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Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams´ numbers are down, but they should improve.
Associated Press
Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams' numbers are down, but they should improve.


Ed Barkowitz: Fantasy owners, no need to push panic button yet

THE FANTASY SWAT police are outside your house and the dude on the bullhorn knows what you are thinking. The running back you've drafted in the first round is a pig, and your mind is spinning.

"Close your browser. And step away from the computer," he bellows. It is only Week 2. It will get better.

DeAngelo Williams is putting up pedestrian yards, but at least he's scoring touchdowns. Matt Forte has been a stiff. Steve Slaton has been stiffer.

Put the mouse down and don't ship them off in a trade just yet. First, please consider the following:

* Williams will be fine . . . as long as Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme isn't committing turnovers like an NBA point guard. Throw out the Eagles game, when the Panthers had to abandon the run game after getting into an early hole, thanks to Delhomme's generosity. Teammate Jonathan Stewart will bite into Williams' numbers, but he also will keep him fresh in December.

Williams also is more active in the passing game than he was the last few years. He's no Marshall Faulk, but Williams' seven catches through 2 weeks compare favorably with the 22 he had all last season.

* Forte also will be better, now that his schedule is opening up. The Bears are still trying to find their way on offense behind new quarterback Jay Cutler, and an opening-week trip to Green Bay and a visit from the stingy Steelers really cut into Forte's numbers. But the Bears go to Seattle, which just gave up 207 yards to Frank Gore, then get a visit from the Lions. If he doesn't get 100 yards and a score on Sunday, the SWAT boys might be visiting South Philly (see below).

* Slaton is 47th in rushing yards and behind such folks as Michael Bush, LeSean McCoy and (ugh) Laurence Maroney. He faced a decent Jets defense in the opener and was an afterthought in Week 2 when the Texans figured out they could beat Tennessee through the air.

But most troubling about Slaton's start are his three fumbles. Texans coach Gary Kubiak is starting to get annoyed at Slaton's sloppiness, but not to the point where he will do something drastic. Not yet.

Now is a good time to try a lowball offer for Slaton. Even if Slaton gets pulled, it won't be permanent. His backup, Chris Brown, always gets hurt.

AP watch

Looking in on Vikings running back Adrian Peterson and his pursuit to become the sixth player in history to run for 2,000 yards in a season:

Season total . . . 272

Must average for 2,000 . . . 123.4

This week's opponent . . . vs. San Fran

SF rush yds. allowed Sunday . . . 66

History lesson

Frank Gore on Sunday became the first player in 12 years with two rushing touchdowns of at least 75 yards in the same game. Gore ran for 207 yards and scores of 79 and 80 yards in a win over Seattle. Barry Sanders had 215 yards and TDs of 80 and 82 in a victory over Tampa Bay on Oct. 12, 1997. Sanders also caught a 7-yard score that ended up being the 10th and final TD reception of his Hall of Fame career.

Reminder of the week

The first set of byes is next week, with the Eagles, Arizona, Atlanta and Carolina off Sunday, Oct. 4. Be sure you have enough active players for Week 4, particularly kickers and defenses.

Three up

* Jake Delhomme, quarterback, Panthers: Goes against a Cowboys defense that is the only group in the league without a sack and that was torched by Eli Manning Sunday night.

* Devery Henderson, wide receiver, Saints: This is a good week to use Henderson as a No. 3 receiver. Buffalo has struggled against the pass and New Orleans running backs Mike Bell and Pierre Thomas are dinged.

* Fred Jackson, running back, Bills: Buffalo knows it needs to run the ball to keep the Saints offense off the field. That's enough to make Jackson a top-10 running back play this week.

Three down

* Julius Jones, running back, Seahawks: A week after starting the season with 117 yards, Jones had 11 yards on eight carries Sunday. Those in deep leagues ought to keep an eye on second-year back Justin Forsett, whom Seattle coaches are high on.

* Ray Rice, running back, Ravens: Still like him as the long-term back, but Willis McGahee is getting the work around the goal line. Hold off on playing Rice for the time being.

* Aaron Rodgers, quarterback, Packers: It's impossible to yank Rodgers, particularly with Sunday's matchup at St. Louis. But root for the Pack's offensive line to get its act together, after giving up six sacks to the Bengals. *

Ed Barkowitz, a South Philly resident who took Matt Forte with the second overall pick, has been writing about fantasy football in the Daily News since 2001.

Send e-mail to

fantasyfootball@phillynews.com.

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