Jets OC Sparano: Santonio Holmes "has special ability"

May 04, 2012

It's clear that new OC Tony Sparano is high on WR Santonio Holmes.

“I think that Santonio has special ability,” Sparano said on Thursday. “When you’ve been on the other sideline and in the other (locker) room preparing for players like the Jets have… having to figure out how you’re going to handle Dustin Keller, having to figure out how you’re going to handle Santonio Holmes or the running game…. This guy has really special ability. He can catch it and run with it He makes the hard catches. I’ve seen him make some really acrobatic catches. He works very hard at it. The guy wants the football…. The thing that I’ve noticed about Tone right now in my time being around him is that this guy is a competitive guy. He loves to compete. I like that with skill players. I just love the fact that those guys love to compete.”

Holmes, who had 51 receptions for a career-low 654 yards last season, expressed no regrets for how he handled matters down the stretch when he skipped a meeting organized by Mark Sanchez during the final week and got into multiple shouting matches in the huddle with teammates before getting benched by then-offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer.

Fantasy Impact:

Holmes had a very disappointing 2011 due to lack of targets and poor behavior in the locker room. His 100 targets ranked 26th amongst WR1s around the league and he actually trailed Dustin Keller (115) for the most on the team. His Catch % (51.0%) was only better than Greg Little, Brandon Lloyd, Eric Decker and Mike Thomas amongst WR1s, which is surprising given his talent and the somewhat decent QB play of Mark Sanchez (at least when compared to Blaine Gabbert, Tim Tebow and Colt McCoy). He posted a Catch % of 54.7% in 2010 in his first season with the Jets and 57.2% in 2009 with the Steelers. He's going in the 8th or 9th round in early fantasy drafts and -- assuming an increase in targets (with Plaxico Burress gone) and a return to his usual Catch % -- looks to be a good value pick at that point in the draft. Of course, his value would take a nosedive if Tim Tebow takes over at QB.

yesterday

49ers RB Isaac Guerendo (foot) listed as DNP Tuesday

Pro Football Talk

yesterday · 6:31 PM EST

49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan shared his team’s pre-practice injury report at a Tuesday press conference and it was the same as Monday’s estimated one, so several key players are on the sideline ahead of Thursday’s game against the Rams.

Among them was RB Isaac Guerendo.

Related players: Patrick Taylor, Israel Abanikanda

Fantasy Impact:

Guerendo had a great game in Week 14, but left with a sprained foot. Guerendo said afterward he felt great and it was just precautionary. However, we know by now we can't always trust when a player talks about his status for the following week. The DNPs for both Monday and Tuesday are not a great sign for Guerendo's chances to play in Week 15, which is a short week against the Rams on Thursday Night Football. Guerendo's practice status for Wednesday will hopefully will give us a better idea. Taylor would likely be next up for the 49ers if Guerendo can't go.

Moore: Eagles want to 'increase the likelihood' WR A.J. Brown gets the ball

Pro Football Talk

yesterday · 4:49 PM EST

Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown’s comment that the team’s passing offense needs to improve in the wake of Sunday’s 22-16 win over the Panthers has been the biggest topic of conversation of the week in Philadelphia and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore got his chance to weigh in on it Tuesday.

Moore said he speaks to Brown and other members of the offense every week and said “the flows of seasons” call for weekly conversations about how to get the most out of the passing offense. Part of that process for this week is working on ways to get the ball to Brown after he was targeted four times against Carolina.

“I’m going to focus more on trying to find different ways of increasing the likelihood of the ball going to him,” Moore said, via a transcript from the team.

Fantasy Impact:

Brown came out and criticized the passing game after just getting by the Panthers in Week 14. The Eagles, thanks to Saquon Barkley, have been a run-first team this year, and it's largely worked, thanks also to an improved defense. DeVonta Smith has also voiced frustration recently. The Eagles aren't likely to stop giving Barkley the ball, but we've had a few stories in the news this week featuring unhappy WRs, and there can often be a bit of a change in the game plan to keep players happy. The Eagles host the Steelers this week, so things may not come easy again for the offense.

Steelers call WR George Pickens doubtful, outside chance to play

Pro Football Talk

yesterday · 12:37 PM EST

The Steelers did not have receiver George Pickens for their Week 14 victory over the Browns and they are likely to be without him again against the Eagles on Sunday.

Head coach Mike Tomlin said in his Tuesday press conference that Pickens could be characterized as doubtful for Week 15, but there is still an outside chance he’ll play.

Fantasy Impact:

The Steelers thought Pickens would play last week but was eventually ruled out. After Sunday’s contest, Pickens underwent an MRI, which revealed the injury was more significant than initially believed, the story said. Reports from those who follow the team on Monday mentioned it was unlikely Pickens would play, and that's certainly looking like the case.