FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

Saturday Evening Edition

September 6th, 2014 

 

David’s Daily Digest

MY WEEK 1 FAVORITES

No Sleep for the Wicked

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

That’s my take for Week 1.

~David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

Wednesday Evening Edition

August 27th, 2014 

 

David’s Daily Digest

DRAFT! DRAFT! DRAFT!

Get Your Popcorn Ready!

If you have yet to start your league’s draft, then get your popcorn read, because this weekend is sure to be jam-packed filled with fantasy drafts. My annual excitement started last weekend with a marathon 30 round draft (six and half hours of time “on the clock” and endless drinking). Oh yeah, that’s the other half of the fun when drafting in a fantasy league (it’s a well-kept secret in case you were unaware).

So far through the past five days of fantasy drafting (in six leagues), the one thing I have learned you gotta be prepared. In one league where I had a chance to grab Peyton Manning early (fantasy gold), I snagged him off the boards only to realize my impulsive move turned out to be more costly than I would have normally thought.

So while I felt great about my quarterback selection, what I failed to realize was this was a three-starting receiver league. After taking running backs in the 2^nd and 3^rd rounds I found myself with Torrey Smith, Jeremy Maclin, and Justin Hunter as my starters. Now don’t get me wrong, none of these players are fantasy bums, but I am truly riding a leap of faith rolling with these three.

In another draft (8-team league) with the pickins a little deeper, I stuck to my guns. With an early pick at number 4, I grabbed DeMarco Murray and followed him with AJ Green (13^th pick) and Alshon Jeffery (20^th pick). Even though running backs were falling fast, I was still able to come back with Zac Stacy (29^th pick) in the 4^th round. I stayed away from the quarterback and took my Tight End (Julius Thomas) in the 5^th before nabbing Tony Romo; a risky proposition, but one I backed up with Carson Palmer in the 10^th round.

A couple of notable picks that I grabbed in the mid-rounds were running back Chris Johnson, wide receivers Torrey Smith and Marques Colston. These players I took later, but like their potential to have very productive seasons; top 25 respectively.

There’s plenty more to learn and plenty of time to practice the craft. With more than a week until the season starts I plan on using the available time to seek out the late round gems and fantasy sleepers that will help my teams get over the hump and pave their way to fantasy glory.

Who will you take first in your upcoming fantasy draft?

~David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

September 27th, 2011 Tuesday

David’s Daily Digest

Fantasy Notes:

Stafford Closing the Gap to the Top Ranks
The 2011 season has been great for Lion’s quarterback Matthew Stafford. Through the first three weeks he is healthy and he is playing lights out. Stafford is averaging more than 325 yards passing per game and has already thrown 9 touchdowns completing 66.9 percent of his passes. His passer rating of 110.7 ranks third, just behind Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady. As the season moves on and Stafford continues his brilliant play, the gap between he and the elite continues to shrink.

Pettigrew Breaks Out Against Vikes
The Lions third year tight end Brandon Pettigrew could be getting his coming out party just started with a strong showing in week 3 against the Vikes. Pettigrew was targeted 13 times on Sunday collecting 11 balls for 112 yards, both season and career highs. With Stafford now healthy, at 6’-5” and 265-lbs Pettigrew could continue to see more success in the coming weeks. His 22 targets this season indicate he’s a rising TE1 in fantasy leagues.

Rookie Smith Shows Explosion
In his first NFL start rookie wide receiver Torrey Smith came out with more than just a bang, he exploded on Sunday against the Rams with some prolific numbers. On eight targets Smith grabbed five balls for 152 yards, including three electrifying scores. Smith gives the Ravens their much needed deep threat and if he can continue to show great chemistry with his quarterback, don’t expect to see him sit much even when (Lee) Evans returns. It’s too early to make any bold predictions or sudden grabs off the waiver wire, but his presence and strong play could certainly open things up for (Anquan) Boldin on the other side.

Felix the Cat Opens his Bag of Tricks
Just when the Cowboys needed it most, running back Felix Jones reached deep into his bag of tricks and pulled out a big game on the ground. Jones scampered his way to 115, courtesy of a couple of nice big runs against the Redskins on Monday night. It was the first sign of a ground attack for the Cowboys this season and Jones best game by far. Jones showed great burst and breakaway speed, but also some grit not going down on the first contact. He’s a little banged up right now (shoulder), but when healthy this kid can run with the big dogs.

Sidney Rice finds a pulse against the Cardinals
The Seahawks passing game has seeming been in hibernation or on life–support so far this season, but the return of wide receiver Sidney Rice on Sunday may have just breathed a little life into it. Rice, in his first game this season was targeted 10 times catching 8 passes for 109 yards. It’s too soon to be expecting big things from Rice, but it’s a good sign for fantasy owners to see Rice and (Tarvaris) Jackson connecting often.

By David Ortega