FSH NOTEBOOK: SUNDAY GAMETIME

February 6th, 2011, Sunday

Sunday Morning Gametime
(afternoon edition)

Super Bowl Sunday

Injury notes

Just as many thought heading into the Sunday the Steelers will be without their Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey (ankle), who was ruled OUT after not participating in Friday’s practice. Defensive end Aaron Smith (triceps) was also ruled out for Super Bowl Sunday after being limited this week in practice; Evander Ziggy Hood will start in his place as usual.

The Packers are not completely healthy heading into Sunday; linebacker Erik Walden (ankle) is questionable for Sunday, but head coach Mike McCarthy likely won’t decide his status up until warm-ups. Wide receiver Donald Driver (quad) has been limited this week, but there’s no way he missed today’s game; how effective he will be could be a question.

Fantasy Player Notes

The Packers seem to be the hot pick in many of today’s pregame shows and Aaron Rodgers figures to be right in the middle of any success the Pack enjoy. The Steelers boast one of the league’s stingiest run defenses leaving Packers running back James Starks facing an immovable object; in 18 games this season the Steelers have not allowed a single 100-yard rushing game to any opposing back and Sunday is unlikely to be the first. The tight end spot could be a hot fantasy play today with the Steelers secondary really struggling in the post season to cover the position.

Big Ben will be the key for the Steelers’ offense to manufacturer points against the Packers’ defense. This post season wide receiver Mike Wallace has been held in check, if the Packers roll coverage and take away Ben’s favorite target, secondary targets like tight end Heath Miller, Hines Ward, and rookie Emmanuel Sanders could come up big. Miller may be a tough option to roll with, since the Packers have shut down opposing tight ends throughout the playoffs.

My favorites today…

With this game having every chance of being another block-buster shootout like their matchup in December of 2009, I have a few favorites that I like in today’s Packers-Steelers matchup;

Aaron Rodgers could be set to have the game of his career today against one of the league’s best defenses. Last season he passed for nearly 400 yards and accounted for four scores, his day may not be quite as productive, but with a victory it will be even greater.

Jordy Nelson has been a consistent option in the Packers passing attack and should see several passes in his direction.

Greg Jennings is just too good to stop and his recent numbers in his last two playoff games are enough evidence (16 catches, 231 yards receiving).

Rashard Mendenhall will take on more of a featured back roll and will have plenty of touches to generate strong numbers and earn a fantasy start, but it may not be enough to produce the win.

Andrew Quarless may only see a few balls today at his tight end position, but one or two could come up in the red zone.

Final message…..today’s 45th Super Sunday should be a classic, power versus power, playmakers all around, and historic franchises and a collision with destiny, it will be one for the ages. Congratulations to both the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers and good luck today on Super Bowl Sunday!


By David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

February 3rd, 2011 Thursday

David’s Daily Digest

More Fantasy Notes

Could Super Sunday Be a Repeat?

A Look Back at Last Year

The Packers passing offense was explosive in the December 2009 meeting against the Steelers led by quarterback Aaron Rodgers. In a game where their running game was pretty much non-existent (60 yards and 22 came Rodgers) it was Rodgers who provided the spark the Packers would need. Against the Steelers secondary the Packer’s signal caller completed 26 of 48 passes for 383 yards in the air and he accounted for four scores; three pass, one run.

Rodgers was complimented with some great talent in the passing game with players like Greg Jennings, Jermichael Finley, Donald Driver, and Jordy Nelson. Jennings led the group with five grabs for a buck-eighteen and a score. Driver was also effective with three grabs for 76 yards while Nelson caught four balls for another 71 yards. Finley was big in the last seasons’ contest, but with him out in this year’s clash, the Packers could be looking for players like Nelson and James Jones (2 catches, 36 yards, one touchdown in the 2009 matchup) to step up.

On the Steeler’s side, it was quarterback Ben Roethlisberger who provided the most memorable performance completing 29 of 46 passes for more than 500 yards. Like his counterpart, Big Ben operated without much of a run game (65 total rushing yards), but he got plenty of help from his friends as he passed for 503 yards against the Packers.

Big Ben’s biggest asset against the Packers was his trusty old companion wide receiver Hines Ward (7 receptions, 126 yards receiving). Wide receiver Mike Wallace was also the team’s most effective weapon with the long ball catching two passes for 79 yards and two touchdowns; he could be huge impact player on Sunday. The Steelers tight end Heath Miller was also big last season against the Pack posting a career high 118 yards receiving with seven receptions. Santonio Holmes (now with the Jets) also grabbed three passes for 77 yards, so the Steelers will be looking to one of their rookies (Emmanuel Sanders and Aaron Brown) to pick up the slack.

While this 37-36 shootout between the Packers and Steelers featured plenty of offense, there was some evidence of defense displayed by the Packers who sacked Big Ben five times. Surprisingly with 94 passes thrown and a total of 131 offensive plays called there were no turnovers in the game.

Sunday will likely not turn out to be exactly like the matchup we witnessed in 2009, but it certainly has all the makings of a great one.

Keep Your Eye On

A couple of notable points to keep in mind, although both team struggled on the ground, there were three rushing touchdowns scored; running backs James Starks (Packers) and Rashard Mendenhall (Steelers) should definitely see a couple of chances at the goal-line on Sunday.

The Steelers pass defense struggled through the post season gainst opposing tight ends allowing 11 receptions for 107 yards and a touchdown. The Packers tight end Andrew Quarless has been quiet throughout the playoffs, but has a chance to make a difference on the big stage.

Heath Miller has not made much noise in the post season, and while you can’t forget his big game last season against the Pack, you must note the Packer’s secondary has been stifling against opposing tight ends in the playoffs; six catches for 62 yards in three games.

By David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: MONDAY MORNING HUDDLE

January 24th, 2011, Monday

Monday Morning Huddle
(Late Evening Edition)

Well the NFL is now down to its’ final two with both the Packers and Steelers coming out victorious in their respective championship matchups. Although I am not surprised to see these two teams heading to Dallas for a February 6th showdown I won’t try and be one of those people that say I had this pick all along. I did however get this matchup right in my friendly and innocent office pool; I actually had three of the four teams in the championships as well (only the Jets were the surprise attendee).

Watching both games was quite thrilling, but it seems the entertainment did not stop at the conclusion of the late game (AFC Championship) with all the media buzz and twittering tweets that took place regarding the disappearance of Jay Cutler. In all fairness to Jay, it does appear he was really hurt and from what I had read in the numerous articles and tweets, I don’t think anyone questioned that fact.

There has been so much already said and written, so I don’t want to get myself all caught up in the uproar here (you can read my lead story “On the Cover”). What needs more speaking of is the two great games that were played, watched, and have now set up what could potentially be one of the greatest Super Bowl matchups in history.

Top Stories

Packers Continue the Ride to Dallas

The Packers entered Soldier Field with two goals in mind, establish the run and beat the Bears. While the numbers don’t jump off the sports pages, running back James Starks accomplished exactly what the Packers offense needed to generate enough scores to beat the Bears. Starks only totaled 74 yards on the ground, but his 22 carries were more than enough to be effective to keep the Packers balanced and the play-action in effect. Starks also jammed a four yard run into the end-zone in the second quarter to help the Packers build a 14-0 lead. With the running game doing just enough, quarterback Aaron Rodgers was able to operate from the pocket with his arm and his legs. Rodgers completed 17 of 30 passes for 244 yards with two interceptions (one off a deflection) and he also scrambled seven times for 39 yards and a one–yard touchdown run. The Packers would need help from their defense to close out this win and would get it in the form of an interception return late in the game by (of all people) defensive lineman B.J. Raji. The score was the difference in the game and gave the cheeseheads a not so pretty win, but one they will take every time.

Mendenhall Bullies His Way Through the Jets Onto Dallas

The Steelers looked like a team of destiny early with running back Rashard Mendenhall shredding the Jets run defense for nearly 100-yards in the first half. Mendenhall would carry the ball 27 times and finish the game with 121 yards and a one-yard touchdown dive in the first quarter to lead the Steelers ground attack. With Mendenhall running the ball very well early, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was able led the Steelers to a first half 24-3 lead, and a lead they would not relinquish. Roethlisberger’s numbers were nothing to swoon over, he completed just 10 of 19 for 133 yards and had two interceptions, but he was able to use his feet to make a few plays rushing for 21 yards and scoring on a two-yard scamper. The Steel Curtain would do their part in the AFC Championship tilt sacking quarterback Mark Sanchez and forcing a fumble that would be scooped up by cornerback William Gay and returned for a touchdown. Like the NFC title game this win for the Steelers was not a pretty one, but it’s one they will keep and the one they needed to move onto their record-tying eighth Super Bowl appearance.

Notables;

With the Packers and the Steelers set to face one another in Super Bowl XVL in Dallas on February 6th, a couple of notable players that should keep the fantasy football faithfuls’ attention…

Packer’s wide receiver Jordy Nelson didn’t see a great many targets on Sunday (just five), but he was the second most targeted receiver for Green Bay and finished Sunday with four catches for 67 yards. Nelson has 12 catches and 146 yards receiving this post season (2nd on the team).

Tight end Heath Miller did not see many balls on Sunday (no Steeler receiver did), but he was targeted four times to lead the team and finished the day with two catches for 38 yards. In their last matchup against Green Bay a year ago, Miller had a career high 118 yards receiving.

Wide receiver Donald Driver was quiet on Sunday with just one catch for nine yards, but he was targeted five times and has 12 catches for 141 yards in the post season (no touchdowns). Last year against these same Steelers he caught three balls for 76 yards.

Just my thoughts.

Fantasy Spotlight

Unfortunately for the Jets Mark Sanchez, he was the only starting quarterback on Sunday to not throw an interception, but it wasn’t enough to earn him a victory. After surviving a near disastrous first half (trailing 24-3), Sanchez only in his second year in the league, regrouped and led his team to a second half comeback.

Sanchez rebounded in great fashion looking like a savvy veteran under center in the second half against the Steelers. Facing the Steelers vaunted Blitz-burgh pass rush (48 sacks in 2010) Sanchez would complete 13 of 18 passes for 170 yards and two touchdowns to lead the second half rally that would fall just short.

On the evening Sanchez finished 20 of 33 for 233 yards with the two scores and a passer rating of 102.2 (highest of the day by far).

He’s our Fantasy Spotlight Player of the Week!

Diamonds in the Rough

TE-Andrew Quarless

With the Packers set to face the Steelers on February 6th, tight end Andrew Quarles could become a more significant player in the Packers passing game. On Sunday against the Jets the Steelers defense struggled to cover the Jets tight end Dustin Keller who grabbed eight passes for 64 yards. Also. Last year against the Steelers, Packer’s tight end Jermichael Finely was big with nine passes for 74 yards and a score. Quarless is not Finley, but with 21 receptions and 238 yards receiving this season he could offer some production in the pass game on Super Sunday.

WR-Emmanuel Sanders

The Steelers passing game was anemic on Sunday against the Jets secondary, but against the Packers it could find some life. Big Ben (503 yards passing in 2009 against Packers) has been notorious for holding the ball and giving his receivers a chance, so a player like rookie receiver Emmanuel Sanders (5 catches for 74 yards in the post season) could become a factor. Sanders only caught one ball on Sunday, but he was targeted three times and has been (targeted) 10 times in the post season (second on the team).

By David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

January 19th, 2011 Wednesday

David’s Daily Digest

Fantasy Notes:

GREG JENNINGS HAS BUSY SUNDAY AGAINST FALCONS
The Falcons had all they could handle and much more from the Packers passing attack on Saturday night; wide receiver Greg Jennings had little trouble finding space and getting open. Jennings finished the evening with a game high eight receptions and 101 yards to lead the Packers offense. In two meetings against the Bears this season Jennings has 6 catches for 115 yards with a touchdown; in the first meeting at Soldier Field he caught just two balls for 18 yards, but one was for a score.
My Fantasy Read:
The Packer’s playmaking receiver may not have it that easy on Sunday against the Bears at Soldier Field. Charles Tillman, who did a pretty good job on Mike Williams of Seattle on Sunday, will likely draw the assignment of covering Jennings. With all of the weapons Rodgers has at his disposal, if the Bears run help over the top of Jennings, he won’t be shy about looking elsewhere. Jennings could have a quiet afternoon. Tough to sit him, but may not have a productive day.

MARK SANCHEZ HAS HIS BIGGEST GAME AGAINST PATRIOTS
The Jets 2nd year quarterback stepped up his game on Sunday against the Patriots and played anything but like a young quarterback playing in the biggest game of his career (as Head Coach Rex Ryan described it). Sanchez was near flawless completing 16 of 25 passes for 194 yards in the air with three touchdowns. He would also finish with a 127.3 passer rating; the best of his career.
My Fantasy Read:
Sanchez played a great game on Sunday against the Patriots, and from one big game to the next (against the Steelers) his matchup this coming Sunday against the Steel Curtain could come down to how well one player performs; Sanchez. The Patriots don’t have a defense built anything like what the Steelers will be throwing at Sanchez on Sunday; welcome to Blitz-burgh and what will likely be a long day in the cold. Sit him.

JAY CUTLER LOOKS READY FOR PRIMETIME
The Bears will be hosting the NFC Championship for the first time since the 2006 season when they defeated the New Orleans Saints. The reason they have made it this far has been by no accident. Without question their improved defense has played a big part, but no less has been the play of quarterback Jay Cutler (23 touchdowns, 3,274 yards passing). The Bears strong-armed thrower was a big part of their win on Sunday as well with two touchdown throws and two touchdowns runs. The win was his first post season win of his career and surely won’t be his last.
My Fantasy Read:
One of the attractive qualities of having Cutler under center in the windy city is his big arm. He had no problem with the elements completing 15 of 28 passes for 274 yards against the Seahawks, but this Sunday he could have all kinds of problems with the Packers pass rush. The Cheeseheads will be in town this weekend and Cutler can expect a lot of pressure to follow. The last time these two teams met Cutler was dropped six times and threw two picks; something he will more than likely face and have to deal with again. Hard to sit him, but could be a rough day.

AARON RODGERS LOOKS DAM GOOD
The Packers are riding a colossal wave of confidence and why shouldn’t they, they have quarterback Aaron Rodgers. On Saturday against his latest victim Rodgers tossed three more touchdowns and passed for 366 yards completing 31 of 36 throws. It was Rodgers second straight road win and fourth straight overall. His wins have come against the Giants, Bears, Eagles, and now Falcons. Rodgers and company look dam good and pretty unstoppable at the moment.
My Fantasy Read:
Rodgers has been on fire his last four starts throwing 11 touchdowns with just one pick and passing for 294 yards per game. The Bears are an 11-5 team with a pretty good defense, but as well as Rodgers is playing there may be no answer to stop him. Play him.

Don’t fall asleep with this Sunday Sleeper….

Nelson is a Major Player in Big Win
The Packers have a complete host of weapons that quarterback Aaron Rodgers can go to anytime and on Saturday night the Falcons met one they might not have been much familiar with; wide receiver Jordy Nelson. It’s tough to become relevant playing behind starters Greg Jennings, 12-year veteran Donald Driver, and the speedy James Jones, but after Saturday’s performance (8 catches, 79 yards, and a touchdown) Nelson may have just stepped out from everyone’s shadow.

For folks in Green Bay, Nelson is no surprise; this season he caught 45 passes for 582 yards (best of any 4th receiver spot and most thirds in the league). On Saturday against Atlanta he also saw a great deal of snaps as the lone receiver (probably because he is a very good blocker-Ed McCaffrey style). Jennings and Driver will draw plenty of attention in the passing game on Sunday (as will Jones), but the Bears secondary better forget about Nelson. Play him.

FSH NOTEBOOK: FRIDAY FANTASY WATCH

January 14th, 2011, Friday

Friday Fantasy Watch

James Jones: Jones Could Have a Huge Night

The Falcons will definitely be looking to roll coverage toward wide receiver Greg Jennings wherever he is on the field and even though Donald Driver looks ready to go, third year receiver James Jones could end up being the big play man for the Pack. Last week Jones dropped a sure long touchdown grab against the Eagles.

Even though Jones has struggled with drops throughout the season, quarterback Aaron Rodgers has continued to show confidence in his speedy wideout. Jones finished the regular season with 50 grabs and five touchdowns. In their only meeting this season Jones did register five catches against the Falcons; he could be a big play Saturday night.

Saturday’s projections against the Falcons.
(5 catches, 90 yards receiving, one touchdowns)

Hines Ward: The VeteranCould Be Clutch on Saturday

You won’t have to tell the Ravens to pay attention to the Steeler’s Mike Wallace. The 2nd year wideout has emerged into a big play specialist a will likely be the focus of the Raven’s secondary on Saturday. With Wallace drawing so much attention, veteran wide receiver Hines Ward could end up being the big playmaker.

In two games this season Wallace has been relatively quiet with seven catches for 100 yards (no touchdowns), and while Ward was less effective this season against the Ravens, he is still one of Big Ben’s favorite targets. In the team’s two final games this season Ward led all receivers with 14 targets. He’s lost a step or two after 13 seasons in the NFL, but he still has that veteran savvy to find the end-zone.

Saturday’s projections against the Ravens.
(6 catches, 65 yards receiving, one touchdown)

Tony Gonzales: Tony G Could Be A Hot Ticket

The Falcons have plenty of speed and the dangerous Roddy White to stretch the field and with the Packers will likely countering with Charles Woodson (on White) tight end Tony Gonzales could be a vital component in the Atlanta’s red-zone passing game.

Gonzales finished the year with 70 receptions and just 656 yards receiving, but was second on the team with six touchdowns. Against the Packers in their first matchup Tony G was busy hauling in six passes for 51 yards and a score. He could very well be looking at similar numbers Saturday night against the Packers 5th ranked pass defense that will bend (allow the short stuff) and not break (taking away White deep).

Saturday’s projections against the Packers.
(7 catches, 70 yards receiving, one touchdown)

Just my take.

By David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: MONDAY MORNING HUDDLE

January 10th, 2011, Monday

Monday Morning Huddle
(Late Evening Edition)

If you happen to be as big a fan of football as I am then you had to enjoy this past weekend’s slate of games. I did not have a side in the Saints-Seahawks matchup, but I never expected to see the defending champs do down so soon. Even the night cap on Saturday caught me off guard, it was not much of an upset if any, but it was a surprise seeing the Jets roll into Indy and shut down Manning and the Colts. After one day of action last year’s two Super Bowl participants were gone.

Sunday brought about some eyebrow-raising as well, with both the Ravens and Packers handling their business in decisive fashion. Sure the Eagles playing at home made it close, but it was a game quarterback Michael Vick and company were pretty much scrambling all afternoon. The Aaron Rodgers led Packers came into Lincoln Field, grab control and took the lead never to look back. In Kansas City the Ravens defense needed a few plays, but once they awoke it was lights out for the Chiefs.

With the Seahawks winners over the Saints and the Packers coming out of Philly with the win, check your brackets folks, cause there will be some changes.

Top Stories

The Saturday Night Special At The Georgia Dome

For those of us still entertained with fantasy fever, this Saturday’s divisional round matchup between the Packers and Falcons promises to deliver plenty to cheer about. Remember these two teams squared off about a month and a half ago and gave fans plenty of fireworks to get excited about. This time around looks to be a lot of the same, but with the Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (28 touchdowns, 3,922 yards passing in 2010) playing so well, it’s hard to imagine the Falcons being able to limit the Green Bay offense to just 17 points. Back in week 12 against the Falcons Rodgers passed for 344 yards, but only threw one touchdown pass. In his last three starts, Rodgers is averaging 270 yards passing and has eight touchdown passes. Rodgers will still have plenty of weapons on the field, even with a dinged up Donald Driver (knee) and could be in for another big outing against the Falcons 22nd ranked pass defense.

While Rodgers figures to provide plenty of fanfare on Saturday, across the field on the other side the Falcons will be leaning heavily on their ground attack and running back Michael Turner (1,371 yards rushing in 2010). The more Turner carries the ball, the clock he eats, the less the Falcons’ secondary has to deal with Rodgers. In their first matchup the Falcons and Turner had a lot of success with 110 yards on the ground. Turner toted the rock 23 times and helped the Falcons not only win the time-of-possession battle, but the game. Turner (12 rushing touchdowns in 2010) also added a scoring run in the game and will be a strong bet to find pay-dirt once again.

Notables

There were several performances over the weekend worth noting for fantasy owners. In Baltimore wide receiver Anquan Boldin did not have a breakout game, but his five receptions were the most among the Raven’s wide receivers and one of his grabs came in the red-zone for a score. Boldin has had his up and downs this season, but could re-emerge as Flacco’s go-to receiver, especially in the red-zone.

The Packers rediscovered a ground game led by rookie running back James Starks, who set a Packer’s rookie post season record with 123 yards on the ground. Starks led all running backs over the weekend with 23 carries and looks in line to be the Packer’s featured ground gainer when the team travels to Atlanta. The Falcons (ranked 10th against the run) did a pretty good job against the run this season, but they will have their hands full with this kid on Saturday. Starks did not play in their first matchup this season.

Joe “Cool” (Flacco) was steady Freddy on Sunday once his offensive line made the necessary adjustments and allowed him time to throw. On the afternoon Flacco was dumped four times, but when he was not being hurried or hit he was completing passes (25 of 34) and throwing touchdowns (two on Sunday). Flacco passed for 265 yards on the day, often connecting with his tight end and when he didn’t have much downfield he was able to use his legs scrambling for another 26 yards on the ground. Flacco face his old nemesis the Pittsburgh Steelers in the matinee matchup on Saturday. The two teams split their two meetings this season and Flacco is 2-4 in his career against the Steelers; including 1-2 at Heinz Field

Just my thoughts.

Fantasy Spotlight

Although the Ravens offense struggled to put points on the board early they had little trouble moving the ball well against the Chiefs on Sunday. One of the biggest reasons the offense had so much success was quarterback Joe Flacco’s rediscovering his tight end Todd Heap.

The Raven’s tight end led all receivers over the weekend with 10 receptions for 108 yards receiving; both were season highs for Heap. Flacco targeted Heap early and found him often. On the day Heap was targeted 13 times and his 10 catches set a Raven’s post season record.

Heap enjoyed a very good Wild-Card weekend, but faces a stiff test next against the Steelers. In two games Heap only totaled three catches for 35 yards, including a donut in week 13 when he suffered a hamstring injury and left early. Now that he’s healthy, Heap figures to play a much bigger role in the passing game.

He’s our Fantasy Spotlight Player of the Week!

Diamonds in the Rough

WR-James Jones

Jones has explosive speed on the outside, but had an issue with focus and drops. The Falcons figure to roll their attention toward wide receiver Greg Jennings and with wide receiver Donald Driver ailing a bit and Jones could play a much bigger role Saturday night. This past weekend against the Eagles, Jones caught just one pass for nine yards, but it was good enough for a score. He also just missed on a big pass play for a long score when he dropped a sure pass that fell through his hands. Jones has too much talent and big play potential to overlook and he could be primed for a breakout game on Saturday against Atlanta.

WR-John Carlson

Did anyone remember who John Carlson was before Saturday’s breakout game against the Saints? Carlson didn’t post big yardage on Saturday in the Seahawks Wild-card round matchup with the Saints, but he pretty much made every catch count. Carlson nabbed just three passes for 17 yards, but two of those grabs were for touchdowns. The Seahawks tightend has become somewhat of a forgotten name in the fantasy world this season. He has only managed more than three catches in a game twice this season, but coming off an effort like this it could all change. Carlson was not heavily targeted, but his two scores were more than he had all season. On Sunday he’ll face a Bears defense that has struggled this season with opposing tightends; Carlson could be in for another surprising performance this weekend.

FSH NOTEBOOK: SUNDAY NIGHT GAME NOTES

January 9th, 2011, Sunday

Sunday Night Game Notes

Notable Injury News

(for fantasy owners)

In Saturday’s win over the Saints, according to the Everett Herald Seahawks wide receiver Ben Obomanu suffered a separated shoulder during action, but was able to return to the field. Obomanu finished the game with five receptions for 43 yards. Although he was able to return to the game his status for next Sunday could be in question.

The Jets wide receiver and wild-cat operator Brad Smith suffered a groin injury Saturday night against the Colts according to the Star-Ledger. Smith was able to return and finish the game, but was not much of a factor on offense or in special teams; clearly he was not 100%. His status for next Sunday against the Patriots may not be in question, but if he’s not healthy his effectiveness could be limited.

According to ESPN, the Packer’s head coach Mike McCarthy said wide receiver Donald Driver suffered a bruised knee in the team’s win over Philadelphia on Sunday. Driver led the team with five catches for 56 yards in the win. His injury does not sound serious, so he should to be okay for next Saturday’s matchup with the Falcons.

“Sunday’s Heroes”

This Weekend’s Heroes

Wildcard weekend left nothing to the imagination with plenty of fireworks in the first weekend tilt Saturday between the Saints and Seahawks; of course it was quarterback Matt Hasselbeck providing most of the sparks. The Seahawks 35 year-old signal caller was more than brilliant completing 22 of 35 passes and throwing four touchdowns against the Saints 4th ranked pass defense. Hasselbeck started out on a shaky note, throwing a pick early on this third pass of the game, but from that moment on he was pin-point and explosive on his way to 272 yards passing. The remarkable day concluded with the Seahawks and their 12th man sending the defending Super Bowl champs home early and setting up their divisional matchup with the Bears next Sunday.

Saturday night’s showcase was complete with a dramatic finish, but the story of the game was tag-team of running backs LaDanian Tomlinson and Shonn Greene (70 yards rushing). The two Jets ball carriers combined for 35 carries, over 150 yards on the ground, and lots of time off the clock. Tomlinson (4 receptions, 17 yards receiving) was the fantasy stud totaling 82 yards rushing and two scores, but it was the effectiveness of both backs that did in the Peyton Manning and the Colts. The ball control offense of New York ate up more than 15 minutes of time on their opening two possessions of the second half. The Jets kept it close throughout and shorten the game dramatically, giving their special teams a chance at the end to win it; and they did.

Sunday morning had the look and feel of a possible bruising matchup with the Chiefs defense playing well early and the Ravens offense struggling, but this AFC first round matchup was all about the Raven’s defense. Ray Lewis (three tackles, one sack, one forced fumble) and the defense needed a few plays to get warmed up, but the defense definitely came to play once they showed up. On their second drive of the game the Chiefs only needed two plays to score; the drive was 46 yards and took just 49 seconds. That would be their only score as the Ravens defense would soon dominate from that point on. The 46 yards allowed on the only scoring drive of the day for Kansas City would amount to almost one-third of their total net yards gained for the day (161 yards). The Ravens defense would bring pressure and sack Cassel three times also forcing five total turnovers for the game. It was a great win for the Ravens 10th ranked defense; next up the rubber match with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

It was what every Packer fan had been waiting for since the end of the Favre Era, the coming of age of quarterback Aaron Rodgers. After losing his first two playoff appearances, both in overtime the Cheesehead finally nabbed that elusive first post season victory. It was not the easiest of tasks taking on Michael Vick and the Eagles, but Rodgers for the most part looked composed, self-assured, and sharp as an arrow with his throws. Fantasy owners relished the performance as Rodgers connected on three pass plays for scores while completing 18 of 27 (67%) passes for 180 yards. It was a big day for the six year starter and a well deserved win. The Packers will travel to the Georgia Dome next to face the NFC’s top seed, the Atlanta Falcons.

FSH: MONDAY MORNING HUDDLE

December 13th, 2010, Monday

Monday Morning Huddle
(Evening Edition)

Monday mornings at the watercooler always offer a football fan time to reflect and discuss with their colleagues and other fellow fans the events of the past weekend and an indepth look back at the full slate of NFL games just played. No one can dissect and evaluate NFL Sunday, better than the fan. Their loyalty, undying devotion, and willingness to always support their team helps the avid football fan to maintain an less than objective and unbiased opinion about any football related subject that concerns their team.

….And if you think they are bad, try listening to a fantasy football owner, it’s easy to see where their loyalty lies. There is only one “I” on my fantasy football team; me.

Top Stories

The Loss of Aaron Rogers Could Be Huge.
On Sunday the Packer’s not only lost their game to the Detroit Lions, but during the contest they lost their starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The Packer’s signal caller was took a hard hit on a scramble and then suffered another jolting hit on a sack the following play, Rodgers left the game with an apparent concussion, his second of the season.

While the injury itself did not look too severe, this being the second time Rodgers was knocked out of a game this season has to raise some concerns for the organization which now must wait for Rodgers to undergo some standard protocol testing and evaluation before he can be medically cleared to return to action.

If you are the Packers, there has to be much to be concerned about with the potential loss of Rodgers. On Sunday the team was unable to muster any real scoring threats and managed just one field goal for the day without Rodgers. This is not good news for a Packer’s team that still trails the Chicago Bears in the NFC North division race. It does not get any better for fantasy owners counting on Rodgers or any one of his receiving threats (Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, and James Jones) to help them move deeper into the fantasy playoffs.

In the absence of Rodgers on Sunday, none of the Packers’ receivers were very productive and now look to be high risk plays without their starter. It also goes without saying if you own Rodgers, Matt Flynn may not exactly look like the best answer as a possible replacement; better check the wire and look elsewhere.

Just my take.

Even Tim Tebow Can’t Help Studesville and The Broncos.
The good news for fantasy owners, it sounds like the Bronco’s interim head coach Eric Studesvilles has no intention of making a quarterback change; he’ll stick with Orton. After watching the Broncos starter Kyle Orton play the last couple of weeks that may not necessarily be the best news, but it may be the only alternative for now.

Orton and the Broncos offense have slumped the past couple of weeks scoring just 19 points in their past two games. Orton has only completed 28 of his last 69 passes and this past Sunday he added three picks. As a result of his poor play, not only have the Broncos been losing, but fantasy favorite wide receiver Brandon Lloyd has struggled with fewer chances and a few drops.

Fantasy owners can hope the two will very soon snap out of this slump, but any thoughts connected to ushering in the so-called second coming from Florida as the answer is nothing less than reaching for the stars. A change now would likely be more detrimental to the offense and it would likely have an unfavorable affect on some of the Bronco’s key offensive skill players; Lloyd, Eddie Royal, and Knowshon Moreno.

Tim Tebow may have been the Bronco’s 1st round pick, but he has not seen much action this season playing back-up behind Orton. Inserting him at this point of the season might be more like serving him to the wolves. There’s a huge learning curve going from the collegiate level to the NFL, so to expect anyone (including Tebow) to step on the field and have instant success is far-fetched.

For some folks it may makes sense to make the switch to Tebow thinking he is the future, but that is probably something best figured out this coming off season. At this point for an interim coach trying to make an impression to either keep this job or be considered for one in the future, the safe move may be sticking with Orton for the time being; for fantasy owners hopeful of something more from the Denver offense it’s probably the only move.

Just my thoughts.

Fantasy Spotlight

There were a lot of fantastic performances over this past weekend; Tom Brady passing for 369 yards in a blizzard, Jason Witten’s two touchdowns catches on Sunday night, and DeSean Jackson’s 210 yards receiving on four grabs, but the one that stands out above the rest was the performance of the Raiders running back Darren McFadden.

Entering Sunday’s matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars McFadden star was beginning to shine bright again after seeming to have dimmed a bit in recent weeks. In weeks 11 and 12 McFadden hit a dry spell not scoring once or totaling more than 71yards of offense in each of the two games, but in week 13 the spark returned.

The timing could not be better with most fantasy leagues heading into their post season action starting in week 14. Even if fantasy owners were starting to get discouraged with McFadden, his effort of 127 yards of offense against the Chargers had to be enough to turn the light green and roll with him into your league playoffs.

For the fantasy owner the payoff could not have been any bigger regardless what format you play. McFadden was a one man wrecking crew and his performance undoubtedly won several fantasy league matchups. McFadden carried the ball just 15 times, but managed to ramble his way to 115 yards on the ground, scoring twice on runs of 51 yards and 36 yards. McFadden also contributed to the Raiders passing attack, grabbing three balls for a total of 86 receiving yards, including a 68 yard grab and score. For the afternoon “Run DMC” totaled 209 yards of offense and scored three times.

He’s our Fantasy Spotlight Player of the Week!

Diamonds in the Rough

RB-Ryan Torain

The Redskins saw the return of running back Ryan Torian to their starting lineup on Sunday and while his return was successful on a personal level, it was not enough to return Washington to the victory column. Torain had been sidelined for the past five weeks with a hamstring injury and while it had been speculated he could start, no one was expecting a return quite like this.

Not only did Torain play, but he started the game and rushed for 121 yards in the first quarter of Sunday’s contest with the Bucs. Torain would finish the day with 24 carries and 172 yards on the ground. He also added a pair of grabs for 10 yards. Torain has been the Redskins most effective runner this season. His 100-yard effort was his third of the season and his 24 carries were his season high. Before the start of the 2010 campaign, very few even knew who he was; a carry-over from the Denver camp.

Redskin’s head coach Mike Shanahan had drafted Torain when both were in Denver. In 2008 Torain was projected to be the Bronco’s starter at some point during the season; that opportunity came in week 10, but a knee injury would end his season and his career in Denver. Torain would miss the entire 2009 season, but in 2010 with the arrival of Shanahan to Washington the former 5th round pick out of Arizona State would get a second chance.

This season the unpolished diamond (Torain) was likely a popular waiver wire acquisition for most, but looking at the 2011 fantasy season he’s going to be ranked much higher. His 172 yards has certainly got the attention of fantasy owners, so with three games left against the Cowboys (ranked 17th against the run), Jaguars (18th), and the Giants (7th). How this diamond in the rough finishes this season will certainly determine how great his value is going into fantasy drafts next season.

WR-Deon Butler

The Seahawks not only lost to the Niners on Sunday, but they also lost a gem of a young receiver in 2nd year wide out Deon Butler. The former Penn State Nittany Lion suffered a broken leg Sunday ending his season. On Monday Butler was placed on the Injured Reserve.

Butler is one of the team’s up and coming young receivers and part of their youth movement; earlier in this season the team released wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh and traded wide receiver Deion Branch. Butler had not been flashing any big numbers this season, but he did enjoy his best outing of the season against the Niners on Sunday. His five catches and 68 yards receiving were both season highs and his touchdown was his fourth of the season.

This diamond was starting to show a little shine before the abrupt halt to his 2010 season. Before the injury Butler had started 8 games for the Seahawks this season and his 36 receptions were second on the team. His four touchdowns are also tied for most on the club.

Butler is not going to crack any top 20 rankings lists for the 2011 fantasy season, but with a lot of promise going into next season this diamond in the rough will be a fantasy sleeper to watch.