Ed Barkowitz | RB Brown a bright spot for dismal Dolphins
IT'S EASY to have sympathy for the person who spoke this painful quote last week; we've all been there:
"I don't see how it can get any lower than this."
Associated Press
Running back Ronnie Brown enters Sunday with a streak of four straight 100-yard games.
That wasn't uttered by someone who owns Shaun Alexander or somebody who played against Adrian Peterson. It was from Dolphins cornerback Will Allen.
If you think your fantasy team is bad, remember, it could always be worse. You could be the Dolphins.
But while Miami has slipped, slopped and penaltied its way to an 0-6 start, the Fins haven't been all bad. They've provided the fantasy world with a nice surprise these last 4 weeks.
No, not Cleo Lemon.
Ronnie Brown came into the season as a top-15 running back, but the last month, he's played like a top-5. He has more 100-yard games than LaDainian Tomlinson, more rushing yards than Willie Parker and more receptions than Reggie Bush. And these numbers include the Dolphins' first two games, when he laid 32- and 33-yard eggs.
But like the Dolphins' season, Brown's success could evaporate quickly. The third-year running back has a streak of four consecutive 100-yard games, all coming against defenses ranked in the bottom half against the run.
New England's visit on Sunday begins a stretch of four games in five that Miami will face opposing defenses ranked in the top half against the run.
So Brown owners might want to take a cue from what Miami did on Tuesday when the Dolphins sent wide receiver Chris Chambers to San Diego for a second-rounder: raise the white flag.
Miami just went through the weakest part of its schedule and came out with a doughnut. As the degree of difficulty of opposing defenses goes up, Brown's production is sure to go down. Now's the time to trade him.
Contest result
Outstanding effort by loyal fantasy reader Anthony Lanatto, of Roxborough. Last week's contest asked which receiver would be more productive in their head-to-head matchup, Randy Moss or Terrell Owens.
The voting was about 50-50, but the tiebreaker was closest to the leading receiver's yardage total. Lanatto selected Owens with 65 yards. Since Owens outgained Moss, 66-59, Lanatto picked up the prize.
Though it has been a tough season for Lanatto (1-5) in the XJFL, this is the second year in a row he's won one of our contests and earned himself a Daily News fantasy football T-shirt.
Stat of the week
The Broncos allow an average of only 67 yards to opposing wide receivers per game, by far the fewest of any defenses. Pittsburgh's Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes are Sunday night's primary opposing wideouts.
Catch the waive
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This week's most popular free-agent add/drops, according to CBSSports.com:
Added
Michael Bennett, RB, Buccaneers
Kevin Faulk, RB, Patriots
Redskins Defense/Special teams
Jeff Reed, K, Steelers
Ryan Longwell, K, Vikings
Dropped
Kurt Warner, QB, Cardinals
Mason Crosby, K, Packers
Cardinals Defense/Special teams
Sammy Morris, RB, Patriots
Ron Dayne, RB, Texans
Three Up
* Willis McGahee, RB, Ravens: Will face former teammates in Sunday's meeting at Buffalo. He's had decent yardage, but scored first touchdown only last Sunday. Figure on 115 yards and at least another score.
* Vincent Jackson, WR, Chargers: San Diego's addition of Chris Chambers at the trade deadline should actually help Jackson. Chambers and Antonio Gates, not to mention LaDainian Tomlinson's resurgence, will open up opportunities down the field for the speedy, yet inconsistent Jackson.
* Chad Johnson, WR, Bengals: Seeing the player who calls himself Ocho Cinco get ocho catches for ochenta y tres yards Sunday was nice. This Sunday, he gets to face a Jets defense that is cinco from the bottom in pass defense.
Three Down
* Kurt Warner, QB, Cardinals: Good to see the Daily News jinx still has muscle. Last Friday, we touted Warner as a decent pickup option. He rewarded us by getting hurt 2 days later. These things happen when you recommend Cardinals. By the way, avoid Tim Rattay, Warner's replacement.
* Reuben Droughns, RB, Giants: Tread lightly on the Droughns bandwagon. Eighty of his 90 yards Monday night came in garbage time. He did manage a second-quarter 1-yard score, however.
* Earnest Graham, RB, Buccaneers: A game of 13 carries for 29 yards was not what owners had in mind for Graham Sunday. Give him one more shot against the Lions. If he pigs it up again, the Bucs are likely to get newly acquired Michael Bennett involved. You know what to do if that happens. *
Ed Barkowitz, who lost largely because of Adrian Peterson's 224 yards and three bleeping touchdowns Sunday, has been writing about fantasy football in the Daily News since 2001.
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