Depth Chart Watch: QB Questions in Tennessee

Depth Chart Watch: QB Questions in Tennessee

This article is part of our Depth Chart Watch series.

CHIEFS RB: Although the score might have had something to do it, Thomas Jones was limited to a season-low four carries Sunday while new starter Jamaal Charles had 14 carries and was very active in the passing game. While it was nice to see the Kansas City coaching staff come to their senses, it would not be a surprise to see them go back to what "worked" earlier in the season considering how poorly the Chiefs played in Week 10.

DOLPHINS QB: The Dolphins came up with a big win on Sunday, but the game also cost them their top two quarterbacks – possibly for the season. Chad Pennington got the start Sunday, but he left the game during the first series. Chad Henne, who lost his job to Pennington, lasted a bit longer, but a knee injury knocked him out of the game and there are fears he might not play again this year. Tyler Thigpen, who has had some starting experience with Kansas City, looks to be the starter the rest of the way.

GIANTS WR/TE:Steve Smith missed the Dallas game, and the Giants offense appeared to miss him as they took a while to get going against what had previously been a listless Cowboys squad. Mario Manningham took Smith's spot and responded with a big day (10 catches for 91 yards and a touchdown). In fact, Eli Manning targeted Manningham a game-high 16 times. Meanwhile, tight end Kevin Boss was targeted a season-high seven

CHIEFS RB: Although the score might have had something to do it, Thomas Jones was limited to a season-low four carries Sunday while new starter Jamaal Charles had 14 carries and was very active in the passing game. While it was nice to see the Kansas City coaching staff come to their senses, it would not be a surprise to see them go back to what "worked" earlier in the season considering how poorly the Chiefs played in Week 10.

DOLPHINS QB: The Dolphins came up with a big win on Sunday, but the game also cost them their top two quarterbacks – possibly for the season. Chad Pennington got the start Sunday, but he left the game during the first series. Chad Henne, who lost his job to Pennington, lasted a bit longer, but a knee injury knocked him out of the game and there are fears he might not play again this year. Tyler Thigpen, who has had some starting experience with Kansas City, looks to be the starter the rest of the way.

GIANTS WR/TE:Steve Smith missed the Dallas game, and the Giants offense appeared to miss him as they took a while to get going against what had previously been a listless Cowboys squad. Mario Manningham took Smith's spot and responded with a big day (10 catches for 91 yards and a touchdown). In fact, Eli Manning targeted Manningham a game-high 16 times. Meanwhile, tight end Kevin Boss was targeted a season-high seven times, catching five for 81 yards and scoring on a 35-yarder. Unfortunately, he left the game with a back injury and needed X-rays after the game. Travis Beckum is next in line at tight end, and with Smith probably out again next week, he could be a factor if Manning continues looking for his tight end more regularly.

JETS RB: LaDanian Tomlinson is still the starter, but Shonn Greene is back in the picture. Head coach Rex Ryan said last week he wants to split the carries among the two going forward, and he held true to his word Sunday. Tomlinson had 18 carries for 57 yards, which is almost exactly what he's done in each of the last four games (check out his game log – eerie). The difference was that Greene got 20 carries – nearly as many as the 25 combined carries he received in his previous three games. Although Greene only gained 72 yards on those attempts, the two backs will remain in a timeshare.

LIONS QB: Though Drew Stanton replaced the oft-injured Matt Stafford late in Week 9, it was Shaun Hill who took the turn behind center Sunday against Buffalo. Hill has been a sneaky fantasy play this season, and he didn't disappoint Sunday, throwing for 323 yards and TD. More than half of those yards came in the fourth quarter, but fantasy owners shouldn't care about that; Detroit will often be passing in the fourth quarter anyway. Stafford may not take another snap this season, so Hill is worth a shot in most formats..

PANTHERS QB: Though there was a possibility Tony Pike would start for the injured Matt Moore, the Panthers again went with the unimpressive Jimmy Clausen in Week 10. Clausen was much better Sunday than he was earlier the season and didn't turn the ball over, but he didn't find the end zone either. Moore is done for the season, so Clausen will likely hold onto the starting spot if he continues limiting his mistakes.

PANTHERS RB: Fourth-stringer Mike Goodson did better than expected for the worst offense in the league, running for 100 yards on 23 carries while DeAngelo Williams, Jonathan Stewart, and Tyrell Sutton looked on. Goodson will not hit triple digits very often, but the Panthers have to be happy they have a player like Goodson in reserve. He may get another start in Week 11.

SEAHAWKS QB:Matt Hasselbeck returned Sunday and threw for 273 yards in the first half alone. He also broke a bone in his non-throwing wrist, so Charlie Whitehurst (last week's starter) saw a bit of action in the second quarter. The Seahawks hope Hasselbeck will be able to play through the injury, but Whitehurst will probably get a few reps with the first team this week.

STEELERS WR:Hines Ward suffered a concussion in Sunday night's loss to the Patriots, but the injury fortunately does not appear serious. Ward expects to play against the Raiders in Week 11; but if he sits out, look for Antwaan Randle El to start in his place.

TEXANS TE: It has been a lost season for Owen Daniels, who has disappointed fantasy owners all year by failing to find the end zone. Daniels missed Sunday's game with a hamstring injury, but replacement starter Joel Dreessen wasn't much of an improvement, catching just two passes for 24 yards. However, if Houston ever goes back to its pass-happy offense, Dreesen would be worth a look when Daniels is out.

TITANS QB:Vince Young didn't start Sunday's game, but he finished it. A sore ankle relegated him to backup status, but when starter Kerry Collins left the game with a calf injury late in the second quarter, Young came out of the tunnel in the second half as the starter. Young was not 100 percent, but he gave the Titans a better chance than Collins did. As long as Young is able to practice this week, look for him to be the starter in Week 11.

TITANS WR:Randy Moss is now in town, but if Sunday's game was any indication, the Titans aren't going to throw him the ball much. Moss caught just one pass for 26 yards, but fellow starter Nate Washington, who was targeted nine times (as were wide receiver Justin Gage and tight end Bo Scaife), scored on a 14-yarder when the game was still close. Jeff Fisher is a bit of a no-nonsense coach, so Moss will be on a short leash. However, if he is left out of the offense, it won't be long before he starts barking.

VIKINGS WR: We spoke too soon last week when we said the Vikings would be alright without Randy Moss – both Percy Harvin and Bernard Berrian aggravated injuries Sunday. Harvin at least gave it the old college try and scored a touchdown before leaving the game with an ankle injury, but Berrian did not even make it on the field after getting hurt during warmups. Greg Lewis started and was targeted three times, and reserve Greg Camarillo also saw four targets. However, both players were held to just one catch and Vikings wide receivers as a group caught only six. Sidney Rice may be back soon, but the Vikings will take any healthy receiver at this point. As long as he's not Randy Moss.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kenn Ruby
Kenn has been writing and editing for RotoWire since 2003. Though he attended Northwestern with the co-founders of RotoWire, he is not considered a made member of the RotoWire Northwestern mafia, as he can't trace back all of his ancestors to Dan Okrent.
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