FSH: THE FANTASY SPORTS ZONE (SUNDAY HEROES)

September 20th, 2009 10:37pm PST

Week Two
“Sunday’s Heroes”

Week Two in the NFL…
With just one game left on the slate to complete week two the heroes have served notice and they are saving fantasy seasons left and right. With many big time performances from some of the top fantasy prospects, there are a many fantasy owners smiling on Monday morning.

The NFL is one full week in the books and after 16 games played there is much to discuss; from the Brady-Brees duet, to keeping up with the Joneses, all the way to Wayne’s World the first week of action was nothing less than spectacular.

The Tennessee Titans got a monumental effort from running back Chris Johnson who not only total 284-yards of offense, but also scored three touchdowns (two rushing, one receiving. Overshadowed by Johnson’s effort was the Texan’s own (Andre) Johnson who caught 10 passes for 149-yards receiving, including two touchdowns.

While the Saints were lighting up the board with points, the Eagles passing game was generating numbers; tight end Brent Celek caught eight passes for 104-yards and big play receiver DeSean Jackson snagged four balls for 101-yards with a score.

An honorable mention for Sunday’s honor roll includes; Packer’s wide receiver Donald Driver who caught six passes for 99-yards, Saints receiver Marques Colston who caught eight passes for 98-yards and two scores, and the Raven’s running back Willis McGahee who ran for 79-yards on the ground and two rushing touchdowns.

These were just a few of Week two’s Pigskin Warriors. Check out the rest of Sunday’s Heroes from the second complete week of action;

Sunday’s Heroes

300-Passing Club

Name Team Opp Score Comp-Att-Yds TD Int
Philip Rivers SD vs BAL L 26-31 25-45 -436 2 2
Kevin Kolb PHI vs NO L 22-48 31-51-391 2 3
Matt Schaub HOU @ TEN W 34-31 25-39-357 4 0
Eli Manning NYG @ DAL W 33-31 25-38-330 2 0
Drew Brees NO @ PHI W 48-22 25-34-311 3 1
Jake Delhomme CAR @ ATL L 20-28 25-41-308 1 1

100-Rushing Club

Name Team Opp Score Att Yds Avg TD
Frank Gore SF vs SEA W 23-10 16 207 12.9 2
Chris Johnson TEN vs HOU L 31-34 16 197 12.3 2
Fred Jackson BUF vs TB W 33-20 28 163 5.8 0
Cedric Benson CIN @ GB W 31-24 29 141 4.9 0
Marion Barber DAL vs NYG L 31-33 18 124 6.9 1
Michael Turner ATL vs CAR W 28-20 28 105 3.8 1
Steven Jackson STL @ WAS L 7-9 17 104 6.1 0

100-Receiving Club

Name Team Opp Score Rec Yds Avg TD
Mario Manningham NYG @ DAL W 33-31 10 150 15.0 1
Andre Johnson HOU @ TEN W 34-31 10 149 14.9 2
Vincent Jackson SD vs BAL L 26-31 6 141 23.5 1
Steve Smith NYG @ DAL W 33-31 10 134 13.4 1
Steve Smith CAR @ ATL L 20-28 8 131 16.4 0
Darren Sproles SD vs BAL L 26-31 7 124 17.7 1
Mike Sims-Walker JAC vs ARI L 17-31 6 106 17.7 1
Brent Celek PHI vs NO L 22-48 8 104 13.0 0
DeSean Jackson PHI vs NO L 22-48 4 101 25.2 1

Check back every week for more “Sunday Heroes”

FSH: FRIDAY FOOTBALL DIARY

September 18th, 2009 11:07pm PST

Friday Football Diary


Dear Diary

I found week one to be very interesting with several big guns misfiring. With players like L.T., Steven Jackson, and Marques Colston missing from the leaderboard you have to wonder how many owners are starting to panic.

As a wise old fantasy football advisary once said, hit'em where they ain't. What exactly he meant I wasn't sure, but when I finished paying his bar tab he explained. As if listening to him babble along for ten minutes was any easier to interpret a three hour long opera in Portuguese.

Rather than trouble myself with the translation, I kept it simple and took his interpretation to mean not everything is what it seems. You can bank on certain things in life, but fantasy football was not one. And before you sell the farm and decide your season is over keep everything in perspective.

One week does not make a season, everyone has their ups and downs, with basically a full season ahead, there's plenty of time to for these gladiators to turn the fight around. It’s all about matchups and sometimes it takes some a little time to get warmed up. I expect the sting of disappointment can tend to linger, but remember when the games finish on Monday and you add up the scores, there’s another battle to be won and it’s only “six days til Sunday.”

10 Things to Watch for in Week 2

Week one had a lot of promise, near misses, big games, and a few duds, but like every Sunday there’s plenty to watch. Here’s what I will be watching come week two;

1. Can Brees and his high flying offense get off the ground against the Eagles? Last week Brees torched the Lions for six touchdowns and 358 yards in the air, while the Eagles defense came up with seven turnovers against the Panthers.
2. Can "All-day" (Adrian Peterson) top 200-yards on the ground against a Lions defense that allowed 157-yards rushing and 4.5-yards per carry to the Saints in week one? In week one Peterson shredded the Browns defense for 180-yards on the ground and 7.2-yards per carry.
3. Can Terrell Owens and the Bills passing game come alive this Sunday against the Bucs and their Tampa 2 defense? In week one T.O. Was limited to only two cathes in week one on Monday night and the Bucs secondary was throttled by the Cowboys for 353-passing yards.
4. Will Steven Jackson and the Rams offense breakout against the Redskins on Sunday? In week one Jackson had only 16 touches and was limited to 67-yards rushing, while the Redskins defense was sliced for 351-yards of offense.
5. Can Kurt Warner and company get their aerial assault soaring in 2009 this week against the Jaguars? In week one Warner was harassed and struggled his way to 288-yards passing while being sacked four times. This week he sees a Jacksonville pass defense that recorded just one sack and allowed 294-net yards passing in week one.
6. Will Michael Turner and Falcons get the run game out of first gear this weekend at home against the Panthers? In week one against the Dolphins Turner was held in check (65 yards rushing), but this week he’ll see a defense that allowed 185-yards on the ground and 5.8-yards per game.
7. How will Larry Johnson and the Chiefs ground game fair in week two against a stout Raider’s defense. In week one against the Ravens, Johnson rushed for a paltry 20-yards and the team totaled just 29 for the day. On Monday night the Raiders defense limited the Chargers to just 77-yards on 23 carries.
8. Can Brett Favre shake what little rust he has and play well in a venue that he historically has had trouble fairing well in? Last Sunday while he didn’t play terrible, Favre did not look sharp passing for a meager 110-yards and looking downfield sparingly. In week one the Lions secondary was hit for 358-yards and allowed 26 completions with zero sacks.
9. In week one Mark Sanchez played very well and look very sharp in doing so, can he pull a repeat against the Patriots? Last Sunday Sanchez passed for 272-yards and completed 18 of 31 passes. On Monday night the Patriots defense sacked Trent Edwards four times.
10. In the Ultimate chess match, I will be watching head coaches Bill Belichik and Rex Ryan square off. Rex Ryan will be bringing a complicated and aggressive defense that forced two turnovers, recorded two sacks, and limited the Texans to just 11 first downs. The Patriots offense on the other hand totaled 441-total net yards, had 28 first downs, and allowed just one sack.
    

Check back every week for more “Friday Football Diary"

FSH: THE FANTASY SPORTS ZONE (FIRE AND ICE)

September 18th, 2009 1:37am PST

Fantasy Football
Fire & Ice

(Your weekly Stock Exchange)

The Hottest Stock this week

If you enjoyed the first week of fantasy football, there’s a good chance that Drew Brees may have had a big hand in that enjoyment. There was no one as hot as the Saints quarterback who threw for over 350-yards and completed 76 percent of his passes while demolishing the Lion’s secondary. Brees very well defined the term “Mr. En Fuego” tossing an incredible six touchdowns on the afternoon.

Week One’s “Mr. En Fuego”

Saints-QB, Drew Brees/358-yards passing, six touchdowns

Aside from your typical weekly stud performers, when playing the fantasy football stock market, the key is finding those gems that are valued low and rising fast. After one week of action there are plenty of stocks to buy low, great ones to sell high, and more importantly we have a few that you might want to consider dumping (sell).

Week One Stock Exchange Notes:

The Quarterbacks...
Fire (Rising stock): Not noted as a big fantasy scorer, the Steeler’s quarterback Ben Roethlisberger played very well in week one. His 363-passing yards were second most in week one. While Big Ben is a winner, the key for the Steelers is their ball control offense. Right now Ben’s being overvalued; he doesn’t figure to throw the ball 40-plus times week-in and week-out and he’s only finished in the top-10 among fantasy quarterbacks once in the past five seasons. (sell high)
Ice (falling stock): Brett Favre’s arm may be surgically repaired, but his skills still need some fixing. The almost 40-year old quarterback looked liked nothing more than a journey man quarterback passing for a mere 110 yards and a touchdown. It may be too soon to panic with Favre’s value dropping. If you own him, keep him benched until further notice. (hold)

The Running Backs...
Fire (Rising stock): The Buffalo Bills will have a tough decision to make in a couple of weeks when running back Marshawn Lynch returns to the line up. On Monday night against the Patriots, running back Fred Jackson made just his fifth start in the NFL. When Jackson has been featured in the backfield he has played very well and Monday night was no exception (140-total yards). With Lynch due back, head coach Dick Jauron will have to carefully manage Jackson’s playing time. As well as he performed in the “no-huddle offense” the team has to get him on the field often. We can’t imagine his touches diminishing too much, so if you can acquire the former Coe College Kohawk be advised. (buy low)
Ice (falling stock): The Redskins running back Clinton Portis has quickly become less than a fan favorite in fantasy football. Last season after a hot start, he broke down raising concern about his durability. Already just one week into the season and Portis is sounding off complaining about aches, pains, and soreness. With only 72 total yards in week one it may be time to move this stock. This early in the season Portis still has value, so before this stock goes belly-up get what you can. (sell)

The Wide Receivers...
Fire (Rising stock): It’s not often these days you hear anyone endorse any Oakland Raiders offensive players for fantasy football, but rookie receiver Louis Murphy looks like the real deal. The kid is a trailblazer and already seems to have a good chemistry with JaMarcus Russell (if he can just him the ball). Against the Chargers Murphy saw nine balls his direction, so his stock certainly appears promising. Relatively unknown, he’s likely very cheap (and unowned) in many leagues, so now may be the time to strike. (buy low)
Ice (falling stock): Surprisingly in the Saints week one thrashing of the Lions, wide receiver Marques Colston was much of a non-factor. The lanky speed merchant caught just three balls for only 30 yards. With such a disappointing week one performance, there are going to be those impatient owners that are going to be willing to deal Colston. It’s really too early to jump off the bandwagon. Colston didn’t have numbers, but he had chances (six targets). If he becomes under-valued in your league and is offered, make a move. This is some stock you need to grab. (buy low)

The Tight Ends...
Fire (Rising stock): As has been said in the past, one game does not make a career, but there will be those that will run to the waiver wires to grab Patriots tight end Ben Watson. In week one Watson caught six passes for 77 yards, including two scores. This was a monster game for the tight end, who only had one game last season with more than four receptions (just two in 2007). If you own Watson (likely drafted as your TE2), you probably won’t see his value as high as it is right now, if you have need you have a movable commodity. (sell high)
Ice (falling stock): When veteran quarterback Brett Favre arrived in Minnesota many fantasy owners assumed that tight end Visanthe Shiancoe would benefit most. Knowing Brett’s love for the tight end position, Shiancoe was expected to be a security blanket for the passing game and a big time scoring threat in the red-zone. After one week with just three catches for 26-yards, fantasy owners are likely scratching their heads and feeling burned by Brett once again. That’s okay fantasy owners, that just means more good news for those that like to go shopping at the market. Disgruntled owners are going to have an easier time letting go of Shiancoe cheap following his week one let down, so go shopping. (buy low)

Coming soon “Stock Trends”…….

Remember to check back every week for more "Fire & Ice!”

FSH: THE FANTASY SPORTS ZONE (DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH)

September 17th, 2009 11:37pm PST

“Diamonds in the Rough”

(Fantasy Sleepers)

Players you should watch and a few to grab!
As the season progresses every week we’ll be watching for those potential studs in the making, not to be confused with the one night stand or the dreaded flash in the pan. Each year owners are constantly being burned by that player who blows up one week, then decides to hibernate the rest of the year. While there are no guarantees in life or fantasy football, we’re doing our homework so you don’t have to. After 16 games in week one, we’ve pinpointed a number of worthy candidates that appear ready to blossom at a moments notice.

In New Orleans….
While Mike Bell was never slated to start for the Saints, he's no longer a well kept secret in New Orleans. The former Denver Bronco and fourth year running back earned himself some playing time this preseason by impressing head coach Sean Payton with some purposeful hard-nose running. Once the Saint's projected starter Pierre Thomas went down, Bell was elevated to the starting lineup and answered the call with a big week one performance; 28 carries for 143 yards. Even with Thomas set to make his return, Bell should still be in line to see his share of carries. Bell was originally slated to be the team's designated goal line back, add to the mix a regular slot in the rotation and he’s a keeper. Bell is still not owned in many leagues and should be grabbed, he's going to be a regular producer.

In St.Louis…
The Rams offense has not been much to speak of since the Warner-Holt-Faulk days, but with an equally awful defense, the team is going to play a lot of catch-up this season. One bright spot has been the arrival of wide receiver Laurent Robinson. As early as the preseason Robinson began to show promise and in week one, while not spectacular he did turn in a credible job with five catches for 87 yards. The real secret that makes Robinson so appealing, it’s clear he has quickly developed chemistry with the Ram’s passer, but he’s quickly emerging as the team’s favorite and go-to receiver. Avery was the preseason favorite on the squad, but it was Robinson who led the team with 10 targets on Sunday. If you are in need, Robinson’s numbers look to only get better.

In Seattle….
It was T.J. Houshmandzadeh who made the biggest fantasy news this past offseason in Seattle, but perhaps something owners should have been paying attention to was the return of wide receiver Nate Burleson. The former Vikings wideout is coming off an injury shortened 2008 season and it’s easy to forget that in 2004 and 2007 he caught at least 50 balls, including nine touchdowns (each season). In the offseason Burleson showed great explosiveness and he’s always had very good hands. This will be his fourth season with Seattle and now healthy he’s primed to have a very good season. In week one he led the team with seven receptions and 11 targets. Overshadowed by the presence of Housh, Burleson could sneak his way to a nice 2009 season. He’s a nifty grab if you can get him now.

In Chicago…..
Well this certainly looked like a match made in heaven once the Bears acquired the rights to quarterback Jay Cutler via trade. The arrival of Cutler would unite the Bears new stud quarterback with his former teammate and go-to receiver at Vanderbilt, Earl Bennett. The 2nd year receiver played in 10 games last season, but failed to record a single catch. We can already see the Cutler affect after one game. In Week one Bennett not only caught seven passes, but he was looked for often. Bennett saw a total of 13 tosses in his direction. While his week one numbers were lacking, the fact Cutler will look to him so often is more than promising. Bennett entered the 2009 season virtually irrelevant, but Jay is quickly making him a mainstay. He’s worth grabbing now for future play that figures to improve.

Worth keeping your eye on for now….

One game does not make a career, but while the Jets rookie quarterback appears stead fast to be a playa in this league, give him a couple of starts before you commit the farm.

The Raiders appear to have something going with quarterback JaMarcus Russell and rookie wideout Louis Murphy. The rookie receiver with blazing speed already appears to be a favorite, but be cautioned when Chaz Schilenz returns the team could shake up the line-up.

The Titan’s passing game looked pretty healthy in week one against a good Steelers defense. This week they will face a suspect secondary that was lit up by a rookie last Sunday. Keep an eye on wideout Nate Washington who should be close to full-speed. Washington was signed in the offseason and has the tools to be an explosive downfield receiver, but he needs to be healthy.

Remember to check back for more "Diamonds in the Rough!"

FSH: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

September 17th, 2009 8:30pm PST

David's Daily Digest
[My Take]

More football news and happenings from around the league; here’s the latest I am hearing, reading, and following with my take on things and how they will impact the coming fantasy season……

News From Across the Wire...

Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals
According to the Arizona Republic, Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt stated that the team will not stray from its game plan of throwing deep to their best receiver Larry Fitzgerald, despite the fact that he will almost always draw double coverage.
My Fantasy read on Fitzgerald: Not that fantasy owners were worried, but it’s always good to hear that the coach plans to keep going to your fantasy stud. Hearing this is no surprise, although Fitz was relatively quiet in week one he was targeted 11 times….

Hank Baskett, WR, Indianapolis Colts
The National Football Post reports that former Eagles receiver Hank Baskett has agreed to terms with the Colts. Details of the agreement were not disclosed.
My Fantasy read on Baskett: The signing not only makes sense, but could prove to be much bigger than at first appears. Baskett has not had much opportunity being featured in an offense, but he is more than a capable wideout. With Gonzalez sidelined for several weeks, Baskett will be “One to Watch” in Indy…..

T.J. Houshmandzadeh, WR, Seattle Seahawks
T.J. Houshmandzadeh missed his second straight practice with back spasms on Thursday, according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
My Fantasy read on Houshmandzadeh: It’s not likely that TJ will miss action on Sunday, but against a tough Niner’s defense it’s questionable as to how effective he will be. Owners should play with caution and may want to consider better options if available……

Steve Breaston, WR, Arizona Cardinals
According to the team's official Web site, Steve Breaston (knee) returned to practice in a limited capacity on Thursday.
My Fantasy read on Breaston: The knee seems to be a problem this early season, so it would not surprise to see the team exercise a little caution especially with Boldin working his way back to health. Breaston is only a celebrated WR3 in some fantasy formats, he’s probably a safe bet for the sidelines this week…..

Darren Sproles, RB, San Diego Chargers
According to the San Diego Union Tribune, the Chargers don't consider Darren Sproles to be a feature back even if LaDainian Tomlinson is out of the lineup.
My Fantasy read on Sproles: It’s sounding more like LT is going to miss Sunday’s action and with the team not endorsing a featured back game plan, expect to see running back Michael Bennett to get some field time. With the Raven’s defense up next, there’s no likely to be a whole lot of ground work, but we still like Sproles on Sunday because of his contributions in the passing game…..

Pierre Thomas, RB, New Orleans Saints
According to his own Twitter account, Pierre Thomas (knee) tweeted that he's ready to play this Sunday.
My Fantasy read on Thomas: With Thomas proclaiming himself ready, it’s a safe bet to expect to see him on the field. It’s almost certain to be a full-blown timeshare with maybe the hot-hand finishing this affair. With this being Thomas’ first game back and facing a tough Eagles defense, owners should not expect a lot…..

Check back with "Your Fantasy Sports Home" for more Football to digest....

FSH: THE FANTASY SPORTS ZONE (FANTASY FALLOUT)

September 16th, 2009 9:37pm PST

More Star crashers

With week one in the books it’s time to be reminded and take note of some players that should not be taking up any roster space. Your fantasy season has already started and you need playas, boyz that will do some fantasy damage and put points on the board. Players can’t score if they don’t get in the game and these duds are not going to be seeing a whole lot of meaningful playing time;

QB-Daunte Culpepper (Det); The Lions are focusing on the future now. With a young talented arm under center (Stafford), the team is going to give him every opportunity to learn and grow. With that Culpepper’s playing days in Detroit are likely to be very quiet on the sideline. As the rookie quarterback takes his lumps, the only chance Daunte is going to get is some clean-up and meaningless time late in games. If you have him on your roster, it’s time to dump him.

RB-LaMont Jordan (Den); Familiar or not with the Patriot's west (Broncos) offense, Jordan was hardly present on Sunday in week one. Signed in the offseason by the Broncos, it was thought McDaniels was bringing in a player with experience in his offense. With a committee backfield Jordan figured to have an advantage being familiar with the system. Jordan played limited snaps on Sunday and finished with two carries. As the team becomes more accustomed to McDaniels system, expect to see Jordan remain invisible.

WR-Laveranues Coles (Cin); Not a whole lot was made of the signing of Coles in the offseason, although he was given a fairly generous deal. With the Bengals coming off a very disappointing 2008 Coles was brought in to replace the departed TJ Houshmandzadeh (last season's leading receiver). In week one Coles catching just one ball was a forgotten man with Palmer often looking elsewhere in the patterns. Coles has been quiet since his signing and with players like Ochocinco and Caldwell answering the call often, don't expect any sudden turnarounds.

TE-Chris Baker (NE); Even with McDaniels gone, the tightend position remains an unsteady one in the Patriots offense. In the past the tight end has remained relatively quiet, but with the acquisition of Baker the thought was things might be different. And they may very well be different, but it looks like the new plans don't include Baker who caught just one pass for seven yards. It was Ben Watson who was invited to the party with six catches. Watson would appear to be the mainstay, so don’t expect a lot of production from Baker, just maybe some spot work here and there.

Check back every Week for more “Fantasy Fallout”

FSH: THE FANTASY SPORTS ZONE (QWIK FIXX)

September 16th, 2009 10:37pm PST

The Most Targeted in the League

When you are setting your weekly lineups and tossing names around, sometimes it pays to have a little information. After one week of play, many owners could be getting a little nervous about some of their stud receivers not living up to par. No need to send in the Calvary, if you’re looking for help we’ve got your Fixx right here.

Not to Worry….
For those owners concerned about the Falcons Roddy White and his meager 42-receiving yards, don’t be. White was targeted 10 times on Sunday and there will be more days like that, but with better results. Roddy has emerged as a big time receiver and nearly connected with Ryan a couple of times on a couple of deep balls.

In the Northwest, the Seahawks new go-to man T.J. Houshmandzadeh was relatively quiet finishing his day with a mere 48-receiving yards on six grabs. Here is another prime example of not to worry, Housh was thrown to eight times and figures to see even more in the coming weeks. With Hasselbeck looking sharp in the second half, there are only better days ahead for the Seahawk’s wideout.

Certainly fantasy owners did not expect to see Saints quarterback Drew Brees pass for well over 300-yards and only connect with wideout Marques Colston for only 30 of those yards. Colston finished Sunday’s contest with only two catches, but the good news was he was targeted four other times. Devery Henderson actually finished as the team’s top target with eight, but that’s expected in the Saints high-powered offense. Brees is going to spread the ball around from week to week, but Colston will always get his share.

Notables to Watch…
While we won’t need to worry about some of our studs, other receivers we should be watching are the Seahawks Nate Burleson. Last season Burleson missed all but one game, so he was likely overlooked in many leagues. Owners open your eyes; Nate saw 11 balls his way on Sunday and pulled in seven for 74-yards. He’s a strong number two receiver and can serve as a solid fantasy WR3 in deeper leagues and a great bye week fill.

In a quiet move during the offseason, the Rams acquired wide receiver Laurent Robinson. It was a move that didn’t amount to much at the time, but once camps opened and the preseason began the team began to collect its’ dividends. Robinson was quickly moved into the starting lineup of a bad Rams offense, but one that is going to play from behind a lot and throw the ball much. In week one Robinson caught five balls for 87-yards, but had 10 passes thrown his direction. This is something owners can expect to see a lot more of as the season progresses.

Week One Top-25 (Targets)

Player/Team………………………………No of Targets in Wk 1

1. Randy Moss - WR – NEP………………16
2. Wes Welker - WR – NEP……………….16
3. Reggie Wayne - WR – IND…………….14
4. Tim Hightower - RB – ARI…………….14
5. Steve Smith - WR – CAR……………….13
6. Calvin Johnson - WR – DET………....13
7. Earl Bennett - WR – CHI………………13
8. Nate Burleson - WR – SEA……………11
9. Justin Gage - WR – TEN……………….11
10. Larry Fitzgerald - WR – ARI………….11
11. Santonio Holmes - WR – PIT…………11
12. Derrick Mason - WR – BAL…………..10
13. Hines Ward - WR – PIT………………..10
14. Roddy White - WR – ATL……………..10
15. Laurent Robinson - WR – STL………10
16. Muhsin Muhammad - WR – CAR…..9
17. Tony Gonzalez - TE – ATL…………….9
18. T.J. Houshmandzadeh - WR - SEA ..9
19. Antwaan Randle El - WR – WAS……9
20. Robert Royal - TE – CLE………………9
21. Antonio Gates - TE – SDC…………….9
22. Kellen Winslow - TE – TBB…………..9
23. Mark Clayton - WR – BAL…………….9
24. Kevin Smith - RB – DET……………….9
25. Louis Murphy - WR – OAK…………..9
    
    

Check back every Monday for more “Fantasy Fixx”

FSH: (WEDNESDAY) WATERCOOLER CHAT

September 16th, 2009 10:15pm PST

WATERCOOLER CHAT

In the Life of a Fantasy GM

Do you sit your studs and do you drop your duds?
So you drafted LaDanian Tomlinson or Steven Jackson with one of your early picks; is it time to panic? What about Colston or White, each finished with less than 45-yards receiving; is Colston not the receiver we thought he was and what about Rusty Roddy?

With your fantasy season typically being 13 or 14 weeks long there is plenty of time for your team to get right. Most 10-12 leagues include a two to three week playoff tree, so typically you don’t have to be the best record making the playoffs, you just need to have the best team.

There were plenty of performances to frown about in week one, but not many key ones warrant any drastic action like dropping your stud or week one dud. In Tennessee, running back Chris Johnson is going to be fine after a less than stellar week one performance, as is running back Matt Forte who toted the rock 25 times against the Packers. Roddy White’s 42-yards might raise some concern, but it shouldn’t. White was targeted 10 times and Ryan just missed connecting with him on a couple of deep plays. In Arizona, going in Boldin was less than 100 percent. He caught just a couple of passes, but got through the game with no setbacks.

There is always something to be taken from the opening weekend performances, in some cases it sets the tone for some players (see Wayne, Moss, and Peterson), but many others they’re just getting started. While again, I’ll reiterate not to panic many fantasy owners will still have some difficult decisions to make looking ahead to week two.

Playing the GM Game…
Question: Looking at week two matchups, should you consider sitting any of your starters?
Well as difficult a question as this is, there is no right or wrong answer. You have to consider circumstances and matchups. First things first, your typical studs Larry Fitzgerald, Randy Moss, or Adrian Peterson when healthy these boys are locked in week in and week out. When health is a consideration, all bets are off.

The Fantasy GM
Now that your fantasy season is underway, if you had LT, Steven Jackson, Terrell Owens, Roddy White, or Marques Colston in your line up, you might be rethinking your strategy. No time to panic now, the season is very young people.

Hold Steady:
In St. Louis, with zero points scored in week one the Rams had better be quick learners or fantasy owners may have to get nervous. With one of the leagues most dynamic runners because of his size, strength, and speed 16 touches will not get it done. For the moment I would count on seeing Jackson seeing an increased amount of touches this coming week and being more involved in the pass game. Analysis; this ship will get righted, so don’t sit him.

In New Orleans, it’s much of the same with Marques Colston. Drew Bress was simply outstanding spreading out the field and hitting all his targets. As a matter of fact Colston was targeted six times on the day, while the team’s leading receiver Devery Henderson saw eight balls. Analysis; again don’t panic, Colston will get his looks so don’t sit.

While Monday night was probably an emotional roller coaster if you were a Bills fan and T.O. fantasy owner, this is a situation that you needn’t be too overly concerned about. While the Bills did not go to their best receiver often against the Patriots, the smart plays quarterback Trent Edwards did make were checking down and taking what the defense was giving. Analysis; the offense will open up as the season goes and T.O. will get his touches, don’t sit.

While the Bronco’s defense is not notorious, quarterback Carson Palmer was often forced to settle for a lot of underneath stuff and was at times pressured in the pocket. The Broncos defense actually played well sacking Carson three times and not allowing a single pass play longer than 34-yards. Analysis; the Denver safeties played deep and kept everything in front, expect the Bengals to adjust and Carson to snap back. Don’t sit him.

Some others notables that will be fine after a slow week one start include; QB-Matt Schaub, RB-Brian Westbrook, RB-Darren McFadden, RB-Matt Forte, WR-Anquan Boldin, WR-Chris Henry, WR-Vincent Jackson, and WR-T.J. Houshmandzadeh.

The Panic Room:
While it’s not time for red alert, fantasy owners should be considering alternate options for LaDanian Tomlinson, at least for week two. He’s less than 100 percent and he’ll face a nasty Raven’s defense that won’t give up much.

After a very poor showing on Thursday night against the Titans, Willie Parker owners will want to keep a close eye on this situation. Parker was very ineffective, albeit against a tough Titan’s defense, but the Steelers also called 47 pass plays; something to watch.

It’s worth mentioning with Cadillac making such a triumphant return in week one and Derrick Ward running as well as he did, Earnest Graham could quickly become the odd man out. For now it’s still expected to be a three-headed committee, but Williams and Ward could easily get hot again and lock Earnest out. It would not be wise to have Graham as a starter in any format at this point.

Others notables that it might be time to shelve at least for a bit include; QB-Donovan McNabb (injured), QB-Jake Delhomme (ya think), QB-Brady Quinn (still a work in progress), RB-Larry Johnson, RB-Correll Buckhalter (timeshare), RB-Knowshon Moreno (see Buckhalter), and WR-Domenik Hixon.

Keep checking back for more football....

By David G. Ortega

FSH: IDP NOTES

September 15th, 2009 10:30pm PST

IDP Notes:

The strong never sleep, so for those that can keep up with the “what is happening” around the league, here’s more football just for all of the IDP Nation….

IDP News From Across the Wire…

Brian Dawkins, S, Denver Broncos
Brian Dawkins (hand) did not practice on Wednesday, according to the Colorado Springs Gazette.
My Fantasy Read on Dawkins: The Bronco’s new safety was a beast on Sunday recording 11 tackles (including seven solo). His presence was particularly big in support of the run as the Broncos limited Cincinnati to just 3-yards per carry. Dawk is a ball-hawk and if he’s healthy he’s a player; check his status later in the week….

B.J. Raji, DT, Green Bay Packers
B.J. Raji (ankle) was a full-participant in Packers practice on Wednesday, according to the team.
My Fantasy Read on Raji: For the most part the Packers interior defensive line did a credible job Sunday night stuffing the run only allowing 2.8 yds/carry. Adding Raji to the mix will definitely make an already pretty good looking run defense even better. The Packers team defense stock just went up a few points…..

Adalius Thomas, LB, New England Patriots
Adalius Thomas was limited in Wednesday's practice while nursing a foot ailment, according to the Patriots' official team website.
My Fantasy Read on Thomas: With a rookie quarterback on the menu, the Patriots would love to have Thomas on the field Sunday. He’s typically one of your big IDP playmakers and should start, but if he’s slowed by injury he could be limited. Check his status later in the week….

Paul Posluszny, LB, Buffalo Bills
According to the team's official website, Bills' linebacker Paul Posluszny underwent successful surgery on his broken arm on Tuesday. Posluszny is expected to be back at some point before the halfway point of the season.
My Fantasy Read on Posluszny: The Bill’s defense at times looked terrific Monday night, except when Brady was dissecting the middle of the defense. Posluszny’s absence will be felt in the middle, fantasy owners that draft team defenses may want to check the waiver wire soon while the Bill’s linebacker is sidelined…..

Champ Bailey, CB, Denver Broncos
Champ Bailey (ankle) did not participate in practice on Wednesday, according to the Colorado Springs Gazette.
My Fantasy Read on Bailey: There are no reports indicating Bailey is in any danger of missing action this weekend. Expect to see the Pro Bowler on the field Sunday facing a very suspect Brown’s passing offense….


Check back with "Your Fantasy Sports Home" for more Football 411…..

FSH: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

September 14th, 2009 11:30pm PST

David's Daily Digest
[My Take]

More football news and happenings from around the league; here’s the latest I am hearing, reading, and following with my take on things and how they will impact the coming fantasy season……

News From Across the Wire...

Michael Crabtree, WR, San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers could be caving to holdout draft pick Michael Crabtree and making him an improved offer, according to CBS Sports.
My Fantasy read on Crabtree: This recent report would indicate the team is reaching out, but with every success they have on the field without the kid, this can’t bode well for his contract dollars. It doesn’t sound like anything is imminent, so don’t expect to see Crabtree signed anytime soon….

LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, San Diego Chargers
LaDainian Tomlinson is already being listed as a game-time decision for this Sunday with a sprained ankle, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.
My Fantasy read on Tomlinson: The Charger’s won’t lose much with LT out and Sproles in the lineup. LT did not look particularly sharp Monday night and this injury now appears to be more of a setback than first thought. With the Ravens on the slate, a less than 100 percent LT might not be a smart play for week two…..

Dallas Clark, TE, Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Star reports that with wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez out several weeks with injury, Dallas Clark will play an ever larger role in the Colts' passing attack.
My Fantasy read on Clark: With Gonzalez going down for a while, expect not only Clark to see more looks in the passing game, but also Reggie Wayne to continue his strong play……

Nate Washington, WR, Tennessee Titans
After being extremely limited by a hamstring injury in the team's Week 1 contest against the Steelers last Thursday, Nate Washington should "(play) the number of plays a starter would play" in the team's game against the Texans this weekend, according to the Nashville Tennessean.
My Fantasy read on Washington: This is great news for fantasy owners. With the Texan’s coming to town after being lit up for over 270-yards passing by a rookie quarterback, Washington and the Titans should be primed for a big afternoon…..

Felix Jones, RB, Dallas Cowboys
Felix Jones will be limited in practice this week as he deals with a bruised quad, according to the Dallas Morning News.
My Fantasy read on Jones: With Jones dinged, if he’s not able to go expect to see Barber anchor the load on the ground with Tashard Choice picking up more of the duties in the passing game…..

Reggie Bush, RB, New Orleans Saints
Even with Mike Bell and Pierre Thomas both expected to see a good amount of carries in Week 2, Reggie Bush is not likely to see his amount of touches decrease, according to the New Orleans Times-Picayune.
My Fantasy read on Bush: The Saints multipurpose back was relatively quiet with seven carries for 14 yards on Sunday. With two capable runners in the backfield in Bell and Thomas, expect to see Bush’s duties relegated mostly to the passing game and special teams…..

Check back with "Your Fantasy Sports Home" for more Football to digest....

FSH: TUESDAY (FOOTBALL) TALK

September 15th, 2009 9:37pm PST

What we saw on Sunday

Week One Fantasy Highlights….
In case you missed most of the action on Sunday, I’ll be the first to tell you that you missed quite a bit. If you don’t have the Sunday ticket, you need it, get it!

Week one was everything many of us thought it would be, with Drew Brees once again dropping bombs or should we say throwing bombs in the Superdome, to Adrian Peterson running “All-Day” through the defenses, to Peyton and Reggie convincing many fantasy owners to say “Marvin who?”

Some notable surprises in week one actually came last Thursday with the Steelers offense abandoning the run and basically going aerial on the strength of Big Ben’s arm and 363-passing yards. Is he an elite quarterback now? If not, he’s as close as you can get without being one. Then there’s his counterpart Santonio Holmes (9 catches, 131-yards) who proved his miraculous toe-dancing Super Bowl winning catch was no fluke.

I found the hard running of Mike Bell (28 carries) in New Orleans to be refreshing, although you’ll have to question how committed to the run will head coach Sean Payton actually be. The Cowboys offense appeared to be quite healthy in the post traumatic T.O. era, with Romo airing it out for 353-yards and three touchdowns. Fantasy owners ask, who’s going to replace Owens; Willliams (3 catches, 86-yds, 1-Td), Crayton (4 catches, 135-yds, 1-Td), and Witten (5 catches, 71-yds). The offense looks to be in good hands.

Another surprise we saw Sunday, but then was it really a surprise to see the Raven’s running back Ray Rice run as well as he did? Rice gained 108-yards on 19 carries and he also added a couple of grabs for another 12-yards. Speaking of an early 2009 surprise, how about Todd Heap’s five grabs for 74-yards and a score.

Just a year ago both quarterbacks Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco were rookies, but now seasoned vets, each commanded their respective offenses to week one victories. Ryan was more than respectable with 229-yards passing and two touchdowns, while Flacco was impressive completing 26 of 43 passes for 307-yards and three scores.

While there were impressive performances, there were also those that had you scratching your heads; like the Rams under-use of Steven Jackson (just 16 touches) and both the Broncos and Bengals offenses lack-luster performances. The absence of Terrell Owens from the Bill’s offensive gameplan was disappointing for fantasy owners, but less a mystery if you watched the game. The Patriots just had no answer for Bill’s running back Fred Jackson.

There were just a handful of the many things we saw in week one, but more importantly than what we saw, what does it all mean?

Fantasy Notes:

First of all, fantasy owners should not panic, remember this was only one game and it was the first game of the season. Just because Steven Jackson didn’t have a huge Sunday, there’s no need to go into desperation mode. It’s quite obvious the Rams need to get their best weapon involved in the passing game as well as the run.

For owners that held onto Brandon Marshall, it appears the rough seas are beginning to calm and it will only be a matter of time before the beast is unleashed. Carson Palmer was not particularly sharp on Sunday, but he did show some good velocity on a few throws. The time missed in preseason showed, but it’s something very correctible.

In New Orleans, head coach Sean Payton is going to have a tough call to make when Pierre Thomas returns; now there’s a three-headed monster (Bush, Bell, Thomas). The Raven’s have a similar dilemma, but it appears they might have already solved their quandary. In Tampa the Buc’s were boasting a running back tri-fecta, but with Graham seeing only one carry that could become the trend; stay with the hot hand and odd man out.

All is well in New Orleans, New England, and Indianapolis with all three aerial attacks firing their big guns in week one. The Cowboys and Steelers, two teams historically known for ball-control ground games, could also be entering the new age aero-dynamics. While these teams are putting their strongest arms forward, teams like the Vikings, Texans, Panthers, and Jaguars are struggling just to lift theirs.

Offenses that struggle to move the ball and pick up first downs, generally don’t accumulate too many yards on offense or points for that matter. Week one offenses that could be a cause for concern for fantasy owners;

Five worst offenses
Team Total yards Total First downs (rank)
1. Carolina Panthers 169-yards 14-first downs (24th)
2. Houston Texans 183-yards 11-first downs (30th)
3. Kansas City Chiefs 188-yards 11-first downs (30th)
4. San Francisco 49ers 203-yards 13-first downs (26th)
5. Green Bay Packers 226-yards 12-first downs (28th)


By David Ortega

Check back every Tuesday for more “Tuesday (Football) Talk”