Fantasy Impact: Deion Branch

After missing five games due to injury in 2007, Seahawks WR Deion Branch entered an NFC Wild Card match-up against Green Bay with high hopes last January. He left the game with a torn ACL, and a prognosis that he may miss the first six games of 2008, if not the entire season. As a result, he dropped off the fantasy radar all summer - find out why he’s back on it. Read more

Deion Branch Won’t Be Ready For Week 1…

Based on reports coming from Seattle media outlets, it does not appear that Seahawks WR Deion Branch will be ready to go by training camp, or by Week 1 of the NFL season. He’s behind in his rehab from ACL surgery, and this aligns with reports earlier this off-season that he may have to start the regular season on the PUP list, meaning he’d have to miss at least the first six regular season games.

We recommend owners stay away from Branch in seasonal drafts, but monitor him in late August to potentially add as a waiver wire sleeper early in the regular season.

Dynasty owners should probably just hang onto him since his value can only go up from here.

Holmgren: Engram Will Be At Training Camp…

Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Holmgren told the media yesterday that 35 year old Bobby Engram would report to training camp.

Well, he didn’t seem 100 percent sure, but definitely optimistic. I’ll tell you what, at this point, the Seahawks better hope he does show, otherwise they’ll be stuck with Courtney Taylor and Ben Obomanu lining up with Nate Burleson - who has reportedly looked like Seattle’s best player in mini-camp by the way. The potential holdout is one thing, but now the news has been reported that Engram has had some sort of minor surgery.

Is he a sleeper? Sure.

Should fantasy owners proceed with caution? Absolutely.

Bobby Engram Could Hold Out…

Seattle Seahawks veteran WR Bobby Engram has mentioned to the media that holding out of training camp is a possibility. Engram is 35, but coming off a career high 94 catch season, his best since hauling in 88 balls with Chicago in 1999. There is good reason that Seattle is hesitant to invest in Engram. 2007 was the only the second season in the last five years that he hasn’t missed a game due to injury. He only played in seven games in 2006, hauling in only 24 balls.

If Engram holds out, it means that the Seahawks top WRs would be Nate Burleson, Ben Obomanu and Courtney Taylor. We’ll keep you updated.

John Carlson To Start In Seattle…

Word is that Seahawks second round pick, Notre Dame TE John Carlson, will become the first rookie TE ever to start for head coach Mike Holmgren. The TE plays such a big role in Seattle’s offense, that Carlson is definitely worth watching, especially in deep keeper and dynasty formats.

We Were Right About Smith & Jones

We know, we know - We Were Right About, We Were Wrong About about is reserved for the NFL season only, but when we report something and then several weeks later, guys like Adam Schefter from NFL Network report the same thing, it gives us a feeling of validation. In this case there are two reports this week that have surfaced. One is the development of Ravens QB Troy Smith and the increasing possibility that the Ravens have found a perfect fit and future starter in him. The other is that Mike Holmgren was totally bluffing when he said he’d use a running back committee with Julius Jones, Maurice Morris and T.J. Duckett. Read more

Julius Jones To Be A Featured Back…

We told you not to believe Mike Holmgren when he commented back in April about using a committee approach with Julius Jones, Maurice Morris and T.J. Duckett. Word today out of Seattle was that the Seahawks expect Jones to be a guy that can and will play in any number of offensive situations. They’re excited about his potential as a pass blocker, receiver, and power rusher.

Sounds like he’s a featured back to me. Sorry Mo Morris and T.J. Duckett, but Julius is the guy to own in Seattle - bar none.

Lofa Tatupu Arrested For Drunken Driving…

Seattle radio stations are reporting that MLB Lofa Tatupu has been arrested for drunken driving. Wow, that’s not good at all for his IDP value - that was slipping anyway quite frankly.

Since this is his first off-the-field incident though, he may not face any disciplinary actions from the NFL league office.

Seattle Seahawks Running Back Update…

Something weird is going on in Seattle right now, and we’re going to help you cut through the bull. Mike Holmgren is stirring up his guys by mentioning some sort of running back committee, saying that Julius Jones will split carries with Maurice Morris, and that T.J. Duckett won’t have a “short yardage” role. The media is eating right out of his hand right now.

Come on, people - seriously? Holmgren is totally messing with their heads. This is coach-speak and motivational foreplay. Jones will be the guy to win the job, and see 20 carries a game. You heard it here first.

Bobby Engram’s Contract Situation…

The Seattle Seahawks have decided not to negotiate a new contract with Bobby Engram, despite the fact that he feels he’s underpaid as the team’s new number one wide receiver.

A nice move by Tim Ruskell here, as Engram is 34 freaking years old and shouldn’t get a new deal.

Deion Branch Could Miss Significant Time…

Seahawks head coach Mike Holmgren recently said that Deion Branch will not be ready for Week 1 of the 2008 NFL season, due to a torn ACL he suffered against the Green Bay Packers in January’s playoffs.

Our sources have told us this off-season that Branch’s rehab isn’t going as well as the Seahawks expected and that he could actually miss much more time than just Week 1. Branch could go on the PUP list and miss the first eight weeks of the season. This will help the fantasy value of Nate Burleson and Bobby Engram.

Fantasy owners should stay far away.

Julius Jones To Split Carries?

Fifth year RB Julius Jones is expected to start for the Seattle Seahawks in 2008, but head coach Mike Holmgren recently mentioned the word “committee” when speaking to the media. T.J. Duckett is expected to pull some goal line duty, and Leonard Weaver and Maurice Morris will be on the team, but won’t play a huge role.

Sorry, but we’re going to have to give Julius Jones the big thumbs up from a sleeper fantasy perspective, despite what Holmgren says. Just because he’s part of a “committee,” doesn’t mean he’ll split carries. It just means he’ll be spelled occassionally.