It began months ago.
The Ravens hired no-nonsense Eagles secondary coach John Harbaugh as head coach on January 18. He assembled an all-star supporting staff, retaining defensive boss Rex Ryan and tabbing Cam Cameron as offensive coordinator. Well regarded former Bengals assistant Hue Jackson signed on to tutor the quarterbacks with former 49ers offensive coordinator Jim Hostler named receivers coach.
Cameron pledged to make McGahee an "every-down back" in the spring. Cam's track record with running backs (see LaDainian Tomlinson, Ronnie Brown's first half in 2007) was impressive and all signs pointed to McGahee getting another heavy workload in 2008, with possibly more involvement in the passing game than ever.
But McGahee didn't endear himself to the new regime right off the bat. He skipped virtually all "non-mandatory" offseason work, and when he finally did report in late May, McGahee was out of shape. Baltimore had used the 55th overall pick on Rutgers' Ray Rice and the rookie began running with the first-team offense early in training camp because McGahee was out with a "leg" injury.
On August 11 it was revealed that McGahee needed arthroscopic surgery on the same knee he had reconstructed several times due to a devastating college injury. He missed the entire preseason. In Week 1, McGahee was active against Cincinnati but did not get the football. The Ravens inserted Lorenzo Neal at fullback and switched LeRon McClain to tailback. McClain totaled 111 yards on 21 touches; Rice 85 on 25 touches.
All along, the clued-in Baltimore Sun beat dropped subtle hints that McGahee had fallen out of favor, at one point even suggesting he might not last the season on the roster. Friday's edition ran an alarming column entitled "McGahee falling out of the running." The story's first line is "In the Ravens' new running scheme, the joke could end up being on Willis McGahee." It goes on to essentially assert that a committee backfield is imminent and that McGahee may not even start Week 2 despite taking most of the practice reps all week and being listed as "probable."
Admittedly, it's hard to believe in McClain. He's a fullback. At the 2007 Combine, McClain ran a 4.86 forty. He's 260 pounds, but this isn't Brandon Jacobs we're talking about. Rice has good hands, tackle-breaking ability, and more potential long term, but he's small and fumbled in the opener.
U.S. & World
Still, McGahee's outlook is bleak. Even in a Week 2 matchup against a Texans team that was gashed for 183 yards (4.7 YPC) on the ground and three rushing touchdowns in Week 1, and may not have had nose tackle Travis Johnson due to knee and ankle injuries, McGahee was a certain "sit" in fantasy leagues. With news now that the game may not be played until late October, any Texan or Raven should be removed from your fantasy lineup.
There is a decent enough chance that McGahee will get his job back because the Ravens' alternatives appear underwhelming at the moment. But losing goal-line carries to McClain and passing-down work to Rice would sap his value. A full blown three-headed monster would make McGahee near unplayable week-to-week even in the finest of matchups.
While you contemplate those thoughts and immediately remove members of either team from your starting roster, here are some key injury situations to distract your attention...
Note: You can get weekly stat projections for all these players via our Rotoworld.com Season Pass. For those new to this site, it has a nifty tool called the Rotoworld Oracle, which takes in the stat projections, your league's custom scoring and roster configuration, and advises exactly who to start each week. It's less than $1 a week, and only one of the many tools and content in the package. Click here to check it out; it might be the best weekly dollar you've ever spent.
Important Game-Time DecisionsArms
Ben Roethlisberger - Practiced fully on Friday and will be in the starting l/u.
Wides
Reggie Brown - Called "questionable;" closer to doubtful to make an impact.
Laveranues Coles - Coles is very likely to play against hurting Patriots secondary.
Jerry Porter - Full blown game-time decision shouldn't be counted on.
Donte' Stallworth - Doubtful; no chance to play after missing practices all week.
Javon Walker - Raiders say he'll be active, but Ashley Lelie could start over him.
Miles Austin - Expected to play, operate as Dallas' fourth receiving option on MNF.
Devin Hester - He'll play, but saw minimal snaps on offense in Bears' opener.
Maurice Stovall - Fourth receiver is a game-time decision against Atlanta.
Jabar Gaffney - Long-shot chance at value evaporated with Tom Brady's torn ACL.
Joshua Cribbs - Figures to return from high ankle sprain Sunday night.
Dennis Northcutt - Jags' slot receiver is probable to play against the Bills.
Malcolm Kelly - Uncertain to play, but did run with Skins' first team a bit this week.
Demetrius Williams, Yamon Figurs - Remove any Ravens, Texans from lineups.
Donnie Avery - Has earned no value to Rams, and definitely fantasy leaguers.
Ruvell Martin - Replaced as Green Bay's third receiver by return of James Jones.
Backs
LaDainian Tomlinson - Expected to start in great matchup against Denver.
Ryan Grant - Make sure he's active, but cannot be on benches @ DET.
Willis McGahee - Remove immediately from your lineup.
Matt Forte - Has a "tight" ankle, but phenom is virtually certain to start at Carolina.
Brandon Jackson - Practicing again, worth grabbing for Grant owners.
Deuce McAllister - Deuce's ceiling for Sunday's game is probably about 5 carries.
Ends
Antonio Gates - Probable, will start against Broncos team that struggles vs. TEs.
Chris Cooley - Will play in terrific on-paper matchup against ailing Saints.
Dallas Clark - Guessing he'll be inactive; Gijon Robinson is Clark's clear backup.
Dante Rosario - Is expected to play despite "questionable" listing on injury report.
Ben Watson - Knee healing, but Watson is still not a recommended fantasy play.
Legs
Jason Elam - If Falcons add a kicker Saturday, it's an indication Elam won't play.
Arms
Tom Brady - On injured reserve; Matt Cassel should be owned in all leagues.
Vince Young - Has sprained MCL, Titans frighteningly have V.Y. on suicide watch.
Jeff Garcia - Has likely lost his starting job to Brian Griese, at least for time being.
Brodie Croyle - Separated right shoulder has thrust Damon Huard into lineup.
Alex Smith - Fractured throwing shoulder has him headed for Tim Couch status.
Michael Vick - Remains imprisoned, can safely be dropped in all re-draft formats.
Troy Smith - Smith remains out indefinitely following crippling bout with tonsillitis.
Wides
Marques Colston - Expected to miss 6 weeks after tearing ligament in his thumb.
Steve Smith (Panthers) - Will comes off suspension in Week 3 to face Minnesota.
Kevin Curtis - Claims he's healing well, but is unlikely to play before Week 7.
Deion Branch, Bobby Engram, Nate Burleson, Ben Obomanu - Wow this is bad.
Drew Bennett - Has broken foot; Dane Looker likely to start but rotate vs. Giants.
Chris Henry - Suspended Bengals receiver comes off suspension in Week 5.
Sam Hurd - Still recovering from high ankle sprain; could be back in Week 3.
Joe Jurevicius - On the PUP list, but J.J. seems unlikely to play at all this season.
Troy Williamson - Chance at playing time has slid through his butter fingers.
Backs
Ahman Green - Steve Slaton would've started, but game has been postponed.
Maurice Morris - Julius Jones will be Seahawks' feature back against 49ers.
Ryan Torain - Due back around Week 9 and candidate for a significant role then.
Carnell Williams - On PUP with possible Week 7 return, but that seems unlikely.
Aaron Stecker - Deuce McAllister to be active Sunday, but may not play much.
Ends
Jacob Tamme - Rookie from Kentucky was ruled out Friday due to ankle injury.
Legs
Lawrence Tynes - Tynes remains out indefinitely; John Carney is filling the void.
Mike Nugent - Jay Feely stepping in as Jets' starter while Nugent's thigh heals.
Packers RB Ryan Grant @ Lions
Time: 1PM ET
Grant is listed as questionable for Sunday with lingering hamstring soreness. However, he practiced fully on Friday and coach Mike McCarthy said afterwards the Grant "looked good" and "better than he did before the opener." Grant ran only 12 times, but for 92 yards last week against Minnesota. Because he's healthier now, a logical guess would give Grant 15-18 touches at Detroit. The Lions' run defense posted the NFC's worst yards-per-carry average in 2007 and Detroit traded its best run defender (Shaun Rogers) in the offseason. Makes sense. Be sure that Grant is active Sunday morning -- the guess here is he will be for a key division game -- but he should be confidently penciled into fantasy lineups.
Redskins TE Chris Cooley vs. Saints
Time: 1PM ET
The strong side of New Orleans' defense is reeling with SAM linebacker Scott Fujita (knee) and SS Roman Harper (hamstring) both ruled out for Sunday's contest. The Saints also lost Fujita's top backup, Mark Simoneau, to injured reserve on Friday. That means career special teamer Troy Evans will start at outside linebacker with journeyman Kevin Kaesviharn taking Harper's place in the back. Cooley started slow against the Giants with only one catch, but the Saints could have a hard time containing him in Week 2. Harper and Fujita are both 90-100 tackle players annually, so their absence upgrades Clinton Portis' matchup as well.
Seahawks WR Logan Payne vs. 49ers
Time: 4:05PM ET
Courtney Taylor drew all the preseason hype in Seattle's receiver corps because he was the first to claim a starting job. But Taylor floundered in Week 1, dropping several balls, and may have lost Matt Hasselbeck's trust. Payne, a 6'2/205-pound white guy who went undrafted in 2007 out of Minnesota, is the newest member of the starting lineup. Payne has vertical ability and will run downfield routes in Mike Holmgren's West Coast attack. He's consistently impressed the Seahawks' coaching staff in practice and is a candidate to lead the team in targets Sunday. Payne also draws the better matchup against 34-year-old 49ers RCB Walt Harris. Taylor will mostly see Nate Clements in coverage. If you're looking for a sleeper WR3, Payne is your guy.
Buccaneers WR Antonio Bryant vs. Falcons
Time: 4:05PM ET
There was a peculiar sudden outcry last week against Rotoworld for "overhyping" Antonio Bryant. But Bryant actually had a pretty promising first game, seeing eight targets and going for 43 yards in his first action with Jeff Garcia of either player's career. Bryant caught way more practice passes from Brian Griese during training camp while Garcia sat out all summer with a calf injury. Now that Griese's been promoted to the starting lineup, the duo could click. Against a Falcons defense that is weak in the secondary, Bryant is a highly recommended WR3 play. Bryant is likely to see a lot of former NFL Europa cornerback Brent Grimes in primary coverage Sunday. Grimes surrendered seven catches and 107 yards to Calvin Johnson last week.
Week 2 Matchups to AvoidFalcons WR Michael Jenkins @ Buccaneers
Time: 4:05PM ET
Jenkins made highlight reels as the recipient of Matt Ryan's first NFL touchdown pass in Week 1. He is a starter over Laurent Robinson. But that was the only catch Jenkins had and Ryan tried just 13 passes all game. This week Ryan might even throw less. The Bucs' secondary is quite possibly the NFC's best unit and Atlanta's new coaching staff is of a strict ball-control mindset. The Falcons will hit the ground running against a relatively undersized Tampa front that may be minus WLB Derrick Brooks, who's questionable with a hamstring injury and didn't practice all week. Jenkins beat out Robinson because he's a vicious blocker and that's what he'll be doing on Sunday.
Dolphins RB Ricky Williams @ Cardinals
Time: 4:15PM ET
Fumbling in the opener appears to have cost Ricky his starting job. The Dolphins inserted Ronnie Brown as a first-teamer at Wednesday's practice and figure to keep the depth chart that way in Arizona. The Cardinals can be exploited against the run as long as nose tackle Gabe Watson is out of the lineup (he's expected to miss his second straight game this week), but Brown is the best bet to carry the bulk of the load. Williams recently signed an extension and should remain involved going forward, but a backup role and 10-12 carry per week ceiling with little receiving potential (Patrick Cobbs is ahead of him on third downs) would makes Ricky pretty unusable. Brown is a much better bet as a flex fantasy play.
Patriots RB Laurence Maroney @ Jets
Time: 4:15PM ET
Turning around a run defense typically doesn't happen overnight, but the Jets looked much improved in their opener against a Dolphins team whose strength was supposed to be on the ground. New York finally has a blocker occupying nose tackle in Kris Jenkins and a run-stopping inside linebacker in David Harris. Calvin Pace is a massive upgrade over Victor Hobson at LOLB, in every possible area. Maroney started Week 1, but Sammy Morris got more snaps and again has the "hot hand" and a firm grasp on goal-line carries. It could be a long season for Maroney owners, who should explore other options at RB2 this week. The theory that the Patriots will run more following Tom Brady's injury may prove true, but it doesn't by any means guarantee that Maroney will be more than a frustrating fantasy commodity.
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