FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

Thursday Edition
October 11th, 2012  

David’s Daily Digest

Nicks Getting Close

The Giants explosive wide out Hakeem Nicks has returned to the practice field, albeit in limited fashion, but it’s a step closer to returning to the field of action. Nicks is a big play home run hitter, in two games of action he has 14 receptions for 237 yards and a score. Nicks is so dynamic on the field, if he can get back he’s a must start. Friday’s practice is expected to tell the tale and determine if we’ll see him on Sunday.

Quinn Will Get Start On Sunday

The Chiefs will be without their regular starting quarterback Matt Cassel, who was injured last Sunday versus the Ravens and will start back-up Brady Quinn this Sunday against the Buccaneers. Despite the poor play of Cassel this season (14 turnovers), Quinn is not likely a huge upgrade. Quinn has not started a game since the 2009 season and you have to worry about his chemistry with his receivers. About the only thing that seems certain, expect a lot of Jamaal Charles on Sunday. 

Are They Whispers or Cries for TO?

Right now quarterback Mark Sanchez and the New York Jets have no weapons in the passing game and that’s a fact. When you are bringing your number corner over to the offensive side to run routes, you have problems. Free Agent Terrell Owens certainly looks like he’d be a better option, better than any the Jets currently have. Owens is still a physical specimen and would be an immediate upgrade for the Jets offense. He’s not going to be anyone’s savior, but until something changes in the Jets’ offense the entire squad remains a non-fantasy factor.


By David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

Tuesday Edition

August 14th, 2012 

David’s Daily Digest

The NFL Returns: Fantasy Football is Back

The Pre-Season is Here

With replacement referees on hand and one week in the books the NFL is back and with it Fantasy Football. Sure it’s only the preseason and it may be early, but it’s not too early to start talking fantasy football. If you check out the internet, you can catch mock-drafts galore and plenty of cheat sheets for your league’s upcoming draft. And for some fantasy drafts never come early.

When camps opened just a few short weeks ago, that was just a teaser to whet the appetite. With games now being played and a chance to view some of our favorite players, the fantasy faithful mouths are watering and we are ready for some football.

The 2012 campaign is well under way and as with each new season come new questions, especially for the fantasy world as we prepare for our upcoming drafts.

Just a few questions some may be asking;

Can Denver be the new Peyton’s Place?

My Take: So far the risk looks like it could pay off huge in 2012. Peyton Manning has been looking strong, especially for a guy that took a year off, but to keep things in perspective we have not seen a large enough sample to make a complete assessment. He does however, look good and appear to be heading in the right direction.

How will the arrival of Tebow impact the Jets?

My Take: The Jets are hoping to cash in on some big pay-offs, especially in the red-zone, but that’s no secret. Tebow was not regarded as much of a passer in Denver, yet he was still able to find pay-dirt on the ground.

Which Rookie will have the greatest impact?

My Take: RGII and Andrew Luck would appear to be the popular picks and after watching their first preseason performances, there’s much to be excited about. It’s still too early to decide, but either way, these two are likely to be later round fantasy picks for most (if selected at all).

Can Rodgers repeat in 2012?

My Take: There’s enough evidence to believe that Rodgers will produce strong numbers in 2012, but you have to keep things in perspective; 4,600 yards, 48 total touchdowns (45 pass/3run) and just six turnovers last season was ridiculous. He’ll post similar yardage (maybe more), but his 45-6 ratio will be a tough act to follow; more like 38-9.

How will Payton’s absence affect Brees?

My Take: The Saints have been hit hard this off-season by the league with suspensions, but even without the normal captain of the ship, Brees and company should be fine. Last Season Head Coach Sean Payton missed some time and spent a number of games in the booth, leaving Brees with the keys to the offense. Coming off his record setting season, I think Brees is going to be just fine driving the Saints offensive machine again in 2012.

Will Moss or Owens be relevant in 2012?

My Take: I am sure this is not a burning question for too many, but just a couple of thoughts; in San Francisco even if Moss is looking good and has regained some of that old form, it’s still quarterback Alex Smith under center. That’s a tough knock, but Smith has been around a while and we’ve yet to see anything to indicate all he needs is a big-time receiver. And at 35 after a year off, would you still call Randy big-time?

By David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: THE SUNDAY FANTASY REPORT

March 5th, 2011 Saturday

The Sunday Fantasy Report

The 2010 season featured quite a few players that rose to the top of fantasy stardom as well as a handful of studs that took advantage of their short stint on the main stage. And while fantasy owners will be closely dissecting the performances of 2010, there may be a few names that escape their attention merely due to lack of playing time or shortened season due to injury. There’s no scientific approach when it comes to evaluating talent for your fantasy draft, but one thing owners must do is make sure they are overturning every stone and not overlooking any stud possibilities…..

Let’s Not Forget in 2011

These are the Players Fantasy Owners Should Remember in 2011

When you start looking back at 2010, there are a few names that may get overlooked simply because it wasn’t there best season statistically, but even so you need to be sure you are looking closely at all of their numbers.

Quarterback Eli Manning would fall into this category; last season the younger Manning tossed 25 interceptions leading the Giants to a 10-6 record. What fantasy owners must pay attention to, although his pick numbers were up considerably, he did pass for 4,000 yards for the second consecutive season and throw 31 touchdowns (4th in the NFL) on 539 passing attempts (8th most in the league). Eli also threw 27 touchdowns in 2009; so while he might be overlooked for his error-prone 2010 campaign, he’s got a lot of upside as a passer.

Shortened season……

Players that were limited in 2010 season, but need to be looked at as early possible fantasy picks would include the Packers tight end Jermichael Finley , the Bengals wide receiver Terrell Owens, the Rams wide receiver Donnie Avery, and the Redskins running back Ryan Torain.

Finley is clearly a star on the rise, but an early season injury ended his 2010 campaign prematurely after just four games. Finley was leading the team with 21 receptions, 301 yards receiving, and already had two 100-yards receiving games in his first three starts (before being knocked out in week four). His premature exit in 2010 should not deter owners from looking at Finley early; he has the talent to be a top three tight end in 2011. Owens is not likely to be back in Cincinnati in 2011, so depending on where he lands, he should be watched. In 14 games in 2010, Owens lead the Bengals with 983 yards and 9 touchdowns; he clearly has plenty left in the tank, but can he find a new home to flourish? The Rams Donnie Avery missed all of the 2010 season, but with his blazing speed he will return in 2011 as one of the teams’ most talented wideouts. Torain (742 yards rushing) started just eight games in 2010, but it was enough to convince head coach Mike Shanahan that he’s their best running back heading toward 2011. With the exit of Portis, the door is wide open for Torain to lead the ground game next season.

Taking a back seat….

A couple of names who could see their fortunes change in 2011 and not necessarily for the better could include the Colts tight end Jacob Tamme and the Rams wide receiver Danny Amendola.

With Dallas Clark going down in 2010, opportunity knocked for tight end Jacob Tamme (67 receptions, 4 touchdowns) and he answered. With Clark on track to return in 2011, Tamme’s fantasy stock is going to take a huge hit; he figures to fall down the food chain considerably next season. Like Tamme the Rams wide receiver Danny Amendola (a PPR favorite in 2010) could see his weekly targets diminished greatly with the return of Avery and Mark Clayton in 2011.

A questionable future of promise…

With so much change taking place in the Mile high country, after a career year the Bronco’s wide receiver Brandon Lloyd could appear to be a fantasy stud in flux. With Orton the designated starter and the possibility of Tim Tebow becoming a start, some owners will question his stock value in 2011. There’s no question Orton starting makes Lloyd look like a top fantasy receiver heading into next season; but remember in the team’s final three games with Tebow under center Lloyd led the team with 14 receptions, 263 yards receiving, and two touchdowns (projected over 16 games: 75/1,402 yds/10-TDs).

In New Orleans the Saints said good-bye to tight end Jeremy Shockey and fantasy owners are saying hello to tight end Jimmy Graham. The Saints number two tight end in 2010, Graham is expected to emerge as the team’s number one and could become a fantasy favorite. His 31 catches and five touchdowns in just five starts last season give owners plenty of reason to think he’s got a lot of promise in 2011; and with Brees throwing him the ball that doesn’t hurt either.

Noteworthy fantasy players…

The Raiders Michael Bush is not going to carry any fantasy owners to a league title, but his strong play down the stretch in 2010 could earn him enough work in 2011 to remain fantasy relevant; as long as he can take care of his off-the-field issues. The Patriots have always been known (in recent times) as a Tom Brady passing team and not much of a running team. In 2010 running back BenJarvous Green-Ellis led the club with 13 rushing touchdowns and 1,008 yards rushing. As long as Brady continues to have success moving the ball, Green-Ellis will remain fantasy relevant especially in touchdown heavy fantasy leagues. After finishing the 2010 season with over 1,000 yards rushing, 51 receptions, and 9 total touchdowns, for running back Matt Forte fantasy owners it would be safe to say the Mike Martz experiment was a success. Forte only figures to get much better in his second season as part of the Martz plan in Chicago.

A couple of players that did not have a great 2010 campaign, but did enough to keep fantasy owners eyes open included the Titan’s wide receiver Kenny Britt, the Texans’ tight end Owen Daniels, and the Bills running back Fred Jackson.

Britt started the 2010 season a little bit in the doghouse, but used his talent and skill to slowly work his way out. It wasn’t a great campaign for Britt, he was still able to showcase lots of promise and possibility with a couple of big games and finishing with nine touchdowns. If the team can find stability at quarterback Britt has the ability to play like a top notch fantasy receiver. Daniels’ recovery from surgery the prior season took much longer than expected, but in the second half of 2010 he started to show signs of health. In his last four games Daniels caught 22 passes for 271 yards and two scores; 2011 could be his return to form. The Bills drafted running back C.J. Spiller in the 2010 draft and it seemed the fantasy world forgot about Fred Jackson. Despite the arrival of new talent to compete with in the backfield, Jackson churned out a pretty good 2010 season; he led the team with 927 yards rushing and five rushing touchdowns. With Spiller keeping company, Jackson’s ceiling may be limited, but he still figures to remain a productive running back in fantasy.

Just my take

By David Ortega

FSH: SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL NOTES

December 19th, 2010, Sunday

Sunday Night Game Notes

Notable Injury News

(for fantasy owners)

The Broncos lost their running back Knowshon Moreno to injury during their week 15 battle with the Oakland Raiders. Moreno left the game in the first half with a side injury and did not return to action. The injury suffered appeared to be to the rib/abdominal area although no update to the severity has been given. Aside from quarterback Tim Tebow (78 yards rushing), with Moreno out the Bronco’s running suffered greatly totaling just 28 yards on 25 carries.

The Colts wide receiver Austin Collie (8 receptions, two touchdowns Sunday) returned to action on Sunday after having missed some time due to injury (concussion). In Sunday’s meeting with the Jaguars, Collie suffered his third concussion of the season when he was knocked out just before the end of the first half. The injury looked pretty severe as Collie appeared to be unconscious and motionless for a moment. His status has not been updated by the team, but some are speculating his season could be done.

The Jaguars quarterback David Garrard (294 yards passing, two touchdowns on Sunday) suffered a hand injury during his week 15 contest against the Colts, but did not have to miss any action. Garrard was able to stay in the game and played well. He was able to finish the game with the injury and did undergo x-rays on his right hand following the week 15 loss to the Colts. The results were negative and Garrard should be ready to go next Sunday’s meeting against the Redskins.

The Jaguars wide receiver Mike Sims-Walker (4 catches, two touchdowns Sunday) left Sunday’s game against the Colts briefly with an ankle injury. Sims-Walker aggravated ankle injury, but was able to return to action and finish the game. He’ll likely be slowed down some this week during practice, but is expected to be available next week when the Jags meet the Redskins.

The Bengal’s lost their wide receiver Terrell Owens for the remainder of the season earlier today. According to a previous report by Pro Football Talk Owens was diagnosed with a meniscus tear in his knee. The Bengal’s receiver suffered the injury in the team’s week 15 matchup with the Browns. Owens left the game without notching a single catch; it was likely his last game as a Bengal.

FSH: SUNDAY MORNING GAMETIME

December 19th, 2010, Sunday

Sunday Morning Gametime

Today’s injury notes

The Saints look like they will be without running back Chris Ivory (hamstring) today against the Ravens. Ivory was on the field earlier, but only run a bit and not all-out according to ESPN’s Rachel Nichols.

According to the Daily News beat writer Ralph Vacchiano, the Giants wide receiver Mario Manningham (questionable) was on the field earlier catching passes from quarterback Eli Manning. It sounds like Manningham will be available today against the Eagles.

Adam Schefter is tweeting that wide receiver DeSean Jackson and defensive back Assante Samuel, both will be active and starting today against the Giants.

In the Chiefs-Rams matchup, quarterback Matt Cassel is active, but according to Schefter there’s been no confirmation that he starts. This could just be a formality; if he can play why wouldn’t he start? Chris Mortensen is also noting a KC source saying “if I were a betting may; I’d say he starts.”

Other notable injury updates include; wide receiver Terrell Owens, wide receiver Austin Collie, tight end Jacob Tamme, quarterback David Garrard, and running back Maurice Jones-Drew are all active today and expected to start/play.

Today’s Matchup

If you have Peyton Manning in your lineup today, expect a huge outing from the Colt’s passer. He faces the leagues 28th ranked passing defense and will undoubtedly be putting the ball in the air a lot. This season Manning is averaging nearly 44 passes per game; don’t expect much less than that today.

The Texan’s quarterback Matt Schaub is coming off a monster game last Monday night against the Ravens. Today he draws the Titan’s 26th ranked pass defense that has allowed 16 touchdowns this season. Schaub will be definitely looking for his favorite target today, Andre Johnson. The last time they faced the Titans, neither produced big games, but both were solid which should be the same result today.

The Falcons are rolling along in the NFC and today they will try to continue their success against the leagues 20th ranked run defense. Michael Turner (1,174 yards rushing in 2010) has 11 rushing touchdowns this season and has ran for over 100 yards in a game seven times this season. He’ll see his fair share of work today and could post his eighth 100-yard game today in Seattle.

By David Ortega

FSH: MY WEEKLY SURVIVAL

December 2nd, 2010, Thursday

My Weekly Survivors

Well last week turned out to be a disaster. Taking Sidney Rice in only his second game back was a stretch, even though he saw extended action the week prior; just one catch for 20 yards last week. I can only imagine how many fantasy owners lost their matchup last week because Titan’s running back Chris Johnson totaled just seven yards; can you say disappointment.

Thankfully I had Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel under center to anchor my lineup. His 27 points (233 yards passing and four touchdowns) saved what would have been a horrific fantasy catastrophe.

With this being the 13th week to submit a lineup and I really have to look for a lot of the lesser known and lower caliber players with ideal matchups. This week no more stretches, I am going to stick with the better odds.

Here are my picks for week 13….

QB-Sam Bradford, St. Louis Rams
The Rams rookie quarterback has been steady and solid over recent weeks. He’s coming off his best performance this season passing for over 300 yards and tossing three touchdowns last week against the Broncos. This week Bradford will be throwing against the Cardinal’s 25th ranked pass defense that has only sacked the quarterback 21 times; with time in the pocket Bradford could have another big Sunday.
(Projected: 19 fantasy points/ 255 yards passing, 15 rushing yards, two touchdowns)

RB- Jonathan Stewart, Carolina Panthers
The Panther’s running back is back and has returned to the starting role. Last week Stewart rambled 98 yards on 12 carries and this week he could be just as effective running against the Seahawks 22nd ranked run defense that has allowed 11 rushing touchdowns. I look for Stewart to see at least 18-20 carries and that could be enough to get him to the century mark.
(Projected: 17 fantasy points/ 105 yards rushing, 1 catche, 10 yards receiving, one touchdown)

RB-Arian Foster, Houston Texans
The Texans running back has just been Mr. Everything to the offense this season. Foster leads the NFL with over 1,100 yards rushing, but he also leads the Texans with 75 receptions. He is a dual threat that is difficult to contain whether it’s rushing or receiving. The Eagles will have not only have trouble containing Foster in the run game, but covering him in the pass game as well. Foster will get his.
(Projected: 19 fantasy points/ 80 yards rushing, 6 catches, 55 yards receiving, one touchdown)

WR-Terrell Owens, Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals big physical receiver Terrell Owens is enjoying a very highly productive season with 65 catches, over 900 yards receiving, and 8 touchdowns. He faces the Saints in what will likely be an up-tempo style game and one that could see him get plenty of chances. This year Owens is tied for the lead with 124 targets.
(Projected: 16 fantasy points/ 7 catches, 105 yards, one touchdown)

WR-Anquan Boldin, Baltimore Ravens
The Raven’s wide out has been unusually quiet on the field lately, but this could be the week he makes a lot of noise. With the Steelers in town, Boldin could present some matchup problems for a very questionable 22nd ranked pass defense. In their first matchup this season Boldin caught 7 passes; expect to see him targeted often this Sunday.
(Projected: 14 fantasy points/ 8 catches, 85 yards, one touchdown)

TE-Visanthe Shiancoe, Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings offense has been a tough one to read, but one thing that has been much easier to read this season is the Buffalo Bills matching up with opposing tight ends. The Vikings and Shiancoe will have the comfort of home and while the Bills have improved over recent weeks I expect to see Favre and his tight end to enjoy some success. Shiancoe led the Vikes last week with only three catches for 54 yards, but he was targerted six times; look for this trend to continue with greater success.
(Projected: 11 fantasy points/ 5 catches, 55 yards, one touchdown)

PK-David Akers, Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles had some struggles last week with the Bears stout defense, but this week against the Texan’s 28th ranked defense they should have great success moving the ball up and down the field. I would expect to see plenty of scoring opportunities for the Eagles and their kicking game.
(Projected: 12 fantasy points/ three field goals, three extra points)

My Previous starts

Week 1 (Total points-77)
QB Donovan McNabb (WAS)
RB Matt Forte (CHI)
RB Carnell Williams (TB)
WR Jeremy Maclin (PHI)
WR Jabar Gaffney (DEN)
TE Zach Miller (OAK)
K Joe Nedney (SF)

Week 2 (Total points-68)
QB Michael Vick (PHI)
RB Ahmad Bradshaw (NYG)
RB Rashard Mendenhall (PIT)
WR Nate Washington (TEN)
WR Greg Jennings (GB)
TE Chris Cooley (WAS)
K Nick Folk (NYJ)

Week 3 (Total points-87)
QB Tony Romo (DAL)
RB Darren McFadden
RB Ray Rice (BAL)
WR Austin Collie (IND)
WR Dez Bryant (DAL)
TE Brent Celek (PHI)
K Lawrence Tynes (NYG)

Week 4 (Total points-58)
QB Eli Manning (NYG)
RB Maurice Jones-Drew (JAX)
RB Frank Gore (SF)
WR Mark Clayton (STL)
WR Brandon Marshall (MIA)
TE John Carlson (SEA)
K Jeff Reed (PIT)

Week 5 (Total Points-72 points)
QB Drew Brees (NO)
RB Steven Jackson (STL)
RB Thomas Jones (KC)
WR Donald Driver (GB)
WR Calvin Johnson (DET)
TE Marcedes Lewis (JAX)
K Mike Nugent (CIN)

Week 6 (Total Points-83 points)
QB Peyton Manning (IND)
RB Ryan Torain (WASH)
RB LaDanian Tomlinson (NYJ)
WR Hakeem Nicks (NYG)
WR Kenny Britt (TEN)
TE Dallas Clark, (IND)
K Sebastian Janikowski (OAK)

Week 7 (Total Points-93 points)
QB Philip Rivers (SD)
RB Adrian Peterson (MIN)
RB Michael Turner (ATL)
WR Larry Fitzgerald (ARI)
WR Dwayne Bowe (KC)
TE Tony Gonzales (ATL)
K Matt Prater (DEN)

Week 8 (Total Points-82 points)
QB Kyle Orton (DEN)
RB Felix Jones (DAL)
RB Jamaal Charles (KC)
WR Brandon Lloyd (DEN)
WR Deion Branch (NE)
TE Tony Moeki (KC)
K Stephen Gostkowski (NE)

Week 9 (Total Points-79 points)
QB Aaron Rodgers (GB)
RB LeSean McCoy (PHI)
RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis (NE)
WR Steve Smith (NYG)
WR Patrick Crayton (SD)
TE Jacob Tamme (IND)
PK Mason Crosby

Week 10 (Total Points-78 points)
QB Joe Flacco (BAL)
RB LeGarrette Blount (TB)
RB Cedric Benson (CIN)
WR Roddy White (ATL)
WR Steve Johnson (BUF)
TE Brandon Pettigrew (DET)
PK Rob Bironas (TEN)

Week 11 (Total Points-73 points)
QB Matt Ryan (ATL)
RB Fred Jackson (BUF)
RB Peyton Hillis (CLE)
WR DeSean Jackson (PHI)
WR Percy Harvin (MIN)
TE Jermaine Gresham (CIN)
PK Dan Carpenter (MIA)

Week 12 (Total Points-55 points)
QB Matt Cassel (KC)
RB Chris Johnson (TEN)
RB Danny Woodhead (NE)
WR Santonio Holmes (NYJ)
WR Sidney Rice (MIN)
TE Heath Miller (PIT)
PK Matt Bryant (ATL)

FSH: THE FANTASY SPORTS ZONE (TARGET PRACTICE)

November 24th, 2010, Wednesday

Fantasy Football

Target Practice

In These Hands We Trust

After 11 weeks of play, there are several players getting a lot of action this season, but topping the boards with 116 targets this season are the Falcons wide receiver Roddy White and the Bengals wide receiver Terrell Owens. Both are having great seasons thus far, but there is a significant difference between the two. While they share the same number of chances, White has nearly 20 more catches with 79 receptions with over 1,000 yards this season; that’s 68 percent success. Owens’ 62 receptions (with 897 yards) leave him at 53 percent success.

There’s no question both receivers are scoring well for fantasy owner’s this season, but it makes a huge difference to have a receiver that is actually making the most of the opportunities thrown his way. In Owens’ case, owners are fortunate he gets as much attention as he does.

Another wide out that has been very efficient this season is the Colts Reggie Wayne (71 receptions, 865 yards, 4 touchdowns). With 110 targets this season his 71 snags are an effective 65 percent success.

Here are more notables with their success level;

Steve Johnson (52 catches, 728-yds, 9-Tds) 71 targets/73.2% success
Marques Colston (62 catches, 705-yds, 4-Tds) 89 targets/69.6% success
White (79 catches, 1,017-yds, 7-Tds) 116 targets/68.1% success
Wayne (71 catches, 865-yds, 4-Tds) 110 targets/64.5% success
Greg Jennings (46 catches, 703-yds, 9-Tds) 76 targets/60.5% success
Terrell Owens (62 catches, 897 yards, 8-Tds) 116 targets/53.4% success
Brandon Lloyd (54 catches, 1,046-yds, 7-Tds) 98 targets/55.0% success

More Fantasy Notes:

Not to be ever overlooked, fantasy owners have to keep a close eye on those ball carriers sneaking out of the backfield. This season perhaps the most effective weapon in the Eagles passing game (for fantasy owners in PPR leagues) may not be DeSean Jackson, but could be running back LeSean McCoy. The Eagles tailback not only ranks 6th in the NFC with 726 yards rushing, but he has also snagged 51 balls this season out of 59 targets. His 86.4 percent success rate in the passing game means whatever is thrown his way he usually grabs. With 10 catches for 80 yards in his last two games not only is he a great play in traditional scoring leagues, but he is better than a solid start in PPR leagues every week. The kid is really starting to crank it up at the right time with fantasy playoffs right around the corner.

Radar Watch

In My sites

With names like Roddy White, Dwayne Bowe, and Steve Johnson stealing a lot of the headlines, some folks may have missed the memo on wide receiver Mike Wallace. Not so quietly he has emerged into an elite deep passing threat. In his last three games he has been targeted 24 times (8.0 targets/game) which ranks 18th anong receivers during this stretch. During this span Wallace has managed to do a lot of damage to opposing defenses with three consecutive games with over 100-yards receiving. His 16 receptions rank him 18th again amongst receivers, but his 362 yards (ranks 1st) and four touchdowns (ranks tied for 2nd) are among the best.

For the season, Wallace has 33 grabs on 57 targets; only 57.8% success. With a 23.0 yards per catch average (leads NFL) and 9 touchdowns, Wallace doesn’t need many catches to get the job done

Looking ahead to the coming weeks, Wallace is a top-flight receiver and even matched up against a 9th ranked Bill’s defense he’ll have no trouble making plays for the Steelers. In Weeks 13-15 his matchups will be more favorable, including a week 14 rematch against the Bengals. Back in week nine Wallace collected five balls (on 7 targets) for 110 yards and a score.

FSH: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

November 17, 2010, Wednesday

David’s Daily Digest

My Fantasy Notes:

JERMAINE GRESHAM HAS BIG SUNDAY
Last week the Bengal’s rookie tight end turned in his best performance of the season against the Indianapolis Colts. Gresham caught nine passes for 85 yards and a score on 10 targets. Gresham has been under utilized thus far, but it was nice to see him more involved in the passing attack.
My Fantasy Read:
With Terrell Owens continuing to play extremely well and Ochocinco drawing extra attention quarterback Carson Palmer was bound to eventually notice his tight end. Grehsam’s 10 targets were the most he had seen since week one. He has the talent and we could finally start seeing the ability. He’s worth keeping an eye on down the stretch.

KYLE ORTON LIGHTS UP THE CHIEFS
The Bronco’s signal caller continues to impress and warrant serious fantasy consideration as a top tier passer (we’re talking fantasy here). Against the Chiefs Orton just missed sixth 300-yard passing game, finishing with 296 yards and four touchdowns. He finished the day 22 of 34 and a passer rating of 131.5.
My Fantasy Read:
Orton does not possess all the physical characteristics of a strong-armed dominant passer, but he has dominating fantasy passing numbers. Whether or not you can accept the obvious Orton is a top-tiered passer and needs to be in your fantasy line-up every week (congrats McDaniels).

FRED JACKSON IS ALL ACTION IN BILLS WIN
The Bills might like their rookie running back, but they have to love Fred Jackson. Last week against the Lions he carried the ball 25 times (highest total this season) for 133 yards and caught 6 balls out of the backfield for another 37 yards. Jackson also added two scores, one rushing and one receiving.
My Fantasy Read:
Jackson was given the role of feature back last week and he shined brilliantly, but he also faced the Lions. It was by far his best performance, but owners should be cautious before starting. A week earlier against a good Bears run defense Jackson was held in check; owners check your matchups.

DWAYNE BOWE CONTINUES HIS RISE
Maybe a lot of his numbers came in garbage time, whether or not they are still impressive. Against the Broncos Bowe finished with 13 receptions for 186 yards and two touchdowns on 18 targets (highest in week 10). It was his third game this season with multiple scores.
My Fantasy Read:
Over the past several weeks he has been one of the most targeted and most productive fantasy receivers. Since week 6 Bowe has been targeted 50 times, caught 30 balls with 8 going for scores; including five straight games with at least one touchdown. Shame on you if he ever makes it to your bench; he’s a must play every week now.

FSH: SUNDAY MORNING GAMETIME

November 14th, 2010 Sunday

Sunday Morning Gametime

Quick Injury notes:

With week 10 set to kickoff in just a few hours a couple of notable injury updates to keep in mind today; wide receiver Sidney Rice was not activated off the PUP list yesterday by the 3pm deadline he will not be activated today for the Vikings-Bears game. On the other hand after missing some practice time this week due to migraine headaches, Adam Schefter of ESPN is already reporting Harvin will be active for today’s game.

Quarterback Vince Young took some snaps during Friday’s practice, but his availability is still questionable for today’s game. Head coach Jeff Fischer has been noted as saying Young will be a game-time decision, but some early reports are indicating it will likely be Kerry Collins starting. Even if Young feels good during warm-ups and gets the nod to start, fantasy owners should be concerned about his health getting through the game.

According to some reports the Redskins will likely have running back Ryan Torain in the backfield on Monday night against the Eagles. Torain looks on track to start according to Schefter, while Clinton Portis appears to be doubtful for the contest.

Player Watch

With fantasy leagues entering the stretch run before their playoffs season, one player of note that I like today and should be on most radars is tight end Marcedes Lewis. The Jaguars tight end has really emerged as a viable scoring threat this season with 7 touchdowns through the team’s first eight games. Today against the Texans he should have a great matchup against the leagues 32nd ranked pass defense. Tight ends have scored three times against the Texan’s defense in the last two games; look for Lewis to add to those numbers.

Sunday Games

Acouple of games today that I like to draw a lot of fantasy interest are the Bill-Lions matchup and the Colts-Bengals tilt. Both games should be filled with lots of fireworks and fantasy scoring.

The Lions have the leagues 22nd ranked pass defense and the Bills passing game led by quarterback Ryna Fitzpatrick has been finding new life over the past several weeks. Wide receiver’s Steve Johnson and Roscoe Parrish should be on most owner’s watch list with a heavy dose of targets the last few weeks, while Lee Evans always remains a threat to take one deep. Matching up against the Lions 27th ranked run defense running back Fred Jackson should be in line for some steady work as well.

The Lions have a few weapons of their own and even with quarterback Shaun Hill inserted in place of the injured Matt Stafford, wide receiver Calvin Johnson should remain a strong play. The Bills are the league’s worst run defense, so today should be a great day to start rookie running Jahvid Best.

If you own any Colts players, today should offer plenty of good matchups especially for Manning the passing game. Wide receiver Blair White could be a great sleeper pick here with Gonzales and Collie absent. Let’s not forget tight end Jacob Tamme, who has done a credible job replacing the injured Dallas Clark. Wide receiver Reggie Wayne will find his, but one receiver that should not be over looked is Pierre Garcon. Indy has plenty of options to go around.

The Bengals passing game has been up and down all season, but one constant I like is wide receiver Terrell Owens. He’s one of the league’s most targeted receivers and he’s having a solid season with solid numbers. In today’s matchup with the Colt’s 29th ranked run defense, Cedric Benson looks like a solid start; just hope the Bengals can stay with the run long enough to take advantage.

Either way, these are two mathcups by my estimation that should provide plenty of fantasy scoring and highlights.

FSH: THE FANTASY SPORTS ZONE (TARGET PRACTICE)

November 12th, 2010, Friday

Fantasy Football

Target Practice

In These Hands We Trust

So far there no question that not only has wide receiver Terrell Owens been one of the pleasant surprises this season for fantasy owners, but since his arrival in Cincinnati he seems to be reinventing himself as media darling. Okay, that may be a slight exaggeration, but one thing we are seeing from Owens this season, more walk and less talk.

In the team’s first 8 games this season Owens has become the league’s most targeted receiver (prior to the start of week 10) with 99 targets. Over the past several weeks, T.O. and his quarterback Carson Palmer have found a nice groove resulting in seven touchdowns over the past five games. Owens has scored twice in each of his last two starts and with 55 receptions and 770 yards receiving he has become a weekly must-start. With the Colts (ranked 7th against the pass) up next in week 10, Owens is looking at another productive Sunday.

Along with Owens, another receiver that has emerged as a solid weekly start is wide receiver Steve Johnson. While any offensive player on the Buffalo Bills tends to be a risky play, this has been one risk that has been paying handsomely over the past several weeks.

In his last six starts Johnson has scored six times with 35 catches for 483 yards receiving. Quietly over his last three start he has become one of the most targeted wide outs with 34 (second only to Owens over the same span). More impressively Johnson had scored in five straight games. The streak was snapped last Sunday, but in that game he still caught 11 passes for 145 yards. He has quickly become quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick’s go-to receiver and should be in your line up this Sunday when the Bills face the Lions (ranked 22nd against the pass)

Radar Watch

In My sites

My Fantasy Notes:

Through the first eight weeks of the season, wide receiver Bernard Berrian has been relatively non-existent, but last Sunday he showed up with nine catches for 89 yards on 11 targets. The Vikings are expected to have all of their weapons (Sidney Rice and Percy Harvin) on the field Sunday. There’s no question the opposing defense will be looking to take away Rice and Harvin, so this is the perfect time for Berrian to start gelling with his quarterback. It may be a little too soon to jump on board, but Berrian is certainly worth keeping tabs on for now.

With camp marsh-mellow in complete disarray, there has been one silver lining worth noting an that has been rookie wide receiver Dez Bryant. When healthy he is a special player with tremendous talent and upside. Thus far this season he has had his ups and downs, but in his last three games he is averaging nearly nine targets per outing. Last week against the Packers he turned in a solid performance. Bryant had nine receptions for 86 yards and a score (4 touchdown receptions in 2010) on 10 targets. He’s looking more and more like Kitna’s favorite and is quickly becoming a steady play week in and week out. With his playmaking skill he’s worth noting and even starting in some of the deeper leagues.

Last week the fantasy world was introduced to a new name and one they will likely be hearing more of in the coming weeks. The Raiders wide receiver Jacoby Ford displayed last Sunday against the Chiefs, exactly how speed kills. Ford came up with some very timely and clutch receptions and in overtime he and quarterback Jason Campbell connected on a 47 yard strike that set up a game winning field goal. The reason no one had heard of Ford, before last Sunday he had only been targeted 8 times. Against the Chiefs, Campbell threw his way nine times and the two connected six for 148 yards. The word out of Oakland, the kid is going to see more action. Ford already looks like a player and it’s just a matter of time before we see more evidence; keep watching.

Weekly Target Leaders...
(Unofficial numbers)

Last week’s Top 10

1. Jacob Tamme, IND (17 targets)
2. Reggie Wayne, IND (16 targets)
3. Steve Johnson, BUF (14 targets)
4. Terrell Owens, CIN (14 targets)
5. Hakeem Nicks, NYG (13 targets)
6. Dwayne Bowe, KC (12targets)
7. Percy Harvin, MIN (12 targets)
8. Bernard Berrian, MIN (11 targets)
9. Tony Gonzales, ATL (11 targets)
10. Roscoe Parrish, BUF (11 targets)