Tuesday November 2nd, 2004 Page updated at 5:40pm
FantasyFootball Grab Bag For Week 9
By: David Bachman
Fantasy Football Editor For WagerOnFootball.com

Week 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 . 6 . 7 . 8 . 9 . 10 . 11 . 12 . 13 . 14  .15 . 16 . 17

There you have it. Another whacky NFL Fantasy Football week in the books and yet another week where everything that I possibly imagined happening in my leagues and probably yours happened, and if it could go wrong for most fantasy experts, it DID go wrong. Duante came back to earth, Moss was a bust, Mewelde can't carry the team, Tiki, Ahmen, Alexander and the Priest did what they're supposed to do. Rod Smith and Plummer were out of this world, Harrison, Wayne, and Manning all love each other again, and TO....well TO does a pretty damn good impression of Ray Ray's Chicken dance.

I know there are several people like me out there who were depending on a good game from Eric Johnson Sunday night, and were forced to watch that utter garbage on ESPN. I sat through three quarters of the most god-awful football on the planet, just hoping that Ken Dorsey would eventually find his wide-open TE. But no. Play after play after play he looked completely away from Johnson, opting instead to try to force it into a triple-covered Division III receiver. On top of that I had to suffer through the inane ramblings of the vaunted Sunday Night crew, who were, from the coin-flip, at the point of desperation trying to make this game sound interesting. ABC and ESPN sure lined up a couple of snoozer night games for us didn't they?? I'm praying for better next week.

Add these Guys

RB Willis McGahee, BUF - No brainer. Kid is clearly the best RB on that squad right now, though I still have mad-respect (forgive the Stuart Scott-ism) for Travis Henry. There is no reason for the Bills to remove McGahee from the starting lineup right now. If you have both McGahee and Henry on your squad and you’re in a keeper league, I suggest you hold on tight to both of them. I see them both being starters somewhere in the NFL next year.

RB Anthony Thomas, CHI - As of right now the severity of Thomas Jones' injury is unclear and Thomas had a very solid game this past weekend filling in. I was always confused at the number of times the Bears have shunned A-Train as he has always performed well when he got the start so, depending on the injury, the Bears could rest Jones as much as needed and Thomas could see a significant boost in carries.

WR Darius Watts, DEN - Watts was listed on the Free Agent Forecasts’ preseason list of players to watch. It’s taken him awhile to become a factor in Denver’s offense, but Watts is finally showing flashes of stardom. In Sunday’s game against the Falcons, he was a frequent target of Jake Plummer. Watts caught one TD and almost snagged another but misjudged Plummer’s throw. Acquire the rookie this week. Denver has a cushy upcoming schedule that favors the passing game. Watts can be used as a starter in any one of Denver’s next three games.

RB Tyrone Wheatley, OAK - Wheatley returned from injury this week and while he was not spectacular, he was clearly more productive than Amos Zereoue. With Fargas sidelined because of injury, Wheatley makes a nice pickup as Oakland has a softer schedule the next few weeks.

RB Mike Cloud, NYG - I think the Giants have found their much needed short yardage back. With Dayne deactivated last week Cloud was spectacular in the red zone as well as in spelling MVP candidate Tiki Barber. He was most productive in garbage time but if you are desperate need of a RB then you may get a few points from him on weekly basis.

WR Joey Galloway, TB - Galloway is almost ready to make his return from a bad groin injury. He would almost certainly be a starter opposite rookie Michael Clayton and as long as Griese is playing well Galloway should have a handful of good games to close the season.

TE Doug Jolley, OAK - Jolley has quietly found the end zone twice the last two weeks and with the inconsistency of tight ends this year he's certainly worth a look, especially for those of you still starting Boo Williams, Freddie Jones, or Jeb Putzier.

QB Brian Griese, TB - Griese was off the fantasy map at the start of the season but is suddenly playing well in a starting role and with Galloway possibly returning Griese has a decent set of WRs to throw to. He makes a nice backup.

WR Jabar Gaffney, HOU - David Carr has finally come into his own as a top ten fantasy QB and with teams continuing to double the outstanding Andre Johnson, I look for big games from other Houston WRs. Early in the season it looked like Derek Armstrong was going to be the WR to take advantage of single coverage but lately it has been Gaffney with the big games.

Not sure About These Guys???

QB Byron Leftwich, JAC - Jaguars quarterback is out indefinitely after spraining the lateral collateral ligament in his left knee in last weekend's 20-6 loss to the Houston Texans. What you do with him is your call. Just don't start him till we find out more on this one. Big Blow to Gary Coleman owners.

WR Drew Bennett, TEN - Bennett has only caught one pass the last two games and has a surprising number of drops. Things should change with the return of McNair so hold onto him until we see what he does then.

WR Peerless Price, ATL - This guy just plain confuses me? Now you see him now you don't. I'd recommend you have him on your bench but not start unless he gets a good matchup, or Vick figures out what he wants to do in that offense.

TE Boo Williams, NO - Boo was one of the players I was wrong about this pre-season as I rated him a top 10 TE overall. His inability to block has kept him off the field and Brooks just seems to be looking elsewhere.

RB Kevan Barlow, SF - I said it in the preseason: the reason why so many people flocked to get Barlow is the reason why he will suck – he’s the only guy in SF’s offense. Granted, since the preseason Eric Johnson has come out of nowhere to be a stud, but Sunday night pretty much proved his production is hit-and-miss depending on which poor schlep is playing QB. For the most part, Barlow has had no help and might as well have a big neon arrow pointing to his helmet as soon as he breaks out of the huddle.

WR Jerry Rice, SEA - Has fizzled with low productivity and an ankle injury. Do not expect much from here on out.

Running Back Review (I'm ignoring the obvious STUDS)

Moving On Up

Domanick Davis (HOU) – Against a formidable Jacksonville front seven, Davis got the yeoman’s share of carries (22) gaining 56 yards rushing while also hauling in five passes for 39 yards, all the while remaining injury free, which has been difficult for him this season. This Sunday he heads to Denver, which has yielded an average of 164 yards rushing to opponents in their last two games, both losses.

Willis McGahee (BUF) – Travis Henry, we hardly knew ye’. Ending months of speculation, McGahee has finally wrested the starting running back position from Henry after his second 100 yard rushing performance in three games, running for 102 yards on 30 carries with two touchdowns in Buffalo’s 38-14 victory over the Cardinals. The 38 points scored was their highest single game output of the year and many in the Bills organization attribute that to McGahee energizing the running attack. Buffalo hosts the Jets this week.

Jerome Bettis (PIT) –Bettis has experienced a surprising rebirth in Steel Town with the arrival of free agent running back Duce Staley in the off-season. Staley, along with a rejuvenated offensive line, has jump-started the Pittsburgh ground attack and Bettis has become a prime beneficiary in his role as the short yardage/ goal line specialist. Bettis’ eight rushing touchdowns place him second in the NFL behind only Priest Holmes. He also added 65 yards rushing on 15 carries in the Steelers victory over New England last week.

Mike Cloud (NYG) – In 12 or more team leagues that emphasize touchdowns, Cloud could prove to be useful down the stretch this season. His nine carry, 55 yard performance in the Giants blow out road win over the Vikings was also punctuated with two short touchdown runs. Coughlin’s futile attempts to will Ron Dayne into a power complement to Tiki Barber seemed to have come to an end with the emergence of Cloud as Dayne was a healthy scratch for the first time all season.

Sliding Back

Mewelde Moore (MIN) – Moore ’s worst game as a pro couldn’t have come at a worse time for the rookie from Tulane. His mental error led to an early Vikings turnover when he failed to pounce on a dropped lateral pass in the eventual 34-13 loss to the Giants. He also incurred a sprained ankle and mild concussion on his way to 29 yards rushing on eight carries. Also working against him, Michael Bennett seems to be finding his groove as evidenced by his late touchdown run against New York and Tice favorite Onterrio Smith returns from his suspension this week.

Amos Zereoue (OAK) – In the last three weeks, with Kerry Collins and the passing game collapsing and Tyrone Wheatley sitting due to injury, Amos Zereoue stood at opportunities door and refused to open it. His disappearance last week, carrying six times for negative one yard in the Raiders 42-14 loss in San Diego combined with Tyrone Wheatley’s four carries for 23 yards and a touchdown confirmed his return trip to the bench and part time duty behind Wheatley.

Thomas Jones (CHI)— After an exciting three week start to the season, Jones lost Rex Grossman for the season forcing the Bears offense into a one dimensional quagmire. Still Jones persevered and fought hard to put up respectable numbers against Tampa Bay and Washington and looked prime to play well against San Francisco on Sunday night only to leave the game after the first few snaps with a foot sprain that looks to keep him out of this week’s game against the Giants.

Kevan Barlow (SF) -- Hard to believe, after eight weeks in, that Barlow was a trendy preseason pick to be the next fantasy superstar back after his late season spurt in 2003. But the preseason hypesters didn’t factor on the loss of Jeff Garcia and Terrell Owens and subsequent replacement of Tim Rattay / Ken Dorsey and Brandon Lloyd would take such a toll on the injury-plagued Barlow. With injuries along the offensive line and numerous tough defenses remaining on the schedule, there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel either.

Week 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 . 6 . 7 . 8 . 9 . 10 . 11 . 12 . 13 . 14  .15 . 16 . 17

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