FSH NOTEBOOK: SUNDAY MORNING GAMETIME

Sunday Edition
December 23rd, 2012

  

Sunday Morning Gametime

Randall Cobb
The Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb has been the clear go-to option for several weeks now and this Sunday little will change. He’s a solid WR2 option and should be in all line-ups against the Titans 18th ranked pass defense.

Demaryrius Thomas
Broncos wide receiver Demaryrius Thomas was held in check last week, but don’t count on him being quiet two weeks in a row. Last Sunday it was Decker, this Sunday you can expect Thomas to be more involved; he’s worth starting as a low-end WR2.

Lance Moore
The Saints wide receiver Lance Moore should be a part of the Saints passing parade today against the Cowboys. The Cowboys are ranked 19th against the pass and could mean a lot of Brees and his receivers. Moore is more  of a low end WR3 or flex and worth starting in deeper leagues.

Reggie Bush
The Dolphins running back Reggie Bush has a nice matchup today against the Bills 30th ranked run defense. Bush has played more as a utility player rather than a feature back much of this season, but today he could see a few more touches. Unless you have better options, he’s a low-end RB3 or flex in most formats

Kenny Britt
The Titans wide receiver Kenny Britt has not been much of a fantasy option this season and with so much inconsistency under center he’s a risky play this week that’s hardly worth it. The Titans wide receivers in general are tough to predict, if better options exist all should be avoided.

Josh Freeman
The Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman is coming off a very disappointing performance for fantasy owners, so it’s hard to imagine he’d lay another egg in week 16. Fantasy owners can expect a better game this week from Freeman, but temper your expectations the Rams defense is pretty good and ranked 9th against the pass.

Anquan Boldin
The Ravens wide receiver Anquan Boldin was held without a catch last week, he’s not going to blow up this week but could be a serviceable flex option in the deepest leagues. The Ravens passing game has been inconsistent, but before last week Boldin has been one of its’ more consistent options.

Danario Alexander
The Chargers number one receiver Danario Alexander was held to zero catches last week and draws another tough matchup this week. He’s not likely to post another donut, but it could be another long day with low out-put; avoid is possible.

Just a few notes and thoughts for today’s games…

By David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: QUICK TAKES

Monday Edition
November 5th, 2012  

David’s Daily Digest

MNF Quick Notes

Tonight’s matchup between the Eagles and Saints will offer plenty of lineup options. If you get’em, start’em…

These are my takes for tonight’s Monday Night Matchup.

The Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson should be licking his chops as he prepares the meet the Saints defense on Monday night. Jackson is the team’s leading receiver this season, but he has yet to get it going; just one 100-yard game this season. Tonight’s contest is a prime matchup for Jackson to get it going. The Saints are ranked 30th versus the pass and allow the most fantasy points to wide receivers; Jackson should have a big night.

Running back LeSean McCoy is a no-brain start tonight. The Saints defense will have plenty of trouble tracking down Shady McCoy this evening. McCoy has just tow 100-yard games and two rushing touchdowns this season; expect both to improve tonight versus the Saints (ranked 31st against the run).

Like Jackson, quarterback Michael Vick has to be excited about his matchup tonight. The Saints pass defense has allowed 15 passing touchdowns this season and they are giving up well over 300 yards in the air per game. Vick has not had an easy road thus far turning the ball over at an alarming rate, but the Saints defense appears to be even more generous. Vick looks set to breakout this evening.

On the other side, the Saints are still the Saints and quarterback Drew Brees is not going to go down without a fight. The Eagles 14th ranked pass defense will have all it can handle with Brees in the pocket. This matchup has all the makings of a regular fireworks show in the Dome, Brees will be big tonight with all the weapons he possesses and he’ll need to put points on the board in this one.

While the Eagles defense is well aware of Brees’ most lethal weapon, wide receiver Marques Colston (a nice WR2 fantasy starter) look for one of his other targets, Lance Moore to play a big role. Moore is crafty and is second on the team with 53 targets this season. Even with all the weapons the Saints have on offense, Moore will see plenty of passes his direction; he’ll be a nice flex insert tonight.

Tight end Jimmy Graham finally appears healthy and will give the Eagles plenty of fits tonight. He’s one of Brees favorite targets in the red zone, and you can be sure the Saints are going to be frequenting that part of the field tonight. Graham is a must start and should pay-off nicely.

The Eagles have themselves a pretty good tight end (Brent Celek) that they can boast, but with so many holes in the secondary downfield, Celek may take a back seat. If there is anything the Saints secondary can do well, they have managed to play tight ends with some degree of success. The Saints defense allows the 7th fewest fantasy points to tight ends. Play Celek with caution. 


By David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: SUNDAY MORNING GAMETIME

Sunday Edition
October 21st, 2012  

Sunday Morning Gametime

Some quick fantasy notes for Sunday week 7, who is out there (playing today) and who is not (ruled OUT);

The Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw will play today against the Redskins and should be the focal points of the Giants 9th ranked running attack. Bradshaw is coming off back-to-back 100 yard performances; including 200 yards in week 5.

The Saints will be without tight end Jimmy Graham today, paving the way for back up Dave Thomas. Thomas has only two catches this season, so it’s a stretch to expect him to suddenly blossom into one of Brees’ go-to receivers. Graham’s absence mean Marques Colston and Lance Moore should see more targets today.

Running backs Rashard Mendenhall and Issac Redman will be sidelined tonight against the Bengals, opening the door for Jonathan Dwyer who will get the start. Dwyer has only 24 carries this season and is averaging a pedestrian 2.9 yards per carry, but does face the Bengals 21st ranked run defense tonight. Bengals have allowed 8 rushing touchdowns this season.

Running back Trent Richardson will play today versus the Colts and will wear a flak jacket to protect his injured ribs. Richardson has 340 yards rushing with four touchdowns this season and faces the Colts 29th ranked run defense. The Colts allow 159 yards on the ground and have given up 8 rushing touchdowns through six games.

The Packers tight end Jermichael Finley is expected to be on the field today versus the Rams. Last week against the Texans Finley caught just two passes for 12 yards in a game where Rodgers completed 24 for 338 (yards). Finley’s been much of a now show this season with one touchdown through six games. With so many weapons at his finger tips Rodgers is not likely to force any extra throws to his tight end today, but as always with the explosive Packers passing game Finley is always a favorite in the red zone.

The Saints will have Lance Moore back today and with Jimm Graham sidelined he could be very active right away. Moore has always been a Brees favorite in the red zone with 10 touchdowns in his last 18 games played. Moore is also second on the team this season with 19 receptions for 287 yards.

Terrell Suggs will be active today versus the Texans, but coming off his Achilles injury and not having some of the other keys players on defense his presence may only be a temporary emotional lift. The Texans have too many weapons on offense and the Ravens just may not have the horses to keep up; the Ravens defense could struggle quite a bit today.


By David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

September 7TH, 2011 Wednesday

David’s Daily Digest

Peyton Manning to miss opener
According to several news outlets and football sources, Peyton Manning (neck) is out for week one. What we are not hearing is for how long. As long as Manning is sidelined, the Colts receivers should be devalued; stay away from the Colts WRs in week one with the exception of Reggie Wayne. Going forward we’ll have to see how back-up quarterback Kerry Collins handles the reigns, before rolling with any of the Colts.

Lance Moore ruled out in week one
With one of Brees favorites on the sideline, step in Marques Colston. The Saints leading receiver should see a few more targets on Thursday with Lance Moore out; fantasy owners should start Colston with confidence.

Antonio Gates close to form?
The Chargers tight end practiced on Wednesday suggesting he is closer to being healthy and ready to return to his Pro Bowl form. Gates was slowed last season by injury, but his recovery has been going well and he is slowly working his way back to form. He should be a safe fantasy start on Sunday.

Arian Foster unsure for Sunday?
That’s a big red flag when the player tells you he doesn’t know if he will go on Sunday. Foster was likely drafted high in most fantasy formats, owners will likely have to wait until game-time before pulling the trigger. If he goes, he should in your lineups, but that is looking like a big “if.”

These are just my takes

By David Ortega

FSH: MY WEEKLY FANTASY

October 10th, 2010, Sunday

My Weekly Fantasy

Sunday’s Fantasy Lineup

Some quick notes for today’s lineups….

My Quarterbacks:

With Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers available, I will be starting both in several of my leagues today. Rodgers (8-touchdown passes) has a great matchup against the Redskins 31st ranked defense and should be primed for a break out game…….Brees (1,131 yards passing) on the other hand is on the road, but playing will be playing indoors so I am expecting a solid performance.

My Runningbacks:

With Steven Jackson on a couple of my rosters, he will be in the lineup today with a great matchup against the Lions run defense (4.8 yards allowed per carry)……with Clinton Portis OUT for the Redskins, I will be inserting running back Ryan Torain today. Last week Torain carried the ball 18 times for 70 yards and a score. This week against the Pack he’s likely to see as many touches and should be just as productive…..another noteworthy mention is running back Arian Foster, a must-start every week. Last week the Texans running back was held out of the first quarter, but once he got into the game it did not take long for the kid to bust loose. Foster (537-yards rushing leads the league) finished the game with 187-total yards of offense and two scores.

My Wide Receivers:

There are a lot of matchups I like today and fortunately for my fantasy teams, one is Calvin Johnson against the Rams. The Rams have played decent against the pass this season ranked 21st, but since Hill and Megatron have started to gel (two scores last week) I don’t see the Rams slowly down Calvin today……a couple of other notables in the line-up today include Roddy White (versus the Browns 24th ranked pass defense), Lance Moore (versus the Cardinals 22nd ranked pass defense) and Mark Clayton (versus the Lions 26th ranked pass defense)…..I will be starting Bandon Lloyd against the Ravens today. The Broncos receiver is averaging over 18-yards per catch and he will test the Ravens secondary downfield……I also have Terrell Owens playing today against the Falcons 18 ranked defense. As often as he has been targeted, he should haul in a couple of passes and find his way to the end-zone.

My Tight Ends:

I don’t have a lot of options at tightend, but one is Jermichael Finley (21 receptions) who is a must-start week in and week out. Against the Redskins today Finley could have a big day; the Redskins have allowed the tightend to score in each of their last two games…….a big noteworthy move today will be starting the Jaguars tightend Marcedes Lewis. The Jags tightend has not seen a lot of throws his direction this season (just 12), but it seems when the team reaches the redzone his number gets called often; Lewis has three touchdown receptions this season. Today’s matchup with the Bills is a great matchup for Lewis; expect score number four.

FSH: MY WEEKLY FANTASY

October 3rd, 2010, Sunday

My Weekly Fantasy

Sunday’s Fantasy Lineup

My Quarterbacks:

This week is a no-brainer with Aaron Rodgers facing the Detroit Lions. Rodgers is coming off his first 300-yard game of the season and looks primed to repeat his Monday night performance today. The Packers signal caller will face a division rival he’s very familiar with and one that he has had great success against. Last year in two meetings Rodgers averaged 353 yards passing per game and threw five touchdowns to only one interception. This season the Lions are ranked 26th against the pass and have already given up three pass plays of 40 yards or more; it looks like a good day for Rodgers and the Pack…….I will also be sticking with Drew Brees in another league. Despite the reports of a knee brace, Brees is a savvy quarterback with a quick release and knows his limitations. I don’t expect to see any Mike Vick imitations today, he should be just fine against the Panthers.

My Runningbacks:

One of my concerns today is running back Steven Jackson. The Rams ball carrier was barely a participant this week in practice nursing his groin injury. The word is he will be a gametime decision, so when that happens unless I hear reports that he feels great I may have to look at alternatives. If Jackson is your best option and active you might have to suck it up, but if you can look elsewhere that may be the better play…..…With the Bears traveling to the New York, I like Matt Forte’s matchup. He’ll face the leagues 26th ranked run defense and with 14 receptions and three pass receiving touchdowns this season he’s a solid option out of the backfield……I also have running back Justin Forsett in a number of leagues and recent rumors indicate the Seahawks could be leaning more on the kid as their featured back. He has a very good matchup against the Rams 25th ranked run defense that allows over 5-yards a pop and has surrendered a league high six runs of 20 yards or more…….Another option I am leaning on today is running back Peyton Hillis. After last week’s impressive performance against the Ravens I don’t see the Bengals having much better success. Cincy is ranked 7th against the run, but they are allowing 4.5-yards per carry and I would expect the Browns to lean heavily on the ground game today.

My Wide Receivers:

Today I have some interesting plays to make. In one league I will be inserting the Saints wide receiver Lance Moore. Isn’t the rule, once they have a big game don’t jump on the band wagon because they will probably tank? That may be the case, but I don’t believe it was an accident Moore came up big last week with Reggie Bush out. In 2008 Moore was the team’s leading receiver and I think Brees will continue to look his way often…….I like the Giant’s wide receiver Steve Smith tonight against the Bears 28th ranked pass defense. Manning likes to go to Smith often (29 targets) and the Bears giving up chunks of yards……I rode the Brandon Lloyd train a week ago, but I will likely steer clear today. Lloyd may get a couple of catches today, but the Titans have a strong secondary and Orton has a lot of other weapons to turn to……Against the Colts today I will not be sitting wide receiver Mike Sims-Walker. Based on numbers thus far this season I should, but against the Colts secondary, they could make him a star again. The Colts defense is ranked 20th in the league and allow 12.6 yards per catch (ranked 25th); we like those numbers.

My Tight Ends:

With the Packer’s Jermichael Finley on my roster, I don’t need any other tight ends. He has consecutive games with 100-yards receiving and is second on the team with 17 receptions. With a favorable matchup today against the Lions he could have another big day……..I will also be starting the Redskins’ tight end Chris Cooley today and hoping for the best. The Eagles pass defense has not been terrible this season (ranked 12th), but they have struggled a little with tight ends allowing 15 receptions for 175 yards…….I also have Owen Daniels on my roster, but with his numbers down and listed on this week’s injury report as questionable I will wait for better days.

FSH: THE FANTASY SPORTS ZONE (TARGET PRACTICE)

September 30th, 2010, Thursday

Fantasy Football

Target Practice

In these hands we trust

Through the first three weeks of football we have seen some familiar names making plays in the passing game, but what fantasy owners need to be watching besides the headlines are those players quietly and steadily getting ready to break out. Aside from the normal names we see, this past weekend there were a couple of players to suddenly steal some fantasy love; last Sunday against the Falcons it was the re-emergence of Saints receiver Lance Moore with a seven targets and a big day receiving (149 yards receiving and two scores), the Bronco’s receiver Jabar Gaffney suddenly became a very relevant consideration with a big day in Denver (12 receptions with 140 yards receiving) and 14 targets, and the Cowboys wide receiver Roy Williams becoming a household name in Big D again with a very productive afternoon (117 yards receiving with two touchdowns) with his steady dose of six targets.

The Usual Suspects…

The usual faces thus far this season topping the list include Roddy White (41 targets) Brandon Marshall (37 targets), and Larry Fitzgerald (34 targets), but one surprise in this mix to watch, both T.O. (33 targets) and Ochocinco (34 targets) seemed to be getting their fair share of touches, so at some point the numbers will have to follow, right?

Some early season starlets…

Through the first three weeks of the 2010 season, 2nd year Colts’ receiver Austin Collie (31 targets) has emerged as Peyton Manning’s go-to receiver. Even when the injured Pierre Garcon returns, it’s hard to imagine number 18 not continuing to look his way. The Niner’s running back Frank Gore has been showcasing his versatility this season and leads all running back with 29 targets and 22 receptions.

Your Target watch….

We can easily see who has done what this season and why, but a few names that might be flying under the radar at the moment that you should keep your eye include; TE-Jermaine Gresham, WR-Michael Crabtree, and TE-Todd Heap.

Jermaine Gresham only has one touchdown and 99 yards receiving through the first three weeks, but quarterback Carson Palmer is looking his way too often for his numbers to stay dormant. With 21 targets, he’s going to see plenty of opportunity going forward to start making more of a difference.

The Niner’s offense is in flux at the moment, but Singletary will soon grab hold of the reigns and get this ship righted. Through the team’s first three games wide receiver Michael Crabtree has only six catches, but 19 targets. If this passing game is going to get off the ground, Crabtree will be a big part going forward.

With all the focus and attention centered on wide receiver Anquan Boldin, quietly tight end Todd Heap is one of his best pass receiving seasons of his career. He is currently on pace to put up close to career numbers in receptions and yards. With 22 targets already in this young season, he looks like a great bet to do just that.

Season Target Leaders...
(Unofficial numbers)

Top 20

1. Roddy White, ATL (41 targets)
2. Brandon Marshall, MIA (37 targets)
3. Larry Fitzgerald, ARI (34 targets)
4. Chad Ochocinco, CIN (34 targets)
5. Terrell Owens, CIN (33 targets)
6. Austin Collie, IND (31 targets)
7. Santana Moss, WAS (30 targets)
8. Miles Austin, DAL (29 targets)
9. Anquan Boldin, BAL (29 targets)
10. Frank Gore, SFO (29 targets)
11. Andre Johnson, HOU (29 targets)
12. Steve Smith, NYG (29 targets)
13. Calvin Johnson, DET (28 targets)
14. Dallas Clark, IND (27 targets)
15. Mark Clayton, STL (27 targets)
16. Malcom Floyd, SDC (26 targets)
17. Jabar Gaffney, DEN (26 targets)
18. Antonio Gates, SDC (26 targets)
19. Darrius Heyward-Bey, OAK (26 targets)
20. Reggie Wayne, IND (26targets)
    
    
    
    

    
    
    

FSH: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

September 28th, 2010


David’s Daily Digest

My Fantasy Notes:

KYLE ORTON POSTS A HUGE NUMBER ON SUNDAY
The Bronco’s signal caller passed for 476 yards and a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts in the team’s 27-13 loss on Sunday. Orton used 57 passes on the day to post his huge numbers, but struggles in the red-zone kept the Bronco’s off the board limiting his overall production.
My Fantasy Read:
Without a healthy Knowshon Moreno the Broncos may struggle to find their ground game, but their 2010 passing game is no anomaly. It’s a safe bet to expect Orton to continue his flourishing ways in the short passing game. He may not launch another 57 passes, but he should continue to complete a high percentage, chew up the yards, and the team is bound to improve in the red-zone.

LANCE MOORE HAS BIG DAY IN LOSS TO FALCONS
Without their explosive running back Reggie Bush, the Saints looked to another source for playmaking on Sunday and found wide receiver Lance Moore. Against the Falcons Moore caught six passes for 149 yards and found paydirt twice.
My Fantasy Read:
With Bush out, it’s no surprise that Brees was able to find another go to especially Moore. Remember in 2008 Moore was his main target with 79 receptions and 10 touchdowns. On Sunday Moore led the team with seven targets and should continue to be a regular source of production.

PEYTON HILLIS POUNDS THE RAVENS ON SUNDAY
The Brown’s running back Peyton Hillis became the team’s featured back on Sunday against the Ravens. Hillis carried the ball 22 times for more than 140 yards on the ground against one of the leagues toughest defenses. He also added seven receptions for another 36 yards.
My Fantasy Read:
Hillis basically proved he can be a dependable and impressive every down back. Even when Harrison returns, expect to see Hillis carry the brunt of the load. He should be a dependable fantasy option going forward.

JABAR GAFFNEY FLOURISHES AGAINST THE COLTS
The Bronco’s receiver is no stranger to McDaniel’ system and on Sunday he was a huge benefactor catching 12 passes for 140 yards. It was a breakout game for Gaffney who is tied for the team lead with 17 receptions.
My Fantasy Read:
Gaffney was targeted a team high 14 times on Sunday, This is probably not something he will see too much more of going forward (at least not that many targets in a game), but as the team's passing has success so should Gaffney. He’ll have some value in deeper leagues, but owners may want to hold off rushing to the wires just yet.

FSH: WATERCOOLER CHAT

October 21st, 2009 9:15pm PST

WATERCOOLER CHAT

The Weekly Waiver Wire


Wayne “The Wire” Bosco

(Courtesy of the Fantasy Football Gang)

The Bye weeks continue in the NFL and the Waiver Wire just keeps getting busy. As the fantasy football season progresses, you weekly moves take on more importance; your studs are on the bye, your lineup is depleted and you need some serious help. Never fear because Wayne is always here to lend a helping hand, offer some good advice or just take up 10-15 minutes of your day with some senseless rants about a few guys he believes may have something to say this week!

So once again grab a cold one (better make it two) and tae a lot of notes, and just remember Wayne is working hard, so you don’t have to and because he’s got nothing better to do!

Week Seven

After spending the first five weeks of the season dormant, the Saints wide receiver Lance Moore has awaken from his slumber. Slowed by injuries, Moore has played very little in 2009 missing a few games and being limited, but on Sunday it was a different story. Finally looking healthy Moore resembled more of his 2008 self catching six passes for 78 yards, including a 12-yard score. With the Saints flying high and Brees getting the ball to everyone, Moore looked very good on Sunday and could be one of those options down the road with a big game here and there. He’s definitely going to figure into the Saints passing attack and if available needs to be on someone’s roster.

With the Panther’s return to doing what they do best, run the ball running back Jonathan Stewart will figure into this equation. Last week against the Buccaneers Stewart saw his fair share of carries with 17. He gained 110 yards on the ground and scored a rushing touchdown. With the inconsistent play from the passing game it's safe to expect the Panthers to run the ball. As long as Carolina is committed to the run, expect Stewart to have good value always with plenty of chances to score. Coming off the injury bug Stewart should be available and would be a good bye week fill-in.

The Raiders have had more than their share of offensive woes in this young season, but just last Sunday there was a ray of some hope. With injuries sidelining Darren McFadden, running back Justin Fargas has had opportunity this season. This past week Fargas earned 23 carries and totaled 98 yards. In one game Fargas doubled his carries for the season and with the Raiders in search of any kind of offense, expect head coach Tom Cable to start with Fargas. The former SC Trojan running back is not going to blow up, but he's a solid runner and a decent fill-in to cover a bye or injury.

When Fred Taylor went down, the Patriots turned to Sammy Morris, now that Morris is down they'll look to running back Laurence Maroney. In his first extended action of the season or the past decade (injured in 2008) or so Maroney jumped all over the chance and made the most of his time in the spotlight. As the team’s featured snowplowing machine this past Sunday Maroney touched the ball 19 times and totaled 133 yards of offense. With numbers like this the Patriots will more than likely stay with the hot hand and keep feeding the horse. With the schedule sitting right in the middle of the byes, Maroney becomes an appealing fill-in option with the Bucs up next.

“Wayne’s Word”

Enough with the running back theme, looking for a hot tip or just some helpful advice, either way Wayne has the latest insight for this week. Another worthy spot where you can find some good help is the tight end position and with this week’s hottest pickup Wayne offers you these words;

Over the past several weeks the Vikings tight end Visanthe Shiancoe has quickly become quarterback Brett Favre’s most reliable target. Shiancoe is not being heavily targeted, but he’s not dropping many of Favre’s rockets. In the past three weeks the tight end has seen 11 passes thrown his direction and he’s managed to snag everyone; more importantly he’s making the most of his opportunities. Shiancoe has four touchdown receptions in his last three games and has five for the season. With Favre spreading the ball so well, expect him to keep looking for Shiancoe in the critical moments and in scoring position. As long as Shiancoe remains a favorite of Favre’s his numbers figure to improve. His fantasy scoring for the past three games is 7-points, 10-points, and 16-points.

Playing the Fantasy GM

Don-Pietro "The GM" Zamboni

Trade’em away or cut your ties
With the season one third of the way in, it’s time to start shaping your team for it’s championship run; and that means time to trim the fat. After six weeks of football we’ve seen plenty to know what needs to be done. You have a few studs that still have some appeal, but it looks like they could be heading for a cooling trend. Before their plate cools off, it’s time to make a move and trade away your stud for some potential upside that could come into play when the stretch run starts.

The GM Game
When the 2009 season opened up running backs Fred Jackson, Willie Parker, and LaDanian Tomlinson had the look of promise, but six weeks later a lot of that has changed. With injuries piling up and bye weeks coming into play a fantasy GM has to get creative to make his team better. These players may offer more value in a trade than in your lineup;

Trimming the fat….

Out of the gate running back Fred Jackson looked like he was going to be a beast in Buffalo, but since the return of Marshawn Lynch to the lineup in week four Jackson has seen his number dip significantly. He’s averaging only 14 touches and 56 yards per game in his last three starts. With the memories of what Jackson did in the first three weeks (291 rushing yards) still somewhat fresh, now is the time to part ways and get good value for him.

Like Jackson, the Steelers running back Willie Parker may offer some value for what he has done (in the past) and not what he is doing. Parker is an explosive runner that has the potential for big games, but playing behind Mendenhall, it may be a while before we see a big game. Your better off dealing him away to an owner that can afford to wait for Fast-Willie to come around. Parker is still not healthy and likely drafted as a mid RB2, you can’t afford to have him just riding your bench and taking a roster spot. He’s not going to give much value injured, but you may still be able to deal him away as insurance for Mendenhall or if the market is dry just cut your losses.

Now Tomlinson is a different story. With L.T. being injured and off to a slow start this season, you have already addressed your needs at running back. His Monday night performance (100 total yards) was not brilliant, but there were a few runs we saw that made you think, if the Chargers had stayed with the ground attack more perhaps he could have had a big night. Signs or not, Tomlinson is still a name and still has a market and will also be worth more to you in a trade, than in your lineup. The Chargers defense is not going to hold many leads and this is River’s team now. The offense will flow through the pass and while L.T. will contribute his value will be limited. Right now would be a great time to make a deal to trade L.T. with a strong game under his belt. Someone will be willing to acquire the former NFL MVP and you should be able to get good value. Make the deal now and fill the holes at other positions in your lineup.

Keep checking back for more football....

By David G. Ortega

FSH: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

October 2nd, 2009 11:30pm PST

David's Daily Digest
[My Take]

More football news and happenings from around the league; here’s the latest I am hearing, reading, and following with my take on things and how they will impact the coming fantasy season……

Player News From Across the Wire...

Bo Scaife, TE, Tennessee Titans
Bo Scaife (knee) is probable for Sunday's game at Jacksonville, according to the Tennessean. He fully practiced Friday.
My Fantasy read on Scaife: Scaife’s return should bolster the passing game over the middle. He’s been out the past couple of games, but now that he’s back he’ll be involved in the passing game almost immediately……

Brandon Stokley, WR, Denver Broncos
Brandon Stokley fully practiced Friday, according to NFL.com.
My Fantasy read on Stokely: The Bronco’s slot receiver has not been consistent in the pass game this season, other than the week one miracle catch he’s been relatively quiet. He looks like he’ll play, but don’t look for much….

Matt Forte, RB, Chicago Bears
Matt Forte fully practiced Friday and is probable for Week 4, according to Brad Biggs' (National Football Post) twitter page.
My Fantasy read on Forte: Forte sounds like a go and is a good start this week against the Lions 16th ranked run defense…..

Marion Barber, RB, Dallas Cowboys
Marion Barber fully practiced for the second straight day Friday, according to NFL.com.
My Fantasy read on Barber: The Cowboys running back practiced and looks ready for Sunday. With a healthy Tashard Choice expect the two backs to share the load against a revamped Bronco defense…..

Todd Heap, TE, Baltimore Ravens
Todd Heap fully practiced for the second straight day Friday, according to the Boston Herald.
My Fantasy read on Heap: The Raven’s tight end has stepped it up this season and could be utilized quite a bit on Sunday. With two early touchdowns this season, he could be a primary option in the redzone this week…..

Laurence Maroney, RB, New England Patriots
Laurence Maroney (thigh) fully practiced on Friday, according to the Boston Herald. He is probable for Week 4.
My Fantasy read on Maroney: Maroney has been non-existent in the Patriot’s running game this season, don’t expect him to suddenly appears against a tough Raven’s defense….

Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots
Tom Brady fully practiced Friday, according to the Boston Herald.
My Fantasy read on Brady: Expect to see a healthy Brady on Sunday, but going up against a tough Raven’s defense points could be hard to find. The Pat’s offense will throw a lot of wrinkle and move the ball in the air, but reaching paydirt may be at a premium Sunday…..

Derrick Mason, WR, Baltimore Ravens
Derrick Mason has been added to the Week 4 injury report, according to the Boston Herald. He is listed as questionable with an illness.
My Fantasy read on Mason: Mason is under the weather, but we would expect him to be on the field Sunday. Check his status at game-time, if he plays he is still steady-Freddy in the Raven’s passing attack….

Wes Welker, WR, New England Patriots
Wes Welker is questionable for Week 4 while still recovering from his knee injury, according to the Boston Herald.
My Fantasy read on Welker: The news coming out of Boston has not been good; Welker sounds like a risky play not only for this week, but going forward. He’s likely a game-time on Sunday, but if he sits monitor his status going forward, this could become problematic….

Lance Moore, WR, New Orleans Saints
Lance Moore (hamstring) is probable for Week 4 against the Jets, according to NFL.com.
My Fantasy read on Moore: With so many weapons in the arsenal, Moore may have lost his place in the rotation. He’s been banged up and has missed time, so if he plays it’s unlikely to expect anything great right away…..

Matt Hasselbeck, QB, Seattle Seahawks
Seahawks' beat writer Danny O'Neil is reporting on Twitter that quarterback Matt Hasselbeck will travel with the team to Indianapolis this weekend. Hasselbeck is not expected to play, however.
My Fantasy read on Hasselbeck: It looks like it will be Wallace again this week as Hasselbeck inches his way back to health. As long as Hasselbeck has his injury history and a shaky offensive line, he’ll remain a risky play once he returns…..

Randy Moss, WR, New England Patriots
Ravens' insider Jamison Hensley is reporting on Twitter that Patriots' wide receiver Randy Moss has been removed from the team's injury report. Moss will play in the game against the Ravens this weekend.
My Fantasy read on Moss: Moss is always a must-start and in particular this season with he and Brady clicking. With Welker banged up Moss is also being heavily used in the short passing attack…

LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, San Diego Chargers
LaDainian Tomlinson is being listed as probable for Sunday, according to the Twitter page of beat writer Casey Pearce. LT hasn't played since Week 1 with his ankle injury.
My Fantasy read on Tomlinson: When healthy LT is normally a good start, but coming off an ankle injury and facing a tough Steeler’s ground attack, fantasy owners would be wise to look to better options…..

Clinton Portis, RB, Washington Redskins
The Washington Post is reporting that Redskins' running back Clinton Portis is being listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Bucs. Coach Jim Zorn said that there is a fifty-fifty chance that Portis will play.
My Fantasy read on Portis: The Redskins running back is a must start if he plays against a weak Buccaneer defense, but owners will have to wait until Sunday….

Kevin Smith, RB, Detroit Lions
Updating a previous report, Lions' running back Kevin Smith told the Detroit Free Press that he will play on Sunday. "It's football, so I'm sure I'll have to endure some pain, but it's good enough to go. I feel healthy enough to play at a high level," Smith said.
My Fantasy read on Smith: It sounds like Smith is confident to go, but we’ll still have to wait for the coaches decision on Sunday. There’s no doubt this will be a game-time call…..

Domenik Hixon, WR, New York Giants
Domenik Hixon has been ruled out of Sunday's game, according to the Twitter page of Giants' beat writer Ralph Vacchiano. Hixon is still dealing with a knee injury.
My Fantasy read on Hixon: The Giant’s receiver has fallen down the depth charts, even when he returns he'll offer very little fantasy value.....

Jamal Lewis, RB, Cleveland Browns
According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Browns' running back Jamal Lewis was idle again on Friday. Lewis is unlikely to play in the team's Week 4 game this weekend.
My Fantasy read on Lewis: With the Browns running back definitely looking like he’ll miss Jerome Harrison is the favorite to start. The Bengals have a decent run defense this season, so Harrison is only a consideration in the deepest of leagues….

Kyle Boller, QB, St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch is reporting that Kyle Boller will start at quarterback for the Rams on Sunday against the 49ers. Boller has practiced with the first-team all week while Marc Bulger deals with his shoulder injury.
My Fantasy read on Boller: Bulger is out and Boller is in this week. With a shaky O-line the move could actually be a blessing in disguise with a more mobile Boller. The Rams backup will have a tough matchup on Sunday against a Niner’s defense that can bring pressure on the edges. He’s bettor off staying on your bench this week….

Brandon Jacobs, RB, New York Giants
According to the New York Daily News, Giants running back Brandon Jacobs told ESPN Radio in New York on Friday that he would retire after this season if his numbers don't improve this season he will retire. Jacobs is averaging only 3.4 yards per carry after three games.
My Fantasy read on Jacobs: The Giant’s starter is in line for a big day on Sunday against a week Chiefs run defense. With Bradshaw ailing, Jacobs could see a heavier load…..

Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, New York Giants
Ahmad Bradshaw returned to the practice field on Friday, according to the Twitter page of the Newark Star-Ledger's Mike Garafolo. Bradshaw is expected to play Sunday after missing practice early in the week with an ankle injury.
My Fantasy read on Bradshaw: Coming off an ankle injury and missing practice, he’s likely to be limited on Sunday. In week 3 Bradshaw carried the ball 14 times, but he probably won’t see the same workload this week…..

Dwayne Bowe, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
Kent Babb of the Kansas City Star is reporting that Chiefs' receiver Dwayne Bowe took some reps with the first team on Friday. Bowe is expected to play after missing the team's Week 3 game with a hamstring injury.
My Fantasy read on Bowe: It sounds like Bowe will give it a go, but you have wonder if he’ll be limited or how effective he will be. There’s no question he’s the Chiefs best pass receiving target, so if he plays he’ll definitely see some looks…..

Willie Parker, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, running back Willie Parker sat out Friday's practice with his toe injury. Parker has missed all three team practices this week, and it doesn't appear he will play this weekend.
My Fantasy read on Parker: With Parker likely to miss MeWelde Moore looks like the favorite to see the brunt of the work Sunday night against the Chargers….

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

FSH: SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL NOTES

June 28th, 2009 9:37pm PST


Sunday Night Football Notes

Can Brees repeat in 2009?

There is no question the 2008 season was a pretty spectacular and special season for the Saints quarterback Drew Brees. His 5,069-yards passing weren’t quite record setting, but his performance was quite memorable, especially for fantasy owners.

Brees put the ball up 635 times last season completing 65% of those throws. His 5,000-yard passing season was the second highest in league history and his 34 touchdown passes were an added bonus for fantasy owners.

Incredibly, Brees was able to pull off this spectacular run without his favorite target Marques Colston (only started six games in 2008) for much of the season. What made Brees so effective was the emergence of his most consistent target last year, wide receiver Lance Moore. Moore was clearly the team’s go-to-receiver for much of the season, catching 79 passes for nearly 1,000-yards with 10 touchdowns.

Last season Brees was handicapped without Colston for a better part of the season and he lost running back Reggie Bush for six games. Despite the setbacks, the Saints offense operated at the highest level, ranking at the top in passing, scoring, and total yards. Brees was able to top 300-yards 10 times and threw three or more touchdowns six times.

With the 2009 approaching, the Saints offense looks to be in much better shape heading into training camp. With a healthy pair of receivers (Colston and Moore) and a backfield that will include Bush (884-total yards in 08) and Pierre Thomas (9 rushing touchdowns last season), Brees could be poised to have another big year.

Last season a banged up Shockey opened the door for back-up Billy Miller (45 catches in 2008) giving the Saints some versatility to run more two-tight end sets. Out of the backfield, both Bush and Thomas combined for 83 receptions for 724-yards. Most likely the biggest difference heading into 2009 for Brees will be a healthy Colston heading into camp joined by Moore, and deep threat specialist Devery Henderson (32 catches, 24.8-yards per catch in 08).

Brees is going to once again have a full arsenal of versatile weapons to throw at opposing defenses and could very easily be set to make a run into the history books. He’ll have his top seven receivers from the 2008 campaign returning and with the same system and personnel, this group should only be better.

It’s hard to imagine being good enough to pass for over 5,000-yards, complete 65% of your passes (413 of 635) and throw over 30-touchdowns, but could you imagine being better. There are definite signs and indicators that Brees could not only be this good again, but he should be even better in 2009.

Fantasy owners will undoubtedly make the Saints quarterback a top priority in fantasy drafts later this summer. With his pedigree, there is an argument for Brees to be the number one fantasy pick in most 2009 fantasy leagues.


By David Ortega

Check out more “Sunday Night Football Notes” every week!