FANTASY FOOTBALL NFL PLAYERS

Posted: 5/7/2013 12:15pm et

Dallas Cowboys TE Jason Witten said he agreed the team needed to draft a tight end if they were going to commit to using more two-tight end sets in the passing game. He said he has no problems helping second-round pick TE Gavin Escobar adjust. "There's no ego there for me," Witten said. "It's all about winning. That's part of being a leader and a captain -- is to help other guys play at a high level. There's no hard feelings from that standpoint."

Huddle Up: Witten overcame a preseason spleen scare to snare a career-high 110 passes in 2012 for 1,039 yards and 3 TDs. After just turning 31, though, Witten might have reached his statistical peak, especially with Escobar now around to steal some of the TE targets.

Posted: 5/4/2013 6:30pm et

The Dallas Cowboys plan on using more two-tight end sets this season with TEs Jason Witten and Gavin Escobar as the two tight ends.

Huddle Up: The two-TE sets will come at the expense of fullbacks and slot receivers, but it will allow the Cowboys to get its most dynamic playmakers on the field. It will be worth watching in training camp to see how Dallas schemes to use Witten and Escobar, and what the fantasy fallout will be.

Posted: 12/18/2012 11:55pm et

Dallas Cowboys TE Jason Witten has 97 receptions through Week 14, and he needs only six more receptions over the next two games to set the single-season NFL record for catches by a tight end. Atlanta Falcons TE Tony Gonzalez holds the record of 102, set in 2004 when he was a member of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Huddle Up: Way back when, at the start of the season, Witten got off slowly as he recovered from his preseason ruptured spleen, but starting with his 13-catch, 112-yard TD performance in a Week 4 Monday night game, Witten has been a PPR stud. That should continue with the Cowboys battling for their playoff lives over the season's final 2 weeks.

Posted: 10/29/2012 12:00pm et

Dallas Cowboys TE Jason Witten caught a franchise record 18 passes for 167 yards against the New York Giants in Week 8.

Huddle Up: Tony Romo needed a reliable target, and Witten once again provided one. Safe to say the spleen injury is behind him and he's back to being an elite TE in performance and PPR leagues.

Posted: 10/2/2012 12:55am et

Dallas Cowboys TE Jason Witten had a game-high 13 receptions for 112 yards and a TD in his team's 34-18 loss to the Chicago Bears.

Huddle Up: Witten recorded a catch on 13 of his 14 targets, and while his TD came in true garbage time, the TE rewarded the fantasy owners --particularly those in PPR leagues -- who stuck with and started him. Witten came into the contest with only 8 receptions for 76 yards and no TDs.

Posted: 9/25/2012 12:26am et

Dallas Cowboys TE Jason Witten said he is healthy and there are no injuries to blame for his dropped passes this season. He said he is in the right spot to make the catches but is not able to make the play for some reason. He said the lacerated spleen he suffered in the preseason has not been a factor during play. He has dropped six passes in the last two games.

Huddle Up: Witten caught only 2 passes for 8 yards on 6 targets Sunday and has only 8 receptions for 76 yards this season -- far off his usual Pro Bowl pace. Despite the drops, expect the Cowboys to maintain full trust in Witten's track record and continue to make the TE an integral part of the game plan.

Posted: 9/13/2012 11:38am et

Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett said he anticipates TE Jason Witten "being himself" when asked if Witten will reprise his role as a featured component of the passing game in Week 2.

Huddle Up: Witten has had a little extra time off since the Cowboys' Week 1 win to allow his injured spleen to heal. He played the majority of the snaps then, so it's safe to expect him to be back in his regular role going forward. And seeing as that role is Tony Romo's security blanket, he's back in the crosshairs of the fantasy radar.

Posted: 9/12/2012 7:19pm et

Dallas Cowboys TE Jason Witten (spleen) practiced in full Wednesday, Sept. 12.

Huddle Up: Witten played in Week 1 but clearly wasn't himself, catching only 2 passes for 10 yards on a trio of targets. As long as he can avoid reinjuring himself, expect Witten to be more and more involved with each game.

Posted: 9/8/2012 11:54am et

Dallas Cowboys TE Jason Witten (spleen) did not appear to suffer any setbacks after returning to action in Week 1. 'It sounds like he came out of the game OK,' head coach Jason Garrett said. 'He seemed good after the game.' Witten played 53 of the team's 68 offensive snaps in Week 1. Garrett said he didn't want to overuse Witten, who had two catches for 10 yards.

Huddle Up: Good news and you should expect to see Witten's involvement in the offense continue to increase as his conditioning and health improves.

Posted: 9/5/2012 11:53pm et

Dallas Cowboys TE Jason Witten had 2 catches for 10 yards Wednesday night in his team's 24-17 win over the New York Giants.

Huddle Up: Witten played just a month after suffering a ruptured spleen in the preseason, and as expected, his production and targets (3) were down. At least Witten didn't appear to further aggravate the injury and now will have 11 days before Dallas' next contest.

Posted: 9/5/2012 7:22pm et

Dallas Cowboys TE Jason Witten (spleen) will be active for the Week 1 game against the New York Giants Wednesday, Sept. 5.

Huddle Up: As we've stated all week, proceed with caution here as Witten still isn't close to 100 percent and his snaps figure to be severely curtailed tonight.

Posted: 9/5/2012 6:03pm et

Dallas Cowboys TE Jason Witten (spleen) was out on the field early getting in some stretching prior to the Cowboys Week 1 game against the New York Giants. Witten is still listed as doubtful and is expected to be a game-time decision.

Huddle Up: Again, Witten is an extremely risky start if he does go. He has not practiced, and he could aggravate his injury.

Posted: 9/5/2012 12:43pm et

Dallas Cowboys TE Jason Witten (spleen) made the trip with the team for their Week 1 game against the New York Giants. Witten is listed as a game-time decision; however, he is doubtful for the game. Witten has even offered to sign a medical waiver, but the Cowboys will not accept it.

Huddle Up: Fantasy advice: bench Jason Witten. Even if he were to convince the Cowboys to sign a waiver and let him play, how effective will he really be? He has had a ton of time off since his injury; best to wait and see on Witten.

Posted: 9/5/2012 12:03pm et

Dallas Cowboys TE Jason Witten is fine, according to a league source with knowledge of the situation; however, he is unlikely to play in Week 1.

Huddle Up: The early injury report listed Witten as doubtful, and unless medical technology has found a way to tape up the spleen it looks like Witten will make his 2012 debut in Week 2 at the earliest.

Posted: 9/4/2012 2:24pm et

Dallas Cowboys TE Jason Witten (spleen) was limited in practice Tuesday, Sept. 4, and is doubtful for Week 1.

Huddle Up: It's time for Witten owners to pull the trigger on another TE option. Even if the Cowboys' standout does play Wed. night, he won't see nearly the action he typically does.

Posted: 9/2/2012 7:15pm et

Dallas Cowboys TE Jason Witten (abdomen) is scheduled to undergo a CT scan on his injured spleen Tuesday, Sept. 4, to determine if he has a chance to play Week 1. He said he will play in the game if he is cleared to play.

Huddle Up: Hopefully this holds, letting Witten's fantasy owners whether or not they can depend on him for Wednesday night's opener. If not, they'll have ample time to find a replacement.

Posted: 8/31/2012 3:23pm et

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones indicated TE Jason Witten (spleen) could be held out Week 1 even if he receives medical clearance to play. Witten has not been cleared for contact yet but will meet with a doctor early next week to get clearance.

Huddle Up: At this point it would be difficult to count on Witten for Week 1. Even if he is cleared and activated, it could take him some time to get back into game shape. You should have a solid Plan B that you expect to execute next week.

Posted: 8/29/2012 1:44pm et

Dallas Cowboys TE Jason Witten (spleen) is getting closer to a return to action. Witten is due to have another check-up with physicians next week. In the meantime, he will engage in more strenuous activity as he continues to recover. Witten has been working with resistance cords on the side during practice. Executive vice president Stephen Jones said Witten 'will do some good work on the field' later this week, although there will be no contact involved. The goal remains for Witten to return to action in Week 2; however, he hasn't been ruled out for Week 1.

Huddle Up: This is great news for the tight end and his owners. Witten's ADP has taken a precipitous fall since his injury, meaning you can get him at a severe discount. Even if he misses Week 1, Witten will still be a favorite target for Tony Romo when he comes back.

Posted: 8/23/2012 4:02pm et

Dallas Cowboys TE Jason Witten (spleen) has not only led the team in receptions the last five seasons, but his absence could also affect how head coach Jason Garrett calls plays. Garrett loves operating out of two- and three- tight end sets, as the Cowboys used more than one tight end on 53 percent of their offensive snaps last season. The offense was also especially effective with one running back and two tight ends on the field, a personnel package that can be used in a variety of formations because of Witten's versatility. As a result, Garrett could use more formations consisting of two backs and one tight end, a group they used only 13 percent of the time in 2011.

Huddle Up: There can be no downplaying Witten's absence for the Cowboys. The Pro Bowl tight end has received at least 90 targets in each of the past eight seasons, and as detailed above, a titanic offensive shift occurs when he's not in the lineup. Witten is far more important to QB Tony Romo's value than any other Dallas player.

Posted: 8/22/2012 11:24pm et

Updating a previous report, Dallas Cowboys TE Jason Witten (spleen) is more likely to be ready to return in Week 2, even though his goal is still to be ready for the Cowboys' opening game of the season against the New York Giants.

Huddle Up: With Witten needing nothing but time to let his spleen heal, shooting for Week 2 seems a lot more reasonable. Remember that the Cowboys open the regular season on Sept. 5 -- a full four days before the rest of the league -- and if he sits out then, that would then give the TE 11 additional days to heal.

Posted: 8/22/2012 4:54pm et

Dallas Cowboys TE Jason Witten (spleen) will not need surgery for a lacerated spleen. He is questionable for the team's Week 1 game against the New York Giants.

Huddle Up: This is excellent news for Witten and his owners. If he is healthy enough to start the season questionable for Week 1, that means he should be back to full form shortly after that. Witten is still a valuable tight end in all formats, particularly in PPR leagues.

Posted: 8/16/2012 11:12pm et

Dallas Cowboys TE Jason Witten (spleen) is hopeful he will be ready for the Cowboys opening game Sept. 5, against the New York Giants, but admits right now there is no timetable for his return. 'I'd be hard-pressed to imagine not being out there against the Giants. But there is no timetable right now,' Witten said.

Huddle Up: Witten, at age 30, isn't getting any younger, and it's prudent for the Cowboys' most-reliable offensive weapon to heal properly. Witten hasn't missed a game since his rookie season of 2003 and has finished with triple-digit targets in each of the past 5 seasons.

Posted: 8/15/2012 11:27am et

Dallas Cowboys TE Jason Witten suffered a spleen injury in the team's preseason opener and will miss the rest of the preseason, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. At this time, it's not believed that surgery will be required; however, it hasn't completely been ruled out. Witten has not yet been ruled out for Week 1.

Huddle Up: The Cowboys are currently treating Witten with antibiotics and remain hopeful they can avoid surgery. Obviously, any injury that involves internal bleeding isn't something that can simply be taped up so this is a definite concern for Witten's fantasy value. And while this isn't a laughing matter, especially if you've already added Witten to your fantasy roster, is anyone else picturing Dr. Jellyfinger asking Fletch if he's ever seen a spleen this large?