NFL Stock Watch: Forget About the Ravens

Before Thanksgiving overwhelms us all and puts three more games in the books, let’s see who is up and who’s down this week. It’s mostly running backs in the news, and mostly due to injuries.

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Chris Brown, RB, Texans: The smart money right now is snickering at his yards per carry average. But the coach says he’s the starter, very emphatically, sliding Steve Slaton into a third-down, change-of-pace role. Beggars can’t be choosers at this time of year at the position. The set up is good for the Texans starting running back, and Brown should get goal-line duties, too. He’s owned in about three percent of Yahoo leagues, so it costs you nothing to take a chance.

Jason Snelling, RB, Falcons: Michael Turner said on Tuesday that some guys take six weeks to come back from his ankle sprain and that he doesn’t think he’ll take that long. But that means he’s going to take a while. Snelling is a top 15 back, in the meantime. Jerious Norwood (hip) seems far more seriously hurt than the Falcons — always very cute with the injury news — are letting on.

Rock Cartwright, RB, Redskins: Clinton Portis still can’t see straight (literally), and Ladell Betts is done (ACL). So that leaves Cartwright as the workhorse, third-down and goal-line guy. He’s a return man, so he has some explosion. Plus, he’s a veteran. Yes, the Redskins stink. But Cartwright is doing everything, so that makes him top 20 in this committee-crazed year.

Laurence Maroney, RB, Patriots: He has six touchdowns the last five games. Sure, take away the snow bowl against the Titans and Maroney’s YPC stinks. But the Patriots score so much that one touchdown for their feature back is like the morsels that fall out out of the Great White Shark’s mouth for those sucker fish along for the ride. He’s still not owned in nine percent of Yahoo leagues and isn’t started in many more.

Danny Ware, RB, Giants: Brandon Jacobs begs out of games and Ahmad Bradshaw — tough as nails — has a sprained ankle to go along with the foot that’s been broken all year. So do the math, and that leaves possibly 15 carries a week or more for Ware (who hardly anyone owns).

Bernard Scott, RB, Bengals: Cedric Benson (hip) may be out again, and Scott gets Cleveland this week, coming off the 151-yard day. He’s still not owned in 35 percent of Yahoo leagues.

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Larry Johnson, RB, Bengals: Maybe he steals a goal-line carry or two. But probably not. Don’t bother at this point. But monitor the Benson situation.

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Steve Slaton, RB, Texans: “The Texans will come to their senses with Slaton and everything will be fine!” That’s the kind of stuff you read from 90 percent of this fantasy tout industry. It’s so cynical. Writers calculate that readers would rather feel smart than be smart. Slaton was an unfortunate pick, but I'm sorry, owning him still is downright dumb. You had multiple sell windows when he managed touchdowns, despite fumbling and getting repeatedly stuffed with his sideways-running style. It’s not going to be alright. Wise up right now and handcuff Brown, who is the fantasy starter over Slaton until further notice.

Justin Forsett, RB, Seahawks: He spit the bit against the Vikings last week (nine carries, nine yards), and now Julius Jones (lung) is likely to return to action. Forsett was a critic’s darling for reasons I could never figure out. He’s not big or fast, plus the Seahawks are a poor running environment.

Ravens Pass Offense: Joe Flacco hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass in November. Lesson: Never trust the Ravens' passing offense. It’s like trusting the Bears' passing offense. When have those teams ever had anything of fantasy note through the air? The only Raven you can start now is Ray Rice. All others need not apply.