same amount of carries as Fargas.

Jason Snelling – Read some things on Snelling in the preseason about how he was going to steal some carries from Turner and Norwood. His performance Sunday – 68 yards on 7 carries and 1 catch for 10 yards – explains why. With Norwood’s injury, Snelling might be a viable flex play against the right matchup.

Mike Bell – The Bell rings again. He had 12 carries on 80 yards, including a 35 yarder. He did that in just 1-1/3 quarters against the Dolphins. If you own one of the starters, Pierre Thomas or Reggie Bush, and Bell is available, you should own him as insurance if you can.

Beanie Wells – Show of hands, who was hoping Beanie would fall on his face all year, then re-invent himself in 2010 as CHRIS Wells? Welp, that ship has sailed. Wells had 14 carries for 67 yards and three catches for 10 yards. Meanwhile “starter” Tim Hightower had four carries for nine yards and a TD and two catches for 11 yards. Wells should only get better as the season progresses.

LeSean McCoy – Westbrook suffered a concussion and McCoy got to be the backfield’s big dog. He had just 37 yards on 14 carries and 30 yards on five catches. Blame it on the Redskins defense. McCoy shouldn’t be available in any leagues.

Wide receivers

Josh Morgan – Had four catches for 62 yards. Does Alex Smith’s return boost Morgan or Michael Crabtree more? Stay tuned, but it wouldn’t be a bad idea to hold Morgan as your No. 5 receiver.

Mohamed Massaquoi – While he managed just one 22-yard reception, it was because Derek Anderson struggled mightily heaving the pigskin. MM was targeted eight times to lead the team. I didn’t see the game, but the numbers alone tell me Massaquoi is being given routes that will get him open and is getting open but that Derek Anderson is holding him back.

Bobby Wade – Eight targets, four catches, 66 yards. But he’s a Chief, there are only a handful of Chiefs worth owning, and Wade isn’t one of them.

Austin Collie/Pierre Garcon – Because my love affair with the No. 3 Colts receiver runs so deep it hurts. Collie had four catches for 36 yards and a TD and Garcon had three catches for 24 yards. on the surface it would appear that Collie is pulling away, but Garcon (8) was second to Reggie Wayne (9) in targets. Collie had six, but did more with his.

Danny Amendola – Look, he’s a Rams receiver, so please understand that I cannot recommend him without many warnings. But if you play in a league that rewards individuals for returns, Amendola will do that. He also had five catches for 389 yards and five targets, more than No. 1 receiver Donnie Avery. He has 14 catches and 115 yards so far this season.

Sidney Rice – A while back, I said Rice should not be available on any waiver wires, despite his sharing targets with Percy Harvin and Bernard Berrian. he led the team with 14 targets, 11 catches and 136 yards on Sunday.

Percy Harvin – Targeted 10 times, Harvin only came down with three of them for 42 yards. He also had one run for seven yards. But, has been the case several times this year, he proved his worth as a special teams monster with an 88-yard kickoff return for a score.

Mike Wallace – Out Percy-Harvin’ed Percy Harvin on the offensive side Sunday. Wallace had 2 carries for 19 yards and three catches for 72 yards and a TD on just four targets.

Sam Aiken – With Joey Galloway and Julian Edelman licking wounds, Aiken could get some more looks going forward, but I wouldn’t expect him to break a 54-yarder or even finish with 66 yards and a TD very often.

Sammie Stroughter – Another guy who has more value if you get points for returns. But unlike Amendola, he has shown some flashes outside of special teams. He had three catches for 63 yards and has 16 for 214 on the season. I’d hold him as a No. 5 or 6 receiver in deep leagues, and he could be a little higher in leagues that reward returns.

David Clowney – This is Jerricho Cotchery’s and Braylon Edwards’s team for now, but Clowney is a receiver worth monitoring. There aren’t enough passes to go around that offense for three guys, but dynasty leaguers shouldn’t let Clowney sit on waivers.

Louis Murphy – Another Raider on this list? Yes, I am ashamed. But, if Gradkowski can improve the offense and get the ball to some playmakers, things could get interesting. Murphy was targeted 10 tims and finished with four catches for 58 yards.

Lee Evans – Evans had five catches for 75 yards and a TD. But his nine targets were a more interesting statistic. It seems as though the backup QB likes throwing to Evans.

Eric Weems – Ok, he caught his only two targets for 33 yards and a TD. I know he’s competing with Tony Gonzalez and Roddy White for the targets, but there are only so many double-teams a defense can throw around and there should be guys open in the Falcons passing game. Maybe Weems emerges as the compelling third threat that Michael Jenkins, Brian Finneran and Marty Booker haven’t been so far this season.

Devery Henderson – Had four catches for 71 yards. Lance Moore’s over in the corner pouting because he thought it was his turn to get the other catches in New Orleans this week.

Brian Hartline – So the Dolphins have this rotating wide receiver thing that is really not fun for fantasy owners. Brian Hartline was the main dude this week, catching 3 for 94 yards on five targets. He had a 67-yarder. He’s got 10 catches for 157 yards this season. That’s a pretty good average out of a less-than-explosive offense. Hartline is worth a waiver pickup.

Greg Camarillo – His six targets and five catches for 55 yards were far from exciting, but compared to the numbers put up by Davone Bess and Ted Ginn Jr., two guys drafted ahead of him in a lot of leagues, he’s John Taylor to Hartline’s Jerry Rice.

Anquan Boldin – Hah, found him on the waiver wire because of his “injury.” That high ankle sprain must really have hurt him on that 44-yard catch. Boldin was targeted 7 times and caught three for 75 yards. Boldin plays hurt. Trade him if you don’t like it, but you should never drop a player that talented. Ever.

Hakeem Nicks – Has emerged as the big-play threat to go with the catcher-of-all-passes Steve Smith. Nicks has a TD in four straight games, he made four catches for 80 yards on four targets on Sunday.

Steve Smith – Led the Giants with 10 targets and finished with four catches for 69 yards

Mario Manningham – Manningham had more targets than Nicks (8) and the same number of catches (4). He had an unspectacular 47 yards and a really bad drop that would have put the Giants in position to score.

Jeremy Maclin – Led the Eagles with seven targets and finished with five catches for 53 yards. Emerging compliment to DeSean Jackson. That’s going to be a terrifying combo for teams to gameplan against for years.

Santana Moss – Targeted nine times and made six ctaches for 74 yards. For years, Moss has either had 3 catches for 12 yards or 4 catches for 278 yards and 4 TDs. What’s with the averageness?

Devin Thomas – Second-year player out of Michigan State had three catches for 45 yards and a TD against the Eagles. He’s got offensive skills and great size for  wide receiver. He could be ready to break out, but I wouldn’t expect huge numbers out of the Redskins offense.

Tight ends

Michael Gaines – The new Browns TE had two catches and 30 yards on two targets Sunday. Don’t go get him now, but keep an eye on him. If his targets increase as he gets more acclimated, contemplate an add.

Spencer Havner – Had two catches for 59 yards, including a 45-yarder, and a TD. He’s not a tight end, he’s a linebacker. You probably can’t pick him up in your league, and probably don’t want him either.

Gary Barnidge – Played in 15 games last year and didn’t have a single catch. But like Dante Rosario’s out of nowhere arrival last year, Barnidge had three catches for 77 yards and 6 targets. One of his catches was a 52-yarder. I wouldn’t waste waiver priority on him, but his performance is worth monitoring because he had a 52-yard catch and could emerge as a more consistent threat than Rosario.

Fred Davis – Chris Cooley’s injury opened the door for a monster game – well, monster for a tight end, that is. He had eight catches for 78 yards and was targeted 10 times to lead the Redskins. Cooley will be out 6-8 weeks with a chipped ankle – that sounds painful as hell, doesn’t it? – so Davis could see more opportunities in the future. There is one catch, the Eagles haven’t exactly been good against tight ends this season, so hope he can repeat his performance Sunday but don’t expect it.

Related posts

• Fantasy football: Two-minute (draft) drill (0)
• Dissecting NFL box scores from Week 3 [FFB] (0)
• Week 5 Day of Reckoning: Dynasty implication edition (1)
• Comprehensive guide to deadline trading (who to target, who to dump) (2)
• Week 5: Assess the battlefield and attack (0)