September 3rd, 2009 10:37pm PST
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Fantasy Football: Fire & Ice
When you are engaged in the masterful competition of fantasy football, stats, numbers, insight, and information are your tools for success. And even when you have already made your fantasy draft choices, before you assume anything it can be just as helpful to know exactly just what you got.
Playing fantasy football is not just knowing when to start your players, but you also knowing when to consider the right time to bench your fizzling starlets. Join me here every week as I will once again be sharing with you the insight and analysis you’ll need to know who’s on “Fire” and who is as cold as “Ice.”
Your 2009 Preseason Notes:
The Quarterbacks...
Fire: Last season down the stretch the Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers finished off the 2008 season as one of the hottest arms throwing 11 touchdowns (to only four-INT’s) and averaging 287.6-yards passing in his final five starts. Rodgers has looked very good this preseason and is a favorite to pick things up just where he left off.
Fire: In his last four starts of the 2008 season, the Texans quarterback Matt Schaub only tossed five touchdowns, but he completed 63-percent of his passes (97 of 153) and averaged more than 320-yards. If he can stay healthy, Schaub is a great prospect to have a great start this season.
Ice: Last season was not a golden year for the former Golden Boy in Green Bay. Brett Favre was one of the poorest performing fantasy quarterbacks down the stretch in 2008. In his last five starts, Favre tossed just two touchdowns, but threw nine interceptions to sink the Jets postseason hopes. Fantasy owners are hoping a change of scenery will help turn his luck around.
The Running Backs...
Fire: Last season rookie running back Kevin Smith quietly solidified the starting job with the Lions for 2009, with a strong finish in 2008. Smith averaged more than 90-yards rushing in his last three starts and scored a touchdown in each of those affairs. Not a great PPR option, but Smith did fair well with nine catches down the stretch.
Fire: The Panthers starting running back DeAngelo Williams is not getting much credit this preseason heading toward fantasy drafts, but that could change once you consider how he finished last season. In his last four starts he averaged 140-yards on the ground and scored seven times. Williams also eclipsed the century mark in seven of his last nine starts.
Fire: Injury risk or not, winning fantasy football is about what you do in the playoffs. In Ram’s running back Steven Jackson’s last three starts, he rushed for 360-yards, scored three touchdowns, and added 10 receptions for 101-yards from scrimmage.
Ice: In three of his last four starts in 2008, running back Larry Johnson rushed for less than 60-yards. Johnson also had just one rushing touchdown down the stretch (final four games) and averaged only 13 touches per game.
The Wide Receivers...
Fire: From out of nowhere coming off an injury, the Saints receiver Marques Colston reminded everyone very quickly down the stretch in 2008, that he still is the 1,200-yard receiver from 2007. In his final three starts last season Colston hauled in 22 passes, scored four touchdowns, and totaled 306-receiving yards.
Fire: Last season remembering that wide receiver Reggie Wayne did not play but a series in the team’s final contest, in his two games prior he caught 14 passes for 212-yards, and a touchdown. His name is not drawing a lot of praise, but with Marvin gone Wayne will be the only go-to in Indy.
Ice: Surprisingly the Falcons wideout Roddy White was not one of the hotter fantasy options down the stretch in 2008. In his final three starts, White averaged just 3.3-receptions with 44.3-receiving yards per game, and scored just once. We expect him to be very good this season, but remember he was a late arrival in camp and now Ryan has a new target to consider.
The Tight Ends...
Fire: Despite the loss of Harrison, the Colts offense will not be short on playmakers that will include tight end Dallas Clark. Last year in his last three starts Clark caught a total of 26 passes and averaged 102-yards receiving. Clark also scored in three of his last four starts.
Ice: After a strong start in 2008, the Titan’s tight end Bo Scaife really struggled in fantasy down the stretch. Scaife caught just 11 passes in his last five starts and averaged only 14.2-yards receiving per game. Whoa, now that’s chilly!
Remember to check back every week for more "Fire & Ice!”
Playing fantasy football is not just knowing when to start your players, but you also knowing when to consider the right time to bench your fizzling starlets. Join me here every week as I will once again be sharing with you the insight and analysis you’ll need to know who’s on “Fire” and who is as cold as “Ice.”
Your 2009 Preseason Notes:
The Quarterbacks...
Fire: Last season down the stretch the Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers finished off the 2008 season as one of the hottest arms throwing 11 touchdowns (to only four-INT’s) and averaging 287.6-yards passing in his final five starts. Rodgers has looked very good this preseason and is a favorite to pick things up just where he left off.
Fire: In his last four starts of the 2008 season, the Texans quarterback Matt Schaub only tossed five touchdowns, but he completed 63-percent of his passes (97 of 153) and averaged more than 320-yards. If he can stay healthy, Schaub is a great prospect to have a great start this season.
Ice: Last season was not a golden year for the former Golden Boy in Green Bay. Brett Favre was one of the poorest performing fantasy quarterbacks down the stretch in 2008. In his last five starts, Favre tossed just two touchdowns, but threw nine interceptions to sink the Jets postseason hopes. Fantasy owners are hoping a change of scenery will help turn his luck around.
The Running Backs...
Fire: Last season rookie running back Kevin Smith quietly solidified the starting job with the Lions for 2009, with a strong finish in 2008. Smith averaged more than 90-yards rushing in his last three starts and scored a touchdown in each of those affairs. Not a great PPR option, but Smith did fair well with nine catches down the stretch.
Fire: The Panthers starting running back DeAngelo Williams is not getting much credit this preseason heading toward fantasy drafts, but that could change once you consider how he finished last season. In his last four starts he averaged 140-yards on the ground and scored seven times. Williams also eclipsed the century mark in seven of his last nine starts.
Fire: Injury risk or not, winning fantasy football is about what you do in the playoffs. In Ram’s running back Steven Jackson’s last three starts, he rushed for 360-yards, scored three touchdowns, and added 10 receptions for 101-yards from scrimmage.
Ice: In three of his last four starts in 2008, running back Larry Johnson rushed for less than 60-yards. Johnson also had just one rushing touchdown down the stretch (final four games) and averaged only 13 touches per game.
The Wide Receivers...
Fire: From out of nowhere coming off an injury, the Saints receiver Marques Colston reminded everyone very quickly down the stretch in 2008, that he still is the 1,200-yard receiver from 2007. In his final three starts last season Colston hauled in 22 passes, scored four touchdowns, and totaled 306-receiving yards.
Fire: Last season remembering that wide receiver Reggie Wayne did not play but a series in the team’s final contest, in his two games prior he caught 14 passes for 212-yards, and a touchdown. His name is not drawing a lot of praise, but with Marvin gone Wayne will be the only go-to in Indy.
Ice: Surprisingly the Falcons wideout Roddy White was not one of the hotter fantasy options down the stretch in 2008. In his final three starts, White averaged just 3.3-receptions with 44.3-receiving yards per game, and scored just once. We expect him to be very good this season, but remember he was a late arrival in camp and now Ryan has a new target to consider.
The Tight Ends...
Fire: Despite the loss of Harrison, the Colts offense will not be short on playmakers that will include tight end Dallas Clark. Last year in his last three starts Clark caught a total of 26 passes and averaged 102-yards receiving. Clark also scored in three of his last four starts.
Ice: After a strong start in 2008, the Titan’s tight end Bo Scaife really struggled in fantasy down the stretch. Scaife caught just 11 passes in his last five starts and averaged only 14.2-yards receiving per game. Whoa, now that’s chilly!
Remember to check back every week for more "Fire & Ice!”
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