FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

Saturday Edition
December 22nd, 2012  

David’s Daily Digest

Ballard has a Good matchup.
The Colts running back Vick Ballard has been solid the past two weeks in fantasy scoring in double digits in each of his past two games. This Sunday Ballard will line up against the leagues 27th ranked run defense and will have a great shot at scoring in double digits for the third straight game. The Chiefs allow the 8th most fantasy points to running backs.

Bradshaw very shaky for Week 16.
Running back Ahmad Bradshaw is making the trip to Baltimore, but given his injury status he remains a big risk on Sunday. Even if Bradshaw is active, the Giants could lean on other options limiting the ball carriers production. Given this is championship weekend, fantasy owners should look to alternative options to play it safe.

Cam has the hot hand
Panthers quarterback Cam Newton has been playing very well his past four starts averaging 264 yards passing while completing 62% of his throws; he has also tossed 9 touchdowns with no interceptions during the same run. Cam has also chipped in with 253 rushing yards and three scores in his last four games. This Sunday Cam will face the Raiders defense that allows the 7th most fantasy points to quarterbacks and have allowed 25 touchdowns. This is a great matchup for Cam on Championship Sunday.

Spiller set for another big Sunday
The Bills running back CJ Spiller has topped double-digits in fantasy points in 5 of his last 6 games. He’s coming off a solid 16 points performance (103 rushing yards with a touchdowns) last week against the Seahawks, and looks like a solid play this Sunday against the Dolphins 8th ranked run defense.

Stafford looking to rebound.
The Lions running game this season has become virtually non-existent and with Megatron on the trail of Jerry Rice’s record, Stafford will not be shy to put the ball in the air. The Falcons defense ranks 17th against the pass, so expect to see Stafford continue his torrid pace of averaging 50 passes per game (over his last four starts). Stafford has been a cold the past three weeks with five picks to three touchdowns; this could be the weekend to get hot.

Bryant a risk worth taking?
The Cowboys playmaking receiver Dez Bryant is playing with damaged wing, but despite the injury he was able to haul in 4 of 9 targets for 59 yards and a touchdown. Bryant is a big part of the Cowboys offense and one of quarterback Tony Romo’s most lethal weapons on the girdiron. With 9 targets last week, injured or not Romo shows no fear looking Bryant’s direction. A risk maybe, but his upside is top-10 talent and worth the play.

More takes for week 16.


By David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

Wednesday Edition
December 5th, 2012  

David’s Daily Digest

The Strong Arms of the Fantasy Law

Schaub Could be the Goods in Week 14
Quarterback Matt Schaub has been on and off the fantasy radar much of the season leading the Texans balanced offense. This week Schaub faces the Patriots 29th ranked pass defense on Monday night in what could be a great matchup for fantasy owners. Schaub is very capable of having a big night against the Pats who allow the 11th most fantasy points to quarterbacks and have surrendered 22 touchdowns this season. Unless you have a much better option, this is the week to play Schaub.

Eli Ready to Lead Fantasy Playoff Charge
The Giants quarterback Eli Manning has been relatively quiet the past six weeks, passing for more than 250 yards in just one of his last five starts. This Sunday could be just what the fantasy doctor ordered with the Saints marching in. Eli will face the leagues 30th ranked pass defense that allows the most fantasy points to quarterbacks, including 23 touchdowns. For those owners looking to ride Eli to a fantasy championship, this could be the great start needed with the Falcons and Ravens to follow.

Romo’s Hot Hand Could Carry into Week 14
The Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo has been on a roll the last three weeks surpassing 300-yards passing in each game. It seems Romo has caught fire just in time for the fantasy playoffs and he’s coming off back to back three passing touchdown performances. He’ll have his work cut out this week against the Bengals 11th ranked pass defense that allows the 9th fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks. Romo should be a worthy play in deeper formats this week.

Ryan Could be Risky in Week 14
Matt Ryan has been struggling of late and his slumping could not have come at a worse time. In his last three starts Ryan has only tossed two touchdowns and has seven turnovers. The Falcons are on the road this Sunday facing the Panthers 8th ranked passing defense that does a pretty good job of getting after the quarterback (28 sacks); a tough matchup for Ryan. If you are counting on a big turnaround for Ryan heading into the fantasy postseason, it could be a risky undertaking this week; consider other options if available.

Freeman Has a Top 10 Matchup this week
The Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman has been playing much of the 2012 campaign in the shadows of the fantasy big names, but with 23 passing touchdowns and 3,003 yards passing he’s worth consideration. In deeper formats Freeman is a viable option this week and facing the Eagles 16th ranked pass defense that allows the 2nd most fantasy points to quarterbacks he’s a top 10 play; start him if you got him.


Just a few of my takes for week 14.


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 MORNING GAMETIME

December 4th, 2011 Sunday

Sunday Morning Gametime

My quick notes:

Who to Watch

Tonight’s Sunday night matchup between the Saints and Lions could end up being a much closer track meet than what saw last Monday between the Saints and Giants. Matthew Stafford has shown this season he has the talent to run with the big dogs, but he’s also got the horses. The Saints are 27th against the pass and could have a lot of matchup problems with some of the Lions big targets. I like Stafford to break out of his funk and play well on the road.

The Cowboys have been rolling along the past several weeks and a big reason has been the consistent play of quarterback Tony Romo. On the road today, he’ll have a chance to continue his winning ways and solid play when the Cowboys meet the Cardinals in Arizona. The Cards rank 25th against the pass and allow more than 250 yards in the air; Romo should be solid today.

Despite the notion that “he can’t” I would suggest sticking with your instincts and keep Tebow in your lineup. He’s on the road today to take on Minnesota, and while the Broncos have been predominantly a running team, I expect to see a few more balls in the air. This could be the week where we see more of Tebow the passer and not just Tebow the playmaker. Either way facing the leagues 29th ranked pass defense could mean for a big game for Tebow.

Who to Avoid

It looks like Rams quarterback Sam Bradford (game-time decision) is sitting on the fence and with AJ Feeley taking first team snaps this week in practice, this could be a situation well worth avoiding all together. The Rams are on the road today and face a daunting task when they travel to San Francisco to play the 49ers.

The Cardinals Beanie Wells is coming off a career game, so the tendency is to stick him in your line-up. While the Cowboys have not been stout versus the run, they have good speed on the defensive side and could be playing most of this game from out front. Wells will become less of a factor if the Cards have to play catchup; Wells could be risky so you may want to look at better options if available.


My Picks Today

My “Four Horsemen”

I stepped away for a while, but today I am feeling good about quite a few players, so let’s take another shot at our four riders for week 13;

Matthew Stafford; the kid has been struggling some, but I look for a bounce back performance tonight against a Saint team that will have to bring pressure and could leave a few Lions in single coverage. Stafford should go for a nifty 300 with at least two touchdowns tonight.

Reggie Bush; if you play PPR then this is your man for Sundya. Taking on the Raiders, Bush should be the focus out of the backfield and in space. The Raiders run defense is ranked 27th and will have trouble slowing down Bush; he’s also a threat to grab a number of passes out of the backfield. I expect at least 125 yards of total offense with 4-5 grabs and a trip to the end-zone.

Brandon Lloyd; despite the possible change at quarterback today, I still like Lloyd. He is the Rams best weapon and whether it’s Feeley or Bradford, he’ll see more than his share of targets; averaging double-digits since becoming a Ram. The 49ers boast a stingy defense, but they do surrender over 240 yards per game and have allowed 15 passing touchdowns. I expect Lloyd to grab a number of passes with at least one trip to the end-zone.

Aaron Hernandez; The Colts are well of aware of the Patriots tight ends, but they won’t be able to cover both. Gronkowski has been the focus over recent weeks, but with Hernandez coming off consecutive seven target games I expect to see Brady look his way a little more often this Sunday. Hernandez has not a big game since week one, but could turn in a huge day today against the Colts; six catches, 85 yards and a score.

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: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

October 16th, 2011 Sunday

David’s Daily Digest

Fantasy Notes:

Hightower Expected to Play?
The Redskins may have running back Tim Hightower available today and he could see some work, but the smart money will be on Ryan Torain to see the brunt. Coming off an impressive performance in week 4 by Torain, Hightower may have to take a backseat today. Likely with limited duty today, Hightower will have limited fantasy value in standard league; you may want to avoid.

Cowboys Offense at Full-strength
With their biggest matchup this season to date, the Cowboys will be traveling to Foxboro fully equipped with their best weapons. Both wide receivers Dez Bryant and Miles Austin will join tight end Jason Witten on the field today. This will be the first time the three have been healthy and on the field together since week one. Whether or not that will be enough firepower to match the explosive offense of the Patriots, we’ll have to wait and see, but it certainly upgrades quarterback Tony Romo to a “must-start” fantasy play this week.

Addai OUT, Carter and Brown to handle duties
With running back Joseph Addai sidelined today, back-ups (rookie) Delone Carter and Donald Brown will share the workload in the backfield. This could be a coin-flip for desperate fantasy owners looking for help at the running back position. The Bengals boast one of the league’s toughest run defenses and could make it tough for both backs all day. Only Carter could offer some hope in PPR leagues with his

Starks in line for a Good Day
The Packers will host the Rams today and running back James Starks could be in line for a big day. With the Rams allowing the third most fantasy points to running backs, expect Starks to benefit with a good day on the ground and a trip to paydirt.

A Quiet Harvin Could Make Noise Today
The Vikings playmaking wide receiver Percy Harvin has been relatively quiet this season with just 18 receptions and no touchdowns. With the Bears 27th ranked pass defense on the slate next, this could be Harvin’s coming out party. The Vikings will likely try to get the ball into Harvin’s hands many different ways. With the game plan likely focused around running back Adrian Peterson, expect some deception and play-action use to isolate Harvin into favorable matchups; if you have him, play him.


By David Ortega

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: THE MORNING HUDDLE

September 22nd, 2011 Thursday

The Morning Huddle

Thursday Edition

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

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


Breaking Down the QB’s

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

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

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

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

My Fantasy QB Rankings

through the first two weeks:

Top 10 (the fantasyPenthouse)

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

By David Ortega

FSH: MY WEEKLY SURVIVAL

September 23rd, 2010, Thursday

My Weekly Survivors

After two weeks of survival play my fantasy football team is currently sitting 12th in a 35-team celebrity/expert league, which is not too bad if you ask me; but we can do better. If you are not familiar with the survivor concept, allow me to enlighten you. Every week you draft a line-up of football players for your fantasy team, using your knowledge and fantasy skill. The catch in this unique challenge is, once you have exercised the services of any particular player that player is no longer available for the duration of the fantasy football season. It’s fantasy football with a demented twist adding real spice and flavor to an already tasty dish.

As I mentioned my team is currently in 12th and it is now time to make my weekly selections for the week three match-ups;

QB Tony Romo: The Cowboys quarterback ranked second in passing yards this season would be getting more print if the Boys had at least one win. Win or lose on Sunday Romo will be out of the shotgun squaring up with the NFL's number one ranked offense the Houston Texans. Fortunately for Romo and the Cowboys, the Texans pass defense is ranked last in the NFL. I expect a big day from the Cowboy's gunslinger on Sunday.

RB-Knowshon Moreno: The Broncos are going to have little chance keep pace with Manning and company on Sunday, but if they do have a shot it will rely heavily on their short passing game and more importantly their ground game. The key will be running back Knowshon Moreno (averaging nearly 20 carries per game) matching up against a Colts run defense that is allowing nearly 190 yards per game and 5.6 yards per carry. I am looking for the century mark from the kid with at least one score.

RB-Darren McFadden: It is very likely that D-Mac could have a few more big games down the road this season, but this is a match-up that is ripe for the taking. McFadden has broken out this season with a 5.0 yard per carry average on 48 carries and he may not quite top 20 carries on Sunday with Michael Bush returning, but he may not need that many to take advantage of the Cardinals 31st ranked run defense that is allowing over 150 yards per game on the ground and 4.4 yards per carry; look for D-Mac to hit triple digits and bust a long one for pay-dirt.

WR-Austin Collie: I would actually like to insert Reggie Wayne here, but something tells me he will have his day later in the year. On Sunday against the Broncos who will likely be missing their starting corners, expect Manning and the Colts passing game to take full advantage. It will really be about picking your poison and I would expect the Bronco's defense to key on double covering Wayne as often as they can leaving Collie (with Garcon on the shelf) on an island of single coverage most of the day. Collie has been the hot hand and I would expect that to continue. He may not pull down the big numbers of yardage, but I would expect him to snag a few passes and find himself dancing in the end-zone at some point on Sunday.

WR-Dez Bryant: There's no question that the Cowboys-Texans matchup this Sunday has all the billings of a regular Texas-style shootout. One of the key players that the Texans defense will be watching closely will be Romo's favorite target Miles Austin (targeted 26 times this season). While the defense is busy with Miles, look for the rookie (Bryant) to re-emerge big in the Boys passing attack. Two weeks ago Bryant caught eight passes, on Sunday he could be in for another busy day!

TE-Brent Celek: Last week against the Chargers, the Jaguars secondary had all kinds of problems covering the tightend position in the red-zone. The result was two scores for Antonio Gates. I am not expecting as many frequent trips to paydirt for Celek, but with Mike Vick under center and his ability to get the ball downfiled, Celek is golden to break out on Sunday.

PK-Lawrence Tynes: The Titan's run defense has not been dominant this season, so the Giants could have some success moving the ball. The Titan's however have been pretty stingy when it comes to allowing touchdowns and have forced opponents to kick six field goals. I like the Giants to get into the red-zone, but I don't see their luck being much different. They may get in for a score, but I am looking for at least three field goals from Tynes.

FSH: SUNDAY MORNING GAMETIME

September 12th, 2010, Sunday

Sunday Morning Gametime

The 2010 season has arrived and with the first game in the books, football fans get set for the opening Sunday and full slate of 13 games today. The Thursday night game was anything, but a barn-burner. It may have lacked some of the excitement we have come to expect from the NFL, but it was never short of drama.

Not quite a Favre-like performance left the Vikings on the short end of the victory stick, while the Saints and Drew Brees simply marched into the new season with the same step they ended their Superbowl run over seven months ago.

Favre and the Vikings will be looking hard over the next few weeks to try and solve their offensive woes and improve a passing game that was simply lacking any real playmaking threats. With a less than 100% Percy Harvin (missed a lot of training camp) and an injured Sidney Rice, the Vincent Jackson sweepstakes could be just the ticket.

Sunday Games:

The Thursday night lack-luster display was just a taste of what football fans have been waiting for since February, but don’t expect today’s games to be anything less than mouth-watering and lip-smacking good.

13 games are slated for the opening Sunday with a classic divisional matchup encore featuring the Cowboys and the new-look Redskins. Romo and company will be traveling to D.C. to meet the Redskins in tonight’s finale, but

The Bengals have added a few wrinkles to their lineup this season with the signing of wide receiver Terrell Owens, but against the Patriots (ranked 13^th against the run in 2009) their biggest key could be running back Cedric Benson. Benson finished last season with 392 yards rushing in his last four starts and will anchor the team’s ground game in 2010. Another player to watch will be the Bengals rookie tight end Jermaine Gresham who could get lost in the shuffle with defenses paying more attention to T.O. and Ochocinco.

There won’t be any new surprises in Houston today with a typical AFC South shootout on order for today’s matchup between the Colts and Texans. Tight end Dallas Clark is healthy and back in the line-up, so along with the usual cast fantasy owners can expect a productive day. Even with a healthy defense, there will be little chance of the Colts slowing down Texan’s wide receiver Andre Johnson. Rookie running back Arian Foster could see a good day on the ground against the Colts 24^th ranked run defense (in 2009).

Denver has a new look this season without stud receiver Brandon Marshall (traded) and his absence could open the door for a more productive season for running back Knowshon Moreno. Despite the lack of playmakers on the outside, quarterback Kyle Orton could still put up respectable numbers from under center. He’s not going to turn any heads, but he’s got great command of the offense’s short passing game.

Taking a little peek ahead at Monday night, in Baltimore the Raven’s offense has been given a huge face-lift and upgrade with some key off-season signings and a last minute addition. The arrival of wide receiver’s Anquan Boldin and T.J. Houshmanzadeh will instantly make Joe Flacco a more appealing fantasy option and productive NFL quarterback. The upgrade in the passing game will also stretch the defenses and give running back Ray Rice more room in 2010 to operate in the run game.

Notables;

There’s will be plenty to watch today and even more to talk about, but for now I leave you with a couple of notables that I will be keeping my eye on today…..

In St.Louis, even with a rookie quarterback calling the signals, I am expecting to see good things from wide receiver Laurent Robinson.

If the Browns can give quarterback Jake Delhomme time, I don’t think it will take him long to find the team’s leading wide out Mohamed Massaquoi. Running back Jerome Harrison will interest, at least for a day against the leagues worst run defense a year ago.

It might be the Lions they are playing, but my focus won’t be on quarterback Jay Cutler, but rather running back Matt Forte who has had success on the ground in the past. On the other side, I expect a strong showing from wide receiver Calvin Johnson who will give the Bear’s secondary fits all afternoon.

With a lot of focus going to Eagle’s receiver DeSean Jackson, it’s Jeremy Maclin who could come up with a big game as well. A much bigger target with great speed as well, Maclin could be a hot item in the Eagle’s passing game today. In the same game Packer’s wide receiver Greg Jennings won’t disappoint fantasy owners, but a surprise play could be third year receiver James Jones.

There’s going to be plenty of action today and much for fantasy owners to cheer about, when the games kickoff in under two hours who will you be watching?