FSH NOTEBOOK: SUNDAY MORNING GAMETIME

January 2nd, 2011, Sunday

Sunday Morning Gametime

Today’s injury notes

The Eagles are looking more and more like they will sit quarterback Michael Vick today against the Cowboys. Vick has been knocked around pretty good the past couples of weeks. IF Vick does start, it would not surprise to see him give way to back up Kevin Kolb at some point.

After looking good in practice this week, head coach Mike Tomlin is leaning toward letting the Steeler’s playmaking safety Troy Polamalu play in Sunday’s matchup against the Browns according to ESPN.

The Brown’s running back Peyton Hillis is expected to be active and should start today, although he faces a very difficult matchup against the Steelers number one ranked run defense. Hillis only rushed for 41 yards in the earlier matchup this season.

Quarterback Brett Favre has finally been cleared to play for the Vikings, but his chances of getting on the field still look “iffy” at best. Favre has hardly practiced in weeks and the Lions have one of the best young pass rushers in rookie Ndamukong Suh; but then again would it surprise anyone if he played?

The Falcons wide receiver Roddy White practiced in full on Friday, so he is expected to play and start today against the Panthers. Even if the Falcons focus on the ground attack today, White should still effective; caught eight passes in the first matchup this season.

Reports are indicating that Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez will start today against the Bills, but is not likely to play no more than a few series. Sanchez has been banged up a bit over the past couple of weeks, so it makes sense for the team to rest him up for the post season.

Today’s Matchup

With an excellent matchup on his schedule it looks like running back Shonn Greene won’t get an opportunity today to take advantage. The Bills have one of the league’s worst run defenses this season, but Green won’t get a shot at them; he’s been declared inactive today.

The Giants are in a must-win game today and with no Steve Smith or Hakeem Nicks, it looks like it will be wide receiver Mario Manningham against the Redskins 31st ranked defense. Manningham has 12 cathces and three touchdowns in his last two starts.

The Bills won’t have to face Darelle Revis or Antonio Cromartie today, both have been declared inactive; start wide receiver Stevie Johnson. Johnson is having a breakout season with 77 receptions, over 1,000 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns.

The Broncos will likely take a cue from the Bengals last week and attack the Chargers secondary with wide receiver Brandon Lloyd. In the two Tebow starts, Lloyd has 9 catches for 190 yards and a touchdown.

With no Andre Johnson in the lineup, wide receiver Jacoby Jones figures to pick up the slack in the Texan’s passing attack. Last week with Johnson out, Jones turned in a 5 catch 115 yards receiving day.

The Raiders won’t have any questions about who they will give the ball to today against the Chiefs. With no McFadden in the lineup, running back Michael Bush figures to see a heavy load today. Bush is averaging just a tick under four yards per carry, but does have seven rushing touchdowns this season.

By David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: FRIDAY FANTASY WATCH

December 31st, 2010, Friday

Friday Fantasy Watch

Shonn Greene: Greene set to get some work

The Jets could be giving some players the day off this Sunday, but running back Shonn Greene does not appear to be one. With reports of running back LaDanian Tomlinson resting on Sunday Greene figures to get the brunt of the load against the Bills.

The Bills are ranked dead last against the run and while he has been splitting carries down the stretch, Greene has actually been the more effective runner in the Jets backfield. Greene rushed for 70 yards on 12 carries last week against the Bears with a touchdown and could see a more productive afternoon this Sunday.

Sunday’s projections against the Bills.
(20 carries, 115 yards rushing, 2 catches, 15 yards receiving, one touchdown)

Matt Forte: All Signs Indicate A Day Off

The Bears have been giving some of their back-up running backs extra reps in practice this week indicating that Forte could share more of the load this week. Forte has been the primary ball carrier this season, but with the division locked up and not much more to gain it would make sense to rest some of the starters.

Forte is having a productive season and has been particularly strong down the stretch, but if Sunday’s contest against the Packers is decided early it’s very possible Forte could see an early exit.

Sunday’s projections against the Packers.
(12 carries, 45 yards rushing, one catch, 10 yards receiving)

Jacoby Jones: Could Be In For Another Strong Outing

The Texans are likely to be without wide receiver Andre Johnson (ankle) this Sunday against the Jaguars. With Johnson listed as doubtful, wide receiver Jacoby Jones is expected to start in his place. Jones has started six games this season and has 46 receptions this season; including 17 in his last three games.

Jones started last Sunday in place of the injured Johnson and turned in a solid performance with five catches for 115 yards on seven targets. This week the Texans meet the Jacksonville and Jones will line up against the leagues 26th ranked pass defense. The Texans are playing for pride this week and will likely ride their sixth ranked passing offense; expect Jones to be a big part of the passing attack.

Sunday’s projections against the Jagaurs.
(5 catches, 105 yards passing, one touchdown)

Just my take.

By David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: MY WEEKLY SURVIVAL

December 30th, 2010, Thursday

My Weekly Survivors

It looks like we picked the worst time to have a bad week in our season long chase for a Suicide fantasy football championship. With the season winding down and fewer chances to make a move to the top last week was one to forget.

Week 16 did not go so well with a few of our picks tanking big time. With Marion Barber returning to the field last week, Tashard Choice saw very few touches and totaled only two points. On Monday night Marques Colston turned in one of his quietest games with just two catches for 21 yards (two points). Ben Watson kept our hard luck with the tight ends going another week with a poor fantasy outing last Sunday against the Ravens (2 points). The only highlights of our week 16 team picks were quarterback Matt Schaub (16 points) and place kicker Neil Rackers (11 points).

This week we enter the season finale with all hopes of a run at the top now a distant memory. With one lineup left to submit a lineup and currently residing in the 8th spot, a top five finish still looks possible. This week will offer some unique challenges with the possibility of some players sitting (resting), but like every week we’ll just have to dig a little deeper to find this week’s stars on Sunday.

Here are my picks for week 17….

QB-Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers still have a lot left to play for, so Big Ben should be a busy man on Sunday making plays. In their first meeting versus the Browns back in week 6, Roethlisberger passed for 257 yards and tossed three touchdowns. The Steelers have won five of their last six and a win on Sunday will deliver a division title; expect Big Ben to play a big part.
(Projected: 20 fantasy points/ 250 yards passing, two touchdowns, 25 rushing yards)

RB- Shonn Greene, New York Jets
The Jets have clinched a playoff berth, but have no shot at the division. With Sunday’s meeting with the Bills having very little impact on their playoff seeding it sounds like several Jets could be rested; including LaDanian Tomlinson. With LT likely to see the bench on Sunday it could be a very productive day for running back Shonn Greene (766 yards rushing in 2010).
(Projected: 17 fantasy points/ 105 yards rushing, 2 catches, 10 yards receiving, one touchdown)

RB-Ryan Matthews, San Diego Chargers
The Chargers’ running back is healthy again, running well, and has seen his most extensive action of this season over the past three weeks. Mathews is averaging 16 touches per game in his last three games and 3.9 yards per carry. With Mike Tolbert ruled out is should be all Mathews against the Broncos’ 31st ranked run defense.
(Projected: 17 fantasy points/ 85 yards rushing, 3 catches, 30 yards receiving, one touchdown)

WR-Mario Manningham, New York Giants
The Giants wide receiver Mario Manningham has been on fire over the past couple of weeks and could be even bigger with Hakeem Nicks not expected to play this Sunday. Manningham has posted consecutive 100 yard receiving games and this week he’ll face the Redskins 31st ranked pass defense in week 17; he looks like a good bet to make it three straight.
(Projected: 17 fantasy points/ 7 catches, 110 yards, one touchdown)

WR-Jacoby Jones, Houston Texans
The Texans have the sixth ranked passing offense in the league making their receivers look very attractive in week 17 against the Jaguars 26th ranked pass defense. With Andre Johnson inactive last week, wide receiver Jacoby Jones got the nod to start and turned in strong performance with five catches for 115 yards. If Johnson sits, Jones looks to be a good play against a weak secondary. If Johnson decides to go, he would be the preferred play here.
(Projected: 14 fantasy points/ 4 catches, 85 yards, one touchdown)

TE-Kellen Winslow Jr., Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Winslow leads the team in catches this season with 63 and is coming off a big Sunday with seven grabs and two scores. With the Bucs still in the post season hunt, quarterback Josh Freeman will be sure to look his way often. In their first matchup this season against the Saints, Winslow did not total a lot of yards, but was targeted 10 times and caught 7 passes. He figures to be busy in the rematch.
(Projected: 14 fantasy points/ 6 catches, 80 yards, one touchdown)

PK-Adam Vinatieri, Indianapolis Colts
The Colts rank 3rd in the league in scoring this season averaging just over 27points per contest, but at home in their last two games have totaled 69 points. With the Titans in town this Sunday, the Colts look like a good bet to post another 30 point effort. Vinatieri has been gold this season making 23 of 25 field goals and he is perfect at home on 13 tries.
(Projected: 12 fantasy points/ three field goals, three extra points)

Last week’s results

(Week 16 Points=41, Total Season Points=1,192, 8th place)
QB-Matt Schaub, Houston Texans
RB- Tashard Choice, Dallas Cowboys
RB-Mike Tolbert, San Diego Chargers
WR-Santana Moss, Washington Redskins
WR-Marques Coltson, New Orleans Saints
TE-Ben Watson, Cleveland Browns
PK-Neil Rackers, Houston Texans

FSH NOTEBOOK: THE FANTASY SPORTS ZONE (TARGET PRACTICE)

December 23rd, 2010 Thursday

Fantasy Football

Target Practice

In These Hands We Trust

Larry Fitzgerald has been a kind of quiet fantasy receiver this season (he really misses Kurt Warner), but over his past three games he has started making noise. Fitzgerald has been getting plenty of work recently and ranks in the top five among receivers with 32 targets and 19 receptions over the past three weeks. The Cardinal’s top receiver also has 258 yards receiving over the course of three games, but has not scored a touchdown in his last four games.

All that could change this Sunday when the Cowboys come to town. Fitzgerald will be lining up against the leagues 28th ranked pass defense that was just torched by quarterback Rex Grossman. Fitzgerald has only scored five times this season, but could be in line for a couple of end-zone appearances this weekend against the Cowboys’ secondary. The Cowboys’ have allowed 31 passing touchdowns this season, including four last weekend to the Redskins.

Fitzgerald’s numbers this season don’t jump off the page, but he is averaging nearly 11 targets per game this season and is on pace to pull down 90 passes and over 1,100 yards. He has lost a little value with the changes at quarterback this season in Arizona, but Fitzgerald still has the hands we trust.

Radar Watch

In My sites

My Fantasy Notes:

The Colts took another hit on the offensive side of the ball this past week with the loss of wide receiver Austin Collie (concussion) to the injured reserve. With Collie out Peyton Manning will have to look more to some of his other weapons; and one such worth watching could be wide receiver Pierre Garcon.

Garcon had a quiet afternoon last weekend with five catches for 44 yards, but that was with a healthy Collie in the lineup for a half. In the two games rior to Collie’s return Garcon was the one with the hot hand; 15 targets, 14 receptions, and three touchdowns. This weekend the Colts travel to Oakland to face the Raiders 5th ranked pass defense. Garcon (4 touchdowns this season) has remained a constant in the Colts passing game and could be primed to score against a defense that has allowed 26 touchdowns this season.

In Houston the Texan’s have a beast of a receiver in Andre Johnson, but traveling to Denver he will likely matchup against cornerback Champ Bailey. This season Bailey has been a beast at the corner spot shutting down receivers like Dwayne Bowe, Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald, and Mike Sims-Walker. With Johnson always drawing attention 4th year receiver Jacoby Jones has been seeing more action his direction.

In his last two games Jones has been targeted 18 times. He has also scored in two of his last three games; the Broncos’ secondary has allowed 25 touchdowns this season. Jones has not had a big game this season, but he’s worth watching on Sunday; he could be very productive against the Broncos’ 22nd ranked pass defense.

Target Leaders from Week 13 through 15

(unofficial numbers)

1.Roddy White, ATl (43 targets)
2.Reggie Wayne, IND (36 targets)
3.Andre Johnson, HOU (35 targets)
4.Larry Fitzgeralds, ARI (32 targets)
5.Santonio Holmes, NYJ (30 targets)
6.Santana Moss, WAS (30 targets)
7.Mike Williams, TB (30 targets)
8.Davone Bess, MIA (29 targets)
9.Marques Colston, NO (28 targets)
10.Mike Wallace, PIT (26 targets)
11.Kevin Walter, HOU (26 targets)
12.Wes Welker, NE (26 targets)