9-on-9: Calvin Johnson not practicing, Decepticons in disarray

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October 15, 2009

Calvin Johnson (notes) and Matthew Stafford (notes) both missed Thursday’s practice, and "it appears unlikely either will play" in Week 6. They’re dealing with knee issues of unspecified severity. The Lions clearly (and smartly) don’t like to reveal much about injuries. Tom Kowalski is now questioning whether Stafford actually participated in practice any meaningful way on Wednesday. [MLive.com]

You don’t have to agree with everything Greg Cosell says, but you need to get in the habit of reading his Coaching Tape Notes. Bookmark and enjoy. Here’s a nugget from the latest edition: "Dolphins extensive use of the ‘Wildcat’ and base ‘22′ personnel sets [two backs, two tight ends] forced the Jets defense to line up and play physical, assignment-based football – it negated the organized chaos that the Jets want to play. The myth about the Jets defense is that they are tough and physical. They are not." [Fantasy Guru]

The Giants are allowing the fewest fantasy points to opposing wide receivers (by a mile), but in New Orleans, the locals remain confident: "It’s breakout time for Brees. He has been kept under wraps for the past two weeks, throwing for just 172 and 190 yards against the Bills and Jets, respectively. Brees hasn’t been held under 250 yards passing in three consecutive games in his Saints career. Moreover, the Giants might be more vulnerable in the secondary than people think. Starting safety Kenny Phillips (notes) is out for the year and starting corner Aaron Ross (notes) remains sidelined with a hamstring injury." Please note there’s no mention of Corey Webster (notes) in that blurb. [New Orleans Times-Picayune]

One more Saints note that may not mean much, but is nonetheless interesting: New Orleans is winless following a bye under head coach Sean Payton. Of course they’ve faced some decent opponents. Details in the link. [Canal Street Chronicles]

The Cowboys now fear that Marion Barber (notes) (quad) could be hurting all season. Felix Jones (notes) "continues to cautiously work his way back from a strained ligament in his knee," and he hopes to return in Week 7 against Atlanta. [Fort Worth Star-Telegram]

The gentlemen of the fantasy roundtable have gathered at Lester’s Legends to discuss players with declining keeper value. Darren McFadden (notes) has to be at the top of any such list, no? [LestersLegends.com]

The irrepressible Doc offers a review of the NFL’s elite (and not so elite) passing and rushing defenses, with Week 6 opponents. I’m generally skeptical of any D that ranks high against one thing and low against another, especially this early in the season. (Check the numbers on Carolina, Buffalo, Tennessee and Arizona). Good NFL defenses limit everything; poor defenses are forced to play a shell game. [Razzball]

While we’re talking defenses, please note that Troy Polamalu (notes) is expected to return against Cleveland, which really solidifies Pittsburgh’s position atop the Week 6 defensive ranks. Polamalu is only 60 percent owned, IDPers. [Pittsburgh Tribune-Review]

Steve Slaton (notes) retains his buy-low status. But if any player is a buy-low for more than, say, six weeks, then something is wrong. (Check the Cosell link above. He has a few thoughts on Slaton). Gary Kubiak’s stubborn faith in Chris Brown is definitely a problem. [The Hazean]