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Intelligence Report

I Think... ByPeter King

. . . I wouldmake a deal for Chris Chambers and start him immediately.

You've had yourfantasy heart broken by Chambers more times than you can count; in six-plusseasons in Miami the talented receiver has never quite become a go-to guy. He'shad 11 touchdowns in a season twice (good), but more than 70 catches and morethan 1,000 yards only one time each (not good). In his last game with theDolphins before being traded to San Diego last week, he had six catches for 73yards and no touchdowns against the Browns; but he also had nine other ballsthrown to him, and five or six were catchable judging from video of the game.While Chambers had a good day, he should have had a monster day.

Now that he issurrounded by such offensive stars as LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gateswith the Chargers, Chambers will have to respond to the pressure of playing ona very good team. He hasn't scored a touchdown in his last 14 games, so youshould be able to pry him from his owner or even pick him up off waivers.Chambers is 29, healthy, motivated and a great gamble right now.

EPSTEIN 'S THEORYON Insurance Backs

IT'S ALMOSTmidseason. You already know which players are going to carry your fantasylineup. You don't have the trade bait to land Randy Moss. And your league'swaiver wire looks like your sock drawer: not a lot of good matches. You mayfeel as if you're along for the ride the rest of the season, but here'ssomething you can do to improve your roster: grab insurance for your starrunning back. A lot of top backs—Joseph Addai, Steven Jackson, Rudi Johnson,Brian Westbrook, for example— have missed games, and more will go down in thesecond half of the season. Be prepared to plug in, say, Kenton Keith (left),who piled up 158 total yards and scored two TD s as a replacement for Addai inWeek 5. Many other backups, such as Correll Buckhalter, Najeh Davenport,Anthony Thomas and Derrick Ward, have the ability to put up numbers, given thechance. You need guys like them on your bench, even if you hope never to usethem.

DavidSabino's

Market Watch

WHO'S UP

CHRIS HENRY

Bengals WRCincy's third receivers have been disappointing (16 catches, one TD ) and Henryis eligible to return from his suspension in Week 10; grab him early and stashhim on your bench for a week.

CHRIS HENRY

Titans RB Thesecond-round pick had an impressive debut against the Texans, gaining 69 yardsfrom scrimmage with a TD.

TED GINN JR.

Dolphins WR Thetrade that sent Chris Chambers to San Diego has given the rookie from OhioState a starting job.

RODDY WHITE

Falcons WR Thethird-year man now has two games with 100 yards and a TD in the same season forthe first time in his career.

WHO'S DOWN

MARQUESCOLSTON

Saints WR Theposter child for the sophomore slump, Colston hasn't had more than 70 receivingyards in a game this year; he accomplished that feat six times in '06 whileplaying only 14 games.

SAMMY MORRIS

Patriots RB Hedid well in Laurence Maroney's absence, but he's expected to be out for a monthwith a chest contusion.

REUBENDROUGHNS

Giants RB Thereturn of Brandon Jacobs means that the former 1,000-yard back has onlyinsurance value.

MATT SCHAUB

Texans QB SageRosenfels's 29-point fourth quarter against Tennessee creates an instant QBcontroversy in Houston.

PHOTO

DEE WELSCH/WIREIMAGE.COM (HENRY)

 RETURNMAN

Almost back from suspension, Henry had nice TDs for the Bengals in2006.

PHOTO

MICHAEL CONROY/AP (KEITH)