NFL Fantasy Holdouts & Injuries
The Dirt on Players Who Could Screw Up Your Fantasy Football Draft
Holdout Report
Larry Johnson, Kansas City Chiefs
This is a big deal. Larry Johnson is one of the top three running backs in the draft and he's still holding out. If your draft is this Saturday, August 11th, and he is still out on strike, what do you do? Should you take him anyway? Shouldn't you at least de-value him a few slots on the draft board? Maybe just avoid him altogether? It's a real pain when these guys hold out. They should have more consideration for fantasy football owners.
The latest word out of Kansas City is that LJ and KC are still more about $11 to $14 million apart, and that is in guaranteed money. There is no news on how soon this will be settled.
LJ isn't earning any friends with this holdout. Kansas City Star reporter Jason Whitlock, who is a regular on ESPN's Sports Reporters, has been quite vocal about his anger towards Johnson and has also publicly opined that LJ should be traded.
It's an ugly situation, but as Week 1gets closer, expect both sides to soften in their demands. The Chiefs know they can't win 5 games without Johnson. The two sides will reach a deal and LJ will play most, if not all, of the season.
JaMarcus Russell, Oakland Raiders
A lot of fantasy owners have expressed interest in Russell, especially those who play in keeper leagues. JaMarcus is the perfect keeper. Tons of promise. Tons of athletic ability. Has shown he can win very big games. This guy is worth using a draft pick in 2007 in return for his services in 2008.
But Russell is holding out, and the staredown is getting a little nasty.
Last week, the Raiders signed Daunte Culpepper to a one year deal. Remember, Culpepper was the original JaMarcus Russell. Both men are six-feet five, 260 pounds, have cannon arms, good speed (well, Daunte was fast before the injuries) and both are surprisingly mobile for their size. Also, Culpepper has had MVP-Level seasons in the NFL. Clearly, the man was brought in not just as an insurance policy but also a way to maybe scare the crap out of Russell.
The truth is this: he will sign at some point and he will play at some point this season. Which hardly matters because you're drafting him for the fantasy numbers he's going to post in 2008 and beyond (depending on your league's rules).
Injury Update
Willie Parker, Steelers (sore knee)
Willie Parker's sore knee is a fantasy football owner's pain in the ass. Fast Willie was going to be a top five overall draft pick in most leagues, except that now he's got a sore knee. Apparently, it's bad enough to have kept him out of practice for ten days. No further news available.
The longer this goes on, and the longer Johnson's holdout continues, the more precarious the first round of this year's draft becomes.
Frank Gore, 49ers (broken hand)
Frank Gore is going to be back, and he will be the 49ers starting running back in Week 1. Gore will also still have the speed, strength, and the toughness that propelled him to fantasy football superstardom in 2006.
But will he have his hands? Or, more accurately, will his right hand be able to hold onto the football after it suffered such a injury? Add to that fear Gore's six fumbles last season (with a healthy hand), five of which resulted in turnovers, and fantasy owners should be a little concerned.
Coach Mike Nolan has said that he wants Gore to play the last pre-season game, and many believe that is so Nolan will have a chance to see how well Gore holds onto the ball. Most drafts are before that game, so owners will just have to go with their gut on this one.
Alge Crumpler, Atlanta Falcons (Knee Surgery Recovery)
Alge Crumpler underwent surgery in April to clean out debris from his knee joint, and his recovery took a "setback" this week. Head coach Bobby Petrino said that Crumpler will be held out of practice for a week. Neither the team nor the coach would elaborate on what type of setback Crumpler suffered.
Terrell Owens, Dallas Cowboys
He's faking it! He'll be ready to start. This guy hates to miss games more than Eagles fans hate him.
Randy Moss, Pats (Left Hamstring)
Today, Coach Bill Bellichik termed Moss "day to day." It sounds like Moss will be just fine come Week 1.
Torry Holt, Rams (Knee Surgery Recovery)
Holt is recovering from knee surgery in February and declared this week that he is at 70% at this point in camp, which is just about right.
Chad Johnson, Bengals (Sprained Ankle)
Chad Johnson sprained his ankle during practice on August 7, 2007. He sat out the evening practice, but no further word. As soon as his status is determined, we'll report it here.
Joey Porter, Dolphins (Right Knee)
Porter saw Dr. James Andrews on Monday, August 6th to look at his chronically sore knee. He had arthroscopic surgery on August 7th. No word on his return date.
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