FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

October 21st, 2011 Friday

David’s Daily Digest

Fantasy Notes:

Is it Tebow Time in Fantasy?
The consensus in Denver may suggest yes it is Tebow time, but if you are a fantasy owner with options you may want to steer the conservative route for the moment. After watching quarterback Tim Teebow inject some life into the Broncos offense two weeks ago, it’s not a long stretch to think he could have a big impact this week in Florida. There will be a lot of pressure going back to Florida so his passing numbers could suffer a bit, but he’s a gamer and will more than likely make it up with his legs. He’s probably better served on your bench for now, but if you had Kyle Orton and need a spark this week too, maybe it is Tebow time.

Carson Palmer unlikely to Start
After six months with a TV clicker in his hand it would be a stretch to expect quarterback Carson Palmer to walk right on the field and have a huge positive impact. This is likely why the Raiders appear to be pulling back the reigns a bit. The most recent update is suggesting that Palmer is not expected to start against the Chiefs on Sunday. This makes great sense with a week 8 bye coming up, the extra time would allow Palmer to get closer to football shape, learn the system and quickly develop some rapport with his receivers. He could be a good stash, but fantasy owners won’t likely see any return on this investment for several weeks.

Where does Brandon Lloyd rank now?
With Sam Bradford iffy for Sunday, I still wouldn’t worry too much about wide receiver Brandon Lloyd. The former Bronco is familiar with McDaniels system and should be on the field plenty against the Cowboys. The Rams aerial attacking has been lacking all season and Lloyd is definitely a huge upgrade. It’s a lot to ask for a huge game out of the gate, but Lloyd should be good for a decent outing and might even find the end-zone against the Cowboys secondary (especially if Bradford plays).

Is Kyle Boller Fantasy worthy?
There are too many available options ahead of Kyle Boller to consider if you need a quarterback this week in fantasy. With the Carson Palmer ERA on hold for the moment, the Raiders are going to try and not let Boller lose their matchup with Kansasy City this week, so they will likely be featuring a heavy-run game-plan. Running back Darren McFadden (must-start) and Michael Bush (a good flex option) should see plenty of action on Sunday.


By David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

September 13th, 2011 Tuesday

David’s Daily Digest

Fantasy Notes:

TE Fred Davis on the Rise
With normal starter Chris Cooley admitting he’s not completely 100% and receiving props from his head coach for a nice effort on Sunday, it certainly sounds like tight Fred Davis could see his playing time increase. Davis saw plenty of action on Sunday and took advantage of his six targets, catching five balls for over 100 yards. Expect Davis’ stock to continue to rise along with his playing time.

Ochocinco gets lost in the Shuffle
It may be a little concerning for fantasy owners with Ochocinco only seeing three targets on a night whenBrady passes for over 500 yards. What you have to keep in mind, the Patriots like to run a lot of double tight-end sets and Hernanez is quickly becoming a very dangerous weapon in the slot. It’s too early to panic though, Ochocinco is still plenty talented and Brady is still plenty capable of getting the ball to all of his weapons. Remember number 85 is the new guy and it may take a little time for him to find his place; but rest assured the Patriot are working on it.

Fantasy Owners safe with Orton?
It appears to be the case for the moment as Broncos head coach John Fox reassures there is no quarterback controversy in Denver. Orton may be safe, but if the Broncos are going to succeed fantasy owners better not count on more games like Monday night; 50 pass plays and 13 run calls. Whether Orton keeps his job or not, fantasy owners are going to need a better effort if they are going to stick with the Broncos’ quarterback; two costly turnovers and just one score.

Hakeem Nicks could miss Monday Night
Nicks suffered a knee injury in the team’s loss on Sunday to the Redskins. If Nicks is unable to play against a depleted Rams secondary on Monday, wide receiver Domenik Hixon could be a nice fantasy fill-in. Hixon has great speed and explosion and could be a nice fix for fantasy rosters a little thin at the wideout spot.

Just my Tuesday takes.

By David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: FANTASY FOOTBALL NOTES

September 4TH, 2011 Sunday

FANTASY FOOTBALL NOTES

The 2011 Fantasy football season is set to start in less than a week and while I have not had an extensive amount of time to really take an in-depth look at all the positions, I have managed to catch quite a few preseason matchups make many notes. I am not going to offer my opinion as anything more than just that, but I will however add as an adamant fan of the NFL and the game of fantasy football, I pay attention.

As with most anything in life there is usually a beginning and when we start looking at fantasy football players, we need to start with the top; the Quarterback position.

QUICK TAKES

When you draft (if your draft has yet to take place) or when looking back at your just completed draft, it’s no surprise to see the familiar names like Brees, Brady, and Rivers at the top of the list; as they should be. When we take a moment to look a little deeper into this year’s fantasy drafts there are several quarterback names that should garnish some attention, and by mid-season they will.

Signal-callers

After having a chance to watch a considerable amount of preseason I was able to catch quick a bit of action between the Lions and Patriots. And while I was impressed with Detriot’s first string’s defensive effort in the 1st half, I have to say that the young Mr. Stafford caught my attention as well. The Lion’s third year quarterback has looked stellar this preseason and seems to be the subject of a lot of preseason hype.

Stafford wasn’t necessarily given a whole lot of love on most pre-draft fantasy rankings, but with his impressive play this preseason (154.7 passer rating) folks are taking notice and his stock is definitely on the rise. In limited action this preseason Stafford has completed 25 of 33 passes (75.8% completions) and thrown five touchdowns. He’s an injury risk, yes, but I like his upside which could be big this season.

I have been hearing a lot of chatter from fellow fantasy football drafters about the second year quarterback in St. Louis, Sam Bradford. Even though I believe the Rams are still a team in rebuilding mode, I happen to agree with a lot of the fanfare surrounding the kid. With a solid ground game led by Steven Jackson to support the young passer, Bradford appears to be a star on the rise and could be nice mid-level quarterback in fantasy drafts, he definitely appears to be a keeper for dynasty owners.

A couple of other interesting names worthy of watching on your fantasy draft boards and early in the 2011 season are quarterbacks Donovan McNabb, Kyle Orton, Matt Hasselbeck, and Josh Freeman.

Last season the Buccaneers young arm Josh Freeman rose to the crop finishing with the league’s sixth highest passer rating; his 25 touchdowns also ranked in the top 10. With a returning core group of reliable hands, Freeman looks poised to put up another strong campaign.

In Minnesota, with the help of an elite ground attack, McNabb could possible have a bounce back season; something worth keeping an eye on. He did lose the Vikings best pass-catcher from two seasons ago in Sidney Rice, but already in the preseason we have seen hints that the cast (Harvin, Jenkins, and Berrian) he will be working with may be capable.

The Broncos’ quarterback Kyle Orton may be in a similar situation in Denver, being able to benefit from head coach John Fox’s influence in the running game. Success on the ground can only mean success in the vertical game with both Brandon Lloyd and Eddie Royal on the outside, Orton’s outlook could be promising.

When you have one of the league’s best ball carriers in Chris Johnson and a much improved line from his days in Seattle, Matt Hasselbeck has every reason to believe 2011 could be a much better campaign. The former Seahawk (now with Tennessee) was beat up pretty good last season, being sacked 29 times in 14 games; if he can stay vertical in 2011, it can only mean good things for fantasy owners.

The start of the NFL season is fastly approaching, but there’s still plenty of time to talk fantasy football and take a look at those players we like in the upcoming fantasy season.


By David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

February 11th, 2011 Friday

David’s Daily Digest

The Most Notable Fantasy Players of 2010

I am just continuing with my takes on some of 2010s’ most notable fantasy players. These are the studs that raised eyebrows, caught our attention, and will be part of the chatter come fantasy draft 2011.

QB-Matt Ryan
The Falcons third year quarterback really came of age in 2010 passing for over 3,700 yards, throwing 28 touchdowns, and just nine interceptions. His 91.0 passer rating along with his other significant passing numbers (yards, TDs) including completion percentage were all career highs. Ryan raised the level of his play this past season and has clearly taken a huge step toward the top tier of fantasy quarterbacks in league. He’s a top 10 gunslinger in 2011.

QB-Kyle Orton
The Bronco’s signal caller had a breakout 2010 season in his own right. Orton was well on his way to setting career highs in yards passing, touchdowns and passer rating if not for injuries and a sudden change of gears at the end of the regular season. Orton finished the season having started just 13 games, had he started all sixteen he could have easily posted some huge fantasy numbers. With Tebow part of the “starting quarterback in Denver” conversation and talks of trade, Orton’s stock value will remain on the decline. Fantasy owners will have to re-evaluate once the camp opens and we see what the plan is with Orton.

TE-Marcedes Lewis
Last season the Jaguars’tight end finally came of age as a real primary pass receiving threat, especially in the red-zone. Lewis set career high in receptions (58), yards (700), and led the club with 10 touchdown grabs (ranked tied for 1st in the league for TE’s). He also finished the season as a top five fantasy tight end. He will definitely be valued much higher in 2011 than he was last summer; with his size and skill Lewis is a legit top 10 fantasy tight end.

TE-Rob Gronkowski
The Patriots traded their deep threat receiver Randy Moss in the early parts of the 2010 season and found a star in their rookie tight end Rob Gronkowski. The rookie was even expected to be their number one pass receiving tight end, but by year’s end he was playing like it. Gronkowski finished his 1st season catching 42 balls for 546 yards and 10 touchdowns (tied for the most touchdowns for TE’s). With the Patriots loving their two tight end sets, Gronkowski shouldn’t have too much trouble replicating these numbers in 2011; his catches and yards were a little down for fantasy numbers, but he’s still a top 15 fantasy tight end.

TE-Jacob Tamme
Another player that turned a few heads in 2010 was the Colts 3rd year tight end Jacob Tamme. The Colts back up emerged from the unknown when starter Dallas Clark went down with a season ending injury. Clark is a great talent at the position, but the kid (Tamme) did an admirable job filling for the injured veteran. Tamme caught 67 balls for 631 yards and scored four times. Tamme is now on the map and his stock has risen, but with Clark expected to return at some point next season it’s not a stock worth investing heavily. Tammeis more than a capable backup, but that’s exactly what it looks like he’ll be in 2011; he’s a late round fantasy pickup for now.

By David Ortega

FSH: MONDAY MORNING HUDDLE

December 7th, 2010, Tuesday

Monday Morning Huddle
(Tuesday Edition)

It has been a while since I have taken the time to do any extensive ink (or in the digital age, pixel ) work for my usual Monday piece. And well I thought it was time to shake off the cob webs and get things kick started once again. Now I know this piece was intended for a Monday delivery, but better late Tuesday than never. With pen in hand or keyboard to be literal let’s get to what makes football great or at least interesting;

Top Stories

The Impact of No Favre
Could there really be a possibility that the great one they call Brett Favre may actually have to sit out a game on Sunday. Now this is big news considering the last time Brett did not start a game on Sunday the first Bush President was in office; now that’s quite a while.

As most that follow the great game of American football may have suspected the 41-year old gunslinger was banged up pretty good on Sunday suffering a sprained shoulder. Now there have been a few mixed reports, but the gist of it is he’s injured and the shoulder injury is his throwing shoulder. It has yet to be determined and won’t be until Thursday when Favre returns to practice if he will play, but his absence from the lineup appears hardly anything to be of concern for fantasy owners.

Last Sunday when Favre went down early in the first quarter, backup quarterback Tarvaris Jackson took the field in relief and showed folks and fans alike a lot to behold. Jackson had great mobility and awareness in the pocket. He also showed great confidence in his receivers and showed no fear heaving the pigskin downfield.

For most a healthy Brett Favre under center would be the preference, but after watching Jackson complete 68 percent of his throws and connect with fantasy favorite wide receiver Sidney Rice, I would think he’ll do. Jackson also gives the offensive line a little more help with his speed, quickness and mobility. His ability to extend plays could lead to some big plays down the field; which every fantasy owner loves.

No More Josh in Denver
I really don’t believe there is anyone in Denver that could say they were surprised by the move; maybe folks outside of Colorado may have raised an eyebrow. After the recent scandal of Spygate II and another umimpressive effort, the writing was definitely on the wall (more like graffiti on a bill board).

Less than two seasons ago McDaniels ushered in a new Era and borught with him a new attitude; unfortunately an attitude that many of the team’s best players didn’t agree with. In less than two full seasons McDaniels managed to trade away a franchise quarterback, an elite wide receiver, and what we are now seeing a versatile, talented, and productive running back. Most impotantly after starting out his NFL coaching career with an impressive 6-0 record, he was unable to recreate any of that magic at any point since losing the next 17 of his 22 games coached.

Enough with the bad, what McDaniels did manage to do well while on the Broncos sidelines was rejuvenate and elevate a couple of careers. It doesn’t appear to be any kind of coincidence to see quarterback Kyle Orton and wide receiver Brandon Lloyd enjoying career years when you think about what Josh did his last season in New England with Matt Cassel (3,693 yards passing and 21 touchdowns in 2008).

McDaniels departure will leave a lot of questions for the franchise to address and answer, but for concerned fantasy owners there should be no cause for alarm. The Bronco’s featured running back Knowshon Moreno has been on a tear of late averaging well over 100 yards of total offense over his past four starts. With the offense playing as well as it has don’t expect interim coach Eric Studesville to tinker with the radio too much. Except for maybe a slight more conservative approach (which could mean more touches for Moreno), I would look for a lot of the same from Orton (3,487 yards passing,20 touchdowns), Lloyd (60 receptions, 9 touchdowns), and the boys on offense.

With their defense ranked 27th overall and allowing nearly 28 points per game, if any changes are to be made that’s likely the best place to start.

Diamonds in the Rough

WR-Anthony Armstrong

The Redskins have had, to say at the very least a tumultuous season and they don’t even have Brett Favre on their roster. Nonetheless their season has not been without its’ fair-share of high noon drama. From Haynesworth to McNabb, from McNabb to Shanahan, and from Shanahan to the carousel of running backs the Redskins carry, there seems to be little inviting for fantasy owners to consider. Once you look past McNabb, Moss, and Cooley, there’s just not much left; with the exception of wide receiver Anthony Armstrong.

The rookie receiver has really made strides this season as a playmaker with four games this season with at least 80 yards receiving; including six catches for 97 yards and a touchdown last week. On the year Armstrong has caught 31 passes for 642 yards, but only two scores. He certainly has big play potential as evident on Sunday as he consistently beat the Giants secondary downfield.

In his last two games he has had 17 targets and since week 10 he is second only to Chris Cooley (36 targets) with 29 targets. After a nice performance this past week, this Sunday will be a nice test for the rook and could ultimately determine if he is fantasy playoff worthy. If the rookie should prove his worthiness on a consistent level this week, with some favorable matchups coming up with the Cowboys (week 15) and Jaguars (week 16) he could be a diamond in the rough ready to shine.

RB-James Stark

The Green Bay Packers have been utterly crippled at the running back position this season, but they don’t let that stop them from telling everyone they are 8-4 and still in the hunt to win the NFC North. Ranked 23rd in rushing this season the Packers have been going through a complete laundry list of running backs (which includes fullback John Kuhn) trying to find the answer for replacing the injured Ryan Grant who was placed on IR back in week one.

Last Sunday against the 49ers stout 10th ranked run defense that only allows 3.6 yards per carry, the Packers may have found what they were looking for; rookie running back James Stark. In his first action this season, Starks debuted in impressive fashion with 18 carries for 73 yards on the ground. It might be a little quick to jump on this ship, but Starks 18 carries tied for the most by a Packer running back in any game this season. Another impressive note to consider, leading up to the Sunday matchup with San Francisco running back Brandon Jackson was expected to be the “main guy.” Starks was so impressive on Sunday running hard and making positive yards with every opportunity that Jackson was limited to just four carries himself.

Great expectations might be a small stretch, but Starks looks like a shiny rock ready to flash some bling-bling in the fantasy playoffs.

FSH: MY WEEKLY FANTASY

November 21st, 2010 Sunday

My Weekly Fantasy

Sunday’s Fantasy Lineup

Some quick notes about today’s lineup…..

My Quarterback:

Playing in several fantasy leagues leaves me many options at the quarterback position (choices include Ben Roethlisberger, Kyle Orton, Joe Flacco), but just one stands head and shoulders above all today. Despite being on the road I like Aaron Rodgers under center for my fantasy team. In his last three starts against the Vikings Rodgers is averaging 322 yards passing with 7 total touchdowns. Without Ryan Grant in the backfield and pretty formidable run defense (Vikings are ranked 9th in the league) I expect to see the Packers put the ball in the air early and often.

My Running backs:

Even though the Falcons defense has looked pretty good on paper this season with their 7th ranked run stoppers, those numbers could be a bit skewed. The Falcons play an uptempo style and often force their opponents to play catch up. This Sunday they are on the road facing running back Steven Jackson and the Rams. This season St. Louis is 4-1 at home and can be expected to stay committed to the ground game a little longer facing a defense that allows 4.2 yards per carry. What I like most about “Action” Jackson today, last week the Rams turned him into an effective receiver throwing his way nine times; he totaled 148 yards last Sunday. Jackson will get plenty of carries between the tackles, but we’ll also see more of his versatility as the Rams work to put the ball in his hands often.

My Wide Receivers:

With just nine sacks this season the Bengals pass defense is going to be leaning hard on their secondary to cover the Bill’s receivers. In the past month Steve Johnson has emerged as a star in Buffalo and should be able to take advantage today. Targeted often, Johnson (averaging over 10 targets last four games) should have plenty of opportunities against a team that has allowed its’ share of big plays; Bengals defense has allowed 26 pass plays of 20 yards or more this season. A big key to the Bills success in the air will be their effectiveness against the Bengals 22nd ranked run defense. Johnson has 44 receptions and six touchdowns this season; expect to see those numbers to improve.

My Tight End:

It’s no coincidence that I would look at the Bengals-Bills matchup for my tight end solution. Thus far this season, the Bills pass defense has been one of the kindest to tight ends. After his nine catch performance for 85 yards last week, you have to like Bengal’s tight end Jermaine Gresham’s prospects for today. He has not been utilized a great deal this season, but last week quarterback Carson Palmer targeted his tight end 10 times and connected with Gresham for a score. This season the Bill’s defense has allowed eight touchdowns to tight ends; that number could change today.

FSH: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

November 17, 2010, Wednesday

David’s Daily Digest

My Fantasy Notes:

JERMAINE GRESHAM HAS BIG SUNDAY
Last week the Bengal’s rookie tight end turned in his best performance of the season against the Indianapolis Colts. Gresham caught nine passes for 85 yards and a score on 10 targets. Gresham has been under utilized thus far, but it was nice to see him more involved in the passing attack.
My Fantasy Read:
With Terrell Owens continuing to play extremely well and Ochocinco drawing extra attention quarterback Carson Palmer was bound to eventually notice his tight end. Grehsam’s 10 targets were the most he had seen since week one. He has the talent and we could finally start seeing the ability. He’s worth keeping an eye on down the stretch.

KYLE ORTON LIGHTS UP THE CHIEFS
The Bronco’s signal caller continues to impress and warrant serious fantasy consideration as a top tier passer (we’re talking fantasy here). Against the Chiefs Orton just missed sixth 300-yard passing game, finishing with 296 yards and four touchdowns. He finished the day 22 of 34 and a passer rating of 131.5.
My Fantasy Read:
Orton does not possess all the physical characteristics of a strong-armed dominant passer, but he has dominating fantasy passing numbers. Whether or not you can accept the obvious Orton is a top-tiered passer and needs to be in your fantasy line-up every week (congrats McDaniels).

FRED JACKSON IS ALL ACTION IN BILLS WIN
The Bills might like their rookie running back, but they have to love Fred Jackson. Last week against the Lions he carried the ball 25 times (highest total this season) for 133 yards and caught 6 balls out of the backfield for another 37 yards. Jackson also added two scores, one rushing and one receiving.
My Fantasy Read:
Jackson was given the role of feature back last week and he shined brilliantly, but he also faced the Lions. It was by far his best performance, but owners should be cautious before starting. A week earlier against a good Bears run defense Jackson was held in check; owners check your matchups.

DWAYNE BOWE CONTINUES HIS RISE
Maybe a lot of his numbers came in garbage time, whether or not they are still impressive. Against the Broncos Bowe finished with 13 receptions for 186 yards and two touchdowns on 18 targets (highest in week 10). It was his third game this season with multiple scores.
My Fantasy Read:
Over the past several weeks he has been one of the most targeted and most productive fantasy receivers. Since week 6 Bowe has been targeted 50 times, caught 30 balls with 8 going for scores; including five straight games with at least one touchdown. Shame on you if he ever makes it to your bench; he’s a must play every week now.

FSH: FANTASY WATCH

November 10th, 2010, Wednesday

Fantasy Watch

Orton & Lloyd Keep the Pass Game Flying A Mile High

Through the first eight weeks of the season, quarterback Kyle Orton and wide receiver Brandon Lloyd have been two of the biggest surprises this season in the fantasy world. Even though Orton lacks the big arm and Lloyd has seemingly been resurrected from the abyss, the two are on the same page and flying a mile high.

Through the first half of the season, both Lloyd and Orton have been fantasy stars.

In his first eight games this season, Orton has passed for over 300 yards in five of those and his 12 touchdowns ranks him tied for 11th in the league. He ranks third overall this season with over 2,500 yards passing and is completing more than 60 percent of his passes. In traditional scoring leagues Orton has not scored less than 16 points in any game this season and has scored more than 20 points four times.

As well as Orton has played this season, his number one target this season Brandon Lloyd has been even better. Through the first half of the season, Lloyd leads all receivers in yards with 878 and carries a 20.9 yards per catch average. For the season he is averaging more than 100 yards receiving per game to go along with his four touchdown grabs.

The main ingredient to Lloyd’s success this season has been the chemistry he has found with his quarterback. Five times this season Lloyd has been targeted in double figures and his 79 for the year rank 7th in the league. His 42 receptions also make him an attractive option in PPR leagues.

Looking forward to the second half of the season, both Orton and Lloyd have proven they are worthy starters in most fantasy formats. With the Broncos passing offense ranked 3rd overall, fantasy owners should make sure these players are in their lineups going forward until further notice.

Just my take.

By David Ortega

FSH: MY WEEKLY FANTASY

October 31st, 2010, Sunday

My Weekly Fantasy

Sunday’s Fantasy Lineup

Some quick notes for today’s lineups….

My Quarterbacks:

With sloppy (rain) conditions expected in London today, I am not expecting this to have much effect on Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton who will be in a few of my lineups today. Lacking a big arm most of his throws will be short routes and underneath shots…..the Packers travel to New York to take on the 22nd ranked pass defense. I will have Aaron Rodgers going in all leagues today as he takes on a Jets secondary that is allowing more than 250 yards passing per game at home with five touchdowns……I don’t have Matt Cassel today, but he is one quarterback I would be inserting with his favorable matchup against the Bills at home. Cassel will be throwing against a secondary that doesn’t allow a lot of yards, but has surrendered 14 touchdowns this season.

My Runningbacks:

With Steven Jackson available, I will definitely be riding “Action-Jackson” today against the Panthers’ 24th ranked run defense. Jackson has rushed for over 600 yards this season, including three straight 100 yards games. Today he faces a defense that is allowing nearly 130 yards rushing per game…..with the Bills coming to town, I will be inserting running back Thomas Jones today. In his last two games Jones is averaging 20 touches and over 100 yards rushing. Today he’ll get the leagues 32nd ranked run defense…..another play today that I like very much is running back Ryan Torain. Today the Redskins are in Detroit and Torain will be seeing the leagues 27th ranked run defense that is allowing nearly 5.0 yards per carry.

My Wide Receivers:

Last week the Bills offense erupted for big yards, big plays, and over 30 points against the Ravens. Today they don’t have the Ravens, but what wide receiver Steve Johnson will see is the league’s 25th ranked passing offense that has allowed 20 pass plays of 20 yards or more. Johnson has been consistently getting better each week and today’s matchup should allow his progress to continue……another wide out that has a favorable matchup today is the Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Bowe. In his last two games Bowe has scored twice in each and with a Bills secondary that is handing out scores like hotcakes (14 allowed), he looks like a sure bet to find paydirt……a couple of regulars that I will be inserting today include Brandon Lloyd against the Niners. I like Lloyd to snag a few downfield against a secondary that has allowed 22 pass plays of 20 yards or more.

My Tight Ends:

With the Redskins in town, I am rolling with tight end Brandon Pettigrew in one of my lineups. The Lions second year tight end has been targeted often over the last several weeks and faces a defense that has 15 receptions to the tight end position over the past three weeks…..I also have the Bengals rookie tight end Jermaine Gresham in one of my lineups today. He doesn’t figure to catch a lot of throws deep downfield, but with all the weapons the Bengals have Gresham could emerge as a red-zone favorite today….lastly I will be starting the Jets tight end Dustin Keller. Keller leads the team with 24 receptions and five touchdown this season and faces a Packer’s secondary that could have some matchup problems today and has surrendered 21 pass plays of 20 yards or more.

FSH: MY WEEKLY SURVIVAL

October 28th, 2010, Thursday

My Weekly Survivors

Last week was one of my best weeks with solid fantasy performances from my running backs. With Adrian Peterson (131 yards rushing) and Michael Turner (121 yards rushing) anchoring my backfield the two combined to score 49 fantasy points. The Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Bowe continued his hot ways adding a pair of touchdowns for the second consecutive weekend.

Despite a few duds like wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (30 yards rushing) and tight end Tony Gonzales (27 yards receiving), all in all it was a nice day from my fantasy squad moving my team into the top ten.

Week eight does not provide any relief with too many favorable matchups, but with a little luck, this could be another moving week for my fantasy team. Here are the picks I like for week 8….

QB-Kyle Orton, Denver Broncos
The Broncos travel to London this Sunday and fortunately for them the bay area team they face won’t be the Raiders. The Niners who will also be making the Trans-Atlantic trip to London, will be bringing with them their 15th ranked pass defense and a chance for Kyle Orton and Broncos passing game to rebound. Orton has been off of late, but Sunday should be able to take advantage of a secondary that has allowed 11 passing touchdowns this season.
(Projected: 23 points/ 275 yards passing, two touchdowns)

RB-Felix Jones, Dallas Cowboys
There’s no doubt that the Cowboys will be looking to rebound this week and try and secure their first home win this season. One of the keys for Dallas this Sunday will be their ground game led by running back Felix Jones. Jones will be matching up with Jacksonville, the leagues 25th ranked run defense. The Jaguars allow 4.6 yards per rush and nearly 130 yards rushing per game.
(Projected: 19 points / 105 yards rushing, 35 yards receiving, one touchdowns)

RB-Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs offense has been on a roll scoring 73 points in its’ last two games and a big reason for the success has been the running game. Along with Thomas Jones, running back Jamaal Charles has been a huge contributor to the ground game success. In his last two starts Charles has totaled 188 yards of offense averaging over 5-yards each time he touches the ball. This week the Chiefs face the worst run defense in the league and one that has allowed eight rushing touchdowns this season.
(Projected: 17 points/ 85 yards rushing, 30 yards receiving, one touchdown)

WR-Brandon Lloyd, Denver Broncos
The Broncos passing game has been held in check the past couple of weeks, but on Sunday they may catch a break facing a Niners secondary that could have some matchup problems. The Broncos will try to spread the field and I expect to see Orton and Lloyd connect a few times downfield against a defense that has allowed 22 pass plays of 20 yards or more this season. Lloyd has cooled off some the past couples of weeks, but this could be a good week to heat up a bit.
(Projected: 17 points/ 110 yards receiving, one touchdown)

WR-Deion Branch, New England Patriots
Last week the Vikings secondary was torched all evening against the Packers and this week they won’t find any relief facing Tom Brady and company. I like wide receiver Deion Branch’s matchup on Sunday. Not the big hitter he once was, I expect to see Brady target his nimble wideout all afternoon chewing up small chunks of yardage. Branch has quickly become Brady’s favorite with 20 targets in the past two weeks.
(Projected: 18 points/ 125 yards receiving, one touchdown)

TE-Tony Moeki, Kansas City Chiefs
Quietly the Chiefs are claiming their stake on the AFC West title with solid play on both sides of the ball. One of the keys to the team’s passing game has been the balance between the run and the pass. While wide receiver Dwayne Bowe has been making all the noise, tight end Tony Moeaki has been business as usual leading the team with 21 receptions. It’s no longer any secret that the Bills defense has struggled mightily this season trying cover the tight end position; 7 touchdowns allowed this season.
(Projected: 10 points/ 45 yards receiving, one touchdown)

K –Stephen Gostkowski, New England Patriots
The Patriots will play host to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday and while they are expected to be able to attack the secondary and move the ball, once in the red-zone they could struggle. The Patriots ground game is middle of the road and the Vikes always play tough against the run. If the Pats struggle and become one dimensional they could have to settle for a few more extra kicks on Sunday.
(Projected: 11 points/ three field goals, two extra points)

My Previous starts

Week 1 (Total points-77)
QB Donovan McNabb (WAS)
RB Matt Forte (CHI)
RB Carnell Williams (TB)
WR Jeremy Maclin (PHI)
WR Jabar Gaffney (DEN)
TE Zach Miller (OAK)
K Joe Nedney (SF)

Week 2 (Total points-68)
QB Michael Vick (PHI)
RB Ahmad Bradshaw (NYG)
RB Rashard Mendenhall (PIT)
WR Nate Washington (TEN)
WR Greg Jennings (GB)
TE Chris Cooley (WAS)
K Nick Folk (NYJ)

Week 3 (Total points-87)
QB Tony Romo (DAL)
RB Darren McFadden
RB Ray Rice (BAL)
WR Austin Collie (IND)
WR Dez Bryant (DAL)
TE Brent Celek (PHI)
K Lawrence Tynes (NYG)

Week 4 (Total points-58)
QB Eli Manning (NYG)
RB Maurice Jones-Drew (JAX)
RB Frank Gore (SF)
WR Mark Clayton (STL)
WR Brandon Marshall (MIA)
TE John Carlson (SEA)
K Jeff Reed (PIT)

Week 5 (Total Points-72 points)
QB Drew Brees (NO)
RB Steven Jackson (STL)
RB Thomas Jones (KC)
WR Donald Driver (GB)
WR Calvin Johnson (DET)
TE Marcedes Lewis (JAX)
K Mike Nugent (CIN)

Week 6 (Total Points-83 points)
QB Peyton Manning (IND)
RB Ryan Torain (WASH)
RB LaDanian Tomlinson (NYJ)
WR Hakeem Nicks (NYG)
WR Kenny Britt (TEN)
TE Dallas Clark, (IND)
K Sebastian Janikowski (OAK)

Week 7 (Total Points-93 points)
QB Philip Rivers (SD)
RB Adrian Peterson (MIN)
RB Michael Turner (ATL)
WR Larry Fitzgerald (ARI)
WR Dwayne Bowe (KC)
TE Tony Gonzales (ATL)
K Matt Prater (DEN)

FSH: MY WEEKLY FANTASY

October 24th, 2010, Sunday

My Weekly Fantasy

Sunday’s Fantasy Lineup

Some quick notes for today’s lineups….

My Quarterbacks:

With Kyle Orton matching up with the Raiders today, I am going to stick with my bigger guns; Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees. Orton does not have the most difficult matchup today against the Raiders, who have allowed 12 passing touchdowns this seaso, but they just don’t give up a lot of yards…..Like Orton in Denver the Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers should enjoy some home cooking today and he’ll have a most favorable match-up against the Patriots (ranked 29th against the pass). Brees is at home today against the Browns and you have to always like Drew in the Dome….Rodgers has a marquee match-up tonight at Lambeau against the Vikings. In his last meeting at home against the Vikes, Rodgers passed for nearly 300 yards and threw three touchdowns.

My Runningbacks:

Across the board, one start that I like today will be the Bronco’s Knowshon Moreno today against the Raider’s 30th ranked run defense. Moreno is finally healthy and should return to good form today against a defense that allows five yards a tote and nearly 150 yards a game on the ground….an every week must-start, Steven Jackson owners should be licking their chops today as the Rams running back, though on the road should have a big day today. Jackson faces the Buc’s defense that is being torched for more than 150 yards a game on the ground…..the Browns have a tough road matchup today in the Superdome, but you can bet they will be using Peyton Hillis and their ground game to do everything they can to keep the ball out of Drew Brees hands. They might not have a lot of luck with that, but Hillis will still have a very productive day.

My Wide Receivers:

The Packers are not going to see many yards on the ground tonight against the Vikings stout run defense, so that just means more work for Greg Jennings and the receiving corp. The Vikings are ranked 6th against the pass this season, but they don’t put a lot of pressure on opposing quarterbacks (six sacks this season) and they allow nearly a 65% completion percentage of passes….the Eagles Jeremy Maclin has been hot since Kolb’s insertion into the lineup. In his last two games Maclin has 13 receptions for 254 yards…..amazingly enough, Dwayne Bowe was a waiver wire pick-up this week and a starter today. Bowe is coming off a huge game with two scores and faces the (Jaguars) league’s 28th ranked pass defense; he should have a nice encore performance today.

My Tight Ends:

The Falcons had been playing steady and consistent play-off like football before their throttling last week at the hands of the Eagles. This week at home in the Georgia Dome, I expect Matt Ryan and company to right the ship. One of Ryan’s keys will be his tight end Tony Gonzales. Tony G. is not likely to see a large chunk of yards, but with three touchdowns already this season he’s a great red-zone candidate today…..on the other side of the field, I like the Bengals tight end Jermaine Gresham (22 receptions, 2-touchdowns) to have plenty of opportunity to find the end zone. In the last three games the Falcons have allowed 16 receptions and 146 yards to the opposing tight end position.

FSH: MY WEEKLY SURVIVAL

October 17th, 2010, Sunday

My Weekly Survivors

Week five was not a week to remember. There were several disappointments with Thomas Jones disappearing against the Colts, Donald Driver and the Packers passing game taking a bit of a siesta against the Redskins. Even the Saints Drew Brees was relatively quiet comparatively speaking. Needless to say, it was not a good week last Sunday although our tight end scored big and got a nice effort from Steven Jackson.

This week again, I am looking at the best matchups with some big guns. We did not drop overall in the standings, but we did lose some points so this week it’s time to make up some ground. Week six is set to kick off in just a few hours, so let’s see what we have this Sunday to get this ship turned around in the right direction.....

QB-Kyle Orton, Denver Broncos
We’ve actually go Kyle going in several leagues today. Rex Ryan usually puts out a formadible defense each week, but with a weak link at the corner spot his passing defense has been leaking. Orton and the Broncos throw the ball, so I’ll expect more of the same. (Project points-25 points/330 yards passing, 2-touchdowns)

RB-Ryan Torain, Washington Redskins
The Colts continue to struggle against the run, so we’ll keep looking for big games from the opposing backs. Torain is moving more towards a featured role with Portis out, so he should see a lot of work today. (Projected points-18points/105-yards rushing, 20 yards receiving, one touchdown)

RB-Michael Turner, Atlanta Falcons
The Eagles ground defense struggles with the running game (125/yds allowed per game), so we’re expecting a heavy dose of Turner today. (Project points-21 points/90-yards rushing, two touchdowns)

WR-Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis Colts
The Redskins are ranked near the bottom against the pass and they won’t catch any breaks today against Manning and company; look for Wayne a lot. (Project points-15 points/90-yards receiving, one touchdown)

WR-Andre Johnson, Houston Texans
The Texan’s passing game is clearly getting healthy with Owen Daniels improving and Johnson’s ankle healing. This is not good news for the leagues 25th ranked pass defense. Expect a big day from “Big Andre.” (Projected points-16 points/100 yards receiving, one touchdown)

TE-Greg Olsen, Chicago Bears
The Bears will have Cutler back today and the Seahawks struggle with the pass, what this means is lots of opportunities for Olsen. He won’t have huge numbers, but he will find the end-zone. (Project points-11 points/55 yards receiving, one touchdown)

K –Nick Folk, New York Jets
The Jets offense should be able to move the ball well today against the Broncos, but they could stall a few times in the red-zone, look for another big day from Folk. (Projected points-11 points/3-FGs, 2-XPs)

My Previous starts

Week 1 (Total points-77)
QB Donovan McNabb (WAS)
RB Matt Forte (CHI)
RB Carnell Williams (TB)
WR Jeremy Maclin (PHI)
WR Jabar Gaffney (DEN)
TE Zach Miller (OAK)
K Joe Nedney (SF)

Week 2 (Total points-68)
QB Michael Vick (PHI)
RB Ahmad Bradshaw (NYG)
RB Rashard Mendenhall (PIT)
WR Nate Washington (TEN)
WR Greg Jennings (GB)
TE Chris Cooley (WAS)
K Nick Folk (NYJ)

Week 3 (Total points-87)
QB Tony Romo (DAL)
RB Darren McFadden
RB Ray Rice (BAL)
WR Austin Collie (IND)
WR Dez Bryant (DAL)
TE Brent Celek (PHI)
K Lawrence Tynes (NYG)

Week 4 (Total points-58)
QB Eli Manning (NYG)
RB Maurice Jones-Drew (JAX)
RB Frank Gore (SF)
WR Mark Clayton (STL)
WR Brandon Marshall (MIA)
TE John Carlson (SEA)
K Jeff Reed (PIT)

Week 5 (Total Points-
QB Drew Brees (NO)
RB Steven Jackson (STL)
RB Thomas Jones (KC)
WR Donald Driver (GB)
WR Calvin Johnson (DET)
TE Marcedes Lewis (JAX)
K Mike Nugent (CIN)