The best fantasy defense isn’t who you think

Quick: Which team fields the best defense in Fantasyland?

First, did you answer out loud? If so, please don’t do that again. You’re embarrassing yourself.

So, did you say Pittsburgh? Nope.

How about the Giants? Nuh-uh.

Maybe Tennessee? Wrong again.


Okay, so it was a trick question. My criteria for this distinction doesn’t involve sacks, turnovers, points-allowed or defensive scoring. Rather, I’m referring to the defensive unit that serves up the most fantasy points to its opponents.

And by that measure, nobody holds a candle to the Houston Texans.

In a league where there are few absolutes and every trend is meant to be broken, the Texans are the closest thing to a sure bet you’ll find. Plug a quarterback and receiver into your starting lineup against Houston, and watch the fantasy points fly.

Four of the six QBs that have faced the Texans thus far in 2010 – Peyton Manning, Donovan McNabb, Bruce Gradkowski and Eli Manning – had their best statistical performances of the season against them. Matt Cassel had his second-best outing, and Tony Romo had a strong day as well.

Hakeem Nicks, Steve Smith, Dwayne Bowe, Roy Williams and Zach Miller each posted their most productive games of the year against the Texans’ sieve-like secondary. Austin Collie, Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark torched them for 342 yards and a touchdown apiece in the opener. Santana Moss never reached the end zone, but his 10-catch, 89-yard effort was a keeper. Among top wideouts, only Miles Austin has been held in check by Houston this season.

Perhaps the Texans will right their defensive ship over their Week 7 bye, though that seems highly improbable given the season-ending injury suffered by All Pro linebacker DeMeco Ryans against the Chiefs. More likely, fantasy’s “best” defense will return from the break just in time to get walloped by the Colts again. Then the Chargers, Jaguars, Jets and Titans will take turns feasting at Houston’s fantasy smorgasbord in November.

Plan accordingly.

FREE AGENT PICKS AND PANS

To win a fantasy championship, you need to start with a good draft. But filling in your roster throughout the season with the right free agents can also make a big difference. Here’s a look at a few players worth considering, and others who would look better in someone else’s line-up.

Catch ‘em while you can

Chris Ivory, RB, Saints. After his 175-combined-yard performance against the Bucs, the undrafted rookie deserves some love. Should Pierre Thomas miss another game, as expected, with his sprained ankle, Ivory will have a favorable matchup against the Browns in Week 7. He doesn’t offer much long-term value, and he’ll give up some touches to Ladell Betts and even Julius Jones, but he can be a nice bye-week filler in a pinch.

Deion Branch, WR, Patriots. Before you get caught up in the “good ole days” bandwagon, remember that Branch has never cracked the Top 20 ranks among fantasy wideouts. His career highs in receiving yards (998) and touchdowns (5) came in 2005. That said, Branch’s nine-catch, 98-yard, one-TD outing Sunday was the best production for a Patriot receiver this season. He’s worth a pickup; just don’t expect consistent fireworks.

Jason Avant, WR, Eagles. If you saw the hit DeSean Jackson took Sunday, you know he’s not playing next week (and the Eagles’ bye is Week 8). His absence could extend even longer, given the severity of his concussion (and subsequent memory loss). Avant ascends to the starting lineup, which is a good place to be when both the quarterbacks who could be passing to you are playing great.

Fred Davis, TE, Redskins. The backup notched six TD passes in 2009 after Chris Cooley fractured his ankle in Week 7 and was lost for the season. Davis should get another chance to shine while Cooley recovers from a concussion incurred Sunday night, especially with tight end-friendly McNabb at the controls.

Don’t be fooled

Shaun Hill, QB, Lions. He had a great run, but a broken forearm and the impending return of starter Matt Stafford spell the end of Hill’s fantasy relevance this season. Give him a peck on the cheek and promise to give him another chance next year, especially if he finds a starting job via free agency.

Patrick Crayton, WR, Chargers. If Antonio Gates misses time with his ankle injury, and if Malcom Floyd’s hamstring forces him out, and if Legedu Naanee remains inactive with his own hamstring problem, then Crayton could followup his fine outing in St. Louis with another solid performance against the Patriots next week. That’s a lot of ifs.

Devery Henderson, WR, Saints. The problem with Henderson is that he always seems to have a good game the minute you give up on him. Which underscores the real issue: He’s inconsistent as all get-out. After being targeted just once against the Bucs, and being out-shined by Lance Moore and Robert Meachem again, it may be best to eliminate the problem altogether.

Kevin Walter, WR, Texans. Jacoby Jones and Owen Daniels are now fully healthy. The team is heading into their Week 7 bye. And Walter wasn’t targeted a single time against the Chiefs. Three strikes, he’s out.

Sunday morning updates - Week 6

Greetings, Fools. Who's ready for another great day in Fantasyland?

Here's what I know -- and think I know -- as of this morning. As always, I'll be tweeting inactives and other late-breaking news as we get closer to kickoff.

Aaron Rodgers is a virtual lock to start. Don't hesitate to start him if you've got him.

Favre will surely start, too, though he's not as safe a bet to perform well against the Cowboys.

Vick will be the emergency QB today, which raises hopes that he'll be back under center as the starter in Week 7.

Donald Brown and Anthony Gonzalez did not travel with the Colts to Washington, so consider Addai a very good start. Garcon and Collie are still a toss-up, with Collie having a much better body of work to date, though Garcon has reclaimed his starting job.

Peyton Hillis says his sore thigh is feeling great, so no worries about him suiting up today. But I don't think he or his thigh will be feeling so hot after the Steelers are done with him.

No-Show Moreno will be a game-time call, but don't bother with him even if he starts against the Jets.

Fred Taylor is out again, leaving the backfield mostly to BenJarvus Green-Ellis. He's OK in a pinch, but not a great option.

Pierre Thomas won't play this weekend, and they're saying now that he could even be out again NEXT week. Wow. Betts and Ivory will continue to share the load in his absence.

Darren McFadden's status will go down to the wire, but don't count on much even if he plays. BTW, as long as Bush keeps doing well, there's no guarantee Run-DMC gets his starting job back once his hammy is 100%. It's a tough world...

This could/should be the last week Ryan Mathews comes off the bench. Assuming he has no further set-backs this week, he should be the starter in Week 7, and the workhorse of the Chargers' offense going forward.

Dez Bryant will probably be active, but he's clearly not 100% and should be reserved against the Vikes.

Calvin Johnson will be a last-minute decision today. He's warming up on the field now, but it could still go either way.

Andre Johnson is a much better bet, and even Jacoby Jones should be back. That's good news for the struggling Schaub against a tough KC secondary; but don't count on much from Jacoby.

Tampa Bay's Mike Williams will be a game-time call, but he will probably play.

As I said in my Sporting News column yesterday, keep an eye on Owen Daniels today. He should be close to fully recovered from his knee surgery, and he's still available in more than half of all fantasy leagues. He could be a steal heading down the stretch.

John Carney is out, and Garrett Hartley is back in as the Saints' kicker. If you're riding this roller coaster, be sure to adjust accordingly.

NOTE: Lawrence Tynes sprained an ankle this week in practice and could miss today's tasty matchup with Detroit. Shayne Graham was brought in just in case. If you're relying on Tynes, you'd better make other arrangements.

Week 6 Starters & Benchwarmers

Wondering whether or not to start Philip Rivers and Chris Johnson, or bench Colt McCoy and Patrick Crayton? The network bozos specialize in that kind of advice. If you’re looking for real help with your starting lineup conundrums, read on.

Here are my picks to roll, and get rolled, in Week 6 of the 2010 season.

Watch ‘em roll

Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Steelers vs. Browns. Cleveland’s pass defense is not as bad as you’d think, but they will be no match for Big Ben and his receivers. Roethlisberger has been champing at the bit to return, so don’t expect him to settle for handing the ball off all afternoon. Pittsburgh’s defense will reward him with plenty of short fields to navigate as well.

Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, Giants vs. Lions. His ankle injury is behind him; and though Brandon Jacobs will poach the occasional goal-line carry, Bradshaw is sure to romp through Detroit’s porous run defense.

Shonn Greene, RB, Jets at Broncos. Denver surrendered an unfathomable 233 yards and four touchdowns on the ground last week, while Greene finally scored for the first time on Monday night. Both New York tailbacks should have a field day in this highly favorable matchup.

Eddie Royal, WR, Broncos vs. Jets. You know Kyle Orton and Brandon Lloyd are red hot, but Royal is quietly approaching Top 10 fantasy receiver status himself. The Jets’ secondary has been struggling (23rd-ranked pass defense), while its run defense remains stingy. Watch Orton and his wideouts soar again, especially with a high probability that Darrelle Revis misses the game with a nagging hamstring.

Tony Moeaki, TE, Chiefs at Texans. The rookie has been the most consistent and productive receiver in the Chiefs’ lackluster aerial attack. Facing the league’s passing doormat, he should have his best performance to date. You’d like to think Dwayne Bowe also would excel, but his butter fingers make him less than reliable.

More thumbs up (excluding the no-brainers): QBs Orton, Joe Flacco, Jay Cutler, Eli Manning, Mark Sanchez, Matt Ryan; RBs Matt Forte, LaDainian Tomlinson, Michael Bush, Ryan Torain, Joseph Addai; WRs Johnny Knox, Brandon Lloyd, Pierre Garcon, Malcom Floyd, Hines Ward, Mike Wallace, Greg Jennings, Percy Harvin, Steve Smith (NY), Santonio Holmes, Michael Crabtree, Nate Washington, Santana Moss.

Roll ‘em back

Shaun Hill, QB, Lions at Giants. It’s hard to believe, but Hill is the sixth-best fantasy passer in the league, despite a nearly even TD (8) to INT (7) ratio. But his most dangerous weapon, Calvin Johnson, may be limited – or even out – with a shoulder injury, and the Giants’ defense has been absolutely suffocating in recent weeks.

Peyton Hillis, RB, Browns at Steelers. One of the biggest surprises in Fantasyland will be asked to shoulder the offensive load with Colt McCoy expected to make his first NFL start (talk about bad timing). Unfortunately, Hillis will be facing the NFL’s stingiest run defense – coming off a bye, no less – with a painful thigh injury and little air cover to support him.

Justin Forsett, RB, Seahawks at Bears. Now that Marshawn Lynch is in the fold, Forsett’s touches will surely be reduced. How dramatically in this first game is anyone’s guess. But Chicago’s rush defense is the league’s third-toughest, so neither Seattle back can be expected to produce much in this one.

Mike Sims-Walker, WR, Jaguars vs. Titans. He’s been boom-or-bust this season, thanks mostly to David Garrard’s inconsistent play. The Titans specialize in harassing opposing quarterbacks (NFL-best 22 sacks, plus 7 INTs), which spells trouble for everyone in the Jaguars’ passing offense.

Kevin Walter, WR, Texans vs. Chiefs. His early-season heroics are a distant memory now, as injuries to Andre Johnson and Matt Schaub’s struggles have combined to ground Houston’s air attack. Kansas City’s secondary held Peyton Manning without a passing score last week, which doesn’t bode well for Schaub or his No. 2 receiver.

More thumbs down: QBs Schaub, Garrard, Kevin Kolb, Matt Hasselbeck, Sam Bradford, Jason Campbell; RBs Knowshon Moreno, Ronnie Brown, Cadillac Williams, Earnest Graham, Marshawn Lynch, Felix Jones, Marion Barber; WRs Dez Bryant, Calvin Johnson, Danny Amendola, Brandon Tate, Jacoby Jones.

TAKING A FLIER

Matt Cassel, QB, Chiefs at Texans. Cassel has had only one solid fantasy day this season (250 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT vs. the 49ers in Week 3), but he has yet to face a secondary as welcoming as Houston’s. Everyone seems to have a career day against the Texans, so don’t be shocked when Cassel sits at or near the top of the passing charts this weekend.

DON’T BE THE BONEHEAD WHO…benches an active Aaron Rodgers against the Dolphins. His playing status may go down to the wire Sunday due to the concussion he sustained last weekend, but if the Packers start him, you must follow suit. Even without TE Jermichael Finley, he has plenty of dangerous weapons at his disposal; so it’s safer to roll with Rodgers than without him.

Week 5 Heroes & Zeros

This was a great week to start…

Eli Manning, QB, Giants – His 297-yard, 3-TD performance was offset a bit by 2 INTs.
Shaun Hill, QB, Lions – Torched the Rams for 227 yards and a TD hat trick.
Philip Rivers, QB, Chargers – Passed for 431 yards and 2 TDs, but lost 2 fumbles and the game.
Tony Romo, QB, Cowboys – His personal-best 406-yard, 3-TD game was spoiled by 3 INTs.
Alex Smith, QB, 49ers – It was ugly, but his 309-yard, 3-TD, 2-INT performance, with 16 rushing yards added for good measure, worked for his fantasy owners.
Brett Favre, QB, Vikings – Overcame an awful start to pass for 264 yards and 3 TDs, but 3 turnovers hurt.

Ray Rice, RB, Ravens – Scored twice while rushing for 133 yards and adding 26 yards on 4 receptions.
Matt Forte, RB, Bears – Blitzed the Panthers for 166 rushing yards and 2 TDs, plus a pair of catches for 22 yards.
Chris Johnson, RB, Titans – Ran for 131 yards and 2 short TDs.

Hakeem Nicks, WR, Giants – Schooled the Texans with a dozen catches for 130 yards and 2 TDs.
Brandon Lloyd, WR, Broncos – Continued his stellar season with 5 catches for 135 yards and 2 TDs.
Malcom Floyd, WR, Chargers – Produced 213 yards and a TD on 8 catches.
Steve Johnson, WR, Bills – Reeled in 5 passes for 46 yards and a pair of TDs.
Percy Harvin, WR, Vikings – Caught 5 balls for 97 yards and 2 TDs.
Miles Austin, WR, Cowboys – Collected 9 passes for 166 yards and an electrifying score.

Marcedes Lewis, TE, Jaguars – Posted his second 2-TD game of the season on 4 receptions for 54 yards.

Nick Folk, K, Jets – Knocked in 5 field goals (including a 53-yarder) plus 2 extra points.

Raiders defense/special teams – Scored a safety and TD on 2 blocked punts, scored another TD on a 64-yard fumble return, recovered 3 fumbles and notched 3 sacks.

This was a great week to play against…

Peyton Manning, QB, Colts – Held without a TD while passing for a mediocre 244 yards and an INT.
Matt Schaub, QB, Texans – Failed to throw a TD pass while collecting just 196 yards and coughing up 2 turnovers.
Bruce Gradkowski, QB, Raiders – So bad, he was replaced after passing for an awful 14 yards.
Sam Bradford, QB, Rams – Threw for 215 yards, 2 picks and no TDs against the suddenly dominating Lions.

Thomas Jones, RB, Chiefs – Only 19 rushing yards against the Colts.
Arian Foster, RB, Texans – Tanked with just 25 rushing yards and 2 short receptions.
Cadillac Williams, RB, Buccaneers – His 33-yard rushing performance could be a sign of committee days to come.
Beanie Wells, RB, Cardinals – Still can’t get on track with just 35 rushing yards and a 5-yard reception. Tim Hightower was even worse, ending with only 6 yards on the day.
DeAngelo Williams, RB, Panthers – Managed only 51 rushing yards and 8 receiving yards on 3 catches. Jonathan Stewart (30 rushing, 4 receiving) was worse than that.

Mario Manningham, WR, Giants – Posted his second consecutive goose egg.
Legedu Naanee, WR, Chargers – Held catchless before leaving with a hamstring injury.
Mark Clayton, WR, Rams – After his lone 6-yard reception, left with a season-ending injury.
Anquan Boldin, WR, Ravens – Held to a single, 8-yard catch.
Lance Moore, WR, Saints – Ditto.
Bears WRs – Johnny Knox led with a 14-yard catch, while Devin Hester went nowhere on his 2 receptions.
Chad Ochocinco, WR, Bengals – Upstaged by TO again, with just 3 receptions for 20 yards.
Greg Jennings, WR, Packers – Limited to a pair of receptions for 22 yards.
Dez Bryant, WR, Cowboys – Same for the rookie.
T.J. Houshmandzadeh, WR, Ravens – Just 2 catches for 24 yards.
Kevin Walter, WR, Texans – Him too.
DeSean Jackson, WR, Eagles – Followed the same trend.
Dwayne Bowe, WR, Chiefs – His 2 catches resulted in 33 yards.

Jermichael Finley, TE, Packers – Injured before catching a single pass.
Dustin Keller, TE, Jets – Limited to 2 receptions for 14 yards.
Visanthe Shiancoe, TE, Vikings – Only 2 catches for 28 yards.
Dallas Clark, TE, Colts – Just 20 yards on 3 receptions.

I didn’t see that coming…

Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, Bills – Passed for 220 yards and 3 TDs without a turnover.

Lions defense/special teams – Scored on a kickoff return and a 42-yard INT return, posted 1 sack, and collected 3 turnovers, while holding the Rams to a pair of field goals.

Few fantasy stars shine brightly in Wk 5

Some things defy explanation.

Why gas stations tack nine-tenths of a cent to every gallon. Why millions of Americans give a rat's behind about John and Kate. And how Max Hall’s Cardinals beat Drew Brees’ Saints on Sunday.

Aside from a handful of masterful performances – highlighted by Matt Forte, Ray Rice, Hakeem Nicks and Brandon Lloyd – Sunday’s games were noteworthy more for their surprising real-world outcomes than the exploits of their fantasy stars.

Packers players were dropping like flies. Houston’s running game was even more anemic than its passing attack. Peyton Manning won without a passing touchdown, while Tony Romo and Philip Rivers lost while amassing 837 yards and five touchdowns between them. And, of course, Brees was thwarted by a defense that had surrendered 41 points apiece in two of its past three games.

The only thing left to determine from Week 5 is who will emerge with bragging rights from the epic rematch between Randy Moss and Darrelle Revis. Countless fantasy matchups hinge on the outcome.

Hopefully it will be a thrilling end to an otherwise non-descript weekend in Fantasyland.


FREE AGENT PICKS AND PANS

To win a fantasy championship, you need to start with a good draft. But filling in your roster throughout the season with the right free agents can also make a big difference. Here’s a look at a few players worth considering, and others who would look better in someone else’s line-up.

Catch ‘em while you can

Steve Johnson, WR, Bills. This is one of those recommendations that goes against my every instinct, because I simply cannot imagine relying on a Buffalo wideout. But Johnson has quietly accumulated four touchdown catches over the past three games, so he demands our attention. For that matter, Ryan Fitzpatrick has thrown seven TDs and only two INTs over the past three weeks, so go figure.

Danny Amendola, WR, Rams – The pickings are indeed slim in free agency this week. But with Mark Clayton lost for the year with a knee injury, someone has to catch passes from the gun-slinging Sam Bradford. Assuming St. Louis doesn’t make a play for Vincent Jackson, Amendola is the most likely beneficiary of Clayton’s demise, after posting a dozen catches for 95 yards against the Lions.

Aaron Hernandez, TE, Patriots – With news that Jermichael Finley will miss the next three weeks or so after undergoing knee surgery, fantasy owners will be scrambling to replace one of the game’s most dominant tight ends. Hernandez, owned in just over a third of all leagues, has now served his bye week and should become an even more integral weapon in the Patriots’ passing arsenal now that Moss has been traded.

Don’t be fooled

Marion Barber, RB, Cowboys – Though it’s hard to get excited about any member of the Dallas backfield, the long-anticipated transition to Felix Jones may finally have begun on Sunday. Jones amassed 109 yards on 15 carries and caught all four balls thrown his way, while Barber touched the ball only six times. With the Vikings on tap next, this may be your last chance to unload Barber for some semblance of value.

Legedu Naanee, WR, Chargers – He left Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury but, just as concerning, he’s been a non-factor in the San Diego passing game since his excellent Week 1 performance. There’s little reason to keep Naanee on anything but the deepest of fantasy rosters.

Sunday morning updates

Good morning, Fools.

I'm tweeting the inactives now. No big surprises. Knowshon Moreno is out. Jay Cutler out, Clinton Portis out, as is Carolina's Steve Smith, as expected.

LeSean McCoy looks good to go tonight, but keep Mike Bell around just in case.

Donald Brown is out for the Colts, which is good news for Addai. Collie also active and ready to roll, though Garcon will be back.

Jacoby Jones is out, but Andre Johnson is active and ready to roll.

Check out my tweets for more info.

Week 5 Starters & Benchwarmers

Wondering whether or not to start Peyton Manning and Arian Foster, or bench Max Hall and Maurice Morris? The network bozos specialize in that kind of advice. If you’re looking for real help with your starting lineup conundrums, read on.

Here are my picks to roll, and get rolled, in Week 5 of the 2010 season.

Watch ‘em roll

Carson Palmer, QB, Bengals vs. Buccaneers. He has been up and down thus far this season, with two awful performances book-ended by a pair of 340-plus-yard, two-touchdown outings. You can trust him to deliver again in this matchup against a secondary that most recently allowed Charlie Batch to post a TD hat trick.

Michael Bush, RB, Raiders vs. Chargers. With Darren McFadden expected to sit out with a bad hammy, Bush will be the workhorse in this matchup. San Diego’s run defense has been solid, but Bush is a wrecking ball who should have plenty of success behind a line that has blocked well for McFadden all season.

Ladell Betts, RB, Saints at Cardinals. With Max Hall taking the snaps for Arizona, the Saints could be playing on a short field all day. If Pierre Thomas (ankle) rests again, as expected, Betts will be the preferred play over rookie Chris Ivory, since he’s a better receiver. Betts can’t help but find the end zone this weekend against Arizona’s sieve-like defense.

Mario Manningham, WR, Giants at Texans. Houston’s pathetic secondary is the tonic Eli Manning needs to get his groove back. In addition to Hakeem Nicks, Manningham should be very busy on Sunday. The oft-overlooked wideout has out-performed Steve Smith to date, despite posting a goose egg last week due to a borderline concussion.

Lance Moore, WR, Saints at Cardinals. Marques Colston has caught four more passes than Moore thus far, but the “backup” has done more with his opportunities (209 yards and 3 TDs vs. 190 yards and zero TDs). At this point, though Colston remains a solid option, Moore is a must-start.

More thumbs up (excluding the no-brainers): QBs Brett Favre, Matt Ryan, Sam Bradford, Joe Flacco, Shaun Hill; RBs Ryan Torain, Joseph Addai, Peyton Hillis, Ryan Mathews, Cedric Benson, Matt Forte; WRs Mark Clayton, Austin Collie, Dez Bryant, Terrell Owens, Mike Sims-Walker, Dwayne Bowe, Malcom Floyd, Brandon Lloyd, Kevin Walter.

Roll ‘em back

Donovan McNabb, QB, Redskins vs. Packers. McNabb has thrown no more than one scoring pass in any game this season, and he’s coming off an emotional victory against his former team. Though Green Bay’s defense has been uneven to date, this is an unlikely week for McNabb to reclaim his fantasy mojo.


Knowshon Moreno, RB, Broncos at Ravens. He could be a game-time decision on Sunday, but only desperate owners should take the chance that Moreno would fare well anyway. Though the Ravens are not as stout as usual against the run, Denver is now a pass-centric team. Whichever tailback gets the starting nod is a bad bet this week.

Beanie Wells, RB, Cardinals vs. Saints. There’s little going for the Cardinals these days, and that’s unlikely to change soon. New Orleans could easily run up the score early, rendering Arizona’s rushing attack moot for the second consecutive week. Neither tailback is likely to deliver positive fantasy returns.

Johnny Knox, WR, Bears at Panthers. Carolina held Drew Brees to a single TD pass last week, so you know they can handle Todd Collins, who will start in place of the concussed Jay Cutler. That’s bad news for Knox and all of his fellow receivers.

Jeremy Maclin, WR, Eagles at 49ers. With Kevin Kolb back under center, the Philly passing attack becomes a major question mark. DeSean Jackson is too explosive to bench, but Maclin is different. Though the 49ers’ secondary has been disappointing, they should rally at home against this struggling offense.

More thumbs down: QBs Kolb, Vince Young, Bruce Gradkowski, Alex Smith; RBs Shonn Greene, Brandon Jackson, Tim Hightower, Laurence Maroney, Jonathan Stewart, Willis McGahee, Marion Barber; WRs Larry Fitzgerald, Nate Washington, Michael Crabtree, Devin Hester.

TAKING A FLIER

Santonio Holmes, WR, Jets vs. Vikings. All the Monday night attention will be focused on Randy Moss, but Holmes will be making his own debut in a new uniform. In a game where both rushing attacks could struggle against stiff run defenses, look for Mark Sanchez to get his new toy involved early and often, especially if Minnesota focuses its attention on Braylon Edwards and Dustin Keller.

DON’T BE THE BONEHEAD WHO…fails to track the Sunday morning inactive reports. Several owners were burned last week when they left Pierre Thomas and Andre Johnson in their lineups. Follow my tweets, and you’ll be spared the ignominy of the goose egg.