Starting Fantasy Lineup
Dec
19
2010

Week 15 Gameday Injury Update

POSTED BY Big Jim | No Comments »

Austin Collie, WR, IND - Active

Chris Ivory, RB, NO - Inactive

David Garrard, QB, JAC - Active

DeSean Jackson, WR, PHI - Active

Jacob Tamme, TE, IND – Active

Joseph Addai, RB, IND – Inactive

Marion Barber, RB, DAL – Inactive

Matt Cassel, QB, KC – Active

Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, JAC – Active

Roy E. Williams, WR, DAL – Inactive

Ryan Torain, RB, WAS – Active

Terrell Owens, WR, CIN - Active

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Dec
14
2010

Studs And Duds From Week 14

POSTED BY Big Jim | No Comments »

Darren McFadden, RB, OAK – If last week was not enough to convince you that DMC is back and playing at an elite level, then hopefully the 123 yards rushing, 86 yards receiving and 3 TDs are enough to confirm in your mind that this guy is a huge part of your playoff hopes.   Don’t get caught with him on your bench as there are still only two games that he started where he did not exceed 100 yards from scrimmage… and one of those was against the Steelers.

DeSean Jackson, WR, PHI – Jackson’s big-play ability and break away speed are unmatched at this time in the NFL.  These skills were on display this week, as Jackson was able to haul in 4 catches for 210 yards and a TD.  Is 52.5 yards per catch good enough for you?  He may not be the most consistent performer, but if you drafted him then you have to start him… wouldn’t want to miss one of these monster performances that can happen any week.

Michael Turner, RB, ATL – What impresses me most about this Falcons team is their versatility on offense.  They have a very balanced attack with Pro Bowl talent at WR, QB and RB.  The passing game never seems to run on all cylinders while on the road, but this week Turner carried the team on his back to a victory against the inept Panthers.  Turner racked up 28 carries with 112 yards and 3 rushing TDs.  He is fulfilling the dream he destroyed for fantasy owners last year when injuring himself just in time for the fantasy football playoffs.  Turner owners this year should get Jason Snelling on their team now in case there is a repeat of last season.

Andre Johnson, WR, HOU – There is something about this Texans team that likes to rally late in games, but unfortunately they are not able to finish games after closing the gap and they lost a heart breaker in OT late last night on a Matt Schaub INT that was run back for a touchdown. Andre Johnson was a beast in their late-game resurgence.  He started with a 42 yard TD grab to finish the first half and added another 8 catches to total 140 yards receiving and 2 scores. Games like this are why AJ was drafted in the first round as the top receiver… but they have been hard to come by this season and it is re-assuring to see it at the start of the playoffs.

Tim Hightower, RB, ARI – We did know that the Broncos were a bad run defense, but we did not know that Hightower would be able to grind out 148 yards and 2 TDs on 18 carries!  With the Panthers 25th ranked rush defense coming up next week and this clear indication that Wells is not going to be seeing extensive work… I think Tim would be an excellent flex play next week and should be in the top 25 at the RB position.

Deion Branch, WR, NE – No matter how good the opponent is, Tom Brady has been tearing them to shreds as of late.  It is a great time to own a Patriot in your fantasy football league as there are tons of catches to go around.  Welker also had a great game, topping 100 yards… but Branch had 151 yards and a TD making him the best receiver from New England this week.  I will still give Welker the edge in my rankings, but Branch is acclimating nicely into his old offense and will move up considerably as long as Brady and the Pats can keep this up.

Pierre Garcon, WR, IND – We finally saw shades of the talent that made me so excited about this guy in the preseason.  It is too little, too late for most of the fantasy owners who drafted Garcon, but if you were able to replace him and make it into the playoffs… then you’ve gotta start him next week against the Jaguars, who have not been able to cover WRs all season long (they are allowing just over 23 fantasy points per game to opposing WRs).

Jason Witten, TE, DAL – Witten has been among the best and most consistent TEs in the NFL over the past three weeks and with a 69 yard, 2 TD performance this week, he provides a much needed consistency at an injury-riddled position for fantasy owners this season.  Consider him a must-start and feel free to drop any other TEs you may have have on your bench as you need not look any farther to find your starter throughout the playoffs.

Ryan Torain, RB, WAS – Torain saw 24 carries and made the most of them by totaling 172 rushing yards.  Most of this came in the first half, when the Skins were not losing by enough to abandon the running game.  Usually you see a week of mediocre production after sitting out as long as Torain did due to his injury… but at least now we know who the starter will be in Washington for the rest of the way.  Torain should be considered for your flex spot with good, not great, match ups over the next two weeks.

Brandon Jacobs, RB, NYG – What happened here? Consider the combo of Jacobs and Bradshaw as the best in the league as both are essentially must-starts going into the fantasy-playoffs.  Jacobs broke off the longest single rush of his career with a 73 yarder to help push the Giants past their nightmarish experience of trying to play their scheduled game this week.  Both teams looked out of sync after the 30 hour delay and I think it is reasonable to expect this type of performance (probably a little worse, given the match ups) for the rest of the season.

Duds

Adrian Peterson, RB, MIN – Let me tell you a little story about how bad AP killed his fantasy owners this week.  I played my brother this week and going into Monday’s games, he had a 3 point lead with AP still to play… I had Andre Johnson.  The game ended with me as a clear victor, but I thought for sure I would lose.  2 points from the 2nd overall draft pick is simply not enough.  The bad performance can likely be written off as a precaution by the Vikings after AP and Jackson collided on a handoff and both players were banged up on the play.  Anyways, thanks a bunch Adrian!

Michael Crabtree, WR, SF – What is truly surprising about the complete lack of production from Crabtree was how well Alex Smith played in this game.  You would expect Crabtree to be productive when he gets such good play from the signal-caller… but all the catches went to Westbrook,  Morgan and Davis.  Don’t expect him to get shut down like this again, however these inconsistencies are exactly what keep me from raising Crabtree to a starter in my rankings.

Kyle Orton, QB, DEN - The rebuilding process should begin in a hurry after only 166 yards and FOUR TURNOVERS from Orton this week.  He may have been a great post-draft pickup, but he also probably just ended your season early with that performance.  If you benched him, had a bye week, or weren’t in the playoffs yet… don’t get caught dead with Orton in your lineup next week after getting destroyed by the Arizona Cardinals.  Tim Tebow anyone?

Jay Cutler, QB, CHI - After watching the Patriots dismantle yet another playoff team in the Bears this week, I am willing to excuse this performance from Cutler.  This is a shining example of why he is not an elite QB though.  The Patriots have a young and easily manipulated secondary and he couldn’t get the job done.  I expected an upset by the Bears in this game, but no one beats Tom Brady when the weather outside is frightful…

Benjamin Watson, TE, CLE – This poor game is inexcusable against Buffalo, who has not effectively been able to stop the opposing TE all year.  I place most of the blame on Jake Delhomme, but Watson is getting downgraded after this performance… even if McCoy is back in time for next week.

Davone Bess, WR, MIA - The Dolphins offense struggled as a whole this week in a tough divisional victory over the Jets.  Bess isn’t a huge factor in standard leagues, but in PPR formats he has been a beast.  You can keep using him given the quality of defense that shut him down.

Terrell Owens, WR, CIN - The Steelers shut down Owens this week with their zone blitzing scheme forcing some poor decision-making out of Carson Palmer.  He will remain in my top 20, but with the whole Bengals team floundering… you shouldn’t consider TO a top 10 guy any longer.

Jeremy Maclin, WR, PHI - One catch on three targets for 11 yards.  The worst game of the season for Maclin came at a terrible time for his fantasy-owners.  Don’t worry too much about playing him next week (if you’re still alive), you have to trust the guys that got you this far… and he sure helped quite a bit I am sure.

Mike Williams, WR, TB - The Redskins defense is pretty bad, especially against the pass and Williams was not a dynamic play maker in this game.  The big plays were made by Arrelious Benn, but don’t worry… you can still start Williams with confidence, it was only one bad game so don’t panic.

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Dec
04
2010

Week 13 Player Rankings 2.0: Wide Receivers

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1. Dwayne Bowe Vs. DEN
2. Roddy White @ TB
3. Reggie Wayne Vs. DAL
4. Greg Jennings Vs. SF
5. Brandon Lloyd @ KC
6. Calvin Johnson Vs. CHI
7. Larry Fitzgerald Vs. STL
8. Steve Johnson @ MIN
9. Marques Colston @ CIN
10. Terrell Owens Vs. NO
11. Santonio Holmes @ NE
12. Mike Wallace @ BAL
13. Mike Williams (TB) Vs. ATL
14. Mario Manningham Vs. WAS
15. Miles Austin @ IND
16. Dez Bryant @ IND
17. Braylon Edwards @ NE
18. Santana Moss @ NYG
19. Hines Ward @ BAL
20. Michael Crabtree @ GB
21. Percy Harvin Vs. BUF
22. Wes Welker vs. NYJ
23. Anquan Boldin Vs. PIT
24. Pierre Garcon Vs. DAL
25. Johnny Knox @ DET
26. Brandon Marshall Vs. CLE
27. Sidney Rice Vs. BUF
28. Malcom Floyd Vs. OAK
29. Blair White Vs. DAL
30. Davone Bess Vs. CLE
31. Chad Ochocinco Vs. NO
32. Steve Smith (CAR) @ SEA
33. Deion Branch Vs. NYJ
34. James Jones Vs. SF
35. Nate Washington Vs. JAC
36. Mike Williams (SEA) Vs. CAR
37. Derrick Mason Vs. PIT
38. Mike Thomas @ TEN
39. Steve Breaston Vs. STL
40. Danny Amendola @ ARI
41. Lance Moore @ CIN
42. Ben Obomanu Vs. CAR
43. Danny Woodhead Vs. NYJ
44. Randy Moss Vs. JAC
45. Jacoby Ford @ SD
46. Donald Driver Vs. SF
47. Nate Burleson Vs. CHI
48. Lee Evans @ MIN
49. Eddie Royal @ KC
50. Jordan Shipley Vs. NO
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Nov
30
2010

Studs And Duds From Week 12

POSTED BY Big Jim | No Comments »

Studs

Peyton Hillis, RB, CLE – What more is there to say about this guy? He is lighting the NFL on fire with his performance this season.  With Gore out for the year, Adrian Peterson is the ONLY back I would rather own than Hillis.  Not bad for a free agent acquisition.  Hillis racked up 131 yards rushing and scored three times, he was also able to add 68 receiving yards.  Hillis is the key to the success of the Browns offense and there is just no way that his workload diminishes.  You can’t ask for a better guy to take into the playoffs.

Dwayne Bowe, WR, KC - Speaking of players performing at an elite level… Dwayne Bowe went from a HUGE early-season disappointment, to a fantasy owners dream.  Just in time for the playoffs too!  You can’t afford to sit this guy on your bench… no matter who you have on your team.  Bowe currently leads the NFL with 14 receiving TDs, exactly one more than any player had last year over the course of all 16 games.  Bowe has 13 of his 14 scores in the last 7 weeks… talk about a hot streak!

Brian Westbrook, RB, SF – Before this week Westbrook had just 5 carries and 9 yards.  After Frank Gore’s fantasy-season ended early in week 12, Brian saw 23 carries and tallied 123 yards and a rushing TD.  Westbrook used to be a fantasy-stud and since we only need him for a few weeks… I am not scared of his age at all.  I didn’t get to include him in my pickups article this week since this all happened on Monday, but make sure you pick up Westbrook and keep him from the Gore owner who just got screwed over for the playoffs!

Michael Vick, QB, PHI - What more can you ask for a QB that no one drafted? I know that I personally have yet to lose with Vick in my lineup this fantasy-season and despite losing this week, Vick’s performance was excellent.  Look for another HUGE game from Vick in Week 13 as he faces the league’s worst secondary on Thursday night in prime time.

Wes Welker, WR, NE – Well, two good games in a row for a guy like Welker would usually mean a significant increase in the rankings… but as he is by far the top wide receiver on the Patriots, we can expect him to see a lot of snaps across from Darrelle Revis and that typically leads to a pretty terrible fantasy-performance.

Fred Jackson, RB, BUF - I don’t have any specific numbers to back this up, so feel free to correct me in the comments, but Fred Jackson had what is sure to be the best fantasy performance that ANY RB has had against the Steelers all season.  And as I said last week when I put Jackson on my Hate list (sorry about that)… his only chance was in the passing game.  I really think that Jackson is a must-start RB2 regardless of match up the rest of the season.

Mike Goodson, RB, CAR – While I am surprised to see so much work go to Jonathan Stewart after how productive Goodson was the past couple weeks, the tandem approach led to the Panther’s most dominant rushing performance of the year.  It was a winning approach if Kasay can make that field goal too… Look for more of the same, with Goodson having the most fantasy value due to his value in the passing game.  Goodson is a flex-play here and Stewart is more of a bench player/injury fill-in.

Rashard Mendenhall, RB, PIT - Like I said last week, you start your running backs against the Buffalo Bills.  We don’t learn anything new from this big-performance by Mendenhall, who will remain a low-end top 10 RB the rest of the season.

Mike Tolbert, RB, SD – Norv Turner isn’t one to play games with his running backs like Shanahan and Todd Haley do… so even when Ryan Mathews comes back from injury, expect Tolbert to carry the load as the Charger’s lead back.  You can bank on him being a flex-play the rest of the season and many Frank Gore owners will likely be using him as an RB 2 to salvage any playoff hopes they may have.

Duds

Chris Johnson, RB, TEN - Zero points is not acceptable from a number 1 overall draft pick.  Johnson has had some disappointing performances… and with this one he validates the decision that some people made to take AP over him with the first overall pick this year.  Truly great players are able to perform and be a positive for their team when they are struggling.  Rusty Smith or not, this should not have happened.  With Kerry Collins likely to return, you need to weather the storm and the offense should stabilize when Collins does return.

Terrell Owens, WR, CIN - Have you met Darelle Revis? I won’t likely include someone who is on Revis Island again in my Duds list, but with how dominant Owens has been all year… this is an announcement that the Revis-effect is back.

Anquan Boldin, WR, BAL - He didn’t used to have so many bad games while in Arizona… but he also didn’t have the upside that he has on this Ravens offense.  I am very low on Boldin this week going against the Steelers, but after that is Houston… so there is a light at the end of this tunnel.  Hopefully you drafted well enough to consider him a flex-option or WR3, which is where I will be ranking him from here on out.

Dez Bryant, WR, DAL - It is time to come back down to earth when ranking Bryant.  It was such a successful strategy for the Saints, who where able to make the rookie visibly upset.  It affected his play and you should expect to see the Colts employ a very similar strategy.

Jahvid Best, RB, DET – Both of his feet have turf toe now, saw no work last week on thanksgiving and I can’t rank him as someone you should consider starting any longer.

Mike Williams, WR, TB - He wasn’t able to rack up many yards or find the endzone… but the Ravens are still a very good defense and the Buccaneers struggle against quality opponents.  Luckily, there are no good secondaries left on the Buccs schedule until week 17.

Mike Wallace, WR, PIT - I have spent some time trying to convince people that the Bills are not a good opponent for WRs and QBs this season.  Now that the offense is playing well, it is even more apparent. Wallace is fine going forward, the Steelers are still an elite team in the AFC.

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Nov
19
2010

Week 11 Player Rankings 2.0: Wide Receivers

POSTED BY Big Jim | No Comments »
1. Roddy White @ STL
2. Hakeem Nicks @ PHI
3. Andre Johnson @ NYJ
4. Calvin Johnson @ DAL
5. DeSean Jackson Vs. NYG
6. Reggie Wayne @ NE
7. Brandon Lloyd @ SD
8. Greg Jennings @ MIN
9. Miles Austin Vs. DET
10. Terrell Owens Vs. BUF
11. Larry Fitzgerald @ KC
12. Anquan Boldin @ CAR
13. Dwayne Bowe Vs. ARI
14. Mike Wallace Vs. OAK
15. Percy Harvin Vs. GB
16. Dez Bryant Vs. DET
17. Marques Colston Vs. SEA
18. Santonio Holmes Vs. HOU
19. Jeremy Maclin Vs. NYG
20. Randy Moss Vs. WAS
21. Hines Ward Vs. OAK
22. Mike Williams (TB) @ SF
23. Braylon Edwards Vs. HOU
24. Steve Johnson @ CIN
25. Michael Crabtree vs. TB
26. Mario Manningham @ PHI
27. Santana Moss @ TEN
28. Wes Welker Vs. IND
29. Chad Ochocinco Vs. BUF
30. Pierre Garcon @ NE
31. Malcom Floyd Vs. DEN
32. Danny Amendola Vs. ATL
33. Austin Collie @ NE
34. Donald Driver @ MIN
35. Mike Williams (SEA) @ NO
36. Danny Woodhead Vs. IND
37. Lee Evans @ CIN
38. Mike Thomas Vs. CLE
39. Deion Branch Vs. IND
40. Nate Washington Vs. WAS
41. Steve Smith (CAR) Vs. BAL
42. James Jones @ MIN
43. Lance Moore Vs. SEA
44. Eddie Royal @ SD
45. Mike Sims-Walker Vs. CLE
46. Derrick Mason @ CAR
47. Steve Breaston @ KC
48. Nate Burleson @ DAL
49. Roy Williams Vs. DET
50. Devery Henderson Vs. SEA
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Nov
12
2010

Week 10 Player Rankings 2.0: Wide Receivers

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1. Andre Johnson @ JAC
2. Hakeem Nicks Vs. DAL
3. DeSean Jackson @ WAS
4. Reggie Wayne Vs. CIN
5. Terrell Owens @ IND
6. Calvin Johnson @ BUF
7. Larry Fitzgerald V s. SEA
8. Brandon Marshall Vs. TEN
9. Brandon Lloyd Vs. KC
10. Mike Wallace Vs. NE
11. Miles Austin @ NYG
12. Jeremy Maclin @ WAS
13. Percy Harvin @ CHI
14. Randy Moss @ MIA
15. Mike Williams (TB) Vs. CAR
16. Santonio Holmes @ CLE
17. Steve Johnson Vs. DET
18. Dez Bryant @ NYG
19. Mario Manningham Vs. DAL
20. Hines Ward Vs. NE
21. Pierre Garcon Vs. CIN
22. Santana Moss Vs. PHI
23. Michael Crabtree @ STL
24. Mike Sims-Walker Vs. HOU
25. Braylon Edwards @ CLE
26. Dwayne Bowe @ DEN
27. Steve Smith (CAR) @ TB
28. Davone Bess Vs. TEN
29. Wes Welker @ PIT
30. Chad Ochocinco @ IND
31. Johnny Knox Vs. MIN
32. Lee Evans Vs. DET
33. Mike Thomas Vs. HOU
34. Eddie Royal Vs. KC
35. Mike Williams (SEA) @ ARI
36. Steve Breaston Vs. SEA
37. Jabar Gaffney Vs. KC
38. Jacoby Jones @ JAC
39. Nate Washington @ MIA
40. Jason Avant @ WAS
41. Earl Bennett Vs. MIN
42. Blair White Vs. CIN
43. Nate Burleson @ BUF
44. Brandon LaFell @ TB
45. Jordan Shipley @ IND
46. Bernard Berrian @ CHI
47. Anthony Armstrong Vs. PHI
48. Danny Amendola @ SF
49. Early Doucet Vs. SEA
50. Josh Morgan @ STL
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Nov
10
2010

Week 10 Player Rankings: Wide Receivers

POSTED BY Big Jim | No Comments »
1. Andre Johnson @ JAC
2. Hakeem Nicks Vs. DAL
3. Roddy White Vs. BAL
4. DeSean Jackson @ WAS
5. Reggie Wayne Vs. CIN
6. Terrell Owens @ IND
7. Anquan Boldin @ ATL
8. Calvin Johnson @ BUF
9. Percy Harvin @ CHI
10. Larry Fitzgerald V s. SEA
11. Brandon Marshall Vs. TEN
12. Brandon Lloyd Vs. KC
13. Mike Wallace Vs. NE
14. Miles Austin @ NYG
15. Jeremy Maclin @ WAS
16. Randy Moss @ MIA
17. Mike Williams (TB) Vs. CAR
18. Santonio Holmes @ CLE
19. Steve Johnson Vs. DET
20. Hines Ward Vs. NE
21. Dez Bryant @ NYG
22. Pierre Garcon Vs. CIN
23. Mike Sims-Walker Vs. HOU
24. Santana Moss Vs. PHI
25. Michael Crabtree @ STL
26. Steve Smith (NYG) Vs. DAL
27. Wes Welker @ PIT
28. Braylon Edwards @ CLE
29. Dwayne Bowe @ DEN
30. Steve Smith (CAR) @ TB
31. Chad Ochocinco @ IND
32. Johnny Knox Vs. MIN
33. Mario Manningham Vs. DAL
34. Davone Bess Vs. TEN
35. Lee Evans Vs. DET
36. Blair White Vs. CIN
37. Eddie Royal Vs. KC
38. Mike Thomas Vs. HOU
39. Steve Breaston Vs. SEA
40. Jabar Gaffney Vs. KC
41. Mike Williams (SEA) @ ARI
42. Derrick Mason @ ATL
43. Jacoby Jones @ JAC
44. Jordan Shipley @ IND
45. Nate Burleson @ BUF
46. Nate Washington @ MIA
47. Jason Avant @ WAS
48. Brandon LaFell @ TB
49. Earl Bennett Vs. MIN
50. Anthony Armstrong Vs. PHI
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Oct
12
2010

Studs And Duds From Week 5

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Studs

Matt Forte, RB, CHI - Mid way through the first quarter Forte was over 100 yards with two scores.  He finished the day as the top scoring player in fantasy this week after amassing 188 all purpose yards to pair with those two scores.  This big performance propelled the Bears through a game where their QB threw 4 INTs and their defense shut down a struggling Panthers offense that was missing its only decent receiver.  Forte has been a pleasant surprise for fantasy owners and should be in your lineup weekly.

Malcom Floyd, WR, SD – Lloyd had a career performance on Sunday in a losing effort that snapped a 13 game winning streak for the Chargers over the Raiders.  I was impressed with the progress that Floyd had made carving out a niche in that Chargers offense and he did not disappoint me after placing him in the top 20 ranked WRs.  One game is not enough to get him to crack my top 10, but you can be sure he will remain a WR2 from here on out.

Ray Rice, RB, BAL – I spent all week trying to talk people out of benching their round one pick.  I hope you can all breathe a sigh of relief now after a reassuring performance from Rice on Sunday.  What impressed me the most was that both rushing TDs came on goal line carries. You can still expect McGahee to get a few… but hopefully Rice will get his share of chances to punch it in as well.  Start this guy every week, regardless of match up and don’t think twice about it.

Brandon Lloyd, WR, DEN – Alright… fine.  He is a starting WR for fantasy football, but you are on a short leash Brandon! He has never stayed consistent this long, so keep riding the wave as long as Orton can keep finding him open deep down the field. If you see the dropped passes start coming back bail out and try to trade him before he flops completely.

Hakeem Nicks, WR, NYG – Nicks cracked the top 10 in the WR rankings for the first time ever and did not disappoint in the slightest.  After 130 yards and 2 TDs you have to consider this guy a must start for the rest of the year.  Don’t trade him away either… he is here to stay.

LeSean McCoy, RB, PHI - Not too much more you can ask for from a guy with broken ribs.  He broke a very nice TD run to top off a 148 yard performance in a big win for the Eagles over the win less 49ers.  I was skeptical about him going into the year, but not any longer.  He has turned out to be a gem for fantasy owners and they should consider him a GREAT RB2 no matter who is at QB.

Mike Williams, WR, TB – The Buccaneers are the surprise of the year for me at 3-1 and ahead of the Saints in their divisional race.  Mike Willams has been an even bigger surprise for fantasy owners as he has proven to be a VERY consistent producer and should now be considered a great WR3 or flex play.

Cedric Benson, RB, CIN - Benson had 144 yards on 23 carries in a losing effort for the Bengals who are spending too much time trying to pass the ball and are unable to close out games at the end because of it.  Benson has remained productive despite the fact that the losses keep piling up.  You can still feel confident in Benson as a RB2 or flex play unless they are going against a top-flight run defense and you have some solid alternatives.

Michael Crabtree, WR, SF - It was only one big game, but it sure looks as if the new Offensive Coordinator of the 9ers is looking to get Crabtree involved in this offense for once.  The 49 offense rallied nicely at the end of the game, but it takes a complete effort to win a game and Alex Smith struggled in the 2nd and 3rd quarters.  You can’t count on this type of performance after just one game, but if you have any bye-week issues or injuries go ahead and start him… it just might pay off in a big way.

Terrell Owens, WR, CIN – Despite the poor play of Carson Palmer, as long as the Bengals refuse to lean on the running game, one of the Bengals receivers will have a good game each week.  It will be miserable trying to predict which one it will be, so if someone thinks Owens is the real deal then sell high!

Jason Witten, TE, DAL - This guy was once the best TE in the NFL and this season has been a disappointment as he was unable to find the end zone. That finally changed the same week that he has his highest yardage total of the year.  If you drafted him, there is no reason to search for a replacement because I believe the Cowboys will look to this familiar face to try and salvage this disappointing season.

Shaun Hill, QB, DET -You only have one more week left to use this clutch fill-in for Matthew Stafford.  Calvin Johnson has a shoulder injury that has Jim Schwartz concerned.  That has me concerned about the Lions offense.  They have no receiver that can draw the attention of defenses and open up the run game.  If the Lions can’t run they won’t be able to pass without their deep threat and best red zone threat.   I would look elsewhere if you need a QB for next week.

Duds

Anquan Boldin, WR, BAL - The Ravens had a tough start to their schedule and since they were able to run the ball so effectively in this game, there was no reason to test the excellent coverage provided by Champ Bailey.  Match ups are excellent for Boldin for the next two games before their bye week… and are actually pretty good the rest of the season. (the only exception is week 13 vs the Steelers)

Chad Ochocinco, WR, CIN - Well, you drafted a headache with 85 this year.  TO is taking too much of his production to rely on Chad every week as a WR2, but I still think he is the best fantasy receiver in Cincinnati so your probably going to need to keep using him for another week or two and see if that changes.

Matt Schaub, QB, HOU - The entire Texans offense collapsed this week. Treat it as an anomaly but with the production of Arian Foster, Schaub is no longer an elite QB.

Greg Jennings, WR, GB -The Redskins were allowing over 300 yards per game through the air and Jennings was limited to just 2 points.  With Rodgers suffering a concussion and it being unlikely that he will be active next week, think twice about starting Jennings against an underrated Dolphins secondary with two weeks to prepare for the game.

Sam Bradford, QB, STL - Mark Clayton can’t have been the only reason for the Rams’ success.  There will be growing pains for any rookie QB, but after his recent success I was very surprised to see Bradford shut down by the Lions of all teams.

Arian Foster, RB, HOU – See Matt Schaub.

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Oct
05
2010

Studs And Duds From Week 4

POSTED BY Big Jim | No Comments »

Studs

Arian Foster, RB, HOU – Despite missing a good portion of the first half of the game due to disciplinary reasons, he still tallied 187 all purpose yards and two scores.  Foster is like lightning in a bottle so far this season and until SOMEONE shows the ability to stop him, he will keep climbing in the rankings.

Terrell Owens, WR, CIN – If you started Owens you very likely were in some serious bye week trouble.  It was not unexpected that a Bengals receiver was going to have a big game against the Browns, but the smart money was on Chad Ochocinco.  If you did need to use Owens, congratulations on hitting your home run… but you can drop him now because Carson Palmer sucks.

Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, JAC – This is a shining example of why you keep starting your top draft picks despite any early season struggles.  The Jags are a bad team and MJD was not 100% healthy when the season started.  He had been held out of football activities for almost the entire off season and it takes time to get acclimated to the speed of the game again.

Rashard Mendenhall, RB, PIT – Well his value is about to drop, but not disappear.  Rashard has been as reliable as the Steelers could have hoped for in the absence of Big Ben.  Now that Ben is back they will be using the aerial attack much more.  I still like Mendenhall as a top 10 RB but once their bye week is over he won’t be coming near the top 5 for a while.

Zach Miller, TE, OAK – With Louis Murphy struggling with his shoulder pain the Raiders only consistent receiving threat was a non-factor. I was big on Zach Miller going into the year because of this lack of production from the Raiders receivers and it finally hit big.  This is obviously not what you can expect but Miller is a key part of their offense and he will stay a top 10 TE.

Peyton Hillis, RB, CLE – Hillis is now clearly the Browns RB you want to own.  I won’t bail on Jerome Harrison until I see Hillis get all the work again next week.  He is looking to be a good RB 2 if the Browns have a good match up and a flex play otherwise.

Reggie Wayne, WR, IND – Colts fans may need to be concerned after a surprising loss to the Jaguars on Sunday, but fantasy owners don’t need to share their concern.  Wayne hauled in 15 passes for 196 yards on Sunday. The one thing I did take from this game, is that if Garcon gets his #2 spot back Collie wont be able to maintain this value.

LaDanian Tomlinson, RB, NYJ - I was expecting a good game from LT this week with the soft match up, but I did not expect to see him look like he was 29 again.  I am encouraged by this performance and think LT just may remain a viable fantasy starter come the playoffs.  Shonn Greene owners should be concerned.

Duds

Santana Moss, WR, WAS - Moss had been the go-to guy so far this entire season, but the Eagles defense was able to shut him down.  I am not concerned because the strategy backfired on the Eagles and is not likely to be repeated.

Randy Moss, WR, NE – There have only been around 5 games in Moss’ career where he went without a catch and this was one of them. I have no concerns with Moss in the future you have to start him.

Jay Cutler, QB, CHI – The ridiculous pressure that he faced early in the game was not his fault.  Holding on to the ball and refusing to make a decision on who to throw to in the 2nd quarter was his fault.  For now I am treating this as a one game deal and next week (if active) he will still be ranked around 10th.

DeSean Jackson, WR, PHI - Kolb means bad news for DJax as he favors the safe check down style throws.  If you own this guy you will still probably have to start him because with a whole week to prepare knowing he is the #1 QB, Kolb will have the confidence to take a shot or two down the field.

Chris Johnson, RB, TEN - Tough crap, you drafted him. You are starting him.  It is frustrating I know, but he is still the best back in fantasy football.

Ronnie Brown, RB, MIA - Ronnie Brown looked bad last night on Monday night in a tough loss at home for the Dolphins.  Williams looked like the best back and the one that Sporano trusted the most.  I think that Williams might be the most likely to see carries in the red zone and might overtake Brown in the rankings.

Ray Rice, RB, BAL – See the first sentence of Chris Johnson.  He might be on pace to be this year’s Matt Forte… but you can’t say that quite yet.  He was playing against the Steelers.

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Sep
22
2010

Love/Hate Lists for Week 3

POSTED BY Big Jim | No Comments »

Love

Joe Flacco, QB, BAL – If you drafted Flacco I understand your frustration, but he IS playing against the Browns.  And really, he did well in week 1 considering he was facing the Jets.  Both Flacco and Boldin are pretty safe bets to have a big game this week.  Don’t let one bad game lead you to leave points on your bench.

Pierre Thomas, RB, NO – Like I said on twitter after Reggie Bush’s injury, I always hate to see an injury but as a Pierre Thomas owner I am pretty pleased with how much work Thomas is likely to receive in the absence of Bush.  Based off of the anticipated increase in both rushes and receptions as well as how effective Thomas was against a great Vikings run defense I expect Thomas to be a top 10 back while Bush is inactive.

Miles Austin, WR, DAL - Despite the massive concerns I have for the Cowboys running backs you can not really come up with a legitimate reason for why Austin will not succeed.  In the past two weeks the Cowboys have gone win-less and have struggled with penalties, protecting the QB and especially running the football.  Austin still leads the league in receiving yards and is currently the only consistent fantasy threat on the Cowboys.

LeSean McCoy, RB, PHI - Vick at the helm turns this offense into a more balanced attack.  Vick will be able to draw the attention of the linebackers on defense and make them more vulnerable to counters and misdirection.  This week the Eagles have a pretty good match-up vs a struggling Jaguars team that does not have an overwhelming defense and is trying to get past a problem with turnovers.

Donovan McNabb, QB, WAS – Even though you probably drafted McNabb as your backup QB he is set to have a great week.  I rank him at 11th so if you are in a deep format or a 2 QB league McNabb has been a diamond in the rough thus far.

Frank Gore, RB, SF – Despite losing the game the 49ers re-enforced my preseason opinion of the team.  Alex Smith was effective and showed poise in the pocket under pressure late in the fourth quarter.  The Chiefs do not have as good of a defense as the Saints do and with it being much more likely that the 49ers dictate the pace of the game you can be confident that Gore will be given plenty of opportunities.

DeSean Jackson, WR, PHI – With a 2nd good match-up for DJax and the Eagles combined with how well Vick has been performing it would be pretty foolish to sit a guy like Jackson that is such a dangerous weapon.  The balance of the Eagles offense will provide some chances to both Jackson and Maclin to face one on one man coverage and have a very productive week.

Rashard Mendenhall, RB, PIT - Some fantasy owners are not all that pleased with the performance of Mendenhall so far this season and I don’t quite get it.  Even though it took going to overtime in week 1 to get him in the end zone, it’s not like that doesn’t count.  He is the only consistent fantasy threat  on the Steelers offense and is currently 4th in the league in rushing yards.

Fred Taylor, RB, NE - With Faulk out for the season and Maroney shipped off the Denver Fred Taylor and BenJarvus Green-Ellis are about to get an increased workload.  It makes sense that Taylor gets the lead back carries with BJGE taking care of the third down and receiving work.  Against a great match-up at home against Buffalo Taylor may just have his best game of the season.

Roddy White, WR, ATL - Roddy White is the only reliable receiving target for Matt Ryan and currently leads the league in both receptions and targets.  Since White cannot get penalized for sacks or interceptions he is a great start this week.  The Falcons will not be as effective as the 49ers where at controlling the Saints defense with the running game and will need to abandon it for an aerial assault in an attempt to stay in the game.

Visanthe Shiancoe, TE, MIN – I expect that the Vikings are able to win their first game of the season in rather convincing fashion against the Lions in week 3.  The Lions are very vulnerable to the big play and with a lack of reliable receiving threats the smart money is on Shiancoe to lead the team in receiving.

Hate

Ricky Williams, RB, MIA - With Revis likely to miss the game this week I expect the Dolphins to lean heavy on the passing attack this week.  This was how the Ravens were able to beat the Jets.  With limited work to share and a stout Jets run defense there is not much room for fantasy value from the Dolphins running game this week.  Smart money is on Brown to be more productive, not Williams.

Thomas Jones, RB, KC - Thomas Jones is so beloved by the Chiefs coaching staff that they are willing to risk losing a close game and limit their offensive production just to feed him the ball.  Jones is not done in this league, but he should be be getting MORE carries than Jamaal Charles that is absurd.  It is not a matter of being greedy for fantasy points it is about production and yards per carry average.  Jones is too slow to be effective against a Patrick Willis lead 49ers defense.

Carnell Williams, RB, TB – I don’t care if the Buccaneers are 2-0 or how good Josh Freeman has been playing.  The Steelers defense has been dominating opponents even without a balanced offense to help them out.  They held Chris Johnson to 53 all purpose yards and forced 7 turnovers.  You have to ask yourself how good the Buccaneers really are have only beaten the Browns and an apparently bad Panthers team.

Pierre Garcon, WR, IND - I have been big on Garcon for the past two weeks and have been disappointed both times.  If you have any other viable options it is probably time to use them until Garcon earns the trust of Peyton Manning all over again.

Terrell Owens, WR, CIN - As I thought Palmer has looked pretty bad so far this season.  In order to win games and make a playoff push this season the Bengals will need to lean on the running game and while Ochocinco has been able to be productive this far, this offense cannot sustain two consistent receivers for fantasy football.

Mike Williams, WR, TB – See Carnell Williams.

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