Week 11: Start and sit
11/20/2009 10:58:00 AM
Each Friday, we’ll offer our thoughts on who to start and who to bench. Look for a roundup of our picks in the Tulsa World on Sunday.
Here are this week’s picks:
Start this guy
Matt Schaub, Texans QB: Here’s what you need to know about Schaub – he has five TD passes and no interceptions in last two games against Titans, who have allowed a league-high 23 TD passes this year.
Sit this guy
Jay Cutler, Bears QB: Here’s everything you need to know about Cutler – entering the Sunday Night Football game against Philly, Cutler has 11 interceptions in three primetime games this fall. Enough said to warrant a seat on your fantasy bench.
-- Matt Doyle
Start this guy
Kevin Smith, Lions RB: The Lions face the Browns, who have one of the NFL’s worst run defenses. Detroit has have plenty of issues, but Smith should be able to put up some yards against Cleveland.
Sit this guy
Devin Hester, Bears WR: The Eagles boast a defense with the third most interceptions in the NFL, so Jay Cutler will likely struggle. Philly also has given up 14 passing touchdowns, tied for ninth worst in the league, so you be tempted to play Hester. But he’ll likely get a large dose of Asante Samuel, one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks, which limits Hester's value.
-- James Royal
Start this guy
Lee Evans, Bills WR: TO, who? Now that his coach is gone, the Bills' offense has found itself and done it on the road of all places. The Jags have not done well stopping any receivers all year. Ryan Fitzpatrick is not the answer, but at least he has an arm, unlike Trent Edwards.
Sit this guy
Laurence Maroney Patriots RB: Fumble on the goal line. How many times has he had to hear about that in the past week? It wasn't Bill Belichick's fourth down call but that fumble that cost the Pats the game at Indy. Maroney does what he does every year -- he shows up for a while and then disappears. The Jets have only allowed four running backs to score against them.
-- Jason Collington
Fantasy stock report
11/17/2009 10:31:00 AM
Stock rising
Sidney Rice, Vikings WR: We have a winner in the search for Brett Favre’s go-to target in Minnesota. Rice has emerged in recent weeks as the man, punctuated by Sunday’s 7-catch, 201-yard showing vs. Detroit.
Stock falling
Tony Romo, Cowboys QB: The Romo rollercoaster ride continues. Just when you think he and the Cowboys are ready to pull away in the NFC East, he and the ‘boys deliver a stinker in Green Bay. And, don’t forget that December is two weeks away. We all know how well Romo and Dallas plays in that month. (Hint: it’s not good).
Sell high
DeAngelo Williams, Panthers RB: Williams has been on a roll lately, averaging 128 yards a game in his last five. But fellow Panthers RB Jonathan Stewart is getting increased work and production lately, and Carolina also is now dealing with injuries on the offensive line.
Buy low
Backup Bengal RBs: Who knows how bad Cedric Benson’s hip injury really is? How much will it limit him? Until then, don’t invest too much in Bernard Scott, Brian Leonard or newly-acquired Larry Johnson until we have a more definite body of evidence.
-- Matt Doyle
Stock rising
Jason Snelling, Falcons RB: Atlanta is being pretty quiet about the status of Michael Turner, but the Falcons re-signed Aaron Stecker on Monday. They wouldn't be adding a back if they thought Turner was likely to go this week. Snelling probably will split carries, but if Turner misses extended time, Snelling is a good pick-up.
Stock falling
Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs WR: Bowe had solid games the last two weeks, but the NFL slapped him with a four-game suspension for violating the league's performance-enhancing drug policy. Bowe won't be available again until Week 15 against Cleveland. He may have some value against the Browns, but it's going to be tough for owners to keep him on their roster.
Sell high
Roy Williams, Cowboys WR: Who thinks he's really going to keep up the progress he's shown the last two weeks? If you can find someone who does, then get some value for him before he goes back to being the old Roy Williams.
Buy low
James Jones, Green Bay WR: He's coming off a bad week (three catches, 17 yards), but he had some pretty good weeks before that. He's got decent matchups the next couple of weeks, so he's worth getting if you need receiver depth.
-- James Royal
Stock rising
Peyton Manning, Colts QB: We usually don't talk about the stars too often in fantasy -- you start them and that's it. But Peyton needs some space here. He is so good. I don't think people understand this. And know this: If he had any talent at the No. 2 and 3 spot at wideout, he would be even better. The two guys they have now can't run the right routes - and Peyton didn't let it stop him. He is the best and took on Tommy Boy head on. I know, Tommy has two more rings, but Manning does pretty well playing from behind.
Stock falling
Jay Cutler, Bears QB: Good thing that the Bears didn't give up a lot of future picks and tons of cash for an extension ... wait a minute. That is exactly what they did. So, Bears fans, this is going to be your offense for the near future. And it's broken. Really broken. Cutler has an arm but he needs better instincts, talent around him and an offensive line. Check out the free agents for 2010 -- there are none.
Sell high
Laurence Maroney, Patriots RB: Fumbles in the end zone and Sammy Morris on his way back don't make for a good place to be. His honeymoon as the only runner in New England is over. Get what you can and get out of that backfield.
Buy low
Darren McFadden, Raiders RB: I know. He's a bust. But he's more talented than the two guys ahead of him and he's making way more than them. Give him a couple more games to get his knee to 100 percent and he will get back to being a decent player. If nothing else, he should have a good day against the Browns when you are playing in your championship game.
-- Jason Collington
Taking advantage of injuries
11/16/2009 1:54:00 PM
Five starting running backs –Atlanta’s Michael Turner, Cincinnati’s Cedric Benson, Miami’s Ronnie Brown, Philadelphia’s Brian Westbrook and Seattle’s Julius Jones – went down with injuries on Sunday, and odds are three or four of them were in starting lineups in your league. Can these injuries be a boon to your fantasy team? Maybe.
Of the five, the best setup looks to be for Benson’s replacement, if he’s needed. The Bengals’ next three opponents are Oakland (29th vs. the run), Cleveland (31st) and Detroit (19th). But it’s unclear right now who will be carrying the ball. Benson, who injured his hip, said he hopes to play next week, and all signs point to it being a realistic possibility. But after Bernard Scott struggled carrying the ball in Benson’s stead, Cincinnati is looking at signing former Chief Larry Johnson. If you can, snag Johnson since the deal looks pretty much done. If he gets to play, he could have some big days.
Jones (broken rib) will likely be out for the immediate future. In his absence Sunday, Justin Forsett rushed for 123 yards and a score against a pretty good Arizona run defense. Forsett makes a good addition since he still has games against St. Louis (28th against the run) and Tampa Bay (30th).
Turner (ankle) could be out a while, too, depending on how tests today turn out. His main backup is Jerious Norwood, who has missed five games with a hip injury. Jason Snelling wasn’t bad after replacing Turner (93 yards and a TD), so he may end up starting even if Norwood returns. Atlanta has some good matchups ahead for running backs, so Snelling or Norwood could have some big games if Turner misses a lot of time.
The other two injures – Westbrook and Brown – don’t offer as many options for fantasy owners. In Philadelphia, LeSean McCoy will get the start, but he’s probably not available. In Miami, Ricky Williams will see more time, but he’s also probably not available. The only options for fantasy owners here would be picking up Leonard Weaver or Pat White, and unless you’re in a really deep league, I wouldn’t worry about picking up either of those players.
-- James Royal
Matter of timing
11/16/2009 12:03:00 AM
The clock is ticking. Not sure if it's the clock used by Maurice Jones-Drew or Bill Belichick that prevents additional fantasy points (or hands out gift fantasy points in Belichick's instance), but time is winding down in most fantasy leagues to make roster moves.
In my three Yahoo.com leagues, the trading deadline is this Friday. There are not many scraps left to grab on the waiver wire as many seasons enter the final month of their regular seasons before playoffs begin. Now is the time where roster depth is essential.
Sunday's litany of injuries to some top fantasy running backs – Atlanta's Michael Turner, Cincinnati's Cedric Benson, Miami's Ronnie Brown, and Philadelphia's Brian Westbrook – should be concerning to fantasy owners who have those players. You hope they will return to the lineup quickly and not be affected by their various ailments.
The Thursday games that are now part of the remaining regular-season schedule are another headache fantasy owners must deal with down the stretch. Brown has the Thursday night game this week at Carolina. Right now, it's unclear if he will able to recover from his ankle injury quickly enough to participate then.
My advice on Thursday games is to go with sure-fire players who are in those contests in your starting lineups and then worry late Saturday night/early Sunday morning about setting the rest of your lineup.
If you went with Jay Cutler as your starting QB this past week, then you deserved to suffer all day Sunday. Tony Bennett might have sung about leaving a heart in San Francisco, but some poor fantasy owner probably lost his heart, his game and suffered through a miserable fantasy week that brutal five-interception performance last Thursday night Cutler gave in the city by the Bay.
-- Matt Doyle
Week 10: Start and sit
11/13/2009 12:34:00 AM
Each Friday, we’ll offer our thoughts on who to start and who to bench. Look for a roundup of our picks in the Tulsa World on Sunday.
Here are this week’s picks:
Start this guy
Steven Jackson, Rams RB: If you have Jackson on your roster, you should be starting him anyway. He's the only Ram worth starting. Even though Jackson's opponent, New Orleans, is 8-0, the Saints have been susceptible against the run.
Sit this guy
Donovan McNabb, Eagles QB: Guessing what kind of game McNabb will have each week is enough to drive fantasy owners crazy. Sure, he's capable of having a great Sunday. But he's also capable of having a horrible Sunday. San Diego is not a favorable matchup this Sunday. Hope you have other options at QB on your roster.
-- Matt Doyle
Start this guy
Sidney Rice, Vikings WR: Rice had strong games against Baltimore and Pittsburgh, two teams with decent pass defenses. Rice didn’t have a strong showing in Week 2 against the Lions, but he and Favre have found a rhythm together, and the Vikings are coming off a bye week. It could be a big week for Rice.
Sit this guy
Terrell Owens, Bills WR: With Buffalo taking on Tennessee, one of the league’s worst pass defenses, this is a tempting week to start Owens. He missed practice this week with a sore hip, though, and he’s probably going to be a game-time decision. And QB Trent Edwards is coming off a concussion. It’s dangerous to wait on Owens since there’s no promise for a good return even if he does play.
-- James Royal
Start this guy
Mike Wallace, Steelers WR: He is doing more than the Super Bowl hero Santonio Holmes. And that is sad for me to say, since I drafted Holmes. But Wallace is getting more and more targets and he's taking advantage of them.
Sit this guy
Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs WR: Like I said in our stock report, he is not able to knock off the defenders to make plays and some insurance salesman is catching 8 balls a game. This team is just not going to be able to do much against Oakland, which actually has a defense.
-- Jason Collington
Fantasy stock report
11/10/2009 9:52:00 AM
Stock rising
Rashard Mendenhall, Steelers RB: The second-year back has injected life into the running aspect of Pittsburgh’s offense. The Steelers rely on this aspect of the game so much, particularly down the stretch of the season. Mendenhall is now an impact player.
Stock falling
Brandon Jacobs, Giants RB: First, he’s saddled in a two-back system and doesn’t get much of the carries near the goal line. Second, he’s not reached the 100-yard mark at all this season. Three, his Giants are struggling presently. Add it all up and it’s not a good situation regarding Jacobs.
Sell high
Brandon Marshall, Broncos WR: Marshall has been on his best behavior so far in the regular season after his petulant child act in the preseason. But remember Kyle Orton is still his QB and the Broncos are coming back down to earth after their 6-0 start. I’m not saying, I’m just saying Marshall could act up again.
Buy low
Dallas running backs: Combined, the three-headed monster of Marion Barber, Felix Jones, and Tashard Choice would make a heck of a fantasy back. But none of the three are worthy as a fantasy starter presently. But if you get the right one on the cheap and they do take a majority of the carries, you would have a steal.
-- Matt Doyle
Stock rising
Calvin Johnson, Lions WR: Trade for him before he goes off. He was targeted nine times and if Stafford wasn't off by a couple inches, he would have caught more. Megatron is just the kind of player you need going into the last part of the fantasy season - he is not going to take a game off because of clinching home field in the playoffs and he the only weapon the Lions have.
Stock falling
Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs WR: You have a stinky village of quarterbacks on this team. And none of them are going anywhere fast. Then you have guys coming off of waivers who get the ball - and get in the endzone. Twice. You get four receptions when some guy named Lance Long who should be selling insurance catches 8. You are what we call trade bait. I bet he's on a different roster next year.
Sell high
Aaron Rodgers, Packers QB: Looking at the top passers, I see him as the most likely to not be there next year. And this is why - sacks take away a little bit of your soul when you are a quarterback. And this guy is getting killed and he will continue to get killed until he can't think straight. Don't believe me? Look at Marc Bulger. You can't fix an offensive line in a year and there are no great ones in this next draft. Check the free agents for next year - none. This is a problem that is going to be around a while in Packerville.
Buy low
Larry Johnson, Free Agent RB: What if he lands with the Steelers? What about the Eagles? He has value and is at least worth a bench spot on your team, especially to fight the injury bug that always pops up at the end of the season. He isn't done. He just needs a new team.
-- Jason Collington
Stock rising
Brandon Pettigrew, Lions TE: Matthew Stafford needs a security blanket, and Pettigrew can be that guy. This past week he had seven catches for 70 yards and a touchdown. Plus the former OSU star has a good matchup this week against the Vikings, who give up yards to tight ends.
Stock falling
Felix Jones, Cowboys RB: Since returning from injury, the Booker T. Washington grad hasn't been the same. He'll have opportunities to bounce back against some poor run defenses (Oakland, Washington, San Diego), but keep him out of your starting lineup for now.
Sell high
Miles Austin, Cowboys WR: He's still the No. 1 receiver, but Sunday night showed Tony Romo will spread the ball around and Roy Williams may not be as bad as we thought. Austin is a good player, and if you can spare him from your lineup, you could work a good trade for him.
Buy low
Chris Chambers, Chiefs WR: Chamber isn't a young guy, but like Collington said, it's obvious Dwayne Bowe is no longer the main target in Kansas City. Chambers could be a nice play in deeper leagues in weeks to come, especially this week against the Raiders.
-- James Royal
Another reason fantasy football is painful
11/9/2009 2:44:17 PM
Playing fantasy football is a very good way to enjoy NFL Sundays. It’s also a very good way to not enjoy NFL Sundays.
The latter was my thought for this past Sunday. Watching the Chicago Bears, my favorite team, get slaughtered by the Arizona Cardinals 41-21 was not enjoyable. I could care less that Jay Cutler threw for 369 yards and three touchdowns for Da Bears. Bottom line, my team lost.
And because of Cutler, one of my fantasy teams lost Sunday.
A co-worker decided to switch their QB from Tony Romo to Cutler. Great foresight. Cutler gets 26 points (instead of Romo’s 14) and proves to be the difference in defeating my team that’s tied for first place.
I’m sure the other owner who is tied for first place is dogcussing the Bears today as well. He had the Bears defense for his team. The pathetic effort by the Bears D resulted in negative-1 point for this owner.
By the way, he ended up losing his game by 1 point. Ouch!
-- Matt Doyle
Chiefs cut Larry Johnson
11/9/2009 11:13:08 AM
The guy who won a lot of people fantasy titles a few years back is now unemployed.
But I am guessing not for long.
I bet Johnson, who turns 30 on Nov. 19, is going to be a Philly Eagle soon. Isn't that where all the bad birds flock?
NFL.com reports that the Chiefs still owe Johnson $2.275 million.
-- Jason Collington
Why I traded Ray Rice and dropped Miles Austin
11/6/2009 11:16:46 AM
The trades are happening all over the place. If you don't trade in your leagues, I highly recommend it. I just had one where I sent Ray Rice and Jeremy Shockey in exchange for Joseph Addai and Brandon Marshall.
I went to the guy in the league who was not doing well and solved a problem for him -- he needed a star player to keep for next year. Then he solved a problem for me -- all the guys who I thought were going to be my No. 2 wideout decided to either get hurt on the first play of the first game or not play up to their potential.
Off the waiver wire I was able to grab the Viking tight end right before he went on his TD streak (Thanks, Brett). I was also pretty secure with running backs, so I put Rice and Shockey out there for bait. I think it's a fair deal and both teams got better.
As for Miles, I drafted him to two leagues for a simple reason -- any Dallas Cowboy fan (I am one of them) could have told you that Miles is the most talented wideout on the team. And he has been for some time. Roy has never -- not even in college -- been that great of a wideout. Patrick Crayton? Don't get me started. Austin showed a little bit in the first week against Tampa on his long touchdown run that he has special skills.
And then Jason Garrett ignored him for five games.
So, not having the patience to wait another week, I dropped him. Then Kansas City happened. Then Jason Garrett woke up from his sleep the past two years and started targeting him 10 times a game. And now Austin will probably make the Pro Bowl.
But what was I supposed to do? Wait seven weeks on a guy on my bench who was getting one or two catches a game?
The answer is yes. Because one of the things I changed about my approach to the draft this season was I was going to draft gamebreakers. And now that I am leading my division in two leagues, I think that played out well for me.
This year, Tony Romo decided to choke at the beginning of the season rather than at the end like he had done before. I knew he was going to come around, but I was impatient.
The bench is where you put potential. Yes, sometimes you need to let some guys go, but you need to continue to scout. I just picked up Willis McGahee who was recently dropped. Why? He is one injury away from being the starter in one of the league's best running offenses.
-- Jason Collington
Week 9: Start and sit
11/6/2009 10:10:00 AM
Each Friday, we’ll offer our thoughts on who to start and who to bench. Look for a roundup of our picks in the Tulsa World on Sunday.
Here are this week’s picks:
Start this guy
Ryan Grant, Packers RB: Grant has not been consistent this season. But when he has gone against the league’s bottom-feeders (Lions, Rams and Browns), he has gained at least 90 yards. Another bottom-feeder (Tampa Bay) this week equals another favorable matchup for Grant and the Pack.
Sit this guy
Roy Williams, Cowboys WR: Williams is concerned that he is losing his “No. 1 receiver” status in Dallas because “No. 2” (Miles Austin) is getting more catches. Hey, Roy here’s a hint – maybe the roles are correctly reversed for your QB, Tony Romo.
-- Matt Doyle
Start this guy
Michael Crabtree, 49ers WR: For a rookie who held out through the first five weeks of the season, Crabtree has been pretty good in two starts. This week, he’ll be matched up against a Titans secondary that has given up an average of 112 yards and two scores to its opponents' top receiver each week. There’s potential for a lot of points for Crabtree.
Sit this guy
Santonio Holmes, Steelers WR: Holmes hasn’t scored a touchdown since Week 1 and the Broncos have given up just four receiving touchdowns all season (all of them in the last three games, though). These factors do not bode well for Holmes. If you have other options, exercise them.
-- James Royal
Start this guy
Laurence Maroney, Patriots: The Pats have no one else to hand it off to and Miami is cracking up. If old man Thomas Jones can ran for 102 yards against them, Maroney can do better. Especially since Pretty Boy T will run up the score and then they will run the whole second half.
Sit this guy
Ryan Moats, Texans: Steve Slaton -- someone I told you to stay away from -- has a bad case of the fumbles. Oh, and he is not that special. That is why Moats got into the game last week. He might be the hot waiver wire pickup this week, but he is no fantasy starter. Slaton is not losing his job, just some carries. And the Texans are not going to do that well against Bob Sanders and the Colts at Indy.
-- Jason Collington
Fantasy stock report
11/3/2009 10:29:00 AM
Stock rising
QB Brett Favre, Minnesota: This pains me to type because I’ve been dogging the old man since day 1 of this blog back in July. But he is a must-start guy weekly after the Vikings return from this week’s bye. He’s not the wild gunslinger of days past, but he’s sharp and very effective and very capable of giving you 18-20 points a week.
Stock falling
QB Kurt Warner, Arizona: Warner typifies the up-and-down nature of the Cardinals this season. One week, he’s 24-of-26 passing. The next week, he’s throwing multiple interceptions. And why is he wearing gloves on both hands in the dry heat climate of the Valley of the Sun?
Sell high
QB Joe Flacco, Baltimore: Has the second-year Ravens signalcaller peaked? That’s the question you must ask yourself. Does he still have some mega fantasy standout days left with games against Cleveland, Green Bay, Detroit and Chicago? Or will he be more along the lines of last Sunday’s effective 20-of-25, 175-yard, 1 TD effort the rest of the season?
Buy low
RB Steve Slaton, Houston: Next to Chicago’s Matt Forte, Slaton is the most disappointing fantasy RB this year. The Texans haven’t written him off completely yet due to his fumbling problems. He still is capable of turning in a big play or two.
-- Matt Doyle
Stock rising
Cleveland Brown opponents: We knew they were bad, but they made the Bears look like a superpower. Do what you can to pick up the defense the Browns play against each week. This team is not getting any better and will be a possible shutout each week -- which in some scoring systems equals big points.
Stock falling
QB Eli Manning, Giants: You were warned weeks ago by not only me. He and his team are not likely to rebound. He can't even get 250 yards against a so-so defense.
Sell high
RB Steven Jackson, Rams: Get what you can and fast. It is time to trade in the value he has because it's about to go down. This team can't play Detroit each week.
Buy low
RB Willis McGahee, Ravens: He is now worth cutting, thanks to Ray Rice, but there is a lot of season to go. If Rice gets hurt, McGahee is prime to blow up. He showed in the first few weeks what he can do. I don't like him, but he's a cheap pick up who could give you some much needed points -- especially if Ravens qualify for the playoffs early and he gets garbage time.
-- Jason Collington
Stock rising
RB Ryan Moats, Houston: Grab him if you can and see how things shake out in Houston. But don't expect a lot. His big day came against Buffalo, the worst run defense in the league. Still, good running backs are hard to find on the waiver wire this time of year, so whatever role he plays, Moats is worth snagging if he's still out there.
Stock falling
RB Matt Forte, Chicago: How does a guy who just had his best game of the season have his stock falling? Because his stock isn't going to get much higher and he's been bad most of the year. Take out strong performances against Cleveland and Detroit, two really bad teams, and he's averaging 66 total yards per game and has no touchdowns. If you can get a decent trade for him, do it before his stock plummets again.
Sell high
QB Tony Romo, Dallas: Romo has strung together three good games, he has a real No. 1 receiver in Miles Austin and he still has some big games ahead this year. That all said, his three big games recently were against teams ranked 28th, 31st and 18th in pass defense. Of Dallas' last nine games, seven are against teams in the top 10 against the pass.
Buy low
WR Calvin Johnson, Detroit: He's nursing an injury and has been a major bust. Right now, he's day-to-day, and his owner may be tired of dealing with the headache of having him on a roster. If you can get him cheap, there's a lot of potential upside, though.
-- James Royal
Sunday studs and duds – Week 8
11/2/2009 3:33:23 PM
The calendar has turned to November. Soon, November-like weather will arrive. That means many things in regards to football. One of those things on the field is the determination of who has a solid running game.
This year in fantasy football, there some thought among a couple of experts that a tried and true adage was not as relevant as previous years. Instead of grabbing a top-flight running back in the first round (and possibly second round, as well), some fantasy draftniks suggested scrapping that ideology and using the first two picks on an elite receiver and maybe a quarterback.
Well, those top-flight receivers (Larry Fitzgerald, Calvin Johnson, Carolina’s Steve Smith in particular) have not lived up to preseason hype. While some of the top-flight preseason running backs not named Adrian Peterson also have not lived up to preseason billing, a few of those guys delivered a nice and tidy apology to some of their owners Sunday.
Chris Johnson, Tennessee: 228 yards and 2 TDs for the first-time victorious Titans.
Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville: 177 yards and 2 TDs on just 8 carries (80- and 79-yard TD runs help)
DeAngelo Williams, Carolina: 158 yards (although Jonathan Stewart got the red-zone TD carries)
Steven Jackson, St. Louis: 149 yards and game-winning 25-yard TD run.
Heck, even the overwhelming disappointment at the RB position this year, Matt Forte of Chicago had 90 yards and 2 TDs.
As we enter the second half of the season, the running game will take on more importance. Like many coaches, don’t give up on your running game just yet.
Other studs and a few duds from Sunday:
Studs
Brett Favre: The Minnesota QB’s revenge on his former employer was served like this: 4 TDs, well done.
Ted Ginn Jr.: Benched as a receiver the week before, the Miami player contributed in another way with 2 kickoff return TDs. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on you Rex Ryan.
Reggie Wayne: The top fantasy receiver this year added 12 catches for 147 yards and TD (from RB Joseph Addai and not the familiar QB Peyton Manning)
Ryan Moats: The Houston reserve RB benefitted from one of those continuing disappointing top-flight RBs. Steve Slaton fumbles on his first carry and gets benched. Moats enters and runs for 126 yards and 3 fourth-quarter TDs to win at Buffalo. Slaton owners are scrambling to get Moats.
Duds
Kurt Warner: Unlike his older contemporary Favre, the Arizona QB showed his 38 years of age with 5 interceptions and a lost fumble against Carolina.
Derek Anderson: I don’t understand the QB rating statistical formula at all and how it’s calculated. But I do know a 0.0 rating the horrible Cleveland QB earned Sunday in Chicago is not good at all.
Steve Slaton: The career of the Texans RB might be floating in a moat now after Moats’ showing Sunday in Buffalo.
-- Matt Doyle
Get these guys
11/2/2009 12:58:29 PM
RB Ryan Moats, Texans: Houston decided they couldn’t put up with Steve Slaton fumbling problems any more (Slaton’s tied for the league lead in fumbles lost) when the Texans were facing Buffalo, the NFL’s worst run defense. Moats stepped in for Slaton and rushed for 126 yards and three touchdowns. It’s not clear who will start next week, but Moats will probably share carries if he doesn’t start. (Available in 76 percent of Yahoo! leagues Monday afternoon.)
RB LeSean McCoy, Eagles: There’s some concern that he had just 16 yards on 10 carries Sunday, but that’s ignoring the fact that he had a 66-yard run for a score as well. Leonard Weaver stole a bunch of carries and could be an option in deeper leagues if Brian Westbrook misses the Cowboys game this week. (McCoy’s available in 45 percent of Yahoo! leagues Monday afternoon; Weaver’s available in 99 percent of leagues.)
WR Jeremy Maclin, Eagles: He’s playing second fiddle to DeSean Jackson, but he’s a great option to have on your bench, especially in points per reception leagues. Philadelphia has a lot of playmakers on offense now, and Maclin’s one of them. (Available in 54 percent of Yahoo! leagues Monday afternoon.)
QB Alex Smith, 49ers: This isn’t about him having a great game last week or potential for greatness the rest of the season. This is purely a matter of playing this week's matchup. Smith gets the Titans defense, the worst against the pass in the NFL. This is a defense that gave up three TD passes by David Garrard; Smith has to be good for a couple of scores against them. If you need a bye week stand-in for Brett Favre or you really don’t like your QBs matchup, Smith is a good option. (Available in 81 percent of Yahoo! leagues Monday afternoon.)
-- James Royal
Week 8: Start and sit
10/30/2009 9:47:00 AM
Each Friday, we’ll offer our thoughts on who to start and who to bench. Look for a roundup of our picks in the Tulsa World on Sunday.
Here are this week’s picks:
Start this guy
Kevin Smith, Detroit RB: Call it a strong gut feeling. Smith only has tallied 348 yards on the ground this year. But the Rams rank 27th in rush defense, giving up almost 136 yards per game on the ground.
Sit this guy
Ahmad Bradshaw, NY Giants RB: He plans on playing with a cracked bone in his foot against Philadelphia. My guess is the Giants plan on giving Brandon Jacobs more of the work load because of Bradshaw's status.
-- Matt Doyle
Start this guy
Matt Forte, Bears RB: Forte has been bad this year, only topping 65 combined yards rushing and receiving twice and only scoring one touchdown. He gets the Browns’ defense this week, though, which has given up the second most rushing yards per game and third most rushing touchdowns.
Sit this guy
Joe Flacco, Ravens QB: Flacco has become a weekly fantasy starter, averaging 279 yards and almost two touchdowns a game. But the Broncos’ defense has given up just three passing TDs this season. Temper your expectations somewhat this week if you don’t have a second option.
-- James Royal
Start this guy
Joe Flacco, Ravens: He's earned it. He is an every week starter now in fantasy. And now, at home, he takes on a defense that his offensive coordinator has had two weeks to prepare for thanks to a bye week. Yes, the Broncos are good on defense, but they are not going to run the table. They come to Baltimore and they will not be able to get to the quarterback like they have, which is how they dominate.
Sit this guy:
Pierre Thomas, Saints: If you own a Saint player, it has been an up and down season. Drew Brees can't decide who his main targets are -- which is fine for real football but isn't for fantasy football -- and the offensive line can't seem to consistently run the ball. Then you add in Mike Bell, who for the last two weeks looks like the better back, and that Atlanta has only allowed one 100-yard rusher this season.
-- Jason Collington
Seeking those trade winds
10/29/2009 6:40:47 PM
The trading deadline in the NFL was last week without any earth-shattering deals. That's how it is each year, especially after the idiotic deal 20 years ago that sent Herschel Walker from Dallas to Minnesota that in essence laid the foundation for the Cowboys becoming the team of the 1990s.
In many fantasy leagues I participate in, the trading deadline usually is not until the week before Thanksgiving. It's almost like Major League Baseball where teams are searching for that last-minute pickup that can push their squads over the top.
Problem is, many of the fantasy owners in my leagues aren't willing to deal. I've heard similar stories from friends in their leagues. Why is this? Just my opinion, but like some of the real wheelers and dealers, ego gets in the way.
True story: About a dozen years ago, I get a call late on a Friday afternoon from a fellow owner in my fantasy league. Let's call him Seattle Stew, an uptight fella who needed many doses of caffeine to function (we held our draft at a nice bar and grill around lunchtime that year and he complained to the waiter that they didn't have coffee and toast on the menu. Guess burgers and diet Coke weren't his taste du jour.)
Anyway, Seattle Stew stated he had a deal for me that I couldn't refuse. Knowing receiver was a weak spot in my lineup, he offered me Green Bay's Antonio Freeman, a top-five fantasy WR at the time. But here is where ego and nonsense stepped in. In exchange for Freeman, he wanted my starting QB (John Elway) and one of my starting RBs (Ricky Watters). Seattle Stew was flabbergasted and downright hacked off that I turned down his offer. He tried to sweeten the deal by throwing in a running back from his squad that wasn't even halfway the equivalent of Watters and wasn't even someone he started on a regular basis.
He hung the phone in a huff, and dropped a few four-letter bombs in the process as well. Seattle Stew was trying to win the deal, much like the Cowboys did 20 years ago in the Walker heist.
The best trades are those that help both teams. I give you someone from my area of strength, and you give me someone from your area of strength. It sounds simple enough. But for many owners, at least in my leagues, it sounds like a very complicated concept.
-- Matt Doyle
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