Impact of Cutler's promotion, LJ's workload and more

By Bob Harris, Special to SI.com, FootballDiehards

All right boys and girls, we're heading into the stretch run to -- hopefully for most of us -- the Fantasy playoffs. Many leagues have shut down free agency, meaning your primary focus at this point in the season is submitting the best lineup possible given your current roster.

And that means staying on top of the news. And I'm here to help.

This week, we'll examine some key changes -- and non-changes -- that will help you keep a step ahead.

Change: Jay Cutler Takes Over For Jake Plummer In Denver
Broncos coach Mike Shanahan ended the speculation Monday by promoting the rookie ahead of Plummer -- permanently. "He's our future, he's our present," the coach said.

Cutler, the 11th pick out of Vanderbilt in the draft last April, hasn't taken a snap since the preseason. But Shanahan is hoping a quarterback change can ignite the Broncos' struggling offense. The team is 7-4 but ranks 26th in the league with 171 yards passing per game.

Cutler was impressive in exhibition play, throwing for 561 yards, third-best in the NFL. Dallas QB Tony Romo led the league with 833 yards passing this summer, but Cutler's passer rating of 108.3 led the league in the preseason.

The Cowboys, of course, have gone 4-1 with Romo as the starter. ...

From a Fantasy perspective, I wouldn't be especially eager to roll with Cutler -- at least in his debut against Seattle. But if I owned Javon Walker, the newcomer's high-end arm and Shanahan's desire to open the offense up would be of tremendous interest.

No Change: Jake Delhomme Locked In As Carolina's Starter
After a miserable (23-of-38 for 168 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions) outing against Washington last Sunday, Delhomme has 12 touchdown passes, nine interceptions and a passer rating of only 78.7. But Panthers coach John Fox said that, barring injury, Delhomme will remain the starter ahead of Chris Weinke.

"I think he's proven he's the right guy," the coach explained. "Until he proves otherwise, we'll stay the same. I can't sit here and predict the future, but I don't want to give any inclinations that we're thinking about changing the quarterback. ..."

Especially with Weinke standing by as the most viable option.

Change: Jets 3-Man RBBC Cut Back To 2
Two days after saying he'll stick with his three-running back rotation, Eric Mangini has downsized the rotation to two. Rookie Leon Washington and Cedric Houston are in and veteran Kevan Barlow is out, a member of the organization told the Newark Star-Ledger on Wednesday.

Barlow, who rushed for 75 yards against the Patriots three games ago, has rushed for 7 yards on 12 carries in the past two games. He has said he's a back who needs 15 to 20 carries a game to get going.

He won't get them; Mangini has opted to go with Houston over Barlow. Both are tough, physical runners. Washington is a quick, change-of-pace scat back. If Mangini commits to this rotation, it could make Houston -- and to a lesser degree Washington -- of more interest down the stretch.