On Friday's injury report, the Colts have E James as downgraded from doubtful to out. Looks like we will see the rook, Ricky Williams.
E. James Out This week
- Thread starter THE HITMAN
- Start date
check 4bubba's fourm below earlier...
check 4bubba's fourm below earlier...
do not think this makes one factor at all when cappin the game with james out.....
just my 93 cents worth...per usual with injury rpts.
good luck and thanks for the heads up/
check 4bubba's fourm below earlier...
do not think this makes one factor at all when cappin the game with james out.....
just my 93 cents worth...per usual with injury rpts.
good luck and thanks for the heads up/
I think U R right, IE. Sometimes, things like this even add a little infusion of "heart & soul" where it is needed. And, we all know the Colts have been lethargic this season.
Cris Rito, who follows the Colts had these thoughts fantasy wise....
maybe it can shed some further light on the game.
===
Indianapolis Colts
11/1/2002
Here are some thoughts on Sunday's big AFC South game between the 4-3 Colts and the 3-4 Titans from the RCA Dome in Indianapolis:
Injuries: The Colts will be without leadingrusher Edgerrin James as he wasofficially downgraded from "doubtful" to "out" today. Rookie Ricky Williams from Texas Tech will get his first NFL start. Remember last year that another undrafted rookie RB did pretty well when taking over for James. RT Adam Meadows is listed as "doubtful", but Coach Dungy said today that he does not expect that Meadows will suit up this week. Likewise, doubtful backup TE Joe Dean Davenport will also sit this one out. DT Josh Williams is out with the foot injury that has limited him all season, and that will help Eddie George and the Titans' running game. Two more DL are listed as questionable in Brad Scioli and Larry Tripplett. If they do not go, George will have a field day running between the tackles. DE Chad Bratzke was upgraded to probablt today and is expected to play. If the other DTs can't go, then he may move inside and let rookies Raheem Brock and Dwight
QB: Peyton Manning is coming off consecutive subpar road performances and will be at home in the dome against the 23rd rated pass defense. They are also rated #31 for fantasy points allowed to QBs. Look for Manning to exploit the young and smallish Titans secondary for a very good day as he returns home with a vengeance against the boys from his adopted home state. I am expecting a 300 yard game and a pair of TDs maybe 3.
RB: Undrafted rookie Ricky Williams gets his first NFL start and first extended action this week against a mediocre run defense. The lanes will be there as I am sure the Titans are more afraid of Manning than Williams, and will gameplan accordingly/ The run game should actually be better this week since Williams is a lot faster than James, although nowhere near as powerful. The main struggle for James thus far has been his lack of speed and burst into the holes before they reclose; Williams should be able to exploit those holes more quickly and thus do quite well. I look for Ricky to amass about 100 total yards, maybe more if he happens to break a long run. I am doubtful about his TD ability, because it remains to be seen if he will garner goalline carries. In scoring only leagues, Jim Finn could make an interesting sleeper pick this week, but it would be a gutsy selection to start him
WR: The Titans are rated 23rd against the pass, 30th in WR fantasy points allowed and have two youngsters in their undersized and overmatched secondary. Obviously Harrison is primed for a big week at home. Qadry Ismail is definitely fantasy starter material this week as a weak WR#2 or a solid WR#3. There should be 2-3 TDs available for WRs this week, and Harrison will definitely get one of them, returning to the scoring column after a 3-week drought. Ismail should score, but look for Reggie Wayne to maybe take advantage of his size on a short TD against the smurflike DBs. Harrison should get 125 and a score, Ismail 70 and a TD, Wayne 35 yards.
TE: TEs have done NOTHING against the Titans this season, but they have yet to face a decent one since Chad Lewis in week one. Pollard should get his chances but the numbers indictae that he is likely not in line for a big day. While he is a definite starter in TE required leagues, this is a week to sit him in leagues where WR=TE. 50 yards is my projection for him.
K: Vanderjagt's groin will force him to pass on longer FG attempts this week, so distance scoring leagues should consider other options. However, this game has potential to be fairly high scoring, so more than likely most fantasy teams don't have a better option based on the scoring potential. I am guessing a handful of PATs and maybe a short FG or two.
D/ST: Derrick Mason scares me on PRs if he is back there this week (he did not return kicks in week 8. Eddie George and Mason both scare the crap out of me on offense, especially George if the DL is halfway MIA. While George should rumble for a lot of yards and a big fantasy day, I would be surprised to see McNair do a lot of damage in the air expcept via Derrick Mason. The Titans should be able to score against the Colts - they always have - and I expect this to be a game in which the Colts D should return to riding your pines.
Overall: The Titans will ride Eddie George hard all day, despite his minor knee injury in practice this week. He is expected to be full strength by Sunday. I look for George to score twice and amass over 120 rushing yards and for McNair to throw for little yards but two scores, a short one to Wycheck and a longer one to Mason. If for any reason George is limited, this game could turn into a rout as I don't believe that the backups in TEN are enough of a threat to kill even the wekened Colts' run defense. On the other side of the ball I expect the Colts to move the ball a lot against Tennessee, mostly through the air. Look for the difference in this game to be a single big play, maybe even a score from one D/ST or the other. This one could go either way. I predict that the Colts will use the usually docile home crowd on this homecoming to spark them to a much-needed and hard-earned 31-27 win over the visiting Titans and to move to 3-0 within the division, keep a 2-game lead
That is all from the Crossroads of America for this week. I will be out all weekend and without computer access, so unfortunately I can't answer any questions later on this weekend regarding the Colts. You're on your own, folks! Good luck, best wishes and until next time....GO COLTS!!!!!
Chris Rito
maybe it can shed some further light on the game.
===
Indianapolis Colts
11/1/2002
Here are some thoughts on Sunday's big AFC South game between the 4-3 Colts and the 3-4 Titans from the RCA Dome in Indianapolis:
Injuries: The Colts will be without leadingrusher Edgerrin James as he wasofficially downgraded from "doubtful" to "out" today. Rookie Ricky Williams from Texas Tech will get his first NFL start. Remember last year that another undrafted rookie RB did pretty well when taking over for James. RT Adam Meadows is listed as "doubtful", but Coach Dungy said today that he does not expect that Meadows will suit up this week. Likewise, doubtful backup TE Joe Dean Davenport will also sit this one out. DT Josh Williams is out with the foot injury that has limited him all season, and that will help Eddie George and the Titans' running game. Two more DL are listed as questionable in Brad Scioli and Larry Tripplett. If they do not go, George will have a field day running between the tackles. DE Chad Bratzke was upgraded to probablt today and is expected to play. If the other DTs can't go, then he may move inside and let rookies Raheem Brock and Dwight
QB: Peyton Manning is coming off consecutive subpar road performances and will be at home in the dome against the 23rd rated pass defense. They are also rated #31 for fantasy points allowed to QBs. Look for Manning to exploit the young and smallish Titans secondary for a very good day as he returns home with a vengeance against the boys from his adopted home state. I am expecting a 300 yard game and a pair of TDs maybe 3.
RB: Undrafted rookie Ricky Williams gets his first NFL start and first extended action this week against a mediocre run defense. The lanes will be there as I am sure the Titans are more afraid of Manning than Williams, and will gameplan accordingly/ The run game should actually be better this week since Williams is a lot faster than James, although nowhere near as powerful. The main struggle for James thus far has been his lack of speed and burst into the holes before they reclose; Williams should be able to exploit those holes more quickly and thus do quite well. I look for Ricky to amass about 100 total yards, maybe more if he happens to break a long run. I am doubtful about his TD ability, because it remains to be seen if he will garner goalline carries. In scoring only leagues, Jim Finn could make an interesting sleeper pick this week, but it would be a gutsy selection to start him
WR: The Titans are rated 23rd against the pass, 30th in WR fantasy points allowed and have two youngsters in their undersized and overmatched secondary. Obviously Harrison is primed for a big week at home. Qadry Ismail is definitely fantasy starter material this week as a weak WR#2 or a solid WR#3. There should be 2-3 TDs available for WRs this week, and Harrison will definitely get one of them, returning to the scoring column after a 3-week drought. Ismail should score, but look for Reggie Wayne to maybe take advantage of his size on a short TD against the smurflike DBs. Harrison should get 125 and a score, Ismail 70 and a TD, Wayne 35 yards.
TE: TEs have done NOTHING against the Titans this season, but they have yet to face a decent one since Chad Lewis in week one. Pollard should get his chances but the numbers indictae that he is likely not in line for a big day. While he is a definite starter in TE required leagues, this is a week to sit him in leagues where WR=TE. 50 yards is my projection for him.
K: Vanderjagt's groin will force him to pass on longer FG attempts this week, so distance scoring leagues should consider other options. However, this game has potential to be fairly high scoring, so more than likely most fantasy teams don't have a better option based on the scoring potential. I am guessing a handful of PATs and maybe a short FG or two.
D/ST: Derrick Mason scares me on PRs if he is back there this week (he did not return kicks in week 8. Eddie George and Mason both scare the crap out of me on offense, especially George if the DL is halfway MIA. While George should rumble for a lot of yards and a big fantasy day, I would be surprised to see McNair do a lot of damage in the air expcept via Derrick Mason. The Titans should be able to score against the Colts - they always have - and I expect this to be a game in which the Colts D should return to riding your pines.
Overall: The Titans will ride Eddie George hard all day, despite his minor knee injury in practice this week. He is expected to be full strength by Sunday. I look for George to score twice and amass over 120 rushing yards and for McNair to throw for little yards but two scores, a short one to Wycheck and a longer one to Mason. If for any reason George is limited, this game could turn into a rout as I don't believe that the backups in TEN are enough of a threat to kill even the wekened Colts' run defense. On the other side of the ball I expect the Colts to move the ball a lot against Tennessee, mostly through the air. Look for the difference in this game to be a single big play, maybe even a score from one D/ST or the other. This one could go either way. I predict that the Colts will use the usually docile home crowd on this homecoming to spark them to a much-needed and hard-earned 31-27 win over the visiting Titans and to move to 3-0 within the division, keep a 2-game lead
That is all from the Crossroads of America for this week. I will be out all weekend and without computer access, so unfortunately I can't answer any questions later on this weekend regarding the Colts. You're on your own, folks! Good luck, best wishes and until next time....GO COLTS!!!!!
Chris Rito
