Posted by Matthew Berry
Thoughts, Ramblings, Useless information and Musing for SundayAfter last week's TRUM, it was not a complaint I expected to hear. And believe me, I know complaints. Get them all the time. Here's one that I am used to hearing:
John Q. Public (Anytown, USA): Berry, you're not good and virtually unwatchable on TV. Please continue giving your incisive projections though, so that I can continue to fade you. I wasn't sure about Roddy White until you said you didn't like him this week. Keep it up, champ.
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TMR: No doubt, I blew that one. Although outside of that one big catch on bad coverage (a 70-yarder), he had only four receptions for 49 yards, a very mortal day. But anyway, as I was minding my own business Monday, I wasn't expecting to hear this from one of my editors:
ESPN Fantasy Editor: Dude, your TRUM was too long. It was good and thorough, but if we wanted good and thorough, we wouldn't have gone to you. Your Sunday TRUM is just supposed to be a down-and-dirty, quick reaction to Sunday's games. I'm giving you a 500-word limit, knowing full well you'll just ignore me and give me twice that amount anyway.
TMR: He knows me so well.
So instead of 10 lists of 10, I'll do one list of 10. Having just watched the early games -- it's halftime of the late games as I write this -- here are the 10 biggest things I have noticed so far:
1. For those keeping score at home, it was the Patriots 13, Ronnie Brown 28.
So what to make of Ronnie Brown's amazing five-touchdown game? Yup, five. He rushed for four, and then to complete his LaDainian Tomlinson impression, he threw for one, too. Not counting the 19 yards passing (too few for a fantasy point), he had 122 total yards on 18 touches. OK, the obvious stuff first: You've seen his best game of the season. His value will never be higher (and the Patriots have a lot of work to do). Brown clearly looked healthy, which was nice to see. But going forward, teams are not going to take the Dolphins as lightly as New England did. (Or his fantasy owners did, for that matter; only 16 percent of Brown's owners started him.) And remember, Ricky Williams had 119 yards on 18 touches -- numbers almost identical to Brown's, just without the scores. A lot of Williams' output came in the second half, but still. So where does that leave us? I'd be dangling Brown to see what I could get. For value comparison, here's a list (in no particular order) of running backs I'd rather have than Ronnie Brown the rest of the season: Brandon Jacobs, Steven Jackson, Thomas Jones, Willis McGahee, Darren McFadden, Jonathan Stewart, Jamal Lewis, Michael Turner, Chris Johnson and Matt Forte. Here are some guys I don't like as much as Brown: Williams, Larry Johnson, Kevin Smith, Justin Fargas, Chris Perry, LenDale White and Reggie Bush.
Interesting observation by Chris Mortensen in the War Room today: David Lee is the quarterbacks coach for the Dolphins. Last year, he was the offensive coordinator for Arkansas and used the McFadden-as-a-passer play a decent amount. Miami has been working on that play a lot. In other words, Ronnie may get a few more touchdown passes before it's all over. Oh, and somewhere, someone played against Ronnie Brown, Michael Turner and the Philadelphia defense this weekend. Whoever you are, my heart goes out to you.
2. So, um, I own Randy Moss. … May I officially freak out? Because I'd like to.
AP Photo/Robert E. Klein
Randy Moss hasn't made good on his first-round draft status. And it's not hard to figure out why.
A four-receptions-for-25-yards game follows a two-for-22 performance and yeah, this is not the Randy you drafted. And yes, I'm giving you the green light to freak out. At least a little. His value is much lower than it was, and I'd still rather have him the rest of the way over other big-name receivers who are struggling, like Chad Ocho Cinco (I can't tell you how dumb it feels writing that) and Braylon Edwards. I don't own Moss in any league, but if I did, I would hang on to him (because you won't get anywhere close to full value) and start looking elsewhere for wide receiver help. Wes Welker is the only Patriot I feel is an every-week, no-questions-asked starter. Luckily, the Patriots have a bye next week to figure everything out, and I expect them to solve the lack-of-Randy-production problem.
3. Jason Campbell? Really?
Yes, really. I was taking it on the chin after Week 1 for my preseason love of the Redskins' offense and having Campbell, Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle El as sleepers. But for the second straight week, Campbell looked great and put up big numbers. Two touchdowns, 193 yards passing plus 26 yards rushing. And that doesn't include a touchdown pass that was called back due to a questionable personal-foul penalty. With 16 fantasy points last week and 17 this week, you have to figure next week against Dallas is a shootout.
4. The Bengals are not dead … yet.
At least not from a fantasy perspective. For the second straight game Chris Perry ran well against a good rushing defense. And T.J. Houshmandzadeh stepped up. It's a contract year for T.J., by the way. Chad was Ocho Sucko again and frankly, I'm guessing this is a pattern we're going to see a lot more of. I continue to be down on Carson Palmer, but wait until after next week to try to deal him or Chad. Both should be solid against Cleveland.
5. Larry Johnson is back, baby!
Uh, no he isn't. He still looked slow and terrible, including not being able to convert an important fourth-and-goal from the 2. He had one 48-yard play (and fumbled at the end, but it went out of bounds). Take away that big play and he has 73 yards on 23 carries, or 3.1 yards per carry. And this was against a not-very-good Falcons run defense. Trade him now. For any NFL starting running back.
6. Don't be hatin', it's just Steve Slaton.
Undersized, on a bad team, possibly splitting carries and facing a tough opponent. There were lots of reasons to hate Steve Slaton this week. But he looked very good and seemed like a nice fit for the zone blocking of the Texans. Slaton had 22 touches for 124 yards and a score, and he's worth starting next week, even on the road at Jacksonville. Ahman who? Slaton is legit.
7. Not buying it.
Some big performances that I am not buying: Brian Griese (the Bucs are not throwing 67 times ever again), T.J. Duckett (except when the Seahawks play St. Louis again), Rudi Johnson (I'm sort of buying it; he'll be a pickup on Tuesday, but he was playing against the 49ers and I didn't get a chance to watch this game closely; once I look at it again I'll have a better idea, but certainly the receiving yardage is not something you can count on), Johnnie Lee Higgins (it was one play) and Kyle Orton (he's Kyle Orton).
8. So much for Lorenzo Booker.
The Brian Westbrook handcuff you want is Correll Buckhalter, obviously.
9. That's what Willis is talking about.
Willis McGahee looked very healthy to me, and while Le'Ron McClain is not a one-week wonder and is now starring as a goal-line vulture, those who drafted McGahee don't have to worry as much about Ray Rice.
10. I'm buying Brandon Lloyd.
He seems to have developed a rapport with Orton, and he might finally be making good on his talent.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to watch the Packers and Cowboys. Oh, and if the guy who had to play against Ronnie Brown and Michael Turner also ended up having to face the Philadelphia defense? I gotta ask you, dude: What did you do to whom in a former life, and was it worth it?
Matthew Berry -- The Talented Mr. Roto -- is part of the Fantasy Football Now, airing Sundays at Noon ET on ESPN.com. He can also be seen on Sunday Countdown on ESPN and is a four time award winner from the Fantasy Sports Writers Association, including a Writer of the Year award. He is also the creator of RotoPass.com, a Web site that combines a bunch of well known fantasy sites, including ESPN Insider, for one low price. Use promo code ESPN for 10 percent off. Cyberstalk the TMR | Be his Cyberfriend
Matthew Berry
