FANTASY FOOTBALL NFL PLAYERS

Posted: 9/29/2009 4:24pm et

ESPN.com reports the Philadelphia Eagles have released QB Jeff Garcia.

The Huddle Take: Maybe if this had happened a few hours earlier, Garcia would be in Miami instead of Tyler Thigpen. Maybe Cleveland will come calling, who knows? It would be extremely surprising if Garcia is out of work for very long.

Posted: 9/14/2009 5:19pm et

ESPNews reports the Philadelphia Eagles have reached an agreement with unrestricted free-agent QB Jeff Garcia (Raiders). Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

The Huddle Take: The Eagles now have a glut at quarterback. Garcia knows the system and is the obvious choice to immediately come in to replace Donovan McNabb. The only hindrance to him starting this week against the Saints is whether or not he can get re-acclimated quickly enough. Don't be surprised if he starts. If he does he could be a great play against New Orleans. The bigger question is whether or not McNabb is hurt worse than anyone's letting on. Garcia made it clear he wouldn't be happy in a backup role in Oakland. Has he changed his tune that quickly?

Posted: 9/6/2009 9:39pm et

ANG Newspapers reports Oakland Raiders QB Bruce Gradkowski spoke with free-agent QB Jeff Garcia (Raiders) and Gradkowski believes Garcia may still want to play in the NFL if it were the right situation.

The Huddle Take: Translation: If he can be a starter. That's not likely to happen anywhere at the moment, though Kansas City could be interested considering their situation. Watch to see what happens before putting him on your roster.

Posted: 9/5/2009 8:06pm et

ANG Newspapers reports the Oakland Raiders have released QB Jeff Garcia.

The Huddle Take: This is somewhat interesting as for a while it was thought that Garcia was actually competing for a possible starting job. This obviously didn't work out and it is quite possible that Garcia will call it a career before long.

Posted: 8/18/2009 10:39am et

ANG Newspapers reports Oakland Raiders QB Jeff Garcia (calf) returned to practice Monday, Aug. 17, and was immediately installed as the backup quarterback. Garcia moved well, without a limp, and hopes to play in the team's next preseason game.

The Huddle Take: JaMarcus Russell played well in the Raiders' preseason opener against Dallas, but don't be surprised if Garcia gets the starting nod, if not in Week 1, sometime during the season. Al Davis isn't getting any younger, and Garcia provides the best chance Davis will have of seeing a winning team anytime soon.

Posted: 8/17/2009 12:12pm et

Jerry McDonald, of ANG Newspapers, reports Oakland Raiders QB Jeff Garcia will remain the team's backup quarterback when he returns to practice Monday, Aug. 17, according to head coach Tom Cable.

The Huddle Take: The Raiders received decent play from both Bruce Gradkowski and Charlie Frye in the second half of their preseason opener, but Garcia is the quarterback who gives Oakland the better chance to win if JaMarcus Russell proves he's not up to the task.

Posted: 8/4/2009 10:54am et

ANG Newspapers reports Oakland Raiders head coach Tom Cable said the injury to QB Jeff Garcia (ankle) does not look to be serious at all, but the team will not rush him back.

The Huddle Take: The Raiders have to be extra careful with Garcia, since he's the only true NFL quarterback on the roster. Unless JaMarcus Russell improves dramatically this season, expect Garcia to see a lot of playing time.

Posted: 7/27/2009 10:21pm et

The San Francisco Chronicle reports there is no quarterback controversy entering training camp for the Oakland Raiders. QB JaMarcus Russell is the uncontested starter, and the Raiders are determined to develop the former No. 1 draft choice. They also are eager to receive some return on the millions they have invested in him. The team brought veteran QB Jeff Garcia on board to push Russell forward, not out of the way. If Russell struggles when the games count, things could be revisited.

The Huddle Take: While this may be true and Russell would seem to be 'the future', the team won't be willing to tolerate too much losing before they'll be forced to make a move of some kind. Either way, unless Russell gets injured it wouldn't appear likely that Garcia would be more than an afterthought in fantasy circles.

Posted: 7/20/2009 1:36pm et

ANG Newspapers reports even though Oakland Raiders QB Jeff Garcia has stressed his desire to be the team's starting quarterback this season, the job is QB JaMarcus Russell's to lose, barring injury or a faceplant of major proportions.

The Huddle Take: Russell will likely be on a short leash this season. Al Davis still calls the shots in Oakland, and if he believes Garcia gives the Raiders the best chance to win, he'll make him the starter. The problem from a Fantasy standpoint is that other than Javon Walker, you've hardly ever heard of any other receiver currently on the Oakland roster.

Posted: 7/4/2009 5:03pm et

Sam Farmer reports Oakland Raiders QB Jeff Garcia believes he should be the team's starting quarterback this season, even though he is No. 2 on the depth chart behind QB JaMarcus Russell. 'Not knocking JaMarcus or anybody else on the team, but I have a belief in my own abilities,' Garcia said in a phone interview. '(That has) me feeling I am the best quarterback on the team. That's just how I approach the game.'

The Huddle Take: The fact is, he's probably right. The reality is, however, that the team is likely to go with Russell because that's where all the money - and the future - is. The team doesn't have many serious options other than to keep letting Russell grow under center, which won't make Garcia happy. However, if and when Garcia is on the field, he's a desperation starter for fantasy leagues on most weeks.