Chris Henry is En Fuego
Mike Bell, RB, NOS ~ Major sleeper alert. Too late, he woke up already. With injuries to Reggie Bush, and Pierre Thomas (who is now out for the remainder of the preseason) Mike Bell has made the most of two preseason games with 100 yards on 10 carries and one TD. The former Broncos running back did not start a game in 2008 for the Saints, but news out of New Orleans is Bell will spell Thomas and pilfer some goal line carries in 2009.
"If you ask me what his strengths are I'd say Mike Bell is an upright runner who stays the course," Coach Sean Payton said. "He's pretty physical when he hits the hole. I think he has pretty good acceleration. He can lower his pads. Those are some of the things if you are paying attention to practice and watching us, you can see it in the goal line. Those are some of his strengths."
Let's face it, there will be injuries at running back for the Saints regardless. It may be a good idea to stash Bell now, especially with Coach Payton bandying goal-line nuggets like the one above.
Troy Williamson, WR, JAX ~ The former Minnesota Vikings bust has found new life with the Jags. Through three preseason games Williamson has eight receptions for 232 yards and one TD. The yardage is triple the next closest "receiver", Maurice Jones-Drew who has 4 receptions for 79 yards. Williamson was fairly quiet in the third preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles, collecting only one reception for 11 yards, so either he's fallen back to earth or simply had a quiet night. Right now he's a very late round upside pick, but watch the last preseason game against the Washington Redskins to see if he lights it up again. Right now he seems almost a lock ahead of Mike Walker for the #2 receiver role across from Torry Holt who has done nothing the preseason.
And here's an extra Defense/Special Teams bonus:
Green Bay Packers, DST ~ If you read my 2009 Fantasy Football Team Defense Rankings then you already know I think these guys are movin' on up. Dom Capers brought in the 3-4 defensive scheme and through two preseason games, the Pack are eating it up. They shutout the Cleveland Browns in week one, holding them to only 59 yards rushing and 132 yards passing. In week two against the Buffalo Bills starters they shut them down for two quarters and 18 yards total offense. Mind you it was just the Bills and Browns, but the new Packers defense also managed seven sacks and six interceptions.
