Random Ishhhh

Quarterbacks Week 7

2010-10-23T13:28:00.000-07:00

Quarterbacks
Bye Weeks: Detroit, Houston, Indianapolis, and the NY Jets, so that means Matthew Stafford and Drew Stanton, Matt Schaub, Peyton Manning and Mark Sanchez are all benched.

Start 'Em:
Quarterbacks Who Will Outperform Relative To Their Draft Position And Recent Hype

Max Hall @ SEA
The good news is that undrafted rookie quarterback Max Hall won his first NFL start and is completing nearly 60 percent of his passes. The bad news is that he has no TDs, has been sacked 10 times in one and a half games, and has 3 fumbles (1 lost) and an INT. So why am I recommending starting him? The Seattle Seahawks 30th-ranked pass defense is why. Seattle gives up 291 yards and 1 TD per game through the air, in addition to the third most big plays and the seventh highest yards per completion (7.4) in the league. And remember, Hall still has Larry Fitzgerald to throw the ball to.

Matt Cassel vs. JAX
The Jaguars are just what the doctor ordered for Matt Cassel and his weak 170 yards per game. Cassel is 23rd in the league in passing yards but does have 7 TDs against just 3 INTs, and his 4 sacks are the lowest in the league for any starting quarterback. Heck, Jay Cutler gets sacked four times in one offensive series. Meanwhile, the Jaguars are giving up 264 yards and 2.5 TDs per game on average. Only Houston has given up as many passing TDs this season, and their 8.8 yards-per-completion average and 33 big plays allowed are both worst in the league. Cassel should thrive against a team allowing opposing quarterbacks a 67 completion percentage and a 110 QB rating.

Trent Edwards @ KC
Trent Edwards will likely fill in for the concussed David Garrard, although it could be Todd Bouman if Edwards can’t play with a sprained right thumb. Edwards started the first two games of the season in Buffalo, was benched, then cut, and didn’t see action until last week when he had to step in for the injured Garrard. Edwards’ totals this year are horrible: 43 for 76 with 381 yards, 1 TD, 4 INTs, and 9 sacks in three games. But last week aside, the Jaguars have been putting up points, and this week’s matchup should result in another high-scoring game. So I’m going out on a limb here and saying Edwards will get lots of chances to rack up some yards and a score or two against the league’s 27th-ranked pass defense that is giving up 250 yards and more than a TD per game.

Jay "Ragdoll" Cutler.

Jay Cutler vs. WAS
Sure, Cutler is the NFL’s official ragdoll, getting sacked 23 times in five games (almost 5 sacks per game); but he’s averaging 240 yards per game (10th best in the league) and 8.5 yards per completion (2nd best) to go along with his 60 percent completion rate and his 1 TD per game average. And this week he faces the Redskins, the leagues 31st-ranked pass defense. Washington is one of just two teams giving up more than 298 yards per game through the air (Houston is the other). The Redskins have given up the fourth most big plays and have allowed 9 TDs, the eighth highest QB rating (90.9), and the eighth worst passer completion percentage (65%). As long as Cutler can stay on his feet—and, granted, that’s a big “if”—he should have a nice day throwing the ball and getting you some solid fantasy points.

Bench 'Em:
Quarterbacks Who Will Under Perform Relative To Their Draft Position And Recent Hype

Inactives Week 6

2010-10-18T12:45:00.001-07:00

Sunday
10/17 - 12:15 PM EST

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS AT WASHINGTON REDSKINS, 8:20 P.M. (ET)

Colts - WR Anthony Gonzalez, S Bob Sanders, CB Jacob Lacey, RB Donald Brown, LB Kavell Conner, LB Gary Brackett, G Jacques McClendon, DT Ricardo Mathews

Redskins - 3rd QB John Beck, DT Albert Haynesworth, CB Kevin Barnes, RB Clinton Portis, LB Rocky McIntosh, G Derrick Dockery, TE Logan Paulsen, DT Anthony Bryant
OAKLAND RAIDERS AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS, 4:05 P.M. (ET)

Raiders - 3rd QB Bruce Gradkowski, RB Darren McFadden, RB Michael Bennett, WR Chaz Schilens, LB Thomas Howard, LB Travis Goethel, DT John Henderson, CB Walter McFadden

49ers - 3rd QB Troy Smith, WR Kyle Williams, TE Delanie Walker, S Curtis Taylor, T Barry Sims, G Tony Wragge, T Alex Boone, WR Jason Hill
NEW YORK JETS AT DENVER BRONCOS, 4:05 P.M. (ET)

Jets - 3rd QB Kellen Clemens, RB Joe McKnight, LB Jamaal Westerman, T Vladimir Ducasse, TE Jeff Cumberland, DT Marcus Dixon, DT Howard Green, LB Jason Taylor

Broncos - 3rd QB Brady Quinn, T Chris Clark, G Eric Olsen, LB Robert Ayers, LB Wesley Woodyard, CB Andre Goodman, S Brian Dawkins, S Darcel McBath
DALLAS COWBOYS AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS, 4:15 P.M. (ET)

Cowboys - 3rd QB Stephen McGee, LB Leon Williams, LB Brandon Williams, C Phil Costa, T Sam Young, T Jermey Parnell, WR Kevin Ogletree, DE Sean Lissemore

Vikings - 3rd QB Joe Webb, WR Hank Baskett, S Tyrell Johnson, CB Chris Cook, FB Naufahu Tahi, G Chris DeGeare, DT Jimmy Kennedy, DE Everson Griffen
DETROIT LIONS AT NEW YORK GIANTS, 1:00 P.M. (ET)

Lions - 3rd QB Matthew Stafford, LB DeAndre Levy, LB Landon Johnson, RB Aaron Brown, DE Willie Young, CB Nathan Vasher, T Jason Fox, DE Turk McBride

Giants - K Lawrence Tynes, CB Brian Jackson, RB D.J. Ware, FB Madison Hedgecock, LB Keith Bulluck, LB Phillip Dillard, LT Will Beatty, DE Mathias Kiwanuka
ATLANTA FALCONS AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES, 1:00 P.M. (ET)

Falcons - 3rd QB John Parker Wilson, CB Dominique Franks, RB Gartrell Johnson, T Garrett Reynolds, G Mike Johnson, DE Lawrence Sidbury, DT Trey Lewis, LB Sean Weatherspoon

Eagles - 3rd QB Michael Vick, RB Jerome Harrison, WR Riley Cooper, CB Trevard Lindley, LB Keenan Clayton, T Jason Peters, TE Clay Harbor, DT Brodrick Bunkley
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS, 1:00 P.M. (ET)

Saints - CB Randall Gay, CB Tracy Porter, RB Pierre Thomas, RB Reggie Bush, LB Scott Shanle, T Charles Brown, TE Tory Humphrey, DE Junior Galette

Buccaneers - 3rd QB Rudy Carpenter, RB LeGarrette Blount, RB Kregg Lumpkin, CB Elbert Mack, FB Chris Pressley, C Jeff Faine, WR Maurice Stovall, DE Kyle Moore
CLEVELAND BROWNS AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS, 1:00 P.M. (ET)

Browns - QB Jake Delhomme, QB Seneca Wallace, WR Carlton Mitchell, G Shawn Lauvao, T John St. Clair, TE Alex Smith, DE Jayme Mitchell, DE Robaire Smith

Steelers - 3rd QB Charlie Batch, CB Keenan Lewis, CB Crezdon Butler, RB Jonathan Dwyer, G Trai Essex, T Tony Hills, WR Antonio Brown, LB Thaddeus Gibson
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS AT HOUSTON TEXANS, 1:00 P.M. (ET)

Chiefs - S Kendrick Lewis, FB Tim Castille, S Reshard Langford, LB Justin Cole, DE Alex Magee, T Ryan O'Callaghan, WR Chris Chambers, DE Tyson Jackson

Texans - 3rd QB Matt Leinart, WR Dorin Dickerson, CB Sherrick McManis, LB Darryl Sharpton, LB Xavier Adibi, G Mike Brisiel, DE Jesse Nading, LB Kevin Bentley
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS AT CHICAGO BEARS, 1:00 P.M. (ET)

Seahawks - T Allen Barbre, CB Kennard Cox, T Breno Giacomini, TE Anthony McCoy, DT Brandon Mebane, S Nate Ness, T Chester Pitts, DE E.J. Wilson

Bears - 3rd QB Todd Collins, LB Lance Briggs, G Roberto Garza, S Major Wright, CB Joshua Moore, RB Kahlil Bell, DE Charles Grant, DT Marcus Harrison
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS AT ST. LOUIS RAMS, 1:00 P.M. (ET)

Chargers - 3rd QB J.T. O'Sullivan, WR Legedu Naanee, S Darrell Stuckey, LB Larry English, LB Brandon Siler, T Adam Terry, DT Ogemdi Nwagbuo, DE Vaughn Martin

Rams - RB Chauncey Washington, CB Kevin Dockery, TE Fendi Onobun, LB Chris Chamberlain, T Renardo Foster, DE Eugene Sims, DT Clifton Ryan, DT Darell Scott
BALTIMORE RAVENS AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS, 1:00 P.M. (ET)

Ravens - WR Donte' Stallworth, CB Josh Wilson, LB Tavares Gooden, T Scott Kooistra, DT Arthur Jones, T Jared Gaither, DT Lamar Divens, DE Paul Kruger

Patriots - RB Thomas Clayton, T Mark LeVoir, DT Kyle Love, G Rich Ohrnberger, WR Taylor Price, RB Fred Taylor, CB Terrence Wheatley, S James Sanders
MIAMI DOLPHINS AT GREEN BAY PACKERS, 1:00 P.M. (ET)

Dolphins - 3rd QB Tyler Thigpen, WR Marlon Moore, LB Austin Spitler, DE Robert Rose, T Patrick Brown, G John Jerry, TE Jeron Mastrud, DE Jared Odrick

Packers - LB Clay Matthews, LB Brandon Chillar, T Mark Tauscher, G Nick McDonald, T Marshall Newhouse, DE Ryan Pickett, TE Jermichael Finley, DE Mike Neal

SORRY!

2010-10-16T10:37:00.001-07:00

Sorry Ive been a bit inactive, had to go out of town this past week for a few days.

Im back now and tomorrow is another NFL SUNDAY! Woohoo cant wait. Will update later today with some more fantasy information

Through The Wire Week 5

2010-10-12T10:43:00.001-07:00

Running Backs

Off The Top

Felix Jones, DAL (@MIN, NYG, JAC, @GB) – Jones rushed 15 times for 109 yards in Sunday’s loss to Tennessee, setting season and career highs, adding a much-needed spark the Cowboys running game and freeing up Tony Romo’s capable receivers. While Dallas inexplicably lost the game, Jones appears to have surpassed Barber on the depth chart with this performance and should get the bulk of carries going forward.

Digging Deeper

Donald Brown, IND (@WAS, BYE, HOU, @PHI) – The injury-plagued sophomore tailback has missed the past two games (hamstring), but the Colts running game is really holding out for a hero – which could be Brown. If Joseph Addai (shoulder, neck) isn’t available on Sunday, Brown could get a start.

Scouring The Barrel

Fred Taylor, NE (BAL, @SD, MIN, CLE) – Taylor’s supposed to return from a lingering toe injury in Week 6, but the situation in New England remains cloudy because of BenJarvus Green-Ellis, the changing personnel in the passing game, and fringe performers like Danny Woodhead and Sammy Morris.

Earnest Graham, TB (NO, STL, @ARI, @ATL) – Fantasy owners anxious for some semblance of order to the Bucs running game might be nippy at Graham’s heels after his big day Sunday. While he’s not getting enough work to be a relevant starter, it’s a situation worth watching, as the veteran fullback was once a successful tailback and fantasy RB2.

Updates

Michael Bush, OAK (@SF, @DEN, SEA, KC) – Bush, returning from a broken thumb that kept him out of the first two games, rushed for 104 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries in Sunday’s victory against San Diego. The Raiders can take their time easing Darren McFadden back into the rotation, and when both are healthy, this situation smells like a pretty even time share. But if one is inactive, the other will flourish.

Ryan Torain, WAS (IND, @CHI, @DET, BYE) – Torain didn’t gain large chunks of yardage on Sunday, but he’s active in the passing game and Clinton Portis won’t be back anytime soon. Consider Shanahan’s favorite pet a RB2 with upside.

Ladell Betts, NO (@TB, CLE, PIT, @CAR) – The early word is that Pierre Thomas could return to action in Week 6. Keep an eye on the injury report; it’s clear that the veteran Betts has more value than Christopher Ivory in Thomas’ stead.

Mike Bell, PHI (ATL, @TEN, BYE, TB) – With LeSean McCoy active, Bell didn’t see much work. He’s nothing more than a low-grade handcuff at this point.

Kareem Huggins, TB (NO, STL, @ARI, @ATL) – I don’t understand the carry distribution in Tampa Bay, but with Cadillac Williams struggling, it seems the perfect opportunity to roll out the youngsters (Huggins, LeGarrette Blount) a little more than three or four times a game. Don’t give up just yet, optimistic Huggins owners.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

Off The Top

WR Michael Crabtree, SF (OAK, @CAR, DEN, BYE) – The much-maligned Crabtree is available in about one-fourth of fantasy leagues (including one ultra-competitive 14-teamer I’m in), and has benefited from a change in the offensive playcalling. He broke out against the Eagles on Sunday night, catching nine passes for 105 yards and a touchdown, and has gobs of risk/reward value as a WR3. We all saw what the Chargers did to the Raiders last week with a fast TE and athletic No. 1 WR, so the favorable matchup elevates Crabtree’s Week 6 value to WR2.

WR Mike Williams, TB (NO, STL, @ARI, @ATL) – Williams caught a career-high seven passes for 99 yards and a touchdown in the Bucs’ victory over the Bengals on Sunday. The rookie is the most dynamic target at Josh Freeman’s disposal, and with the running game a major question mark, he’ll get lots of work.

Digging Deeper

TE Marcedes Lewis, JAC (TEN, @KC, DAL, BYE) – You can’t argue that his production in the red zone has been awesome, so why not just add him? He’s not going to catch two TD passes every game, but he’s done it twice this season and Garrard has a soft spot for his tight end once the Jaguars offense gets close to the paint.

WR Danny Amendola, STL (SD, @TB, CAR, BYE) – The primary benefactor of Mark Clayton’s torn patella (placed on IR), Amendola caught 12 passes for 95 yards in Sunday’s blowout loss to Detroit. While it’s an unfortunate turn of events, the talented Amendola is the new No. 1 in St. Louis.

Scouring The Barrel

WR Deion Branch, NE (BAL, @SD, MIN, @CLE) – Branch heads from the uncertainty of Seattle to nebulous New England, where the football workforce is in a state of flux. While the best years of Deion’s career were in the Boston of yesteryear, the veteran is on the wrong side of 30 and coming off a few lackluster campaigns. Don’t expect a repeat of the days of yore, especially with Wes Welker, Julian Edelman, Brandon Tate and Aaron Hernandez clamoring for targets, but in deeper leagues, I can easily justify a roster spot for Branch.

WR Anthony Armstrong, WAS (IND, @CHI, @DET, BYE) – Armstrong had a big hand in beating the reeling Packers on Sunday, snagging three passes for 84 yards, including a game-changing 48-yard touchdown. His athletic TD grab helped ignite the Redskins rally, and going forward, he’s a viable deep threat for Donovan McNabb, who still throws one of the best long balls in the NFL.

Updates

Derrick Mason, BAL (NE, @BUF, BYE, MIA) – While Mason had just three receptions for 47 yards during Sunday’s win over Denver, he led the team with six targets in a game the Ravens won on the ground.

Roy Williams, DAL (@MIN, NYG, JAC, @GB) – Williams had another solid game Sunday, catching six passes for 87 yards and a touchdown. He’s a high-risk WR3/FLEX moving forward.

Davone Bess, MIA (@GB, PIT, @CIN, @BAL) – Before the Week 5 bye, Bess racked up 15 catches over two games. He’s not a great red zone weapon because of Brandon Marshall’s presence, but he’s a viable option in PPR formats.

Mike Thomas, JAC (TEN, @KC, DAL, BYE) – Thomas totaled over 100 yards on Sunday, catching four passes for 51 yards and running for 53 on three carries. He’s a more consistent option than Mike Sims-Walker and a must-own WR in deeper leagues.

Devin Thomas, CAR (BYE, SF, @STL, NO) – Thomas was released by the Redskins and claimed by the Panthers. We’ll see how much the Panthers plan to use him after the bye week, but the mess in Carolina isn’t an ideal situation.

Through The Wire Week 5

2010-10-11T19:02:00.001-07:00

Targeting weekly waiver picks is a completely subjective business, but this column hopes to point out some obvious and not-so-obvious selections to help your team from week to week while you strive to collect fantasy wins, reach your league playoffs, and win the elusive title that your friends say is out of your grasp. While I’m a big proponent of making trades to bolster your roster, the waiver wire can be an almost limitless resource when it comes to discovering fantasy value in strange places. Each week, I’ll target both offensive and defensive players — sometimes breakout stars that eluded your team’s draft — as well as players who can help your squad that may still be lurking in deeper leagues.

Off the Top - Includes my premier recommendations. These are sometimes players available only in more shallow leagues, and occasionally guys who are more readily but are thrust into the fantasy spotlight because of opportunity or exceptional production.

Digging Deeper - Covers the next tier of quality waiver wire specimens, usually players available in a majority of online leagues. There are a lot of gems in this range who can be plucked rather easily.

Scouring the Barrel - Chronicles the deepest of fantasy adds — and sometimes highlights players being tacked onto fantasy squads who I don’t have much confidence in. Make sure you read the fine print.

Each week, I’ll also provide a brief update on the 30-40 players I covered the previous week. It’s the most accurate, comprehensive one-stop waiver-wire column available on the Internet, and it’s only available here at fftoday.com.

Feedback is always welcome, appreciated and encouraged. I’ll get to as many e-mails as I can.

Note: Each player’s next four matchups are listed in parentheses ()

For my initial column, I’ll focus on guys that your league owners may have missed on draft day.

Quarterbacks

The upcoming schedule looks pretty for Bradford.

Off The Top

Sam Bradford, STL (@DET, SD, @TB, CAR) – The rookie turned in another solid game on Sunday, leading the Rams to their second straight win. He’s got come favorable matchups on the schedule and probably has more value than Brett Favre, Jay Cutler and Donovan McNabb at this point.

Digging Deeper

Matthew Stafford, DET (STL, @NYG, BYE, WAS) – Stafford will test the shoulder this week, but given the success of the Lions’ offense without him, he’s worth adding in all formats if he’s healthy.

Kevin Kolb, PHI (@SF, ATL, @TEN, BYE) – The Vick injury propels Kolb into relevance again, but expectations have to be lower given what we’ve seen and so far. More should be known about the Vick injury in the coming days and weeks; Kolb may not have much value in a week or two, when Vick is expected to return.

Scouring The Barrel

Jake Delhomme, CLE (ATL, @PIT, @NO, BYE) – The Browns may have won a game with Seneca Wallace, but Delhomme will resume the reins once his ankle his healed. Does that mean he should be on your fantasy team? Probably not, but it’s a situation worth watching.

Updates

Kyle Orton, DEN (@BAL, NYJ, OAK, @SF) – Orton continued the Denver air show with another big game. He’s a solid QB1 in all formats.

Chad Henne, MIA (BYE, @GB, PIT, @CIN) – If you forgive the three INTS, Henne had a nice game against the Pats, completing 29 of 39 passes for 302 yards and two TDs. He’s an excellent fantasy backup with value as a starter given the right matchup.

Matt Cassel, KC (@IND, @HOU, JAC, BUF) – Cassel will have four straight favorable matchups coming off his bye week. I’m into it.

Ryan Fitzpatrick, BUF (JAC, BYE, @BAL, @KC) – What a bizarre situation in Buffalo. In his second start (a blowout loss to the Jets), Fitzpatrick completed just 12 of 27 passes for only 128 yards, but managed to toss a couple TD passes rushed for 74 yards, making him one of the better fantasy plays of the week. He’s actually a decent option against the Jags this week.

100 FOLLOWERS!

2010-10-09T21:14:00.001-07:00

Woohoo just hit 100 followers. Thanks everyone!!!!!

Inside the Matchup Week 5

2010-10-09T09:35:00.001-07:00

Titans @ Cowboys - (Marcoccio)

Passing Game Thoughts: Vince Young had a relatively big passing day in Week 1 against the Raiders but has been his usual unreliable self (from a fantasy perspective at least) since. He has not broke 200 yards passing nor has he thrown for more than 1 TD pass in any game during Weeks 2-4. His lack of running while trying to prove himself as a pocket passer, hasn’t helped his fantasy owners either. Former Rutgers star Kenny Britt has caught a TD pass the last two weeks but must begin to show some consist production before he can make a real fantasy impact. With that said, he is far too talented to lose targets to mediocre veterans like Justin Gage and Nate Washington, so if Vince Young ever develops into a adequate NFL passer, Britt could blossom.

Young is the type of QB that can neutralize the Cowboys above average pass rush if he can mange to escape the pocket and make some big plays with his legs early in the contest. If that does happen, with the Cowboys being a middle of the road pass defense (215 ypg and 4 TDs in 3 games), the former Texas star may be able to post adequate stats for those that need a bye week filler. You likely can find a better option though.

Running Game Thoughts: Chris Johnson has fallen way off the pace from achieving his goal of 2,500 rushing yards. However, he has had a few big runs called back due to penalties and he is still a “sure thing” in your starting line-up even when he has a “down” week. The Cowboys however may present a stiff test for Johnson, as they have only allowed 83.7 rushing yards per game and have not allowed a rushing TD on the season.

Projections:
Vince Young: 185 yds passing, 1 TD, 1 Int. / 45 yds rushing
Kenny Britt: 75 yds receiving, 1 TD
Nate Washington: 65 yds receving
Bo Scaife: 15 yds receiving
Chris Johnson: 105 yds rushing, 1 TD / 40 yds receiving

Passing Game Thoughts: Tony Romo had his best season as a pro in 2009 (4,483-26-9) but got off to a slow start in 2010 largely as a result of his makeshift o-line. The line has been getting a little more healthy in recent weeks and will now be coming off a bye which should allowed them to come back strong. Rookie WR Dez Bryant has been targeted often by Romo this early season, but in the last game it was forgotten man Roy Williams that starred in the passing game. However, it’s Mile Austin and TE Jason Witten that are the ones that fantasy owners can truly rely on as they offer the talent and targets necessary for consistent production.

After a miserable 2009, the Titans pass defense has come back around this season (210.8 and 3 TDs). Cortland Finnegan is developing into one of the better coverage CBs in the league and may make life difficult for Miles Austin this week, allowing the other options to see an increase in targets.

Running Game Thoughts: Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. Jerry Jones came out this week and said that everyone involved from the coaching staff down to the guy selling peanuts at the stadium are in agreement that Felix Jones needs to be more involved in the offense going forward. Of course that really means that Jerry Jones thinks that Felix Jones needs to be more involved in the offense going forward. Felix has bulked up, looking stronger while still maintaining his big play ability so it wouldn’t be an unwise decision, but we’ll see if it happens. OC Jason Garrett seems to fall in love with the passing game once the whistle blows which makes any Cowboy RB a risky start.

The Titans are the 10th ranked run defense in the NFL. They are giving up only 92 yards per game and have only allowed one rushing TD on the season, so for this week at least abandoning the run may not be such a bad way to go for the Boys.

Projections:
Tony Romo: 285 yds passing 2 TDs, 1 Int. / 15 yds rushing
Roy Williams: 25 yds receiving
Miles Austin: 40 yds receiving
Dez Bryant: 55 yds receiving, 1 TD
Jason Witten: 95 yds receiving, 1 TD
Felix Jones: 80 yds rushing, 1 TD / 30 yds receiving
Marion Barber: 35 yds rushing / 5 yds receiving
Prediction: Cowboys 24 Titans 20 ^ Top

Vikings @ Jets - (Marcoccio)

Passing Game Thoughts: Ho Hum, another boring Monday Night contest lacking any subplots or intrigue. Yes, Brett Favre makes his return to his one time home of New Jersey to face his former team. While it’s not exactly Favre returning to Lambeau Filed as an opponent, the fact he returns with Randy Moss as his pitch and catch partner helps add some luster. Moss and Favre will only have a few days to create some chemistry, however given Brett’s gunslinger mentality and Moss’ deep speed the transition should come quickly for the two future first ballot Hall of Famers. Moss’ presence should also help open up the underneath routes for Percy Harvin and Favre favorite Visanthe Shiancoe which could be the real story come Monday Night.

Randy Moss v. Revis 2010 II (a/k/a the slouch v. the stud) was not expected to unfold until much later in the season. However, in a strange twist of fate, Revis makes his return to the field three weeks after tweaking a hamstring while covering Moss on his amazing one handed TD catch to once again face Moss. It’s always a difficult decision to bench a stud like Moss, but in a week where he is learning a new playbook, meeting new teammates and will be facing a very difficult matchup, it’s something to at least consider, even if he will potentially be rejuvenated by his new surroundings. Also keep in mind, the return of OLB Calvin Pace should really help the Jets’ pass rush which could in turn make those deep routes a dangerous proposition given Minnesota’s o-line issues and Brett’s bum ankle.

Running Game Thoughts: Adrian Peterson will be in the house as well, a fact that’s easy to overlook with all the Favre/Moss hype that is sure to come. The Vikings would be wise to try and pull back the reigns on the Jets blitzes by running Peterson up the gut early in the game. Peterson is a game changing back and will be the key to Minnesota pulling out a tough road win. If the Vikings can run the ball, it will make it more likely that Moss makes more of an impact on the field than he will during the pre-game show.

Of course the Jets 7th ranked run defense will be looking to keep Peterson in check, as they have done to all opposing running games thus far. With my sincere apologies to Ray Rice, Fred Taylor, Ronnie Brown and Marshawn Lynch, this will however be the stiffest test they have faced.

Projections:
Brett Favre: 235 yds passing 1 TD, 2 Ints.
Randy Moss: 45 yds receiving
Percy Harvin: 80 yds receiving
Visanthe Shiancoe: 65 yds receiving, 1 TD
Adrian Peterson: 105 yds rushing, 1 TD / 5 yds receiving

Passing Game Thoughts: Mark Sanchez has thrown for 8 TDs with zero interceptions through four weeks. That is quite a turnaround from last season where he finished with 12 TDs against 20 interceptions. Sanchez has worked extremely well with third year TE Dustin Keller, who is part of the new breed TEs that create mismatches wherever they line up. This week the former Trojan adds another weapon to the mix, former Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes. Holmes is a playmaker that can run the short routes or stretch the field with equal aplomb and should form a dangerous duo with Keller. Holmes’ arrival will push Jerricho Cotchery to the WR3 role further diminishing his already minor fantasy value.

Sanchez’ progress will be tested this week as he faces the leagues 3rd ranked pass defense. (189.0 ypg and 3 TDs). The Vikings have turned around what was a very poor pass defense last season and have received strong play from CB Antoine Winfield. Surprisingly the Vikings have played the pass well without the benefit of a strong pass rush – only 4 sacks on the season – but with a player like Jared Allen on the team that could change any given week.

Running Game Thoughts: LaDainian Tomlinson has looked remarkable during the 2010 season and is clearly out to prove that he’s not finished yet. Last week he rushed for 133 yards and 2 TDs, including a 26 yarder where he left safety Donte Whitner grasping at air. Shonn Greene joined the party with a 100 yard game of his one – but unfortunately the Jets will not be playing the Bills every week so don’t expect both backs to be able to generate so much production on a weekly basis.

The Jets of course do not play the Bills this week, instead they face the Williams Wall and the Vikings 4th ranked run defense. The Vikings have been a tough opponent for opposing rushers for a few years running now – and it will interesting to see how Nick Mangold, Matt Slausen and Brandon Moore handle the tough interior of the Vikings front seven. If they can win their battles letting Tomlinson and Greene get their games going, the Jets should be able to defend their home field.

Projections:
Mark Sanchez: 240 yds passing, 2 TDs, 1 Int. / 10 yards rushing
Braylon Edwards: 60 yds receiving, 1 TD
Santonio Holmes: 65 yds receiving
Dustin Keller: 80 yds receiving, 1 TD
Shonn Greene: 35 yds rushing / 5 yds receiving
LaDainian Tomlinson: 75 yds rushing, 1 TD / 35 yds receiving

Prediction: Jets 28 Minnesota 17 ^ Top

Saints @ Cardinals - (Eakin)

Passing Game Thoughts: The Saints offense has started 2010 slower than most expected. Ranked fifth in passing is sluggish by their standards. Many factors may be involved but perhaps the most glaring has been the lack of big plays from top WR Marques Colston. In fact, both TE Jeremy Shockey and WR Lance Moore have better yards and more scores than Colston through four games. The Cardinals may provide just the dose of bad defense medicine that could kick-start the Saints engine. Colston will draw a tough cover corner in Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, so he is still a bit of a risk, but odds are good that Lance Moore will extend his hot streak to three games. The Saints can take advantage of the Cards lack of cover ability at the safety and nickel corner positions. Moore has taken much of the quick hitting short routes the Saints usually reserve for Reggie Bush when active. Jeremy Shockey should also be licking his chops after seeing the Cards lose coverage on TE Antonio Gates for two scores last week. The sleeper play of the week is Devery Henderson. Henderson has been the main deep threat from the saints this season and draws one of the league’s most picked on CBs, Greg Toler. Henderson or Meacham will hit him for a big play, odds are its Henderson.

Running Game Thoughts: Pierre Thomas is questionable after missing last week with an ankle sprain. In his place Ladell Betts and Chris Ivory split carries evenly. Neither back has huge potential in that scenario even with a weak defense. Ivory is the more of the goaline threat, which may give him an edge. If Thomas plays, you have to assume he can have a big day.
Projections:
Drew Brees: 300 yds/2 TDs
Marques Colston: 60 yds
Lance Moore: 75 yds/1 TD
Devery Henderson: 70 yds/1 TD
Pierre Thomas: 65 yds rushing/40 yds rec/1 TD

Passing Game Thoughts: As the season quickly spins out of control the Cardinals will turn to QB Max Hall, a rookie from BYU. The coaches are big fans of Hall, and maybe with a week of reps he’ll improve, but he looked lost when he entered in relief against the Chargers last week. The passing offense will remain limited while the rook gets his sea legs. They will continue to target Larry Fitzgerald a ton, but the Saints pass rush and exotic blitzing will confuse Hall and bracket Fitz. Another rookie Stephen Williams, has been thrust into a great opportunity with Breaston and Doucet out, but so far hasn’t parlayed his preseason magic into real game contributions. If you drafted Fitz, you may be stuck playing him, things can’t get worse.

Running Game Thoughts: The Saints can be run on. The Cards will test put that theory to the test to protect their rookie signal caller. It will be interesting to see how RB Beanie Wells is used. Wells didn’t get his first carry last week until the end of the second quarter. With their current struggles, it is mysterious why the most talented healthy RB would not be thrust into action right away. His usage is apparently a mystery to Wells himself as his post game tirade showed. If he is second fiddle to Hightower again then it’s time to put a dog collar on him while he sits in the doghouse. For now, this backfield remains a split until proven otherwise.

Projections:
Max Hall: 150 yds/1 INT
Larry Fitzgerald: 60 yds
Stephen Williams: 35 yds
Tim Hightower: 45 yds rushing/30 yds rec
Chris Wells: 65 yds/1 TD

Prediction: New Orleans 31 Arizona 10 ^ Top

How Does Your League Handle Dual-Position Players?

2010-10-07T20:52:00.000-07:00

Last week’s column featured a question from Nestor, whose league is having trouble with Dexter McCluster because he is listed as a running back and a wide receiver on the Yahoo! site that hosts the league. Nestor wonders whether McCluster’s owner should be able to plug the player into an RB slot or a WR slot depending upon his needs each week.
Readers had widely differing (but in most cases sensible) responses. The most legalistic answer came from Todd:

Precedence works for the legal system—and should work in games as well. Whatever McCluster’s owner did first should stick for the rest of the season. If he started him as an RB in Week 1, then he’s a running back for the rest of the season. If he first started him as a receiver, then he is a receiver for the remainder of the year. It is clearly an unfair advantage to be able to put one player in at multiple positions (since that is freakishly rare in the NFL), and I would make a stink about it if anyone in my league tried to use the same player in multiple roles over the course of the season.

I am glad that this question pertains to a player with the limited productivity of McCluster (who has scored a grand total of 22 points so far this season in my primary league). I understand the point of raising a stink on principle, but the good thing about addressing this question in regard to a player with marginal fantasy impact is that most heads will remain cool, and the question can be answered more soberly than would have been the case with a star such as Eric Metcalf (who spurred Eric’s league to put a rule on the books for dual-position players years ago):
Our league (the Semi-Tough Fantasy Football League) has been in existence since 1993 (albeit with only 2 original members of an original 10-team league still in the league). We dealt with the issue of dual-position players way back in the days of Eric Metcalf, who was listed as a RB/WR and subsequently codified it in our league rules:

Players listed as multiple position players (e.g., a player is listed as a RB/WR) can be played at any position at which they're listed. The bible will be the official rosters as listed at the NFL.com site.

We also addressed and codified instances where defensive players sometimes play offense (we do not use IDP), called

1. The " Deion Sanders rule":

a) All defensive TD’s scored off of a fumble return/recovery, interception return, or blocked kick (FG or punt) will be scored to the team defense, not the individual player.
b) All offensive TD’s scored by defensive players playing an offensive position will be scored by the individual player, not the defense.

2. Special team scores will be scored by the individual player, not the team defense (except where noted above) including:

a) Kickoff and punt return TDs.
b) TD passes, receptions, or runs resulting from fake kicks.

Shaun’s response might not stand up to a great deal of scrutiny, but the simplicity of his position is very attractive:

Sometimes we have to be bold enough to imagine that we are smarter than Yahoo. Just because a website says someone is a running back doesn’t make it so. If McCluster were a running back, then you would think he would have some rushing yards to his credit this season, but my stat sheet shows that his only yardage has come from receptions and punt returns. There’s really no question here. Move along.

Nestor’s league might be persuaded by Shaun’s logic, but there isn’t much here that is generally applicable to the question of dual-position players. If I start a receiver who goes into a game and gets one touch on an end-around before being shut out for the rest of the day, then my receiver wasn’t transformed into a running back just because his only yardage for the day was rushing yardage. Nevertheless, Shaun’s response is funny and moderately compelling.

The response that is likely to ruffle the fewest feathers in Nestor’s league (and that seems generally applicable in similar cases) came from Evan:

[The problem of] players listed at multiple positions never came up as an issue in my league—maybe because our site doesn't list multiple positions. But if it did, I would have to allow [the owner to use the player however he wanted] if that is how the site [categorizes him]. In my league, if we do not have a specific rule for something, the site's default rules apply (e.g. the Robert Meachem Play).

My thanks to everyone who wrote in concerning the dual-position question. Even if all the responses were not included here, I believe that all of the positions on the question were represented by the responses above. I wish Nestor and his league the best of luck in figuring out how to proceed from here, and I will try to inform readers about his league’s decision if I hear back from him.

Q&A - What Measures Can Commissioners Take to Encourage Trading in Stagnant Leagues?

2010-10-07T19:12:00.000-07:00

This Week’s Question:

What Measures Can Commissioners Take to Encourage Trading in Stagnant Leagues?

Before I get to this week’s question, I want to thank everyone who has been submitting questions to me so far this season. In order to keep the column coherent, I try to focus on the one question each week that seems to be of greatest general interest to the fantasy football community. But I also consider the “time-sensitivity” of questions when deciding whether to ask them right away or to save them for later in the season. For some reason I have received an unusually high number of good questions in the last three weeks, and I will do my best to feature them in the order that seems likely to do the greatest good for the greatest number of readers.
I want to focus on Evan’s question about trading this week because the timing is right for trades to be happening at a brisk pace (as I explain below):

Our league is fairly active. There are 5-10 free agent/claims every week—with people swapping out their rosters regularly. However, there are rarely more than a couple of trades the whole year. Some owners are trying very hard to trade, while others are very complacent, even at a detriment to their team. We have a veto procedure to challenge, but it rarely gets used. Are there any ways to increase trade activity?

In my experience, trades occur with their greatest frequency immediately following the draft, then fizzle out for the first three weeks of the season when there are no byes because everyone is still in love with their own roster depth. Trades start to pick up again in Weeks 4 through 8, but often fizzle out again starting around Week 9 or 10 because many of the owners who need help most through trades simply give up on the season at that point.
Injuries and the bye week schedule should put sufficient pressure on owners to consider trades, but there are some leagues in which owners would rather make do with the players they have than risk embarrassing themselves by making a bad trade. I am speaking generally here about the various leagues in which I have participated. I cannot say whether any of these observations apply to Evan’s league, but my take on trading is that if it doesn’t happen in Weeks 4-8, it isn’t going to skyrocket later in the season. What advice can FFers offer to Evan and his leaguemates to get those trade juices flowing ASAP?

Last Man Standing Picks (Courtesy of Mark Den Adel)

Last week I got all 3 games correct along with the upset alert as Baltimore rallied for a last second win. For the season I am 10-2 on my picks and 3-0 on the upsets.

1) Baltimore over Denver
Denver got a surprising win on the road at Tennessee, but the Broncos will not be able to pull another surprise right away against the best team in the AFC. Orton has been on fire, but he's up against the top-ranked Ravens pass defense (which is yielding only 119 yards/game to opposing QBs). With no rushing attack, the Broncos will have to rely on special teams and/or turnovers to get the job done in Baltimore.

2) Indianapolis over Kansas City
Even though KC is undefeated and coming off of a bye, I don’t see the Colts falling to 2-3. Manning is throwing the ball well and KC is 25th against the pass. The Chiefs will be able to move the ball on the ground, but Manning's will and focus should be the deciding factor in this one.

3) Cincinnati over Tampa Bay
Cincinnati will recover after a disappointing loss to Cleveland. Tampa’s defensive backfield is terrible (28th against the pass) and if you saw what TO did last week, get your popcorn ready for more of the same from him and Ochocinco.

Upset alert – I try to look for a home dog, so my top candidates were Cleveland over Atlanta or Washington over Green Bay. I’ll go with Cleveland over Atlanta. Both teams are tough against the run and Cleveland is terrible against the pass, so Matt Ryan could post some big numbers. I think Joshua Cribbs will be a difference-maker somehow. Even though the cold weather hasn’t set in, Atlanta is outside and away from their dome.

Vick and McCoy both hurt with Rib Injuries

2010-10-06T14:22:00.000-07:00

Player: Michael Vick and LeSean McCoy
Injury: Broken Ribs
Healing Time: 2-4 weeks, 1-2 weels

The Vick sandwich should cause him to miss two weeks .

Impact on the Field: In what was one of the worst hits I have seen in a while, Michael Vick was sandwiched between two defenders on his way to the goal line. He was hit at exactly the same time causing compression of ribs and sternum. The force was so great that he broke multiple ribs/sprained cartilage. "There is some cartilage damage up in there and a small fracture up in there, so maybe a week, maybe 2 weeks, Vick said earlier this week. He was in a lot of pain and I doubt that you see him before two weeks are missed. It was that bad of a hit and pain is a big concern for someone who has to torque his body to throw. McCoy also experienced a broken rib and was able to play through it. His status for this week is in jeopardy - again because of pain. Running backs take more hits but are able to brace themselves better with padding and avoiding big hits more than quarterbacks. Twisting motions are miserable for people with broken ribs and pain medicine can only do so much. In my opinion, Vick will miss more time than McCoy.

Steve Smith and Andre Johnson both out with ankle injuries

2010-10-06T14:21:00.001-07:00

Impact on the field: The high-ankle sprain is one where the lower leg meets the foot. The two shinbones are splayed apart ripping a ligament that attaches them. Because that is where the force of the ground is transmitted, this injury takes longer to heal. That being said, Smith’s bigger problem is his quarterback play. I think he is back after the Week 6 bye, but he may not score very well the rest of the way if Matt Moore doesn’t come back to save him. In Johnson’s case, he already has a week of rest. He’s very dedicated and may try to play this week but as I have stated more than a few times in this article, it is best to let this injury heal. Let what happened with Michael Turner last year be a lesson - if one returns to early, they are much more susceptible to re-injury.

Tight Ends Week 4

2010-10-05T20:03:00.003-07:00

TIGHT ENDS
Moving Up
Zach Miller, Raiders
He was a sleeper at tight end entering the season and he hasn’t disappointed, now ranking fourth amongst tight ends. Miller was moderately productive over the first two games of the season, but he has turned it on over the last two games now that Bruce Gradkowski is his quarterback. Against the Cardinals and Texans, Miller was targeted 22 times, catching 15 passes for 186 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Moving Down
John Carlson, Seahawks
One good game, one below-average game, two stinkers. Such is the John Carlson fantasy story—not just for 2010, but 2009 as well. After Carlson had a solid rookie season in 2008 with 55 receptions for 627 yards and five touchdowns, he seemed like a solid fantasy prospect for years to come. And the thing is that he’s actually a decent receiver. Unfortunately, the Seahawks offense is lacking in playmakers, they can’t consistently move the ball, and—here’s the real kicker—their offensive line is horrendous, which forces Carlson to spend time blocking. He’s not the first solid receiving tight end to suffer because of his offensive line, and he certainly won’t be the last.
Heath Miller, Steelers
It was expected that Miller would benefit early in 2010 from Ben Roethlisberger’s suspension and the departure of wide receiver Santonio Holmes. Many (yours truly included) thought the combination of no Big Ben and no Holmes would result in more opportunities for Miller as a checkdown option and red zone target. Unfortunately, it hasn’t happened, and Miller has 10 receptions for 100 yards and no touchdowns to this point. It’s not time to cut bait just yet, but if he doesn’t produce after the Steelers’ Week 5 bye, it might be time to move on.
-Courtesy fftoday.com

Fantasy RBs Week 4

2010-10-05T20:03:00.001-07:00

RUNNING BACKS
Moving Up
Michael Bush, Raiders
Last week, Bush was Moving Down when I reminded you of Darren McFadden’s history of injury—and Bush’s value in light of that history. Sure enough and right on cue, McFadden suffered a hamstring injury during the Raiders loss to the Texans. If he’s out, Bush will get an opportunity to reclaim his starting position this coming week against the Chargers. Unfortunately, five of the Raiders’ next six opponents have rushing defenses ranked in the top 10.
Maurice Jones-Drew, Jaguars
MJD owners can breathe a sigh of relief after his performance during this week’s win over the Colts. After putting up modest numbers during the first three games of the season, this week Jones-Drew gained 105 yards and a touchdown on the ground as well as 16 yards and a score through the air. The touchdowns were his first of the year, and his fantasy production this week matched his total entering the game. The concern that the knee injury he suffered in the preseason might be hampering him can now be put to rest.
Ryan Torain, Redskins
I know, he was here last week and isn’t it redundant to have a guy Moving Up two weeks in a row? Not when there’s more positive news to digest. For the second week in a row, Clinton Portis was sidelined during a game so just maybe injuries are beginning an issue. This week, he said he heard his groin pop. That doesn’t sound good and likely means he’s out at least a week. Last week, he suffered a wrist injury. I could be describing my grandfather, not a starting running back in the NFL. Next up for the Redskins are the Packers (22nd ranked run defense), Colts (27th), Bears (6th), Lions (23rd) and Eagles (25th). Anyway, that’s why Torain is here and I should mention he’s averaging 4.6 yards per carry. Opportunity plus ability plus motivation equals success. That equation applies to everything including fantasy football and I should mention that it works great in interviews. “Well, Mr. Givemeajob, I am motivated and I have the ability to be successful in this position. All I need is for you to provide me with an opportunity.”
Derrick Ward, Texans
Hey, it’s a slow week for developments at running back, plus four teams were on a bye. With Arian Foster benched for the first quarter of this week’s game against the Raiders, Ward filled in and finished with ten carries for 80 yards and a touchdown. Looks like Ward (and not Steve Slaton, who is apparently relegated to the pass-receiving role) is Foster’s new handcuff.
Moving Down
Steve Slaton, Texans
See Derrick Ward above and note that Slaton’s pass-catching role isn’t much of one, with only three receptions in 2010. Slaton is roster-worthy only in larger leagues.
Laurence Maroney and Correll Buckhalter, Broncos
It has been a nerve-wracking season for Knowshon Moreno owners so far. First, he suffers a hamstring that keeps him out of much of the preseason. Then he injures his other hamstring and the Broncos trade for former Patriots first-round pick Laurence Maroney. Well, after two games, it’s clear that Maroney is either injured or completely ineffective. He had 12 carries for 24 yards in Week 3 and followed that up with an 11-carry, five-yard performance this week. As for Buckhalter, he split the workload with Moreno for much of 2009 but looks washed up thus far in 2010, as he is averaging only 1.8 yards per carry.
-Courtesy fftoday.com

Its all about luck

2010-10-05T14:50:00.001-07:00

Unfortunately no matter how many good moves you make you can still lose to just plain bad luck. Every fantasy football player will come to this at some point and it can be really frustrating. This past week I was tied with my opponent, I still had my QB left to play and he had nothing. I needed 1 point, just 25 yards or a touchdown. Jay Cutler ended up getting -3 points for me, which is unheard of. It hurt, because I thought I did all the right moves, but sometimes you just lose to bad luck.

This is a fantasy game, so we don't have actual control of what players do. This is pretty obvious though. Thats why if you if take part in this hobby, make sure you take everything with a grain of salt. Understand that you will have good luck and bad luck, over a long period of time it will even out. In order to win though over time, you need to make consistently good moves week to week.

Fantasy Week 4 QBs

2010-10-05T14:10:00.000-07:00

QUARTERBACKS
Moving Up
Shaun Hill, Lions
If there’s a timetable for Matthew Stafford’s return, please let me know what it is. At this point, with the Lions struggling at 0-4 and having no chance to make the playoffs, it makes sense for them to sit Stafford until after their Week 7 bye. If that’s the case, Hill has another two games to start, and he currently has five touchdown passes while averaging 301 yards passing in his three starts. Not bad. You can definitely start him next week against the Rams, who are giving up massive yards through the air (though just three passing touchdowns over four games). Week 6 against the Giants is a little more iffy.
Moving Down
Alex Smith, 49ers
It’s not that Smith has been that bad, it’s just that he hasn’t been that good, and the 49ers are 0-4. Worse yet, with the Bills decision to release Trent Edwards, Smith is the new Captain Checkdown among the league’s starting quarterbacks. Running back Frank Gore is the prime beneficiary of Smith’s reluctance to chuck it downfield, with 29 receptions on the year. Smith currently ranks next to last in the league in yards per completion and fourth last in yards per attempt. With all the weapons around him and a young, talented offensive line, Smith was a sleeper candidate entering the season. But his play over the first four weeks had pretty much extinguished any hope of fantasy fortune. Move on.

A major fantasy disappointment.

Eli Manning, Giants
It was expected that Manning would retain his status as a low-end fantasy starter in 2010, but there was upside in that expectation, given the Giants increased reliance on the passing attack as well as their outstanding trio of wide receivers in Hakeem Nicks, Steve Smith, and Mario Manningham. However, after three games, Manning is the 18th-ranked fantasy quarterback. Worse yet, in leagues that penalize interceptions, Manning is ranked much lower thanks to his six interceptions. He has posted starter-worthy numbers in two of four games but has failed to top 200 yards twice. In fact, remove some garbage time production against the Titans and Manning would rank as one of the major fantasy disappointments at quarterback.
Kevin Kolb, Eagles
On the positive side for Kolb owners, he may get a chance to start next week against the 49ers. On negative side, he had a perfectly mediocre performance in relief of injured starter Michael Vick this week against the Redskins, with the Eagles losing at home. Kolb checked down early and often to running back LeSean McCoy, and the end result was no production from Philadelphia’s group of talented wide receivers. Hard to imagine him winning the job back from Vick without some major improvement, and there’s little evidence to suggest that will occur.

Courtesy of fftoday.com

Week 4 Receiver Results

2010-10-05T12:36:00.001-07:00

Thought all Fantasy Players might find this interesting.

WIDE RECEIVERS
Moving Up

The better wide receiver?

Terrell Owens, Bengals
He’s back, baby. T.O., wait, make that Robin…or is it Batman? Whatever you call him, Owens went wild in the Bengals loss to the Browns this week with a whopping 222 yards and a touchdown on ten receptions. The naysayers will contend that his touchdown came on a play where the defender fell down, but the optimists will point out that, even minus the touchdown play, Owens still had a very productive afternoon. Meanwhile, Chad Ochocinco (the real Batman) had another quiet day and has 11 receptions for 137 yards and no touchdowns since his big opening game in New England. Which begs the question, Who is the Bengals receiver to own? It looks like Owens right now. After all, Ochocinco told us in the preseason that Owens was the better receiver. Maybe we should believe him.
Derrick Mason, Ravens
Both Mason and T.J. Houshmandzadeh were disappointments entering this week’s game against the Steelers, seemingly forgotten options in the passing game with the addition of Anquan Boldin and the re-emergence of tight end Todd Heap. However, both players got it going this week, which really shouldn’t be a huge shock given that Ray Rice was an emergency option at running back and Willis McGahee and LeRon McClain both were injured. While Houshmandzadeh had the better fantasy production with three receptions for 49 yards and a touchdown, Mason was used more frequently and came through with six receptions for 80 yards on eight targets. Of the two, he’s the guy I want going forward.
Brandon Lloyd, Broncos
Quick! Who has the second most receiving yards in the NFL with 454, two behind Reggie Wayne? Well, you obviously know the answer, but do you believe it? Are you currently loading the stats page on FFToday.com to confirm it? Don’t you trust me? That’s okay; you don’t have to trust me. We are talking about Brandon Lloyd—the same Brandon Lloyd who had 495 receiving yards over the last three years combined. No, he’s not going to do it every week, but he does have double-digit fantasy points in three of four weeks, and the Broncos have been extremely productive in the passing game.
Braylon Edwards, Jets
It’s hard to endorse a player who averages fewer than five targets per game, was just arrested for DWI, and might not be his team’s best wide receiver once another returns from suspension. It’s even harder when you don’t particularly think he’s all that good. That being said, I have for you Braylon Edwards (please excuse my gagging). Hey, he has a touchdown in three straight games and 218 yards from 11 receptions on only 16 targets. It’s hard to be consistently productive with such a low number of targets, but it’s possible the Jets will begin using him more. On the other hand, he may just be benefiting from a strong Jets rushing attack that creates opportunities on play action.
Steve Johnson, Bills
This one’s for deeper leagues only. Since Ryan Fitzpatrick took over at quarterback for Trent Edwards, Johnson has been targeted six times, catching all six for 97 yards and a pair of touchdowns. On the season, he’s been targeted 13 times, catching 12 passes. So, when will Bills head coach Chan Gailey figure out that Johnson needs more opportunity? He has yet to figure out that first-round pick RB C.J. Spiller needs more touches at running back so I have my doubts.
Moving Down
Marques Colston, Saints
It seems sacrilegious to have the number one wideout from the most explosive offense in the league in 2009 Moving Down, but there’s no getting around it. Colston has been a major disappointment fantasy-wise in 2010, failing to catch a single touchdown and accumulating just 190 yards on 18 receptions. His production is down due to a confluence of events: injury problems at running back have allowed defenses to focus on the pass and take away deep plays, the team is spreading targets among four wide receivers and two tight ends, and the offense is functioning at the same level it did last season. All of this is causing Colston to get lost in the shuffle. Although it’s too early to give up on him, it now seems unlikely that he will match preseason expectations of over 1,000 receiving yards and 8-10 touchdowns.
Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals
Another player who is flirting with bust status is Fitzgerald, who is on pace to finish the year with 76 receptions for 832 yards and eight touchdowns. Like Colston, it’s not so much about the player as it is about his team’s current situation. Fitzgerald has struggled with Derek Anderson at quarterback, with the two not having played together in the preseason because Fitzgerald was out with an injury. Anderson was benched this week in favor of undrafted free agent Max Hall—an ominous sign for Fitzgerald. Anderson is bad, but is he worse than an undrafted rookie free agent? Apparently head coach Ken Whisenhunt thought so this week, and there are whispers out of Arizona that Hall will be the starter at some point this season.
Mike Sims-Walker, Jaguars
Hi, I’m Mike Sims-Walker, the most maddeningly inconsistent wide receiver in the NFL. Although I had close to 1,000 yards receiving last year (869, to be exact—in essentially 14 games), I have two games this year with no receptions. If you start me, I will disappoint you. If you bench me, I will have a big game. So, how about helping me out by benching me more often so I can have more big games? After all, I’m no use to you in your starting lineup. Yours sincerely, Mike.
Lee Evans, Bills
Current projection: 40 receptions for 376 yards and no touchdowns. Production in 2009: 44 receptions for 612 yards and seven touchdowns. Why does anybody think this guy can produce in the Bills anemic offense? Just because they’re paying him $9 million a season doesn’t mean he can produce. If the offensive line can’t pass block, then a one-dimensional player who excels only in the deep passing game can’t do a thing. It’s not rocket science, folks.
-Courtesy of fftoday.com

This week in football

2010-10-05T11:38:00.000-07:00

Heres this weeks games. Went ahead and put a W by the team Im betting on to win. Ill update later this week with my scoring predictions and what not.

Jacksonville W at Buffalo	1:00 PM	CBS	Tickets \| Travel	Ralph Wilson Stadium
Tampa Bay at Cincinnati W	1:00 PM	FOX	Tickets \| Travel	Paul Brown Stadium
Atlanta W at Cleveland	1:00 PM	FOX	Tickets \| Travel	Cleveland Browns Stadium
St. Louis at Detroit W	1:00 PM	FOX	Tickets \| Travel	Ford Field
Kansas City W at Indianapolis	1:00 PM	CBS	Tickets \| Travel	Lucas Oil Stadium
Green Bay at Washington W	1:00 PM	FOX	Tickets \| Travel	FedEx Field
Chicago at Carolina W	1:00 PM	FOX	Tickets \| Travel	Bank of America Stadium
Denver at Baltimore W	1:00 PM	CBS	Tickets \| Travel	M&T Bank Stadium
NY Giants W at Houston	1:00 PM	FOX	Tickets \| Travel	Reliant Stadium
New Orleans W at Arizona	4:05 PM	FOX	Tickets \| Travel	U of Phoenix Stadium
San Diego W at Oakland	4:15 PM	CBS	Tickets \| Travel	Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
Tennessee W at Dallas	4:15 PM	CBS	Tickets \| Travel	Cowboys Stadium
Philadelphia at San Francisco W	8:20 PM	NBC	Tickets \| Travel	Candlestick Park

Getting an xbox?

2010-10-04T22:49:00.000-07:00

So im pretty behind with gaming systems now a days and just played Halo Reach at my buddies the other day and am now hooked. Ive seriously been considering spending the money to get an xbox but dunno if its totally worth it. Are there any other good titles out now or coming out that would justify spending 200+ on the system?

Woo Patriots Woopin That Ass

2010-10-04T22:46:00.000-07:00

Just finished watching the Pats and Dolphins game a bit ago. The dolphins got their shit rocked pretty much and the patriots defense is looking amazing this year. Too bad brady didnt have the game I was hoping and caused me my first loss in fantasy this year.

FUUUUUUUUUUUU