FSH NOTEBOOK: SFFL WEEK 7

Sunday Edition
October 21st, 2012  

Suicide Fantasy Football

Week 7

My Line-up

Once again I am engaged in a handful of SFFL leagues and I can tell you, just like last year it is as tough as ever. Fortunately for me this season I enjoying a bit of good fortune with my best team averaging nearly 117 points per week.

Just to recap how it works, you submit a weekly lineup of 8 positions; QB, RB, RB, WR, WR, TE, PK,and DEF. Once you select a player, you may not use that player again for the remainder of the season. It’s an elimination selection process, so you have to really read your matchups and use your selections wisely.

This season I am doing well, currently positioned in 15th place in a league of approximately 130 active players. With that said, let’s take a look at week 7;

Quarterback:
This week I am rolling with little brother Eli Manning. The kid has been big at times, but usually steady. This week taking on the Redskins worst ranked pass defense looks too appetizing to pass on and add the improving health of wide receiver Hakeem Nicks; this could be a big Sunday.

Running Back:
Darren McFadden is coming off his busiest Sunday this season; 30 touches last week against the Falcons. While he was busy he was not as productive as fantasy owners would hope totaling just 98 yards, but adding a score and three grabs. This week Run-DMC meets the Jaguars shaky run defense making this the week owners could cash in on the high pick they used to draft McFadden.

Running Back:
I am not really looking for a huge game from running back Fred Jackson, but in an elimination game you have to find those matchups where your pick can produce. Jackson is facing a very spotty Titans defense. Even in spit-duty this is a good matchup for Jackson, so I like him to be productive totaling close to 100 yards, adding some grabs and finding the end-zone.

Wide Receiver:
The Tennessee Titans offense has a pretty good matchup this week facing the Buffalo Bills and wide receiver Kenny Britt should be ready to emerge as the team’s leading receiver. He is coming off a season high 11 targets and could see just as many today. The Bills have allowed 13 passing touchdowns this season and will likely allow a couple of more; Britt is a good candidate to be on the receiving end of one of those.

Wide Receiver:
The Buccaneers are not known as an offensive juggernaut, but when you face the New Orleans Saints, points and productive are at a premium. Quarterback Josh Freeman and wide receiver Vincent Jackson have been in a groove as of late; in their last two games Jackson has 10 receptions for 166 yards and three scores. They be hooking up early and often on Sunday if they hope to keep up with the Saints.

Tight End:
The Titans will not only be looking for Britt on Sunday, but I expect to see quarterback Matt Hasselbeck looking for his tightend Jared Cook quite a bit. Cook is an enormous and athletic target and could be a huge factor today, if this matchup with the Bills turns into a drag race.

Place Kicker:
It’s usually a coin toss when I am picking a kicker; it’s always tough to guess what teams will struggle in the red-zone and kick field goals. I like the Colts today at home today and one of the reasons is I believe the Browns could struggle at times to punch it into the end-zone. My pick here is kicker Phil Dawson.

Team Defense:
The Packers offense was firing on all cylinders a week ago and I believe they will come out in week 7 and do the same. When the Packers are up, their defense thrives; this could be along day for quarterback Sam Bradford and company.

These are my picks for week 7.


By David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: FANTASY FIVE

Saturday Edition
October 20th, 2012  

FSH Fantasy Five

Week 7 Fantasy Picks (all positions)

This week presents significant challenges for fantasy owners with six teams on the sidelines, but even with so many studs taking the day off there will plenty of stars shinning on Sunday. As I am looking over this week’s matchups I am seeing quite a few names jump out at me that I think are solid plays for week 7. Here are just five of my favorites for Sunday;

Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB
The Bills offense has sputtered at times this season, but even with some rough outings this season quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has managed to outperform (in the fantasy world) some names like Stafford, Rivers, and Schaub. With a very favorable matchup this Sunday facing the leagues 29th ranked pass defense (Tennessee), Fitzpatrick should be able to take advantage of a defense allowing nearly 72% passes completed and 292 yards passing per game. The Titans secondary has also given up 13 passing touchdowns this season; Fitz and the Bills should have little trouble cashing in. I like Fitzpatrick as a high end QB2 and worthy of a start in deeper leagues.

Kenny Britt, WR
In the same game the Titans offense is looking at similar possibilities for success. Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck will be making his third start this Sunday and facing the Bills 20th ranked pass defense (13 passing touchdowns allowed and 255 yards passing per game), I like his go-to receiver Kenny Britt to finally step up in 2012. Last week versus the Steelers Britt finally found the end-zone and he was heavily targeted; 11 targets last week. I expect to see Hasselbeck continue to look his often was this week leading to some nice fantasy numbers. We could see a lot of grabs, not necessarily big yardage, but he could make a trip to the end zone making him a strong flex of low end WR2 this Sunday.

Josh Freeman, QB
The Buccaneers passing offense has been breathing a little life the past couple of weeks with quarterback Josh Freeman averaging 313 yards in the air with three scores in the team’s past two games. This Sunday the Bucs play host to the New Orleans Saints and the offense may once again have to lean on Freeman and his arm. The Saints offense puts up a lot of points per game and fortunately for Freeman and the Bucs offense the Saints defense gives up a lot of yards (283 yards passing/game) and points (30.8 points allowed per game). This matchup is shaping up to be a big day of passing for Freeman and with his new found toy (Vincent Jackson; three touchdowns in last two games) he could also score a couple of TDs. Freeman looks to be a nice bye-week fill.

Hakeem Nicks, WR
It seems the Giant’s playmaking wide receiver Hakeem Nicks is getting healthier managing a full week of practice. This is good news for the Giants offense and even better for fantasy owners. There’s no question that wideout Victor Cruz has blossomed into one of Eli Manning’s main go-to receivers, so defenses will have to be sure to account for him. This should open some opportunities for Nicks on Sunday facing the Redskins 32 ranked pass defense. When Nicks is healthy he is more than just dangerous, but add a suspect secondary that allows over 325 yards passing per game and has surrendered 15 passing touchdowns this season and he is a must-start (twice on Sunday).

Donnie Avery, WR
In Indianapolis Reggie Wayne is quarterback Andrew Luck’s main go-to guy tied for the NFL lead with 70 targets this season, but wide receiver Donnie Avery is no forgotten man on the other side. Avery is far and away second on the team with 47 (9.4 targets per game). On Sunday the Colts play host to the Browns and it’s highly likely that Wayne will draw a lot of attention from the Browns top corner Joe Haden. Avery should see plenty of favorable matchups and with Luck not shy about looking his way; this could be a breakout Sunday for the Colts number two receiver. Avery should be played as a strong flex or a WR2 bye week filler.

By David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: WATERCOOLER CHAT

Wednesday Edition

October 17th, 2012  

Watercooler Chat

“Just Talking Fantasy”

This Weeks Trend-setters

These fantasy contenders or pretenders are just a few names of those that seem to be catching on at the moment, or could be on the verge of breaking out very soon. With week 7 heavily filled with bye teams, these are some of the names that are currently trending on the gridiron; 

Donnie Avery, IND: the Colts wideout has not been much of an impact through the first six weeks, but he is steadily in quarterback Andrew Lucks sight every week. Avery is second on the team with 47 targets this season, including 20 in the teams past two games; it’s just a matter of time before he and Luck start to hook-up.

Dez Bryant, DAL: the Cowboys playmaker has been coming up big of late with 21 catches for 200 yards and two touchdowns in his past two starts. He leads the team with 28 targets over the past two games and figures to continue to be the team’s main go-to receiver. With the Panthers 19th ranked pass defense on the slate for Sunday, Bryant looks positioned to continue to be a fantasy trend-setter.

Kenny Britt, TEN: the Titan’s playmaker is gradually working his way back into the picture. Last week against the Steelers Britt found the end-zone for the first time this season. His 11 targets were also a team high. With the veteran quarterback Matt Hasselbeck under center once again this Sunday, expect these two to continue to work out the kinks and get back on the same page.

Vincent Jackson, TB: the Buccaneers passing game has slowly been coming out of its’ slumber and last Sunday Vincent Jackson was a major contributor grabbing four passes for 66 yards, including two for scores. V-Jax led the team with 8 targets in their blowout win over KC and he also leads the team this season with 46. He’s been on a roll with 10 grabs for over 160 yards and three scores in his last two starts and with the Saints 26th ranked pass defense up next for the Bucs, Jackson looks primed to continue this trend. 

By David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: THURSDAY'S TAKES

Thursday Edition

October 11th, 2012 

Thursdays Take

Starts

There’s little reason to buy into this logic considering what we have seen from Chris Johnson thus far this season, but if there were any better time to start the Titan’s running back tonight could be that time. The Steelers run defense has been far from formidable this season, even with seeing the leagues’ 8^th fewest attempts per game. The Steelers allow more than 4 yards per carry and with a couple of big holes in the D due to injury (Polamalu, Woodley OUT) Johnson could find some running room. I wouldn’t expect a big effort tonight, but we could see one of his better efforts of the young season; 80 plus yards with a score.

The word out of the Titan’s camp after last week’s disappointing loss to the Vikings was to try and get the ball more to their tight end Jared Cook. Against the Vikings, Cook was often roaming the secondary wide open, but a rusty Hasselbeck neglected to look his direction. We’re expecting that to change and Cook is a very capable receiving option in the passing game.

The Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall returned to action last week with a strong 2012 debut (101 total yards and a touchdown) and fantasy owners could not ask for a better second game matchup than the Titans. Mendenhall will square off against the leagues 28^th ranked run defense (144 yards/game) that has allowed 6 rushing touchdowns in five games. Even if Mendenhall splits time in the backfield, expect a very productive showing.

Big Ben is coming off a quiet week five performance against a stout Eagles defense, but this Thursday he faces a less than stellar secondary in the Titan’s 25^th ranked pass defense. Big Ben will line up under center and face a defense that has allowed 12 passing touchdowns and 279 yards per game in the air. The Titans struggle to bring pressure, if you give Big Ben time he can do a lot of damage; expect to see Roethlisberger looking downfield often.

Sits

Matt Hasselbeck will get the start tonight, but he’s got a monumental task in front of him facing the leagues 3^rd rank pass defense. Hasselbeck is not the same passer of old as his 3-touchdowns-to-3-interceptions and 73.6 passer rating would indicate. While the Steelers have been able to limit their opponents to less than 200 yards per game, they will need to improve their 8-1, touchdown-interception ratio; tonight is a good place to start.

I can’t imagine anyone starting the Titan’s defense in any week and tonight’s matchup is no exception. The Steelers will use the ground game to open up the pass and with plenty of weapons with the likes of Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown, this could be a big night for the Pennsylvania faithful.

By David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: WATERCOOLER CHAT

September 28th, 2011, Wednesday

Watercooler Chat

Waiver Wire

The wide receiver position in fantasy leagues does not appear to be exceptionally deep this season, so if you are in search of help you may have to look high and low. Normally when looking high you might find depth with teams like the Saints and Patriots, but with both turning to their tight ends more in 2011, searching low may be the way to go.

One of the low places to look could be in Seattle where the Seahawks saw the return of their premiere wide out Sidney Rice. There is some concern at the quarterback position for fantasy owners with (Tarvaris) Jackson under center, but in Rice’s first game back he was targeted 10 times and caught eight passes for over 100 yards. Remember Jackson and Rice have some familiarity playing together in Minnesota and tat already appears to be apparent with two connecting often on Sunday. Rice may struggle to turn in those big games from week to week, but he looks to be a safe WR3 or flex with plenty of upside.

Another struggling passing game where owners may find some light could be in Minnesota with wide receiver Michael Jenkins. The former Falcon was never the go-to receiver, but he is showing lots of potential with the Vikings and is quickly becoming (Donovan) McNabb’s favorite target (17 targets this season ties for team lead). Surprisingly Jenkins is showing sure hands this season nabbing 15 of those targets and with his great speed he has big play capability. He’s a fantasy diamond in the rough, but if you are desperate for help he’s a low risk, high reward as a WR3 or flex play.

“Take of the Week”

There’s no question that if he’s available on the waiver wire, one of this weeks’ best take (out) is Packers running back James Starks. After a disappointing performance last Sunday against the Bears, Starks could be in line for a prime start against the Bronco’s shaky defense. The latest news reports are indicating running back Ryan Grant (bruised kidney) could miss week 4, if he misses that could open the door to a big game for Starks.


Watch List

With the loss of stud receiver Kenny Britt, the Titans have a big void to fill in their passing attack. This week the time inked a deal with former Rams receiver Donnie Avery. Now I am not saying Avery is the answer and will fill that void, but if Avery is healed from his past knee injuries, once he returns to football shape he could give the Titan’s their big-playmaker and deep threat they lost with Britt’s injury. And with a savvy veteran like (Matt) Hasselbeck under center, Avery’s fantasy status could also benefit.

Time for the ”dump”

The Raiders are playing good football at the moment, showing lots of balance with a strong ground game and steady passing attack. With all that is going well in Oakland, there seems to be a missing component or contributor to the success; wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey. DHB has hardly been in the mix and even with all the great speed he possesses, he just can’t seem to get out of the starting gate. In three weeks DHB has only caught five passes and was only targeted three times last Sunday (finished with one catch). As the Raiders continue to roll and get better, the more likely it appears DHB will be left behind. If you invested any confidence in Heyward-Bey this summer, now may be the time to part ways and look elsewhere for help at receiver.

Just My take.

By David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: THE MORNING HUDDLE

September 22nd, 2011 Thursday

The Morning Huddle

Thursday Edition

As the 2011 fantasy season continues to pick up speed and grow momentum, we are quickly seeing that this year is truly becoming the “year of the quarterback.” Over the first two weeks of this young season we have seen the most passing yards in one week this league has ever seen; and we have now seen it twice in consecutive weeks.

What to make of it, the obvious is the new league rules or modified rules implemented to protect the quarterbacks and defenseless receivers would seem to favor the offense greatly. If this is the case, get ready for more explosive offense coming your way in the coming weeks, but before we start to look too far ahead, we should at least recognize what we have already seen;


Breaking Down the QB’s

If you thought the Panthers rookie quarterback Cam Newton was solid in week one, how about his week two encore with over 400 yards passing and two more touchdowns (one passing, one rushing). Newton is quickly becoming a mainstay in fantasy lineups; it may be something some owners may want to hold off on for the moment, but with over 800 yards passing, over 70 yards rushing, and five total touchdowns, how much longer can you keep him on your bench?

There’s little doubt that the Bills gun slinging quarterback Ryan Ritzpatrick was not drafted as your starter, but after seven passing touchdowns (tied for NFL league) in the first two games this season, it is becoming difficult to keep him on your bench. One of the Fitzpatrick’s more impressive stats is his 5 for 5 scoring drives in the second half of week two’s matchup against the Raiders. That kind of production efficiency will always earn you lots of fantasy points!

After his first two weeks of play it becomes difficult to not recognize Matt Hasselbeck’s re-emergence among the top half of passers in the league. Hasselbeck had a very decent week one performance; it was not bad at all, but it was nothing like week two against the Ravens. In week two, the Titan’s starter passed for more than 350 yards completing 30 of 42 passes and adding one touchdown toss. It was not a breakout performance by any stretch, but it is an attention grabber and great indicator that more good numbers are on the way.

Now we can’t talk about performances or quarterbacks without at least showing some respect to the Patriots quarterback Tom Brady; he once again delivered a huge performance in week two. Like Brady, a couple of arms that deserve some fantasy recognition include Matt Stafford (4 touchdown passes), Tony Romo (300 yards passing and one heroic effort on Sunday), and Philip Rivers (another 350+ yards with two touchdowns).

My Fantasy QB Rankings

through the first two weeks:

Top 10 (the fantasyPenthouse)

1. Tom Brady (Patriots)
2. Aaron Rodgers (Packers)
3. Drew Brees (Saints)
4. Matthew Stafford (Lions)
5. Philip Rivers (Chargers)
6. Michael Vick (Eagles)
7. Tony Romo (Cowboys)
8. Ryan Fitzpatrick (Bills)
9. Cam Newton (Panthers)
10. Matt Schaub (Texans)

By David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: FRIDAY FANTASY WATCH

September 9TH, 2011, Friday

Friday’s Fantasy Watch

The 2011 NFL season got started off with more than a bang last night. The matchup between the Saints and Packers was more like an explosion with a 42-34 final. The contest was played more like a chess match with each team matching the other move for move.

Unfortunately for the Saints, their last move may not have been their best resulting in check-mate for the Pack. But still football fans and fantasy die-hards alike had to be pleased with what they saw. If last night was just a small preview of what is to come this NFL season, then everyone better hold on tight; this could be one wild ride!

Week one is under way and though we saw plenty of fireworks on Thursday night with over 700 yards passing and ten touchdowns scored, there is still a lot more to come on Sunday. With fantasy owners checking the injury reports and latest news-wires, there are some of us madly searching and keeping our eyes open for those hidden gems that could be the difference.

ON MY WATCH

TIM HIGHTOWER, RB (Redskins)
It’s probably a little too soon to start making too many bold predictions, but it’s never out of style to take a leap of faith, especially when you play a game called “fantasy” football. Maybe this is not a big leap, more like a hop, but one player on my watch for Sunday will be Redskins running back Tim Hightower. I saw enough of the kid during the preseason to make a believer of me; his 170 yards rushing and 6.8 rushing average were enough for me.

He’ll face a questionable Giants defense, ranked 8th last season against the run, but banged up and missing a few important cogs on Sunday. Umenyiora (knee) has been ruled out, Tuck (stinger) is uncertain, and team recently lost middle linebacker Jonathan Goff (torn ACL) for the season. This could be a very sweet matchup for Hightower.

MATT HASSELBECK, QB (Titans)
There was probably no one more excited about the signing of running back ChrisJohnson than quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. The 12 year veteran endured some rough times in Seattle, but now in Tennessee with a better offensive line and strong running game with the return of CJ2K, Hasselbeck could suddenly find some of that 2007 form when he threw 28 touchdowns.

This Sunday the former Seahawk will square off against the Jacksonville Jaguars secondary and a pass rush (26 sacks last season) that ranked near the bottom a year ago. With CJ2K in the backfield, that should be able to keep the wolves at bay and allow Hasselbeck time to work the ball to some reliable receivers in (WR) Kenny Britt and (TE) Jared Cook. We wouldn’t look for big numbers on Sunday, but a pair of scores and two bills in the air could make any fantasy owner’s day.

These two may not be in your lineups on Sunday, but if you’re facing tough decisions and not sure where to look for help keep your eyes on these two. They both could provide the relief you might need down the road.

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

July 27th, 2011 Wednesday

David’s Daily Digest

FANTASY FOOTBALL IS BACK!

Now that the NFL owners and players have ironed out their differences and ended this cumbersome lockout, it’s time to start talking fantasy football. We all knew we would end up here in the long run, but with the delay caused by the disruption there is going to be a lot of football activity over the coming weeks with NFL free agency, rookie signings, and possible trades all accelerated.

A lot has already taken place in the few short days since the end of the lockout, but there’s still plenty more that will happen. With players moving from one place to the next, it’s going to be a whole lot of fun to try and figure out what the impact will be with players like McNabb in Minnesota and Hasselbeck in Tennessee. And what about players like Tim Tebow or Tavaris Jackson, what will be there expectations as potentially new starters?

This week and weekend is expected to be a whirlwind of more activity, plenty of player moves to fuel the fantasy fire for the water-coolers on Monday. With that said I will add, it’s good to have football back and this season is already shaping up to be another great year of gridiron action.

After four months of basically inactivity, I am ready for some football!


By David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: THE SATURDAY FANTASY REPORT

January 15th, 2011 Saturday

The Saturday Fantasy Report

The Divisional Round

Jay Cutler Could Have a Quiet Afternoon
…Sunday is expected to be cold and perfect football weather to grind the ball and that should suit all of the Chicago Bears just fine; just maybe not a few fantasy owners looking for some production from Jay Cutler.

The Bears have been playing very well lately and a big reason has been a solid running game and more balanced offense. Sunday’s matchup with the Seahawks could be all about the Bears playing championship style football; great defense and a solid run game. Cutler is only averaging 192 yards passing and 30 passes per game in his last three starts.

With some breeze and snow on Sunday Cutler could still have success in the air, but don’t look for him to put the ball up often (unless the Bears are behind)
(My thoughts; 20 of 28 passing, 185 yards passing, one touchdown)


Marshawn Lynch Could Hit A Wall On Sunday
...the Bears boast the leagues number two run defense and on Sunday against “the Beast” (Marshawn Lynch) they will have a chance to prove it. Last week against the Saints Lynch was able to run rough-shot through the defense, but that could be very different on Sunday against da Bears.

The Monsters of the Midway have a lot of speed and athleticism in the middle and could make it very difficult for Lynch to find any space. In their first meeting this season the Seahawks running back was only able to muster 44 yards on 17 carries; he did however find the end-zone once.

After his impressive performance last week, there’s no question Lynch will anchor the ground game, but if he stalls against the Urlacher and company back up running back Justin Forsett could steal some action.
(My thoughts; 16 carries, 55 yards, no touchdowns)

Mike Williams Could Be Big On Sunday
...even if there is snow or the wind gusts the Seahawks are going to have to find a way to throw the ball against the Bears. It’s no secret that most teams find it difficult to move the ball on the ground against Chicago and on Sunday the Seahawks will probably learn that painful fact. If the snow and Bears defense does ground Seattle’s run game, Matt Hasselbeck is going to have to get the ball to his big receiver Mike Williams.

Williams is a huge target and effective receiver in the pass game for Seattle and last time around against these same Bears, he and his quarterback had great success. In week six Williams grabbed 10 passes for 123 yards to lead all receivers in the game.

There’s no question Williams has good hands and because of his tremendous size should have a distinct advantage on Sunday against the Bears 20th ranked pass defense. The only question will be can Hasselbeck get him the ball.
(My thoughts; 8 catches, 105 yards receiving, one touchdowns)

Just my take

By David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

January 13th, 2011 Thursday

David’s Daily Digest

Now that the playoffs are in full swing and have entered the second round, for those of us still enjoying this fantasy season, we are really looking at some interesting matchups this weekend. With three of the four games being played outdoors, the Falcons-Packers matchup at the Georgia Dome could be the only one with any real fireworks for fantasy owners…

Fantasy Notes:

MIKE WILLIAMS LOOKING FOR A REPEAT PERFORMANCE
In their first and only meeting earlier this season the Seahawks had some success in the air against the Bears 20th ranked pass defense. One of the keys was wide receiver “big” Mike Williams who caught 10 passes for 123 yards.
My Fantasy Read:
The Seahawks will be facing a very stout and fast Bears run defense; the ground game could stall greatly on Sunday setting up a lot of passes from Hasselbeck to Williams. Williams is a big target with sure hands and could have great success against the Bears under-sized secondary; even if cornerback Charles Tillman (6’1”) matches up with Williams (6’5”) he is giving away four inches.

MATT FORTE COULD STEAL THE SHOW
The Bears know how to play hard ball in the snow and with temperatures expecting to fall on Sunday, it sounds like running back Matt Forte could be in business for lots of work. In the first matchup the Bears called 45 pass plays and just ran the ball 14 times; it doesn’t look like that will be the case this time around.
My Fantasy Read:
Forte finished the regular season strong averaging 17 carries per game and 98 yards rushing in his last three starts; he also caught 12 balls for 116 yards in his last two. For the Bears running back, cold is good; Forte could be a featured component in the Bears offensive attack on Sunday. Fantasy owners are singing, let it snow, let it snow, let is snow.

AARON RODGERS GEARING UP FOR A SATURDAY NIGHT SPECIAL
The Packers are on a roll and quarterback Aaron Rodgers is a big reason. Their last three wins have come against the Giants, Bears, and Eagles. In those games Rodgers has thrown eight touchdowns for 813 yards while completing 62 of 92 passes.
My Fantasy Read:
In their first matchup Rodgers enjoyed some success in the air completing 26 of 35 passes for 344 yards, but was only able to find the endzone just once. Rodgers has got the hot hand and has been playing extremely well; it will be tough for the Falcons 22nd ranked defense to keep him out of the end-zone this time around.

THE STEELERS GROUND GAME COULD GO M.I.A.
The Ravens defense has been playing very well against the run as of late; aside from Jamaal Charles’ 41 yard touchdown run in the first quarter, the Chiefs were only able to gain 57 yards the rest of the way. In their previous three games the Ravens run defense has been even better allowing just 73 yards and 3.08 yards per carry.
My Fantasy Read:
The Steelers have the league’s 11th ranked run offense (120.2 yard per game) but have only been able to muster 69 yards per game on the ground in two meeting with the Ravens. Big Ben (Roethlisberger) missed their first meeting, but in the second go round he threw 38 passes, completing 22 for 253 yards and a touchdown. With the elements and the Raven’s dictating a tough grudge match that will likely yield few yards on the ground this Saturday, the game is likely to fall into the hands and rely on the arm of Big Ben.

FSH NOTEBOOK: ON THE COVER

January 11th, 2011, Tuesday

On the Cover

Marshawn Lynch Goes Beast Mode

Lynch And Seahawks Stomp The Saints

Well no one was expecting this, but the Seahawks and not the Saints will be moving on to the next round of the playoffs. With quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and running back Marshawn Lynch playing head and shoulders above the rest, the Seahawks managed to outlast the Saints on Saturday in the Wild-Card weekend opener, 41-36.

Lynch was a force on the ground stomping his way to 131 yards rushing on 19 carries, while Hasselbeck was dominant in the air completing 22 of 35 passes for 272 yards and four touchdowns. Things didn’t start out quite so well for the Seahawks too, on their opening drive Hasselbeck was intercepted setting up the Saints first touchdown and putting them in a hole down 10-0.

Once things settled down, the Seahawks went to work scoring touchdowns on their next two drives and making a game of it for the Saints. The Seahawks would continue their offensive explosion led by Hasselbeck, who would throw three of his touchdowns in the first half to turn a 17-7 deficit into a 24-20 halftime lead. After turning over the ball on their first possession, the Seahawks scored on six of their next seven.

The second half was a see-saw battle between the two NFC teams and just when the Saints were looking to turn this thing around, trailing just 34-30 with 3:38 left in the game, thunder struck. Lynch took the ball from Hasselbeck and stomped his way through the Saints defense, breaking numerous tackles, and storming 67 yards to pay-dirt raising the roof at Qwest Field and slamming the door on any hopes of the Saints repeating.

The bone-jarring run crushed the Saints hopes, and sent them reeling, but being the defending Super Bowl Champions they are, they did not stop the fight. They would score once more in the last minutes of the game to add some window dressing, but this contest was decided when Lynch ran through the entire Saints defense and crossed the goal-line.