Home | About | Dispute Resolution | Contact
Home | About | Dispute Resolution | Contact
|
|||||||
| Fantasy Sports Talk Play in fantasy leagues and share your fantasy sports talk here. Sponsored by SBGGlobal.com |
 |
|
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread | Display Modes |
11-11-06, 09:20 PM
|
#1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Moderator
Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak 
Join Date: Aug 19, 2005
Location: Orlando, Florida
Posts: 52,423
|
Fantasy Football News 11/11/06
Rankings: Weekend Update
Week 10 Laveranues Coles is not the same player as Week 3 Laveranues Coles, the every week fantasy starter. His quarterback, for one, is not as accurate. Either Chad Pennington's surgically repaired arm is or defenses are figuring out the Jets passing game. They can't throw deep. Perhaps the cumulative effect of Coles' injuries are catching up to him. Whatever the reason, Coles didn't produce in October, and his fantasy owners should adjust their expectations. Transformations like Coles' are occurring all around fantasy football. That solid RB2 you had in Week 4 is looking shaky. The receiver you drafted as a deep sleeper is playing too well to bench. Before the notes and rankings this week, I'll take a look at which players have made the biggest in-season transformations. Ben Roethlisberger Before: Interception machine. Ben Roethlisberger Now: Attempts, Yards, Touchdown, and Interception Machine. Chad Pennington Before: NFL Comeback Player of the Year favorite worth starting with the right matchup. Chad Pennington Now: Arm Strength and inconsistency making him the deep QB2 everyone thought he would be Reggie Williams Before: Goal Line Stand-hyped third year receiver coming into his own as an every week starter. Reggie Williams Now: Reggie Williams of 2005. Warrick Dunn Before: Defying age for another career-best season. Warrick Dunn Now: Offensive line and possible overuse making him an average RB2. Maurice Drew Before: Return specialist and third-down back for the end of your fantasy bench Maurice Drew Now: Versatile and amazingly rugged scoring option that is a good flex play most weeks. He's also one of the best keeper league prospects. Green Bay Offensive Line Before: Rookies learning a new system likely to provide disastrous results Green Bay Offensive Line Now: Blowing open monster holes for Ahman Green and protecting Brett Favre well. Kevin Curtis Before: Forgotten in the new Scott Linehan offense. Kevin Curtis Now: One of the most productive number three receivers in football, just like under Mike Martz. Mark Clayton Before: Steve McNair's third option behind Derrick Mason and Todd Heap and barely worth owning. Mark Clayton Now: Steve McNair's second option behind Todd Heap and worth considering as a WR3. Joseph Addai Before: Potentially useful RB3/4 who wasn't getting enough touches to count on. Joseph Addai Now: Mature-looking rookie who could be a solid RB2 after pushing Dominic Rhodes to the side, just like we hoped. DeShaun Foster Before: Finally healthy and getting a chance to be a true starter. DeShaun Foster Now: Showing why he's never been a starter in the past. Damon Huard Before: Serviceable curiosity who was doing a good job "managing games." Damon Huard Now: Difference-making Pro Bowl candidate who can be a solid QB1 with the right matchup. Tony Gonzalez Before: The end is nigh. Tony Gonzalez Now: Has a chance to be the top fantasy tight end. Can he use that in contract talks? Rex Grossman Before: Decent young Brett Favre imitation Rex Grossman Now: Brett Favre '05 imitation Week 10 Quarterbacks
QB Update: In hindsight, Delhomme was a little low before. But he's been inconsistent at best this year. Favre moves down a bit after likely losing Greg Jennings. Same with Drew Brees and Joe Horn, although Pittsburgh isn't a terrible matchup. Charlie Frye moves up with so many injuries in the Atlanta secondary. QB Notes: Rex Grossman owners send a lot of nasty emails, but show me a game where he's delivered in a big spot. The closest he came was against the Seattle defense, who promptly collapsed. The Dolphins defenders said that Grossman wasn't the same quarterback after they hit him a few times, which didn't happen until the last 20 minutes of the game. At that point, Grossman's mechanics fell apart when a defender got near and he wildly overthrew receivers throughout the fourth quarter. He could have been picked off 3-4 more times. Grossman will adjust, but he seems like a young starting pitcher who is going around the league for a second time and being hit hard. The book is out. The sports discourse can reverse field faster than Michael Vick out of the pocket. On two national television programs leading up to Week 9, I heard the question "The most dangerous weapon in the history of the game?" asked in connection with Vick. Now I've heaped plenty of praise on Vick, especially as a consistent fantasy asset, but some these same shows were asking whether Vick would ever mature two weeks prior. This week, Vick won't be a talking point on most show's rundowns because of collective embarrassment. Vick was hurt by drops against the Lions, but he was hurt even more by careless turnovers. But Vick's poor showing is exactly why I love him as a top-five fantasy quarterback option. He scored 20 fantasy points (ninth among QBs in Week 9) during a terrible game! Vick is on his way to the greatest running season for a quarterback in NFL history. He has more rushing yards this year than Edgerrin James, Ahman Green, Clinton Portis, Brian Westbrook, Deuce McAllister, Reuben Droughns, and many more of your second and third round fantasy backs. The most optimistic projections (like ours) didn't dare think that Marc Bulger would be better without Mike Martz. His touchdowns are up, he's second in the league in yards, and he's only thrown one interception! That would never happen under Martz. Bulger also never managed to stay healthy under Martz, although it's not like he's getting great protection from Scott Linehan's troops. Bulger has been sacked 24 times, the fifth-most in the league. After Peyton Manning and Donovan McNabb, there isn't a quarterback I'd rather own. Vick would be a close fourth, then Carson Palmer. David Garrard, Damon Huard, and Ben Roethlisberger all benefit from good matchups this week. The Saints are vulnerable to the deep ball, something the Steelers can exploit. Brad Johnson and Alex Smith are playing poorly enough that they are matchup-proof. It's hard to start them, even against Green Bay and Detroit. That also goes for J.P. Losman, who managed to complete eight passes against the 32nd pass defense in the league. He's holding on the ball too long and is late throwing his deep balls to Lee Evans. Get ready for some Craig Nall talk after this Colts game. Joey Harrington's biggest faults as a quarterback don't hurt him in fantasy leagues. There are at least five brain-fart throws this week, but interceptions aren't that big a concern for fantasy value. For most of the game, Harrington is decisive and finds the open man. He's been one of the more consistent fantasy points-scorers over the last month and is a decent QB2 worth holding on to. I doubt Daunte Culpepper plays again this year. Week 10 Running Backs
RB Update: Chester Taylor will start. Mike Bell moves down because of Tatum's upgrade, but I still suspect Mike gets most of the carries this week. Check the inactives list. Tatum is on the list, but I can't imagine using him again yet . Edgerrin James was a little high before, so he moves down a few spots. Droughns moves up because of all the Atlanta injuries. It's a nice week to use him. Jerious Norwood moves way down. I don't expect him to play. Warrick Dunn moves up because of it. RB Notes: Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush could have made the transformation list at the top of the column. They've combined for 101 total yards over the last two weeks. Bush is lost in the running game and McAllister has topped 15 carries only twice all season. That makes them shaky RB2s with good matchups at best, and players to bench this week at Pittsburgh. Frank Gore hasn't scored in a while, but he's still averaging 4.7 yards-per-carry on a sagging 49ers offense. Look for a big day against the Lions, who don't have Shaun Rogers back from suspension yet. Until I hear otherwise, I'm going to operate as if Tatum Bell isn't playing. Turf toes don't just go away in a week. If Maurice Morris can carve up the Raiders, so can Mike Bell. The Jamal Lewis resurgence (while stuck at 3.5 yards-per-carry) should be capped off with another decent effort against the Titans. He won't be a great RB2 after this week, so dump him if you can. Laurence Maroney didn't make the list at the top because he's been the same player all season: An enormously talented tease who doesn't deliver fantasy points yet. Noah Herron and Dominic Rhodes have scored more than Maroney over the last month. I do think Maroney will get the ball more in the second half. This week, against the soft Jets rush defense, would be a great time to start. If the Bills offense can't hang with the Colts, Joseph Addai should get 20 touches and be a solid fantasy play. Anthony Thomas is a decent option (seriously) in the same game because Dick Jauron is downright fearful of J.P. Losman throwing the ball. Jauron is the only coach in the NFL that will continue to run on first down when he's behind by three scores. Minnesota has their problems, but they expertly stuff the run. Most of Ahman Green's yards this season have come between the tackles, which will be tough against the Williams' this week. Look for other options if you can. Willis McGahee owners got a bad beat last week. He was this close to scoring a touchdown early in the game, but a Packers linebacker just barely clipped his ankle enough to make McGahee stumble and go down. Two plays later, McGahee landed on FB Daimon Shelton's foot at the bottom of a pile and cracked three of his upper ribs. It sounds like he'll miss a few weeks at least. Kevin Jones is putting it all together. He's always been good at dancing and juking in the backfield, but now he's hitting the hole harder when it's there and breaking tackles. He also gets the ball on the goal line, although he was stuffed twice last week. A few emailers wondered about selling high on Jones, but I'd enjoy the ride. He's one of the most consistent RB1s around. A revamped offensive line in Miami opened up huge holes for Ronnie Brown against the Bears. Offensive line coach Hudson Houck has an unbelievable track record in the running game, so perhaps he can turn Brown's season around. We'll see if the progress is for real this week against the Chiefs. Cadillac Williams should take a seat on fantasy benches this week. Carolina is desperate for a win and Jon Gruden has shown no patience in the running game when Tampa falls behind. Defenses don't respect Bruce Gradkowski yet and have been putting eight men in the box against the Bucs. Look for the Jets to attack New England through the air where they are vulnerable. That means less carries for Leon Washington, who could also lose a few snaps to Cedric Houston. Travis Henry is strictly a matchup play. Playing at Baltimore is a tough one. The Ravens should eat Vince Young for lunch. Jerious Norwood may be a game time decision. If he's out, Warrick Dunn would be a better play. Dunn hasn't seen the big running lanes he's used to the last few weeks. The Falcons running game has struggled without interior lineman Matt Lehr (suspension) and Kynan Forney (injuries). DeAngelo Williams returns this week, and should steal carries from DeShaun Foster. Week 10 Wide Receivers
WR Update: Colston moves up a bit because Joe Horn isn't likely to play. Devery Henderson cracks the top 60, but I wouldn't use him unless you are very short at WR3. Larry Fitzgerald moves up after a full week of practice. Donald Driver moves up with Greg Jennings likely out. I took Jennings off the list Terry Glenn sinks to the bottom of the list because of his knee injury, and I don't expect him to play. Santana Moss is ranked as if he'll play. He's listed as probable, but I'd definitely check back Sunday morning. Braylon Edwards and Joe Jurevicius get nice boosts because of the Atlanta defensive injuries . Patrick Crayton is an option with Glenn out. Rod Smith should play. WR Notes: Lee Evans got wide open deep twice against Al Harris last week. J.P. Losman was late on both his throws, but still connected on a 43-yard score late in the fourth quarter. Evans owners have to be concerned with Dick Jauron's conservative strategy. Losman threw 15 passes against the worst pass defense in the league, and Evans had only three targets. I still like Evans on turf against the Colts, but he's going to be inconsistent in the second half of the year. Mike Furrey has turned in to a consistent WR2/3 for fantasy leaguers. He's got great hands and finds the seams in zone defenses. Jon Kitna has targeted Furrey one more time in the red zone than Roy Williams. One thing you notice with the Lions these days is that they are all fundamental hands catchers. Kevin Jones is sharp in the passing game and Williams is far more consistent making the tough catch in addition to his one-handed grabs. Ashley Lelie had a lot of drops last week for the Falcons. The only Falcons receiver consistent enough to even consider in fantasy leagues is Michael Jenkins. Chris Chambers continues to get a lot of chances, but just hasn't been a consistent pass-catcher. He dropped a deep ball last week, but then made a few highlight reel grabs late. This isn't a great week for Chambers to break out. The Chiefs, led by Patrick Surtain, are the best team in the league against number one receivers. The Chiefs are last in the league, though, against bench receivers according to FootballOutsiders, so this is a good matchup for Wes Welker. ... Justin Gage struggled against the Dolphins, but he got more snaps than Rashied Davis. Davis has better hands and quickness, so I'd be surprised if he doesn't get the starts this week. The Bucs defense is no longer a tough matchup for wideouts. Ronde Barber is inconsistent, and the rest of the secondary is below average. Torrie Cox, Juran Bolden, and Jermaine Phillips are giving up way too many big plays. Keyshawn Johnson is a good play this week because of it. The Jets passing game did a fine job against New England early in the season. Eric Mangini knows where to attack that secondary and is likely to employ a bombs-away approach against the Patriots. Laveranues Coles and Jerricho Cotchery should have plenty of targets. Marques Colston owners should get a boost if Joe Horn misses another game. The Steelers secondary can be attacked and I expect the Saints to pass at least 35 times to beat Pittsburgh. Chad Johnson is losing his mind. Two weeks ago against the Falcons, NFL Films microphones caught him pleading with the Falcons coaches to get him matched up against DeAngelo Hall. Uh, Chad, the defense can match you up with whoever they want. Johnson said his touchdown against Jason Webster didn't count, then told Carson Palmer "I gotta figure out how to have this same feeling no matter who I'm playing." There have been 84 100-yard games this season by wide receivers. Johnson doesn't have one of them. Plaxico Burress will get moved down the rankings if he doesn't return to practice. Week 10 Tight Ends
TE Notes: Randy McMichael and Jason Witten have benefited greatly from the quarterback changes on their teams. Joey Harrington and Tony Romo both look to their tight ends often. Ben Watson has shaky hands, but he's getting enough targets to start on a weekly basis. Watson has more targets than every tight end except Kellen Winslow, even Antonio Gates. If you own him and another top-ten tight end, I'd trade one of them. Kellen Winslow should play this week despite being listed as questionable, as usual. He's been a monster in points-per-reception leagues with 51 catches thus far. The next closest tight is Tony Gonzalez, with 38. Bo Scaife led the Titans with ten targets last week. If the Titans fall behind early against Baltimore, he'll be a favorite of Vince Young again. Week 10 Kickers
Week 10 Team Defense |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
11-11-06, 09:22 PM
|
#2 |
|
Moderator
Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak
Join Date: Aug 19, 2005
Location: Orlando, Florida
Posts: 52,423
|
Re: Fantasy Football News 11/11/06
Last Minute Decisions Important Week 10 Game-Time Decisions Santana Moss probable but officially a game-time call, check inactives Tatum Bell upgraded to "P" Friday, likely will split with Mike @ OAK Terry Glenn don't think he'll play and definitely won't be 100 percent Greg Jennings won't be at full strength but it appears he'll try to play LaMont Jordan, Ahman Green, Reggie Bush will start, tough fantasy starts Charlie Frye, Joe Jurevicius, Kellen Winslow will play v. dinged-up ATL Rudi Johnson will play despite sitting Thursday, tough matchup vs. SD Bernard Berrian surprise late-week upgrade, highly unlikely to go Sunday Todd Heap, Ed Reed, Ray Lewis Heap, Reed will start, Ray less certain Michael Pittman Tampa third-down back practiced Friday, should play Joe Horn downgraded to doubtful, highly unlikely for afternoon game Plaxico Burress worried about triple teams but Plax is expected to play Chester Taylor upgraded to probable, virtually certain to go vs. the Pack Byron Leftwich backup QB downgraded to a Q after aggravating ankle Rod Smith upgraded Friday but a tough start against Raiders' secondary Joseph Addai, Laurence Maroney both will play and are strong starts Bobby Wade, David Givens likely to play, wouldn't touch either though Jerious Norwood, Alge Crumpler, Ashley Lelie only latter two likely to go Cedric Houston may be down, or get a chance as Jets short-yardage back George Wrighster late-week add to injury report, where is Marcedes Lewis? Aaron Brooks don't be surprised if he relieves Andrew Walter Sunday Brian Urlacher can't see him sitting, especially after he practiced Friday Jimmy Williams, DeAngelo Hall both will start despite missing workouts Gary Brackett unlikely to go, Rob Morris and Freddie Keiaho to split time David Thornton rookie Stephen Tulloch to be Titans' MLB going forward John Lynch, Nick Ferguson, Darrent Williams, Al Wilson all will start Juran Bolden, Simeon Rice, Ellis Wyms foresee big day for Steve Smith Jordan Babineaux man he replaced, Michael Boulware, may start Sunday Brandon Short, Sam Madison, Carlos Emmons only Short unlikely to play Bob Sanders didn't practice all week but Indy is counting on him playing James Farrior, Larry Foote Steelers run D to be at full strength vs. Saints Shaun Phillips, Marlon McCree both set to start at Cincinnati on Sunday Already Ruled Out for Week 10 Vernon Davis disappointing rookie likely aiming for a Week 11 return Brian Calhoun Arlen Harris is now Detroit's top backup for Kevin Jones Shaun Alexander, Matt Hasselbeck neither is a lock to play in Week 11 Willis McGahee make sure Anthony Thomas is not on your waiver wire Josh Reed increased snaps coming for Roscoe Parrish at slot receiver Trent Green will engage in contact drills next week, may return Week 12 Bobby Engram D.J. Hackett is a sneaky WR3 versus St. Louis this week Brandon Stokley season has almost been a wash, may return next week Vernand Morency return Week 11? might split carries when healthy Osi Umenyiora, Michael Strahan Mathias Kiwanuka producing as starter Amani Toomer, Sinorice Moss Moss may be late-year factor w/Amani out Daunte Culpepper likely out for '06, Dolphins exploring waiver-wire QBs Napoleon Harris, Marcus Robinson Dontarrious Thomas to start at MLB Ebenezer Ekuban, Ian Gold still wouldn't use LaMont Jordan this week Luis Castillo, Shawne Merriman SD defensive stars dropping like flies Derrick Johnson Keyaron Fox will be Chiefs' weak-side 'backer Sunday Kynan Forney, Matt Lehr Falcons could struggle to run inside vs. CLE James Hall, Shaun Rogers, (likely) Shaun Cody big boost for Frank Gore Tony Fisher Stephen Davis now Rams' top backup, Kay-Jay Harris No. 3 Rodney Harrison return Week 14 at earliest, Artrell Hawkins now a starter Leigh Bodden, Gary Baxter, (likely) Jereme Perry, Kevin Mathis, Jason Webster, John Abraham, Edgerton Hartwell start your Falcons & Browns First-Round Rundown I believe in the theory that NFL rookies should get a three-year window before they are judged. But I'm also interested as to how they've played, if at all, during the first eight games of their much anticipated careers. The following has nothing to do with fantasy football. I think I may retire the "Exploit/Avoid Matchups" for at least a week, as I had not been "on" recently, and it's really a crapshoot. If you would like to talk matchups or who to start and sit this week, e-mail Gregg (or check his marvelous Week 10 rankings), Aaron, Scott, or I and we'd all be happy to discuss what should or shouldn't be going down this Sunday and Monday night. Scott Morrow especially, I feel, is up to the task, though he's pretty focused right now on his Fantasy Congress team. I contacted some team beat writers and have mixed into my rankings their thoughts on their teams' rookies. All the responses I received were positive, which was a small surprise, although I didn't expect anyone to call their team's first-round pick a bust just yet. I've ranked the following players in order of the positive impact they've made in their rookie season, provided projected statistics based on current numbers, and considered briefly each player's role with his respective ballclub. In parentheses is the overall pick with which each player was drafted. 1. Laurence Maroney (21) 916 yards rushing (4.3 YPC), 20 rec, 218 yards, 29.7 yards-per-kick return Maroney has added a new dimension to the Patriots' offense and special teams. He's willing to be, and is, the perfect complement to Corey Dillon |
