FSH: THE ATL REPORT

November 7th, 2009 11:47pm PST

THE ATL REPORT

What’s Happening

Around the League

RB-Ryan Moats to start week 9….

The Texans are making a change in the backfield on Sunday. After fumbling away his starting job running back Steve Slaton is heading toward the sidelines and Moats will start. Last weekend Slaton was benched after committing his seventh fumble of the season. Moats saw the majority of work last weekend and will likely see the same this Sunday.

WR-Anquan Boldin returns to practice and “looks good”.…

According to an ESPN report wide receiver Anquan Boldin returned to practice Friday and looked very good. It sounds like fantasy owners can expect the Card’s wideout on the field on Sunday.

DB-Ty Law agrees to terms with Broncos…..

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN the Broncos and Law have agreed to terms and the former Patriot is set to sign. He was reportedly flying to Denver on Friday for a physical.

WR-Donald Driver sounds in good spirits for Sunday…

The Packer’s receiver returned to practice on Friday and Saturday night was spotted joining Twitter from all of his “Tweets.” His disposition appeared positive as the wideout gets set to play the Buccaneers on Sunday.

RB-Brian Westbrook sounds a go, but will rotate….

The Eagles running back did not practice on Friday, but according to head coach Andy Reid “he can contribute a bunch here.” Westbrook has been part of a rotation and it sounds like that plan will continue Sunday.

DB-Bob Sanders done for the season….

It is being reported that the Colts will not have the services of safety Bob Sanders for the remainder of the season. Sanders will require surgery on his elbow according to head coach Jim Caldwell.

WR-Dwayne Jarrett to start Sunday for Carolina….

With wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad not traveling with the team he has been ruled OUT for Sunday. Dwayne Jarrett, the former start SC Trojan wideout will start in place.

RB-Kolby Smith activated for Sunday….

With running back Larry Johnson suspended, back up Jamaal Charles is expected to start, but the team has also activated running back Kolby Smith from the PUP list. Smith is coming back from knee surgery that cut his 2008 season short.

Check back every week for more “Around the League”

FSH: WATERCOOLER CHAT

November 4th, 2009 10:15pm PST

WATERCOOLER CHAT

The Weekly Waiver Wire

WAYNE "THE WIRE” BOSCO
(Courtesy of the Fantasy Football Gang)

As we continue to get deeper into the 2009 fantasy season and with the well not getting any more full, just when you think it has dried up, we can count on Wayne to offer a little tidbit to help even the most desperate fantasy owners.

Week Eight

There’s little doubt after last week’s breakout performance that running back Ryan Moats will be at the top most waiver wires. Last week Moats rushed for 126 yards and scored three times. With starter Steve Slaton really struggling this season with ball security, more than likely Moats will play a bigger role in the Texans running game. Going forward he may add some depth and quality stats with preferred matchups, but this week his numbers could be a bit pedestrian in a game where the Texans could play catchup. Regardless this would be the time to make the move, he’s not going to sit out there another week.

The Chiefs offense has yet to generate much excitement for the fantasy this season, but with a change coming in the backfield this week, we could see a little more production. With Larry Johnson on hiatus (suspension) running back Jamaal Charles will get the start and a change to become fantasy relevant. This week he has a nice matchup against the Jaguars 25th ranked run defense that allows nearly 130 yards on the ground. What could also make this play more attractive is Charles’ pass catching ability and while he has only carried the ball 23 times this season, he’s averaging five yards a pop. The scat back caught 27 passes as a rookie and could be a better fit in Haley’s system. He’ll certainly have a chance to prove it on Sunday.

Last week Aaron Rodgers put the ball in the air 41 times. With the Packers heading to Tampa Bay, don’t be surprised to see him do more of the same. With both Driver and Jennings demanding so much attention this could be a good week for number three receiver James Jones. Last week against an embattled Vikings secondary, the Packer’s wideout saw five passes in his direction, but managed to only snag one for 42 yards. The Buccaneers secondary is not very deep at the corners and to cover all three Packer wideouts will create some mismatches that could benefit Jones. He’s not highly valued in traditional two receiver leagues, but could offer some worth in leagues that go three deep at receiver.

“Wayne’s Word”

Once again with some fantasy insight here’s Wayne’s Word for week 9;

With Peyton Manning chucking up the pigskin at an alarming rate of success, 318 yards per game, 26.7 completions per game, 71 percent completions, and 15 touchdowns there seems to be plenty to go around. Taking a look at the Indy receiving core, pick your poison. Everyone knows about Wayne and Clark, but fantasy owners in three receiver leagues should be paying close attention to rookie receiver Austin Collie. The rookie receiver is seeing plenty of targets to be relevant. Over the past three games Collie has 18 receptions and three touchdowns. With the Colts set to face the Texans and Manning throwing the ball, any Colt’s receiver always has a shot to score.

Playing the Fantasy GM

Don-Peitro “The GM” Zamboni

Let’s make a Deal
There comes a time in every fantasy season when owners have to make a move to better their team. There is not science or blue-print, sometimes you just have to take chances. The key is minimizing the risk.

The GM Game

With the bye weeks nearing completion fantasy owners will begin jockeying their teams into position for that championship run. Weeks 11-13 are the back stretch and with teams being what they are owners must find ways to improve. A couple of players at the moment that seem to be lost in translation, but could be big power plays down the stretch are wide receiver Terrell Owens and T.J. Houshmandzadeh.

Time to trade….

At present neither player will command a lot of value in return with both their numbers being significantly down; Owens has one touchdown this season averaging just 12-yards per his 23 catches and T.J just two touchdowns and averages less than 11-yards per catch.

If you have depth at another position and can hold your own at receiver, now could be the best time to make a play and offer a trade for either player. Their value is at a low and with Edwards due to comeback Owens has to become a focal point in the passing game if the Bills are going to press the post season. Houshmandzadeh is more likely to breakout sooner in Seattle, so no better time than the present.

With these two players ranking near the bottom, it would seem that up is the only direction they can go. There’s definitely no guarantee they will breakout of their funk, but you have to like the possibilities. And if they do, they have the potential of being strong plays in the latter weeks.

Other under performing players with diminished value that could warrant such consideration could include Brian Westbrook (Eagles), Clinton Portis (Redskins), and so and so. Remember these are players currently with low value that you might be able to steal away from someone.

Keep checking back for more football....

By David G. Ortega

FSH: TUESDAY FOOTBALL TALK

November 3rd, 2009 9:37pm PST

TUESDAY (FOOTBALL) TALK

What to make of Week 8

Chambers out, but not closed….
The Chargers released the veteran receiver, but it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. Though Chambers is a talented receiver in his own right, Rivers likes to go vertical and loves to throw to his gaint receivers. With Chambers standing at all, but 5’11” he was dwarfed by his receiving corp teammates. Buried on the depth-chart behind a pair of 6’5” wideouts, his release may have come at a good time. Just barely out on the open market Chambers has already been grabbed and could looking to reignite his fantasy value in a Chiefs uniform. Stay tuned for this one.


Rice is the man in Baltimore…
There is no longer any debate, discussion over. While many teams in the NFL embrace the running back by committee formula, the Ravens no longer appear to be a believer in that theory. Over the past several weeks there were tell-tale signs indicating that second year back Ray Rice was the featured ball carrier, but his 28 touches on Sunday against the Broncos proved his case without a shadow of a doubt. In his two previous starts Rice had his number called 21 and 22 times, but on Sunday he finished with 28 touches (23 carries, 5 receptions). As far as fantasy goes, his 874 total yards and five touchdowns also put him in rare company this season.


Miles Austin has arrived….
In case you haven’t been noticing the playmaking receiver in Dallas these days is not Roy E. Williams, not Terrell Owens, and not even tight end Jason Witten. From out of nowhere 4th year receiver Miles Austin has arrived under the big top in Big-D to lead the Cowboys aerial attack. Austin has caught 21 balls for 482 yards and five touchdowns in his last three games. Now implanted as one of the starting wideouts in Dallas fantasy owners can make ready for a big second half from a receiver who had only caught 18 passes in 37 career games prior to the start of the 2009 season.

Looking under the microscope

While there was so much debate in the offseason surrounding the Cutler trade to Chicago, the biggest question had to be who would Jay throw to. After looking over the past eight weeks of football it becomes clear; it’s not a former teammate, a surprise rookie, or a projected all-pro potential tight end. Over the past three weeks wide receiver Devin Hester appears to be blossoming into the role quite comfortably. Both he and his quarterback seem to be developing a very good chemistry with Cutler looking his way 27 times over the past three weeks. In the same span Hester has caught 21 of those balls for 265 yards and one touchdown. The 4th year receiver from the University of Miami still has some work to do with his route running, but there now seems to be little doubt about who Cutler will be throwing to these days.

More fantasy Notes

One of the biggest notes from this past weekend had to be the emergence of running back Ryan Moats in Houston. With starting running back Steve Slaton handing the ball away like a concert flyer (has fumbled seven times this season), the door has been swung wide open for Moats. On Sunday he seized the day rushing for 126 yards and scoring three times. His performance was so strong the question is raised “should Moats start?”


While some fantasy owners may have run out of patience, those that stayed the course with Bears running back Matt Forte reaped big rewards on Sunday. In Forte’s two previous starts he had totaled just 109 yards with zero scores. Sunday was a different story for the Bear’s back as he carried the ball 26 times, caught a couple of balls, totaled 121 yards and scored two touchdowns. Welcome back Matt Forte!


With his fumbling woes in 2009, the Texan’s running back Steve Slaton pulled the biggest disappearing act on Sunday finishing the day with just three touches for 11 total yards and one turnover.


By David Ortega

Check back every Tuesday for more “Tuesday (Football) Talk”

FSH: THE FANTASY SPORTS ZONE (STUDS AND DUDS)

November 3rd, 2009 8:37pm PST

Earners and Bums

(Studs & Duds)

Don ‘Shula’ Lombardi

“The Collector”

(courtesy of the Fantasy Football Gang)

Once again “The Collector” is back this week to let all of you fantasy owners know about those not-so-highly known fantasy gems that continue to score big points. While these diamonds in the rough make noise, we also have some of your weekly Studs that looking more like Duds.

When you need a big week, sometimes you can count on your regular sources of scratch to pay-off, “The Collector” will tell you who is dropping the most coin and who you should maybe just drop.

Here were the Studs (Earners) and Duds (bums) for Week 8;

The Earners (Studs)

(Min 15 fantasy points)

Another week of what could have been and maybe what should be (for next week). Here are this past weekend’s top fantasy point getters and those players that maybe need another bye week or just a good-bye.

Is it really that much of a surprise to everyone to see the 40-year old kid still playing at the highest level. The Vikings quarterback Brett Favre was one of week eight’s biggest “earners” torching the Packer’s secondary on Sunday for the second time in the past five weeks. Favre completed 17 of 28 passes for 244 yards and threw four touchdowns on the afternoon. (33 fantasy points)

When one player is dropping all of the loot, sometimes you have to make a change which is what the Texans did on Sunday. With running back Steve Slaton (7 fumbles in 2009) fumbling away the game, the Texans turned to running back Ryan Moats. The backup runner was brilliant cashing in big with 126 yards on the ground and three touchdowns. (32 fantasy points)

The Jet’s rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez did his best impression of a green scoring machine on Sunday. Sanchez completed 20 of 35 passes for 265 yards passing and three touchdowns (including one rushing). (28 fantasy points)

If Tony Romo isn’t your weekly starting quarterback you could missing out on some serious coin. The Cowboys quarterback knows green, especially the kind you find in the end-zone. Romo passed his way to 256 yards on Sunday and threw three touchdowns. (27 fantasy points)

The Saints have their own two-headed monster in the backfield that they can now boast and on Monday night, one of them got loose. Running back Pierre Thomas was cash money rushing for 91 yards and scoring twice; one rushing and one receiving. (21 fantasy points)

The Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck did his best on Sunday to earn his keep for every fantasy lineup he was Sunday. Hasselbeck completed 22 of 39 passes for 249 yards and threw two touchdowns. (21 fantasy points)

The Panthers used their two headed rushing attack out of the backfield to ground the Cardinals. Running back number two, Jonathan Stewart was a Sunday cash cow hitting paydirt twice and rambling his way to 87 yards on 17 carries. (20 fantasy points)

The Eagles rookie running back LeSean McCoy made the most of his opportunity with a rare start. The rookie feasted on the spotlight gaining 82 yards on the ground including a dynamite 66-yard scamper to pay-dirt. (15 fantasy points)

Players not quite earning their way to this honor roll, but drawing some attention include;

TE-Spencer Havner……….(21-yards, 2-touchdowns)

WR-Percy Harvin………….(86-yards, 1-touchdown)

RB-Justin Fargas…………..(79-yards, 1-touchdown)

TE-Dustin Keller……………(76-yards, 1-touchdown)

FB-Leonard Weaver……….(75-yards, 1-touchdown)

WR-Braylon Edwards…….(74-yards, 1-touchdown)

TE-Kevin Boss……………….(70-yards, 1-touchdown)

The Bums (Duds)

(Less than 5 fantasy points)

And of course where you find the “haves” you will find the “have-nots.” Here are your week 8 fantasy studs that left their “A” game for another day and brought their “D” for “Dud” game instead.

There is word that Trent Edwards could return to the lineup; after Ryan Fitzpatrick’s 117 yard passing day with two interceptions and no touchdowns, the sooner the better. (zero fantasy points).

After scoring in three straight games, the Dolphins running back Ronnie Brown only totaled 29 yards on Sunday. That won’t pay the rent. (two fantasy points)

The Jet’s rookie running back Shonn Greene goes from the penthouse one week, to the outhouse the next. Greene rushed for only 18 yards on eight carries with a fumble. (minus one fantasy point)

The Jaguar’s top receiver Mike Sims-Walker scored twice in their first meeting, but on Sunday he was a huge disappointment against the Titans. Sims-Walker finished with just nine receiving yards. (zero fantasy points)

There was no bigger disappointment on Sunday than the one for all of the Steve Slaton fantasy owners. Slaton was expected to be a player this season, but on Sunday he hardly played after a costly fumble (his seventh this season). Slaton finished the day with 11 total yards. (minus one fantasy point)

Fantasy owners that are waiting on wide receiver Eddie Royal to get going in 2009 are only becoming more frustrated. The Broncos speedy wideout finished Sunday with just 10 receiving yards. (one fantasy point)

For all the money the team paid to wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, they are just not seeing any returns this season; 24 receiving yards on Sunday. (two fantasy points)

The Bronco’s wide receiver Brandon Marshall may be saying all the right things now off the field, but he’s still yet to do all the big things he did a season ago; 24 receiving yards on Sunday. (two fantasy points)

The Rams second year receiver Donnie Avery is just not having that breakout season some fantasy owners had hoped he would have; 15 receiving yards on Sunday. (one fantasy points)

Injuries played a huge part in putting these two duds on our list this week; Anquan Boldin caught just three passes for 23 yards and Owen Daniels had just one catch for 22 yards.

By David Ortega

Check back for more weekly “Earners and Bums”

FSH: MONDAY MORNING HUDDLE

November 2nd, 2009 8:27pm PST

[Late Night Edition]

Monday Morning Huddle

So What I Saw in Week 8

Sanchez is Kid Sensation!!….
The jets fell short on Sunday in their effort against the Dolphins, but no one can fault any of the blame on rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez. The Jet’s quarterback was not perfect just missing down the stretch, but for the most part he was once again “Kid Sensation.” Sanchez completed 20 of 35 passes for 265 yards and also tossed two touchdowns; a nice game for the rookie quarterback.

Crabtree already producing….
The Niner’s rookie receiver is not re-writing any record books, but he is turning heads and already producing. Crabtree has only played in two games this season, but he’s already made 11 grabs for 137 yards. In two games Crabtree has seen 15 targets thus far and will likely see a bunch more, expect his production to continue.

It’s Moats time ….
With the Texan’s running back Steve Slaton (7 fumbles in 2009) struggling to hang on to the ball, Ryan Moats has found new opportunity. On Sunday against the Bills Moats carried the ball 23 times for 126 yards and scored three times on the ground. Just for good measure Moats added a couple of grabs for 25 more yards. His strong play on Sunday has some people calling for the switch in the backfield.

Keller breaks out on Sunday….
After five relatively quiet weeks of very little production, the Jets tight end finally busted out of his slump with a big pass receiving day against the Dolphins. Keller caught eight passes for 76 yards and scored only his second touchdown of the season. Keller saw 13 passes in his direction on Sunday, so his days in a slump could be ending soon.

Worst of the Worst

On Sunday there weren’t too many that were as bad as the Brown’s quarterback Derek Anderson. Against the Bears Anderson only completed six of 17 passes for a pedestrian 76 yards with two interceptions.

For Steve Slaton owners it couldn’t get any worse on Sunday. The Texans running back finished the game with just three touches for 11 yards and a lost fumble.

Coming off a huge game against the Rams a week ago, there was nothing but disappointment for Mike Sims-Walker fantasy owners yesterday. The Jaguars receiver caught just two passes for nine yards.

Jury is still Out

Fantasy owners waiting for running back Brian Westbrook to breakout this season, will have to wait at least another week. Westbrook was inactive on Sunday after suffering a concussion in week 7. So far the Eagles running back has rushed for only 197 yards this season and has scored as many times as games he has missed; two.


With so much promise surrounding the arrival of Jay Cutler to Chicago, many fantasy owners were expecting to see the rise of tight end Greg Olsen. In seven games this season Olsen has just 22 receptions and has yet to breakout. On Sunday he again was quiet catching just three passes for 40 yards.


10 Things I Remember From Sunday
(Week 8)

1. Ray Rice continues to prove he is a top featured back in the NFL with over 100-total yards on Sunday against the Broncos.
2. Steven Jackson is making his own argument as to who the number one running back in the NFL is; Jackson totaled 166 yards on Sunday.
3. Despite being under tremendous pressure all afternoon, Packer’s quarterback Aaron Rodgers (sacked six times) passed for 287 yards and threw three touchdowns.
4. No one can say Viking’s quarterback Brett Favre is not a fantasy starter; 244 yards passing and four touchdown passes (16 TD passes this season).
5. The second year running back in Tennessee, Chris Johnson dominates again on Sunday with third 100 yard rushing game this season; Johnson rushed for 228 yards.
6. The Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb continues to play like a number one fantasy quarterback with three touchdown passes and 240 yards in the air.
7. Quietly on Sunday the Bears running back Matt Forte returned to fantasy glory with 90 yards rushing, 31 yards receiving, and two rushing touchdowns.
8. The Bears wide receiver Devin Hester turns in another solid Sunday with seven receptions for 81 yards.
9. The Viking’s rookie receiver Percy Harvin had a productive receiving day against the Packers; five receptions for 84 yards and a touchdown.
10. The NFL’s leading receiver Steve Smith (Giants) continues to be a PPR beast with eight catches for 68 yards on Sunday.

Remember to check back for more "Monday Morning Huddle!"