FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

Sunday Evening Edition
September 1st, 2019

Sold! Just call me Jack

I wasn’t buying the hype at the start of the NFL Training Camps, but with the social media buzz and 2019 season outlook, it’s really tough for me to stay off the Baker Mayfield bandwagon. Sure expectations are high this season in Cleveland and sure there will be a lot of pressure, but it’s hard to deny Mayfield has the tools and now an elite weapon in wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. Add OBJ to the likes of wide receiver Jarvis Landry, running back Nick Chubb, and tight end David Njoku and this offense looks loaded. The Browns team may not live up to all of the Super Bowl hype this season, but this offense looks poised to put up serious fantasy numbers and with Mayfield calling the signals, I am drinking the Kool-aid even at his current ADP 66.0 overall (FFC ).

I remember it was either last season or the season before when Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette was clocked with one of the fastest open field run times during a game. During week 3 preseason against the Dolphins Fournette looked spry and quick. There’s no doubt, he has the size, the power, and the tools to be a dominant runner in the league, but he needs to stay healthy. In his first two seasons in the NFL, Fournette has missed 11 games. His health would be my only hesitation, but he looked good enough to be worth risk; coming off the board at RB13 with an ADP of 24.5 (according to FFC), I’m buying me some shares.

Despite the arrival of running back Carlos Hyde to the Texans, I still expect to see Duke Johnson to play the role of the lead back. It’s a great situation and opportunity for Duke to finally showcase and prove he can be the featured back. In his college days Johnson was the bell-cow in south beach (University of Miami). In his final season with the Hurricanes Johnson logged 280 touches for 2,073 yards (1,652 rushing, 421 receiving) of total offense. It's a big step up in the NFL, but through his first four season, Johnson has yet to miss a game. I believe Duke has the talent and now the opportunity to be a Top-20 fantasy running back. I’ll buy that.

After watching the Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders return to action this preseason (the team's fourth game) and having seen some of his practice highlight footage, I am sold on the 10 year veteran. Last season Sanders was the number 23 fantasy receiver (full PPR) and returns in 2019, as the team's clear number one option. Even though the team seems to be geared more toward a run-first concept, I believe the combination of quarterback Joe Flacco-to-Sanders could result in some nice production. He’s currently at ADP 87.3, WR34 (FFC), and as good as he has looked with Flacco, he’s moving up my rankings and I will be buying what he’s selling.

I was originally buying into the running back situation in Kansas City, but with the recent changes (addition of LeSean McCoy) in the last 24 hours, I don’t have any idea where I am leaning. With these backs, I am treading lightly, although I have to believe Damien Williams will still be an integral piece of the offense.


That’s My Take
~David G. Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

October 15th 2017

Sunday Morning Edition

Who are you Starting & Sitting?

(Week 6)

QB-Trevor Siemian (start) The Giants look to be a mess this week. Decimated with injuries on the offensive side and a defense filled with drama and a suspension, this could be a good week to strike. The Broncos will lead with the running game, but look for Siemian to capitalize on some play-action and take shots. With DT and Sanders healthy, Siemian provides streaming option fantasy value this week.

QB-Eli Manning (sit) In the same game with his receiving corps completely wiped out last week, entering Mile High Country to take on the No Fly Zone, it's going to be a long night for Manning. Expect up close and personal introductions from lineback Von Miller and defensive lineman Derek Wolfe to occupy Manning's evening. Avoid this disaster in the making.

RB-Ty Montgomery (start) I would be surprised to see Montgomery picking up too many carries today. It would be more in line and make sense to see Montgomery almost exclusively involved in the passing game, defering most carries to rookie Aaron Jones. Nonetheless, I expect Montgomery to see enough touches and total enough yards to provide double-digit fantasy points in PPR today. He's a mid flex option today.

RB-Elijah McGuire (start) With no Powell and a less than 100 percent Matt Forte (turf toe), I like the rookie to get plenty of run in a favorable matchup against the Patriots. Count on McGuire to see 15+ touches today, enough to offer flex value in week 6.

RB-Adrian Peterson (Sit) It's too early to know what you have with Peterson in Arizona. The Cardinals are a pass first offense and it may take a while for All-Day to change that, if he's got anything left in the tank. The Cards also have one of the poorer O-lines in the run. Peterson's too risky to start this week.

WR-John Brown (start) Following the same theme with sitting Peterson, a healthy John Brown is a good start in Week 6 against the Buccaneers secondary. Brown has playmaking ability and the Bucs are a poor defense agains the pass, start Brown this week. He's a strong flex candidate.

That's My Take.

~David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

September 30th 2016
Friday Evening Edition

Friday Fantasy Fix

We've got three weeks in the books and whether or not it's enough info to accurately predict outcomes and performances, doesn't matter I am going to offer my two cents nonetheless.

Here are just some notes, observations, and ridiculous predictions for week 4 of the NFL.

Must Plays...

With 2nd year quarterback Trevor Siemian seemingly growing up week-to-week right before our eyes, there's little doubt the Buccaneers defense is going to challenge the young gunslinger. Last week it was Emmanuel Sanders rising up with the big day, this week I like Demaryius Thomas to come up big. Thomas was only targeted 7 times last week, but still came up big with a solid fantasy day. This week I am expecting even greater.

The Cardinals will have a tough divisional matchup this Sunday against the Rams, but that shouldn't matter to wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald. The 13-year vet leads the team in targets, receptions, yards receiving, and touchdowns, by far and it's not even close. Fitz doesn't look like he's lost a step and this week's matchup should be just another one for books. In two matchups last season, Fitz was targeted 20 times and caught 15 balls. He only totaled 154 yards and didn't score, but this year the savvy vet seems to be finding his way to the end zone. If he gets enough looks, he's going to produce.

I am sure if you've been like me, you have been counting the first three weeks just waiting for Steelers running back LeVeon Bell's suspension to end. Now that it has, it's time to play the kid and expect a heavy does of Bell on Sunday. He's a dual threat who may not see 20 plus carries, but he'll be active in the pass game and be one of Sunday's PPR darlings in week 4. Fantasy owners also note, the Chiefs allow the 11th most fantasy points to opposing running backs and have allowed the 7th most rushing yards this season.

Plan B...

If your starter is on a by this week and you have to go to plan B, the Panthers running back Fozzy Whittaker could provide the needed relief. Last week he was stifled against a tough Vikings defensive front, but should have find greater success this week against the Falcons. In three games this season the Atlanta defense is 22nd versus the run and allow the 4th most fantasy points to opposing running backs.

Another plan B play for week 4 is Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian. He's definitely not playing like a second year quarterback and he has plenty of weapons to dispurse the ball to. The Buccaneers defense will likely stack the box and try to make the kid beat them with his arm; which he may be able to do. Last week Siemian passed for over 300 yards, he could very well follow up with an encorE performance.

Sleepers...

The Saints are on the road this week in San Diego and if you are thinking of playing running back Travaris Cadet, this could be the week. In PPR formats, Cadet could be looking at a big week agains the Chargers defense that allows the 9th most fantasy points to opposing running backs and has allowed the second most receptions. Cadet is a pass-catching specialist and already has 11 receptions (tied for 8th in NFL for RBs) on 16 targets (tied for 8th in NFL for RBs) this season.

This may not be a true sleeper play, but it's borderline especially in redraft leagues where this guy may not have even made any fantasy teams. They have not played a lot, just three games this season, but I like the combination of wide receiver Mike Wallace's speed and quarterback Joe Flacco's big arm. This Sunday the Ravens host the Raiders, a.k.a the big air secondary; that is the Raiders give up a lot of big plays and Wallace was made for the big play. Wallace is seeing a steady diet of targets thus far and this should continue into Sunday. The Raiders have allowed 16 pass plays of 20 yards or more already this season, which only means Wallace and Flacco will add to that total.

Flyers...

So far this season the Bears have had little to cheer about, but at least fantasy owners have tight end Zach Miller. Last week the former Jaguar had his best game of the season with 8 grabs for 78 yards and two scores. Now he may not score twice again this season, but this week against the Lions secondary worst against opposing tight ends he's looks to be lock to find pay dirt. The Lions allow the most fantasy points to opposing tight ends and have surrendered five touchdowns in just three games. I would expect the Bears to be looking for Miller in the red zone on Sunday.

Waiting list...

The Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles is expected to see action for the first time this season on Sunday, but if you drafted Jam expecting him to return to form this is probably not the week. Fantasy owners should lower their expectations. In deeper formats, you may have to roll the dice and take a shot, but if you have options this may be a play worth waiting on.

That's my take for Week 4.

~David G. Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

Tuesday Evening Edition

September 9th, 2014 

 

David’s Daily Digest

Week 1 Recap

Sorting through the Debris

The fantasy football roller-coaster is just starting to pick up speed and with one week in the books, there’s so much to cover and talk about. We have to look at who did what, who was a bust, which sleepers emerged, and which studs were on par this past Sunday. Was there real concern in the Steelers backfield with Le’Veon Bell and LeGarette Blount splitting carries, who is the real feature back in New England, and with Wes Welker missing which Broncos receiver emerged to pick up the slack?

With all of this to sort through it can become real over-whelming for fantasy owners looking to rebound from their week one debacle or continue their winning ways following a season opening win. There’s never too much information when it comes to fantasy football, just sometimes we need to take a minute to sort through the debris and see a clear picture.

The refuse…

With Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell seeing the bulk of work (27 touches) in week one, looks like fantasy owners that drafted running back LeGarrette Blount (4 touches) may have to rethink their strategy. He did sneak in a score, but going forward if he is limited to few touches, owners can’t count on consistent production.

There was a lot of hype surrounding the Lions rookie tight end Eric Ebron, but for now that’s all there is. Ebron was targeted just twice and did not record a catch. He’s not worth owning at this time; at least not until fantasy owners see something.

The Cardinals running back Andre Ellington saw plenty of action on Monday night; 18 touches. Back-up running back Jonathan Dwyer saw about the most action he might see all season; 9 touches for 28 yards. You can toss Dwyer back into the pile.

The Salvage….

The Ravens basically benched running back Bernard Pierce after fumbling, which opened the door for running back Justin Forsett. The journeyman back finished with 16 touches, which included 6 targets. Going forward, in light of the Ray Rice loss Forsett should continue to see plenty of action as long as he responds as he did in week one; he had 84 total yards and a score.

The Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger likes his receiver Antonio Brown, but his second year wideout Marcus Wheaton could quickly become his second favorite. Wheaton has great speed and tremendous upside, along with his seven targets (tied for most on team) on Sunday he looks to be busy fantasy receiver as well. Wheaton is probably a low WR3 or flex at the moment, but should be owned.

So much for the worry surrounding Texans receiver Andre Johnson; he was a bit quiet on Sunday, but still turned in a decent fantasy day with six receptions for 93 yards. His nine targets should be a real indicator he’s still a safe fantasy play on Sunday.

The Broncos just have too many weapons and with Wes Welker out, quarterback Peyton Manning just dipped into his receiving depth targeting wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders nine times. Sanders also added a carry for 11 yards. He’s a safe weekly play as a mid flex or high WR3.

Lastly, I heard about this kid early last week, the Saints rookie receiver Brandin Cooks and what I saw on Sunday confirmed the deal. Cooks is a special talent that we’ll continue to see lots of moving forward. On Sunday he totaled 95 yards with one receiving touchdown on 8 touches. In the Saints explosive pass game Cooks should be a gamer. Owners may want to temper their expectations momentarily until we see a larger sample, but he should be a safe flex for now.

These are just some of my takes for the Week 1 recap.

~David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: WATERCOOLER CHAT

Wednesday Edition
November 7th, 2012

  

Watercooler Chat

“Just Talking Fantasy”

Week 10 Waiver Wire Wonders

We are 9 weeks in and for the most part fantasy owners have seen about all there is to see from all teams and all fantasy players. For those owners still looking for aid and relief, if you keep looking hard, you can still find a few late bloomers and hidden gems.

With week 10 set to begin on Thursday, here are few last minute waiver wire warriors that can offer some help this Sunday…

The Steelers boast a couple of speedy and talented receivers in Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown, but with Brown down for the moment, fantasy owners can turn to Emmanuel Sanders. The Steelers number three wide out is very capable of stepping into the starting lineup and producing right away. Sanders is athletic, quick and has great hands; snatch him up fast.

Another relief player that can be pulled off many waiver wires this week is the Falcons running back Jacquizz Rodgers. The Falcons backup has not had much of an expanded role, but gradually over the past couple of weeks he has seen his role and touches increase. Rodgers does not offer a lot of value, but with the Saints up next even with few touches he has a chance of making some big plays. Fantasy owners hurting at the running back position may be able to find some help from the Dirty Bird.

A third glimmer of hope for owners this week needing help could come in the form of Chargers wide receiver Danario Alexander. The newly acquired receiver was an immediate contributor last week in the team’s week 9 win over the Chiefs. Alexander hauled in three passes for 61 yards, not a lot to get excited about, but an indicator that he can contribute right away. This week he has a great matchup against the Buccaneers (ranked last in the league against the pass) and should see plenty of opportunities to pay off in your lineup on Sunday.


By David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: SUNDAY NIGHT FANTASY NOTES

Tuesday Edition
November 6th, 2012  

SUNDAY NIGHT NOTES

Week 9 Fantasy notes 

“On the Injury Front”

Running back Darren McFadden has been a ball of fits and frustration thus far this season for fantasy owners, but the latest setback may not be as bad as first thought. McFadden suffered what appeared to be a high-ankle sprain on Sunday, but was initially expected to miss an extended period of time. The good news, according to head coach Dennis Allen McFadden has not been ruled out for this Sunday (week 10) against the Ravens.

The Colts wide receiver Donnie Avery exited early on Sunday against the Dolphins. Avery was well on his way to a big day with five grabs for 108 yards, before leaving with a hip injury. Avery did not practice on Monday, but did return today and looks on track to play Thursday night. Avery is the solid number two receiver behind Reggie Wayne, if he’s good to go he should be in lineups as a week 10 flex.

The Packers lost wide receiver Jordy Nelson early on Sunday against the Cardinals. Nelson was a game-time decision, so he was already banged up and didn’t last long. With the bye this week, he is expected to get healthy and be ready for week 11. Fantasy owners should not be concerned with his return having any kind of negative impact on the emerging Randall Cobb; both will be solid weekly plays going forward.

Wide receiver Antonio Brown went down on Sunday against the Giants with an ankle injury that is expected to keep him sidelined in week 10. Brown leads the team with 42 receptions this season and has become one of quarterback Ben Roethlisbergers’ main go-to receivers. With Brown out, wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders will be one of the hot grabs off the waiver wire this week. Mike Wallace is sure to draw a lot of attention leaving Sanders with lots of opportunities to take advantage of favorable matchups.

The Giants running back Andre Brown came out of Sunday’s game against the Steelers feeling a lot more black and blue after suffering a shoulder injury. Brown was an early exit from Sunday’s contest (left game during 4th quarter), but says his shoulder is fine. If Brown (6 rushing touchdowns this season) is available for week 10 against the Bengals, the touchdown vulture remains nothing more than a flex option in deeper leagues.

Against the Seahawks, Vikings’ wide receiver Percy Harvin suffered a serious ankle injury. Harvin sprained his ankle in three places and has been sporting crutches according to local reports. Considering the degree of severity and the upcoming bye for the Vikings in week 11, it is highly unlikely the team would push for him to play in week 10 against the Lions. Fantasy owners will need to look elsewhere.


These were some of the notable injuries from week 9 and their fantasy impact.

By David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: MONDAY MORNING HUDDLE

February 1st, 2011, Tuesday

Monday Morning Huddle
(Tuesday Evening Edition)

Super Bowl Sunday steadily looms with less than a week away and from a fantasy football perspective it promises to be everything the fantasy faithful could hope for; plenty of explosive offense from both sides in the power running game and the long ball over the top. Although this matchup would seem to offer one big play after another, one thing it will not lack by any means is big hits and plenty of defense.

While the Packers boast a lethal passing attack (ranked 5th in the NFL) and one of the leagues top offenses (ranked 9th overall), like their counterparts on Sunday they will be bringing a formidable defense in its’ own right. The Packers defensive unit ranked 5th overall this season and their 24 interceptions ranked second in the NFL. The pass rush led by linebacker Clay Matthews Jr. and defensive lineman Cullen Jenkins totaled 47 this season, second only to the Steelers’ 48 sacks.

The Steeler’s offense will boast plenty of firepower of its’ own on Sunday with Big Ben, Mike Wallace and Hines Ward, but its’ the defense that many should take notice of; ranked 2nd overall, the Steelers’ defense allowed just five rushing touchdowns all season and ranked third in the league with 35 takeaways. Players like James Harrison, LaMarr Woodley, and Troy Polamalu anchor a stifling defense that can dominate its’ opponent.

Both the Packers and Steelers defense are as good as they get and while they may be over-shadowed a bit this week by their playmaking offenses, these two units will be making plenty of headlines come Super Bowl Sunday.

Top Stories

Brady Earns The Top Honors with AP POY

It came as no surprise that Tom Brady took down the AP Player of the Year honors after his prolific 2010 campaign. Brady finished his regular with 36 touchdowns and just four picks and led the Patriots to a 14-2 regular season record (best in the league). Brady was by far the best fantasy stud in 2010 completing near 66 percent of his passes and throwing for 3,900 yards. His passer rating of 111.0 was the second highest of his career. Brady produced astronomical numbers without the presence of an elite deep threat this past season. If the Patriots keep a lot of the same faces intact for 2011 there’s little doubt that “Terrific Tom” will top most fantasy charts come draft day next season.

Kevin Kolb Has the Talent to Start, But Where?

In limited action we have seen that Eagles quarterback Kevin Kolb has the talent and ability to be a starter in the NFL, the only question is where will he be next season? The quarterback seems to be lobbying for his ticker out of Philly and if he gets his way he could easily draw plenty of interest from the fantasy world. Kolb didn’t produce admirable numbers this past season, but he has a career passer rating of 109.6 and has shown modest flashes of brilliance. If Kolb flees “the city of brotherly love” to start elsewhere he likely won’t rank in the top ten next season, but depending on where he lands will definitely impact his value as well as the players he’ll be throwing to.


Just my thoughts.

Fantasy Spotlight Watch

With Sunday fastly approaching there will undoubtedly be plenty of skill players showcasing their talents on the big stage. One such player that may step out from the shadows could be the Steelers’ wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders. The rookie wideout has plenty of speed and play-making ability to make noise on the big stage. This season he caught just 28 balls, but six were for 20 yards or more. Lining up opposite Wallace and Ward, Sanders could see some favorable matchups downfield and become a factor in the passing game.

By David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: SUNDAY MORNING GAMETIME

January 30th, 2011, Sunday

Sunday Morning Gametime
(afternoon edition)

Super Bowl XLV Countdown

Injury notes

The Steelers are looking like a team that may have a few concerns as the Big Dance approaches. Following their big win against the Jets in the AFC Championship the Steelers realized their victory may have come at a significant cost with the possible loss of rookie center Maurkice Pouncey. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Pouncey is listed as doubtful and is not expected to play in the Super Bowl.

The Steelers could also miss defensive end Aaron Smith who remains questionable for the Big Dance. Smith suffered a triceps injury that has sidelined him most of the season, but the team is hopeful he can play on February 6th. Even is Smith is healthy enough to go, he’d likely split time with Ziggy Hood who has played exceptional in his spot.

The Steelers have a few other notables listed, but no one appears to be in any danger of missing Super Sunday. Troy Polamalu (Achilles), Bryant McFadden (groin), and Emmanuel Sanders (toe) all practiced on Friday and are listed as probable. The biggest concern here would be Polamalu, who was relatively quiet in the AFC Championship; when he is healthy and plays well the Steelers defense has thrived.

The only noteworthy injury at this point for the Packers leading up to Super Sunday is linebacker Eric Walden’s ankle. He sat out of Saturday’s practice to rest the sore ankle, but is fully expected to be ready and would start opposite Clay Matthews Jr.

Fantasy Player Notes

With the Big Show looming ever so closer now (less than a week away), it time to start dissecting matchups and taking a closer look at some of the players that could rise up in the big stage and make a huge contribution.

The Packers passing attack goes four deep at the wide receiver position making all four (Jennings, Driver, Nelson, & Jones) viable plays for Super Sunday. Another pass receiving option that could become a huge factor during the course of the game would be tight end Andrew Quarless.

In last year’s shootout between the Steelers and the Packers, then starting tight end Jermichael Finley was a significant factor in the passing attack. Finley finished the game with nine receptions including a touchdown and against the Jets (tight end) Dustin Keller grabbed eight passes. Quarless is no Finley, but at 6’4” and 250-lbs he can be a very effective redzone target.

The Steelers are not consider to be a passing team, but they will have plenty of weapons should they need to go to the air. One of their lesser known weapons that could make a name for himself on Sunday is rookie wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders. The kid is second on the team with five catches for 74 yards in the playoffs and has as many targets as Mike Wallace (10). With coverage rolling toward Wallace, Sanders could find a few openings.

Looking Ahead to 2011

Later today in Hawaii many football fans are going to have a chance to see a lot of next season’s fantasy studs showcase their talents. Names that are making their first appearance in the pro bowl and that should be catching the attention of fantasy owners would include;

RB-Arian Foster,…he led the NFL in rushing (1,616 yards rushing in 2010) in just his second year and scored 18 total touchdowns (16 rushing, 2 receiving). Foster also added 66 receptions and 604 yards receiving making him a very attractive overall top fantasy pick in 2011.

RB-Jamaal Charles….following his impressive 2009 season the Chiefs starter came back with a huge 2010 campaign to earn his first trip to the Pro Bowl. Charles finished 2010 with 1,935 total yards (1,467 rushing, 468 receiving) of offense with eight total touchdowns (5 rushing, 3 receiving); he will be a 1st round fantasy pick in 2011.

WR-Brandon Lloyd…..he makes his first appearance to the Pro Bowl this season finishing 2010 with career highs in receptions (77), yards receiving (1,448 yards), and touchdowns (11). He will be an interesting fantasy draft pick, since his quarterback situation could change.

TE-Marcedes Lewis…he emerged as a viable and legitimate redzone scoring threat catching 10 touchdown passes in 2010. Lewis also finished his 2010 campaign with career highs in all three categories; receptions (58), yards receiving (700), and touchdowns (10). He will be a highly rated fantasy TE next season.

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