One of the players that fantasy owners are waiting to watch in a preseason game is Donovan McNabb. Well, it looks like they'll get their first chance to see the talented quarterback this Friday night.
McNabb, who sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in a Nov. 19 loss to the Tennessee Titans, is scheduled to make his first start in nine months against the Carolina Panthers. Head coach Andy Reid confirmed on the Eagles official website that his quarterback will indeed be under center.
"Donovan has worked extremely hard to get to this point," Reid said. "He is making good progress and will continue to do so."
McNabb was a surprise participant in spring practice, as his hard work and dedication to a rigorous rehabilitation program put him back between the white lines sooner than most expected. One of the most talented signal-callers in all the NFL, McNabb was an absolute stud for owners last season. He was second in passing yards (2,534) and tied for second in passing touchdowns (17) before being injured (again).
The torn ACL was the third serious ailment McNabb had suffered in the past five seasons.
McNabb missed the final six regular-season contests of 2002 with a broken ankle, the final seven games of 2005 with a sports hernia and the final five contests of last season due to the injured knee. Such a track record will hurt his overall draft value, but McNabb feels he has learned from his health woes.
"I came back after my ankle and my groin -- you know how to prepare for it," he said. "Coming into this situation, I know what I have to do once I step on the field: Be patient."
McNabb, who knows he must meet both physical and mental challenges with the knee, plans to wear a brace throughout the season as long as it doesn't bother him. That could mean fewer rushing yards (he was on pace for 377 last season), but that won't alter his value in an offense that leans on the pass attack.
The definition of a risk-reward player, McNabb warrants a fourth- to sixth-round choice if his preseason is free of setbacks. However, owners who do take him should also target a viable backup at the position such as Philip Rivers, Tony Romo or Matt Leinart, all of whom could fall into the middle to late rounds.
HUARD TO START; BOWE MOVED TO THE SLOT
In one of the more competitive quarterback battles of the preseason, Damon Huard and Brodie Croyle are in a dead heat for the top spot on the Chiefs depth chart headed into the second preseason week. While Croyle got the start in the team's preseason opener -- he completed 5 of 8 passes for 49 yards with one interception -- it will be Huard who starts for head coach Herman Edwards in Thursday night's game against the Miami Dolphins. He will work the entire first quarter and be replaced by Croyle in the second.
The eventual winner won't have much draft value in seasonal formats -- Huard could be worth a late-round flier as a No. 3 fantasy quarterback if he wins the role -- but Edwards' choice will have implications on other players, none more than Larry Johnson. Reports indicate that the Chiefs and L.J. are about $4 million apart in their contract negotiations, but the overall structure of a new deal seem to be in place. As a result, there is reason for optimism that Johnson will end his holdout before the start of the regular season.
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Johnson, who has recorded a total of 40 total touchdowns over the past two seasons, would be a much safer selection with Huard under center. Should Croyle win the role, however, L.J. could see countless eight-man fronts behind a weakened offensive line until (and if) the inexperienced quarterback earns the respect of defensive coordinators.
Of course, all of this depends on the contract agreement that could come down in the next few weeks. Should there be a hitch in negotiations, fantasy owners could have to decide between the trio of Michael Bennett, Kolby Smith and Priest Holmes in drafts.
In other Chiefs news, rookie Dwayne Bowe is now expected to work out of the slot on third downs and as a flanker when he lines up outside. Eddie Kennison is the team's current flanker, so it appears that Bowe will either replace him as a starter or open the regular season third on the depth chart behind Kennison and either Jeff Webb or Samie Parker. The latter of those two scenarios seems to be more likely, so like most rookie receivers, Bowe shouldn't warrant much consideration in seasonal draft outside of the late rounds.
NEWS & NOTES
-- The news continues to be bad for injured Lions runner Kevin Jones. It appears he will remain on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list and miss the first six weeks of the regular season as he continues to recover from foot surgery. The Lions added Tatum Bell and T.J. Duckett in the offseason, so the team can be more cautious with Jones' timetable. Bell is now in line to be the unquestioned starter in the offense of coordinator Mike Martz, so his name should be called in the fourth to sixth rounds of most fantasy drafts.
-- Plaxico Burress has missed 10 days of training camp due to a sprained ankle, and it doesn't look like he will practice anytime soon. The veteran wide receiver is confident that the time off won't hurt his rapport with quarterback Eli Manning, but head coach Tom Coughlin has expressed some concern. Overall, Burress is expected to return in time for the regular-season opener against the Dallas Cowboys, so the ailment won't affect his draft value. However, a slow start could result from what might become an extended absence.
-- Reports out of Oakland indicate that rookie runner Michael Bush will be placed on injured reserve and miss the 2007 season as he recovers from a broken leg. At best, he will remain on the PUP list and miss at least the first six weeks of the regular season. A talented back who would have been a first-round choice in the NFL Draft had it not been for the injury, Bush might not be physically ready to make an impact for fantasy owners. However, don't be at all shocked if he tops the Raiders' depth chart headed into 2008.
-- Santonio Holmes has started to run with the Steelers' first-team offense in practice and seems to be entrenched as the starter opposite Hines Ward. He had been playing behind veteran wideout Cedrick Wilson in training camp due to a non-football related surgical procedure, but he's back to full health and seems set to make a splash in the NFL and fantasy football. In an offense that will throw the football more often under coordinator Bruce Arians, Holmes should emerge as a viable No. 3 fantasy receiver for owners this season.
-- Kevin Walter appeared to be the favorite to open the regular season as the No. 2 wide receiver in Houston, but rookie Jacoby Jones is pushing him for the role. The Lane College product posted four catches for 47 yards in the team's preseason opener against the Chicago Bears, and he has received rave reviews from his coaches in recent practices. Chances are that Walter will retain the role, but Jones is someone to watch for the rest of camp and could become a viable draft option in long-term keeper leagues.
