FANTASY FOOTBALL NFL PLAYERS

Posted: 1/2/2009 2:22pm et

ESPN.com reports Arizona Cardinals RB Edgerrin James said he will not return to the team next season, even though he has a year remaining on his contract. "I can't go through this again," James told ESPN's Bob Holtzman. "I didn't come here to block. I'm not an offensive lineman."

The Huddle Take: James' yards-per-carry has looked like that of an offensive lineman, but Tim Hightower didn't prove to be the long-term solution and J.J. Arrington is a free agent. It's possible James will return as the bridge to a back the Cardinals pick up in the draft, or he may find himself looking for work in the offseason.

Posted: 1/1/2009 10:31pm et

AZCardinals.com reports Arizona Cardinals RB Edgerrin James said he thinks this is his last season with the team. 'I think so. I'm not worried about that. I think so. I think the feeling is mutual. It's not something I'm going to contest,' James said.

The Huddle Take: The veteran running back Edgerrin James has been a consistent runner for most of his career and will likely be with a new team in 2009. There is no doubt that he is on the downside of a great football career but the veteran still appears to have some moves and is a capable addition to any team needing help running the football. Fantasy owners should not consider James any better than a No. 3 running back next year unless he lands another starting gig.

Posted: 11/23/2008 9:58pm et

ESPN reports the Arizona Cardinals will not release RB Edgerrin James until the season ends. Arizona views James as an insurance policy in case RB Tim Hightower gets hurt.

The Huddle Take: No surprise here as James has seemingly passed the torch to rookie runner Tim Hightower in the Cardinals offense. There is little question that Hightower is a bruising runner capabable of being an elite back sooner rather than later which means that Edgerrin James' days are apparently numbered in Arizona. James will more than likely have a new home in 2009.

Posted: 11/19/2008 10:30pm et

Updating a previous report, ESPN.com reports Drew Rosenhaus, agent for Arizona Cardinals RB Edgerrin James, said he asked for the release because James was not playing and could go to a team that needs a running back. 'We spoke with [general manager Rod Graves] because Edgerrin still believes he is a 1,000-yard back and he is healthy and he is still capable of being a 1,000-yard back for a team,' Rosenhaus said. 'He is not playing now, and there are teams that are banged up at the running back position that he could help. We didn't get the answer we were hoping for.'

The Huddle Take: As James enters the latter stages of an illustrious NFL career he will likely remain the No. 2 running back for Arizona behind up and coming rookie Tim Hightower for the rest of this year. Don't expect the Cardinals to trade James this season, however he could be on the trading block and switching teams in 2009 if Hightower continues to develop into the No. 1 workhorse runner the Cardinals envision.

Posted: 11/3/2008 11:20am et

AZCardinals.com reports Arizona Cardinals rookie RB Tim Hightower has replaced RB Edgerrin James as the team's starting running back. James was active for the team's Week 9 game but did not see the field. RB J.J. Arrington served as Hightower's backup during the game. "I want to play, but it's not my style (of game), I don't fit the mold," said a disappointed James after the game. He said that he is going to support Hightower. "It is bigger than that, other than that," James said. "It's not so much I can't play, it's more personal."

The Huddle Take: This change had been brewing for some time; in fact, many were surprised the Cards didn't spend an earlier pick in April's draft on a replacement for Edge. But following Edge's midweek comments about Arizona being a pass-first team and Hightower's success with a full workload on Sunday, it's clear the Cards have made the switch and there's no turning back.

Posted: 10/27/2008 4:10pm et

AZCardinals.com reports Arizona Cardinals RB Edgerrin James said the Cardinals are a passing team. 'That's what we do. That's what we work on in practice and that�s what we do. We are a passing team. We are going to throw it,' James said. The Cardinals only ran the ball 14 times in their Week 8 game.

The Huddle Take: James isn't happy in Arizona with his decreased workload and Tim Hightower's increasing presence. If he becomes a distraction, the Cardinals could very well phase him out completely.

Posted: 10/23/2008 4:02pm et

Kent Somers, of The Arizona Republic, reports Arizona Cardinals RB Edgerrin James is frustrated by his decrease in playing time because he does not believe his skills have diminished. 'I don't know what's going on,' James said. 'I'm just here, just going to ride it out and get to the playoffs and, hey, that may be it right there.'

The Huddle Take: James is in between a rock and a hard place. He's not a big-play runner, as, according to the story, he has had only four rushes of 20 yards or more during his three seasons with the Cardinals. And when short yardage situations arise, the team leans more on rookie Tim Hightower, who has successfully converted all 10 of his opportunities when called upon to get a yard on third or fourth down.

Posted: 9/23/2008 1:24pm et

The East Valley Tribune reports Arizona Cardinals RB Edgerrin James has become an afterthought in the offense behind QB Kurt Warner and WR Larry Fitzgerald and WR Anquan Boldin. The Cardinals haven't made James a focal point of their offense. He no longer carries the ball in goal-line situations and he rarely has the ball thrown to him. There has been talk of the team giving more carries to RB Tim Hightower.

The Huddle Take: James is still averaging more than 80 yards a game, including a 100-yard effort in Week 1 and a 93-yard game last week against Washington. But he has yet to find the end zone, and his value will be virtually zero if Hightower does indeed get more carries. If you can trade him to someone not aware of the Cardinals' potential plans, do it immediately.

Posted: 9/8/2008 3:41pm et

AZCardinals.com reports the Arizona Cardinals are 7-0 when RB Edgerrin James runs for at least 100 yards.

The Huddle Take: All the more reason for the Cards to keep feeding James the ball. Just don't expect a lot of touchdowns if you have James on your team. Not only does Kurt Warner like throwing the ball in the red zone, it looks like the team will give rookie Tim Hightower a lot of goal-line looks.

Posted: 9/7/2008 10:23pm et

The Associated Press reports Arizona Cardinals RB Edgerrin James rushed for 100 yards on 26 carries Week 1. It was his 56th career 100-yard game.

The Huddle Take: The Edge isn't done yet. He won't have a fancy season, but he should put up solid points every week and throw 6-8 touchdowns for good measure.