-LaDainian Tomlinson is still running .... another three-TD special from LDT, and 183 rushing yards to boot.
-The Rams-Chargers game had just about everything you could want from a fantasy perspective ... except for Shaun McDonald and Kevin Curtis scoring TDs instead of Torry Holt. But that's just me.
-Larry Johnson did his best to keep pace with Tomlinson, scoring thrice against the Seahawks. The Big Three are finally starting to pay dividends on a weekly basis ... hopefully Shaun Alexander will keep up his end of the deal soon, as he is expected to return next Monday night against the Raiders.
-Speaking of Oakland ... 132 total yards compared to Pittsburgh's 390, and they still beat the defending Super Bowl champs! Once again the Raiders' skill players were basically untouchable... Willie Parker put together a pretty nice day (83 rushing yards and a receiving TD) for the Stillers.
-Colts-Broncos was another exciting matchup with lots of fantasy implications. Peyton Manning was his typical awesome self, with Reggie Wayne (three TD catches) being the prime recipient.
-The most intriguing aspect might have been the RB situations. Tatum Bell's turf toe problem flared up, and he was held to just 27 yards on 13 carries. That led to Mike Bell finally exploding for 136 yards and two TDs. Keep in mind that Indy entered the game ranked next-to-last in rushing defense, but Mike's outburst and Tatum's injury can't be ignored. Mike is an obvious handcuff for Tatum owners as insurance, and he's a good pickup for anyone looking to catch lightning in a bottle.
-On the other side of the ball, the Colts' backfield was tossed into chaos. Dominic Rhodes had ZERO yards on three carries, while rookie Joseph Addai rumbled for 93 on 17 carries (against a very tough Broncos D, mind you) and added 37 receiving yards for good measure. These two had been splitting carries pretty much down the line up to this point, but Addai had been steadily knocking on the door for the bulk of the work. For better or worse, this is the clarity fantasy owners had been looking for. Addai looks like he's the guy to own in the second half.
-The Bears had another monster game, both offensively and defensively. The D couldn't hold onto an early shutout, which would have taken the cake, but it was again impressive against the poor Niners. Even more impressive was another offensive outburst from Rex Grossman (three TDs) and Co.
- Mike Vick (291 yards, three TDs, 55 yards rushing) has taken his game to a new level. I'm not saying it's going to be a permanent change ... but I'd sure as heck want him in my lineup the next two weeks against Detroit and Cleveland.
-The Browns may have had to sweat out their win over the Jets, but they can breathe easier about their offensive woes after finally showing some signs of life under new offensive coordinator Jeff Davidson. Reuben Droughns got something going on the ground (125 yards, TD) for the first time in a long time - and all it took was a career-high 33 carries. I don't know that Droughns is a lock for your starting lineup now all of a sudden, but he deserves a roster spot in just about every league, if for no other reason than he faces Tampa Bay and Houston in Weeks 16 and 17.
-A week after his big breakout, Jets rookie RB Leon Washington didn't exactly distinguish himself against the Browns. He managed just 58 yards and had a costly fumble, but he got the majority of the carries by far (15 to Kevan Barlow's five) and will still have value down the stretch.
-The Bucs' offense was predictably poor in the swirling winds of the Meadowlands. If you own Joey Galloway or Cadillac Williams, there's not much you can do but shake your head. Same goes for Tiki Barber owners, as he surprisingly ran for just 68 yards and not so surprisingly gave way to Brandon Jacobs on the goal line and late in the game. Cheer up though: Barber's playing the Texans next week.
-As for Houston, its game against Tennessee was a bit of a head scratcher. Start with a Sage Rosenfels sighting: the QB replaced Texans starter David Carr (three turnovers) and threw three TDs, two to breakout TE star Owen Daniels toward the end of the game. Rosenfels isn't a fantasy option, as coach Gary Kubiak said after the game he's sticking with Carr as his starter. Daniels, on the other hand, is about as good an option as you can find on the waiver wire for TEs, as the rookie now has five TD catches on the year.
-The RB situations were also worth noting in this clunker. A week removed from back-to-back 100-yard rushing efforts, Travis Henry fizzled for only 29 yards on 15 carries. LenDale White (seven for 35) got some looks, meaning Henry isn't quite the fantasy lock some thought he was. And for the Texans, rookie Wali Lundy (116 yards) had another strong effort, but he conceded the goal-line work to Ron Dayne. If Lundy can get it done on the road against the Giants and/or Jaguars the next two weeks, then I'll really be sold.
-Another underwhelming day for Edgerrin James, although his 84 yards (on 24 carries) and a TD look OK on paper. The Cardinals' passing game was even worse, and if Matt Leinart, Anquan Boldin and Co. couldn't get it done against the Packers - ranked last in the NFL in pass defense - there's not much hope for this offense.
-Green Bay, on the other hand, was surprisingly run-heavy against Arizona. Ahman Green and Vernand Morency both topped 100 yards on the ground, with Green throwing in two TDs. Green owners can sleep peacefully: the hamstring issues weren't a concern, he's getting the touches in the red zone, and Morency left the game late with a back injury that has coach Mike McCarthy concerned.
-Anyone else surprised by the amount of points put up in the Ravens-Saints game? Everything went right for Baltimore's offense with Brian Billick calling the plays; Steve McNair had three TDs (one rushing), and Jamal Lewis (remember him) broke the 100-yard barrier for the first time since Week 15 of 2005. If this is what we can expect with Billick running the offense from here on out - and keep in mind this was on the road against a tough Saints defense - we might have to move the Ravens' skill players up a peg.
-The Ravens were even better on defense, returning two INTs for scores and taking Reggie Bush (21 yards from scrimmage) and Deuce McAllister (19 total yards) - literally, in the case of Bush, who exited with an ankle injury but should be OK - out of the game. Drew Brees did rack up a ton of yardage and offset his three INTs with three TD passes, two to fantasy sensation Marques Colston in garbage time.
-Both QBs had games to forget in the Eagles-Jags tilt. David Garrard didn't do much (10 for 17, 87 yards, zero TDs, zero INTs, 36 rushing yards) in his call to duty and will probably yield the starter's spot to Byron Leftwich as soon as possible. More shocking was Donovan McNabb's performance - 18 for 34, 161 yards, zero TDs, zero INTs, 37 rushing yards. He was hurt by a bunch of dropped passes -three by Reggie Brown, two straight by Brian Westbrook. Give McNabb the bye week to clear his head, and he should be back on his MVP pace against the Redskins and Titans in Weeks 10 and 11.
-See what I meant about Tony Romo? Not a bad line Sunday: 270 yards, one TD, one pick. He didn't set the world on fire, but he got the job done, and you could do worse for a QB2. Expect more OK numbers when he's on the road against Washington and Arizona the next two weeks.
- If you've got Terrell Owens or Jason Witten, you've got to be a Romo fan so far. T.O. had his best day with the 'Boys (nine catches, 107 yards), and Witten's had his two best games of the year with Romo under center.
-As always, share your comments or questions at jbartolone@semosportsweb.com or post them right here on this blog.
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Romo for real?
Is Tony Romo a viable fantasy option? Well, I guess so, if you're desperate. I don't think he's going to step right in and be an every-week fantasy starter. But the Dallas Cowboys' new QB is an OK option, particularly if you had Drew Bledsoe, who you can now safely dump. I'd expect Romo's numbers to be comparable to Bledsoe's so far, actually - he's got a nice receiving corps, but he's essentially a rookie, so expect an even balance of TDs and INTs, kind of like we saw on Monday night. If Damon Huard and/or Alex Smith aren't available, Romo should make for a decent backup.
Monday, October 23, 2006
WEEK 7 - Sunday Recap
-As if LaMont Jordan wasn't already in fantasy owners' doghouses, then he goes and pulls this ... for those even bothering to put Jordan in their lineups nowadays, they might have been expecting a decent outing against the Cardinals on Sunday. He did have some back issues at practice late in the week, but he was listed as probable, and all indications were he was going to be fine. Then Jordan goes and "tweaks" his back in the pregame warmup and doesn't play a down. Unbelievable. Considering how lousy he had already been this season, this is the kind of thing that can get you cut from fantasy rosters. In fact, I'm considering it right now.
-OK, how many of you started Mike Vick against the Steelers? My guess is the majority didn't, but those who did were certainly rewarded with his four TD passes. Alge Crumpler was the recipient of three, demonstrating once again you've got to start those proven, stud TEs who are important pieces of their offense (Jeremy Shockey, Todd Heap etc.).
-Hines Ward's three TDs were a career high and some long overdue signs of life. Even more encouraging was the fact he caught two of them from Charlie Batch, who might see some more playing time after Ben Roethlisberger's concussion.
-What the heck happened to Jacksonville? I know Byron Leftwich was hobbled by a sore ankle, and their defense was also banged up, but still ... a loss to the Texans? Wali Lundy went for 93 yards and a TD after no Houston RB had gained even 60 yards in a game. Lundy looks like he'll get more work in the near future, and you can pretty much stick a fork in Ron Dayne for fantasy purposes. I'm still not sold on Lundy yet unless you're desperate. ... as for the Jags' backfield, Fred Taylor (84 yards) and Maurice Jones-Drew (68 total yards, rushing TD) were decent, but neither had the huge game we expected against the sorry Texans.
-Larry Johnson exceeded expectations (132, two TDs) against a tough Chargers D. Tony Gonzalez also had his best game of the year (138 yards), again making my point about stud TEs. And for San Diego, LaDainian Tomlinson patched together another big day (138 total yards, one receving TD) and threw in one of his patented trick-play passing TDs ... you gotta love those.
-In a game that figured to be an aerial shootout, the story of the Jets-Lions showdown was Leon Washington's coming-out party on the ground. The Gang Green rookie had a career-high 129 rushing yards and two TDs on 20 carries, finally giving us a somewhat clearer picture of the Jets' backfield situation. Kevan Barlow is still in the mix obviously as a change-of-pace/short-yardage back, but Washington is the guy to start right now against questionable defenses (Cleveland, Week 8, hint, hint).
-More bad luck for the Seahawks, as Matt Hasselbeck went down with a leg injury and could miss some significant time. The timing couldn't be worse for fantasy owners, as the new Chunky Soup Guy was just heating up (three TDs the week prior), Shaun Alexander was supposed to be on his way back, and the upcoming schedule was as easy as pie (Kansas City, Oakland, St. Louis, San Francisco, Oakland). Seneca Wallace is probably not a great option.
-Chester Taylor turned an average day into a great one with his 95-yard TD scamper in the third quarter against Seattle. He's putting together a really nice season so far and is the league's leading rusher (pending Tiki Barber's output tonight).
-How is that Tatum Bell vs. Mike Bell situation working out? Tatum bullied his way to 115 yards and a score against Cleveland, his third 100-yard output and his second straight game with a TD. Mike's last four rushing totals: 12, 0, 2, 25.
-It's gotten to the point that you've got to consider sitting your marginal players against Denver's defense. The Broncos are allowing a miniscule 7.3 points a game. But don't make the mistake of sitting your top studs against them - Peyton Manning's got to be in your lineup next week no matter what.
-Clinton Portis had a real bummer of a game against a soft Colts defense. He managed only 43 rushing yards and 21 receiving yards. He was also hit in the crotch by someone's helmet when the Skins were in the red zone, and he was also in and out of the game later with a "lower leg injury." Keep an eye on this.
-Chad Johnson (101 yards) and Steve Smith (126 yards) were equally good in a matchup of two of the league's premier receivers. Johnson had a crucial fourth-down catch late in the game that led to the winning TD for the Bengals. The most remarkable thing about these two guys is they both once played on the same junior college team. I can't even imagine them both being on the same FANTASY team.
-Brian Westbrook owners can breathe easy for another week. The knee held up once again, and Westbrook topped 100 yards rushing, 100 yards receiving and tossed in a receiving TD for good measure.
-The Buccaneers defense finally showed some life, as far as fantasy purposes go, thanks to Ronde Barber's two INT returns for TDs. Frankly, it's about time for what had been considered a top-five D.
-As I expected, Joey Harrington was pretty good (at least in a fantasy sense) against Green Bay's sorry pass defense. He had 414 passing yards and two TDs, but his three picks didn't help in leagues that penalize for INTs.
-Ahman Green also looked pretty swell against Miami, rushing for 118 yards and his first TD on the ground. He's not a terrible play against the Raiders next week.
-OK, how many of you started Mike Vick against the Steelers? My guess is the majority didn't, but those who did were certainly rewarded with his four TD passes. Alge Crumpler was the recipient of three, demonstrating once again you've got to start those proven, stud TEs who are important pieces of their offense (Jeremy Shockey, Todd Heap etc.).
-Hines Ward's three TDs were a career high and some long overdue signs of life. Even more encouraging was the fact he caught two of them from Charlie Batch, who might see some more playing time after Ben Roethlisberger's concussion.
-What the heck happened to Jacksonville? I know Byron Leftwich was hobbled by a sore ankle, and their defense was also banged up, but still ... a loss to the Texans? Wali Lundy went for 93 yards and a TD after no Houston RB had gained even 60 yards in a game. Lundy looks like he'll get more work in the near future, and you can pretty much stick a fork in Ron Dayne for fantasy purposes. I'm still not sold on Lundy yet unless you're desperate. ... as for the Jags' backfield, Fred Taylor (84 yards) and Maurice Jones-Drew (68 total yards, rushing TD) were decent, but neither had the huge game we expected against the sorry Texans.
-Larry Johnson exceeded expectations (132, two TDs) against a tough Chargers D. Tony Gonzalez also had his best game of the year (138 yards), again making my point about stud TEs. And for San Diego, LaDainian Tomlinson patched together another big day (138 total yards, one receving TD) and threw in one of his patented trick-play passing TDs ... you gotta love those.
-In a game that figured to be an aerial shootout, the story of the Jets-Lions showdown was Leon Washington's coming-out party on the ground. The Gang Green rookie had a career-high 129 rushing yards and two TDs on 20 carries, finally giving us a somewhat clearer picture of the Jets' backfield situation. Kevan Barlow is still in the mix obviously as a change-of-pace/short-yardage back, but Washington is the guy to start right now against questionable defenses (Cleveland, Week 8, hint, hint).
-More bad luck for the Seahawks, as Matt Hasselbeck went down with a leg injury and could miss some significant time. The timing couldn't be worse for fantasy owners, as the new Chunky Soup Guy was just heating up (three TDs the week prior), Shaun Alexander was supposed to be on his way back, and the upcoming schedule was as easy as pie (Kansas City, Oakland, St. Louis, San Francisco, Oakland). Seneca Wallace is probably not a great option.
-Chester Taylor turned an average day into a great one with his 95-yard TD scamper in the third quarter against Seattle. He's putting together a really nice season so far and is the league's leading rusher (pending Tiki Barber's output tonight).
-How is that Tatum Bell vs. Mike Bell situation working out? Tatum bullied his way to 115 yards and a score against Cleveland, his third 100-yard output and his second straight game with a TD. Mike's last four rushing totals: 12, 0, 2, 25.
-It's gotten to the point that you've got to consider sitting your marginal players against Denver's defense. The Broncos are allowing a miniscule 7.3 points a game. But don't make the mistake of sitting your top studs against them - Peyton Manning's got to be in your lineup next week no matter what.
-Clinton Portis had a real bummer of a game against a soft Colts defense. He managed only 43 rushing yards and 21 receiving yards. He was also hit in the crotch by someone's helmet when the Skins were in the red zone, and he was also in and out of the game later with a "lower leg injury." Keep an eye on this.
-Chad Johnson (101 yards) and Steve Smith (126 yards) were equally good in a matchup of two of the league's premier receivers. Johnson had a crucial fourth-down catch late in the game that led to the winning TD for the Bengals. The most remarkable thing about these two guys is they both once played on the same junior college team. I can't even imagine them both being on the same FANTASY team.
-Brian Westbrook owners can breathe easy for another week. The knee held up once again, and Westbrook topped 100 yards rushing, 100 yards receiving and tossed in a receiving TD for good measure.
-The Buccaneers defense finally showed some life, as far as fantasy purposes go, thanks to Ronde Barber's two INT returns for TDs. Frankly, it's about time for what had been considered a top-five D.
-As I expected, Joey Harrington was pretty good (at least in a fantasy sense) against Green Bay's sorry pass defense. He had 414 passing yards and two TDs, but his three picks didn't help in leagues that penalize for INTs.
-Ahman Green also looked pretty swell against Miami, rushing for 118 yards and his first TD on the ground. He's not a terrible play against the Raiders next week.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
The Bears are who we thought they were ...
This pretty much sums up the feelings of anybody who was winning their fantasy matchup after Sunday's games, only to realize their opponent had the Bears' D on Monday night.
There is nothing worse - or sweeter, depending on your perspective - than the Monday night smackdown. I'll never forget the shutout, six-turnover, three-TD performance by the Seahawks' defense against the Eagles in Week 13 last year that gave me a miracle fantasy win and a division title. And I bet this past Monday's Bears-Cardinals game will be equally as unforgettable for a lot of you out there. As I said at the time, that's what we live for, and it's why we play the game.
There is nothing worse - or sweeter, depending on your perspective - than the Monday night smackdown. I'll never forget the shutout, six-turnover, three-TD performance by the Seahawks' defense against the Eagles in Week 13 last year that gave me a miracle fantasy win and a division title. And I bet this past Monday's Bears-Cardinals game will be equally as unforgettable for a lot of you out there. As I said at the time, that's what we live for, and it's why we play the game.
Monday, October 16, 2006
WEEK 6 - Sunday Recap
-Torry Holt is the bomb. Fantasy's most reliable WR added 154 receiving yards and three TDs to his resume. Unfotunately it wasn't enough to save the Rams from a Josh Brown FG and a Seattle victory.
-Despite three-TD efforts from Holt against the Seahawks and Terrell Owens against Houston, the fantasy game ball from Week 6 goes to the amazing LaDainian Tomlinson. Sure, he rushed for just 71 yards against San Fran, but he added another 64 through the air ... and oh yeah, he had FOUR FREAKIN TOUCHDOWNS on the ground, a personal best. If you've got LT2 on your team, you can never count yourself out.
-As for another stud RB ... Larry Johnson managed only 26 yards on the ground against Pittsburgh but salvaged a decent day with another TD. However, there wasn't much going on in the passing game this week (six receiving yards), and LJ faces a tough San Diego D next week. Hey, at least he's healthy.
-Tiki Barber had a big day (185 yards rushing, plus another 45 receiving), but it could have been a MONSTER day. He had a TD called back when it was ruled he stepped out of bounds on a replay, and the G-Men opted to go to Jeremy Shockey and vulture extraordinaire Brandon Jacobs on two goal-line possessions. I guess that's the trade-off for owning Tiki.
-Barber's counterpart, Atlanta's Warrick Dunn, wasn't looking so hot until he busted loose with a franchise-record, 90-yard scoring run. Trust me, if you had him in your lineup Sunday it was a thing of beauty.
-Hank Baskett, Week 5: three catches, 112 yards, TD. Hank Baskett, Week 6: zero catches, zero yards, zero TDs. That's why you don't just jump on a hot WR who comes out of nowhere to put up a big game, no matter how cool his name is.
-Baskett's QB, Donovan McNabb, continues to spread the ball around for Philly. This week it was Reggie Brown (six catches, 121 yards, TD) and L.J. Smith (four catches, 48 yards, TD) getting slices of the pie against New Orleans as Donte Stallworth was inactive (again) against his former team. Brian Westbrook compiled 72 yards on the ground but surprisingly was a non-factor in the passing game. Not waht we had in mind against the Saints' D. The good news for Westbrook owners is his knee is still intact for another week.
-There was also a Joe Horn sighting in New Orleans as he cracked the 100-yard receiving mark and scored a TD. It was the first time he had done either since Week 2 of last year (the infamous "home" game at Giants Stadium). Break out the cell phone!
-I was wrong about Kevin Jones this week. Really wrong. He had 127 yards and a score. This despite the Lions missing three-fifths of their starting OL against Buffalo. Jones was good. I still don't like the guy though ... and yeah, it's kind of personal. Ask another Penn State fan and you'll know why.
-Roy Williams looked just fine (161, TD) despite last week's neck stinger. Meanwhile, teammate Mike Williams has dropped behind dudes named Devale Ellis and Shaun Bodiford on the Lions' WR depth chart. The next stop is the practice squad. What happened to this guy?
-Laveranues Coles' two scores Sunday give him nine TDs in 10 career games against the Dolphins, and at least one TD in four straight against the Fins. The Jets are at Miami in Week 16. Circle your calendar.
-Kyle Boller threw three TD passes Sunday. Yup, THAT Kyle Boller. Steve McNair left after getting his bell rung, and Boller hit Mark Clayton twice (once on a tipped pass intended for Derrick Mason, who had no receptions by the way) and the ever-reliable Todd Heap once. The McNair injury doesn't appear serious right now, and he's got a bye next weekend to rest up, meaning Boller will probably be back on the bench.
-Carolina's DeShaun Foster didn't get much done (58 yards, fumble) with DeAngelo Williams out of the picture this week, but he was going against Baltimore. Plus, with Steve Smith (189 yards, TD) looking like his old self, Foster didn't have to do much. He did get 26 carries, however, and if Williams can't go again in Week 7, Foster's in line for a nice game against Cincinnati. Second-year man Eric Shelton (one yard on first NFL carry) is not a threat at this point, no matter what anyone tells you, Peter King included.
-Rookie Bruce Gradkowski worked his magic again. Bruce Almighty utilized talented TE Alex Smith again (second straight game with a TD), and he even hit Michael Clayton (yup, THAT Michael Clayton) for what proved to be the game-winning TD as the Bucs got their first W. Cadillac Williams even came close to 100 rushing yards. Jon Gruden has an even bigger man-crush on Gradkowski now. Does anyone else thing Chris Simms just got Wally Pipp-ed?
-Chad Johnson was pretty good for the Bengals (six catches 99 yards), but he still hasn't topped the century mark and has just one TD all year. His numbers this week were slanted by a 51-yard catch. T.J. Houshmandzadeh (10, 102, TD) has been getting all the love lately for Cincy.
-Julius Jones cracked 100 yards against Houston, but Marion Barber III stole another TD. Drats.
-I'm no John Madden, but I don't think it's a good thing when David Carr leads your team in rushing, and he rushes for 15 yards.
-Travis Henry (178 yards, TD) was a pleasant surprise for the second straight week. An even bigger surprise: the Titans beat the Redskins. Henry's got a good matchup against the Texans after this week's bye, so hang on to him for now. Things get considerably tougher after that, though.
-That means there's only one winless team left in the NFL ... Surprise, it's Oakland. Checking in on the only two Raiders worth owning: Randy Moss had arguably his best game this year (five for 82) but didn't score. I wouldn't mind playing him against Arizona next week. As for LaMont Jordan, he was predictably mediocre, gaining 60 yards on 23 carries and fumbling against a fired-up Denver defense. At least Justin Fargas won't be stealing carries for the time being, as he left the game after injuring his arm and had it in a sling.
-Deion Branch had the game we've been waiting for, finding the end zone twice. He's got a sweet schedule coming up and will see more action with Bobby Engram battling a thyroid condition. ... Meanwhile, Seattle TE Jerramy Stevens (knee) was supposed to play for the first time this year but didn't suit up. He's still worth grabbing if he's available, but you'll have to play it by ear.
-San Francisco's Alex Smith did manage two TD passes to two different receivers Sunday against San Diego. Their names? Bryan Gilmore and Moran Norris. Those aren't misprints.
-As always, if you have any fantasy questions, want advice on trades or just need to vent, you can e-mail me at jbartolone@semosportsweb.com or post a message right here at the end of this blog.
-Despite three-TD efforts from Holt against the Seahawks and Terrell Owens against Houston, the fantasy game ball from Week 6 goes to the amazing LaDainian Tomlinson. Sure, he rushed for just 71 yards against San Fran, but he added another 64 through the air ... and oh yeah, he had FOUR FREAKIN TOUCHDOWNS on the ground, a personal best. If you've got LT2 on your team, you can never count yourself out.
-As for another stud RB ... Larry Johnson managed only 26 yards on the ground against Pittsburgh but salvaged a decent day with another TD. However, there wasn't much going on in the passing game this week (six receiving yards), and LJ faces a tough San Diego D next week. Hey, at least he's healthy.
-Tiki Barber had a big day (185 yards rushing, plus another 45 receiving), but it could have been a MONSTER day. He had a TD called back when it was ruled he stepped out of bounds on a replay, and the G-Men opted to go to Jeremy Shockey and vulture extraordinaire Brandon Jacobs on two goal-line possessions. I guess that's the trade-off for owning Tiki.
-Barber's counterpart, Atlanta's Warrick Dunn, wasn't looking so hot until he busted loose with a franchise-record, 90-yard scoring run. Trust me, if you had him in your lineup Sunday it was a thing of beauty.
-Hank Baskett, Week 5: three catches, 112 yards, TD. Hank Baskett, Week 6: zero catches, zero yards, zero TDs. That's why you don't just jump on a hot WR who comes out of nowhere to put up a big game, no matter how cool his name is.
-Baskett's QB, Donovan McNabb, continues to spread the ball around for Philly. This week it was Reggie Brown (six catches, 121 yards, TD) and L.J. Smith (four catches, 48 yards, TD) getting slices of the pie against New Orleans as Donte Stallworth was inactive (again) against his former team. Brian Westbrook compiled 72 yards on the ground but surprisingly was a non-factor in the passing game. Not waht we had in mind against the Saints' D. The good news for Westbrook owners is his knee is still intact for another week.
-There was also a Joe Horn sighting in New Orleans as he cracked the 100-yard receiving mark and scored a TD. It was the first time he had done either since Week 2 of last year (the infamous "home" game at Giants Stadium). Break out the cell phone!
-I was wrong about Kevin Jones this week. Really wrong. He had 127 yards and a score. This despite the Lions missing three-fifths of their starting OL against Buffalo. Jones was good. I still don't like the guy though ... and yeah, it's kind of personal. Ask another Penn State fan and you'll know why.
-Roy Williams looked just fine (161, TD) despite last week's neck stinger. Meanwhile, teammate Mike Williams has dropped behind dudes named Devale Ellis and Shaun Bodiford on the Lions' WR depth chart. The next stop is the practice squad. What happened to this guy?
-Laveranues Coles' two scores Sunday give him nine TDs in 10 career games against the Dolphins, and at least one TD in four straight against the Fins. The Jets are at Miami in Week 16. Circle your calendar.
-Kyle Boller threw three TD passes Sunday. Yup, THAT Kyle Boller. Steve McNair left after getting his bell rung, and Boller hit Mark Clayton twice (once on a tipped pass intended for Derrick Mason, who had no receptions by the way) and the ever-reliable Todd Heap once. The McNair injury doesn't appear serious right now, and he's got a bye next weekend to rest up, meaning Boller will probably be back on the bench.
-Carolina's DeShaun Foster didn't get much done (58 yards, fumble) with DeAngelo Williams out of the picture this week, but he was going against Baltimore. Plus, with Steve Smith (189 yards, TD) looking like his old self, Foster didn't have to do much. He did get 26 carries, however, and if Williams can't go again in Week 7, Foster's in line for a nice game against Cincinnati. Second-year man Eric Shelton (one yard on first NFL carry) is not a threat at this point, no matter what anyone tells you, Peter King included.
-Rookie Bruce Gradkowski worked his magic again. Bruce Almighty utilized talented TE Alex Smith again (second straight game with a TD), and he even hit Michael Clayton (yup, THAT Michael Clayton) for what proved to be the game-winning TD as the Bucs got their first W. Cadillac Williams even came close to 100 rushing yards. Jon Gruden has an even bigger man-crush on Gradkowski now. Does anyone else thing Chris Simms just got Wally Pipp-ed?
-Chad Johnson was pretty good for the Bengals (six catches 99 yards), but he still hasn't topped the century mark and has just one TD all year. His numbers this week were slanted by a 51-yard catch. T.J. Houshmandzadeh (10, 102, TD) has been getting all the love lately for Cincy.
-Julius Jones cracked 100 yards against Houston, but Marion Barber III stole another TD. Drats.
-I'm no John Madden, but I don't think it's a good thing when David Carr leads your team in rushing, and he rushes for 15 yards.
-Travis Henry (178 yards, TD) was a pleasant surprise for the second straight week. An even bigger surprise: the Titans beat the Redskins. Henry's got a good matchup against the Texans after this week's bye, so hang on to him for now. Things get considerably tougher after that, though.
-That means there's only one winless team left in the NFL ... Surprise, it's Oakland. Checking in on the only two Raiders worth owning: Randy Moss had arguably his best game this year (five for 82) but didn't score. I wouldn't mind playing him against Arizona next week. As for LaMont Jordan, he was predictably mediocre, gaining 60 yards on 23 carries and fumbling against a fired-up Denver defense. At least Justin Fargas won't be stealing carries for the time being, as he left the game after injuring his arm and had it in a sling.
-Deion Branch had the game we've been waiting for, finding the end zone twice. He's got a sweet schedule coming up and will see more action with Bobby Engram battling a thyroid condition. ... Meanwhile, Seattle TE Jerramy Stevens (knee) was supposed to play for the first time this year but didn't suit up. He's still worth grabbing if he's available, but you'll have to play it by ear.
-San Francisco's Alex Smith did manage two TD passes to two different receivers Sunday against San Diego. Their names? Bryan Gilmore and Moran Norris. Those aren't misprints.
-As always, if you have any fantasy questions, want advice on trades or just need to vent, you can e-mail me at jbartolone@semosportsweb.com or post a message right here at the end of this blog.
Friday, October 13, 2006
Role reversal
Here's a change of pace, I just completed a trade in one of my leagues and I want to know what some of the readers out there think.
I dealt Brian Westbrook and Santana Moss and got Shaun Alexander and Braylon Edwards in return. My other RB is LaDainian Tomlinson and my other WRs are Torry Holt, Donald Driver and Laveranues Coles. I'm having some second thoughts, I'm gambling that Alexander will be healthy soon and Westbrook won't. And if you told me before this year's draft that I'd have Tomlinson AND Alexander in the same backfield I'd be freakin' elated.
Any thoughts?
I dealt Brian Westbrook and Santana Moss and got Shaun Alexander and Braylon Edwards in return. My other RB is LaDainian Tomlinson and my other WRs are Torry Holt, Donald Driver and Laveranues Coles. I'm having some second thoughts, I'm gambling that Alexander will be healthy soon and Westbrook won't. And if you told me before this year's draft that I'd have Tomlinson AND Alexander in the same backfield I'd be freakin' elated.
Any thoughts?
Monday, October 09, 2006
WEEK 5 - Sunday Recap
-The Rams' Jeff Wilkins continues his bid as fantasy's top kicker, booting three straight in Sunday's win over Green Bay. He's got competition from Chicago's Robbie Gould, who's hit a remarkable 17 straight to begin the season.
-Larry Johnson put together another big day (36 rushing yards, 106 receiving yards and a TD), but there was a scare when he was pulled down by the facemask at the end of a 78-yard run. Word is he suffered a neck strain and eventually looked OK, but keep an eye on him.
-Matt Leinart showed what he can do in his first pro start, hitting two early TD passes before making some rookie mistakes. Again, don't even think about starting him next week against Chicago, but he could be worth plugging in Weeks 7 and 8 (Oakland, Green Bay).
-Good to see Reggie Bush get his first pro touchdown. Too bad it was on a punt return - unless you've got the Saints defense, that is.
-Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald went down with what appears to be a serious hamstring injury. You'd be adviced to grab teammate Bryant Johnson, who led Arizona with 82 receiving yards Sunday.
-The Redskins' offense really came up lame against what had been a questionable Giants defense. Mark Brunell barely managed 100 passing yards, which meant Santana Moss' three-TD game of a week ago became a distant memory. The G-Men held Clinton Portis (a.k.a. Dolemite Jenkins) to just 78 yards on the ground, and the Skins managed only a field goal. They'll have better days - like Week 6 against Tennessee, perhaps.
-Michael Robinson got the goal-line carries for San Francisco as expected, but he couldn't hit paydirt three straight times. Starter Frank Gore had a career-high 134 yards on the ground against Oakland and didn't fumble for the first time this season. It's unclear if M-Rob blew his chance, so I can't recommend putting him in your lineup next week against San Diego, but he's worth hanging on to if you can spare the roster spot.
-Andrew Walter hit Randy Moss for a TD for the second straight game, but Walter ended up getting pulled for Marques Tuiasosopo in Oakland's loss to San Fran. Moss also dropped a Walter pass in the end zone and was seen laughing on the sidelines a few plays later. LaMont Jordan managed only 71 yards on the ground, dropped a lateral and didn't even attempt to recover it as the Niners' Melvin Oliver ran it in for a score. If these guys don't even care, why should you? Look elsewhere.
-Bruce Gradkowski wasn't half bad against the Saints (two TDs, no INTs) in his starting debut, and he actually made the Bucs offense produce. Gradkowski might be an OK spot starter from here on out, and Jon Gruden is enamored with him, but we don't have much of a sample size to go on. I'd be more excited about Joey Galloway, Cadillac Williams and even talented TE Alex Smith finally showing some signs of life under Gradkowski's guidance.
-The Chargers finally took the shackles off Philip Rivers (two TDs), who looked pretty good against a supposedly tough Steelers defense. Unfortunately, LaDainian Tomlinson didn't have one of his patented monster games (70 total yards). Don't drop him, though.
-The early front-runner for Fantasy MVP: Donovan McNabb. He's been a touchdown machine this year (one rushing, two passing in Week 5) and surprisingly getting it done with guys like Reggie Brown and Hank Baskett catching passes ... with most of the so-called "stud" RBs not being so studly this season and the QB ranks constantly in flux, McNabb is separating himself from the pack.
-Brian Westbrook is driving owners batty this year. We knew he was an injury risk entering the season, but this inflammation business in his knee is really getting old. It seems like it's going to be a constant problem this season, which means a lot of the dreaded "game-time decision" tags attached to his name for the foreseeable future. There are even rumors he could need surgery at the end of the year - or sooner. The guy could easily be a top-10 back if he were a little more reliable, but you might want to have a backup plan in place if you don't already.
-Speaking of injured RBs, Ahman Green was a late scratch for the second straight week with sore hammies. And if you started backup Vernand Morency in a pinch, you got burned when Morency fumbled twice in the first quarter against St. Louis. Third-stringer Noah Herron of Northwestern capitalized, gaining 106 yards and a TD.
-Daunte Culpepper was a surprise scratch as the Dolphins went with Joey Harrington at QB. Joey Ballgame didn't fare much better (no TDs, two INTs), and the stocks of Ronnie Brown (a TD but only 39 rushing yards) and Chris Chambers (47 total yards) continue to plummet. Cut Culpepper if you haven't already, and steer clear of Harrington.
-The Bears looked damn impressive on both sides of the ball in destroying the Bills. Too bad Thomas Jones was the workhorse again (22 carries, 109 yards) but Cedric Benson got two cheap TDs from the 1-yard line. You've gotta think about starting Rex Grossman and/or Bernard Berrian in matchups against Arizona, San Francisco and Miami in three of the next four weeks.
-The Jaguars' offense absolutely went off on the Jets, with Byron Leftwich (two TDs), Fred Taylor (111 yards, TD), Maurice Jones-Drew (two TDs) and Reggie Williams (TD) all getting in on the action. You'll want your Jags skill players in the lineup with two games against Houston and one against Tennessee coming up over the next four weeks.
-The only small positive for the J-E-T-S was rookie Leon Washington, who ran for 101 yards on 23 carries and further mucked up New York's RB situation. Kevin Barlow, previously the main guy, managed -1 yard on four carries. Who knows what next week will bring, but it's become clear Derrick Blaylock (zero carries) and Cedric Houston (shoulder injury) are out of the mix.
-The Titans' Chris Brown was healthy but inactive in Week 5, which means you can safely dump him (if you haven't already) in all but the deepest of leagues. Travis Henry busted out a 123-yard game against the Colts, while rookie LenDale White had eight carries for 48 yards.
-As for the Colts' RB platoon of Dominic Rhodes and Joseph Addai: Rhodes got the edge in touches (25 to 15) and total yards (110 to 77) this week. Obviously both are productive, but neither are consistent options, especially against a tough stretch of opponents (Washington, Denver, New England, Dallas, Philly) after a Week 6 bye.
-DeAngelo Williams lost out on a big day when he suffered a sprained ankle on his first carry of the game against Cleveland. DeShaun Foster owners everywhere rejoiced ... but then realized Carolina faces Baltimore next week.
-Rough game for Lions skill players: Roy Williams left with a shoulder stinger after making just one catch, Kevin Jones left with a concussion after 10 carries for eight yards, and Jon Kitna had three INTs and a costly fumble that was returned for a Minnesota touchdown. And if you thought Mike Williams might finally have an opportunity to do something, he dropped the only pass thrown to him and was promptly benched. I wouldn't touch any of these guys next week, even if they're healthy, against a Buffalo defense that just got embarrassed by the Bears.
-Larry Johnson put together another big day (36 rushing yards, 106 receiving yards and a TD), but there was a scare when he was pulled down by the facemask at the end of a 78-yard run. Word is he suffered a neck strain and eventually looked OK, but keep an eye on him.
-Matt Leinart showed what he can do in his first pro start, hitting two early TD passes before making some rookie mistakes. Again, don't even think about starting him next week against Chicago, but he could be worth plugging in Weeks 7 and 8 (Oakland, Green Bay).
-Good to see Reggie Bush get his first pro touchdown. Too bad it was on a punt return - unless you've got the Saints defense, that is.
-Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald went down with what appears to be a serious hamstring injury. You'd be adviced to grab teammate Bryant Johnson, who led Arizona with 82 receiving yards Sunday.
-The Redskins' offense really came up lame against what had been a questionable Giants defense. Mark Brunell barely managed 100 passing yards, which meant Santana Moss' three-TD game of a week ago became a distant memory. The G-Men held Clinton Portis (a.k.a. Dolemite Jenkins) to just 78 yards on the ground, and the Skins managed only a field goal. They'll have better days - like Week 6 against Tennessee, perhaps.
-Michael Robinson got the goal-line carries for San Francisco as expected, but he couldn't hit paydirt three straight times. Starter Frank Gore had a career-high 134 yards on the ground against Oakland and didn't fumble for the first time this season. It's unclear if M-Rob blew his chance, so I can't recommend putting him in your lineup next week against San Diego, but he's worth hanging on to if you can spare the roster spot.
-Andrew Walter hit Randy Moss for a TD for the second straight game, but Walter ended up getting pulled for Marques Tuiasosopo in Oakland's loss to San Fran. Moss also dropped a Walter pass in the end zone and was seen laughing on the sidelines a few plays later. LaMont Jordan managed only 71 yards on the ground, dropped a lateral and didn't even attempt to recover it as the Niners' Melvin Oliver ran it in for a score. If these guys don't even care, why should you? Look elsewhere.
-Bruce Gradkowski wasn't half bad against the Saints (two TDs, no INTs) in his starting debut, and he actually made the Bucs offense produce. Gradkowski might be an OK spot starter from here on out, and Jon Gruden is enamored with him, but we don't have much of a sample size to go on. I'd be more excited about Joey Galloway, Cadillac Williams and even talented TE Alex Smith finally showing some signs of life under Gradkowski's guidance.
-The Chargers finally took the shackles off Philip Rivers (two TDs), who looked pretty good against a supposedly tough Steelers defense. Unfortunately, LaDainian Tomlinson didn't have one of his patented monster games (70 total yards). Don't drop him, though.
-The early front-runner for Fantasy MVP: Donovan McNabb. He's been a touchdown machine this year (one rushing, two passing in Week 5) and surprisingly getting it done with guys like Reggie Brown and Hank Baskett catching passes ... with most of the so-called "stud" RBs not being so studly this season and the QB ranks constantly in flux, McNabb is separating himself from the pack.
-Brian Westbrook is driving owners batty this year. We knew he was an injury risk entering the season, but this inflammation business in his knee is really getting old. It seems like it's going to be a constant problem this season, which means a lot of the dreaded "game-time decision" tags attached to his name for the foreseeable future. There are even rumors he could need surgery at the end of the year - or sooner. The guy could easily be a top-10 back if he were a little more reliable, but you might want to have a backup plan in place if you don't already.
-Speaking of injured RBs, Ahman Green was a late scratch for the second straight week with sore hammies. And if you started backup Vernand Morency in a pinch, you got burned when Morency fumbled twice in the first quarter against St. Louis. Third-stringer Noah Herron of Northwestern capitalized, gaining 106 yards and a TD.
-Daunte Culpepper was a surprise scratch as the Dolphins went with Joey Harrington at QB. Joey Ballgame didn't fare much better (no TDs, two INTs), and the stocks of Ronnie Brown (a TD but only 39 rushing yards) and Chris Chambers (47 total yards) continue to plummet. Cut Culpepper if you haven't already, and steer clear of Harrington.
-The Bears looked damn impressive on both sides of the ball in destroying the Bills. Too bad Thomas Jones was the workhorse again (22 carries, 109 yards) but Cedric Benson got two cheap TDs from the 1-yard line. You've gotta think about starting Rex Grossman and/or Bernard Berrian in matchups against Arizona, San Francisco and Miami in three of the next four weeks.
-The Jaguars' offense absolutely went off on the Jets, with Byron Leftwich (two TDs), Fred Taylor (111 yards, TD), Maurice Jones-Drew (two TDs) and Reggie Williams (TD) all getting in on the action. You'll want your Jags skill players in the lineup with two games against Houston and one against Tennessee coming up over the next four weeks.
-The only small positive for the J-E-T-S was rookie Leon Washington, who ran for 101 yards on 23 carries and further mucked up New York's RB situation. Kevin Barlow, previously the main guy, managed -1 yard on four carries. Who knows what next week will bring, but it's become clear Derrick Blaylock (zero carries) and Cedric Houston (shoulder injury) are out of the mix.
-The Titans' Chris Brown was healthy but inactive in Week 5, which means you can safely dump him (if you haven't already) in all but the deepest of leagues. Travis Henry busted out a 123-yard game against the Colts, while rookie LenDale White had eight carries for 48 yards.
-As for the Colts' RB platoon of Dominic Rhodes and Joseph Addai: Rhodes got the edge in touches (25 to 15) and total yards (110 to 77) this week. Obviously both are productive, but neither are consistent options, especially against a tough stretch of opponents (Washington, Denver, New England, Dallas, Philly) after a Week 6 bye.
-DeAngelo Williams lost out on a big day when he suffered a sprained ankle on his first carry of the game against Cleveland. DeShaun Foster owners everywhere rejoiced ... but then realized Carolina faces Baltimore next week.
-Rough game for Lions skill players: Roy Williams left with a shoulder stinger after making just one catch, Kevin Jones left with a concussion after 10 carries for eight yards, and Jon Kitna had three INTs and a costly fumble that was returned for a Minnesota touchdown. And if you thought Mike Williams might finally have an opportunity to do something, he dropped the only pass thrown to him and was promptly benched. I wouldn't touch any of these guys next week, even if they're healthy, against a Buffalo defense that just got embarrassed by the Bears.
Monday, October 02, 2006
WEEK 4 - Sundy Recap
- The Rams-Lions shootout was a fantasy player's dream. Just about everybody got in on the action in Mike Martz's return to St. Louis, even old Isaac Bruce. Marc Bulger put together the kind of 300-yard, three-TD performance we've been waiting for, Steven Jackson was solid, Kevin Jones busted through for two TDs, and Detroit WR Mike Furrey put his name on the fantasy map with two scores (anyone seen Mike Williams lately?).
- The Chiefs discovered some offense, with QB Damon Huard doing his best Trent Green impression and Larry Johnson finally coming through with a 101-yard, two-TD game.
- Frank Gore owners beware: he's lost a fumble in four straight games. If he keeps it up he's going to start losing touches pretty soon.
- Well, looks like you can stick a fork in Kurt Warner. He got a vote of confidence this week but didn't last four quarters in Sunday's game against Atlanta, and Matt Leinart has been announced as the Week 5 starter against Kansas City. Don't think I'd start Leinart next week unless you're desperate, but he's worth putting on your bench in preparation for Week 7 (at Oakland) and 8 (at Green Bay).
- Should Warrick Dunn owners be sweating? He followed a 44-yard game against New Orleans with a 55-yard effort against Arizona, while young backup Jerious Norwood torched the Cards with 106 yards and a TD. But look closer: Dunn got 19 carries to Norwood's five, and Norwood scored on a 78-yard scamper.
- T.O. was OK (five catches for 88 yards, just missed out on a TD catch) against Tennessee while Terry Glenn (two TDs) got the glory. But trust me, you'll want Owens in your lineup next week against Philly.
- DeShaun Foster held off DeAngelo Williams for another week with his 105-yard, one-TD game.
- It's official: New Orleans WR/TE Marques Colston (105 yards, TD) is legit.
- The Dolphins' offense looked awful. Daunte Culpepper was less-than-stellar again. Only ONE TD against the Texans? And it came in the last couple minutes to Chris Chambers, who had just three catches. Ronnie Brown is getting some receptions but he still hasn't cracked 100 yards on the ground. And why is he throwing a pass on a trick play when the Dolphins needed a two-point conversion at the end of the game?? Unbelievable. The Dolphins are killing a lot of fantasy teams right now. Bench Culpepper until further notice. David Carr is a better option at QB. Seriously.
- Is Peyton Manning becoming a running QB? No, but he does have two rushing TDs in two games after not running for any scores in the last four years. We'll take it.
- Laurence Maroney put Corey Dillon owners on notice with his 125 rushing yards and two TDs against Cincinnati. But Dillon still snuck in for a score against his old team.
- Chad Johnson hasn't lived up to the hype this year. One TD so far in '06 and no 100-yard games. Definitely not what we expected.
- Reuben Droughns and LaMont Jordan both finally showed signs of life by cracking the century mark. Jordan owners have to be especially happy, as they can now start him against the Niners next week with confidence.
- As for Randy Moss ... well, he had only one catch, but it was a TD. His QB, Andrew Walter, managed just 68 passing yards. What's a Moss owner to do? Nobody's gonna take him in a trade right now, so you've just gotta keep trotting him out there as your WR2 or WR3.
- Charlie Frye, fantasy starter? Why not? He's good for 1-2 scores a game in the air or on the ground, he's got a couple targets (Braylon Edwards, Kellen Winslow), and he spreads the ball around. He even threw a TD this week to someone named Darnell Dinkins (wasn't he the former mayor of NYC?). You could do worse than Frye as a bye-week fill-in.
- Jaguars-Redskins was surprisingly offensive, with Byron Leftwich and Mark Brunell each tossing three TDs (all three of Brunell's to Santana Moss). The Jags' Reggie Williams scored twice and is becoming a pretty solid fantasy option this year, along with Leftwich, especially with a really appealing stretch (Jets, at Houston, at Philly, Tennessee, Houston, Giants) coming up on the schedule.
- Maybe it's time to start taking the Bears' offense seriously. Bernard Berrian looks legit (three catches, 108 yards, TD vs. Seattle), Rex Grossman (two TDs) is competent, and Thomas Jones (98 yards, two TDs) is the top option in the backfield.
- Got questions about your lineup for Week 5? Think I'm an idiot? E-mail me at jbartolone@semosportsweb.com or post a comment here.
- The Chiefs discovered some offense, with QB Damon Huard doing his best Trent Green impression and Larry Johnson finally coming through with a 101-yard, two-TD game.
- Frank Gore owners beware: he's lost a fumble in four straight games. If he keeps it up he's going to start losing touches pretty soon.
- Well, looks like you can stick a fork in Kurt Warner. He got a vote of confidence this week but didn't last four quarters in Sunday's game against Atlanta, and Matt Leinart has been announced as the Week 5 starter against Kansas City. Don't think I'd start Leinart next week unless you're desperate, but he's worth putting on your bench in preparation for Week 7 (at Oakland) and 8 (at Green Bay).
- Should Warrick Dunn owners be sweating? He followed a 44-yard game against New Orleans with a 55-yard effort against Arizona, while young backup Jerious Norwood torched the Cards with 106 yards and a TD. But look closer: Dunn got 19 carries to Norwood's five, and Norwood scored on a 78-yard scamper.
- T.O. was OK (five catches for 88 yards, just missed out on a TD catch) against Tennessee while Terry Glenn (two TDs) got the glory. But trust me, you'll want Owens in your lineup next week against Philly.
- DeShaun Foster held off DeAngelo Williams for another week with his 105-yard, one-TD game.
- It's official: New Orleans WR/TE Marques Colston (105 yards, TD) is legit.
- The Dolphins' offense looked awful. Daunte Culpepper was less-than-stellar again. Only ONE TD against the Texans? And it came in the last couple minutes to Chris Chambers, who had just three catches. Ronnie Brown is getting some receptions but he still hasn't cracked 100 yards on the ground. And why is he throwing a pass on a trick play when the Dolphins needed a two-point conversion at the end of the game?? Unbelievable. The Dolphins are killing a lot of fantasy teams right now. Bench Culpepper until further notice. David Carr is a better option at QB. Seriously.
- Is Peyton Manning becoming a running QB? No, but he does have two rushing TDs in two games after not running for any scores in the last four years. We'll take it.
- Laurence Maroney put Corey Dillon owners on notice with his 125 rushing yards and two TDs against Cincinnati. But Dillon still snuck in for a score against his old team.
- Chad Johnson hasn't lived up to the hype this year. One TD so far in '06 and no 100-yard games. Definitely not what we expected.
- Reuben Droughns and LaMont Jordan both finally showed signs of life by cracking the century mark. Jordan owners have to be especially happy, as they can now start him against the Niners next week with confidence.
- As for Randy Moss ... well, he had only one catch, but it was a TD. His QB, Andrew Walter, managed just 68 passing yards. What's a Moss owner to do? Nobody's gonna take him in a trade right now, so you've just gotta keep trotting him out there as your WR2 or WR3.
- Charlie Frye, fantasy starter? Why not? He's good for 1-2 scores a game in the air or on the ground, he's got a couple targets (Braylon Edwards, Kellen Winslow), and he spreads the ball around. He even threw a TD this week to someone named Darnell Dinkins (wasn't he the former mayor of NYC?). You could do worse than Frye as a bye-week fill-in.
- Jaguars-Redskins was surprisingly offensive, with Byron Leftwich and Mark Brunell each tossing three TDs (all three of Brunell's to Santana Moss). The Jags' Reggie Williams scored twice and is becoming a pretty solid fantasy option this year, along with Leftwich, especially with a really appealing stretch (Jets, at Houston, at Philly, Tennessee, Houston, Giants) coming up on the schedule.
- Maybe it's time to start taking the Bears' offense seriously. Bernard Berrian looks legit (three catches, 108 yards, TD vs. Seattle), Rex Grossman (two TDs) is competent, and Thomas Jones (98 yards, two TDs) is the top option in the backfield.
- Got questions about your lineup for Week 5? Think I'm an idiot? E-mail me at jbartolone@semosportsweb.com or post a comment here.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)