FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

Saturday Evening Edition

September 6th, 2014 

 

David’s Daily Digest

MY WEEK 1 FAVORITES

No Sleep for the Wicked

So here we are less than 24 hours away from the first Sunday of NFL Week 1 and so begins the season long marathon we all love called fantasy football!

The season officially kicked off on Thursday night with the Packers and Seattle, but the fantasy season will actually kick into high gear Sunday morning. With that, many fantasy owners will be checking the wires for injury updates, taking to social media for line-up advice and searching for the week one sleepers.

Playing in many leagues this season, I am no different always trying to read between the lines, looking for deeper insight for the best plays on Sunday. After conducting my own quick research I have found a hand-full of Sunday wicked plays that I am in great favor of and leaning toward. Okay, maybe they are no wicked, but let's just say I like them.

Running back Steven Jackson nearly fell off the edge of the fantasy world during some fantasy drafts I participated in, going in the 10^th round and later. He’s being overlooked and greatly underrated due to his injury history, with running backs like Joique Bell, Toby Gerhart, and Lamar Miller going off the board in front of him.

The Falcons runner is healthy and sounds like he’s ready to go this week. His matchup against the Saints 19^th ranked run defense does not necessarily spell big day, but playing at home with the return of wide receiver Julio Jones and a healthy Roddy White should open up plenty of holes for the run game. Jackson played in both matchups last season averaging 17 plus touches and 16 fantasy points (standard one point per reception PPR leagues) per contest. The Falcons don’t figure to lean on Jackson too heavily in week 1, but he should see plenty of action and could post solid numbers as a low-end RB2 or flex start.

It’s no secret that Vikings wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson is a great talent, but now in the Norv Turner system he could quickly blossom into fantasy stud. Last season Patterson came on late in the season scoring at least one touchdown in each of his final five games averaging 17 fantasy points per game (standard one point per reception PPR leagues). Patterson also showed his ceiling potential with two of those contests with more than 20 fantasy points. Patterson would appear to be the favorite in Norv’s passing game plan and could elevate his fantasy stock to top shelf. Although he has a tough matchup on Sunday against the Rams defense, he’s facing a secondary that allowed the 8^th most pass receptions to receivers last season; he’s get his.

One more fantasy nugget for week 1 is wide receiver Torrey Smith. It’s funny to me that his last name is Smith, because the last time Kubiak was calling plays for an offense in Denver (quite a few years ago) he had a pretty good receiver there named (Rod) Smith. The Ravens wideout is the go-to receiver; he has great speed and nice hands, if he can add some crisp route running to his repertoire with Kubiak calling plays he could suddenly become a fantasy favorite well beyond week 1. At home last season against the Bengals, Smith posted 15 fantasy points (standard one point per reception PPR), so in the new system under Kubiak fantasy owners can expect to Smith featured even more with greater results.

That’s my take for Week 1.

~David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

Thursday Evening Edition

August 28th, 2014 

 

David’s Daily Digest

Picking Favorites

Thinking Draft Strategy

So you have the first pick in your league’s draft or maybe you have one of the early picks, either way you have a decision to make; pick with your heart, your gut, or do you follow some pre-planned strategy?

What I have been noticing (and something you may be seeing as well) in the top positions, if you grab one of the big four running backs you will still be able to come back with solid receivers late in the 2^nd and early in the 3^rd round. It seems most league players are jostling for running backs early leaving time for the early picks to come back with the Alshon Jefferys, Julio Jones, and Randall Cobbs.

And what I have also noticed (in PPRs), you can still turn around in the 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th rounds and find decent value; the likes of Reggie Bush, CJ Spiller, and Andre Ellington. These are the players that may not win your weekly matchup on their own, but they will give you good production every week and keep you in the hunt so your big guns can get it done.

In a recent draft I held the 2^nd pick and took Adrian Peterson. With one of the top producing backs in the league I immediately targeted receivers selecting Jordy Nelson and Alshon Jeffery. I followed those two with Roddy White and Reggie Bush; not sexy, but effective. Andrew Luck (my quarterback) was taken in the 6^th and my first tight end (Kyle Rudolph) came off the board in the 7^th.

In another draft I did tonight, I followed a similar pattern (picking in the 8^th slot) selecting receiver-receiver (Dez Bryant and Alshon) and then going running back with my next three picks; Reggie Bush, Andre Ellington, and Chris Johnson. My quarterback (Matt Ryan) and tight end (Dennis Pitta) came in the 7^th and 8^th round respectively.

If you are paying attention, then I am sure you are hearing the same thing; wait on your quarterback, there is time to take him later. Even grabbing a Brees, Manning, or Rodgers can be costly (depending on your league scoring), if taken too early. Let the other deal with that mistake and stick to your plan. The Ryans, Romos, and Cutlers are safe plays with the upside of big game potential and the Flaccos, Palmers, and Rivers will still be there even later to have your back in a jam.

With all of this said there are a lot of ideas and strategies you can follow, and any you choose is never wrong (it’s whatever works for you). But remember to stay on your game and be ready for the wild cards in the draft that can often foul things up.

No matter what happens, stay the course and draft well my friend.

Good luck this fantasy season!

~David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: QUICK TAKES

Saturday Edition
December 22nd, 2012  

David’s Daily Digest
MNF (on Saturday) Quick Takes

The Lions have little or no running game to speak of heading into this week 16 matchup with the Falcons expect to see a lot of Matthew Stafford (which has become the norm). Stafford is averaging 50 pass attempts in each of his last four starts and is very likely to exceed that plateau tonight. Despite the Falcons stingy ways versus the pass (just 13 touchdowns allowed this season), it will be tough to keep Stafford and Megatron out of the end zone. Stafford is a reach this week, but is still a better option than Flacco, Dalton, or Freeman.

Megatron remains the one constant in the Lions lineup week in and week out. Last week Johnson pulled down 10 passes for more than 120 yards, but was kept out of the end zone. The Falcons secondary ranks 17th against the pass; expect better numbers today from Megatron and at least one trip to pay dirt.

The Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan leads a group that even at 12-2, they are still fighting for respect from the rest of the league. Ryan is coming off an impressive win and performance against the Giants last week passing for 270 yards and tossing three touchdowns and will likely need a similar performance and win tonight to fight off the critics again. The Lions are no walk in the park, but Ryan has too many weapons to exploit the Lions 11th ranked secondary. Ryan has been on and off at times this season, but under the light and in the dome(s) he’s golden for fantasy owners; start him.

The Falcons running back Michael Turner is coming off a strong 52 yards rushing performance against the Giants last week. The Lions rank 18th against the run and though they allow the 15th fewest fantasy points to running backs, the defense has surrendered 11 rushing touchdowns this season. The Falcons should move the ball well in the air and could set up some easy scores for Turner. He’s not a top-10 start this week, but he’s a worthy fantasy start for championship weekend.

The Falcons and Lions will meet in primetime on this Saturday night and wide receiver Roddy White is a go. White is Mr. Monday night, the last time the Falcons played during the Monday night broadcast was back in week 2, he tallied 8 catches for 102 yards and a score. White has always been big in the Falcons passing attack and tonight should be more of the same. Facing an uninspired and underachieving Lions team and secondary tonight, expect White to play big with much more on the line. He’s a solid start for fantasy owners.

more Starts & Sits…

Jaquizz Rodgers is a risky start, he’s been on and off, but has yet to produce the type of game worthy of starting except in custom and PPR leagues.

Tony Shceffler should be a very good start, but too many drops and inconsistent play make him a shaky start. Nonetheless he does offer a higher ceiling, with limited options he may be worth a flier.

Julio Jones has too much potential and playmaking ability to sit. He’s the very definition of hit and miss, but owners can’t afford to see this freakish talent.

The Lions basically offer a committee rotation at running back with none of the options standing out from the others, avoid this backfield if possible.


By David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: SUNDAY MORNING GAMETIME

Sunday Edition
December 16th, 2012  

Sunday Morning Gametime

Dez Bryant
The Cowboys wide receiver won’t have any padding to protect the injured finger, so he will be experiencing excruciating pain each time he catches and handles the rock; don’t like the odds for a big game under these circumstances.

David Wilson
The rookie is getting the start and will see plenty of touches today. With his great speed and favorable matchup against the Falcons defense, he has tremendous upside. I like Wilson as a top 10 fantasy RB today.

Roddy White
The Falcons wide receiver was always going to play; this guy has too much heart to sit. Bad knee or not, he’ll get his especially if Ryan is playing catchup or caught in a shootout against the Giants today.

Danario Alexander
The Chargers have a new number one receiver and he’s been hot over the past several weeks. Alexander is a beast and you have to like his matchup against the Panthers today, so start him with confidence.

Darren McFadden
The Raiders may finally see today the Darren McFadden that fantasy owners were hoping they’d see when they drafted back in August. McFadden has a plush matchup at home against a weak Chiefs run defense.

Jonathan Dwyer
The Steelers are a running team and have committed to Dwyer. I like his chances at pounding out a good day with at least a score against the Cowboys 16th ranked run defense.

Josh Freeman
The Saints and Buccaneers could be locked in a shootout; Freeman is going to have to put up numbers today to keep the Bucs in the game. He may not accumulate big yards, because of the team’s success on the ground, but he should see plenty of red=zone opportunities.

Donnie Avery
The Patriots showed on Monday night, what we have been seeing the past several weeks, holes in the Texans secondary. Reggie Wayne will be the focus of the defense which should open up plenty of opportunities for the other Colts receivers including Donnie Avery.

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

By David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: FANTASY FIVE

Friday Edition
October 12th, 2012  

FSH Fantasy Five

Week 6 Fantasy Picks (all positions)

Now that we have reached the bye weeks with another four teams on the sideline Week 6 presents some interesting and favorable matchups for fantasy owners and once again the trick will be sorting through the smoke and mirrors to find those weekly gems…..

Kevin Kolb, QB
The Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb has not been a fantasy starlet this season, but he has not been all bad either. In four starts this season Kolb has 6 touchdowns with only two interceptions while averaging 244 yards passing per game; not exactly big numbers but steady. This week the Cards will play host to the Buffalo Bills and Kolb should have plenty of opportunity for big numbers against the league’s 24th ranked pass defense.

Darren McFadden, RB
There’s little reason to think that the Raiders will suddenly change their way of thinking, but if they believe in numbers as we do then we should see quite a bit of running back Darren McFadden on Sunday. The Raiders travel to Atlanta this week and will line up against the league’s 28th ranked run defense. The Falcons are allowing not only 142 yards per game, but over 5 yards per carry; the best recipe for a big fantasy Sunday for an elite running back. If McFadden is going to be elite, this would be the time to make a statement.

Andy Dalton, QB
The Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton has been quote the past couple of weeks, but he and the Bengals offense should catch a break this weekend when they meet the Browns this weekend in Cleveland. The Browns 25th ranked secondary has been lit up for 12 touchdowns this season and over 280 yards in the air per game; an inviting week 6 matchup for Dalton and the Bengals.

Roddy White, WR
It seems every week there is a flavor of the week in the Falcons passing attack. When the Raiders come to town on Sunday, this will be good news for wide receiver Roddy White and the Falcons aerial attack. The Raiders pass defense is ranked 27th in the league surrendering 283 yards per game and their secondary has yet to record an interception in 2012. White is always a favorite in the pass game and figures to do some damage this week.

Demaryrius Thomas, WR
The Broncos young wide out is quickly becoming a fantasy household name and he could become even bigger, if he can just hang on to the ball. Despite his three fumbles this season, Thomas is still a fantasy favorite with 505 receiving yards (3rd in the league) and 30 receptions this season with two scores. On Monday night he will face the Chargers pass defense that has allowed 11 touchdowns this season and 4 pass plays of 40 yards or more; it could be a big night for Thomas.

By David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

Monday Edition

October 1st, 2012

David’s Daily Digest

Fantasy Notes:

Nicks Looking Shaky This Season

No question Giants wide receiver Hakeem Nicks was a high value draft pick in most fantasy drafts, but his injury woes are making fantasy owners pay dearly. With the prospect of possibly missing week 5, Nicks has only one strong showing this season in four games (maybe five now). He’s a solid fantasy play when healthy, so owners will just have to ride out the storm and hope he gets right soon.

Hartline has the Numbers

The Dolphins wide receiver Brian Hartline may not have the flash or the name to draw much attention to fantasy owners, but he certainly has more than enough numbers to make his argument. He’s relatively unknown and unproven, so consistency and reliability will have to be a wait and see, but with 48 targets this season (ranked 3^rd in the league) make his chances look promising. With all those targets, Hartline still only has 25 catches and just one score; he’s not ready for primetime, but he appears to be a strong flex option or low-end WR2 in deeper leagues.

Roddy Still the Big Man on Campus

With all the hype surrounding the beastly phenom wide receiver Julio Jones, this preseason Roddy White was taking a back seat in most fantasy football watercooler conversations. It’s safe to say this elite receiver will not be taking a back seat to anyone this season. As good as Jones is and will be, does not mean Roddy will stop being elite; as he has shown through four games this season (27 receptions, 413 yards receiving, 3 touchdowns). White is still a solid WR1 and should be considered such the rest of the way.

The Marshall Plan is Working

If you drafted wide receiver Brandon Marshall high this fantasy season, you were hoping to see what you just saw on Monday night against the Cowboys. Teamed with his old quarterback (Jay Cutler) it’s go for broke time with Marshall, and if this was your plan it could be working. With 23 receptions, over 350 yards, and 2 touchdowns, Marshall could be well on his way to his best season yet.

Dez Bryant Still Up and Down

The Cowboys big receiver Dez Bryant is capable of playing big and he did have a nice night statistically in Monday night’s loss (8 receptions, 105 yards receiving), but too many drops kept a good night from being great. That’s been Bryant’s problem and something that appears he’ll need to continue to work at growing out of. Bryant remains a very low WR2 option in fantasy, but has the potential of being much more.

Witten Finally Wakes Up

It came much too late in the Cowboys blowout loss to the Bears Monday night, but for fantasy owners it was a nice sight to see tight end Jason Witten involved in the passing game. This one was well out of hand before Witten did his biggest damage, but quarterback Tony Romo was targeting his old favorite early and often. With all the drops the Cowboys receivers had Monday night, Witten probably remains Romo most reliable and steady option; look for this involvement trend to continue going forward.

By David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: SUNDAY GAMETIME

October 16th, 2011 Sunday

Sunday Morning Gametime

My quick notes:

Who to Watch

The Falcons may get caught up in a shoot-out today, something they have not been proficient at this season, but I am expecting a more explosive team that we have yet to see. With their explosive rookie receiver Julio Jones OUT today, it will be a no-brainer for quarterback Matt Ryan to decide where to go with the ball; expect a big game from wide receiver Roddy White, 10+ targets today will net him some big numbers and lots of fantasy points.

The Cowboys wide receiver Miles Austin makes his return today against the Patriots and you have to love his matchup against the league’s worst secondary. Expect Romo to take a couple of shots deep to Austin and connect; Miles should be big today for fantasy owners.

With the Falcons and Panthers putting up huge numbers today, fantasy owners better keep their eyes on Panthers rookie quarterback Cam Newton and wide receiver Steve Smith. The Falcons have had their issues in the secondary and with pressure on the quarterback. Newton has been a fantasy beast this season and week six will prove to be no different. Smith will of course benefit greatly today from Cam’s success.


Who to Avoid

For most fantasy owners this may go without saying, but after coming off a very poor week five performance and loss the Bills, expect the Eagles defense to take out their frustrations on Redskins quarterback Rex Grossman. They may concede a few yards on the ground to the Redskins running game, but when they have their opportunities they will get to Grossman and force some mistakes.

The Colts backfield is in for a long day against one of the league’s stingiest defenses. The Bengals are ranked 7th against the run allowing just 3.2 yards per carry and today they could improve on both of those numbers; avoid running backs Delone Carter and Donald Brown. They won’t see a lot of opening or yards on the ground today.


My Picks Today

My “Four Horsemen”

I haven’t been having my best season thus far, but I am looking for week six to really get things turned around.

Tony Romo; win or lose today in Foxboro, the Cowboys gunslinger is going to put up some big numbers today against the league’s 32nd ranked pass defense. Romo will see the return of wide receiver Miles Austin and he’ll also have (TE) Jason Witten and (WR) Dez Bryant to throw to today.

Ryan Torain; the Eagles defense struggles with the ground game and could see a lot of Torain early and often. As long as the Redskins take care of the ball and keeps this close, Torain could see a hefty workload and some very good rushing numbers. He should make at least one trip to the house today.

Roddy White; the Falcons could be gearing up for a shoot-out today in the dome, something that will favor White fantasy owners. Roddy is averaging just 11 yards per catch and has just two scores; against the Panthers 14th ranked secondary expect those numbers to improve.

Aaron Hernandez; The Cowboys secondary is very thin and has been quite suspect this season ranked 13th against the pass. With receivers like Welker and Branch to contend with expect Brady to exploit matchups with his tight ends, especially Hernandez. The Patriots often like to split Hernandez wide and in the slot; he could be hugely effective in the red-zone today.

FSH NOTEBOOK: FRIDAY'S FAST FIVE

October 14th, 2011 Friday

Friday’s Fast Five

My Five Calls for Week 6

1. White’s Week to Wreck Havoc
Fantasy owners have been waiting for Atlanta Falcon’s receiver Roddy White to breakout this season. He has 32 receptions (on 54 targets), but just 352 yards receiving and two scores. These are significantly sub-par numbers for our guy, Roddy. With their rookie stud Julio Jones sidelined this week, Matt Ryan and the Falcons passing offense should turn to old-reliable number 84. The Panthers secondary is ranked 15th this season against the pass and they have already been bit for the long ball (40 yards or more) four times this season. Roddy’s numbers are down and this could be the week he picks them up.

2. It’s Back to Basics for the Eagles
The Eagles offense has been riding the arms and legs of quarterback far too much this season and it has not paid off, 10 turnovers and a 1-4 record. With so many weapons, Jackson, McCoy, Maclin, and Celek, I am expecting Reid to reel in Vick some this week and ask his to share the rock more with some of his other playmakers. The Redskins are playing well defensively this season, so the Eagles will need to attack from all angles. McCoy is averaging almost six yards a tote this season and in two games last season he totaled 268 yards of offense; look for a productive Sunday from the league’s 5th leading rusher.

3. Tony Romo Should Breathe Easy on Sunday
This matchup Sunday has all the ingredients of a big passing day for Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo. The Patriots defense is dead last in the league and has given up a ton of yards in the air this season, but the good news doesn’t stop there. In five games this season the Patriots secondary has been victimized for nine touchdowns and 32 pass plays of 20 yards or more. With his best receiving weapon returning this week and tight end Jason Witten underneath, Romo should be a huge fantasy play on Sunday; even in Foxboro.

4. Life Without Andre Could be Hard
The Texans quarterback Matt Schaub could be someone fantasy owners may want to avoid this week. On Sunday the Texans travel to Baltimore to meet Mr. Ray Lewis and the Ravens 8th ranked pass defense. Schaub will take the field without his best weapon and favorite target; expect the Ravens to crowd the line, stuff the run, and turn the Texans into a one dimension offense. Once that happens the dawgs will be turned loose and Schaub could be looking at a long afternoon.

5. Newton Rolling and Could Pick up Speed
The Panthers dynamic and electrifying rookie quarterback Cam Newton has been taking the league by storm and turning his team into a tough matchup week in and week out. Week six should be no different and if you are the Falcons you should be worried. The Falcons 29th ranked pass defense is coming off a beating from week 5 surrendering 396 yards and two touchdowns to Aaron Rodgers and Packers. Now Newton is no Rodgers, and he doesn’t have quite the same compliment of skill players, but he does have plenty of help and enough weapons to do a lot of damage. This matchup could easily turn into a shoot out with Newton providing plenty of fireworks of his own.


By David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

October 14th, 2011 Friday

David’s Daily Digest

Fantasy Notes:

No Jones Means More White
The Falcons offense has looked sporadic and inconsistent at times this season, even the Matt-Ryan to Roddy White connection that has been so effective the past several seasons has yet to really click. Through the first five weeks of this season White has been targeted 54 times (second most), but he has just two touchdowns, only one 100-yard receiving game, and only 352 yards receiving this season. With Julio Jones OUT this week, expect White to step up his game and really become the focal point of the Falcons passing attack against the league’s 15th ranked pass defense (Panthers).

Austin Says he’s ready for Sunday
The Cowboys explosive receiver turned in a couple of full practices this week, including Friday and looks ready to return to action this Sunday against the Patriots. With the Patriots defense giving up huge chunks of yardage each week to the passing game, expect Romo to target Austin early and often. For those fantasy owners that suffered through the absence of Austin expected to be rewarded on Sunday; he’s a must-start.

Graham Vaults to Starting Role
With starter LeGarette Blount (MCL strain) sidelined this week, enter Mr. Graham. The Buccaneers will roll with running back Earnest Graham on Sunday when they take the field and while yards could be tough to come by on the ground , with 23 receptions already this season Graham could still see a lot of production. Even as the starter Graham will not be a favorite in standard leagues, but will offer much more value in PPR.

Jones Could Be a Packer on the Rise
The Packers speedy receiver James Jones is starting to find his stride this season after a quiet start. In his last two games Jones has seen more action (50 snaps) than the previous three games (38 snaps) and his productive has been evident. Jones has a total of 11 targets in his last two games, catching eight balls for 188 yards and scoring twice. This Sunday against the Rams at home could be a jail break for the Packers passing game. With the defense preoccupied with trying to slow (Greg) Jennings and (Jermichael) Finley, Jones could emerge as a huge benefactor; this is not a popular pick, but I like Jones as a flex or possible start in deep leagues, especially if you are thin at WR.

Could this be Torain’s Week?
Despite head coach Mike Shanahan’s point blank declaration of who will be the man on Sunday in the Redskin’s backfield, the smart money is on running back Ryan Torain. Shanahan has already expressed his pleasure with the return of Torain last week and after his (Torain) play (135 yards rushing, one touchdown) last weekend the Redskin’s head coach was not disappointed either. Remember Shanahan actually drafted Torain when both were in Denver; Torain is his pick and regardless if he starts should see plenty of work. Going against the Eagles 28th ranked defense, Torain is worthy of a start in most deep leagues and could be a nice flex in shallow formats.


By David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: TARGET PRACTICE

September 28th, 2011, Wednesday

Fantasy Football

Target Practice

In These Hands We Trust

In week 3 there were no hands better than the pair that comes with Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker. Against the Bills, Welker was targeted a league high 20 times in week 3 finishing the game with 16 catches and over 200 yards receiving. While Welker was raking in passes like crazy, Roddy White (Falcons) and Anquan Boldin (Ravens) were seeing many chances as well, but with a lot less success.

White only corralled 9 balls on 17 tries against the Buccaneers, while Boldin was less successful snagging only 7 of 14. The good news for owners, these two look like they have the confidence of their quarterbacks and should be strong candidates to rebound in week 4 with plenty more chances.

A couple of other receivers that have the confidence of their quarterbacks and could quickly become fantasy football household names include wide receiver Nate Washington (Titans), David Nelson (Bills), and Brandon Pettigrew (Lions).

Through the first three weeks of the season Washington (27 targets) and Nelson (27 targets) both rank in the Top 20. Pettigrew is not far off ranking fourth among tight ends with 22 targets. After last weeks’ breakout game against the Vikings with 11 receptions and 112 yards receiving, Pettigrew is quickly becoming a favorite of (Matthew) Stafford.

Top 10 in week 3

1. Wes Welker, Patriots (20 targets)
2. Roddy White, Falcons (17 targets)
3. Anquan Boldin, Ravens (14 targets)
4. Reggie Wayne, Colts (13 targets)
5. Andre Caldwell, Bengals (12 targets)
6. Eric Decker, Broncos (12 targets)
7. Andre Johnson, Texans (12 targets)
8. Michael Jenkins, Vikings (11 targets)
9. Calvin Johnson, Lions (11 targets)
10. 6 players tied at 10 targets

Radar Watch

If the Broncos can quarterback Kyle Orton to look downfield more, wide receiver Eric Decker could suddenly become a fantasy favorite. Decker was among the leaders in week 3 with 12 targets, but the results were only 7 catches for 48 yards. Like Decker, wide receiver Pierre Garcon is going to need more help from the quarterback position if he is going to improve on his 10 targets from week 3. Both look like diamonds in the rough just waiting to shine.

Tight end Todd Heap is healthy this season and was finally utilized a little more extensively in week 3 seeing 10 balls (targets) in his direction. Heap has shown lots of ability in the past, if quarterback Kevin Kolb can make more of an effort to get his tight end involved, Heap has the potential of being a fantasy gem going forward.

One of my waiver wire mentions this week is wide receiver Michael Jenkins (Vikings). He’s not going to suddenly break out of the gate in week 4, but his 17 targets are good indicator he’s one of McNabb’s favorite and will see a steady stream of passes in his direction every week.

My last mention here is Lions rookie wide receiver Titus Young. Last week he broke out with a nice 5 catch, 89-yard performance on seven targets. This week his 4 catches and 51 yards receiving might suggest a slight regression, but to the contrary Young was targeted eight times. As long as Young continues to see his share of throws, he’s going to get better; much better.

Top 10 through week 3 (unofficial)

1. Wes Welker, Patriots (43 targets)
2. Roddy White, Falcons (34 targets)
3. Andre Johnson, Texans (32 targets)
4. Reggie Wayne, Colts (32 targets)
5. Jason Witten, Cowboys (32 targets)
6. Brandon Marshall, Dolphins (31 targets)
7. Steve Smith, Panthers (31 targets)
8. Steve Johnson, Bills (30 targets)
9. Mike Thomas, Jaguars (30 targets)
10. Anquan Boldin, Ravens (28 targets)
11. Calvin Johnson, Lions (28 targets)
12. Darren Sproles, Saints (28 targets)

FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

September 14th, 2011, Wednesday

David’s Daily Digest

Fantasy Notes:

Foster Sounds-Off, Expects to Play
Just when we thought he might be down, the Texans running back Arian Foster (hamstring) says he expects to play on Sunday after returning to practice on Wednesday. With back-up Ben Tate running effective last weekend against the Colts, if Foster does play he could see his workload tapered back a bit this week against the Dolphins. It’s hard to sit your studs and fantasy owners would have to figure if Foster is out there, he’s healthy enough to produce.

Roddy White remains the Favorite
Despite all the hype surrounding the arrival of rookie wide receiver Julio Jones in Atlanta, it appears fantasy owners can take solice in knowing that Roddy White remains the number one. On Sunday against the Bears, White was targeted a team high 13 times (tied for most targets in week 1). Jones will see his share going forward, but White is still quarterback Matt Ryans’ favorite.

IDP Notes

Sugar Ray is “Sweet” as Ever
This may be his 16th season in the league, but Raven’s linebacker Ray Lewis is playing as sweet as ever. Against the Steelers on Sunday Lewis turned in a gem with six tackles, including one for a loss, one forced fumble, and a pick as the defense was just dominant. As long as he remains healthy, Lewis looks solid in the middle and a great fantasy play against the Titans in week two.

Suggs is a Beast on Sunday
There was no one who was badder, and no one who was better than the Ravens’ defensive end Terrell Suggs. The former Arizona State Sun Devil dominated the line of scrimmage this past Sunday recording three sacks (leads the NFL) and two forced fumbles. He could have another stellar game against a Titan’s offensive line that struggled last week and yielded a pair of sacks.

Just my Tuesday takes.

By David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

March 13th, 2011 Sunday

David’s Daily Digest

2011 Fantasy Football Players

As we start looking toward the upcoming 2011 season (with fingers crossed), it’s hard to imagine any new surprises for fantasy owners at the quarterback spot. We all saw quite evident the growth and progression of Michael Vick in the pocket, the arrival of Aaron Rodgers as one of the games’ best, and the several young arms that continue to make strides with their progression.

2011 should present a host of options for owners to choose from at the quarterback spot. A couple of names that come to mind that could offer plenty of return investment on their draft selection include quarterback Matt Ryan and Ryan Fitzpatrick.

After solid fantasy showings in 2010 Ryan and Fitzpatrick are two less-than-marquee names that could surprise folks with strong follow-up performances in 2011…..

Fantasy Quarterback…..

Matt Ryan (Falcons)

The Falcons young quarterback Matt Ryan has continually improved since his arrival into the league in 2008 and for fantasy owners his progression has been a huge reward. Ryan finished the 2010 season with over 3,700 yards passing and 28 touchdowns; he was fantasy’s number eight scoring quarterback (traditional scoring).

Matty “Ice” was particularly strong at home this past season throwing 15 touchdowns and just three picks finishing with a 7-1 record. Ryan was also very consistent passing for more than 200 yards with multiple touchdowns in eight games; he also had nine total games with multiple touchdowns including four games with three touchdowns. With one of the leagues’ premiere wide receivers (Roddy White) to throw to and a talented young receiving corp Ryan should have little trouble duplicating his numbers.

After his big 2010 season, Ryan has shown the growth and maturity of a big-time clutch passer and his number eight finish in fantasy (among quarterbacks) will make him a mid-draft fantasy selection favorite. Ryan should easily be a top ten fantasy quarterback in 2011, but he’s not going to go early among the quarterbacks; the later you can grab him will offer the best value.

Ryan Fitzpatrick (Bills)

The Bills quarterback had quietly what could be considered a breakout season. Before the 2010 season Fitzpatrick had hardly made a name for himself with two seasons in St. Louis and two in Cincinnati. In 2009 he did start eight games with the Bills, but his passing numbers were less than mediocre and he finished with a 69.7 passer rating.

In 2010 Fitzpatrick enjoyed his coming out party with the Bills passing for 3,000 yards, completing nearly 58% of his passes, and tossing 23 touchdowns in just 13 games. Ryan did struggle down the stretch and toss 15 picks last season which could deter some owners, but with a full camp as the starter under his belt in 2011 he should be more that capable of ironing out the bugs.

Fitzpatrick had plenty of strong numbers in 2010 that should keep him in good company as a solid back-up fantasy quarterback in 2011. He’ll also benefit greatly with his returning cast of receivers in 2011 that will include Stevie Johnson, Roscoe Parrish, and Lee Evans (if he is not released). Fitzpatrick has started 33 games over the past three seasons, so 2011 should be make-it-or-break-it time; he’s not a fantasy starter, but could give owners some relief as an insurance back with a few spots starts and bye week replacement.

That’s how I read it for 2011 under center….

By David Ortega