Morning Football Update: On Felix, CJ2K and Helu
Here's your weekly reminder about where you can find fantasy advice as Saturday's kickoff approaches:
- Tweet the FOXSports.com fantasy team. I'm at @jhalpin37, and you can also contact Ryan Fowler (@FOXSportsFowler), Joel Beall (@FOXSportsBeall) and Mike Harmon (@SwollenDome).
- Post a message on the Facebook pages for Harmon, Fowler and me.
- Listen to FOX Fantasy Freaks Harmon, Peter Burns and Nate Lundy, on FOX Sports Radio Saturday from 9 a.m. until noon ET. You can also tweet those guys (@FantasyFreaks).
- Chat with Fowler, Beall and me on FOXSports.com Saturday from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m ET. I'll be back in the noon slot this week.
On to the news:
- Cowboys RB Felix Jones missed practice again Thursday due to a hamstring injury, and his status for Saturday's game is in question. A reporter for the team's official site tweeted Thursday that Jones "got some rehab work in but did not practice ... team still hopeful he'll play Saturday." The Cowboys have said all week that they're expecting Jones to play, but head coach Jason Garrett used the word "hopefully" a couple of times on Thursday, according to the Dallas Morning News. With the Cowboys playing a late game, you'd better be pretty sure Jones is going to play before putting him in your fantasy lineup. Make your call on Sunday morning, and don't risk a goose egg from Jones. Sammy Morris is Jones' handcuff, in case you want to pick him up and wait until the inactive lists come out at about 3 p.m. ET before making your decision. However, I wouldn't advise that course of action unless your alternatives are really lousy.
- Titans RB Chris Johnson (ankle) was limited in Thursday's practice, but the team expects him to play, and I haven't seen any reports raising additional concern.
- Redskins RB Roy Helu (toe, knee) has been limited in practice all week, but it sounds like he'll play. If Helu is active, the logical move in most cases is to start him if you already planned to.
- Bears RB Marion Barber (calf) missed Thursday's practice, and the Chicago Tribune reports that he's expected to miss Sunday night's game at Green Bay. Kahlil Bell is still owned in just 7.7 percent of FOXSports.com leagues, and if you can still get him, do it. I wrote here why I like Bell's chances to have a productive game this week, and Barber's projected absence is another point in Bell's favor. I'm all in on Bell, and plan to start him in my fantasy title game this week, even if the Packers might load up against the run because they're not afraid of QB Josh McCown. Who's with me?
- Bengals WR A.J. Green (shoulder) was limited in Thursday's practice, but it sounds like he'll play.
- Ravens WR Anquan Boldin had knee surgery on Thursday, and will miss the final two games of the regular season. Boldin's absence makes Torrey Smith the top target in the Ravens' passing game, and pushes Lee Evans into the starting lineup. Smith has caught 11 passes for 125 yards and two touchdowns in the last two games, but he'll now be the focus of a Browns' defense that ranks third in the NFL with 188.4 passing yards per game allowed. Consider Smith a WR3 this week. Ray Rice is probably going to be busier than we thought against the Browns, and that's saying something.
- In other Ravens' news, Shayne Graham will kick in place of the injured Billy Cundiff (calf).
- The Cardinals haven't announced this week's starting quarterback, but with Kevin Kolb still limited due to a concussion, most reports suggest that John Skelton will get the call. In six outings this season when Skelton has started or played most of the game, Larry Fitzgerald has 27 receptions for 497 yards and five touchdowns.
- The Packers' running backs all seem to be healthy again, meaning that the pecking order should be James Starks, then Ryan Grant, then Brandon Saine, and then the evil TD vulture John Kuhn. Starks and Grant are pretty close, though, so don't expect anyone to put up big numbers here.
- Saints RB Mark Ingram (toe) missed practice again Thursday. It sounds like Ingram has a chance to play, but with a Monday game, you'll be taking a risk by waiting for him. He's not good enough to wait on, anyway.
- Browns QB Seneca Wallace gets another start this week in place of the injured Colt McCoy (concussion). Wallace had a decent fantasy day in Week 15 (226 passing yards, TD, 21 rushing yards), but don't count on another one against the Ravens.
- QB Kellen Clemens is expected to start again for the Rams ahead of the injured Sam Bradford (ankle). Owners of the Steelers' defense, rejoice!
- That Rams-Steelers game is such an obvious mismatch that the Steelers appear ready to rest QB Ben Roethlisberger (ankle) in favor of backup Charlie Batch. Rashard Mendenhall had better get his running shoes on.
- Falcons RB Michael Turner (groin) missed practice on Thursday, but his status for Monday's game doesn't seem to be in doubt.
- The Bills expect to get TE Scott Chandler back on the field tomorrow. If you're desperate for a tight end, Chandler isn't bad.
- Giants WR Mario Manningham (knee) missed Thursday's practice. Hmm ...
- It sounds like Vikings RB Adrian Peterson is going to get busy again this week. Thank goodness.
- Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew (knee) was limited again in Thursday's practice, but he's expected to play.
- Chargers WR Vincent Jackson (groin) missed practice again on Thursday. Don't panic if you own Jackson, but keep an eye on his status today and tomorrow.
- Seahawks WR Doug Baldwin (ankle) missed Thursday's practice, but the team thinks he'll play against the 49ers.
- Final item: I've gotten some questions from Aaron Rodgers owners who are worried that he'll rest on Sunday night, especially if the 49ers lose to the Seahawks on Saturday (which would clinch home-field advantage for the Pack). I doubt that issue will be a worry until Week 17, but even it's possible, you can't bench Rodgers this week under any circumstances. Roll with him, and you'll be fine.
See you in the chat room tomorrow, and back here on Tuesday morning. Good luck this weekend!
