FANTASY FOOTBALL NFL PLAYERS

Posted: 8/21/2008 7:47pm et

AZCardinals.com reports Cardinals QB Matt Leinart will start in the team's preseason game Saturday, Aug. 23, and will play into the second quarter.

The Huddle Take: As suspected it appears that Leinart will most likely get the starting nod to begin the season in Arizona. It is yet to be seen if he can play at the level needed to lead this team to the playoffs but Arizona is in the position that they need to give him the opportunity. The Cardinals currently have a nice safety net with veteran Kurt Warner on the roster as the backup, but don't expect the coaching staff to leave the job with Leinart very long if the Cardinals start losing games early on. Fantasy owners should not view Leinart as worthy of drafting in fantasy leagues at the present time.

Posted: 8/12/2008 3:37pm et

The East Valley Tribune reports Arizona Cardinals QB Matt Leinart, should he hang onto the team's starting quarterback job, is expected to remain in games this season when the team reaches the red zone. Last season, QB Kurt Warner, even when he was backing up Leinart, came in when the Cardinals had a goal-line situation. This year, indications are that the starter will remain in the game no matter where the offense has the ball. Head coach Ken Whisenhunt said Leinart is 'much better this year' in terms of changing plays at the line.

The Huddle Take: This, obviously, would only increase Leinart's value, since, you know, he'll actually be on the field for entire offensive drives. This is a make-or-break season for Leinart, and he should be considered a No. 2 fantasy quarterback even with the shaky start to his career. Any QB throwing to a receiver tandem of Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin has to be given some serious early round draft consideration.

Posted: 8/8/2008 9:52am et

The Associated Press reports Arizona Cardinals QB Matt Leinart was 7-for-8 for 91 yards in the team's preseason game Thursday, Aug. 7.

The Huddle Take: Meanwhile, Kurt Warner sat on the bench—DNP, coaches' decision. So far the Cardinals are holding firm in their backing of Leinart, and more 87.5% completion rates will certainly help.

Posted: 7/29/2008 11:29am et

Fractured Collarbone - Cardinals' QB Matt Leinart has completely recovered from a fractured collarbone and he will be 100% when training camp begins this week. Leinart, who was placed on IR after fracturing his collarbone in his shoulder last season, was a full participant in the team's off-season conditioning program. He admitted to reporters back in May that his collarbone was still healing and that it would probably take the entire summer to heal. But since he didn't have to be involved in contact until the preseason he was able to run with the first-team offense in May without a problem. He looked solid during OTA's in June and the coaching staff feels that he is ready to play. Leinart actually has a lump of bone near his neck that is still visible, however the medical staff says that it is just scar tissue and additional bone at the fracture site and that it won't affect his ability to throw. Leinart will take the field with his teammates when training camp starts and he should be completely healthy when the regular season begins.

Posted: 5/23/2008 3:50am et

Matt Leinart has recovered 100% from the collarbone injury last year and has been running the first team offense during the OTA's. He'll be given every chance to keep the starting job this year.

The Huddle Take: Leinart really struggled last year in the new offense and then was lost for most of the season. Kurt Warner had a tremendous showing replacing him and was unsuccessful in finding any other team that would give him a chance to be a #1 again. If Leinart cannot remain healthy and does show at least reasonable progress this year, Warner could get another chance to play.