FSH: THE FANTASY SPORTS ZONE (TARGET PRACTICE)

December 30th, 2009 7:45pm PST

Fantasy Football

Target Practice

In these hands we trust

"The Final Countdown"

Well we have finally reached the end and for those leagues that play no-holds barred this is the final championship weekend of fantasy football. While there are still plenty of NFL teams with a lot at stake this weekend, there's no question the Week 17 slate of games will present some precarious challenges.

Although it's much of the same gauging those teams with something left to play for, the tough dilemma for this weekend will be to figure out just what the rest (like the Colts, Chargers, & Saints) will be doing. Teams like the Bengals and Patriots are still sitting on the fence and could change their thinking mid-stream (depending on scores and outcomes of other games).

With this the final weekend, the last Championship weekend of the fantasy season, it could be huge dividends to look toward the unlikely to bring home the league trophy. A couple of players that will garner attention for these final league matchups will be players like the Bears wide receiver Devin Aromashodu (31 targets last three weeks), the Redskins wide receiver Santana Moss (averaging 9 targets last six weeks), and the Dolphins wide receiver Davone Bess (38 targets the last four weeks). They may not have all the stats for the season, but their activity level is on the rise and should be paid attention too.

This is last call for the Championship ball, some numbers to take note;

"The Hot Hands"

(Last two games)

Anquan Boldin (Cardinals) /

13 catches, 183 yards, 1- rushing Td,

Miles Austin (Cowboys) /

16 catches, 231 yards, 1-Td,

Greg Jennings (Packers) /

9 catches, 229 yards, 1-Td,

Santonio Holmes (Steelers) /

8 catches, 163 yards, 1-Td,

Derrick Mason (Ravens) /

13 catches, 164 yards, 1-Td,

Marques Colston (Saints) /

13 catches, 163 yards, 0-Td,

Mike Wallace (Steelers) /

5 catches, 162 yards, 2-Td,

Randy Moss (Patriots) /

9 catches, 115 yards, 4-Tds,

Jermichael Finley (Packers) /

12 catches, 154 yards, 1-Td,

Kellen Winslow (Buccaneers) /

10 catches, 169 yards, 0-Td

With so much riding on this final week, let’s not forget to keep these player names and numbers in mind when putting the final touches on your Week 17 lineups.

What have you done for me lately?

Over the past three Weeks...

(Unofficial numbers)

A few names you'll want to remember!

Brandon Marshall (Den).........52 targets

Wes Welker (NE)...............41 targets

Calvin Johnson (Det)...........35 targets

Santonio Holmes (Pit)..........34 targets

Miles Austin (Dal)................32 targets

Devin Aromashodu (Chi).......31 targets

Roddy White (Atl)..............30 targets

Derrick Mason (Bal).............30 targets

DeSean Jackson (Phi)..........30 targets

Anquan Boldin (Ari).............28 targets

Santana Moss (Was).............27 targets

Season Target leaders Top 10

1. Andre Johnson (Hou)............163 targets

2.Wes Welker (NE)..................160 targets

3. Roddy White (Atl)...............157 targets

4. Brandon Marshall (Den).........154 targets

5. Steve E. Smith (NYG)...........147 targets

6. Larry Fitzgerald (Ari)............146 targets

7. Reggie Wayne (Ind)..............142 targets

8. Santonio Holmes (Pit)...........135 targets

9. Randy Moss (NE)..................131 targets

10. Derrick Mason (Bal).............131 targets

Check every week for more fantasy football notes…

FSH: SUNDAY NIGHT FANTASY FOOTBALL HEADLINES

October 4th, 2009 7:37pm PST

Sunday Night FF Headlines

Who is now making Fantasy News?

QB-Carson Palmer has solid day passing……
The Bengals did not get the passing game quite off the ground as they would like, but quarterback Carson Palmer still finished strong. Palmer passed for 230 yards and tossed two touchdowns in the teams overtime win.

RB-Steve Slaton finds paydirt a couple of times….
The Texans running back didn’t have quite the day on the ground that many fantasy owners anticipated, but he did not disappoint with 89 total yards and two touchdowns (one receiving, one rushing).

TE-Chris Cooley is sure handed in victory.....
The Redskin’s tight end snagged five passes and shed would-be tacklers on his way to 65 yards receiving with a touchdown in the team’s win on Sunday.

WR-Antonio Bryant one of few bright spots Sunday…
The Buccaneer’s receiver in only his second game this season, finally showed some fantasy spark finishing the day with four catches for 44 yards and a touchdown.

RB-Pierre Thomas has another strong performance..…
Sharing backfield duties on Sunday Thomas has another strong outing for fantasy owners. Thomas carried the ball 19 times for 86 yards with a touchdown and added four catches for 46 yards.

WR-Derrick Mason was old Mr. Reliable on Sunday..…
The Raven’s veteran receiver caught seven passes for 88 yards and scored a touchdown in the team’s loss at New England.

RB-Carnell Williams runs well in loss to Redskins….
The Buccaneer’s running back Cadillac William’s averaged nearly 5 yards per carry, caught four passes, and total 99 yards of offense on Sunday in team’s loss.

WR-Brandon Marshall shows he is a difference maker…
The Bronco’s wide receiver not only made plays on Sunday catching four passes for 91 yards, but he made the play that was the difference in the Bronco’s win. Marshall scored on a 51-yard catch and scintillating run that proved to be the difference in the team’s win.

Some IDP Fantasy Newsmakers…

DB-Daneil Manning flies to the ball on Sunday…
The Bears defensive back spent the entire afternoon chasing down Lions’ ball carriers recording nine solo tackles and helping the defense stuff the run.

LB-D’Qwell Jackson plays like a beast in loss…
The Brown’s linebacker had a field day swallowing up opposing ball carriers and finishing the afternoon with 14 total tackles, including 13 solo. Jackson also added a forced fumble.

DL-Mario Williams was a busy lineman on Sunday…
The Texan’s defensive lineman was very productive for fantasy owners against the Raiders in week 4. Williams turned in four tackles, with a sack and a forced fumble.

LB-Keith Rivers gets the job done in the middle……
The Bengal’s second year linebacker was a gridiron gladiator on Sunday making stops all over the field. Rivers finished the day with 10 total tackles, including seven solo in the team’s win..

DL-Tommy Kelly filling holes all afternoon……
The Raider’s defensive lineman was a busy tackle in the middle on Sunday. Kelly finished the day with 13 total tackles, including nine solo in the team’s loss.

By David Ortega

Check back every Sunday for more “Sunday Night FF Headlines!”

FSH: THE ATL REPORT

August 2nd, 2009 4:37pm PST

THE ATL REPORT

Around the League

Tarvaris Jackson goes down with strained MCL….
The Vikings quarterback suffered a mild sprain on Saturday and is listed day-to-day. Jackson is expected to battle with Sage Rosenfels for the team’s starting quarterback position. Just a fantasy note, although the injury is not considered serious, you would have to think this time missed may be just enough for Rosenfels to create some separation and win the job over Jackson.

Gonzalez lining up to fill big shoes in Indianapolis…
With Peyton Manning’s blessing according to Colts.com, it looks like the 3rd year receiver will play the flanker position (Harrison’s old spot) in the offense. There’s no mistaking Reggie Wayne will garnish the most fantasy value, but this will certainly elevate Gonzalez’s stock even more so come fantasy draft day.

Rice working his way up the charts in Baltimore…..
The Raven’s 2nd year running back has been impressive throughout the teams OTA’s and looks like a strong candidate to hold onto the starting job into the season. At 205-lbs Rice is not the biggest back, but he has shown tremendous lower-body power which could earn him a few more short-yardage touches. With Rice’s stock on the rise, McGahee’s fantasy stock continues to slide.

Marshall impressive, but could still use the work…
The Bronco’s explosive receiver has been impressive during the practices he has participated in, but needs more time on the field to learn the new offense. If the team can get things ironed out with their unhappy receiver, play the “Moss” role in McDaniels offense Marshall could be looking at a huge 2009 season.

RB Chris Wells suffer right sprained ankle during practice….
The Cardinal’s rookie running back suffered a sprained ankle during practice this past week. He’s expected to miss at least a week of practice and that could be just enough for Tim Hightower to hold court into the team’s season opener. Regardless who is the starter Wells by most counts will have the bigger upside and could eventually overtake the starting spot by mid-season.

WR Derrick Mason unretires and rejoins team….
The Raven’s veteran receiver Derrick Mason has decided not to leave the game behind and has rejoined the Ravens. He fit back into his usual possession receiver spot in the team’s passing game rotation. Mason does not offer great value in most traditional scoring leagues, but should be a decent grab in PPR leagues. His return will help quarterback Joe Flacco’s value some, but not a great deal.

RB Tomlinson says he’s 100 percent and ready….
The Charger’s starting running back says he’s not just 100% percent healthy, but he’s ready for a record setting season. If he can stay healthy, LT has an outside shot at catching Emmitt Smith’s league rushing record. If the hype is right in San Diego, due to his recent let downs over the past couple of seasons, Tomlinson is could an undervalued gem during the coming fantasy drafts.


Check back every week for more “Around the League”

FSH: SUNDAY NIGHT FANTASY FOOTBALL HEADLINES

July 19th, 2009 9:37pm PST

Sunday Night FF Headlines

Who’s making Fantasy News this Past Week?

Brett Favre’s arm looks fine to Childress:
Well according to Childress Favre’s arm looks fine, but what about the rest of the 40-year old quarterback. The Golden Boy was great at one time, but it’s long odds that he can come back from retirement and do it again. If he’s healthy and survives training camp, he likely be the Vikings starter, but with All-Day in the backfield, expect Favre to serve as a solid QB2 in fantasy this season.

Bucs are expected to be a heavy run-first team in 2009:
Recent reports across the wire would suggest the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be a run-first team in 2009. This should bode well for both Earnest Graham and Derrick Ward, who will most likely see an equal share of work. Unless one of these two comes out of camp well ahead of the other, the ground game of the Bucs will likely be featuring a two-head monster this season.

Vikings expect to get Percy Harvin the ball:
It sounds like part of the Vikings plans on offense this season will be to get the ball in the hands of their playmakers, which would include Percy Harvin. Harvin is an explosive talent that the team is hoping can make an impact, but from the fantasy perspective it’s likely his touches will be limited. At best fantasy owners can hope for a hit and miss option that will on occasion pay huge dividends, but not enough to make Harvin worth any more than a late round addition in drafts.

Marshall planning to attend camp is a good thing:
Recently on the NFL Network, Bronco’s wide receiver stated that he would attend training camp as expected by the team. On the surface this is good news for the organization, but in the entire telecast Marshall sounded very non-committal to the team and organization. Bronco fans and fantasy owners are not out of the woods just yet as there still seems to be a hint of a chance he could be traded.

Derrick Mason retires, so who will Flacco throw to:
With Mason out (if he does retire), who’s left in Baltimore? There has been a little speculation that Mason could be posturing for a long term commitment from the team. If Mason is gone, the Ravens are left with Mark Clayton, Demetrius Williams, and Kelley Washington hardly a who’s who of number one wideouts. If this is what Flacco has to work with in 2009, he’s going to be one of the quarterbacks to avoid in fantasy drafts.

A free Tony Romo now more focused:
In stunning news across the TMZ wire, Tony Romo is a free man following his break-up with famed singer Jessica Simpson. Will Tony now be the player many expected him to be? It’s hard to say, but not because of “no Jessica.” Romo is and should continue to be a low-end QB1 in fantasy. The loss of T.O. hurts, but with Witten and Williams, Romo should still post solid passing numbers in 2009. He could fall some spots, but will be more than a worthy grab as a late round quarterback pick-up.

Matt Cassel signs big deal in Kansas City:
The Chiefs are wagering quite a bit on the arm of Matt Cassel, but it’s not to say fantasy owners should follow suit. Cassel performed very well under a young offensive mind (Josh McDaniels) in New England and in Kansas City he should have the same advantages working with Todd Haley. While that may seem apparent, fantasy owners should not be to hasty to jump on the band-wagon. Last season Cassel was a mid-level QB2 for the Patriots and in KC this season without the comforts of a Tony G. (TE), he’s at best the same again.


By David Ortega

Check back every Sunday for more “Sunday Night FF Headlines!”

FSH: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

July 13th, 2009 10:30pm 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……

My Take...

QB ALEX SMITH STILL IN THE MIX IN FRISCO
My Fantasy Read: The Niners head coach is putting a large vote of confidence in his 5th year quarterback, but it still remains to be seen if Alex Smith has enough to overtake Shaun Hill this summer. Smith played well during the OTAs, but he’ll have to show a lot more in training camp. He’s a long shot to win the job and won’t hold much fantasy value otherwise.

RB LEON WASHINGTON A POSSIBLE NO-SHOW?
My Fantasy Read: It’s sounding more and more like Washington could hold out this summer. With entire Jets backfield unhappy rookie running back Shonn Greene could slide to the forefront this summer. That could be a bit of a stretch but something worth watching, as the Jets will no doubt be a run first team this season with first year head coach Rex Ryan and a rookie quarterback.

WR DERRICK MASON RETIRES AFTER 12 SEASONS
My Fantasy Read: The Raven’s leading receiver the last two seasons announced his intent to retire this offseason and while nothing has been made official the imminent loss of Mason could be huge for the Ravens offense. Last season Mason proved to be rookie quarterback Joe Flacco’s security blanket, but with a lot of inexperience at the position his absence this season will be sorely and noticeably missed by fantasy owners.

RB FRED TAYLOR EXPECT TO START FOR PATRIOTS
My Fantasy Read: The Patriots appear to have a full house in there backfield and on paper it would seem to be a crap shoot to figure out exactly who will be relevant and who won’t. Early indications are Laurence Maroney could be odd man out, with Fred Taylor tabbed as the team’s starter. Even if Taylor starts, he’s likely to lose a lot of work to the team perennial versatile scat-back Kevin Faulk and significant fantasy value along the way.


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

FSH: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

June 8th, 2009 8:30pm PST

David's Daily Digest
[My Take]


My Take...

WR DERRICK MASON A QUESTION FOR TRAINING CAMP
My Fantasy Read: The Raven’s veteran receiver is questioning whether he will be ready in time for training camp. It’s never good when a player has doubts, but then Mason is as tough as they come. At his age, it’s probably best he doesn’t take any extra punishment during training camp. Expect him to be ready for the start of the season, but don’t expect the Mason of old. He’ll be consistent, but no better than a WR3 in most fantasy leagues.

RB EDGERRIN JAMES NOT LIKELY TO BE A SAINT SOON
My Fantasy Read: the former Cardinal’s running back is not generating much interest anywhere else and it appears the Saints will take their time. We still have training camps to get through, but the aging veteran running back is likely to have very little fantasy value in most fantasy leagues.

RB LERON MCCLAIN STILL EXPECTED TO GET CARRIES
My Fantasy Read: The Ravens leading running back last season will spend most of 2009 season opening holes for Ray Rice and company, but the newly improved Baltimore fullback is still going to merit some fantasy value. LeRon McClain is still expected to see a lot of short yardage carries as well as goal line totes. Last season the Raven’s runner punched the zone 10 times and he’ll get just as many opportunities in 2009, making him very fantasy relevant.

QB BRADY QUINN LOCKED IN TIGHT RACE
My Fantasy Read: Not exactly what Brady Quinn fans expected from the former 2007 1st round selection. Now entering 3rd season, Brady has yet to crack the starting lineup with any kind of separation. Locked in a closely heated battle with quarterback Derek Anderson, fantasy owners will have to be concerned if Quinn does not win the job outright. Entering his 3rd season in the league, he could see his fantasy stock drop considerably if he starts the season on the sidelines.

TE TODD HEAP BACK ON THE FIELD PRACTICING
My Fantasy Read: The former All-Pro tight end has become somewhat of a forgotten man in fantasy football over the past couple of seasons. Injuries have played a huge part in Heap’s demise, but recently it was reported he was practicing at full strength. While that appears to be good news, fantasy owners won’t relish over it too much. Over the past two seasons Heap has only caught 58 balls and has missed 10 games (all in 2007), although he was banged up often in 2008. His value has sunken to a new low and he’ll likely be overlooked by many in fantasy this season.


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

FSH: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

May 28th, 2009 10:30pm PST

David's Daily Digest
[My Take]

Continuing my daily jaunt through the many football sites on the web, here’s more of the current happenings around the league with of course my take…..

My Take...

QB JAY CUTLER SERVING UP THE KOOL ADE IN CHICAGO
My Fantasy Read: With a new city, a new team, comes a new offense and new teammates. Cutler finds himself in a whole new environment and while he’ll still have his rocket arm, what he won’t have is quite the supporting cast he had in Denver. Cutler remains one of the leagues top talents under center, but it’s unlikely he produce the same type of numbers he did in 2008. The Bears are more of a smash mouth team (ran the ball 44% of the time in 2008), so it’s likely Cutler will see fewer opportunities to make big plays. He’ll still be a top ten quarterback, but probably not worth that high draft pick he cost last season.

WR DERRICK MASON ON TRACK FOR TRAINING CAMP
My Fantasy Read: The Ravens leading receiver for three of the last four seasons, is coming back from off-season shoulder surgery, but is expected to return by training camp. Mason has only missed one game in his last six seasons and has averaged 88 catches for 1,069-yards during that span. While his 2008 campaign was not spectacular, he did reach his status quo with 80 receptions and 1,037-yards. Entering his 13th season in the league Mason is not expected to be a top twenty producer, but he could be a solid WR3 in most leagues, seeing that he hardly misses anytime and seems to be Mr. Consistency.

QB MARK SANCHEZ OFF TO SLOW START WITH JETS
My Fantasy Read: According to the Star Ledger, the Jets rookie sensation has not been so sensational as of late during the team’s minicamp workouts. Sanchez is getting thrown to the wolves and he’s a work in progress. He’s going to struggle and it remains to be seen if he’ll be ready to be under center for opening kickoff. Fantasy owners would be smart to use a late round pick here and consider Sanchez more of “diamond in the rough” that will need some time to shine.

TE TONY SCHEFFLER HAS NEW ROLE IN MILE HIGH OFFENSE
My Fantasy Read: There’s no question that the tight end position has not been one that is normally a featured role in Josh McDaniel’s offense, but then he’s never had quite a talent like Scheffler. The Bronco’s tight end is a highly skilled pass receiving tight end that the team will be able to move around. And while McDaniels admits they will try to take advantage of Scheffler’s unique ability, with so many other weapons already in place, it’s unlikely that Scheff will have any more impact than what he did in 2008. With the position traditionally thin, Scheffler is still a top 10 option, but in the bottom half.

RB KNOWSHON MORENO FINDS MORE ROOM IN BACKFIELD
My Fantasy Read: It’s certainly no guarantee of anything, but with the Bronco’s recent release of running back J.J. Arrington, that becomes one less hurdle for rookie running back Knowshon Moreno to overcome. Already the odds-on favorite to win the job, Arrington’s release just means there is less competition for Moreno to share time with. The team still has many options available, but Moreno is looking more and more like the full-time option with a supporting back-up cast. He’s likely to be a safe late RB2 or an early RB3 pick in most fantasy drafts this summer.

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