FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

September 18th 2017

Monday Afternoon Edition

Monday Night Takes

Tonight’s not exactly what you might call a Primetime matchup, but there’s still plenty of fantasy relevance with names like Stafford, Manning, and Beckham on the slate.

So let’s talk about tonight’s matchup and some of the plays that could have huge impact and implication on your weekly season long league matchups and your weekly DFS lineups.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford, could be in some DFS lineups tonight as well as a likely starter in season long leagues. Stafford is coming off a big week one performance with four touchdowns, but tonight could find slimmer pickings against a tough Giants secondary. Owners needing big numbers could be in for disappointment, but Stafford should come through with standard numbers in the 16-19 fantasy point range.

Wide receivers Golden Tate & Kenny Golladay, should once again be heavily involved in the passing game tonight. The Lions running game is certainly lacking after one week, and Stafford definitively favors his receivers; 25 targets of 41 passes to the wideouts. Tate is the heavy favorite in PPR, but Golladay could the better option in standard with the likelihood of a score tonight. Wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr (2 targets last week) could be the odd man out tonight and may be better off on your bench.

Running backs Theo Riddick & Ameer Abdullah are both in play tonight, but I wouldn’t expect big numbers from either. Riddick is the PPR fave out of the backfield with 7 targets in week one, but Abdullah (4 targets last week) could see enough work in the ground game (15 carries in week 1) against a Giants defense that allowed 129 yards in week one to be lineup worthy.

Tight End Eric Ebron is currently off the radar. He’s a risky start coming off a quiet week one with just 2 catches for 9 yards. Stafford three the ball 41 times in week one and only went Ebron’s way three times. With that ratio, he’s sitting until we see changes in the passing game progression.

Quarterback Eli Manning is probably not in too many lineups tonight and probably a good thing, tough to always predict his outcomes. Last week was not good with just 6.70 fantasy points against the Cowboys, but tonight could fare a little better for Eli at home. He’s still not a lineup favorite, but could put up reasonable numbers in the 14-17 fantasy point range

Running backs Paul Perkins & Shane Vereen should both be plenty active tonight against the Lions. There was no question in week one, the Giants abandon the run with just 11 total carries. We could see a more patient offense tonight, especially if star receiver OBJ is not available. Even with additional touches tonight for Perkins, Vereen (9 receptions in week 1) is the only viable Giant’s running back I am starting, and that’s only in PPR leagues.

Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr is the biggest factor and will undoubtedly have a huge impact on the Giants offense. Amid current rumors it sounds like OBJ could play tonight, but it doesn’t sound like he’s anywhere close to 100 percent. If he plays, he’ll be a huge risky start for fantasy owners. I am avoiding him in DFS, but may roll the dice with him in season long leagues.

Wide receivers Brandon Marshall & Sterling Shepard could see a bump in value is OBJ plays. Beckham Jr’s presence will certainly draw some attention and may allow Marshall and Shepard to operate underneath. Shepard (7 receptions & 88 yards receiving in week 1) is the favorite here, while Marshall may warrant some (but not much) consideration in PPR formats and TD heavy leagues.

Tight end Evan Engram had a decent showing in week 1 for an overall poor performance the Giants offense. The rookie tight end was targeted 5 times, snagging 4 for 44 yards. He’s more than likely in line to see similar numbers and may be worth starting in deeper PPR leagues. At 6’3” and with his athletic talent, he’s also worth a look TD-heavy formats as he’ll likely be featured in red-zone packages.

That’s My Take.

~David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

August 31st 2017

Thursday Night Edition

Fantasy Draft Watch

Draft day is winding down as we inch closer to kickoff, just a little under a week away. Even with only one weekend left before the season starts, there are plenty of drafts to be had and to be dominated.

I’m not saying any of these guys will put you over the top, but here are a few players that I believe are going to ball hard this season.

There’s been a lot of changes in Philly this off-season, but one staple 2nd year quarterback Carson Wentz will have to rely on is tight end Zach Ertz. Last season Ertz turned in a line of 78-816-4 on 106 targets, good enough for the No. 6 fantasy tight end in PPR. The talk around the water cooler is Ertz should be even more involved in the passing game seeing an even larger share of targets this season. With good enough numbers for the number six spot last season, Ertz  has an ADP of 7.06 (the No. 8 tight end) according to FFC, making him a solid value around the middle of the 7th or early 8th round.

In Minnesota there’s not been a lot of talk, or at least I am not hearing a lot about wide receiver Stefon Diggs. The Vikings 3rd year receiver has been on the rise since he arrived in 2015 with his targets, receptions, and yards receiving increasing each season. Last season he posted an 84-903-3 line on 112 targets and could easily see a bump in volume and better numbers. Last season Diggs finished as the league’s No. 30 fantasy receiver in PPR and is currently being drafted as the No. 25 fantasy receiver (according to FFC); he's going off the board around players like Sammy Watkins, Brandon Marshall, Allen Robinson, and Jarvis Landry. He’s in pretty good company, but I like Diggs potential especially returning this season with quarterback Sam Bradford under center. I am taking Diggs ahead of the others mentioned here.

Plodding along, another receiver who has been hyped in the past, so fantasy owners have to ask is there more smoke this season or do we actually have a fire? In the case of Dolphins wide receiver Devante Parker, it could finally be fire we see this season with the arrival of quarterback Jay Cutler. Parker is a big target and it’s no secret that Cutler likes those big targets downfield. The Dolphins big wideout is going to be Cutler’s primary downfield target which is why I love Parker at his current ADP (5.06 according to FFC), the No. 27 fantasy receiver off the board. He’s being drafted as a high-WR3 who easily has a high-end WR2 upside in PPR formats (and a tick higher in standard). I am high on this kid.

Deep Sleeper

Now this one may be nothing more than a dart throw and best in Best Ball drafts or deeper leagues, but there’s something to be said about Niners wide receiver Marquise Goodwin. It’s not a large sample size, but Goodwin and quarterback Brian Hoyer have shown some nice preseason chemistry. Goodwin has been targeted 8 times this preseason with a line of 5-104-1. I don’t see him as a heavy volume guy, more of a big play guy. In 2016 he caught 29 balls for 431 yards receiving and three touchdowns, good enough for 14.9 per catch. His career high in touchdowns is the three he posted last season, but I can easily see him surpassing that total this season, maybe double. Again, I see him as a late round flier in deep leagues or or a sneaky Best ball play, but he’s definitely worth keeping an eye on as a possible streaming option through the byes.

IDP Notes

For those of you that enjoy fantasy football as much as I do, there is also the IDP (Individual Defensive Players) format to enjoy. And yes plenty to talk about there with the season fast approaching.

Dynamic Duo

With 2nd year player Joey Bosa showing so much promise last season (his fantasy stock is rising fast) finishing with 10.5 sacks, he’ll anchor one side of the Chargers defense with teammate Melvin Ingram (8.0 sacks last season) on the other side. Last season Bosa closed out his 2016 campaign with at least a half sack in 6 straight games. He has the look of a game-changer as an elite pass-rusher and there’s no reason fantasy owners shouldn’t expect to see him take another step forward in 2017. He should go early in IDP drafts, first rounder in IDP only drafts.

On the other side, defensive lineman Melvin Ingram is another stud pass rusher coming off a solid campaign last season. Ingram is entering his 6th season, having turned in 18.5 sacks over the past two seasons. His production has been steady since 2015 and with the arrival of Bosa, 2017 looks to be another solid year for Ingram. Like Bosa, he’s an early IDP selection; in IDP only leagues he’s a mid-to-low 2nd rounder in my opinion.

That’s My Take

~David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

December 16th, 2016
Friday Evening Edition

Friday Fantasy Fixx

With a lot on the line this week, for fantasy owners risk is not a friend this Sunday. If you are looking for a strong play and success this week, there are several players owners may need to avoid.

Over the his last eight games Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall has scored in double-digits once once, back in week 12. This Sunday Marshall gets the Dolphins and will face a defense that held him to five receptions for 46 yards back in week 9.

In the Jaguars past four games wide receiver Allen Robinson has been on a huge decline. His 2016 season has been anything but memorable. Since week 11 Robinson has scored less than 8 fantasy points, including just 1.7 last week on 1 catch for 17 yards. This week he’ll see the Texans whose he has had luck against this season, but with just 6 receptions for 72 yards over his last three starts at best he’s a risky play this week.

Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins was a top 10 receiver in 2015, but this season he is hanging on to remain in the top 40. Hopkins has scored in double-digits in just one of his past eight games and in his last matchup versus the Jaguars in week 10 he was held to five receptions for 48 yards on 13 targets. The Jaguars allow the 6th fewest fantasy points to opposing wide receivers, so even though this would be a hard sit this play has risk written all over it.

Finally, quietly the Panthers wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin has managed to find himself in the top 25 this season, but he has done this in rather unspectacular fashion. Benjamin has not had any big performances since his week two 22 fantasy points performance. In his last 10 games he’s only scored in double figures once and in the past two weeks he’s tallied just 3 receptions for 29 yards. With the Redskins on his plate for this week, Benjamin will face a defense that allows the 11th fewest fantasy points to opposing wide receivers.

Fantasy owners may want to avoid these guys on Sunday.

That’s My Take

~David G. Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

October 29th, 2016
Saturday Evening Late Edition

Week 8: Perfect Lineup

Here's my weekly Perfect line-ups for the NFL Perfect Challenge and DraftDay's Perfect Lineup contest.

Perfect Challenge

QB-Matt Ryan
RB-Devontae Booker
RB-Jacquizz Rodgers
WR-Brandon Marshall
WR-Julio Jones
TE-Greg Olsen
PK-Cairo Santos
D/ST-Vikings

DraftDay Perfect Lineup

QB-Matt Ryan
RB-Devontae Booker
RB-Jacquizz Rodgers
WR-Brandon Marshall
WR-Julio Jones
WR-Larry Fitzgerald
TE-Greg Olsen
PK-Cairo Santos
D/ST-Broncos

Going to start with the top. No quarterback has been as hot as the Falcons Matt Ryan, who leads all fantasy scorers (standard scoring) this season. With the Falcons playing host to the leagues number one run defense (Packers), expect Ryan and company to take to the air. And of course Ryan's favorite target is the leagues leading receiver Julio Jones (830 receiving yards). Ryan and Jones should put up some hefty numbers on Sunday making all fantasy owners proud.

The Broncos are home this week playing host to the visiting Chargers. With running back CJ Anderson out, rookie running back Devontae Booker will take the reins. Last week Booker totaled 83 yards on 17 carries and could see as many or more touches this week against a Chargers defense that allows the 6th most fantasy points to opposing running back.

The Browns have been awful this season allowing the 4th most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers and with quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick back under center, wide receiver Brandon Marshall will see plenty of balls in his direction. In the six previous games Fitz started, Marshall has averaged 10 targets per game. He's likely to see at least that many on Sunday.

Tight end Greg Olsen (60 targets this season) has a tough matchup with the Cardinals on Sunday, but being one of quarterback Cam Newton's favorite targets he's going to see plenty of chances on Sunday.

The Broncos lost on the road to the Chargers back in week 6, so no question revenge will be on their minds when they play host this Sunday. You can expect Broncos Defensive Coordinator Wad Phillips to turn up the heat on quarterback Philip Rivers and the Chargers offense.

That's my take.

~David G. Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

October 23rd, 2016
Sunday Morning edition

Sunday Morning Gametime: Week 7

"Who's In, Who's Out?"

The Raiders who face the Jaguars today, will be without Latavius Murray, so it looks like it will be a committe effort with the rookie backfield (Jalen Richard & Deandre Washington). The Jags up front are solid against the run allowing the 11th fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs; so both are out for me today.

The Bills are saying there is a chance running back LeSean McCoy plays, even in a limited capacity it's tough to sit Shady. It's a risky move, but if Shady plays, he's in today against the Dolphins who are surrendering over 4.3 yards per carry this season.

The Chargers will have wide receiver Travis Benjamin today in a matchup that could very well end up a shootout. The Falcons are putting up ridiculous numbers in the passing game this season, which could force the Bolts to play a lot of catch up on Sunday. If Benjamin is playing, he's in.

The Dolphins will have a healthier Arian Foster in the backfield today, but with a tough matchup against the Bills and following running backs Jay Ajayi breakout performance in week 6, Foster's production will likely be limited. Until we see more from Foster going forward, he's out.

Quarterback Geno Smith will be making the start for the Jets today, and facing a Ravens defense that has been stingy against the run he will be tested in the air. With Geno in today (and not a likely fantasy start in any formats), we will most likely see him putting the ball up quite a bit today. Even with the change at quarterback, wide receiver Brandon Marshall (27 receptions, 433 yards receiving, 2 touchdowns this season) is in for me.

That's my take.

~David G. Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: MONDAY'S FANTASY HEADLINES

Monday Edition
November 26th, 2012  

David's Daily Digest








Monday’s Fantasy Headlines

Fred Jackson To Take A Backseat
The Bills running back Fred Jackson who made his return to action on Sunday after missing a game because of the concussion he suffered in week 10, will take a back seat to the more explosive and quick CJ Spiller. Jackson should continue to see a steady share of snaps, but through 12 weeks of action Spiller has proven to be the more effective ground gainer and will continue to see a greater share of carries and touches. Jackson can still offer some (not much) as a flex option in deeper 14-16 team leagues.

Ahmad Bradshaw Likely To See Increased Duties
Against the Packers on Sunday night the Giants running back Andre Brown was lost for the remainder of the season with a broken fibula. With Brown out, running back Ahmad Bradshaw who finished with 119 total yards against the Packers, will likely see more touches including in the red zone. The increased work should make Bradshaw a solid play and a mid-value RB2 heading into the fantasy playoffs.

DeSean Jackson Continues to Struggle in 2012
The Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson has been nothing less than a big fantasy disappointment this season. In 11 games this season Jackson has scored just twice and recorded only two 100-yard receiving games. On Monday night Jackson exited early with an injury finishing the game with just one catch for 9 yards. It was the fourth time Jackson has posted three or fewer grabs in game and the sixth time he has had less than 65 yards receiving. Jackson will be questionable for next Sunday against the Cowboys and has fallen to a very shaky low value WR3.

Knowshon Moreno Appears To Be The Man
There was so much speculation last week surrounding the Broncos backfield with running back Willis McGahee going down, but after his performance on Sunday it looks like Knowshon Moreno (85 yards rushing, 26 yards receiving) has locked up the starting gig for now. Rookie running back Ronnie Hillman was expected to step into the starting role and handle much of the workload in the backfield, but obviously there were too many questions surrounding his pass protection skills. The Veteran Moreno was impressive on Sunday and now appears to be the main guy in the Broncos backfield.

Brandon Marshall Back To Form With His Starting QB
With quarterback Jay Cutler out last Monday night, Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall (81 receptions in 2012) was targeted just four times. With Cutler returning to action on Sunday, Marshall was targeted 17 times finishing with 12 receptions for 92 yards. Marshall has blossomed into an elite WR1 option this season reuniting with his old quarterback from his Denver days. As long as Cutler is under center and upright, Marshall remains a top-flight WR1 fantasy option especially in PPR leagues.

Danario Alexander Emerging As The Favorite in San Diego
Since his arrival wide receiver Danario Alexander has wasted little time making noise in the Chargers passing game. In his past three starts Alexander has been targeted 26 times posting a scoring line that includes; 17 receptions, 304 yards receiving and three scores. Alexander has emerged as one of quarterback Philip Rivers favorite targets and is a solid WR2 fantasy option going forward.


By David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: SUNDAY MORNING GAMETIME

Sunday Edition
November 25th, 2012  

Sunday Morning Gametime

The Falcons will have wide receiver Julio Jones (will start) today, but playing outdoor and a bad wheel (ankle) he could be a risky play. It’s tough to sit Jones with his tremendous upside and big play potential, so proceed with caution.

The Bills running back Fred Jackson is active and expected to play, but Spiller will get the start and should see the lions’ share of the carries today. Jackson is coming off a concussion and with Spiller being as effective as he has been (all season) it’s hard to imagine Jackson getting worked in too much today; Spiller is still the play in the Bills backfield.

Quarterback Jay Cutler is going to start, that’s good news for Brandon Marshall owners. Marshall is clearly Cutler’s favorite and go to receiver, so he’ll see plenty of work today. Marshall is a WR1 with Cutler in the game.

The Niners are going to roll with quarterback Colin Kaepernick. With Kaepernick’s mobility, he adds another dimension to the offense that could help open up things in the pass game. Tight end Vernon Davis and wide receiver Michael Crabtree would appear to be upgraded options with Kaepernick in the game. 

The Steelers will be without wide receiver Antonio Brown today (ruled OUT). With quarterback Charlie Batch under center expect the Steelers to work the trenches with their ground game. No Brown, no effect, today will be all about the three-headed monster led by running backs Jonathan Dwyer and Rashard Mendenhall.

Just a few notes for today’s games…

By David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: QUICK TAKES

Monday Edition

November 19th, 2012 

David’s Daily Digest

MNF Quick Notes

Sunday Night’s matchup between the Ravens and Steelers was just an appetizer to what fantasy owners should expect tonight when the San Francisco 49ers host the Chicago Bears. While both teams are not short on the fantasy list of offensive skill players, this contest has the makings to be all about the defense.

With that said, there will still be plenty of notable fantasy players to watch on both sidelines when these two teams take to the field in just a few short hours. None of what I have to say here is to say or suggest no other players will rise tonight, but if you are just looking for those safe plays, these gridiron warriors may be as far as you want to look.

The Players…

The Bears will provide some of the more attractive options, although tonight they may not offer some of their more productive outings. Wide receiver Brandon Marshall has been a fantasy savior this season, in particular of late. Marshall is currently riding a six game streak with at least 6 catches and 80 yards receiving. In that span his numbers are 51 receptions for 690 yards with six touchdowns; even with Jason Campbell under center Marshall should be targeted heavily and be able to produce his minimum numbers, 6/80.

The Niners defense is stingy to say the least, but fortunately for Matt Forte owners, the Bears ball carrier is multi-faceted. The versatile back will likely contribute as much in the short passing as he does in the run and while yards may be tough to find on the ground with 22 receptions this season he should still be a safe PPR play this evening.

On the other sideline, running back Frank Gore is a hard nose grinder built for matchups just like tonight. He should see more than enough carries to gauge and carve his way through the Bears defense for good numbers. I would not expect (though I wouldn’t be surprised) a 100-yard effort, but Gore may come very close and could sneak a carry into the end zoen f the Niners can keep this one close and not get impatient. Their best tonight will be with Gore and the Niners ground game, especially after watching the Texans grind out 129 yards last Sunday night.

Sleeper…

With this one being a close affair and both sides taking a more conservative approach, don’t be surprised to see Bears Michael Bush getting some carries and maybe an opportunity or two in the red zone. He may not offer much to most, but in deeper formats he could be a nice sleeper play in a flex spot.

Team Defenses…

While the Niners defense does get a lot of notoriety, the Bears defense may be the better play tonight. The Bears have been making as much if not more noise than any other team in the league on the defensive side of the ball in 2012; a good reason why any fantasy players versus the Bears tonight could face a disappointing outcome. The Bears are by no means dominant and they are not going to shut folks down, but they are opportunistic and big play. Sacks, picks, and touchdowns seem to be the trademark of the Bears and facing a back-up quarterback tonight would seem to spell much success.

  

By David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

Friday Edition
November 16th, 2012  

David’s Daily Digest

No Brown on Sunday Could Means More Wallace
The Steelers will operate Sunday night without wide receiver Antonio Brown and going against a weakened Ravens defense could mean more opportunities for the speedster Mike Wallace. Wallace is the team’s homerun hitter, but has been relatively quiet this season; just one 100-yard receiving game this season. The Ravens are ranked 26th against the pass allowing more than 250 yards in the air; even without Big Ben (Roethlisberger) under center expect the Steelers to take their shots downfield. Wallace will be a hit and miss, but hard to sit him when he’s always a threat to take one to the house and still averaging better than 7 targets per game in his last three contests.

Moore Could Be the Hot Pick this Week in Oak-town
With wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey (hamstring) likely to be shelved this Sunday against the Saints, wideout Denarius Moore figures to pick up the slack in a big way. Moore leads the team with five scores this season and could add to that total going up against one of the leagues worst pass defense. The Saints have allowed 19 passing touchdowns this season and are giving up the most fantasy points to receivers. Moore is a must start Sunday.

Megatron Could Be Ready for Another Big Sunday
Wide receiver Calvin Johnson may only have a few trips to the end zone on his 2012 resume, but he’s still having a Mega-season; on pace for 115 receptions, 1,731 yards receiving, and 3.5 touchdowns. This Sunday Calvin will face the Packers 19th ranked pass defense, a defense that he owned in their last matchup in 2011; a scoring line of 11/244/1. The Packers also allow the 9th most fantasy points to receivers which should bode well for Megatron owners.

Celek Could Have a Big Game on Sunday
The Eagles tight end Brent Celek could easily end up being rookie quarterback Nick Foles best friend this Sunday. With Foles making his first start, Celek could very well wind up being a hot target and safety net for the rookie. Celek has been quiet the past five games, but Sunday facing the Redskins 30th ranked pass defense could change all that. The Redskins defense allows the 2nd most fantasy points to tight ends, including 7 touchdowns. If you have been sitting Celek as of late, this could be the week to put him in.

Campbell Set to Start Monday Night
The Bears quarterback Jay Cutler has been ruled out for Monday night and back up Jason Campbell will get the start. Like was saw last Sunday night when Campbell relieved the injured Cutler, wide receiver Brandon Marshall can expect to be a busy pass catcher. Marshall was Campbell’s go-to much of the second half and this should play out Monday night. The Niners have been stingy against opposing receivers allowing the 4th fewest fantasy points, but Marshall has been dominant much of the season and remains a solid top WR1 every week (even with Campbell under center).


By David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: SFFL WEEK 9

Saturday Edition
November 3rd, 2012  

Suicide Fantasy Football

Week 9

My SFFL fantasy team has fallen off the pace a bit the past couple of weeks with a couple of sub-par performances, but this week I am looking to improve mightily with some big performances from some big names and a strong showing from a few lesser known. My line-up leads off with a couple of notables (Michael Vick & Brandon Marshall), but also consists for a few intriguing names where I really like their matchups….


My Line-up 

Quarterback:
Despite the ups and downs and the turmoil that exists within the Eagles organization, I still believe Michael Vick is an exceptional athlete with plenty of playmaking ability and on Monday night he’ll have a great opportunity to exhibit plenty. The Saints defense has been awful this season and they have allowed the most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season. Vick and the Eagles need a big game and this Monday night is lining up to be their best opportunity.

Running Backs:
In the backfield I am starting the Lions running back Mikel Leshoure this week. The Lions are on the road to face Jacksonville and the Jaguars run defense has not been good against the run this season. The Jags are ranked 25th versus the run and have allowed 8 rushing touchdowns this season; they also allow the 4th most fantasy points to running backs.

My other ball carrier for week 9 is Felix Jones. The Cowboys running back has been running on empty it seems and with DeMarco Murray likely to return to the lineup sooner rather than later, this may be one of his last starts this season. I am not looking for a big output from Felix Sunday night, but the Cowboys need to make a big statement here and will need a solid effort from the ground game. The Falcons defense has not been great against the run this season ranked 26th, so I like for Jones to carry the load and be productive. 

Wide Receivers:
It’s time to call on one of the big dawgs this season, the Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall. the Bears are on the road this week, but for Marshall and company they meet the Tennessee Titans; ranked 29th against the pass. Marshall is off to a great start this season and has a great chance to improve his numbers on Sunday, the Titans are giving up the 15th most fantasy points to wide receiver this season, including 17 touchdowns.

My other wide out for week 9 is going to be DeSean Jackson. It what looks to be a shoot-out on Monday night, Jackson will be lining up against the Saints defense that is allowing the most fantasy points to wide receivers this season. The game will be fast on turf and could be filled with lots of big plays.

Tight End:
The Buccaneers offense, in particular their passing game has shown lots of life over the past couple of weeks, and tight end Dallas Clark has become fantasy relevant again. Clark has quietly become more involved as he and his quarterback Josh Freeman continue to develop a good rapport. In his first five games Clark was targeted 15 times, he has been targeted 9 times in the past two. Although Clark has yet to put up big numbers this season, he is facing the Raiders 21st ranked pass defense that allows the 11th most fantasy points to tight ends.

Place Kicker:
The Ravens have a very favorable matchup this week on the road against the Browns. Their offense should have plenty of success moving the ball, but could stall a few times in the red zone. I like Ravens kicker Justin Tucker to score big points with several kicks and several extra points.

Team Defense:
With my choices becoming more limited each week, one matchup I like is the Lions defense on the road against the Jaguars. The Jags offense is ranked last in the league, and with no MJD this looks too good to pass. The Jags have really struggled with the pass this season, ranked 32nd and 20 sacks allowed this season and have allowed the 6th most fantasy points versus opposing defenses.

These are my picks for week 9.


By David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

Tuesday Edition

October 23rd, 2012 

David's Daily Digest

The Week in Review

Breaking Down my Week 7 Picks

It was another tough week in fantasy football to say the least with several players disappointing and not achieving expectations, but as it always is with fantasy; win some, lose some.

 My Week 7 Duds

These are my week 7 picks that lost…

Making my duds list this week is quarterback, Matthew Stafford. After his 2011 season performance fantasy owners were expecting much bigger things from him this season and such has not been the case. With just 261 yards passing and one touchdown pass to go with a pick (16 fantasy points); hardly a the QB1 performance owners were looking for.

Bad hands….

The Colts receiver Donnie Avery has hardly been much to speak of the past several weeks and in week 7 he remained quiet with just four catches for 46 yards. Avery has not been relevant since week 2, it may be time to plant him on your bench until further notice.

Another wide receiver that remained grounded in week 7 was Dez Bryant. The Cowboys receiver was targeted just three times on Sunday and finished with two catches for 14 yards. It’s tough to sit a player like Bryant because of his upside potential, but just note his inconsistency is going to hurt sometimes.

To complete the list of the poor hands on Sunday group lets add Kenny Britt. The Titans go-to receiver was hardly went to on Sunday as he finished with a paltry 4 grabs for 30 yards. The Titans offense has been inconsistent and with the possible shuffling of quarterbacks in the next coming weeks, Britt does not look like a very good option to lean upon to heavily.

With what appeared to be a prime matchup for running back Darren McFadden, 53 yards rushing and 28 yards receiving are not enough to make fantasy owners happy. This was not his worst game this season by far, but his lack of big yardage and scoring are going to make things tough for fantasy owners. With 25 catches thus far this season he does offer some appeal in PPR leagues, but he’ll need to start ripping off some big runs soon or owners may grow restless.

Running back Trent Richardson could be another falling star. His proneness to injury has kept him off the field much too often this season. Once again Richardson was an early exit on Sunday (against the Colts) totaling just 8 yards. It’s hard for fantasy owners to count on a guy who can’t finish a game. Richardson is not worthy of a starting position in any fantasy leagues until he can get healthy again.

My Week 7 Studs

Some of my week 7 wins….

Let’s start with Monday night and the Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall. He was busy and again productive in the passing game for the Bears. Marshall is now a solid WR1 fantasy this season averaging better than 11 targets per game in his last four starts and totaling 30 catches for 434 yards and three touchdowns. He has scored in three straight and has at least 5 receptions in 5 of his 6 starts this season.

The Buccaneers were on display Sunday against the Saints with quarterback Josh Freeman (420 yards passing) and wide receiver Vincent Jackson (216 yards receiving) doing their best dynamic duo impersonation. Freeman is quietly working his way into fantasy lineups as a starter (in deeper leagues) passing for 299 yards or more in his last three games with 7 touchdown throws. Vincent Jackson is emerging as a big-time receiver again and is putting up the numbers to prove it; 17 receptions, 382 yards receiving, and three touchdowns in his last three games.

Running back Fred Jackson took advantage of a nice matchup on Sunday turning in a solid performance. Jackson rushed for 71 yards and grabbed 8 passes for another 49 yards. He also added a score to complete his week 7 strong showing. Jackson is still splitting time with Spiller finishing Sunday with just 17 touches. As long as he is part-time owners can’t expect too many games like this; play with caution and look for the favorable matchups before inserting into your lineup.

One last mention (although, there is a couple more) is wide receiver Randall Cobb. He is the Packers newest playmaker in the passing game. Against the Rams in week 7 Cobb was targeted eight times and made good on all eight. Cobb finished the day with 8 receptions for 89 yards and two scores. His stock is on a mad rise with Greg Jennings sidelined, but as often as he has been  targeted and as productive as he has been the past two weeks, I can’t see the Packers straying away too far; expect Cobb to stay involved and remain at least a strong solid flex option. He may even be a mid WR3 in deeper leagues and tough to keep on anyone’s bench going forward.

It wasn’t how it was drawn up, but Andrew Luck was money in week 7 accounting for two scores in the Colts third win at home this season. Luck passed for just 186 yards, but still finished Sunday’s contest against the Browns with 18 fantasy points. His numbers this season are not great, but Luck is still good enough to fill a bye week need in fantasy or add insurance on your bench, especially in deep 14-16 team leagues.

By David Ortega