NFL Picks Week 15: Dec 13 – 17

December 13, 2012 by Leave a Comment

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last Week’s record 10-6, 131-77 year to date record       

 Team and Location                                  Line                  Who will win

Cincinnati at Philadelphia

+3.0

Bengals will win 21-10
Green Bay at Chicago

+2.5

Packers will win 21-20
NY Giants at Atlanta

-1.5

Falcons will win 27-17
Tampa Bay at New Orleans

-3.0

Saints will win 14-10
Minnesota at St. Louis

-3.0

Vikings will win 24-21
Washington at Cleveland

-1.0

Redskins will win 14-10
Jacksonville at Miami

-7.0

Dolphins will win 27-24
Denver at Baltimore

+2.5

Ravens will win 24-14
Indianapolis at Houston

-8.0

Texans will win 14-7
Carolina at San Diego

-3.0

    Chargers will win 17-14
Seattle at Buffalo

+5.0

Seahawks will win 31-28
Detroit at Arizona

+6.0

Lions will win 21-10
Pittsburgh at Dallas    +1.5

Steelers will win 24-21
Kansas City at Oakland

-2.5

Raiders will win 21-10
San Francisco at New England

-5.5

Patriots will win 34-21
NY Jets at Tennessee

-1.5

Jets will win 27-24

 

Terry Davis covers the Tennessee Titans for MemphiSport. Follow him @Terryd515.

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Fantasy Football Rankings: Week 7

October 21, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Expect similar numbers as last week for Rodgers as he appears to be in mid-season form.

 

 

QBs
1. Aaron Rodgers – GB vs St. Louis  2. Drew Brees – NO vs Tampa Bay
3. Eli Manning – NYG vs Washington  4. Robert Griffin III – Was vs New York Giants
5. Tom Brady – NE vs New York Jets 6. Andrew Luck – Ind vs Cleveland                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                7. Cam Newton – Car vs Dallas  8. Ben Roethlisberger – Pit vs Cincinnati

9. Tony Romo – Dal vs Carolina  10. Matthew Stafford – Det vs Chicago

11. Matt Schaub – Hou vs Baltimore 12. Andy Dalton – Cin vs Pittsburgh                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     13. Joe Flacco – Bal vs Houston  14. Carson Palmer – Oak vs Jacksonville

15. Jay Cutler – Chi vs Detroit  16. Christian Ponder – Min vs Arizona

17. Josh Freeman – TB vs New Orleans  18. Ryan Fitzpatrick – Buf vs Tennessee

19. Mark Sanchez – NYJ vs New England  20. Matt Hasselbeck – Ten vs Buffalo

RBs
1. Arian Foster – Hou vs Baltimore  2. Maurice Jones-Drew – Jax vs Oakland

3. Ray Rice – Bal vs Houston  4. Darren McFadden – Oak vs Jacksonville

5. Matt Forte – Chi vs Detroit  6. Adrian Peterson – Min vs Arizona

7. CJ Spiller – Buf vs Tennessee  8. Trent Richardson – Cle vs Indianapolis

9. Alfred Morris – Was vs New York Giants  10. Chris Johnson – Ten vs Buffalo

11. Stevan Ridley – NE vs New York Jets   12. Darren Sproles – NO vs Tampa Bay

13. Doug Martin – TB vs New Orleans  14. Ahmad Bradshaw – NYG vs Washington

15. Felix Jones – Dal vs New York Giants  16. BenJarvus Green-Ellis – Cin vs Pittsburgh

17. Mikel LeShoure – Det vs Chicago  18. Fred Jackson – Buf vs Tennessee

19. Steven Jackson – STL vs Green Bay  20. Alex Green – GB vs St. Louis

21. Shonn Greene – NYJ vs New England  22. Vick Ballard – Ind vs Cleveland

23. DeAngelo Williams – Car vs Dallas  24. Jonathan Dwyer – Pit vs Cincinnati

25.  WIlliam Powell – Ari vs Minnesota  26. Michael Bush – Chi vs Detroit

27. Jonathan Stewart – Car vs Dallas  28. LeGarrette Blount – TB vs New Orleans

29. Pierre Thomas – NO vs Tampa Bay  30. Montario Hardesty – Cle vs Indianapolis

WRs
1 Calvin Johnson – Det vs Chicago  2. AJ Green – Cin vs Pittsburgh

3. Percy Harvin – Min vs Arizona  4. Victor Cruz – NYG vs Washington

5. Brandon Marshall – Chi vs Detroit  6. Wes Welker – NE vs New York Jets

7. Reggie Wayne – Ind vs Cleveland  8. Larry Fitzgerald – Ari vs Minnesota

9. Marques Colston – NO vs Tampa Bay  10. Jordy Nelson – GB vs St. Louis

11. Andre Johnson – Hou vs Baltimore  12. Vincent Jackson – TB vs New Orleans

13. Mike Wallace – Pit vs Cincinnati  14. Dez Bryant – Dal vs Carolina

15. Hakeem Nicks – NYG vs Washington  16. Kenny Britt – Ten vs Buffalo

17. Denarius Moore – Oak vs Jacksonville  18. Steve Johnson – Buf vs Tennessee

19. Steve Smith – Car vs Dallas  20. Antonio Brown – Pit vs Cincinatti

21. Miles Austin – Dal vs Carolina  22. James Jones – GB vs St. Louis

23. Mike Williams – TB vs New Orleans  24. Darrius Heyward-Bey – Oak vs Jacksonville

25. Torrey Smith – Bal vs Houston  26. Brandon Lloyd – NE vs New York Jets

27. Lance Moore – NO vs Tampa Bay  28. Anquan Boldin – Bal vs Houston
29. Randall Cobb – GB vs St. Louis 30. Domenik Hixon – NYG vs Washington

TEs
1. Rob Gronkowski – NE vs New York Jets  2. Jason Witten – Dal vs Carolina

3. Aaron Hernandez – NE vs New York Jets  4. Owen Daniels – Hou vs Baltimore

5. Kyle Rudolph – Min vs Arizona 6. Scott Chandler – Buf vs Tennessee

7. Brandon Pettigrew – Det vs Chicago  8. Heath Miller – Pit vs Cincinnati

9. Jared Cook – Ten vs Buffalo  10. Greg Olsen – Car vs Dallas

11. Martellus Bennett – NYG vs Washington  12. Jermaine Gresham – Cin vs Pittsburgh

13. Fred Davis – Was vs New York Giants  14. Jermichael Finley – GB vs St. Louis

15. Coby Fleener – Ind vs Cleveland

DSTs
1. Texans vs Baltimore  2. Vikings vs Arizona 3. Bears vs Detroit

4. Packers vs St. Louis  5. Steelers vs Cincinnati  6. Cardinals vs Minnesota

7. Ravens vs Houston  8. Patriots vs New York Jets 9. Lions vs Chicago

10. Giants vs Washington  11. Bengals vs Pittsburgh  12. Cowboys vs Carolina

13. Raiders vs Jacksonville  14. Titans vs Buffalo  15. Jets vs Patriots

Ks
1. Stephen Gostkowski – NE vs New York Jets  2. Mason Crosby – GB vs St. Louis

3. Blair Walsh – Min vs Arizona 4. Sebastian Janikowski – Oak vs Jacksonville

5. Justin Tucker – Bal vs Houston  6. Jason Hanson – Det vs Chicago

7. Greg Zuerlein – STL vs Green Bay  8. Robbie Gould – Chi vs Detroit

9. Phil Dawson – Cle vs Indianapolis 10. Lawrence Tynes – NYG vs Washington

11. Shayne Graham – Hou vs Baltimore  12. Connor Barth – TB vs New Orleans

13. Garrett Hartley – NO vs Tampa Bay  14. Dan Bailey – Dal vs Carolina

15. Rob Bironas – Ten vs Buffalo

 

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Pick ‘Em Up, Dump City, and Backfield Battles – Week 7

October 17, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Again, as mentioned last week, the waiver wire pool gets shallower and shallower each week.  Only a handful of players worth picking up this week and the backfield battles are playing themselves out now and it seems that most of the teams are pretty set in their rotations now.  Still some finds out there, and this should help you find them.

Pick ‘Em Up
QBs

1. Josh Freeman – Buccaneers
Josh Freeman is getting back to his rookie year form, as he had a breakout performance this past Sunday throwing for over 300 yards and also tossing four touchdown passes.  The biggest positive to take from this past Sunday is that he looked comfortable in the pocket and connected on the deep ball on more than one occasion.  Freeman still is just a bye week replacement, but if that becomes the norm for Freeman, he will quickly move into a starting role on your team.

RBs

Felix Jones has one last shot to impress and he will get it this weekend.

1.  Felix Jones – Cowboys
Believe it or not, this guy is still in the league and there was actually a sighting this past weekend in the end zone.  All joking aside, Jones will see a lot of carries this upcoming Sunday with DeMarco Murray on the shelf.  Also, Murray has a foot injury and those seem to linger longer than expected, so Jones could actually be a useful commodity for the rest of the season.  One last thing is that if Jones falters with this opportunity, it could be his last shot.

2.  Danny Woodhead – Patriots
Another blast from the past right here worth picking up.  Woodhead seems to be a favorite of Patriots coach Bill Belichick, as he is in the game pretty much every offensive play, either lining up in the backfield, or in the slot, or as a receiver.  Woodhead will never get you the 20-25 point breakout performance, but is usually good for eight to ten every week because he will get his fair share of touches.  If he does break one and get in the end zone, then that ends up with a 14-16 point performance.  Sometimes, it is okay to go with the safe play in fantasy football.

WRs

1.  Josh Gordon – Browns
The rookie from Baylor is making Cleveland look really good for using a draft pick in the 2013 draft to take him in the supplemental draft.  He has become the favorite deep threat target of the Browns’ rookie QB Brandon Weeden.  Gordon caught a 71 yard TD pass this past Sunday and also

All of the rookies in Cleveland are making some type of impact, now Josh Gordon is turning into a deep threat for the Browns.

hauled in a 62 yarder the week before.  In an earlier column, it was suggested to pick up Greg Little, but since he can’t stop dropping passes, Weeden has looked Gordon’s way and it has paid off for both of them.

2.  Brandon Stokley – Broncos
It should not be surprising that he is on the list.  The reason is because he became a recognizable name during his time in Indianapolis with the QB who arrived in Denver this past offseason, Peyton Manning.  Stokley is the receiver on the Broncos whom Manning trusts the most because of of their time together in Inday.  Manning will look his way in the red zone and in crunch time, so Stokley will at least get some fantasy points every week, and just like Woodhead, Stokley might not bust out for a huge number this year, he is a guarantee to not leave a donut on your score sheet.

TEs

1. Jermaine Gresham – Bengals
Bernard Scott is out for the season in Cincinnati and BenJarvus Green-Ellis has been struggling. Since they cannot get the run game going, they have been relying on the pass and the pass catchers have been getting a good share of looks.  Gresham scored on a 55-yard slant this past week and the three previous weeks before that had five catches in each of those games.  Gresham is a Top-10 TE and is available in over half of the leagues out there, so go and get him.

DSTs

Green Bay Packers
The Packers, as a team looked in vintage form, blowing out the previously undefeated Texans.  Earlier in the year, Green Bay’s defense was suffocating against the Chicago Bears.  This upcoming week they play the St. Louis Rams, whose offense has been really good and improved at times, and just plain bad at other times.  Pick up the Packers defense and don’t be surprised if they continue rolling this week against the Rams.

Dump City

1.  Greg Little – Browns
He was mentioned as pick-up in an earlier column, but that was dependent on him getting over his case of the drops.  He has not and he is not Dez Bryant, so his talent alone will not allow him to get more looks than he has earned.  It seems that Little is getting passed on the depth chart by somebody else every week.  Yeah, by the end of the season he could be the number one receiver on the depth chart, but chances of that aren’t too likely.

2.  Toby Gerhart – Vikiings
Unless you are an Adrian Peterson owner, then there is no reason to own Gerhart.  It doesn’t look like Peterson is going to show any ill effects from

Here is Gerhart on the sideline for the Vikings, a familiar site this season, so get rid of him and pick up somebody with potential.

his offseason surgery, which pretty much takes away all of Gerhart’s value.  If you want to hold on to him in case Peterson does go down, then that’s your choice, but that roster spot could better be spent on a guy that has more potential of becoming a starter such as Daryl Richardson in St. Louis.

Backfield Battles

1.  Green Bay Packers
Alex Green looks to be the guy for the Packers as he got most of the carries this past Sunday.  James Starks did see his first action of the season as he came into the game in the second half and even got a couple of carries.  Also, look for John Kuhn to get some of the goal line carries, if the Packers do run the ball down there.  The breakdown for the carries will most likely look like this – Green – 65%, Starks – 25%, and Kuhn – 10%.

2.  Arizona Cardinals
LaRod Stephens-Howling and William Powell split the carries down the middle in the Cardinals game on Sunday.  Powell was by far the more successful back, but it looks like Coach Ken Whisenhunt will give LSH a chance to succeed in Arizona.  Look for the carries to be split 50-50 again this week.

3.  Pittsburgh Steelers
Who is Baron Batch?  That’s the question a lot of people were asking themselves on Thursday during their game against the Titans.  Batch came in as the fourth string running back, but ended up with the most rushing yards for the Steelers.  Word of caution on picking him up, DON’T.  The reason is because he will continue to be the fourth string.  Rashard Mendenhall is the guy in Pittsburgh, but with him just coming back from the injury and it being a short week, the Steelers did not want to risk anything and kept him on the bench.  Mendenhall should get at least 70% of the carries with Jonathan Dwyer, Isaac Redman, and Baron Batch splitting the rest.

4.  St. Louis Rams
Every week, Daryl Richardson is impressing the Rams coaching staff more and more and because of that his workload has increased over the past few weeks.  There is no denying Steven Jackson’s consistency and durability over his career, but it is looking like all those miles on him is now finally taking a toll.  Richardson bring some youth to the backfield and could eventually replace Jackson as the main guy in the Rams’ backfield.

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Pick ‘Em Up, Dump City, and Backfield Battles – Week 6

October 11, 2012 by Leave a Comment

As the weeks go on in the NFL, the waiver pool gets shallower and shallower and this week, most of the guys in the ‘Pick ‘Em Up’ section are guys you should use to plug in bye weeks, as not much is expected of them as they are mostly sharing playing time with one or more players.  Bye Weeks:  Bears, Saints, Panthers, Jaguars

Pick ‘Em Up

Ryan Tannehill has given the Miami Dolphins a vertical passing game, so go ahead and pick him up

QBs

1.  Ryan Tannehill – Dolphins
This is the only QB that will be in this section this week.  Going back and watching some of the Dolphins games, it can be seen that Tannehill knows what he is doing and is making big time throws.  He has also cut down on mistakes big time, which leads to more points for you.  Also, he has a pass catching tailback in Reggie Bush that can turn a bubble screen into a 60 yard TD pass.  Not only is Bush a good pass catcher, but he has come a long way on running between the tackles.  That makes the defense respect the run and opens up that aerial game for the Dolphins.

RBs

1.  Alex Green/James Starks – Packers
The injury bug bit the NFL big time over the past weekend and one of the casualties is Packers RB Cedric Benson.  He will be out for at least eight weeks.  Enter Starks and Green.  The reason that both are in there is because it isn’t known who will be the starter and get more carries.  Green has the most upside, so it’s possible that he could eventually take most of the carries away from Starks; but Starks has experience and has proven that he is able to carry the load.  Pick up Green first, but if he is picked up, go ahead and check out Starks as well..

2.  LaRod Stephens-Howling/William Powell – Cardinals
Another casualty is Ryan Williams.  That, combined with the fact that Beanie Wells is out until November, makes LSH and Powell worth owning.  Just like the two guys above, it is still unknown to what capacity both will be used.  LSH was the feature back once last year and did rather well (93 yards on 21 carries), but Powell has the build of a guy who can handle that type of work on a week in and week out basis.  If you want a guy for just this week go with LSH, if you want upside, roll with Powell.

3.  Kendall Hunter – 49ers
Hunter is the backup to Frank Gore and will more than likely, barring an injury, will continue to be for the whole season.  The reason to grab Hunter is that he is similar to Ben Tate of the Houston Texans as he can come in at times to spell Gore and break a big run.  Also, as seen the past few weeks, when the 49ers get a big lead, they trust Hunter to run the ball and burn clock.  Pick him up and play him when the matchup is right.  If you are in a keeper league, he is definitely somebody to grab as he has huge upside.

WRs

1.  Nate Burleson – Lions
Last week, you were suggested to drop Titus Young, now replace him with the guy that will be getting his targets in Burleson.  His stats have been pretty solid through the first five weeks.  The Lions did not play this past week and expect them to come out throwing early and often this week versus Philadelphia.

2.  Darrius Heyward-Bey – Raiders
DHB was dropped by many people when he was rocked in the end zone in the Raiders game against Pittsburgh.  Fair enough considering it looked like he could be seriously injured and possibly out for an extended period of time.  It was serious in the fact that it was a concussion, but he is

He was dropped in many leagues when he went down with an injury a few weeks back. Now he is back, so pick him now or miss out on one of the better options on the waiver wire

returning this week to face the Atlanta Falcons.  He will return to being Carson Palmers 1B option along with Denarius Moore.  Definitely worth starting as a flex play every week, and depending on how your team’s bye weeks fall could even be a number two wide receiver.

3.  Brandon Gibson – Rams
He scored in the first two weeks of the season and since then has battled injuries and been somewhat non-existent.  He will also benefit from an injury to a teammate though.  He has all of the skills needed to step in and be Sam Bradford’s number one option while Danny Amendola is nursing injuries.

TEs

1.  Joel Dreessen – Broncos
The tight end free agent pool is very shallow, so Dreessen gets the nod here.  He won’t get a lot of yardage, but has turned out to be a favorite red zone target of Peyton Manning.  That is always a good thing as he will targeted a lot.

DST

St. Louis Rams
They are your defensive pickup of the week.  They held the previously undefeated Arizona Cardinals out of the end zone last week and have shown major strides this year.  They take on the Miami Dolphins this week, so feel free to pick them up if your defense is on a bye week.

Dump City

1.  Andre Brown – Giants
He was the big pick-up a few weeks ago when Ahmad Bradshaw went down with an injury, now he is the one that has gone down with an injury.

He was the man of the hour a few weeks back for the Giants, but now has fallen to third on the depth chart. Dump him!

When he went down, the rookie David Wilson stepped in and removed himself from Tom Coughlin’s doghouse.  Now, when Brown returns he should be the number three back in New York.

2.  Kevin Ogletree – Cowboys
He was the darling of the waiver wire the first week of the season after scoring two touchdowns on opening night.  Since then, he has done nothing.  Tony Romo has too many options when he isn’t throwing to the other team that Ogletree will not enjoy the same success as Laurent Robinson did last year.

Backfield Battles

1.  Washington Redskins
The first week of this feature, it said the Redskins will be a weekly feature just because of their Head Coach Mike Shanahan.  Now, this will be the last week they are featured thanks to the play of their running back Alfred Morris.  He has proven he is the real deal and should be the feature back all season long.

2. San Francisco 49ers
This really is not a backfield battle because Frank Gore is the starter and Kendall Hunter is his backup.  What needs to be addressed is the fact that you can start both of these guys as they will both get you points.  Hunter has spelled Gore often this season and both have put up solid numbers.  However, it is possible that Hunter could replace Gore by the end of the season, but that will only be due to wear and tear and not because Gore was playing bad.

3.  Carolina Panthers
DeAngelo Williams created an uproar when he posted a message to fantasy owners on Twitter.  The Panthers’ run game has struggled mightily this season, in what was expected to be a huge year for it.  The addition of Mike Tolbert was believed to take away points from Williams and Jonathan Stewart, but Tolbert hasn’t been doing anything himself.  Until any of these guys show you something, keep them on the bench and feel free to drop Tolbert if there are better options out there.

 

Ben Hogan is the producer of MSL and a long-time fantasy sports guru. Follow him @NotTheGolfer for any fantasy or lineup questions throughout the week.

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DeAngelo Williams writes letter to fantasy football owners

October 7, 2012 by Leave a Comment

After struggling in the Panthers’ 16-14 loss to the Seahawks on Sunday, former University of Memphis standout DeAngelo Williams used his Twitter account to post a letter to all the fantasy football owners who are frustrated with his performance so far this season.

Here is Williams “letter”:

After five weeks of the 2012 NFL season, Williams has rushed for 167 yards, scoring a total of two touchdowns.

Email: kevin@memphisport.com
Twitter: @cerrito

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This weekend’s Titans game will not be on TV in Memphis

September 21, 2012 by 5 Comments

If an NFL team has a state’s name on their jerseys, shouldn’t all their games be shown on TV in every city in the state? That is the question Titans fans will be asking again this weekend as Sunday’s home game vs. Detroit will not air on local TV in the Memphis market. Memphis affiliate Fox 13 will show the Dallas Cowboys vs. Tampa Bay Bucs instead of the 0-2 Titans.

The last time Memphians were blacked out from watching the state’s NFL team was late in the 2009 season.  Most of the games not shown that season in the Bluff City ended up being part of the memorable Vince Young led 5-game win streak that brought excitement back to the fan base and almost sent the team into the playoffs.

For those fans in Memphis wanting coverage of Sunday’s game, MemphiSport’s Terry Davis will be live tweeting from LP Field  @TerryD515. Read his Titans/Lions game preview here.

Titans fans in the Mid-South can listen to the radio broadcast of the game on 92.9 ESPN.

Email: kevin@memphisport.com
Twitter: @cerrito

 

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Fantasy Football Rankings: Week 3

September 20, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Every week, rankings will be posted by Thursday afternoon in order to set your lineup accordingly.  After the Thursday game the rankings will be adjusted whenever injury news comes out to ensure that you will have the best lineup for the week.

Cutler will rebound quite nicely against the Rams this week.

QBs

1. Drew Brees – NO vs Kansas City
2. Matt Stafford – Det vs Tennessee                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    3. Robert Griffin III – Was vs Cincinnati                                                                                                                                                                                                                           4. Aaron Rodgers – GB vs Seattle
5. Tom Brady – NE vs Baltimore                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              6. Matt Ryan – Atl vs San Diego
7. Ben Roethlisberger – Pit vs Oakland
8. Tony Romo – Dal vs Tampa Bay
9. Jay Cutler – Chi vs St. Louis
10. Philip Rivers – SD vs Atlanta
11. Michael Vick – Phi vs Arizona                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      12. Peyton Manning – Den vs Houston                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 13.  Matt Schaub – Hou vs Denver
14. Andrew Luck – Ind vs Jacksonville
15. Joe Flacco – Bal vs New England
16. Alex Smith – SF – Minnesota
17. Andy Dalton – Cin vs Washington
18. Matt Cassel – KC vs New Orleans                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      19. Carson Palmer Oak vs Pittsburgh                                                                                                                                                                                                                              20. Josh Freeman – TB vs Dallas

 

CJ Spiller has gone from a backup on his team, to a must start every week.

RBs

1. Ray Rice – Bal vs New England
2. Maurice Jones-Drew – Jac vs Indianapolis
3. CJ Spiller – Buf vs Cleveland
4. Arian Foster – Hou vs Denver
5. LeSean McCoy – Phi vs Arizona
6. DeMarco Murray – Dal vs Tampa Bay
7. Michael Bush – Chi vs St. Louis
8. Darren McFadden – Oak vs Pittsburgh
9. Marshawn Lynch – Sea vs Green Bay
10. Trent Richardson – Cle vs Buffalo
11. Reggie Bush – Mia vs New York Jets
12. Ryan Mathews – SD vs Atlanta
13. Frank Gore – SF vs Minnesota
14. Doug Martin – TB vs Dallas
15. BenJarvus Green-Ellis – Cin vs Washington
16. Darren Sproles – NO vs Kansas City
17. Adrian Peterson – Min vs San Francisco
18. Chris Johnson – Ten vs Detroit
19. Stevan Ridley – NE vs Baltimore
20. Jamaal Charles – KC vs New Orleans
21. Alfred Morris – Was vs Cincinnati
22. Willis McGahee – Den vs Houston
23. Donald Brown – Ind vs Jacksonville
24. Shonn Greene – NYJ vs Miami
25. Steven Jackson – STL vs Chicago
26. Cedric Benson – GB vs Seattle
27. Michael Turner – Atl vs San Diego
28. Ben Tate – Hou vs Denver
29. Jonathan Dwyer – Pit vs Oakland                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    30. Kevin Smith – Det vs Tennessee

WRs

1. Calvin Johnson – Det vs Tennessee
2. AJ Green – Cin vs Washington
3. Julio Jones – Atl vs San Diego
4. Andre Johnson – Hou vs Denver
5. Brandon Marshall – Chi vs St. Louis
6. Mike Wallace – Pit vs Oakland
7. Roddy White – Atl vs San Diego
8. Larry Fitzgerald – Ari vs Philadelphia
9. Percy Harvin – Min vs San Francisco
10. Dez Bryant – Dal vs Tampa Bay
11. Dwayne Bowe – KC vs New Orleans
12. Miles Austin – Dal vs Tampa Bay
13. Jordy Nelson – GB vs Seattle
14. Marques Colston – NO vs Kansas City
15. Steve Johnson – Buf vs Cleveland
16. Antonio Brown – Pit vs Oakland
17. Reggie Wayne – Ind vs Jacksonville
18. Vincent Jackson – TB vs Dallas
19. Demaryius Thomas – Den vs Houston
20. Pierre Garcon – Was vs Cincinnati
21. Brandon Lloyd – NE vs Baltimore
22. Danny Amendola – STL vs Chicago
23. Greg Jennings – GB vs Seattle
24. Malcolm Floyd – SD vs Atlanta
25. DeSean Jackson – Phi vs Arizona
26. Wes Welker – NE vs Baltimore
27. Kenny Britt – Ten vs Detroit
28. Eric Decker – Den vs Houston                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    29. Denarius Moore – Oak vs Pittsburgh                                                                                                                                                                                                                              30. Santonio Holmes – NYJ vs Miami

TEs

1. Jimmy Graham – NO vs Kansas City
2. Rob Gronkowski – NE vs Baltimore
3. Vernon Davis – SF vs Minnesota
4. Antonio Gates – SD vs Atlanta
5. Tony Gonzalez – Atl vs San Diego
6. Brandon Pettigrew – Det vs Tennessee
7. Jason Witten – Dal vs Tampa Bay
8. Brent Celek – Phi vs Arizona
9. Jermichael Finley – GB vs Seattle
10. Kyle Rudolph – Min vs San Francisco
11. Dennis Pitta – Bal vs New England
12. Jared Cook – Ten vs Detroit
13. Jacob Tamme – Den vs Houston
14. Owen Daniels – Hou vs Denver
15. Fred Davis – Was vs Cincinnati                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     16. Coby Fleener – Ind vs Jacksonville

DSTs

1. 49ers vs Minnesota
2. Bears vs St. Louis
3. Steelers vs Oakland
4. Jets vs Miami
5. Texans vs Denver
6. Lions vs Tennessee
7. Eagles vs Arizona
8. Bills vs Cleveland
9. Seahawks vs Green Bay
10. Ravens vs New England
11. Falcons vs San Diego
12. Cardinals vs Philadelphia
13. Dolphins vs New York Jets
14. Cowboys vs Tampa Bay
15. Broncos vs Houston
16. Patriots vs Baltimore

Ks

1. David Akers – SF vs Minnesota
2. Mason Crosby – GB vs Seattle
3. Stephen Gostkowski – NE vs Baltimore
4. Sebastian Janikowski – Oak vs Pittsburgh
5. Justin Tucker – Bal vs New England
6. Garrett Hartley – NO vs Kansas City
7. Nate Kaeding – SD vs Atlanta
8. Matt Bryant – Atl vs San Diego
9. Billy Cundiff – Was vs St. Louis
10. Matt Prater – Den vs Houston
11. Jason Hanson – Det vs Tennessee
12. Dan Bailey – Dal vs Tampa Bay
13. Robbie Gould – Chi vs St. Louis
14. Alex Henery – Phi vs Arizona
15. Shayne Graham – Hou vs Denver
16. Connor Barth – TB vs Dallas

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NFL Week 3: Pick ‘Em Up, Dump City, and Backfield Battles

September 19, 2012 by 2 Comments

Each week in fantasy football, a few players are available in more than a quarter of leagues that need to be picked up, and plenty of other players are owned that need to be let go.  To help you improve your chances of fantasy football dominance, here is a list of the players to pick up and dump this week.

Pick Em Up

QBs

1. Sam Bradford – Rams
So far, the 2012 version of Sam Bradford is what a lot of people expected to see last year.  He has been solid over the first two weeks of the season, posting a 4:1 TD/Interception ratio.  In Week 1, Bradford lost a couple starting offensive lineman, but posted even better numbers in the Rams win over the Redskins.  Go ahead and pick him up and play him if the matchup seems favorable.

Luck is moving along just fine in Indianapolis

2. Andrew Luck – Colts
The number 1 overall pick of this year’s draft has not gotten that much love in Fantasy Football, as the number 2 pick, RGIII, has just exploded onto the scene.  Luck got his first career win this past week and showed much improvement from the first week.  He spreads the ball out plenty in Indianapolis, which keeps the defense on its’ toes.  Luck is still a backup, but could end up being a fantasy starter by the end of the season.
3. Carson Palmer – Raiders
Ok, there is a chance that I could tell you to drop Palmer in two weeks.  Palmer is averaging over 350 yards a game and has yet to throw an interception.  The only problem is that he has just one TD pass in those two games.  Expect Palmer to start throwing downfield more, which could be bad as Palmer is known to throw some bad balls every once in a while.  But, as long as Palmer is keeping the mistakes at a minimum, then he is worth owning as a backup in your league.

RBs

1. Andre Brown – Giants
Ahmad Bradshaw went down during the Giants comeback win against Tampa Bay, and Andre Brown stepped right in and the Giants didn’t miss a beat.  There is a possibility that Bradshaw could be out a few weeks with a neck injury and it looks as if Tom Coughlin will be giving Brown starter reps instead of rookie David Wilson.
2. Mikel Leshoure – Lions
Many people might have not even heard of Leshoure, as he missed all of last season, which was his rookie season, due to a torn achilles.  He also missed the first two games of this season due to suspension.  Now, why am I saying that one should pick this guy up?  He will be the starter in Detroit sooner rather than later.

McCluster may be catching passes out of the slot, but his RB eligibility boosts his value.

3. Dexter McCluster – Chiefs
Now for a name that everybody around here is familiar with.  McCluster was used very often in the first week and happened to be QB Matt Cassel’s favorite target.  In Week 2, he wasn’t targeted as much because he a slot guy used for slants and short pickups.  He is listed under RB because in most leagues he is one of a few players that can be used as either a RB or a WR and will be relied on in fantasy leagues once bye weeks start.
4. Daryl Richardson – Rams
Keep an eye on this guy, as he entered the Rams past game when starter Steven Jackson had to leave with an injury.  He excelled in replacing Jackson and if this injury lingers for him, then Richardson would turn into the Rams feature back and would be worth owning in all leagues.

 

WRs

1. Danny Amendola – Rams
Twelve catches…. in the first half!!  Yes, he has quickly become Bradford’s favorite target and should be picked up in all leagues.  He will targeted early and often in the Rams offense.  Don’t expect him to get sixteen looks every game like he did in Week 2, but 8-10 a week is not out of the question.
2. Brandon LaFell – Panthers
Somebody has to be the number two WR in Carolina and it looks to be LaFell.  Smith has been a little bit injured and will also see double teams, which should free up LaFell to prosper for the Panthers.
3. Brian Hartline – Dolphins                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Davone Bess did all the talking before the season, but Brian Hartline looks like he might be the guy in Miami to approach a hundred catches instead.  He has led the Dolphins in receptions the past two games.  One drawback is that he lacks the breakaway speed to be a deep threat, but with Tannehill being eased along as a rookie, Hartline will be looked at often.

4. Greg Little – Browns
Good news: He is the number one WR for Cleveland.  Bad news:  He is the number one WR for Cleveland.  Little is one of those type of players that has the talent to be a top 15 receiver, but unfortunately his QB (Brandon Weedon) isn’t really good.  He will frustrate you one week, but put up outstanding numbers the next.  He is worth having if he does break out, as he is most likely guy to do so that is available in majority of leagues.

TEs

1. Martellus Bennett – Giants
I really don’t know why Bennett is available in so many league.  If anybody likes their TEs as much as Brady and Peyton like theirs it’s Eli.  Every year the Giants’ TE, whomever it may be, puts up good fantasy points.  Jake Ballard and Kevin Boss were not as athletic as Bennett is and Bennett also has a chip on his shoulder.  All good news for fantasy owners.
2. Brent Celek – Eagles
It looks like the Eagles are going to just let Vick throw the ball this season.  Celek is Vick’s third option behind Jeremy Maclin and DeSean Jackson, which means he should have many passes thrown his way.

Brent Celek has turned into on of Michael Vick’s favorite targets.

3. Kyle Rudolph – Vikings
He has emerged as the Vikings’ second option and will see a lot of passes in the red zone.  That means TDs and fantasy points.

DSTs

- Bills
Each week I will put in a Defense you should look at if your defense is on a bye week or has an unfavorable matchup.  The Bills play the Browns this week, need I say more?

Dump City

1. Andy Dalton – Bengals
Dalton is a safe guy to have, but will not win you weeks.  He is one of those guys that is a better NFL starter than a fantasy starter.  Decent start this week, but things will get tougher when he plays Baltimore and Pittsburgh twice each.
2. Beanie Wells – Cardinals
I would love to tell you to go and pick up Ryan Williams because he will be taking over as starter for Wells, but just like Cardinals’ QBs, I really wouldn’t want any of the Cardinals’ RBs.  Yes, I know they are 2-0
3. Isaac Redman – Steelers
Redman was expected to be the starter coming in this season with Mendenhall on the shelf, but Dwyer has been getting the majority of the carries and when Mendenhall does return, Redman should slide down to the number three RB in Pittsburgh.
4. David Wilson – Giants
The rookie had a rough start to his NFL career, fumbling in his first game.  Since then, he has been in Coughlin’s doghouse.  Wilson might see an uptick in number of carries if Bradshaw is on the shelf for an extended period of time, but he isn’t worth taking up a roster slot.
5. Mario Manningham – 49ers
He is the fourth option in San Francisco.  He will have a few games in which he might get close to 60 or 70 yards and a TD, but will also go games without getting a catch.

Backfield Battles

1. Washington Redskins
Redskins will be a featured team weekly.  The reason is because Mike Shanahan just goes with what feels right for the week.  Many fantasy owners have been burned by Shanahan’s backs.  Right now, he is going with Alfred Morris who will get the majority of carries, but don’t be surprised if one week Roy Helu or Evan Royster get more than twenty carries.  Good luck and don’t get “Shanahan’d”
2. Detroit Lions
Kevin Smith had a great first week, but a disappointing second week.  The Lions have Mikel Leshoure coming back and he is expected to take over as the starter close to his return.  Also, don’t forget the Lions also have Jahvid Best coming back sometime soon.  Look for Smith to again be the lead back this week, but Leshoure will be starting after the Lions bye week (Week 5).
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
This is another situation in which a player coming back will take away from guys getting the carries now.  Rashard Mendenhall is still a few weeks away, but should take the starting role back upon his return.  Jonathan Dwyer has been serviceable in his duty as the starter, but unless he posts back-to-back impressive performances, he will slide into the backup role.
4. Atlanta Falcons
This team was not in the backfield battle when I first wrote this last night, but the late night DUI arrest of Michael Turner makes this interesting.  Turner has looked slower this year, and the 300 carries a year for three of the past four years has seemed to take a toll on him.  I expected Jacquizz Rodgers to be the Falcons’ starter by the end of the year, but if Turner is suspended soon, Rodgers’ time could be coming up quickly.
5. Arizona Cardinals
I mentioned this situation when I talked about dropping Beanie Wells.  Wells has not been what the Cardinals thought he would when they drafted him out of Ohio State, so they are looking for any reason to replace him.  Arizona drafted Ryan Williams last year, but he went down in the preseason and Wells was given another season to prove himself.  Well, they still aren’t impressed, but Williams fumbled when trying to run out the clock and almost cost them the game.  So, based on all that, Wells is still the guy, but it is a fluid situation in the desert.

Ben Hogan is the producer of MSL and a long-time fantasy sports guru. Follow him @NotTheGolfer for any fantasy or lineup questions throughout the week.

Filed Under: Fantasy Sports, The Big Features, Web Exclusives Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Titans: They Are Who We Thought They Were

September 13, 2012 by Leave a Comment

On Sunday the Titans opened up the 2012 season with an extremely reputable opponent in the New England Patriots. The Titans could not have asked for a more difficult matchup to get the season under way.  Although there were a lot of high hopes going into the game with thoughts of seeing a rejuvenated Titans team on both sides of the ball, the reality is that fans witnessed pretty much the same thing they saw all of last year.

Still No Run Game: During the preseason fans were excited about seeing some positive strides in the run game. In the second preseason game against Tampa Bay Chris Johnson ran for 2 touchdowns with both being 14 yard touchdown runs.  However, everyone knows that preseason does not count for anything. One of the main reasons the run game did not work is because the Titans were playing from behind the entire game. Chris Johnson only carried the ball 11 times for 4 yards so hopefully the Titans can start strong against the Chargers and more touches should equal more yards next Sunday.

Inconsistent Offense: The Titans gave the fans plenty to cheer about on the opening drive of the game, but in classic Titan fashion the drive stalled and Bironas came on for a routine 28 yard field goal. This would set the tone for the rest of the day. The Titans managed just to score one touchdown on the day. Late in the game fans were thinking comeback when the Titans put together a long drive and had a first and goal on the Patriots 1 yard line. Unfortunately for the home team the Titans lost 5 yards with a Chris Johnson run, ultimately settling for a field goal instead of going for it on fourth down. Needless to say the fans were disappointed in the decision and lack of execution in the red zone.

Soft in the Secondary: Granted, Tom Brady is one of the best quarterbacks in the history of the game so it’s hard to knock the secondary of the Titans too hard here. With that said though, Brady completely picked the Titans defense apart all game long completing almost 75% of his passes. He made it look so easy and effort less. It was really impressive to see that high powered offense work the way it does in person. It didn’t matter if the defender knew where the ball was going, the Pats offense could not be stopped.

No Need to Panic: Despite the big loss to the Pats Tennessee fans should not panic. The Patriots are a great team and have been for years now. The Titans have a first year starter at quarterback and a ton of young second year players on defense. At least they kept this game closer than they did the last time they faced the Patriots in New England a few years ago, but just barely though. Hopefully the Titans will learn from this loss and get a win in San Diego on Sunday. They have no choice but to win in order to avoid a dreaded 0-2 start to the season.

After the game I’m sure you could just hear Denny Green shouting, “They are who we thought they were” over and over throughout the stadium (maybe it was only in my head). In any case, this time the Titans never had the Pats on the hook.

Filed Under: The Big Features, Titans Tagged With: , , ,

A Mid-Southerner’s Guide to Fantasy Football 2012

August 17, 2012 by 1 Comment

The time is here, media days have come and gone in college; training camp is over; and exhibition games have begun in the NFL.  That can only mean one thing, football season has arrived.  With the arrival of football season, it also brings Fantasy Football.  As I am typing this, there are hundreds of thousands of people sitting in a draft room, or going over their rankings to make sure they have the best teams they can get.

Photo courtesy of Carolina Panthers

Most people have his or her own draft strategy when going into a draft, whether it be grab two running backs in their first two picks, or maybe just go with the best player available every time and then worry about setting a lineup after the draft.  Another strategy that some use is to draft a player from one’s favorite pro team or college team.  That is not always the best strategy because sometimes players get taken two or three rounds before they should be taken.

The following list consists of former Mid-South area/SEC players and current Tennessee Titans and where they should be taken in 2012 fantasy football drafts.

(Note: Rounds are based on a basic 10 team, snake draft league)

 Quarterbacks:

  1. Matthew Stafford (DET) - Stafford actually stayed healthy for all of last year and led the Lions to their first playoff appearance since Barry Sanders left.  He is a Top 5 fantasy QB, but should not be taken in the first round (Round 2)
  2. Cam Newton (CAR) - The former Heisman Trophy winner burst onto the scene last year and surpassed everyone’s expectations.  Some expect a sophomore slump from Cam, while others expect even bigger things from him.  This leads to folks reaching for him all the way into the first round, do not do that (End of Rd. 2/Top of Rd. 3)
  3. Eli Manning (NYG) - The two-time Super Bowl Champion is one of the least appreciated QBs in Fantasy Football, but puts up the numbers every year.  That is good though for some owners because he might slide past where he should be taken.  (Round 3)
  4. Peyton Manning (DEN) - Here is the big enigma for the upcoming football season.  Is he going to be the “old” Peyton or will he struggle after missing all of last year?  He is a risk/reward guy.  Good Luck! (Round 4)
  5. Jay Cutler (CHI) - This is where I disagree with a lot of the draft kits and cheat sheets that I have seen so far.  The addition of Brandon Marshall and the re-signing of Matt Forte makes Cutler a fantasy starter.  One might be able to get him a little later, so wait after you have already filled RBs and WRs to grab “Cutty.” (Round 7)
  6. Matt Flynn (SEA) & Jake Locker/Matt Hasselbeck (TEN) - All 3 of these players are in QB competitions in camp, so none of them are guaranteed a starting job.  Hold off on these three. (Undrafted)

 Running Backs:

  1. Arian Foster and Ben Tate (HOU) - Foster is considered by most to be the number 1 overall pick for this year, because of the other player listed, Tate, I would take both LeSean McCoy and Ray Rice over Foster.  Still top 3 pick, but Tate will steal some carries and playing time (Foster – Round 1, Tate – Round 6)
  2. Chris Johnson (TEN) - Johnson had a down year in 2011 after holding out for a contract and never seemed to get on track, barely getting over 1,000 yards.  Look for him to rebound quite nicely this year and is worth a late first round pick.  (Round 1)
  3. Darren McFadden (OAK) - Another disappointment from last season.  If “Run-DMC” can stay healthy, expect 1,200 yards and double digit touchdowns.  (Round 2)
  4. Trent Richardson (CLE) - The number 3 overall pick out of Alabama is expected to carry the workload in Cleveland this year.  Almost no competition for carries there, so expect good things, but also keep expectations reasonable.  (Round 4)
  5. BenJarvus Green-Ellis (CIN) - The “Law-Firm” has a new address, but will be the lead back for the Bengals.  He should not be counted on as a lead back in Fantasy Football, but can contribute enough for the “FLEX” position.  (Round 6)
  6. DeAngelo Williams (CAR) - There are way too many guys that will be getting playing time in Carolina to rely much on DeAngelo this year.  If Jonathan Stewart goes down, his value takes a huge jump, but other than that, could be good for bye week fill-in.  (Round 8)
  7. Mark Ingram (NO), Peyton Hillis (KC), and Felix Jones (DAL) - These three players will most likely backup starters for their respective teams.  Hillis will get some goal-line carries and play more at the beginning of the season with Jamaal Charles coming off ACL surgery.  All three are good handcuff options if one was to draft the starters for their teams. (Ingram and Hillis – Round 9; Jones – Round 11)

Wide Receivers:

  1. Roddy White and Julio Jones (ATL) - The only two receivers worth taking in the first round of draft are Calvin Johnson and Andre Johnson.  White is in the tier right below them and is in that Top 5 class.  The high powered Falcons offense also has Jones, who is a solid starter as well.  (White – Round 2; Jones – Round 4)
  2. AJ Green (CIN) - Green and Dalton made quite a rookie tandem last year in Cincinnati and are expected to do even bigger things this year.  Green is a borderline Top 10 receiver and treat him as such.  (End of Round 3)
  3. Mike Wallace (PIT) - While Wallace is the Steelers’ ‘home-run hitter,’ his contract holdout is costing him more than just money.  The emergence of Antonio Brown could turn Wallace into the number two receiver in Pittsburgh and that’s if he does agree to join the team this year.  He is worth a gamble because of the possible reward, but might want to grab a backup a couple rounds earlier than originally anticipated (Round 4)
  4. Percy Harvin (MIN) - After a career year last year for Harvin, look for him to finally surpass the 1,000 receiving yards mark this year, which would make him a starter in any fantasy league. (Round 5)
  5. Dwayne Bowe (KC) - Bowe is Matt Cassel’s favorite target, and with Cassel missing a bunch of games last year due to injury, Bowe’s number dropped significantly.  Cassel returns this year, but I expect the Chiefs to have a more conservative offense this year than two years ago, so look for Bowe’s numbers to be somewhere between 2010 and 2011. (Round 6)
  6. Robert Meachem (SD) - The number one receiver in San Diego takes over for Vincent Jackson.  He has Top 10 talent, but has never quite reached his potential.  (Round 7)
  7. Denarius Moore (OAK) - Another former Vol receiver, Moore was a training camp sensation last year.  He had moments of brilliance last season, but also disappeared for games at a time.  Carson Palmer has had a full offseason to learn the playbook and work with his receivers, so Moore is a borderline fantasy starter.  (Round 8)
  8. Kenny Britt and Nate Washington (TEN) - Britt is by far the more talented receiver out of the two, but with his injury and off the field problems, he might not be the best option for one’s fantasy team.  Britt is almost guaranteed to be suspended for a few games at the beginning of the season and Washington will move into that top receiver slot.  (Both – Round 10)

Tight Ends:

  1. Jason Witten (DAL) - Tony Romo’s favorite target is one of the best at his position, but with Tight End being such a deep position this year, one does not need to reach to grab one as early.  Also, with the possibility of a lingering injury (spleen) there are better options out there.   (Round 8)
  2. Jared Cook (TEN) - Cook finished 2011 on a high note, averaging over a hundred yards a game in his last three games.  If Washington doesn’t emerge during Britt’s absence, Cook will.  He has sleeper potential written all over him.  (Round 11)

Kickers:

  1. Stephen Gostkowski (NE) - He is the best in the business, so one will have to reach if he or she wants “Gotti” on his or her team.  Usually I advise to wait until the last two rounds to draft a kicker, but he will not be on the board there. (Round 11)
  2. Rob Bironas (TEN) - Bironas is a fantasy starter, but do not pick him before one of the final two rounds.  (Round 13)

Ultimately, it is up to the owner on how one wants to go about building a team and these are just a few helpful notes for draft day.

Ben Hogan covers Fantasy Football for MemphiSport and is the producer of Memphis’ No. 3 “Best Sports Radio Show” MSL. Follow him @NottheGolfer.

Filed Under: Fantasy Sports, The Big Features, Titans Tagged With: , , , , , ,