Oct. 21, 2011
Thankfully, it appears that Oakland has come to their senses and Kyle Boller will be starting week seven. At least give Palmer a couple of weeks to get accustomed to his surroundings and get to know the playbook a bit. I still fully expect Palmer to be starting after the bye week.
In Indi, Joseph Addai looks to be a surprise starter this weekend in New Orleans. You still can’t start him unless you’re really strapped, but at least he’s an option.
I’m looking forward to Tebow’s performance in Miami this weekend. Fully expecting better fantasy numbers than NFL productivity, I’m still rooting for him to do well and to quiet his naysayers. I also happen to think that he’s not a horrible start this weekend.
If you had told me at the beginning of the year that after week six Tampa’s Mike Williams would be fourth on the roster in reception yards, I would have told you to get your head checked and to, perhaps, consider fantasy golf instead. As it stands, Preston Parker sits atop the list with 268 yards and two touchdowns. But Mike Williams is not far behind with 242. Still, I’m growing more and more concerned and starting to see the ghost of Michael Clayton.
Matt Ryan is in Detroit this week. Another tough match-up. What a disappointment! No player has come up more short in my mind this year than Matt Ryan. I just moved him in one of my leagues.
Andre Johnson is recovering well but will not be playing vs. Tennessee. Look for the Titans to stack the box vs. Arian Foster and force Kevin Walter and Jacoby Jones to play a bigger role. Owen Daniels makes for a sneaky second TE starter if you are shallow at receiver.
I’m really having a tough time with the Larry Fitzgerald start vs. PIT this weekend, but I won’t break DLF’s number one tenet: “Never bench your studs!”. If there was ever a week….
As much as I am not a Jet’s fan, I applaud Darrelle Revis hanging up on WFAN’s Mike Francesca on Monday. Francesca, who already has a strained relationship with the Jets, was badgering Revis endlessly about his interception return, trying to get him to admit that it was a result of a missed interference penalty. While it’s true that Revis obviously threw Marshall off balance utilizing Marshall’s forward momentum, if it isn’t called then it isn’t called. Everyone knows that Revis gets those non-calls because he’s the best in the league. To his credit, Revis didn’t hang up on Francesca until told to do so by a member of the Jet’s PR staff … who later called to apologize. In my mind, no apology was necessary. Where does the media get off thinking that they can badger players and expect them to simply put up with it? Knuckleheads like Francesca need to get over themselves and give a good unbiased interview. It’s no wonder more players are refusing to talk to the media. Media members write, players play. Let’s not forget our stations.
San Diego’s Antonio Gates looks like he will give it a go this weekend. Great news for Gates and his fans. He likely doesn’t have many more games left in him but he’s worth a buy-low if you need help at the position.
Flacco gets one more week before I bench him permanently … or until I really need him again. This time I mean it. Really!
Look for my first 2012 rookie round-up soon! I’m pulling together information and should have the article out this weekend. It’s still very early but things are starting to take shape. A lot of exciting rookies are likely to come out in 2012 but many of the big names are only juniors. This is the year that a quarterback should likely be going first in your fantasy draft. Tough to do at 1.01 but most believe that Luck is the best quarterback prospect since Elway. I’m not going further than Manning at this point, but there are still games left.
Stay tuned….
Oct. 19, 2011
Personally, I was hoping for a bit more action before the trade deadline. Instead, we got a major move with Carson Palmer and a ho-hum and, eventually, reversed Ronnie Brown trade. If you’re Ronnie Brown, that’s gotta feel good doesn’t it?
For the Raiders, I find myself flipping back and forth between “just what in the heck are you doing?” and “kudos for stepping up and giving your fans something to cheer for”. I lean towards the latter in that the Raiders are as good as they have been in a long time. Their owner passes away and the next week , their quarterback goes down with what amounts to a season ending injury. Rather than pack it in and hope for the best with Kyle Boller under center, the Raiders stepped up and made something happen. Did they overpay? Yes, probably … but in current times when draft picks are no sure thing, they get a known commodity to lead their team for years to come. And don’t think for a second that Palmer isn’t ultra-motivated.
I’m not keen on any player essentially quitting on his team in the middle of a contract but, for many reasons, I found myself siding with Palmer in this ‘retirement’ saga. It’s not as if Mike Brown and the Bengals have strung anything more than a series of very questionable moves together. Almost to ridiculous extremes in fact. I don’t know how many times that me and the DLF partners joked how a particular trade and/or move would be perfect for the Bengals in jest only to see it come to fruition. At some point, a player has to make a stand vs. perceived incompetence.
Well played by both Palmer and Mike Brown. Both got what they wanted. And Cincinnati fans HAVE to be liking the possibilities that Dalton offers at this point. I’ve been moderately impressed by the rookie.
I thought Palmer would be taking over after the Raider’s bye but it seems that he will be seeing the field in week seven. That’s nuts from where I sit, but little doubt in my mind that Palmer is up for the challenge.
From elsewhere around the league ….
As expected Donovan McNabb is on the bench and the Christian Ponder era has begun. McNabb is reportedly surprised. Really?!?
Is there a more entertaining coach than Rex Ryan? Say what you will, but he makes for great quotes and great football. Whether it was the foot fetish drama from 2010, the endless championship predictions or his sideline antics, he’s just tough not to like. Just to be honest, I couldn’t stand his father for anything. And for the record, he’s right about Norv Turner this week. Don’t get me wrong, I think Norv is one of the best when it comes to being an offensive coordinator, but for whatever reason, just like Tony Romo, he can’t win the big game and he won’t sniff a big game this year. Mark it down. I’ve loved Turner since he was in Dallas but at some point you just have to face the music.
Got Beck? He’s starting in week seven. I think he has a chance to be a good quarterback. We’ll see.
I’ve listened to a number of fantasy shows this week and it has struck me with how many times I’ve heard questions about who to pick up at the kicker position. People, when it comes to playing or picking up a kicker, hit your waiver wire, spend three seconds making sure the prospective kicker isn’t on a bye, look for a good match-up and hit “add”. Don’t waste your time trying to determine who will be scoring 12 points and who will be scoring 7. It’s a crap-shoot, nothing more.
Andre Johnson will be sitting out one more week, this time vs. Tennessee. Tentatively looking for AJ to get back to work against the Jaguars, but it makes me nervous. I’d prefer to see him out for two more weeks at a minimum.
Sam Bradford will be giving it a go vs. Dallas this week. What are the Rams thinking? Give him some rest and let him heal up a bit. This start isn’t going to be the key for a big playoff run.
Dare I say that if you are in a pinch, Marshawn Lynch is a start this week. He’s running with live legs and getting outside more. Considering the fact that their offensive line can’t open up any inside holes, outside is where it has to be. Seattle is actually playing some spirited ball right now and Lynch could be in line for 20 carries for a change.
Chris Johnson owners, pray that the week of rest has done the trick for the under-performing runner. Something tells me that we’re going to finally see a break out week. I think this may be the third time I’ve said that in four weeks. I’m an optimist.
Chicago! Pay Matt Forte’!
DeAngelo Williams or Jonathan Stewart t his week? Neither! I’m done trying to figure it out. Same goes for James Starks and Ryan Grant. Terrible.
Rumors are beginning to swirl that Stanford’s junior phenom signal caller, Andrew Luck, may be aligning with his father toward strong arming his draft status similar to Eli Manning, perhaps refusing to play for certain teams . What a disappointment that would be.
Brandon Marshall should have followed through with his threat to get thrown out in the second quarter. It would have been the most exciting thing he’s done all year … eclipsing the huge let down that was his sure-touchdown catch and run that ended with him tight roping the sideline only to lose his balance and fall out of bounds untouched. Nice.
Yes, it’s an impossible match-up but you can’t bench Larry Fitzgerald vs. that tough Pittsburgh defense. I know because I’m starting him in multiple leagues.
DeMarco Murray owners, this is your week. Get him in your lineup!
Hey, Mike Sims-Walker is back with the Jaguars. Ouch.
Seems like a good place to end this update.
Have a tough start/sit question, let’s hear it.
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Great read, but the Falcons are in Detroit this week. Next week is Matt Ryan’s bye
Good catch, thanks. Looked at the wrong week of games for the Falcons.
mjd or tobert this week?
Can’t sit MJD
I can start 2 of these guys… who should I leave out?
Colston vs Colts who are 30th against WR in my league .
Vincent Jackson vs Jets who are 5th against WR in my league.
Matt Ryan vs Lions who are 4th against QB’s in my league.
Need to start 1 as a WR and 1 as an OP.
You always start a 2nd QB if you can. So this week, I’d sit Colston because I still consider VJax a Stud-lite. And you don’t bench your studs. I won’t mark off points though if you want to play the Colston matchup …
Ok, so kerry rhodes just got dropped in my dynasty league. Dude has been truly awful this year, but should i still pick him up? I see he was your number 1 ranked DB…thanks
We don’t put a lot of faith in defense rankings and those will be updated very soon now that our rankings engine JUST got fixed. D players outside of LBs, and even with most LBs, are mix and match.
hit hard by bye weeks this week.
Non PPR:
Hasselbeck or Bradford
need 1: Jackie Battle, Earnest Graham, Tim Hightower or James Starks
need 1: Mike Williams, Hines Ward, Antonio Brown, Denarius Moore or Arrelious Benn
thats mike wiliams tampa
Hasselbeck.
Graham. Ugh.
MWTB. I know, but I’m sticking with him.
Need a PPR flex: Antonio Brown, Kendricks, Ford, Stewart, DeAngelo
Also have Donald Brown
Geez, flip a coin. Call me crazy but I have a hunch about Stewart this week vs. WAS
Have to pick up a filler for McCoy Bye week. Best avail are Ryan Torain vs CAR (will be at that game!), Demarco Murray or Tashard Choice vs STL, and Jackie Battle vs OAK. Also have access to Maurice Morris with Best out. PPR league. Thoughts?
I’d roll with Murray this week. PPR should help out a bit.
With Michael Vick on his BYE and McNabb being horrible, I have a choice between the following two QBs this week.
John Beck @ CAR
Matt Moore vs DEN
Who do I roll with? Thanks!
Moore is playing at home vs. the worst pass D in the league. I’d start him.
Hey guys – 1/2 PPR. Thanks!!!
1) Pick one: Flacco, Matt Ryan or Josh Freeman?
2) Pick two: James Starks, DeMarco Murray, Greg Little, James Jones, Donald Brown, Delone Carter or Ed Dickson?
I have one more that I forgot about:
3) Pick two: Brandon Marshall, Vincent Jackson or Bowe? Also, I have the option of starting the left out player of Marshall/Vjack/Bowe over Beanie Wells this week – would you do it?
VJax and Bow. I don’t like that Wells match-up vs. PIT. Being that it is .5 PPR, yes … I’d sit Beanie.
I’d rank them:
Freeman
Flacoo
Ryan
But it’s close. My heart says Flacco but my gut screams Freeman. I always trust my gut.
1/2 ppr, 1 pt for 30 return yards, 1 pt for 10 rec/rush yds
Antonio Brown vs Arizona
DHB vs. KC…… The newness of Palmer worries me a bit, but am still teetering towards starting DHB.
Thanks as always!
I forgot to mention pick one…… Oops.
I’d begrudgingly start DHB. Go with your gut … I think it’s the best choice.
Non PPR:
Pick two – Battle, Murray, Ingram and E. Graham.
I’m leaning toward starting Battle and E. Graham since Murray isn’t proven and he may share bulk of touches with Choice and Ingram with Sproles and P. Thomas.
Thanks!
Ingram and Graham for non-PPR
I think N.O. will lean on Ingram a bit more this week with Sproles nursing a hamstring. But Battle isn’t a horrible play … he’s a sneaky start. I’d still stick with Ingram, but it’s close.
Hey what are your thoughts on Braylon Edwards? An owner dropped him a while back n he’s on waivers. With the way Alex Smith is playing he’s got the offence there in the right place. Also this week pick 2 Turner, Battle, or Reggie Bush.
Tebow or Hassleback. Thanks man ur advice is turnin things around for my team. Ppr standard scoring.
I add Edwards if you have room. Turner and Battle. Hasselbeck.
Glad to hear we are helping. Hope we don’t blow it.
Am considering cutting Knowshon Moreno for Jackie Battle…. i’m in a touchdown only dynasty salary cap league and will lose knowshon at the end of the year anyways (unless he somehow turns things around in a major way this year and I decide to re-sign him)… any thoughts? good move? bad move? I still think Knowshon has talent.. but let’s face it.. the guy doesn’t play.. like hardly at all.
Tough choice. Battle may not have much of a future but we’ve seen what we have with Moreno. You can do it, but it’s risky. I’m not a Moreno fan in any way.
three tough ones this week:
pick 2: brandon lloyd, greg little, doug baldwin, or lance moore
pick 1: mike tolbert or daniel thomas
at 2nd qb: kevin kolb or curtis painter
Thanks
Lloyd and Moore. I don’t trust Little yet and I need to see another few weeks from Baldwin.
Thomas – Close though.
I’d start Painter this week but it could raise eyebrows. That PIT team is tough right now and Kolb is regressing. Painter should be throwing a LOT this weekend.
Who is the better bye week fill John Beck or Curtis Painter?
I’d go with Painter, more established weapons and he’ll be throwing a ton.
Pick 2:
Daniel Thomas
Torrain
Maurice Morris
Do I have to?
Thomas and Morris. Torain needs to be a solid start before I start him … and in a Shanahan offense, that doesn’t happen often. He’s the most talented back in that offense though.
Dynasty league standard, non-ppr scoring.
Would you rather have Deji Karim or Donald brown going forward?
Thanks,
trash
Donald Brown. It’s close but Brown still has a chance to be good in my opinion. If he can stay healthy, he’s dynamic enough to be a starter … but he needs to show it consistently. Truth be told, I don’t think either is destined for longer term success.
Need a flex, no ppr
Hardesty v Sea
MWTB @ Chi
T Smith @ Jac
Leaning towards Hardesty but what if Hillis is active? As always, much appreciated.
No PPR means Hardesty this week. Hillis will sit.
What do you guys think this week?
Romo (indoors with no healthy runners, awesome healthy receivers, and a weak rams team)
or
Newton (who is the team for Carolina)
romo by a nose
I like Romo this week, good game for him to bounce back.
for flex in a deep 14 teamer ppr…
Torain, Battle, S.Holmes, L.Moore?
I am gun shy to play Torain and i think Holmes is the safest play, although he has’nt looked that good this year. Luckily, my starting wr’s are Wallace and Jennings…
I agree … I’d start Holmes.
I’ve given myself to many choices I’ve got CJohnson and Fitz and Wells starting in a PPR and i need two others to round out my RB and FLEX position.
Battle, Muray, Ingram, or VJax………Which two
I’d roll with VJax and Ingram. Watch the injury reports just in case with VJax. Murray is in a time share with Choice. Battles makes for a decent play but I couldn’t start him over Ingram.
Not sure who to start at TE this week…T. Gonzalez or A. Gates? What do you think?
Gonzo this week. Let’s give Gates a week to get up to speed and for us not to take the risk.
In a 32 team dynasty league is Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Marshall for AP and Brandon Gibson too much. How about Matt Forte and my Rookie pick for AP? My team is a top contender so my pick would probably be somewhere between 26-32. Also have an offer where I give Knox, jacoby Jones and my Rookie for Vincent Jackson. Do I take it? We keep most of our rosters except for a 2 round free agent draft and a one round rookie draft. Non PPR. My roster-
Rodgers
Forte
Bradshaw
Marshall
Knox
Jacoby Jones
Olsen
Pack D
Mason Crosby
Bench-
Alex green
Harry Douglas
Kregg lumpkin
Matt flynn
Kyle Williams
I like the last one for VJax. Any time you can give up 2 under-performers and an unknown late pick and get back someone like VJax … that’s a steal.
I’m not a fan of the other ones in that deep of a league. You’d be selling low on Marshall. It’s okay to a degree if you love Peterson, and I do … but two for one can be difficult to swallow.
Need a flex, 0.5PPR, Gates or Hardesty
Hardesty. Risky but Gates coming back from injury doesn’t make me all bumpy.
Ford, Titus Young, or McCluster for my wr3 spot this week?
Yuck. Gotta go Ford IMO.
Who is the better start? Thanks for the advice fellas.
1. Demarco Murray, Greg little or James jones in a .5 ppr?
2. Lynch (vs Cle), Marshall or Beanie in a .5 ppr?
1. I think the Cowboys want to see what Murray can do and will be featuring him this week more than Choice. I’d choose Murray. Jones is all about whether he can break free for a long TD. I’d go with the more guaranteed touches in Murray.
2. I think you have to stick with Marshall but Lynch is a close 2nd. I’m starting Lynch for the first time this year this week.
you guys still arent buying the Greg Little, are you?
i say go Little rest of the way, he will be a decent wr3 and a viable bye week fill in.
Like Jeff always says, trust your gut here
Need help with my bye weeks…need to pick up 1 of these for the next 2 weeks.
DeMarco Murray (Rams & Eagles) or Jackie Battle (Raiders & Chargers), standard league.
Thanks for the advice.
That’s a toss-up for two weeks running. Battle has been announced as the carry-the-load back and there isn’t a lot of sharing expected. Murray is better in PPR formats.
For two weeks, I’m going to go Battle here as there are more guaranteed touches. I expect Murray to get a fair amount of work but there’s just too many question marks to pick him for two weeks.
Thanks.
I can also still pick up Morris, and with Best out this week, he’s another option.
I’d still start Battle.
pick 2
starks v min
stewart v wash
l moore v indy
t smith v jags
1/2 ppr thanks
You can play any of those two and have an equal chance to pick the right the player. I’d lean towards Smith and Starks.
You can play any of those two and have an equal chance to pick the right the player. I’d lean towards Smith and Starks.
Pick 2: Wells, Fitzgerald, Bryant, Finley
PPR? Either way though, I’m not playing Wells today. I would start Fitz and Bryant as much as I want to sit Fitz today.
Hello,
Thanks for all the advice. Standard scoring league, non PPR
Need one QB: Colt Mccoy Vs. Seattle of Flacco At Jax.
Need one RB: Torain at Carolina, Jackie Battle at Oakland or Deangelo Williams vs Washington.
Thank you again.
trash
Flacco is the easy choice there, at least to me.
Battle today, he’ll be getting the carries. I never trust Shanahan fully and DWill is still in a monster timeshare.
One more, please.
PPR league.
Need to Start 1 RB: Dan Thomas vs Denver or Chris Wells vs Pitt
Thanks,
trash
I’d start Thomas this week.