FSH NOTEBOOK: SUNDAY MORNING GAMETIME

January 23rd, 2011, Sunday

Sunday Morning Gametime

Championship Day

Today’s injury notes

For this time of year, all four teams playing today are relatively healthy and wo’t have any significant injuries to be concerned with. The only two notable players this week with any injury concerns, Bears safety Chris Harris (torn muscle) will play with pain today and Jets defensive end Shaun Ellis (knee) is questionable, but expected to play.

A couple of notable differences for the Jets-Steelers matchup later this evening, in their first meeting the Steelers were without tight end Heath Miller and All-Pro safety Troy Polamalu; both are healthy today and will start.

The Bears will not have wide receiver Devin Aromashodu, he will be inactive making room for tight end Desmond Clark; the Bears will obviously be leaning on the run and adding more blockers to protect Cutler.

The Jets will have a healthy Brad Smith (groin) back on the field today. Smith was a full-participant in practice Friday and will be returning kicks today for the Jets. In their only meeting with Pittsburgh back in week 15 this season, Smith took the opening kickoff to the house; it was one of his two returns for touchdowns this season.

The Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is battling a cold and had some voice issues, but according to ESPN earlier the Steelers coaching staff say Big Ben is feeling better and his voice should not be an issue. If Big Ben does struggle with making calls it could have an impact on their hurry-up offense.

Today’s Matchup (Player watch)

Both of today’s games offer plenty of defense and defensive specialists; in the Packers-Bears matchup both teams bode plenty of playmakers that can make a huge difference, but only a few can change the game.

The Bears will need a huge effort from defensive end Julius Pepper. The versatile Peppers will need to bring a whole lot of pressure on the edge if the Bears have any hopes of slowing down the Packers passing attack. Peppers’ is also an extremely gifted athlete and will need to make plays today against the run.

Linebacker Brian Urlacher will also be essential for the success of the Bears defense. He also needs a big game against the run today if the defense is going to force quarterback Aaron Rodgers into predictable 3rd and long passing downs.

On the other side of the coin, the Packers have a couple of defensive players that need to play very well this afternoon. The key to slowing down the Bears attack will be shutting down the run and pressuring quarterback Jay Cutler. Linebacker Clay Matthews Jr. and cornerback Charles Woodson need to get there when the Pack bring the heat, if they don’t Cutler could have a big passing day for Chicago.

The Packers defensive linemen B.J. Raji and Cullen Jenkins need to clog the middle and make sure running back Matt Forte does not have a big game on the ground. In their last meeting Forte scampered his way for 91 yards.

The Steelers will need to secure the ball today against the Jets defense and will need Big Ben to make a few plays if they hope to have great success running the ball. In their last meeting Ben passed for 264 yards completing 23 passes, while running back Rashard Mendenhall was successful running the ball for 99 yards; they will need more of the same.

Against the Steelers offense today, the Jets defense needs a much better push against the run. Defensive lineman Shaun Ellis is expected to play and along with him linebacker Bart Scott will need to be big against the run. The Steelers managed 146 yards last go around, if the Jets are to win, they can’t allow the Steelers as many yards.

…of course there will be plenty of offense to watch;

Aaron Rodgers is geared up to have a big day against the Bears. Starks will see some carries, but his effectiveness should come in short yardage near the goal line. You can pick and choose any of Rodgers weapons, but one that may go overlooked today is Jordy Nelson; effective last week against the Falcons and could be big today.

Running back Matt Forte should see plenty of action in the run and pass games today, with quarterback Jay Cutler throwing the ball quite a bit today against the Packers aggressive 5th ranked pass defense. Tight end Greg Olsen came up big last week and could be utilized more today in shorter routes in hopes of slowing down the Pack sack attack.

The Steelers had success in the air and on the ground in their last meeting with the Jets; wide receiver Mike Wallace could be in for another terrific outing today matched up against Cromartie and Mendenhall will get plenty of carries inside and could find paydirt.

The Jets may struggle a little today, but where they may find success is with their big receiver Braylon Edwards (8 catches in the last meeting) and if this game moves to the pass for New York, running back LaDanian Tomlinson is still an effective weapon.

By David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: THE SATURDAY FANTASY REPORT

January 22nd, 2011 Saturday

The Saturday Fantasy Report

Championship Weekend

Aaron Rodgers Set For A Huge Sunday
…no other quarterback has been playing near as well as the Packers’ Aaron Rodgers. He has been simply brilliant on the gridiron over the past month. The Bears have a very fast and swarming defense and will make yards on the ground difficult. The Packers and Bears are no strangers to one another (old rivalry in the league), so it will be no surprise to see the Packers stay with what works.

With one of the leagues’ elite passers, offensive coordinator Joe Philbin likes to use a lot of multiple receiver sets, including four and five receiver formations. The Bears ranked 20th against the pass this season and will face a daunting task of trying to slowdown Rodgers and his Cheeseheads (receivers). The Bears have managed to play Rodgers well this season in two previous meetings, but the third time could be the charm.

Rodgers has six touchdowns this postseason and is completing nearly 80 percent of his throws (49 of 63). He is averaging almost 300 yards passing per game over the past month and has only thrown one interception in his last four starts (128 passes). Even with a little breeze on Sunday, Rodgers has plenty arm to be more than effective against the Bears.
(My thoughts; 25 of 35 passing, 285 yards passing, two touchdown)

James Starks Could Find Paydirt Against the Bears
The Bears boast a formidable run defense ranked 2nd in the league and on Sunday figure to create a lot of problems for rookie running back James Starks to find any space. In their last meeting Starks carried the ball just five times for 20 yards. He’ll get a few more chances this Sunday in the NFC Championsip, but could really struggle to find much more yards.

The Packers offense may not need a whole lot of production out of their backfield on Sunday; they like to throw the ball and will win or lose through the air. Even with the focus on an aerial assault Starks could see some production in short-yardage in the red-zone. The Packers will move the ball against the Bears 9th ranked (overall) defense on Sunday and could set up a few goal-line carries for Starks; he should be able to hit paydirt once.
(My thoughts; 12 carries, 45 yards, one touchdown)

Braylon Edwards Could Be Very Effective On Sunday
The Steelers have an awesome pass rush and will likely be in the face of Jets’ quarterback Mark Sanchez much of the afternoon on Sunday, but when they aren’t Sanchez could have some success finding wide receiver Braylon Edwards.

The Jets receiver is a large target and could give the Steelers undersized secondary lots of problems; in their first meeting Edwards snagged 8 balls for 100 yards. If the Steelers run defense is able to shut down the Jets ground game, Edwards could become even more of a factor in the pass game.
(My thoughts; 5 catches, 85 yards, one touchdown)

Steelers Defense is Primed to Stall Jets
This game will feature two of the league’s best defenses, but it may be just one that dominates on Sunday. In their earlier meeting this season the Steelers pass rush was held in check (just one sack), but I would expect head Coach Mike Tomlin to turn his dogs loose on Sunday.

With 13 sacks and 8 takeways in their last three games the Steel Curtain looks every bit ready to take the field and dominate. This could be the final episode for Head Coach Rex Ryan and his Jets and on filled with many hardknocks.
(My thoughts; four sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles)

Just my take

By David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: MY WEEKLY FANTASY

January 20th, 2011 Thursday

My Weekly Fantasy

Championship Week

Sunday’s Fantasy Lineup

Some quick notes about Sunday’s lineup…..

My Quarterback:

Well Sunday’s pick should be pretty simple; no quarterback has played nearly as well as the Packers Aaron Rodgers over the past month. Rodgers is on fire this post season with six touchdowns in two games and no interceptions; he is also completing 78 percent of his passes and currently owns a 134.5 passer rating. He is a no-brainer start this weekend, but if for any reason you are not able to ride the strong-arm of Rodgers, Big Ben (Roethlisberger) could be a good play.

At home on Sunday Roethlisberger will be looking to continue his own hot hand. In his last five starts Big Ben has not thrown a pick and has six touchdown passes, including two last Sunday against the Ravens. In his previous matchup against the Jets earlier this season (Week 15) Roethlisberger passed 264 yards with a touchdown; he also scrambled for another 25 yards. With the Jets tough run defense (3rd in the NFL), Big Ben will be forced to make some plays in the pass game.

My Running backs:

This happens to be a very rough week for running backs with the number one, two, and three ranked run defenses playing, but if you are looking for some production you could still see plenty. The Packers boast the number 18th ranked run defense making Bears running back Matt Forte an appealing option. Forte has been running the ball particularly well the past month and he’s also become a regular option in the pass game with 15 receptions in his last three games; he’s also averaging over 150 yards of offense.

The Jets don’t figure to run through the Steel Curtain on Sunday, as no runner was able to top the century mark this season against their formidable ground stoppers, but the shifty LT was able to squeak out 49 yards on 11 carries back in week 15. Those aren’t great numbers, but LT could figure significantly in the pass game matching up against the Steelers linebackers and Dick LeBeau’s blitz calling tendencies.

Another back worth taking a hard look at this week would be the Packers rookie James Stark. The Bears have the 2nd best run defense in the league, but they will have their hands full keeping Rodgers and the Packers passing game out of the red-zone; Starks may not see many yards, but could pick up an easy score or two.

My Wide Receivers:

This could be a huge weekend for receivers with very few yards being shed on the ground. The Packers-Bears matchup could be the game with the most fireworks with two gunslingers, Rodgers and Cutler under center. If these two can’t grind out any yards on the ground, you know neither will be shy about putting the ball in the air. Names like Jennings and Driver may call out to fantasy ears, but on Sunday I will roll the dice with a couple of lesser known names like Jordy Nelson and James Jones. The Bears are not deep in the secondary and they just won’t be able to cover everyone; it’ll be pick your poison (they will try and take away Jennings). If Cutler is forced into a shootout, he will be looking downfield a lot; wide receiver Johnny Knox could come up big with several catches over the middle.

In the Jets-Steelers matchup, both teams combined could struggle to reach 100-yards, but their secondaries could be susceptible to a number of big plays. It appears the Jets wide receiver Braylon Edwards has really improved his hands this season and with his big size, he’s a safe bet to pull down a few balls on Sunday. With the Ravens really taking away Steeler’s wide receiver Mike Wallace, Big Ben found a new target that could be an effective play on Sunday as well, rookie Emmanuel Sanders (he could be risky, so consider others first).

My Tight End:

Last week to many people’s surprise the under-used Greg Olsen emerged from his hiatus with several big catches to lead the Bears passing attack; he caught three balls for 113 yards and a score. With the Packers tough corners working to take away the deep ball, Olsen could see plenty of work again down the seam early. Olsen may not tally nearly as many yards this week, but he could see a few more throws.

In the AFC contest, my favorite there is not the trusty Dustin Keller who went into hibernation most the regular season, but the Steelers Heath Miller. The Jets corners will be pre-occupied with the Wallace and Ward and Big Ben knows how to use his tight end; last week Miller caught five passes for 39 yards and a score.

FSH: SUNDAY MORNING GAMETIME

November 21st, 2010 Sunday

Sunday Morning Gametime

Week 11 will mark a beginning for some teams today and an ending for others. Team’s like the Vikings and the 49ers will be playing for the post-season life; at 3-6 there’s not much life there, but another loss and stick a fork in them. While teams like the Packers and Saints are set to begin their post-season push and at 6-3 both teams look poised to make their runs.

With so much on the line for all of these teams, today could be a scoring haven for fantasy owners expecting to see a lot of the big names step up and give their best; names to watch include Favre, Rodgers, Brees, and Brady. Injuries will always play a part in the outcome, but with players like Andre Johnson, Calvin Johnson, and Terrell Owens lining up we’ll see plenty of fireworks today

With nine games in the morning the fun will get off to a fast start and conclude this evening with a great matchup between the Giants and Eagles. If you have nothing better to do (and how could you), find your local tailgate party, strap on your favorite lid and get set for week 11….

Today’s injury notes:

The Redskins will be missing running back Ryan Torain (hamstring) today, but will see the return of running back Clinton Portis. Also out today for the Skins, defensive backs Laron Landry and Carlos Rogers; that will hurt today against the Titans.

The Browns are not going to have wide receiver and special teamer Joshua Cribbs (dislocated toes).

According to Fox Sports the Saints running back Reggie Bush is likely to miss today’s matchup with the Seahawks. The team already announced earlier in the week running back Pierre Thomas would not play.

Today the Viking’s wide receiver Sidney Rice is expected to make his 2010 season debut. Rice was activated from the PUP list earlier in the week.

Earlier this week the Lions placed running back Kevin Smith on the injured reserve, meaning rooke running back Jahvid Best will likely see a more increased role going forward; no RBBC in Detroit.

In their big clash today with the Patriots, Peyton Manning and the Colts will not have the services of running back Jospeh Addai (neck), but could see wide receiver Austin Collie (concussion) return to action; against the Pats that would be very good news.

Notable Matchups;

Today with Addai out and on the road, there’s little doubt that the Colts will be relying heavily on Peyton Manning to play well. One component Manning will be leaning on heavily to find success could be his new best buddy and tight end Jacob Tamme. Tamme has been targeted 36 times in his last three games and has had great success catching 24 balls for 245 yards with two scores. The Patriots boast the 29 ranked pass defense, so Tamme looks to be a safe bet.

The Jets wide receiver Braylon Edwards (5 touchdowns) has had to be very patient over the past several weeks with his quarterback spreading the ball around a lot. Today his patience could see a lot of return against the league’s worst secondary, the Houston Texans. Edwards is only averaging just over six targets a game over his last three played, but that may be all he needs to do some heavy damage against today’s opponent. The Texans have been torched for over 300 yards passing per game this season and they have allowed a league high 22 passing touchdowns.

If there were ever a game to play Jermaine Gresham, today is that game. The Bengal’s rookie tight really appears to be sprouting his wings and starting to blossom into the type of playmaker that had hoped they drafted. Last week Gresham caught nine passes for 85 yards and a score. Today he’ll face one of the worst defenses at covering the tight end position; it could be a big day for Jermaine.

The Lions wide receiver Calving Johnson has really been solid this season considering the number of quarterback changes he has had to work with. Through it all he has performed brilliantly catching 49 passes for nearly 700 yards and nine touchdowns. Today against the Dallas Cowboys he’ll square off against a secondary (ranked 20th) that has allowed 20 passing touchdowns and 33 pass plays of 20 yards or more this season. Don’t be surprised to see Megatron have a huge game today.

FSH: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

October 7th, 2010, Thursday



David’s Daily Digest



My Fantasy Notes:

RYAN TORAIN HAS BUSY DAY ON THE GROUND.
Last Sunday against the Eagles, running back Ryan Torain saw some extended action carrying the ball 18 times for 70 yards. The Redskin’s runner also found the end-zone on a blistering 12-yard scamper that included running right over and through the Eagles defensive back Quintin Mikell.
My Fantasy Read:
It appears head coach Mike Shanahan has found himself another gem. Remember Shanahan actually drafted Torain while he was still the head coach in Denver, so you know he is a coaches’ favorite. With running back Clinton Portis down for at least a month Torain is going to get some extended time to showcase his talents. The Packers roll into DC on Sunday with their 24th ranked run defense, so expect to see a lot of Torain.

BRANDON LLOYD TURNS IN ANOTHER BIG DAY.
The Bronco’s wide out followed up his big game in week 3 with another solid performance last Sunday. Lloyd was targeted 18 times against the Titans secondary and hauled in 11 of those passes for 115 yards (his third 100-yard receiving game this season).
My Fantasy Read:
Thus far Lloyd has been targeted a team high 40 times this season (ranks 7th in the league) and unquestionably has emerged as quarterback Kyle Orton’s favorite target. In the past two weeks Lloyd has seen 28 passes his direction and connected on 17 for 284 yards and a score. He’s got a tough matchup on Sunday against Baltimore, but is still worthy of consideration.

TERRELL OWENS BREAKS OUT IN WEEK 4.
The Bengals passing offense finally awoke last Sunday against the Browns defense and wide receiver Terrell Owens finally had a break out game this season. T.O. caught nine passes for 222 yards and a score to lead the offense.
My Fantasy Read:
Owens definitely raised his fantasy value with the great performance on Sunday, but before you go and auction the talented wide out away consider his numbers so far this season. Owens is the second highest targeted wide out in the league. He ranks 5th in the league in yards and his 24 catches rank him 11th. Currently his projected numbers make him look like a 90 catch, 1,400 yard receiving. These are exaggerated numbers, but numbers that may make you at least reconsider for a moment before ditching Owens.

BRAYLON EDWARDS LOOKS PRIMED FOR MONDAY NIGHT.
The 2-1 Jets have a huge matchup coming up on Monday night against the Minnesota Vikings and their 8th ranked pass defense. So far this season wide receiver Braylon Edwards has come up big for the Jets passing game with three straight games with a touchdown.
My Fantasy Read:
Edwards is slowly shaking the nickname and label “stone-hands” that has been affectionately given to him by some of the fantasy football community. In his last two games Edwards has touchdown scores of 67 and 41 yards. He’s only caught 12 passes this season, but with an 18.9 yards per catch average Edwards is making them count. He still lacks some consistency as a favorable play, but he’s worth keeping your eye on.

FSH: SUNDAY MORNING GAMETIME

October 3rd, 2010, Sunday

Sunday Morning Gametime

It was another fun-filled Sunday of NFL excitement last weekend and Monday night was no disappointment either. Some fantasy newsmakers included a few old names like WR-Lance Moore (2-touchdowns), WR-Brandon Lloyd (166 yards receiving), WR-Roy Williams (2-touchdowns) and a few new ones owners will need to get to know soon; Chad Henne (363-yards passing), Kyle Orton (476-yards passing), Peyton Hillis (144 yards rushing), and Jabar Gaffney (12 receptions). With this week being the start of the bye weeks, with only 14 games on the slate fantasy owners will now put their drafting skills to the test. Did you cover your byes with reliable bench support, were you able to find sufficient talent through waivers?

With the kick off to week four just a few short hours from now, these are the players I will be keeping my eye on today (the question is will you be starting any of these?)….

Sunday Games:

The Bills are always a tough matchup for their divisional rivals, but with a struggling offense the Jets should be able to loosen the play-calling belt some today. I will be keeping my eye on several of the gang-green; quarterback Mark Sanchez (Can he make it three straight solid performances), Braylon Edwards (Can he show some humility and just make plays), and Shonn Greene (Against a suspect run defense today, can Green finally show some of last year’s post season magic?).

Speaking of the Bills, even with all this trade talk I will be watching running back Marshawn Lynch. I would expect the team to try and showcase their talent up for trade, but I am not expecting to see a whole lot against a very stingy Jets runs defense ranked 4th in the league.

Tonight when the G-men play host to Da’Bears, I will be keeping a close watch on quarterback Eli Manning. In three weeks he has passed for a truckload of yards (810-yards, 270-yds/game), but also has six interceptions. Against the Bears secondary, he should have some success if his line can do a good job of protecting him.

The Niner’s have not been a favorite this season at 0-3 and looking every bit the part of a winless team, but against the Falcons Alex Smith and company could find some hope. The Falcons defense is ranked 22nd against the pass and with Frank Gore pounding the middle, wide receiver Michael Crabtree could be an interesting play today. Crabtree has been dormant all season, but at some point he’s got to awake.

In Seattle there has been a lot of recent talk about running back Justin Forsett separating himself as the team’s number one back. Today he’ll have a chance to prove the rumors true against a weak Rams 25th ranked run defense. I will definitely be watching closely today.

Another interesting development I will be watching with great interest is the running back situation in Washington. I heard the rumors and made the move this week to pick up running back Ryan Torain, but I won’t be starting him today. I will be keeping an eye on this development to see if he will actually carry more of the running load for the Redskins on the early downs (which is what I am hearing).

FSH: (WEDNESDAY) WATERCOOLER CHAT

January 20th, 2009 - 11:05pm PST

Watercooler Chat

Where these games could go....

The Vikings bring with them the number two ranked run defense in the league and will surely make it difficult for Brees and company to establish any kind of a ground game on Sunday. Stopping the run will be a key for Minnesota's secondary, which could be vulnerable against a Drew Brees with time to throw. Last week the boys (Edwards, Allen, Williams, & Williams) did a great job slowing down the Cowboys run game (92 yards rushing). Once the Cowboys were forced to throw, Allen and company broke loose recording six sacks. This is what the Vikes will be looking to do on Sunday. Force Brees into obvious passing situations and go get the quarterback.

Staying with the NFC picture, on offense it will be a different story for the Vikings this week. They have perhaps one of the very best if not the best running back in the game today in Adrian Peterson. The Saints have shown to be vulnerable against the run ranked 21st and allowing 4.5 yards per carry. Peterson has yet to be a big factor in the playoffs, but this Sunday could be a different story for the former NFL rushing champion. All-day has only two 100-yard rushing games this season, could see another heavy work-load (26 carries last week). You can bet it Peterson tops 25 carries on Sunday, he's going to have a big day on the ground.

Wayne says...

Never without an opinion, but maybe not much of a brain Wayne offers his thoughts on this weekend's matchups....

The Saints have managed to trounce on most of their opponents this season, but clearly last weekend they faced a much inferior defense that just didn't have the playmakers to match up. That won't be the case this weekend. The Vikings have the ability to turn the Saints offense into one dimensional. Passing on first down will be key for the Saints to keep a balanced attack with short yardage on 2nd and 3rd downs. This will allow effective play-action to keep the Vikings defense on their heels.

The Colts don't care how you play defense against their quarterback, he's going to check at the line and constantly pre-read the defense. The two biggest keys for the Jets will be execution on defense and running the ball of offense. Manning is going to go through his pre-snap reads, whatever the defense dials up they must execute and they must get in Manning's face. On offense the Jets have to run effective, move the chains, eat the clock, and they must stay out of third and long.

Player Watch for the Title tilts...

Once again here a few players of note that fantasy owners should consider riding or hiding for the coming weekend of games. Keep these players on your watch list, you just may want to give them a hard look come Sunday;

(Start) Brett Favre

The Vikings quarterback is playing real well with 10 touchdown passes and no interceptions. The Saints exploited the Cards defense last week and forced them to play catch-up, that’s not likely to happen this week. As long as its competitive, Favre will be able to mix the pass with the run; start him.

(Start) Shonn Greene

The Colts struggle with the run and if the Jets keep this one close Shonn Greene is going to see a lot of work. What the rookie has shown this post season is his ability to run with power and make big plays. Greene already has a 39 yard and a 53 yard touchdown run in the post season; start him.

(Sit) Pierre Thomas

Thomas is not quite 100 percent running with sore ribs. Last week against the Cardinals he was limited to 13 carries, partly due to the big lead the Saints built, but the ribs have to be a concern. Thomas scampered his way to 52 yards, but he's not likely to be as productive on the ground this week; sit him.

(Start) Percy Harvin

The Vikings took advantage of their lanky and tall receiver Sidney Rice against the Cowboys smaller corners. The Saints will have to compensate for their undersized corners likely with safety Darren Sharper over the top and that could leave Percy Harvin with a lot of single coverage. Harvin is a Favre favorite and a playmaker, so expect him to be involved; start him.

(Sit) Braylon Edwards

The Jets haven't much of a pass game and with the emphasis being on the run this Sunday nothing is likely to change. Although Edwards could present some downfield challenges he's only caught four passes for 56 yards in two games.

Check back every week for more "Watercooler Chat"

FSH: SUNDAY SPORTS SECTION

November 1st, 2009 8:27am PST

The Sports Section

Week 8 Fantasy Tidbits

What to look for;

RB Steven Jackson versus the Lions
The Rams powerful running back has averaged 115-yards from scrimmage each game this season. Despite playing on one of the league’s worst offenses Jackson is also averaging a healthy 4.4 yard per carry. Today he matches up with the Lions run defense that ranks 20th and allows 4.6 yards per run. (good play)

RB Knowshon Moreno versus the Ravens
The Bronco’s offense has had two weeks to prepare and rookie running back Knowshon Moreno could be in for a solid day. Moreno has rushed for nearly 400 yards this season and is averaging 18 carries per game in his last five. In the Ravens past two games the defense has been shredded for 309 yards on the ground (154-yds per game) allowing nearly five yards a carry. (good play)

WR Marques Colston versus the Falcons
The Saints wide receiver has been targeted the most by quarterback Drew Brees over the teams last two games. Colston has seen 21 balls thrown in his direction and on Monday night he’ll face the Falcon’s 26th ranked pass defense that has allowed 24 plays of 20 yards or more this season. (good play)

RB DeAngelo Williams versus the Cardinals
With shaky play at quarterback, this week’s matchup against the Cardinals does not look good for running back DeAngelo Williams. The Cardinal’s defense is ranked number one against the run allowing just 67 yards per game and three yards a carry. (bad play)

QB David Garrard versus the Titans
In the first matchup this season the Jaguar’s quarterback passed for 323 yards and tossed three touchdowns in a blowout win over the Titans. Garrard also scampered his way to 38 yards in the victory. The Titans pass defense is ranked 31st this season and has allowed 19 passing touchdowns. (good play)

QB Brett Favre versus the Packers
The Vikings field general will face a defense that he torched for three scores on a Monday night back in week 4. Favre completed 23 of 30 passes and threw for 271 yards in the win. The Packers pass defense is ranked 4th in the league allowing on 174 yards per game and are 4th in the NFL with 11 interceptions. (tough play)

RB Ronnie Brown versus the Jets
With Kris Jenkins missing in the middle on Sunday for the Jets run defense, Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams should have a lot of success. In their week five matchup against the Jets, Brown was efffective scoring two rushing touchdowns while the Dolphins totaled over 150 yards on the ground. (good play)

WR Braylon Edwards versus Dolphins

The Jets new receiver was targeted a season high 11 times in the previous matchup. Edwards made a couple of very nice grabs and was able to score in the first tilt. Today matching up with the Dolphins 19th ranked pass defense that has been susceptible to the long ball, Edwards could be a sneakly play. (sneaky play)

By David Ortega Check out “The Sports Section” every Sunday

FSH: FRIDAY FOOTBALL DIARY

October 16th, 2009 11:07pm PST

Friday Football Diary

Dear Diary

Better late than Never…
With the 2009 fantasy football season moving right along, it certainly becomes a concern for owners when some of their studs decide to take an early siesta. Such has been the case for players like Eddie Royal, Chris Henry, and Dwayne Bowe, but recent history has shown that patience can and will pay dividends.

Last week all three receivers turned in very respectable outings to lead the turnaround surge. Royal’s 10 catch day was a great sign for fantasy owners that his sophomore jinx could be ending soon and Bowe’s five catches with his third touchdown of the season could be just the beginning of the end of his growing pains (new QB and new offense) in KC. Henry is quietly seeing his targets increase and last week it paid some dividends with 92 yards receiving.

While these three fantasy receivers enjoy what could be seen as a brighter outlook, there are still those stuck in cement;

Still late…

• The Titan’s receiver Justin Gage has seen 37 passes in his direction, yet he’s only averaging about three catches per game and 33 yards receiving…..
• The Raven’s 5th year receiver Mark Clayton has also seen 37 balls thrown his way, but his 17 receptions for 213 yards is very pedestrian…..
• The Bronco’s talented pass receiving tight end Tony Scheffler has been relatively quiet this season with just 10 catches, but it’s his 13 targets that is more concerning…..
• The Bill’s wide receiver Terrell Owens continues to struggle in the offense with just 12 receptions this season, but he has had 27 targets this season…..
• Injuries have played some part in his slow beginnings this season, but the Buccaneer’s receiver Antonio Bryant is still stuck in the mud with only 12 catches this season…..

Ready to Breakout

While some owners will tough it out and wait on those that continue to struggle to get out of first gear this season, here are a few names that appear to be on the cusp of a breakout performance.

Slowly but surely the Bronco’s big-time playmaking receiver Brandon Marshall has been coming on. He has scored in each of his three games and turned in his best performance of the season last week. With the Denver offense starting to show real signs of clicking, Marshall’s day could be coming soon!

The Rams running back Steven Jackson, despite being stuck on a bad team and poor offense he’s been mister steady. In his first five games Jackson has totaled 543 yards from scrimmage, but has yet to score. With a poor Jaguar’s defense next on the slate, could this week be his coming out party?

The Dolphin’s discovered last Monday night along with a national audience that not only are they a pretty good team, but it appears they have a pretty good young quarterback. What they also discovered, with this young quarterback’s big arm, they have a pretty good playmaking receiver in Ted Ginn Jr. Against the Jets, Ginn Jr. was able to get behind the defense for a spectacular 53 yard touchdown stike; perhaps a preview of more to come.

We have already seen the flashes and the catches, now that wide receiver Braylon Edwards is playing somewhere he is happy, owners can expect to see greater things. It’s just a matter of time.

10 Things to Watch for in Week 6

As I always do, I will be watching the games this Sunday and taking notes as I watch for some of the key matchups. Always a great attraction is a clash of unbeatens (Giants-Saints), some heated divisional rivalries (Cardinals-Seahawks, Broncos-Chargers), and a game of the week (Ravens-Vikings). With so much to cover, what will I really be watching;

1. Against one of the leagues stingiest run defenses, can Favre and the Vikings pass their way past Ray Lewis and the Ravens?
2. Will the Ram’s running back Steven Jackson finally blow up this season facing the Jaguar’s 18th ranked run defense.
3. Can quarterback Drew Brees and the Saints find success in the air against the Giants number one ranked pass defense.
4. Can the old man Kurt Warner continue to defy father time with another big Sunday against the Seahawks.
5. After his successful return last week with four touchdowns, can Matt Hasselbeck follow it up with an encore performance.
6. Last week Cedric Benson was the first running back in 40 games to rush for more than 100 yards against the Ravens, can Adrian Peterson be the second?
7. With the Texan’s 26th ranked run defense up next, can Cedric Benson turn in another stud-like performance?
8. The Titan’s secondary is decimated with injury, is this the week that Patriot’s quarterback Tom Brady finally breaks out?
9. Who will run for more yards against the Brown’s 32nd ranked run defense, Willie Parker or Rashard Mendenhall?1
10. The Bronco’s offense has been steady at home the last two weeks, can Marshall and company take their show on the road Monday night?

Check back every week for more “Friday Football Diary”

FSH: THE FANTASY SPORTS ZONE (QWIK FIXX)

October 14th, 2009 9:37pm PST

THE FANTASY FIXX

Target Practice: Week Six in the NFL

Once again if you are hoping to set a winning lineup for the coming weekend, you’re going to need the recipe for success. And like all good recipes, you need some tasty ingredients that will make your mouth water.

Not sure if this guy is for real or if that guy can do it again, then dig a little deeper and take a look at the numbers; numbers don’t lie. With week six approaching fast, there’s no time to stumble, take aim because you’ve targeted the right place and we’ve got your fix.

Who’s worried….
Put him in a new uniform and in a new city and the old Braylon Edwards returns making one exciting grab after the other. Monday night was a trip down memory lane for some and a reminder of what Edwards is capable of doing when he gets the opportunity. It looks like the change of scenery is working well for Braylon who finished Monday’s game with five catches, but most notable were the 11 total passes thrown his direction. His total numbers in week five didn’t set any houses on fire, but it looks like this Edwards and “Kid Sensation” could just be getting started.

It took one question about the chemistry between he and his quarterback to spark the Bronco’s second year receiver Eddie Royal. Last week when asked, Orton responded that there were no issues, that he and Royal had a great mix; 15 passes and 10 receptions later and I would say he was right.

It certainly appears that Wes Welker is back or at least Tom Brady seems to think so. Welker has been slowed with a knee injury this season, but that has not stopped his quarterback from calling his number. In Welker’s last two games he’s only total 134 yards receiving with 14 catches, but the truth is Brady has looked his way 26 times. At some point Welker will start putting up his normal numbers, and as long as he’s healthy enough to go, expect to see Brady look his way.

Keep your Eye on these gems…
Last week the rookie in Philly, Jeremy Maclin blew up for big yards and two scores. On the afternoon, McNabb pulled the trigger on his newest weapon eight times and the two connected twice for long strikes; a 51 yard touchdown pass and a 40 yard touchdown pass. Over the past two games Maclin has been targeted just 15 times, but after Sunday’s showcase you can bet that number will rise.

In Denver with so many weapons in the passing game there hardly seems to be any chance for any other receivers not named Marshall or Royal. Well that doesn’t appear to be the case for wide receiver Jabar Gaffney. He’s not been the most productive option in Denver, but he has no fewer that four targets in a single game this season and eight last Sunday were the most. With the offense seeming to be heating up (48 pass attempts last week), Gaffney could become more relevant than what most thought.

Here is the breakdown for fantasy pass catchers (targets) this season;

Through five weeks:

Top-30 Targeted Pass-catchers

Player..........................................Target

1. Johnson, Andre WR HOU............52
2. Burleson, Nate WR SEA..............49
3. Smith, Steve WR NYG...............49
4. Moss, Randy WR NE.................48
5. Wayne, Reggie WR IND.............48
6. Ochocinco, Chad WR CIN...........46
7. Houshmandzadeh, T.J. WR SEA...45
8. Clark, Dallas TE IND.................42
9. Smith, Steve WR CAR...............42
10. Winslow, Kellen TE TB..............42
11. Holmes, Santonio WR PIT..........41
12. Johnson, Calvin WR DET...........41
13. Welker, Wes WR NE................41
14. Ward, Hines WR PIT................40
15. Davis, Vernon TE SF................39
16. Holt, Torry WR JAC.................39
17. Daniels, Owen TE HOU.............38
18. Boldin, Anquan WR ARI.............37
19. Gage, Justin WR TEN...............37
20. Marshall, Brandon WR DEN.........37
21. Royal, Eddie WR DEN...............37
22. Washington, Nate WR TEN........37
23. Clayton, Mark WR BAL.............36
24. Cotchery, Jerricho WR NYJ........36
25. White, Roddy WR ATL.............36
26. Carlson, John TE SEA..............35
27. Fitzgerald, Larry WR ARI..........35
28. Gates, Antonio TE SD..............35
29. Manningham, Mario WR NYG......35
30. Moss, Santana WR WAS...........35
31. Muhammad, Muhsin WR CAR......35

Check back every Monday for more “Fantasy Fixx”