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 17th, 2016

Saturday

Week 2: Free Agent Frenzy

If you are in a bind heading into Sunday and looking for some help, here are a handful of potential free agents that could offer some relief.

Last Monday night the Steelers passing game entered the post Heath Miller ERA, and 2nd year tight end Jesse James moved into the starting role. His first start was less than memorable racking up a mere 31 yards receiving, but the good news for fantasy owners were his 7 targets. James also managed 5 catches in week one, which is a good sign for those that play in PPR leagues. This week the Steelers will match up against the Bengals, a team that allowed 21 receptions for 175 yards receiving to their tight ends in two games last season. James could be a nice sneaky Free Agent pick & play this week.

The Vikings passing game is not your typical place to go looking for fantasy production, but with a change coming under center this week there may be some hope. Wide receiver Charles Johnson was very quiet in week one catching just one pass for 17 yards, but this week he'll have a better match up against a Packer secondary that allowed 13 catches for 178 yards receiving to opposing wide receivers last Sunday. For owners looking for Free Agent relief in week 2 Johnson could be floundering around on the available market. His one catch could deter some, but his six targets indicate he's a big part of the pass game and and with a new signal caller he's got a great chance to improve this week.

It wasn't a big night for Niners wide receiver Jeremy Kerley tallying 61 yards receiving, but fantasy owners should have paid attention to his 11 targets. The starting slot man for the Niners, Kerley was targeted early and often and could see more of the same with head coach Chip Kelly's fast paced offense. Kerley is likely not the most popular name on fantasy rosters, but his 11 targets are too big to ignore. If he's still out there, he's worth grabbing as a number 3 or 4 receiver and possible flex option going forward.

Raven's wide receiver Mike Wallace was all but a forgotten man last season in Minnesota, but a new team with a big-armed quarterback (Joe Flacco) and the barn burner has suddenly found new life. In week one Wallace and Flacco connected on a 66 yard touchdown bomb and although that was the highlight of his day, his six targets make him a promising play going forward. He's also a likely free agent candidate that has big upside potential and should be scooped up now. 

That's my take

~David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

September 17th, 2016
Saturday

Week 2 Four Horsemen

After quickly glancing at this week's matchups on Sunday, here are a few names that jump off the board as possible fantasy stud plays for Week 2. 

Here are my Four Horsemen for NFL Sunday Week 2.

QB-Philip Rivers (Chargers)
The Chargers lost a tough one in week one letting an 18 point half-time lead slip away and again it was a tale of two tapes. Against a tough Chiefs defense quarterback Philip Rivers started fast completing 16 of 20 passes for 151 yards and a score. In the second half along with the offense is where Rivers struggled. This week look for the savvy vet to rebound and finish strong at home on Sunday. Rivers lost a big weapon with wide receiver Keenan Allen going down, but he'll still have plenty of targets with Travis Benjamin, Antonio Gates, and Danny Woodhead. Rivers will be facing a Jaguars defense that allowed 199 yards passing and two scores in week one to the Packers. If Rivers is afforded the time, he'll pick apart the secondary and should post some strong week 2 fantasy numbers; 22 of 29 passes, 277 yards passing, three touchdown passes!

RB-Rashad Jennings (Giants)
Week one was anything but blistering for the Giants running back Rashad Jennings, but for fantasy owners his 19 touches were a big positive. This week the Giants offense will match up with Saints defense that was obliterated for 486 yards of offense in week one, including 169 yards on the ground. Jennings has some success in week one with 75 yards on the ground, but he should definitely improve on his totals and 4.2 yards per carry average against a run defense that allowed 6.4 yards per carry and three scores. This Sunday Jennings should be a top 10 fantasy play; 19 carries, 95 yards, two rushing touchdowns!

WR-Golden Tate (Lions)
The Lions slot man, Golden Tate was perfect in week one, catching 7 passes on 7 targets. This week he could feast even more against a visiting Titans secondary. The match up is not necessarily a fantasy frenzy, the Lions just have a lot of weapons and will present a lot of match up problems for Tennessee. And back in week one, the Titans struggled to keep up with Vikings receiver Stefon Diggs; Tate owners take note. With his seven targets last week, Tate is a big part of the passing game and Stafford looked sharp a week ago; expect similar production with an added score; 6 receptions, 90 yards receiving, and a touchdown. 

TE-Delanie Walker (Titans)
Here's a match up fantasy owners should be all-in on. In week one the Lions pass defense allowed 7 receptions (on 10 targets) for 88 yards receiving, and three touchdowns to the tight end position. This week tight end Delanie Walker and the Titans come to town. Walker has been a rising star at the TE position the past couple of seasons and after a slow start in week one, 3 receptions (on five targets) for 42 yards, expect the Titans to get him going early and often. Last season Walker posted career numbers (94 receptions, 1,088 yards receiving, 6 touchdowns) with rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota under center, this season the duo will be looking to improve. Fantasy owners can expect a good start this Sunday; 7 receptions, 85 yards receiving, 1 touchdown.

That's my take

~David 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

FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

September 5th, 2016
Monday

My Top 10 Quarterbacks in 2016

Without a doubt in this fantasy gamer's mind, the number one fantasy quarterback heading into the 2016 season is Aaron Rodgers. The Packers quarterback had a down year in 2015, but still passed for over 3,800 yards and 31 touchdowns. Rodgers has been a top tier passer for the past 8 seasons and with one of his favorite targets (Jordy Nelson) returning in 2016, he should once again find himself at the top of the passing charts.

While Rodgers could lead the way in 2016, the Panthers quarterback Cam Newton won't be far behind. Newton exploded in 2015 with huge fantasy numbers passing for 3,837 yards and tossing 35 touchdowns. The versatile quarterback also added 10 rushing scores to go with 636 yards rushing.


My Top 10

1. Aaron Rodgers (GB) Best in the game.
2. Cam Newton (CAR) Another solid year for Cam.
3. Andrew Luck (IND) Bounce back season for Luck.
4. Drew Brees (NO) New weapons, another big season.
5. Carson Palmer (ARI) Plenty of big weapons to choose from.
6. Russell Wilson (SEA) He finds a way to make plays.
7. Ben Roethlisberger (PIT) A big arm with lots of weapons.
8. Tom Brady (NE) His suspension knocks him down a few slots.
9. Eli Manning (NYG) Coming off a nice 2015 campaign.
10.Blake Bortles (JAX) Has a nice compliment of weapons.


While the top 10 are the normal cast of fantasy characters, a couple of passers that could fill the spot in the later rounds of your draft are Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan and Matthew Stafford. Both are falling well outside the top 10 ADP for quarterbacks and could offer near top 10 production in 2016. 

The Falcons quarterback will benefit from having one of the leagues very best (Julio Jones) to throw to this season, so fantasy owners can expect another 4,000 yard-plus season from Ryan and better than the 21 touchdown passes a year ago.

Over in Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford has lost a big weapon in wide receiver (Megatron) Calvin Johnson, but with a weak running game (ranked last in 2015) fantasy owners can expect the former Georgia Bull Dog to put up another 600 passes this season. Stafford just missed the magic number of 600 by 8 passes in 2015 and over his past five seasons (with four of those seasons well over 600 attempts) Stafford has averaged more than 640 passing attempts per season.

Like Ryan, Stafford has not missed a start in his past five seasons (Ryan actually dates back through 2010) through the 2011 season. These two are reliable performers that you can count on week-in and week-out.

That's my take

~David G Ortega