FSH: THE FANTASY SPORTS ZONE (DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH)

November 26th, 2009

The Fantasy Sports Zone

"Diamonds in the Rough"

(weekly fantasy sleepers)

Players you should watch and some you might want to play now!

No stones go unturned, although this deep into the season some of the shine may be a little faded. Nonetheless with injuries mounting fantasy owners are going to be looking high and low to find this week's gems for Sunday and we've got a couple right here...

This Week's Gems....

In Atlanta....

When the Buccaneers come to town it's time to open up the playbook and take your shots downfield. There's no question that Roddy White is the team's go to receiver, but the speedy deep threat is Michael Jenkins. Jenkins is coming off a decent numbers game last week, but had a few costly drops. So far in 2009 Jenkins has been the fantasy option owners had hoped, but his 33 catches gives us hope. This Sunday he'll be lining up against the leagues 20th ranked pass defense that has allowed 22 touchdowns and 10 pass plays of 40 yards or more. Look for Ryan and Jenkins to hook up deep a couple of times.

In Houston....

Everyone knows about the Texans wide receiver Mr. Andre Johnson, but after watching the Colts 18th ranked secondary get ripped the past two weeks for over 630 yards, fantasy owners had better get acquainted with Kevin Walter. The Texans number two receiver has been quite under used this season, but when used can be an effective secondary option. In the team's first matchup Walter caught five balls for 67 yards with Johnson grabbing 10. While Andre is certainly capable, don't expect the Colts to allow him to run free. Walter should see plenty of targets and have plenty of opportunity to produce on Sunday.

In Tennessee...

You’re not going to see this often, at least not until Titan’s quarterback Vince Young becomes a little more polished, but rookie wide receiver Kenny Britt could be a sneaky play this week. The Titan’s rookie is the team’s leading receiver and since Young’s insertion into the lineup, the offense has shown a little spunk. Last Monday night Britt emerged out of his hibernation with a good night; four catches for 42 yards and a score. This Sunday with the Cardinal’s 27th ranked pass defense and 36 pass plays of 40 yards or more allowed in town, look for another productive week from the rookie.

Worth watching for now....

The Jets are going to have to do a better job of protecting their rookie quarterback with the run game down the stretch and it will start this week against the Panthers. Although rookie running back Shonn Greene is coming off a very unproductive Sunday last week against the Patriots keep your eye on the kid, he'll face a much less disciplined run defense in the 26th ranked Panthers. Greene has been nothing more than a handcuff most of the season behind Thomas Jones, but this could be a week where he sees more work and is much more effective.

By David Ortega

Check back every week for more "Diamonds in the Rough"

FSH: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

November 24th, 2009 10:30pm PST

David's Daily Digest

[My Take]

More football news and happenings from around the league; here’s the latest I am hearing, reading, and following with my take on things and how they will impact the coming fantasy week……

Player Notes From Across My Wire...

Brandon Jacobs is a go for Thursday….

The Giants running back has not been having quite the season fantasy owners had hoped for, but good news for Thursday night. Jacobs looks like he'll be a go and facing the Broncos he's going to have a great matchup. Jacobs has only rushed for 656 yards this season and three touchdowns, but the Broncos run defense over the past four weeks has been horrid allowing nearly 170-yards per game.

Warner bruised, but not broken….

The Cardinals quarterback suffered a mild concussion on Sunday against the Rams, but it sounds like he'll be a go for Sunday. Warner was knocked out of the game just before the end of the first half, but not before he rang up over 200-yards passing and two scores. This season Warner has passed for over 2,700 yards and 20 touchdowns, but he'll be facing a much improved Titan's defense (four sacks Monday night against Texans).

Cartwright looks fit to start Sunday….

With Clinton Portis already ruled out and Ladell Betts being injured on Sunday against the Cowboys, Cartwright becomes the man in D.C. Last Sunday Cartwright was effective out of the backfield catching seven passes and totaling 140 yards. He'll start Sunday against the Eagles, but should be a safe play in PPR leagues.

Rookie quarterback Matt Stafford unlikely….

With Stafford not practicing in a short week, it's highly unlikely fantasy owners will see him on Thursday against the Packers. Not only is this bad news for owners with Stafford coming off a huge 400-plus yards passing and five touchdown effort, but his absence will greatly affect the performance of wide receiver Calvin Johnson (if he plays). Without the rookie, Megatron (less than 100 percent) will be a very risky play against the Packs 7th ranked pass defense.

Check back with "Your Fantasy Sports Home" for more Football to digest....

FSH: TUESDAY (FOOTBALL) TALK

November 24th, 2009 9:37pm PST

FOOTBALL TALK

What to make of Week 11

McDaniels’ offense is a Mc-Mess….

When the Chargers and Broncos met on Sunday, both teams were 6-3 and tied for first, when the game was over only one team looked like a first place team and it wasn’t the Broncos. After their 6-0 start it seems the wheels have fallen off and one of the biggest reasons has been the faulty play of the offense. In the Broncos last four games they have managed just 37 points and averaged a paltry 250 yards of offense per game. With limited production like that, the fantasy value of players like Brandon Marshall, Eddie royal, and Kyle Orton will continue to submarine.

Favre and his Entourage on a Viking quest…

The Vikings quarterback Brett Favre continues to age like a fine wine and the way things are going he and his purple mates could be soon raising their glasses and toasting to victory. This season the Vikings led by the arm of Favre have become a more explosive team scoring over 30 points per game. So far in the 2009 season the Vikings have total 30 or more points six times and are undefeated when they do. A contributing factor is the playmaking ability of fantasy studs like Adrian Peterson, Brett Favre, and Sidney Rice. Even players like Visanthe Shiancoe and Percy Harvin offer substantial fantasy value on such an explosive offense.

Looking under the microscope

While it was 10 weeks in the making the good news for Terrell Owens fantasy owners is that his breakout game did arrive. Last Sunday T.O. went ballistic with 197 yards receiving and a touchdown. The other notable factor was the 14 passes quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick threw in Owen’s direction. As we take a look under this microscope with fantasy owners wondering was this an aberration or will it continue consider the following; his 14 targets last Sunday were a season high and with three of his next four opponents being the Dolphins (21st against the pass), Chiefs (28th), and Falcons (29th against the pass) his timing to breakout could not be better.

More fantasy Notes

Don’t look now fantasy owners, but it appears quarterback Tom Brady is hitting his fantasy stride these days. He has managed to pass for more than 300-yards in five straight games and in his last six games he has thrown a total of 16 touchdowns. He looks primed to continue his assault on opposing defenses and ready to avenge his disappointing 2008 campaign. If he continues at his current pace he will likely exceed 4,500 yards passing and 35 touchdown passes and earn many fantasy owners the fantasy championship that eluded them a year ago.

For those fantasy owners that have been riding the shoulders of running back Steven Jackson this season, they are aware of his four straight 100-yard rushing games. Jackson has also totaled (rushing and receiving) more than 100-yards in six straight games and only twice this season has he totaled less than 100-yards. Last season Jackson totaled just over 1,400 yards missing four games (he had an outside shot at 2,000-total yards). The Rams powerful running back, like the Titan’s Chris Johnson has a chance at over 2,000 total yards this season. Jackson is on pace to net 2,019-total yards.

By David Ortega

Check back every Tuesday for more “Tuesday (Football) Talk”

FSH: ON THE COVER

November 23rd, 2009 9:00pm PST

This Week on the Cover….

(AP Photo/By Jack Dempsey)

The Bolts are Super-Charged!



For many folks on the west coast, this was the game of the week; Chargers against the Broncos. It was hyped to be a showdown, but quickly turned into a meltdown and then a proverbial "stay down."

This one started out competitive, but the Chargers stayed the course throughout the first half, chipping away at the Broncos defense to find many different faces on offense to make plays; Legadu Naanee, Mike Tolbert, and Jacob Hester. In the end it was the old reliables" quarterback Philip Rivers (145 yards passing, 1-Td) and LaDanian Tomlinson (73 yards rushing, 1-Td) who took care of business on Sunday.

Rivers started with the hot hand completing 13 of 14 passes in the first half, then it was a barrage of running backs (Tomlinson, Tolbert, Hester, and Sproles) that carved the Broncos defense for 203 yards on the ground, including 155 yards in the second half.

The Broncos really struggled on offense to keep this one close with an ailing and ineffective Kyle Orton. Quarterback Chris Simms started the contest, but could not muster much on offense forcing Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels to roll the dice and insert a less than 100 percent Orton. Even after a quick start with a couple of completions, the implosion on Sunday for Denver was complete with a Knowshon Moreno fumble at the Chargers one yard line late in the first half.

The Broncos took the fight into the second half, but with half of a quarterback and desparation in the air the Chargers seized control and put this one away following a huge gamble and critical error by McDaniels. Trailing 13-3, a botched onside kick set the table for the Chargers and the feeding frenzy began with a one yard dive for six by Tomlinson. Down big the Broncos could never recover and were seemingly put down for good with a series of early 4th quarter field-goals by Nate Kaeding.

The Chargers are now bolting fast into the playoff picture and super bowl talk, while the Bronco's surprise season is quickly slipping away. The Chargers will prepare for a very win-able week 12 matchup with Kansas City, while the Broncos will try to stop the bleeding and play host to the Giants on Thursday.

A true tale of two teams going in opposite directions and this week doesn't look like much will change?

Check back everyday for more football!

FSH: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

November 23rd, 2009 10:30pm PST

David's Daily Digest
[My Take]

More football news and happenings from around the league; here’s the latest I am hearing, reading, and following with my take on things and how they will impact the coming fantasy week……

Player Notes From Across My Wire...

Steven Jackson is Steady as they go….
The Rams running back has been a solid fantasy starter much of the 2009 season and over his last four-starts, he’s been as good as anyone. In his last four Jackson has averaged 147 yards from scrimmage and 18.5 fantasy points per game.

TO’s breakthrough; short-lived or will it last….
The Bills finally did something right, although they did not achieve the desired result. What they did achieve was that if they get their playmaker (Owens) involved, he will make plays. On Sunday Owens was huge with 197 yards receiving and with the Dolphins (ranked 22nd against the pass) up next fantasy owners could see more.

Favre; As good as any fantasy quarterback….
He may be 40 years of age, but he’s playing like half that age. Over the past month and a half (since Oct. 18th) Brett Favre has been at the top of the fantasy charts. In his last five starts Favre has passed for over 1,400 yards and thrown 12 touchdown passes. His yardage numbers are not off the charts, but his 21 touchdowns this season puts him among the elite.

Could LT be returning to fantasy form?….
It may be too soon to start counting your fantasy points for LT owners, but after his last two games the Chargers running back is looking much closer to form than he ever has. In his past two starts LT has carried the ball 44 times for 169 yards rushing, three touchdowns, and 34 fantasy points.

Sidney Rice is a fantasy receiver on the rise….
The Vikings wide receiver has suddenly emerged into a fantasy monster over the past several weeks and has clearly become Brett Favre’s favorite target. In his past five starts Rice has been targeted 41 times and during that stretch he has produced huge; 33 catches, 642 yards, and two scores.

Check back with "Your Fantasy Sports Home" for more Football to digest....