Chiefs head coach Herman Edwards was hoping to announce his starting quarterback about midway through the preseason. But after Thursday night's 11-10 loss to the Miami Dolphins, the battle between Brodie Croyle and Damon Huard remains unsettled. What's more, the team's backfield situation looked mediocre at best without Larry Johnson, who is still in the middle of an extended contractual holdout.
All of these negative scenarios have to be somewhat worrisome for fantasy football owners.
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The Chiefs have been anemic on offense with Johnson out of the mix. The offense has found the end zone once in two preseason contests, and it netted a miniscule 61 rushing yards in the loss to the Dolphins. Neither Michael Bennett nor Kolby Smith was impressive, and the return of Priest Holmes to help improve the ground attack isn't imminent. In fact, some reports indicate he might not even make the final roster.
Chiefs general manager Carl Peterson also said during the telecast that a deal with Johnson isn't guaranteed, but the two sides have made some progress in their negotiations. Johnson has fallen to fifth or sixth overall in some recent fantasy drafts, and his stock won't improve with a questionable quarterback situation and without a new deal. It also doesn't help that the offensive line has lost two potential Hall of Famers -- Willie Roaf and Will Shields -- over the past two seasons.
In an offense that could struggle to score points even when Johnson does return, it seems that L.J., Tony Gonzalez and Eddie Kennison are the lone draftable options. The winner of the Croyle vs. Huard battle will be waiver-wire fodder in most formats. Rookie Dwayne Bowe could also be worth a late-round flier in some seasonal drafts, but the first-year wide receivers rarely make a consistent impact for owners.
The news was much better for the Dolphins, who showed some real improvement on offense. Trent Green made up for a porous Dolphins debut, completing 4 of 7 passes (two were dropped by his receivers) for 41 yards against his old team and leading the offense on an impressive drive that ended just short of a touchdown when Jared Allen stopped Jesse Chatman on a fourth-and-goal from the 3-yard line. While he's still no better than a No. 2 fantasy quarterback, at least Green showed some flashes that he can run the offense with precision under new head coach Cam Cameron.
The most notable part of the Miami attack was the effectiveness of the team's offensive line, which has been under fire in recent seasons. It opened up monster holes for running back Ronnie Brown, who rushed for 57 yards on 13 carries in the contest. He recorded rushes of 12 and 22 yards and caught one pass for 10 yards. Brown, not Ted Ginn Jr. or Lorenzo Booker, even lined up as a kick returner on special teams.
"Just another way to get my hands on the football," Brown told the Miami Herald.
While returning kicks might not be something fantasy owners want Brown to do since it opens another door for possible injuries, he could emerge into a low-end No. 1 fantasy runner if the line is this effective in regular-season action. Look for him to come off the board in the second round in almost all formats.
MARONEY LOOKING HEATHLY
One of NFL.com's top breakout candidates, Laurence Maroney could be closer to returning to full action in Patriots training camp. Even with the red "non-contact" jersey worn over his practice gear to protect his surgically-repaired shoulder, he was still an active participant in 11-on-11 drills this week. The Patriots won't take a chance with their prized running back, but it seems he is well on schedule for the regular season.
Maroney will sit out Friday night's preseason tilt vs. the Tennessee Titans, but the consensus from the team is that he would be available if this was the start of the regular season. That's a positive in terms of his value, in that fantasy owners can feel more secure in the fact that Maroney's health is less of an issue.
The former Minnesota standout showed flashes of potential as a rookie, and the offseason release of veteran Corey Dillon will mean a far more expansive role in 2007. He has run hard and with aggression in workouts and has looked tremendous in the zone looks the team will utilize in the offensive attack. Maroney is making one cut, hitting the hole and using his explosiveness to run downfield with reckless abandon. His running style isn't like Dillon's, but he believes it will be effective when the Patriots run the football.
"Being a very physical back like Corey is definitely not a part of my game. That's not what I'm going to do, run into somebody every day," Maroney recently told the Boston Globe. "Every time I hit the hole, I'm looking for the best route to get around you. If I can outrun you, that's what I'm going to do. If I can put a move on you, that's what I'm going to do. If I have to drop the shoulder, I'll do it, but dropping my shoulder every time is not my game, so if that's what you're all expecting, I'm sorry."
Fantasy owners don't need Maroney to run like Dillon - they want Maroney to run like Maroney. That means explosion, excitement and a consistent level of production. Barring setbacks, the talented runner should provide all of the above. A borderline first- or second-round selection as a No. 1 or 2 fantasy back, Maroney will be a serious weapon for the Patriots and owners alike in his second NFL season.
NEWS & NOTES
-- Vince Young, who missed the Titans preseason opener because he violated team rules, will start on Friday in New England. He will see around three to four series in the contest. One of the most attractive young quarterbacks in the NFL and fantasy football, Young's performance and cohesiveness with some new offensive parts should be examined. Owners should also watch the number of times Young runs with the football, which will only add to his value. Oh, and say a prayer the Madden Curse doesn't strike him down.
-- The top rookie player on NFL.com's fantasy football rank list, Marshawn Lynch, will make his first start as a pro in Friday night's contest against the Atlanta Falcons. He was behind Anthony Thomas in the team's preseason opener and recorded only two carries for three yards in seven plays. Now he'll have the chance to be a prominent member of what will be the Bills' regular-season starters. The versatile Lynch, who will see work both as a runner and receiver in the offense, should be considered a viable No. 2 fantasy runner.
--Even after the addition of Daunte Culpepper, the Oakland Raiders still don't seem to have a clue as to which quarterback will open the regular season atop the depth chart. Josh McCown was unimpressive in his preseason start, and now Andrew Walter, not Culpepper, is slated to start the team's exhibition game in San Francisco. Walter, who some believe has had the best preseason of the trio, could move past McCown with an impressive performance. However, no quarterback in silver and black as value is seasonal drafts.
--Santana Moss is now free and clear of the troublesome hip and groin ailments that had limited him in the offseason and at the start of training camp. The veteran wide receiver has been a bit of a fantasy roller coaster from a statistical perspective in recent seasons, but he does seem to have developed the start of a nice rapport with quarterback Jason Campbell. While a return to his unreal 2005 totals isn't likely, Moss is still a borderline No. 2 or 3 fantasy receiver and is worth a middle-round selection across the board.
--Another wide receiver who is closer to full health is Amani Toomer, who is expected to make his preseason debut this weekend against the Baltimore Ravens. Toomer, who is coming off knee surgery, has been limited to one practice a day in training camp but is now ready to see some real on-field action. Once a solid fantasy wideout, Toomer is now in danger of losing opportunities to rookie Steve Smith and Sinorice Moss in the pass attack. As a result, the veteran will be left undrafted in most 10- or 12-team leagues.
