Patience is a virtue

Return of Branch, Jones, Jurevicius can provide late fantasy boost

BOB HARRIS Back Page The Cowboys are committed to Julius Jones, giving him 63 carries the past two weeks alone. AP

One doesn't have to look very hard this week to find something for fantasy owners to be thankful for: Fresh meat! Meaning players returning to action following extended absences.

Players who might be capable of adding some spark down the stretch; and if you're lucky, players who might even be available on waiver wires in leagues when original owners gave up on them.

While Randy Moss and Duce Staley appear likely to join this group come Sunday, I'm going to focus on three less prominent players who have already returned and hit the ground running.

Julius Jones, RB, Dallas Cowboys

With Drew Henson making his first NFL start and Jones his second, the Cowboys showcased their backfield of the future on Thanksgiving. Despite the media focus on Henson, the team's official Web site suggested before today's game, "The Cowboys will look to make a Thanksgiving feast out of Chicago's poor run defense. ..."

And Jones did just that while offering fantasy owners a glimpse of what to expect down the stretch by capping off the opening drive with a 33-yard touchdown run.

He finished the game with 33 carries for 150 yards with a pair of scoring runs.

Not bad, considering he was coming off a short week and a lengthy layoff.

In case you missed it, Jones didn't set the world on fire in Baltimore last Sunday, racking up 81 yards on 30 carries. But the toughness and stamina demonstrated in his first game back since suffering a fractured shoulder in Week 2 were impressive -- especially considering the poor blocking he received and the level of competition against which he was working.

"I thought he did a good job fighting and competing," head coach Bill Parcells said earlier this week. "I never got a sense he wanted out of the game. I really was pleased with him about that. [He] wasn't perfect; missed some reads and has to work on blocking. Like I said, for not having a lot of help [up front], he did all right."

In fact, Jones has clearly laid claim to the featured role down the stretch. Parcells said Jones' quickness gives the Cowboys a dimension they didn't have with Eddie George.

The coach went on to suggest that George, who had a season-low three carries for five yards against the Ravens and three for eight yards today, won't take on any extra duties this year.

In other words, the coach has made a decision at this position: It's time to look to the future and Jones is it.

Deion Branch, WR, New England Patriots

As the Providence Journal noted this week, the team got by just fine without Branch for six-and-a-half games. But that doesn't mean they weren't happy to get him back on Monday night.

The speedy third-year receiver was terrific in his first game back from injury, catching six passes for 105 yards and a 26-yard touchdown.

"You never know who's going to have a big game," said Branch, who was injured in the team's Week 2 win over Arizona. "It does [get frustrating]. You see the guys playing and I'm in the training room. Not being with my teammates was the only frustration I had."

Branch had 43 catches as a rookie in 2002 after being drafted in the second round out of Louisville. Last season, he led the Patriots with 57 catches and added 10 more, including the first touchdown, in the 32-29 Super Bowl win over Carolina.

Against the Chiefs, Branch continued to come through when it counted the most and when it was over, he claimed the knee is no longer an issue.

"Around here, our coaches don't let us get back on the field unless we're ready," said Branch. "I was ready to go out and play. They let you work your way back in and get on the field at your pace."

And just to further demonstrate my grasp of the obvious: After repeatedly advising fantasy owners seeking my advice on this one not to believe Branch was back until he actually hit the field and proved himself healthy, it's safe to say he's satisfied that requirement.

Joe Jurevicius, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

According to the Associated Press, Jurevicius no longer feels like a forgotten man in Tampa Bay's offense.

The veteran receiver scored his first touchdowns since last year's season opener, getting into the end zone twice Sunday on passes from Brian Griese in last Sunday's 35-3 rout of the San Francisco 49ers.

Jurevicius, one of the key players in the Bucs' Super Bowl run two years ago, missed most of last season, as well as the first six games of 2004, with knee and back injuries that required surgery.

The seventh-year pro began the season on the reserve/non-football injury list after a back operation early in training camp. He returned last month, but before Sunday was not happy with a limited role.

As the St. Petersburg Times originally reported it last Sunday -- before the game, "It wasn't Keyshawn Johnson chewing off his ear for more passes. It wasn't Keenan McCardell shaking him down for more money."

But four times during an animated, five-minute discussion after Thursday's practice, Jurevicius turned his back to walk away while head coach Jon Gruden was talking. Four times, he returned to finish a point.

Since returning from back and knee surgery three games ago, Jurevicius had caught just six passes for 67 yards and no touchdowns. The low point came in the team's Week 10 loss at Atlanta in which Jurevicius rarely saw the field and had only one reception for 3 yards.

Gruden was asked if Jurevicius was frustrated.

"I'm sure he is," Gruden said. "He's got a lot of pride, he's been through a lot with the rehab to get well, with the knee, with the back. I think, in his own mind, he's probably a little bit frustrated. But he's a team guy and he knows it's a long battle back."

What followed was likely the bone of contention between Gruden and Jurevicius.

"Even though you're back playing, you don't miss a year and a half of football and show up in Week 9 and say, 'Hey, I'm back, man,'" Gruden said. "I don't care what anybody tells you. You've got to work through that."

Based on last Sunday's effort, he's made considerable progress.

In addition to touchdown catches of 9 and 42 yards, Jurevicius closed out the day with five receptions for 82 yards.

Bob Harris is Editor and Webmaster of the TFL Report and Senior Editor for Fantasy Sports Publications.