Find out who's up and who's down in this week's edition of Fantasy Football Stock Watch.
Upgrades
All Browns: I'm engaged in a friendly disagreement this week with colleague Mike Salfino, who termed the Browns a "fantasy wasteland," lumping them with teams like the Rams, Raiders, Chiefs and Bucs. I'm not saying Derek Anderson, Jerome Harrison, and Mohamed Massaquoi are fantasy stars. But the stocks of all three are clearly on the rise, so much so that I'd use them in a good matchup, like this week against an injury-depleted Bills defense. Anderson has a great arm and while I preferred him with Braylon Edwards still around, Massaquoi played well enough last week that Anderson could recapture the form he flashed in 2007 (3,786 yards, 29 TDs, 7.2 YPA). Harrison isn't a stud, but with Jamal Lewis washed up and James Davis on IR, Harrison is getting starter touches. For the cost it takes to acquire them — a waiver selection in most leagues — these guys are all worth a roster spot, particularly Harrison.
Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Steelers: We all know that Mendenhall should be your top waiver claim after his 169-yard, two-TD performance last week, but just how valuable is he? In an "expert" draft in which I participated last night, Mendenhall went ahead of guys like Kevin Smith, LaDainian Tomlinson, Cedric Benson, and Ryan Grant. I agree with that valuation. Mendenhall is a beast. Willie Parker won't (or
shouldn't) get that job back, plus he has turf toe, an injury that often lingers.
Matt Sanchez, QB, Jets: Replacing Chansi Stuckey with Braylon Edwards certainly won't hurt Sanchez. If the change in scenery helps the talented but enigmatic Edwards flash his 2007 form (16 TDs), Sanchez will be helped tremendously.
No Change
Greg Jennings, WR, Packers: Jennings just put up another clunker, his second of the season, and the Packers' offensive line is in shambles. But I'm not downgrading Jennings. And if an owner in my league is, then I'm buying. Starting left tackle Chad Clifton will return after the Packers' Week 5 bye, and the added protection he affords will give Aaron Rodgers the time he needs to look downfield for Jennings, still an elite option on a top-shelf offense.
Jaguars offensive players: This week, Mike Salfino noted his surprise that the Jaguars rank in the Top 10 in our index of key offensive stats. I know the stats say that, but I'm not buying it. In successive weeks, the Jags have played the Texans and Titans (whose defenses are so bad that I've written about each in this column in successive weeks). Other than Mike Sims-Walker, who has emerged out of nowhere, I'm not upgrading any Jags based on their recent performance.
Downgrades
Clinton Portis, RB, Redskins: In one of my fantasy leagues, several "experts" invited two "non-experts" to play with us. Guess what happened this week? The "expert" traded Clinton Portis to the "non- expert" for Greg Jennings. I cringed, not only because I was trying to get Jennings, but because that trade is more lopsided than it looks. Portis still has name value, but his age, career workload, and inability to exploit a dream schedule — Rams, Lions, and Bucs in successive weeks — are very disconcerting. Now his schedule gets tougher and his aging body won't produce anything close to the results you want. Remember, Portis wore down in the second half of last year, too. Jennings for Portis is a great deal for the guy getting Jennings.
Titans defense: Last year, the Titans had one of the best defenses in football, forcing you to think twice about starting anyone facing them. This year, though, it's exactly the opposite, especially against the pass. The Titans' pass defense is currently last in the NFL, having allowed 1,129 passing yards and 8.1 YPA. It's not as if they've faced Peyton Manning and Philip Rivers, either — the Steelers, Texans, Jets, and Jaguars shouldn't have altered the Titans stats so drastically. Unlike last year, this is a defense to be exploited, not avoided.
