LeGarrette Blount Out 2-4 Weeks; Go Get Earnest Graham, Kregg Lumpkin and Delone Carter

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back has a grade 2 MCL tear

LeGarrette Blount wasn't having a great season, but he was having a very LeGarrette Blout-esque season. Which means his owners are hurting now that the Tampa Bay running back is out several weeks with a grade 2 tear in his left MCL.

So what should Blount owners do now that their missing a fantasy footballer who wouldn't pile up yards, but had found the end zone three times in four and a half games.

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NFL Picks: Every Game, Week 6

Every game on the NFL schedule for Week 6, with the consensus pick of Athlon Sports' editors.

A quick look at every game on the NFL schedule for Week 6, along with the consensus pick of Athlon Sports editors Mitchell Light, Rob Doster, Nathan Rush, Patrick Snow and Steven Lassan:

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Terrell Owens Plans to Return to NFL — Does Any Team Want Him?

Six-time Pro Bowler claims he will be ready to play in less than a month

Attention NFL teams! Need help at wide receiver? If so, Terrell Owens wants you to know he is available. Owens, who had surgery to repair a torn ACL in April, said in an interview this week that he plans to be ready to play in less than a month.

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LeGarrette Blount Continues to Impress for Buccaneers

-by Braden Gall (@AthlonBraden on twitter)

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NFL Picks: Every Game, Week 3

A look at every NFL game for Week 3, with the consensus pick of Athlon Sports' editors.

A quick look at every game on the NFL schedule for Week 2, along with the consensus pick of Athlon Sports editors Mitchell Light, Rob Doster, Nathan Rush, Patrick Snow and Steven Lassan:

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The NFC South Leads the Way in QB Play

With Cam Newton's big splash, the NFC South is stacked with top quarterbacks

By Josh Kipnis

This past weekend, we all witnessed history as Cam Newton of the Carolina Panthers broke the record for most passing yards in a quarterback’s NFL debut. Even with his astonishing 110.4 passer rating, 2 TD, 422-yard performance, Newton still has a long way to go before he can claim kingship over the division. With Drew Brees, Matt Ryan, and Josh Freeman leading the other three teams in the NFC South, 2011 should be a very promising year for this division.

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Fantasy Football Quarterbacks: Rising Stars

Making a Case for the New Class ...
Three young quarterbacks have quickly ascended into the top half of fantasy QBs to own. Here’s why you shouldn’t shy away from them this year.

Sam Bradford, St. Louis Rams
Bradford was thrown into the fire as a rookie and threw the third-most passes (590) in the league last year while finishing as the No. 20 fantasy quarterback. The Rams used the draft to upgrade the weapons around him, and they hired Josh McDaniels to coordinate the offense. McDaniels has called the plays for some of the top fantasy offenses in recent seasons, which is good news for Bradford. Throw in an enhanced group of weapons, and Bradford is set to improve his numbers from last year. Bradford still has room to grow, but Steven Jackson is getting older, and the offense will be shifting more toward the pass. As long as the Rams protect him, Bradford will grow into an every-week fantasy starter.

- Steven Lassan @AthlonSteven on Twitter

Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions
The eyeball test is where it starts with Stafford, as there may not be a stronger arm on the planet. The Georgia product can make every throw in the book and has elite options to target with Calvin Johnson, Jahvid Best, Brandon Pettigrew and a slew of stellar rookie talents. Stafford certainly has health concerns, but when healthy, he has produced big numbers. He was averaging 20.2 fantasy points through three games last season, which would have landed the rocket-armed passer as the No. 8 fantasy quarterback in the league had he kept that pace — and remained healthy — all year long. With the weapons around him and the continued progress of the defense, Stafford has a chance to be the next elite fantasy option under center — if he can stay healthy.

- Braden Gall @AthlonBraden on Twitter

Josh Freeman, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
He’s one of football’s up-and-comers at the quarterback position, and he should move his way into fantasy starting consideration this year. After a tough rookie season, Freeman blossomed in 2010, throwing 25 touchdown passes against only six interceptions in an impressive sophomore campaign. Freeman’s play got even better down the stretch, with 15 TD passes and only one pick in Tampa Bay’s last eight games. He also added 364 rushing yards on the season — a total that ranked second among quarterbacks. The future looks bright for the Buccaneers’ offense, with a solid offensive line and another emerging star in running back LeGarrette Blount. Freeman achieved his efficient statline without much experience at receiver. Rookie Mike Williams became his favorite target, catching 11 touchdowns. Those two should be even better in their second year together, and the Bucs have other young, athletic targets in Arrelious Benn and Dezmon Briscoe. Add in tight end Kellen Winslow, and Freeman will have plenty of weapons to work with as he piles up numbers in the wide-open NFC South.

- Patrick Snow @AthlonSnowman on Twitter

THIS WEEK'S POSITIONAL STORIES: QB • RB • WR • TE • K • DST

More Fantasy Football Cheat Sheets and Rankings:
2011 Fantasy Football Rankings: Top 280
2011 Fantasy Football Rankings: Top 240 w/ IDPs
2 011 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterbacks
2 011 Fantasy Football Rankings: Running Backs
2011 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receivers
2011 Fantasy Football Rankings: Tight Ends
2011 Fantasy Football Rankings: Kickers
2011 Fantasy Football Rankings: Defense/Special Teams

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Five NFL Teams That Improved and Five That Got Worse

Here's five NFL teams that will take a step forward this year, and five that will take a step back.

By RALPH VACCHIANO

No one has ever won an NFL championship in the spring and summer, and no one has ever lost one either. That’s not for lack of trying, of course.

Just ask the “Dream Team” in Philadelphia, or any of the up-and-comers pumping up their chests and thinking about a Super Bowl run. There are probably 32 teams thinking that way at the moment, even though a few of them are clearly braced for a fall.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2011 NFL Team Preview

We look at the up and coming Tamp Bay Bucs chances at making a Super Bowl run this year.

Considering their young franchise quarterback, the brash head coach who speaks in salsa sound bites and a shrewd general manager, you would expect the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to jump at an invitation to be the subject of the HBO reality series Hard Knocks. After all, every game played at Raymond James Stadium was blacked out last season, so no team should crave camera time like the Bucs.

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Worst Sports Owners Tournament: Football Round 1

Part 2 of a series pitting 32 of sport's worst owners in all-out battle

By Scott Henry (@4QuartersRadio)

If your team has an owner or owners who treat the fans with respect, be grateful.

If your team has an owner who spends within his/her/their means, but can still improve the team, enjoy it.