If you're looking for last minute advice, please stop by Fantasy Football Live, beginning at noon ET.

If we're lucky, someone will ask Evans why he thinks Michael Crabtree(notes) is a better start this week than Wes Welker(notes), Roddy White(notes), Hines Ward(notes), Miles Austin(notes), Dwayne Bowe(notes), Donald Driver(notes), Calvin Johnson(notes), both Seahawks and both Steve Smiths.

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Early updates: According to multiple reports – including this one from NFL Network's Jason La Canfora and this one from ESPN's Adam Schefter – Philadelphia running back Brian Westbrook(notes) (concussion) WILL NOT PLAY in the Sunday night game against the Cowboys. Westbrook didn't practice on Friday, so perhaps we shouldn't be surprised by the news. LeSean McCoy(notes) obviously gets a significant value bump here. … Ryan Moats(notes) is expected to get the start at running back for Houston in Week 9, though Steve Slaton(notes) will likely have a role (other that being the Texans' designated fumbler). … Roddy White(notes) (knee) is ACTIVE against Washington. … Anquan Boldin(notes) (ankle) is INACTIVE at Chicago. Steve Breaston(notes) gets a value boost there. 

Posted at 11:52 am ET

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Pregame

For those who won't let the Wookiee win, some free advice: QB Ranks, RB Ranks, WR Ranks, NFL Skinny, Freak Show, Shuffle Up, Flames/Lames.

Please join us at noon ET for Fantasy Football Live, where the advice might be sketchy, but the entertainment value is quite high. Check back with Sunday Scene throughout the day for updates, observations and valuable prizes. 

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Each week the Noise will guide desperate, deep-thinking owners into the dark corners of the waiver wire to mine a last-minute diamond. Turn on your helmet light and pack a pickaxe. We're digging for drop-jaw surprises owned in less than 10 percent or started in five percent or less of Yahoo! Plus leagues.

Before summer gave way to fall and a single down of meaningful football was played, the fantasy masses truly believed Chris Henry was an alien life form.

Based on his preseason numbers, the unique-looking wideout was undeniably extraterrestrial. In four exhibition contests he tallied 14 catches for an NFL-high 224 yards and four touchdowns. His stirring effort combined with behind-the-scenes buzz – Carson Palmer told our own Michael Silver that Henry, not Chad Ochocinco, was Cincinnati's best receiver – launched expectations into another galaxy.

As a result, mantasies were fostered, hyperbole was spewed and tendons snapped. Owners outstretched arms and slapped wallets – he went for $15 in one of the Noise's local auction leagues – convinced the troubled target was on the precipice of a breakthrough. In the Friends and Family draft, Average Joe, Michael Gehlken, proudly selected him at pick No. 150 (Round 11), three spots ahead of Jeremy Maclin. As long as he avoided incarceration, fortunes were sure to be reaped.

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A few major injury notes and a full state of games from a Friday night around the NBA...

• The good news is that clarity in regards to Kevin Martin's wrist injury came fairly quickly. The bad news is that he'll undergo surgery and is expected to miss a minimum of eight weeks. Although nothing is official as of yet, Beno Udrih is expected to rejoin the starting lineup, pushing Tyreke Evans to shooting guard. Udrih's ceiling is fairly well-established – he's averaged 12.3 points (47% FG, 84% FT), 0.7 threes, 3.2 boards, 4.8 assists, and 1 steal in 129 career starts – but as a starter he's absolutely rosterable in standard leagues. I'm convinced that Evans is miscast as an NBA point guard and like the move for his potential impact. Don't count on the efficiency getting much better than poor, but "addition by subtraction" (subtract Martin and some of Evans' distribution responsibilities) should be good for his line.

After a slow start, Andres Nocioni is back on the fantasy radar (his DUI arrest aside). His offensive responsibilities increase significantly with Martin out of the picture, and you can give Spencer Hawes and Jason Thompson a bump, as well. Omri Casspi has posted very good per-minute production thus far and should have a larger role in the rotation, although the Ime Udoka signing muddies the backup picture a bit. As for Martin himself, he's not a player you can cut in standard leagues. In roto, it's a bit easier to deal with carrying an injured player. Those of you in h2h leagues need to calculate your chances of making the playoffs while playing a man down for the next two months – if you aren't feeling confident, then add Martin to your trade block and see if you get some offers worth considering (and certainly be ready to produce some counter-offers). 

• Tyrus Thomas' season went from bad to worse in a hurry. He broke his left forearm during a weight session on Friday and will miss the next four-to-six weeks, or somewhere around 15-20 games. It's not a bad move to make an add/drop in standard h2h leagues. Taj Gibson will continue to start at power forward – he posted 11 points, seven boards, one steal, and one block on Thursday and his college numbers project well to the NBA. Give him a look in deeper leagues. Brad Miller should see close to 30 minutes while Thomas is out, as well, meaning that he should be universally owned in roto leagues and largely owned in h2h formats. 

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Friday is the most important practice day of the week from a fantasy perspective; let's take a good look around.  

• The Colts held Donald Brown (shoulder) out of Friday's practice after letting him work the previous two days. He's questionable and will probably be a game-time decision for Sunday's matchup with the Texans. At least we get a break with the game, it's an early start. All of the Yahoo! experts view Joseph Addai as a Top 14 back this week even with Brown expected to play; Addai's value obviously gets a mild push forward if Brown winds up being scratched.

• Anquan Boldin (ankle) did some work Friday and has a shot to go against the Bears; he's questionable on the report. The Cardinals took it easy with Steve Breaston (knee) Friday but that's standard operating procedure; he's been battling this issue all season. On Boldin, it comes down to a depth call; I wouldn't use him for fantasy this week unless I felt backed into a corner.

• Roddy White (ankle) had a limited day Friday after sitting out the two previous days and head coach Mike Smith is optimistic that White will be able to go in Atlanta's critical game against Washington. It's an early start, so fantasy owners don't have to sweat it out here.

• Kevin Smith (shoulder) and Calvin Johnson (knee) both practiced Friday and should play at Seattle, though Jim Schwartz would give out his ATM password before he did anything to help our fantasy pursuits.

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In Friday's life-affirming episode of the Yahoo! Fantasy Freak Show, we discussed all the Week 9 matchups, answered a few dozen Jamaal Charles(notes) questions and took the first steps toward designing the perfect Washington Redskins drinking game. Please gather the family around the laptop and give it a listen. (This week, all the links actually work!)

Fantasy Freak Show, Part I

Fantasy Freak Show, Part II

Fantasy Freak Show, Bonus Time

Many thanks to our friends at The Score WSCR-AM 670 in Chicago. 

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Every Friday during the NFL season we'll review the Yahoo! weekly position ranks. If an expert breaks from the herd, they'll be asked to show their work. We try to focus on names near the start/sit line in public leagues, or on complete acts of lunacy. Let's play the feud…

Michael Crabtree - Evans rank 12, composite rank 22

I'm heavily invested in the gold market this week, despite the improvement of the Titans secondary. The return of corner Cortland Finnegan and safety Vincent Fuller in Week 8 was exactly what the doctor ordered for Tennessee’s battered D. The added help crippled the Jags' passing attack, limiting standout receiver Mike Sims-Walker to his worst performance since becoming a starter (2 catches for 9 yards). But David Garrard has struggled on the road and when the Titans were at full-strength earlier this season, they were slapped around routinely.

Though he’s played in just six quarters, Alex Smith has made tremendous advancements in his development. More poised and aware, he’s turned to Crabtree early and often in back-to-back games. The first-round wideout, who’s unbelievably transitioned seamlessly despite an extensive holdout, has attracted 7.5 targets totaling 11 catches for 137 yards in two games. This week, I'm confident he snags his first career TD reception. Tennessee has surrendered 15 scores to WRs on the year, the most in the NFL. -Noise

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Hey, we finally have an update on Sammy Morris that includes references to specific body parts and a recovery time frame!

Patriots running back Sammy Morris could be back in two weeks, the Herald has learned.

The veteran suffered a torn MCL on his first carry against the Titans and is close to returning. He’ll miss the Dolphins game and likely the visit to the Colts.

Presumably, the Boston Herald reporters who extracted this information from Pats sources relied on barbaric interrogative methods, so perhaps the reports cannot be trusted. Not sure. But those are some of the first meaningful, non-speculative notes we've seen.

If Morris only misses two more games, he'll make it back for the home matchup with the Jets on November 22. Laurence Maroney now has two weeks to demonstrate that he deserves a serious role; recall that the Patriots end-of-season schedule is extremely RB-friendly (CAR, at BUF, JAC, at HOU).

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I'm not one for long introductions. Let's get right to the info, immediately actionable or otherwise.

* The big news of the day broke just over an hour ago. Kevin Martin has been diagnosed with a hairline fracture in his left wrist and treatment options are currently being discussed. Technically it could be much worse, as it's his non-shooting wrist, but this still figures to be a blow for fantasy owners and a very thin Kings roster. The Kings waived Desmond Mason today, meaning that rookie Omri Casspi would likely be the main benefactor if Martin were to miss time. Another plausible scenario would be Beno Udrih moving back into the starting lineup, pushing Tyreke Evans to shooting guard. 

• Another does of reality for Channing Frye owners on Wednesday, as early foul trouble resulted from his matching up with Dwight Howard, and he finished with five points, 1 three, and four boards in 19 minutes. It should also be a cautionary tale for those of you with trade offers rolling in from current Frye owners. He should be good in general, but don't pay for production from his first three games alone. Also keep in mind that we'll get a Robin Lopez update next week and, while Frye is light-years ahead of him on offense, he's a much better defensive option against the "true" centers of the league.

• Leandro Barbosa missed another game because of the cyst in his right wrist, but he should be back soon, barring any complications.

• Vince Carter (ankle) did not play Wednesday and he'll be a game-time decision on Friday.

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You should know the specs by now. If you redrafted tomorrow, stats from scratch, what would your cheat sheet look like? Let's do the countdown.

Quarterback
1. Peyton Manning
2. Drew Brees
3. Philip Rivers
4. Tom Brady
5. Aaron Rodgers
6. Ben Roethlisberger
7. Matt Schaub
8. Tony Romo
9. Brett Favre
10. Donovan McNabb
11. Kurt Warner
12. Jay Cutler
13. Matt Ryan
14. Eli Manning
15. Joe Flacco
16. Carson Palmer
17. Matt Hasselbeck
18. David Garrard
19. Kyle Orton
20. Matt Cassel
21. Alex Smith
22. Matthew Stafford
23. Mark Sanchez
24. Vince Young
25. Chad Henne
26. Jason Campbell
27. Jake Delhomme
28. Matt Leinart
29. Kevin Kolb
30. Marc Bulger
31. Trent Edwards
32. Josh Freeman
33. JaMarcus Russell
34. Shaun Hill
35. Daunte Culpepper
36. Todd Collins
37. Ryan Fitzpatrick
38. Seneca Wallace
39. Kerry Collins
40. Derek Anderson

Comments: As great as Matt Schaub has been, he's facing two Indy games and a bye in the next four weeks and I'm a little concerned about the Owen Daniels loss. … Matt Hasselbeck is an intriguing matchup play to consider down the stretch as your No. 2, but it's a shame that the Titans are wasted in Week 17. … I'm not sweating the Matt Ryan slump too much. Imagine how great this guy would be if the Falcons had a legitimate No. 2 wideout. … It pains me to say it but Brett Favre is in the MVP discussion. I'm not saying I'd pick him, but how can you keep him out of the Top 5? … Mike Heimerdinger had a smart Young-friendly game plan for VY's return last week; Young's an improviser, not a pocket quarterback. I'm not guaranteeing this will be a happy ending for the Titans, but if you're going to make a go of it with Young, that's how you have to play it.

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