FSH NOTEBOOK: SFFL WEEK 10

Saturday Edition
November 10th, 2012  

Suicide Fantasy Football

Week 10

After a big week in fantasy last Sunday, my week 9 lineup did some big damage and moved me back inside the top 20. My team finished the week with 131 points led by a couple of fantastic fantasy performances. 

The Lions running back Mikel Leshoure posted 25 fantasy points behind a three touchdown effort last week. The Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall was also huge with three scores, adding 9 grabs for 122 yards receiving on his way to 39 fantasy points. These were the anchors of my huge week 9 run.

With my team on the move, there’s no time to let up!

My Line-up 

Quarterback:
It’s not exactly what you would call an ideal matchup for Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, but he’s had a hot hand of late and playing in dome this week he may as well be at home. Stafford has been throwing up some nice fantasy numbers over the last couple of weeks and he looks to be in a groove. Inside a dome this Sunday, I like him to have a big game.

Running Backs:
I am already down a running back this week with Rashad Jennings starting on Thursday, and he did not play very well. I liked his matchup at home against a Colts team not historically a good run defensive team, but Thursday night they kept Jennings under wraps.

My other ball carrier this week is Frank Gore. The Niners ball of thunder will face the Rams 13th ranked run defense this week. Yards are going to be tough this week, but at home I like Gore’s chances of punching a couple in this week against his divisional rival. While the Rams do a decent job of slowing the ground game, they have allowed 8 rushing touchdowns this season.

Wide Receivers:
My good hands folks for this week are the Chargers wide receiver Malcom Floyd and the Dolphins wide receiver Brian Hartline. 

Starting with Floyd, he’s facing the Bucs secondary that is ranked last in the league versus the pass. The Bucs allow well over 300 yards in the air this season and have surrendered 13 touchdowns. The Buccaneers are also allowing the 3rd most fantasy points to wide receivers.

On the other side, Hartline has a little more challenging matchup facing the Titans 27th ranked pass defense; just a little. Hartline has been the Dolphins best receiver this season (41 receptions, 662 yards receiving) and quarterback Ryan Tannehill’s go-to-guy. Facing the Titans this week could be Hartline’s ticket to a return trip to the end zone. Hartline has only one touchdown this season and that came back in week 4. The Titans secondary has allowed 20 touchdowns this season and give up the 11th most fantasy points to wide receivers.

Tight End:
Quite simply the Patriots surrender the 5th most fantasy points to tight ends and the Bills tight end Scott Chandler has been one of quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick’s best scoring threats with 4 touchdowns this season. Back in week 4 against the Patriots, Chandler recorded 4 catches for 62 yards and scored twice. He’s a good be to at least cash one catch in for six this Sunday.

Place Kicker:
The Seahawks should have an easy time moving the ball down the field against the Jets, but could sputter in the red zone with a shaky passing game. Place kicker Steven Hauschka could see lots of opportunities at some short kicks this week.

Team Defense:
I am just playing the numbers here. The Titans offense gives up the 5th most fantasy points to opposing defenses and with their week-10 matchup on the road, I like the Dolphins defense. Cameron Wake and company should be all over quarterback Jake Locker this week and could get a few sacks and possibly cause a few turnovers.


These are my picks for week 10.


By David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: THE FANTASY SPORTS ZONE (THE FOUR HORSEMEN)

December 25th, 2010 Saturday

The Four Horsemen

Let’em Ride

Last week we had a few horsemen riding high through the stomping grounds. Our quarterback Jon Kitna did not disappoint with a big passing day over 300 yards and two touchdowns. Another rider with a big game in week 15 was running back Jonathan Stewart who totaled 137 yards on the ground, but did not find the end-zone. Unlike Stewart our wide receiver Mike Williams did find the end-zone along with six catches for 96 yards; a good day. Only our tight end (Owen Daniels) was M.I.A. in week 15 with just four catches for 45 yards.

This week our horsemen will be riding for gold with many fantasy championships on the line and like “the four winds of the earth” these fantasy play-makers are looking to ride strong bring home a fantasy title for some lucky owner…..

Quarterback:
The San Diego Chargers are still hanging on to playoff hopes by a wing and a prayer and with two games left in the season, they can’t afford any let downs. With his tight end out and wide receiver Malcom Floyd probably out, quarterback Philip Rivers (29 touchdowns, 4,141 yards passing) will need to be at his best. And he just may against the Bengals 18th ranked pass defense. Even with a couple of his weapons missing Rivers and company will give the Bengals’ defense plenty of fits downfield. The Bengals have allowed 20 passing touchdowns and 10 pass plays of 40 yards or more this season. With just 22 sacks this season, if they aren’t able to get any pressure to Rivers he could have a monster day.
(My Prediction: 26 of 40 passing, 335 yards, three touchdowns)

Running Back:
With the 31st ranked run defense (Denver Broncos) next on the slate for Texan’s running back Arian Foster (13 rushing touchdowns), he looks like a shoe-in for a solid game now that he has returned to full-practice this week. Foster was dinged up pretty good a week ago against the Titans missing the last 10 minutes of the game. Foster has been a consistent fantasy point scorer in the Texans’ backfield and the Broncos defense has done nothing but surrender yards and scores this season; allow nearly 160 yards per game and have surrendered 22 rushing touchdowns. Foster is leading the NFL in rushing and figures to extend his lead on Sunday.
(My Prediction: 18 carries, 115 yards rushing, 4 receptions, 35 yards receiving, one touchdown)

Wide Receiver:
With so much on the line Monday night, it would be hard to imagine Saints quarterback Drew Brees not looking for his best weapon; wide receiver Marques Colston. The Falcons have been very good at home, but there defense has been suspect ranked 21st against the pass. In their last three home games the Faclons secondary has allowed an average of 250 yards passing and they have surrendred six passing touchdowns. Colston (82 rec, 1,002 yards, 7 Tds) has been steady all season and over his past three road games he has been targeted 24 times grabbed 15 passes for 251 yards with a score. It’s almost a certainty Brees will be looking his way often Monday night.
(My Prediction: 8 receptions, 95 yards, one touchdown)

Tight End:
Last week against the Redskins secondary tight end Jason Witten was huge catching 10 passes for 140 yards and a score. This week Jaguars tightend Marcedes Lewis will get his shot at the Redskins “iffy” defense ranked 30th in the league. Lewis has quietly become a scoring machine in the Jags passing game this season with nine receiving touchdowns. Lewis doesn’t seen many balls in his direction (averages five targets per game), but he makes the most of his opportunities. This week against the Redskins he could see plenty of chances.
(My Prediction: 5 receptions, 55 yards, one touchdown)

FSH: THE FANTASY SPORTS ZONE (DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH)

November 6th, 2009 10:37pm PST

The Fantasy Sports Zone

“Diamonds in the Rough”

(Fantasy Sleepers)

As the fantasy season inches closer to the post season there seems to be little time for fantasy owners to rest. With the bye weeks near complete, there a still plenty of piles of coal to sift through for your shiny jewel. Week 9 offers a few interesting plays that could come up quite beneficial for those owners looking to catch some lightning in a bottle.

This week’s gems…

In San Diego…..

The Chargers offense will visit the Meadowlands on Sunday and while the environment may not be the most inviting, don’t expect that to deter Rivers and company from doing what they do best. San Diego has the 4th ranked passing offense and Philip Rivers leads the way with 11 touchdown passes and 2,036 yards passing. With a lot of attention likely to be paid to Jackson and Gates, Sunday could be a great opportunity for the team’s newest starting receiver Malcom Floyd to break out. The Giants will again be without cornerback Aaron Ross and Floyd with only 11 catches this season does have a hefty 23-yards per catch average.

In Green Bay……
The Packers have a great matchup on Sunday against the lowly and winless Buccaneers. With a patented passing attack that includes Jennings and Driver, the Bucs just don’t have the depth to match up with the Packers fire power. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers will likely have his pick all day and more than likely he’ll be looking for the weakest link which could get matched up with wide receiver James Jones often. The Packers number three receiver has yet to have a big day this season, but Sunday could be his day. With only seven catches this season, Jones is averaging nearly 23 yards and has two touchdowns. He’s a good bet to improve those numbers.

In New York……

With the Charger’s 27th ranked run defense in town on Sunday, back up running back Ahmad Bradshaw could see some extended and effective work. This season Bradshaw has only carried the ball 89 times, but he has scampered his way to 476 yards and scored four times. The Chargers defense is surrendering 132 yards per game and over four yards a carry. Bradshaw has been bottled up the past couple of weeks, but could catch a break this weekend get loose.

Worth keeping your eye on for now….

When the Chargers released wide receiver Chris Chambers earlier in the week it did not take long a team to claim him off waivers. Don’t think the Chiefs brought Chambers just to take up space; he’s going to be utilized right away. With an outstanding receiver already lining up on the other side in Dwayne Bowe, the team needs a reliable number two receiver to open things up. There is no question that Bowe is going to command a lot of respect on Sunday from a suspect Jaguar secondary, so fantasy owners should expect to see a lot of action go Chamber’s way. The new Chief has not been fantasy relevant since 2007, but Sunday we could see his re-emergence. He’s one worth keeping your eye on.

Remember to check back for more "Diamonds in the Rough!"

FSH: THE FANTASY SPORTS ZONE (DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH)

October 29th, 2009 10:37pm PST

The Fantasy Sports Zone

“Diamonds in the Rough”

(Fantasy Sleepers)

Players you should watch and perhaps a few you should play this week!

It always seems when all hope appears lost, the glass is half full. The free agent pool continues to thin out and now owners have to stop looking around and just take a look at what’s in front of them. There are always some players that look attractive to start, but after their sizzle fades they can often get lost on your bench.

Week 8 presents some favorable matchups for players that are likely languishing on fantasy rosters and benches. And while it’s always darkest before the dawn, for some of these sleepers, the sun could be shinning bright come game day. With our seventh week of action in the books and more to come this Sunday, here are a few gems that could shine like diamonds in the sky.

This week’s gems…

In Chicago…..

Who says Jay Cutler doesn’t have anyone to throw to? Well there may be some truth in that Cutler lacks a true number one receiver, but coming off a big game against the Bengals last week wide receiver Devin Hester will have a great chance to do it again. With the Bears hosting the awful Browns (ranked 24th against the pass) this week Hester should see lots of beatable coverage and have a couple of chances to break free deep. He’s not a legit number one, but he’ll be a great number three receiver in fantasy this week.

In San Diego……

When the Chargers play host to the Raiders this Sunday, there’s little doubt that their key will be there passing attack and no one has to remind cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. And while Asomugha will have much of his focus on Sunday directed toward the Chargers Vincent Jackson, owners that don’t have a lot of great options at their number three slot should consider receiver Malcom Floyd. The Chargers receiver could be seeing some extended time on the field this Sunday and his 6’5’ frame should look very inviting to Philip Rivers, especially downfield. Floyd does not have big numbers this season with just nine catches and one touchdown, but he is averaging almost 21 yards per grab and his eight targets in his last two games could be a sign of better things to come.

In Detroit……

It’s not often that the Lions offense sees a good matchup on it’s schedule, but this Sunday they’ll host the Rams and running back Kevin Smith should benefit greatly. The Rams defense is ranked 27th against the run and opposing running backs are averaging nearly six yards per carry. Smith has been pretty much bottled up on the ground this season with a rookie quarterback, but could be looking at a big game on Sunday. With 20 receptions, Smith is the team’s second leading receiver so expect to see him grab a couple out of the backfield and improve upon his 149 receiving yards. This week Smith should be a solid RB2 and might have a little more value in PPR leagues.

In Cleveland……

Like the Lions, the Browns don’t see many matchups they like, but if you are a Jamal Lewis owner you had to love what you saw last week. In week 7 against the Bengals, the Bears run defense was completely shredded for over 200-yards on the ground allowing nearly five yards a pop. Lewis has yet to get out of the gate this season with only 280 yards rushing in five games this season. As long as the Browns don’t fall behind big early Lewis should have a shot at 20-plus carries on Sunday, despite his paltry yards-per-carry average. Against a thin Bears defense that is battered by injuries the Brown’s runner should be a low RB2 this week and is worth a starting.

Worth keeping your eye on for now….

By this time of the season and coming off one of his worst games this season, it may seem like a stretch, but on Sunday keep your eye on Terrell Owens. There’s no doubt these days the only place you will find him is on fantasy roster benches. Over the past several weeks, T.O. has just not had good numbers and his three catches for 13 yards were as bad as the week he didn’t have a catch. We know he looks about as good as a train wreck, but keep your eye on Owens this Sunday against the Texans. Over the past two weeks Fitzpatrick has been trying to get the ball to his big not-so-sure handed receiver with 18 total targets. The Texans have a soft middle and it could be just a matter of time for T.O. and his quarterback to get in sync.


Remember to check back for more "Diamonds in the Rough!"

FSH: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

May 15th, 2009 10:30pm PST

David's Daily Digest
[My Take]

The weekend is here and just when you thought things might slow down, don’t count on it. Many NFL teams are in the midst of more OTAs and with some players not showing others may find opportunity. Still there are many that are participating and with those that play, there is much to talk about, scrutinize, predict, and of course offer my take….

My Take...

RB CHRIS JOHNSON COULD BE POISED FOR BIG 2009
My Fantasy Read: Last season the fastest rookie in the 2008 NFL draft didn’t waste time proving his worth rushing for over 1,000 yards in his first year. Johnson split carries with Lendale White last season, but with the possibility of carrying a heavier load in 2009, the former runner out of East Carolina could be poised for a big season and will likely be a top tier RB option in most drafts.

WR MALCOM FLOYD SIGNS TENDER WILL JOIN TEAM
My Fantasy Read: It looks like the Charger’s number three receiver wised up and realized he wasn’t getting paid to sit. Floyd will join the team at their next OTAs. Floyd didn’t win any favor with his late arrival, but he’s far too talented to be overshadowed by Jackson and a declining Chambers. As long as he is healthy, he’ll figure prominently in the Chargers passing attack in 2009, especially in the second half of the season.

QB JEFF GARCIA READY TO COMPETE FOR STARTING GIG
My Fantasy Read: When Garcia was signed it was with the understanding that he would back up Russell. Now we’re hearing Jeff wants to not only play, but have a chance to start. This is all very well, because regardless of whom starts, this offense will likely struggle just the same. Garcia is 39 and does not have the arm strength suited for the type of speed the Raiders have. If he makes it back on the field, he’ll be a suitable bye week replacement at best.

RB RAY RICE HANDLING REPS WITH FIRST TEAM
My Fantasy Read: With McGahee on the sidelines Rice is handling all of the first team work in the team’s minicamp. With McGahee’s past history with the team Rice will more than likely have another shot at holding the top spot. With McClain now leading the way Rice figures to be the teams best fantasy prospect out of the backfield in 2009.

QB BRADY QUINN WAS CONSIDERED IN TRADE TALKS
My Fantasy Read: It’s funny how quickly things change. Last season starting quarterback Derek Anderson lost his charm with Cleveland fans and they ushered in the Era of Brady. Now just over four months later and he could be shown the back door. Brady will have a very tough time winning the starting gig this offseason for the mere fact the team has a lot of money tied to Anderson. Fantasy owners will have to be cautious with either of these quarterbacks.

WR DEION BRANCH TOPIC OF TRADE IN NORTHWEST
My Fantasy Read: This is not good news for Branch as he has yet to live up to expectations since his arrival. But with a healthy hasselbeck back in the saddle and great help on the other side (T.J.), Branch could be due to have a bounce back year. He’ll play second fiddle to Housh, but in the west coast system Branch could still be a productive fantasy receiver (as long as he’s in Seattle).


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