FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

September 25th, 2016
Sunday morning Edition

Sunday Morning Gametime

Start'em

Coming off a big day a week ago with 9 receptions and 102 yards receiving, I like tight end Dennis Pitta's 12 today in a not-so-great matchup against the Jaguars. The Jags defense has been pretty good versus opposing tight ends, but the Ravens pass catcher is healthy and appears to be a focal point in the pass game. Last week Pitta led the team with 12 targets. He may not see as many today, but he should see enough to put up top 10 TE fantasy numbers this week. Start him.

Fantasy owners should be able to count on Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers to be a Week 3 Road Warrior. The Bolts signal caller has a very favorable road matchup agains the Colts secondary, ranked 23rd versus opposing quarterbacks in fantasy. Rivers has been solid thus far averaging 231.5 yards passing per game with 5 touchdowns and zero interceptions; expect another solid effort from the veteran today in Indianapolis. Get him in your lineup.

Most fantasy owners are going to have Jets running back Matt Forte in their line-ups today, so this is more for the DFS players, start Forte. He's got a fair salary value, and with a hot matchup against the Chiefs defense that is ranked 30th versus opposing running backs in standard scoring. Forte is the workhorse in New York and should see lots of work today. He's a start today.

He's been a favorite of mine in this early part of the season and I will continue to ring the bell for wide receiver Victor Cruz. With a savory matchup against the Redskins defense, ranked 26th versus opposing wide receivers I expect we'll he Victor Cruz's name plenty of times today. Start him with confidence.


Sit'em

It's always tough to sit your studs, but fantasy owners better temper their expectations from wide receiver AJ Green. The Bengals wide out will match up against one of the leagues best secondaries that allows the third fewest fantasy points to opposing receivers. It's a tough call to sit Green, but don't expect big numbers today.

The Niners running back Carlos Hyde has a tough match up today facing the Seahawks 3rd ranked run defense. He's not off to a great start averaging well less than 4 yards per carry and just 122 yards in two games this season. I would not expect to see the Niners offense make any big strides today on the road, fantasy owners may want to look elsewhere for help in the backfield.


Injury Round-up

RB-Jamaal Charles, OUT
RB-Rashad Jennings, OUT
RB-Arian Foster, OUT
WR-Sammy Watkins, OUT
WR-Willie Snead, Questionable
TE-Virgil Green, OUT
TE-Delania Walker, Questionable

Expected to play;

WR-Brandon Marshall
WR-Alshon Jeffrey


That's my take,

~David G. Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

September 18th, 2016

Sunday

Sunday Spotlight

I am just spotlighting a couple of Sunday plays this week that I happen to fancy.

After his week one dud, fantasy owners are probably ready to toss the Browns big tight end, Gary Barnidge to the side, but hold on there. Last week was with Robert Griffin III under center and this week there has been a change. With the likely season-ending injury to RGIII in week one, the Browns will have journey-man quarterback Josh McCown under center this Sunday. For fantasy owners of Barnidge, with McCown calling the signals there is hope.

Last season with McCown throwing to him, Barnidge was a weekly top-10 fantasy play and a big reason for the tight end finishing as one of fantasy's top tight ends. Last week Barnidge was a big goose end only seeing two targets, owners can expect a big reversal this Sunday. He should be plenty involved in the pass game and his large frame makes him a solid red-zone target.

His Sunday line; 6 receptions, 75 yards and a touchdown.

The Giants will be playing host to the traveling Saints today and if you own any Giants get them in your lineups today; even the waterboy could get in for a score. While the popular plays will be the regular starters, one play I am high on is the return of wide receiver Victor Cruz.

Last week Cruz found the end zone against the Cowboys and this week I expect a return trip against the Saints. Cruz could see a few more targets than the four he saw last week facing a Saints secondary that was abused last week for over 300 yards in the air. With Odell Beckham Jr drawing a lot of the attention, I look for Cruz to slip into the top 20 this week with a solid receiving day.

His Sunday line; 5 receptions, 80 yards, and a touchdown

That's my take

~David G. Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

September 16th, 2016

Friday

Week 2: Friday Football Fixx

After one week of action, there's plenty of football discussion at the local employment water-cooler. I was able to catch quite a bit of the action from week one and here's what I see for this Sunday, so if you are ready let's get into it....

Week 2 presents quite a few savory matchups for fantasy owners to salivate over. If you are looking for fantasy friendly matchups and need help under center, the Bronco's second year quarterback Trevor Siemian wasn't spectacular in week one, but with a healthy match-up against a suspect Colts secondary (340 yards passing allowed in week 1), he has the weapons to product top-10 numbers in week 2.

After facing a very tough and stingy Seahawks defense (81 rushing yards allowed in week 1), the Dolphins running back Arian Foster should fare much better this Sunday. Foster touched the ball 16 times for more than 100 total yards last week. Against the Patriots (4.8 yards allowed per carry) this Sunday he's likely to see as many, if not more chances and should easily better his numbers from a week ago. Fantasy owners can even expect the versatile Foster to add a score.

Last week the Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz (4 receptions on 4 targets) made his long awaited return to the field of action against the Cowboys. His performance may have been less than stellar, but his familiar return to the end zone could be an indication of what's to come. This week the Giants will play host to a Saints team that was torched and burned last Sunday by a Raiders offense that accounted for 486 yards of offense, including 319 yards in the air and one score. Cruz and company will be looking to cash in big this week; expect the salsa-man to do his dance again.

After a big week one performance in the Big Easy, the Raiders second year receiver Amari Cooper (6 rec/137-yards in week 1) is looking for another big Sunday with a tasty matchup against the Falcons this Sunday. The birds will be traveling to the Black Hole on Sunday and after their secondary was torched for 5 pass plays of 20 yards or more in week 1, Cooper and company will be looking for the long ball again this week.

Last on my Friday list is Eagles running back Ryan Matthews. His numbers weren't huge in week one, but he did manage a solid fantasy Sunday with 77 yards and a score. While his total out-put wasn't anything to scream about fantasy owners should be excited with his 22 carries, a sure sign he is the feature runner in the Eagles ground game. This Monday night Matthews could find quite a few holes in Bears run defense (129 yards rushing allowed in week 1).

These are my Friday Fixx plays I like for week 2.

That's my take

~David G. Ortega

SUNDAY SLEEPERS

September 13th, 2015
Sunday

Sunday Sleepers

I am not going to go through too many, so I will offer just a couple of Sleepers to consider for week 1.

In Green Bay with Nelson out (ACL injury) and James Jones only having been with the team for less than a week, quarterback Aaron Rodgers will be looking to utilize his full compliment of weapons this week. Running back Eddie Lacy will likely carry the load on the ground, but when the team enters the red-zone, I am expecting Rodgers to really open things up. One weapon that is not getting a lot of noteriety is tight end Richard Rogers. In his second season, the former Cal Bear is a big target at 6'4" and will face a Bears defense that was worst versus tight ends last season (standard scoring), allowing the second most touchdowns. I expect the Rodgers connection at least once today.

Another Sunday Sleeper I am targeting is wide receiver Rueben Randle. Over-shadowed by his teammate Odell Beckham Jr, Randle brings something to the table and has had success with quarterback Eli Manning in the past. With Victor Cruz ruled out, Manning is going to have to look other places beside OBJ in the pass game. Randle finished strong last season with back-to-back 100-yard receiving games and should be a lock for a couple of red-zone targets at 6'3".

Rodgers and Randle could be very successful plays in week 1.

Just my take.

~David G

FSH NOTEBOOK: FANTASY FIVE

Saturday Edition
October 20th, 2012  

FSH Fantasy Five

Week 7 Fantasy Picks (all positions)

This week presents significant challenges for fantasy owners with six teams on the sidelines, but even with so many studs taking the day off there will plenty of stars shinning on Sunday. As I am looking over this week’s matchups I am seeing quite a few names jump out at me that I think are solid plays for week 7. Here are just five of my favorites for Sunday;

Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB
The Bills offense has sputtered at times this season, but even with some rough outings this season quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has managed to outperform (in the fantasy world) some names like Stafford, Rivers, and Schaub. With a very favorable matchup this Sunday facing the leagues 29th ranked pass defense (Tennessee), Fitzpatrick should be able to take advantage of a defense allowing nearly 72% passes completed and 292 yards passing per game. The Titans secondary has also given up 13 passing touchdowns this season; Fitz and the Bills should have little trouble cashing in. I like Fitzpatrick as a high end QB2 and worthy of a start in deeper leagues.

Kenny Britt, WR
In the same game the Titans offense is looking at similar possibilities for success. Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck will be making his third start this Sunday and facing the Bills 20th ranked pass defense (13 passing touchdowns allowed and 255 yards passing per game), I like his go-to receiver Kenny Britt to finally step up in 2012. Last week versus the Steelers Britt finally found the end-zone and he was heavily targeted; 11 targets last week. I expect to see Hasselbeck continue to look his often was this week leading to some nice fantasy numbers. We could see a lot of grabs, not necessarily big yardage, but he could make a trip to the end zone making him a strong flex of low end WR2 this Sunday.

Josh Freeman, QB
The Buccaneers passing offense has been breathing a little life the past couple of weeks with quarterback Josh Freeman averaging 313 yards in the air with three scores in the team’s past two games. This Sunday the Bucs play host to the New Orleans Saints and the offense may once again have to lean on Freeman and his arm. The Saints offense puts up a lot of points per game and fortunately for Freeman and the Bucs offense the Saints defense gives up a lot of yards (283 yards passing/game) and points (30.8 points allowed per game). This matchup is shaping up to be a big day of passing for Freeman and with his new found toy (Vincent Jackson; three touchdowns in last two games) he could also score a couple of TDs. Freeman looks to be a nice bye-week fill.

Hakeem Nicks, WR
It seems the Giant’s playmaking wide receiver Hakeem Nicks is getting healthier managing a full week of practice. This is good news for the Giants offense and even better for fantasy owners. There’s no question that wideout Victor Cruz has blossomed into one of Eli Manning’s main go-to receivers, so defenses will have to be sure to account for him. This should open some opportunities for Nicks on Sunday facing the Redskins 32 ranked pass defense. When Nicks is healthy he is more than just dangerous, but add a suspect secondary that allows over 325 yards passing per game and has surrendered 15 passing touchdowns this season and he is a must-start (twice on Sunday).

Donnie Avery, WR
In Indianapolis Reggie Wayne is quarterback Andrew Luck’s main go-to guy tied for the NFL lead with 70 targets this season, but wide receiver Donnie Avery is no forgotten man on the other side. Avery is far and away second on the team with 47 (9.4 targets per game). On Sunday the Colts play host to the Browns and it’s highly likely that Wayne will draw a lot of attention from the Browns top corner Joe Haden. Avery should see plenty of favorable matchups and with Luck not shy about looking his way; this could be a breakout Sunday for the Colts number two receiver. Avery should be played as a strong flex or a WR2 bye week filler.

By David Ortega