FanHouse Jason Hill

Cut-N-Go is Fantasy Football FanHouse's weekday roundup of the NFL news with fantasy football impact.

I was asked a question the other day on Twitter (send any fantasy football question my way to @knoxbardeen), it went something like, "Who is the better stash running back, Kolby Smith or Ryan Moats?" What an interesting thought.

Smith is coming off of major surgery to join the running back mix in Kansas City and Moats has forced a running back by committee situation in Houston. My original thought, and the answer that I provided, was to say Smith. I'm just not sold that Moats is going to be able to keep Steve Slaton from taking the job of featured rusher back. I also wasn't sold that Jamaal Charles could hold of Smith in a competition in Kansas City.

I hate being wrong, but it's bound to happen in this line of work. No one is ever going to be right on 100 percent of their fantasy football proclamations. When it does happen, though, it's nice to be wrong about a player on your favorite team losing much of his fantasy football value. I had completely written off Matt Forte because of the Bears' inability to effectively run the football. The trend continued Thursday night, as Forte gathered just 41 rushing yards on 20 carries.

He did manage to salvage a very solid fantasy stat line, however, due to the Bears' effectiveness in using him on screen passes. He caught eight passes for 120 yards. After watching the game and seeing how he arrived at this total, I'm ready to spin a complete 180 and say he's definitely worth an RB2 slot moving forward. He still has "it," the Bears just need to get him into space so he can do his thing. They have found a way to do so, which is a good sign for Forte's fantasy owners.

Click through to see some more fantasy football observations from the Bears-49ers Thursday night game.

With the beginning of the NFL Network's glorious Thursday night football beginning this week, fantasy football FanHouse is bringing you a preview for each and every Thursday night game from here on out. You've already seen the rankings, but things can change before Sunday. One thing that can't change? Your lineup choices for the guys playing Thursday evening. That's why we're here.

The Bears enter the game having lost three of their last four (the one win was at home over the hapless Browns). Their defense has plummeted from a respectable unit to one pretty easily shredded, whether via ground or air. The Niners come in having lost four straight and five of their last six. They are ranked fourth in the NFL in run defense and 24th against the pass.

Cut-N-Go is Fantasy Football FanHouse's weekday roundup of the NFL news with fantasy football impact.

That last thing that anyone wants in Detroit, or in the fantasy football world if you own either of these players, is for Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson to have problems getting along. Unfortunately, cameras caught the two young stars in heated debate on the sideline on Sunday as the Lions were losing to Seattle. At least, one side of the argument was heated, Tom Kowalski of Michigan Live says that Johnson was flat-out ignoring what Stafford had to say.

Sunday Evening Wrap checks out players who increased or decreased their value during the Sunday afternoon games.

Riser of the Week: After a five-interception game against the Panthers last week, Kurt Warner owners may have been a bit worried, especially since his next task was facing a ball-hawking defense like the Chicago Bears (which, by the way, is more reputation than actuality anymore). Some people were even talking about taking a flier on Matt Leinart in larger leagues. Sunday, Warner put a stop to that, breezing through the Bears' defense like a knife through hot butter. He ended with five touchdown passes and no doubt he's finishing the season as the Cards' starter.

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On Wednesday, 15-year veteran Isaac Bruce made a decision regarding his future in the NFL as the 36-year-old wide receiver informed the 49ers he will be returning for the 2009 season. According to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee, Bruce called head coach Mike SIngletary this morning and informed him of the news.

He led the 49ers with 61 catches and 835 yards in 2008, while also surpassing Tim Brown for the No. 2 spot on the NFL's all-time receiving yards list.

Because the NFL season never ends, we present our 2009 Offseason Roadmaps for front offices to navigate through the summer.

After the uneventful tenure of head coach Mike Nolan, the San Francisco 49ers decided to promote Mike Singletary to interim head coach during the 2008 season.

After a bizarre debut that saw Singletary address his team without pants, the 49ers finished the season on a 5-4 run under their new coach, ending the year with a 7-9 record. Had it not been for a confusing ending to a Monday night game against Arizona, the 49ers would have finished with a .500 record for the first time since 2002. So close, yet so far.

Lance Moore only caught 32 passes for 302 yards and two touchdowns in 2007. In 2008, he caught 79 passes for 928 yards and 10 touchdowns. It came from out of nowhere, considering all the other receiving options in New Orleans, but that doesn't mean we can't start grasping at who could be the one who goes from relative fantasy obscurity to a great contributor in the time of one season.

Let's check it out those who will likely see an expanded role in their offense next season, in addition to growth as a playmaker. Please realize these are for deep keeper leagues. Do not even think about keeping any of these over an elite receiver.

Donnie Avery, Rams -- As I said in my top-10 picks post about Steven Jackson, the Rams can't get any worse. They'll figure some things out in the offseason and Mr. Avery is going to be an important part of the offense for any new administration due to his youth. We saw the flashes of talent this time around, and next season we'll see him grow into a real NFL receiver. Plus, it's not like his division is chock full of beastly defenses.

I'll be honest, I didn't expect the 49ers to make that a game last night. I was thinking blowout from the start. To the 49ers' credit, however, they not only made it a game, and put themselves in a position to win the game, but they probably should have won the game as well.

With just over two-and-a-half minutes to play in the fourth quarter, down by five, the 49ers were driving for what looked to be an eventual game-winning score. And this is where the craziness begins.

Facing a third-and-three from the Arizona 18, quarterback Shaun Hill began to scramble as the pocket collapsed around him. At first, it looked like he was going to just tuck it and run for the first down, seeing as how he charged forward without his helmet earlier in the game. As he approached the line of scrimmage, he channeled his inner-Favre and decided to throw some sort of combination shovel-pass, under-handed pitch out into no-man's land where Cardinals safety Adrian Wilson made a lunging interception. Not exactly the best decision from Hill, who was fortunate to have two interceptions returned for touchdowns called back on Arizona penalties. No such luck this time.

At this point, Tony Kornheiser declares the game over.

Auburn's schedule has been scrutinized by every college football prognosticator in the land. They all point to LSU, Florida and Georgia as the key games in the Tigers run toward a national championship. A game that continues to be overlooked is the one Saturday night at Pat Dye Field.

Don't expect Washington State to come into town and lay down for the Tigers. These guys play Pac-10 football and will be every bit as good as Georgia Tech was on opening night a year ago. Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville has spent all week preaching that to his players.

Auburn comes into the game a 15 1/2 point favorite. Don't expect the point spread to be easy to cover. Auburn offensive coordinator Al Borges is familiar with the Cougars after spending seven years in the PAC-10. "They're a tough opponent, a lot tougher than a lot of people think," Borges said.

He should know. While coaching out west, Borges worked along side Cougars head man Bill Doba. In fact, Doba was defensive coordinator at UCLA at the same time Borges served as offensive coordinator. Does that give either man an advantage? Probably not. What it does give them is a working knowledge of each others systems.

Despite only winning four games a year ago, Washington State does bring back its quarterback, Alex Brink who threw for nearly 3,000 yards and 24 touchdowns last year. Auburn's secondary will be tested often and early by two preseason All-Pac 10 selections, Jason Hill and Michael Bumpus.

Before everyone starts looking ahead to LSU don't forget we've got two very dangerous games coming up in the next couple of weeks. I have faith the coaches will have the players ready.