The Scoop

By Dalton Del Don

I’m a huge Jay Cutler guy, but right now, there’s no doubt his play has been a big disappointment. He’s thrown 19 interceptions over the past 10 games, with many of them coming in the red zone. A couple on Thursday weren’t his fault, and the Bears’ offensive line has played poorly, but at some point the excuses don’t matter; his 7.0 YPA mark is also unimpressive. Cutler is just 26 years old and has 68 touchdown passes over 46 career games, and his struggles in 2009 have obviously come in a small sample size on a new team, so he can’t be written off, but his decision-making needs to improve greatly for him to ever even come close to reaching his potential…After being held catchless in Week 1, suddenly Matt Forte has been even more productive as a receiver this season compared to last, saving his fantasy value…Did you realize for running backs with at least 1,000 career carries Frank Gore has the third highest YPC (4.8) of all-time?

Jason Snelling isn’t a special back, but he’s in the right situation in Atlanta, and because he’s also a threat as a receiver, he should be treated as an RB2 as long as Michael Turner is out, even when Jerious Norwood returns. Tough break for Turner owners in what turned out to be one of the most injury-plagued weeks in recent memory…Jake Delhomme’s return to competence is big news for Steve Smith’s fantasy value from here on out. He won’t become a sure top-five guy like in year’s past, but defenses simply have to concentrate on stopping the Panthers’ rushing attack first and foremost, so even without a viable WR2 on the team, Smith is going to find some space to succeed if Delhomme can get him the ball.

Josh Freeman has completed just 50.8 percent of his passes and has gotten 6.6 YPA to start his career, but anyone who has watched him play comes away with the impression he’s going to be an effective quarterback for a long time. His ball security needs a ton of work (five fumbles already) as does his pocket awareness (he needs to learn to step into it when the ends rush from the outside), but he can run effectively and has shown a ton of promise as a passer even while throwing to a bad group of receivers. Plenty of growing pains are in store, but Freeman has flat-out saved Kellen Winslow’s fantasy season…I love Ronnie Brown as much as the next guy, but if the injury-prone label wasn’t already apt, it certainly is now. For as long as he’s sidelined, as crazy as it sounds, 32-year-old Ricky Williams is a top-10 weekly RB option…Has anyone figured out why Tony Sparano called a timeout with a full 14 seconds left before attempting the game winning field goal Sunday?

With huge improvement as a receiver, Adrian Peterson just became that much more valuable. He already has more touchdowns this year than he did in all of 2008, and a few of his runs last week could only be matched by Barry Sanders. Only health can prevent him from rewriting the record books. That said, it’s worth noting he’s already lost just one fewer fumble than Steve Slaton this year (and one more over the last two years combined)…Despite not topping 70 yards in a game until Week 6, Sidney Rice is on pace to record 1,397 receiving yards this season. Expect his modest TD total (two) to start increasing dramatically. He sure looks like a top-10 fantasy WR to me…Earlier this year, I noted all the similarities between Kevin Smith and Kevin Jones – the main difference being I thought Smith’s career would turn out far better. Unfortunately, their paths may be more identical than hoped. Detroit still needs to find its franchise back (although Smith is a must-start this week at home against Cleveland)…Speaking of comparisons, I don’t want to call Matthew Stafford the next Joey Harrington, but there’s not a lot to like about the way the rookie QB is playing right now. There’s a real good chance his knee injury is affecting him, and there’s still plenty of reason to believe a bright future is in store, but Stafford looks pretty terrible right now.

I don’t have a problem with Rex Ryan crying during a speech Monday after Sunday’s loss, but my pocket book has a huge beef with his team’s performance. What happened to the Jets’ defense?…I still like Ryan as a coach, but why did it take until a halftime adjustment for him to have Darrelle Revis shadow Mike Sims-Walker? And Ryan still has big problems with clock management…Who would you rather have from here on out, Adrian Peterson or Maurice Jones-Drew? Extremely tough call in my book…Check out the Jags’ upcoming schedule – this team could easily win 9-10 games.

It’s almost as if the Bengals want us to start taking them seriously. How about sweeping both the Ravens and Steelers this year? If not for that fluke Denver loss in Week 1, this team would be 8-1. Wow…Tough break for Cedric Benson owners, but at least the injury shouldn’t keep him out for more than the Raiders game. Pick up Bernard Scott before Larry Johnson…Don’t worry Rashard Mendenhall owners, expect a huge rebound against the Chiefs in Week 11.

If Reggie Bush’s big game Sunday increased his trade value in your league, then by all means, make a deal. He still hasn’t received more than six carries in a game since Week 3, and he recorded nearly as many receptions (26) over the first three weeks last season than he has all of this year (29)…All those injuries are starting to catch up to the Saints’ defense, although their ability to create turnovers should keep them a solid fantasy option…Marc Bulger’s two touchdown passes Sunday matched his combined total over the previous five games, and it was his first multiple TD effort since Week 9 of last season, but hopefully this was a sign of bigger things to come from Donnie Avery.

I’m beginning to think Chris Johnson is a pretty good running back. How about 759 total yards and six touchdowns over the past four games? Is that something you might be interested in? What a special talent. Fantasy owners have to be salivating with his three consecutive home games during Weeks 14-16 against the Rams, Dolphins and Chargers…Terrell Owens has zero touchdowns over his past seven games…Why did it take Bud Adams to force Jeff Fisher into starting Vince Young? I understand what happened in the past, and I’m hardly claiming I thought Young would play like this, but Fisher is a bright coach, and it’s surprising he didn’t notice this change from Young in practice. With a 65.7 completion percentage, 7.6 YPA and still terrific running ability, Young suddenly looks like the answer at QB for Tennessee once again. Nothing definitive should be declared after just three starts, but Young has really impressed, and any contending team certainly shouldn’t be looking forward to playing the Titans over the rest of the year…It’s been a lost season for Buffalo, but at least the team hit a home run with its second round pick.  Jairus Byrd has recorded a staggering seven interceptions over the past four games and leads the league with eight picks in 2009. He and Michael Oher have probably been the two best rookies this season.

With the moves the Broncos made during the offseason, I predicted a 3-13 type season. Then after a 6-0 start, I called them “for real” because their peripherals, especially on defense, pointed that way. After three straight losses, this team continues to make me look bad. I’ll now say the Chargers ultimately take the division, although Denver’s upcoming schedule isn’t all that tough…No one wants to see Chris Simms under center, but it’s worth noting just how much last year’s ankle sprain affected Kyle Orton’s performance…No one roots for an injury (at least openly) and especially a concussion (that one not even privately), but Clinton Portis owners who handcuffed Ladell Betts are currently sporting a better roster than they were two weeks ago…It looks like Knowshon Moreno has finally overtaken Correll Buckhalter as lead dog in Denver’s backfield, although it took a fumble for it to happen…Can someone please explain to me how the Broncos were burned by that fake field goal even after the Redskins’ formation was exposed before a timeout? Mind-boggling…Do you realize Washington’s 27 points scored were its most since Week 2 of last season?

As if Dwayne Bowe’s season couldn’t get more disappointing, he gets suspended four games. He’s not a good real life player, but with few other options in the passing attack and a bad Chiefs’ defense, Chris Chambers needs to be added in fantasy leagues…I don’t care what kind of preseason hype Darren McFadden is getting next year, avoid him at all costs…It’s OK to be a bust in the NFL, especially at the extremely difficult quarterback position, but JaMarcus Russell has been the worst kind – delusional and lazy…Darrius Heyward-Bey doesn’t deserve the same kind of criticism; after all, he was a projected late first/early second round pick who was extremely raw coming out of Maryland, so it’s not his fault Al Davis is crazy and was asked to start immediately, but man, those are some of the worst hands I’ve ever seen…Let me be perfectly clear to Todd Haley – Jamaal Charles is your team’s best running back, so please give him the majority of carries. By the way, his 44-yard TD run Sunday was the Chiefs’ first rushing score of the season.

Did it really need to take a Julius Jones injury for Justin Forsett to get on the field? He’s not some workhorse who can get 25-plus carries a game, but it’s been pretty clear for a while now he’s Seattle’s best back, capable of lining out wide as a receiver as well. After this week’s game in Minnesota, Forsett could have quite a bit of fantasy value as long as Jones is out…Nice to see T.J. Houshmandzadeh still has a pulse, although the whopping 17 targets certainly helped…I’ll remember exactly where I was during Beanie Wells’ coming out party last week. Obviously, the rookie still has plenty to work on in pass protection and as a receiver, but the difference between him and Tim Hightower as runners is as stark as Sacha Baron Cohen and Dane Cook as comedians. Remember, the Cardinals get the Lions and Rams in Weeks 15 and 16, so Wells could be a huge difference maker when it matters most.

What’s truly remarkable about Aaron Rodgers’ fantastic fantasy season isn’t just that he’s been able to withstand a beating, but how about the fact he’s done so with Greg Jennings being one of the bigger busts so far? And Jermichael Finley has failed to live up to expectations as well…Marion Barber is someone I’d strongly consider buying low right now…I’d also still start Miles Austin with confidence moving forward…During the broadcast Sunday, Troy Aikman questioned why Dallas would kick an extra point down 17-6 with 38 seconds left in the game. Umm, as opposed to what? Going for three to bring them within one score? Man, the Aikman/Joe Buck duo make my ears bleed.

As I mentioned earlier, concussions really aren’t a matter to take lightly, and I seriously hope Brian Westbrook’s life after football hasn’t been affected, especially after seeing his glassy eyed look on the sidelines last week. I’d be shocked if Westbrook plays another snap in 2009. In fact, I’d say there’s a greater chance he doesn’t play another one in his career than him suiting up again this year. All that said, owners of both Westbrook and McCoy might have actually caught a break. McCoy hasn’t overly impressed, and Philly remains the most pass-happy team in the league, but Westbrook was clearly in decline, and the previous plan of a true committee is now scrapped. There’s a bigger risk now (what if McCoy goes down?), and Leonard Weaver will be involved some, but McCoy is a solid RB2 moving forward…I’ve been beating it to death, but Jeremy Maclin is truly a viable WR3 right now…Don’t worry Vincent Jackson owners, those games happen to even the best wide receivers in football from time to time…Honestly, criticizing Andy Reid feels like picking on the handicap at this point, so I’ll keep this brief; unless it’s a game-winner (let alone down 14-0 at the time), you should never, ever kick a field goal at the one-yard line.

What a ridiculously good game between the Patriots and Colts. Rarely do things so hyped and with such anticipation actually meet expectations, and this one may have even surpassed them. I picked the Colts to win, but let’s be clear, the Pats outplayed them, and by a pretty wide margin from my view. Indy has won 18 straight regular season games and deserves a ton of credit, but I’m loading up on New England if/when these teams meet again in the playoffs…Welcome back, deep ball in the Patriots’ offense…Laurence Maroney’s fumble was pretty bad at the goal line, but Kevin Faulk’s final stats were a bit misleading. The game situation dictated a bunch of spread formations with multiple WR sets, which won’t happen every week…Jarraud Powers certainly looks like a budding star at cornerback. What a player…At this point, Bill Belichick’s decision to go for two has been beaten to death, but I want to make it clear I thought it was absolutely the right decision. The reasoning that he should have punted basically because that’s what all other coaches would have done is kind of the point, really; Belichick doesn’t care about that nonsense! All other coaches care more about going with protocol and losing without getting questioned than doing the outside the box, yet more advantageous move. Even before reading that the numbers clearly pointed to it being the correct call, I asked myself; if my life depended on the Colts winning this game, would I be happy or sad to see Tom Brady and the Pats come back on the field to try to get 4.5 feet to end the game? And my answer was unequivocally “terrified,” especially since the Colts needed to score a TD either way. It wasn’t a no-brainer, but it’s also laughable to question a coach such as Belichick. The worst part about it all is that all the criticism from the groupthink mainstream media means that coaches will now be even more discouraged to go with the numbers and against the tired old NFL culture.

I can’t remember an offense as bad as the Browns’ right now. With Brady Quinn under center, there are literally zero throws downfield. It’s encouraging Joe Thomas has bounced back from his sophomore slump and looks like a dominant left tackle, but pretty much every other position on offense, at least the skill players, needs to be addressed in the future…With Ray Rice’s emergence, it’s pretty cool that two of the four most valuable fantasy players are 5-8 or under…As far as Bill Belichick’s controversial coaching decision goes, I’d personally be far more irate over Eric Mangini’s call to punt down 16-0 (two scores!) with four minutes left Monday. He’s literally playing to lose by less rather than to win, which simply shouldn’t be tolerated (yet is with open arms) in the National Football League.