FANTASY FOOTBALL NFL PLAYERS

Posted: 11/15/2009 11:15pm et

The Associated Press reports Minnesota Vikings WR Sidney Rice caught seven passes for 201 yards in Week 10.

The Huddle Take: Rice is quickly emerging as one of Brett Favre's favorite targets and has posted solid numbers in the Viking offense for the last few weeks. Rice is a nice redzone target and has built a nice rapport with Favre who looks to further his career with another playoff run this season. Fantasy owners should consider Rice a solid No. 2 wideout for the remainder of the year.

Posted: 10/18/2009 11:11pm et

The Associated Press reports Minnesota Vikings WR Sidney Rice caught six passes for a career-high 176 yards in Week 6.

The Huddle Take: With Percy Harvin going down after re-injuring his shoulder, Sidney Rice stepped up and had one of the biggest games in his short career. It is clear that the Vikings have a well-balanced team and with Favre at quarterback the passing game continues to excel and take pressure off of Adrian Peterson. Rice could be huge over the next few games if Harvin misses any significant amount of time.

Posted: 7/17/2009 1:41pm et

The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports former Minnesota Vikings WR Sidney Rice (knee) said he is around 90 percent healthy and is not thinking about his knee when running routes.

The Huddle Take: Rice knows this is his last chance to make something out of what up to now has been an incredibly disappointing pro career. If he can harness the potential he flashed in college at South Carolina, Rice could be a super sleeper this season.

Posted: 7/16/2009 12:54pm et

Judd Zulgad, of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, reports Minnesota Vikings WR Sidney Rice wrote on his blog Wednesday, July 15, that he worked out at full speed without his knee brace for the first time in 10 months and felt no pain.

The Huddle Take: Rice should be the Vikings' No. 2 receiver this season, and while he's popping up on some sleeper lists he's largely overshadowed by the arrival of rookie Percy Harvin and the whole Brett Favre saga. That Rice is apparently free of the knee pain that plagued him last year is promising, but even if Favre is throwing the ball in Minnesota he's still the second (or potentially third or fourth, behind Harvin and Visanthe Shiancoe) pass-catching option in a run-first offense.

Posted: 6/2/2009 1:09am et

Chip Scoggins, of the Star Tribune, reports Minnesota Vikings WR Sidney Rice showed no issue with his right knee during the team's recent minicamp and said the knee is no longer an issue for him. Rice said several weeks ago that his knee still was not 100 percent after suffering a sprained posterior cruciate ligament in Week 2 last season. But Rice took part in every drill and did not seem restricted in any way. "It really didn't bother me none this weekend," Rice said. "No pulls, nothing like that."

The Huddle Take: Rice is still in line to start opposite Bernard Berrian, though obviously the presence of Percy Harvin will take a bite out of his opportunities.

Posted: 5/23/2009 8:42pm et

Judd Zulgad, of the Star Tribune, reports Minnesota Vikings WR Sidney Rice was sharp during practice again Friday, May 22, according to Vikings.com's Mike Wobschall.

The Huddle Take: Rice has been slowed by knee injuries, but he should be the Vikings' No. 2 receiver opposite Bernard Berrian this season.

Posted: 5/21/2009 10:04pm et

Minnesota Vikings WR Sidney Rice (knee) said on his blog that he is pretty much over his injury. 'I'm running routes at full speed, I just need to get my strength back to 100 percent. I'll be working with the trainers ... and I'll be there long after practice for extra work just to get up to speed,' Rice wrote. He said he and rookie WR Percy Harvin are competing for the same spot, but he plans to help Harvin. 'Whether I win a starting job or not, I am totally focused on winning games this year whatever it takes,' Rice added.

The Huddle Take: Rice was widely considered a potential sleeper candidate last season until leaving with a knee injury. If the wideout can bounce back and continue to improve heading into the preseason he could once again be a key player in the Viking passing game. Fantasy owners should watch him closely to see how things shake out with him and Percy Harvin who has obviously been brought in to compete for the starting slot for a reason.

Posted: 5/15/2009 6:19pm et

Chip Scoggins, of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, reports Minnesota Vikings WR Sidney Rice said his knee is getting better but is not at 100 percent yet. He said he should be ready for the start of training camp.

The Huddle Take: The knee injury has stunted Rice's development, which is part of the reason the Vikings pursued T.J. Houshmandzadeh in the offseason and used a first-round pick on Percy Harvin in the 2009 draft. If he's still limited at training camp, don't be surprised if the Vikings leapfrog Harvin and Bobby Wade over him in the receiver rotation.