Running Back Montario Hardesty (Cleveland Browns)
After watching what the Cleveland Browns did to Peyton Hillis last week, Hardesty has to be picked up. The Cleveland Browns reported a fake injury Sunday, saying Hillis was taken out of the game because of his hamstring, although he returned in the fourth-quarter. This all stems from reports that Hillis’ agent told Hillis not to play three weeks ago because of strep throat, a move that irritated the Cleveland Browns entire organization. Hillis has been trying to renegotiate with the team unsuccessfully and is essentially being black-balled. You can’t get a bigger contract without bigger numbers and if you don’t get to play, you can’t put up numbers. It’s a very old-school ownership move. Hardesty is the beneficiary of the entire squabble.
Running Back DeMarco Murray (Dallas Cowboys)
How often to get you to pick a native Las Vegan in fantasy football? Well, that’s exactly what you should do this week. DeMarco Murray is in line to possibly start this week after Felix Jones suffered another injury Sunday. The Dallas Cowboys have both Tashard Choice and Murray to split the carries, but Choice may be in the coaching staff’s doghouse after a critical fumble at Foxboro Sunday. Look for DeMarco Murray to make the most of his work this week and win the job outright against the Rams.
Wide Reciever Dane Sanzenbacher (Chicago Bears)
The Ohio State rookie is finding that Jay Cutler simply needs a receiver to catch the ball and he needs shorter routes run because the Quarterback doesn’t have time in the pocket. Dane Sanzenbacher has filled the role perfectly for Cutler and become kind of a go-to guy with lots of future promise together. His role will only expand as it becomes clearer to everyone that he has the best hands on the team and runs the smartest, sharpest routes.
(Each week, GT columnist Micah Roberts will offer a few players that may not have been considered for play who could do well for the upcoming NFL games.)