October 18th, 2016
Tuesday Evening edition
Sunday Fantasy Heroes
Every week fantasy owners are seeing big performances from big names and last Sunday (Week 6) was no different. In the Big Easy, it was all home-cooking for Saints quarterback Drew Brees passing for 465 yards with 4 touchdowns, while over in Foxboro Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was serving notice to the league with another big day; 376 yards passing with three touchdowns.
Up in the Northeast, Bills running back Shady (LeSean) McCoy was getting jiggy rushing for 140 yards and three scores and in the Big Apple, Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr was playing big with 8 receptions, 222 yards receiving, and two touchdowns. These were just some of the big names fantasy owners know and had in their lineups, but let's take a look at some notables that may have been overlooked in week 6 and should be considered in Week 7.
Week 7 Waiver Watch
The Browns rookie quarterback Cody Kessler played well on Sunday completing 26 of 41 passes for 336 yards and two touchdowns. Kessler may not be quite ready for prime-time this Sunday on the road against the Bengals, but he's keeping an eye on as a possible bye week fill-in if the matchup is right.
The Rams starting quarterback Case Keenum had a big day throwing for 321 yards with three touchdowns on the road agains the Lions. Keenum was good up until his last throw, a game ending pick. It was a bounce back performance for Keenum after a disastrous week 5, but this quarterback is going to need to stay on the watch list for while until fantasy owners see more consistency.
Up in Oakland in the Black hole may be where some go to disappear, but the Chiefs running back Spencer Ware showed up on Sunday. Ware rushed for 131 yards and two scores on 24 carries, even with the return of Jamaal Charles. He's definitely a solid weekly play, keep him in your lineups.
After a week of just 11 carries, Ravens running back Terrance West toted the rock 23 times on Sunday to the tune of 87 yards and two touchdowns, while adding 4 receptions for another 36 yards. West has definitely worked his way onto the flex radar and could be moving his way up the RB3 charts as well.
The Rams passing game has not been much to cheer about, but quietly wide receiver Kenny Britt has been creeping up the fantasy radar. This week he may have reached fantasy relevance with a big day on Sunday grabbing 7 balls for 136 yards and two scores. Britt has managed to work his way into the top 20 and should now be owned.
The Bears 2nd year wide receiver Cameron Meredith has managed to put two solid performances back-to-back with his 11 catch 113 yard receiving performance on Sunday. In the past two weeks Meredith has been a near top 15 fantasy WR option and now warrants ownership and weekly consideration as a WR3 or flex play.
These are just a handful of weekly notables that fantasy owners should continue to watch.
That's my take.
~David G. Ortega
October 16th, 2016
Sunday Morning edition
Sunday Morning Gametime
We have less than 90 minutes until gametime and looking at some of the injury forecasts for today, I have a couple of tid-bits I will throw into the pot. These are just some of my favorite starts and sits for Sunday week 6.
"Who's In, Who's Out"
The Dolphins will roll out running back Arian Foster today against the Steelers. Foster has been out for several weeks with injury and has always been a health risk for fantasy owners. If you lack better options, he's a week 6 PPR start for me this week; he's in.
The Bengals will be tested today, but an upstart Patriots defense riding the high of the return of their team leader Tom Brady. The Pats offense will put a lot of pressure on the Bengals "O' today to match scores. AJ Green is the likely popular play in Cincy, but I like wide receiver Brando Lafell to contribute to day. He's more of a mid-to-low WR3, but I am playing him where I can; he's in.
A new offensive coordinator in Baltimore and maybe the team will committ more to the run this week. Last Sunday running back Terrance West was having a solid day, but just finished with 11 carries for 95 yards. This week I expect to see the Ravens to stay with the run a little longer equating to more than 11 carries for West. He's a mid-to-high RB3 this week against the Giants, but I like his chances to score; he's in.
With Jonathan Stewart returning to the lineup this week, running back Fozzy Whittaker will be returning to my bench. He's could see some work in the pass game, but in week one playing behind Stewart, Whittaker saw just 4 touches. He's out for me today.
I have Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant in a couple of leagues myself and with the 4pm EST kick-off, the risk seems too high. The Cowboys have a bye next week and it makes more sense to get their star receiver back to 100% health, rather than rushing him out there on to the field. Dez is out for me today.
That's My Take.
~David G. Ortega
October 9th 2016
Sunday Morning Edition
Week 5 Sunday Notes
WAS-BAL
Looking at today's game in Baltimore, the Redskins and Ravens could be looking at severe playing conditions for the pass game. If conditions become difficutl and the passing game struggles, look for both teams to find relief on the ground.
This is great news for Terrance West owners. The Ravens running back should have all kinds of success grinding it out against the Redskins suspect run defense. West is leagues 17th ranked runner with 232 yards on the season on 54 carries, a 4.29 yards per carry average. The Redskins allow nearly five yards a carry and have surrendered 8 rushing touchdowns this season. Upgrade West today.
On the other side, the Redskins have a capable runner in their ball carrier Matt Jones. Jones is the 13th ranked runner, but he faces a stiff test going up against the Ravens 5th ranked run defense that has only allowed 2 rushing touchdowns through the first quarter of the season. No pass, a lot of run may not spell relief for Jones fantasy owners. His value takes a slight hit.
CHI-IND
Bears quarterback Brian Hoyer will make his third start this season and after coming off a couple of solid performances with 4 touchdowns and no interceptions. He's playing well and while he's on the road this week, he will see the Colts 24th ranked pass defense that allows the 9th most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks.
Hoyer is fighting to keep the starting job and thus far he looks like a favorite. I would expect another solid outing today against a team allowing a near 70% completion rate and the 9th most pass yards this season. He may not put up monster numbers on the road today, but he should be solid as a low QB1 in deep leagues.
That's my take.
~David G. Ortega
October 7th 2016
Friday Evening Edition
Week 5 Friday Fantasy Fix
With four weeks in the books, there are several interesting matchups this weekend (Week 5) worth taking a look at for fantasy owners.
In Baltimore running back Terrance West is looking at a prime matchup against the Redskins run defense ranked 30th versus the run. West should get plenty of looks this Sunday coming off a 21 carry effort in week 4. He is also averaging better than 4 yards per carry and is currently the leagues 17th leading rusher. With the Redskins allowing the 2nd most fantasy points to opposing running backs, including 7 rushing touchdowns this season, West looks to be a week 4 must play.
Colts running back Frank Gore was just removed the team's injury report for week 5 and that comes just in time. This Sunday Gore gets the Bears run defense, ranked 26th versus the run and allowing 123 yards per game on the ground. The Colts are in big need of getting the running game rolling and this Sunday, home cooking could be just what the doctor ordered to get the ship righted. Gore, the leagues 15th leading runner has averaged better than 21 touches the last two weeks; expect more Gore this Sunday and lots of production.
The Eagles running back Ryan Matthews was also just removed from the team's injury report and with a favorable matchup this Sunday against the Lions run defense he could finally get his 2016 fantasy season rolling. The Lions run defense is ranked 22nd versus the run and they also allow better than 5-yards per tote. If Matthews is finally healthy, he could see some extended work with positive results. Matthews is more of a sleeper or low-end flex play this week.
That's my take.
~David G. Ortega
