Sunday, October 11, 2009

FANTASY FB: WEEK 5 PLANNER-WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW



It's a bit after noon and here are where some of the fantasy FB studs stand as far starting or sitting.

As I mentioned in a previous blog, Eli Manning will start today. Also active are Browns back Jamal Lewis and Carolina backup back Jonathan Stewart.

Lewis is an interesting play. He could be the typical dud he has shown in 2009, especially since he is not 100 percent with hamstring and ankle injuries. But RotoWorld is reporting that Lewis realizes his starting status is in jeopardy and he plans to have a career day today to show he isn't washed up just yet.
This scenario bears watching....especially with ace receiver Braylon Edwards gone and the Browns expected to rely on the running game.

Inactives include backs Felix Jones, Willie Parker (as expected) and Earnest Graham; tight end Kevin Boss; receivers Roy Williams and Kevin Curtis.
Detroit QB Matthew Stafford will take a back seat to Daunte Culpepper who will start.

FANTASY FB: MORE WEEK 5 PLANNER-ELI MANNING LOOKING GOOD

If you have Eli Manning as your No. 1 quarterback, start him with confidence today.

A friend at the Giants game told me minutes ago by phone Manning came out for warmups and had no problem throwing or moving around. He also did not show a limp when we walked.

Manning should have a field day against the Raiders with huge production numbers. I'd be surprised if he didn't throw for 300-plus yards and 2-3 TDs.

FANTASY FB: WEEK 5 PRE-GAME PLANNER-GRAB CRIBBS?



Just about every national fantasy football expert is telling you to stay away from Cleveland Browns receiver Joshua Cribbs despite the fact that Braylon Edwards was traded to the Jets.

HOW-EVER......there is an exception to this sentiment.

Grab this guy off your waiver wire if you are in a rare league that counts return yards/return TDs for individual players.

Among the 11 leagues that I'm in is the extremely competitive Golf Digest Media League. This is one leaque where the production stats include return yards and kickoff/punt return TDs. For every 10 return yards a player gets you get .5 points.

Cribbs may not be the No. 1 or even No. 2 receiver for the Browns. But he is a monster when it comes to return yardage and in the last four years he has scored six TDs on returns. Last week he had 212 combined return yards!

The way I see it, the speedy and tough Cribbs will see a bit more action as a receiver. Today, I see him getting 5-7 receptions, maybe 50 yards receiving and if the planets align just right, maybe a receiving TD. But return yardage is where you can make a killing here, if your league rules allow points for return yards.

Receiving and returns combined, I see Cribbs getting 20-25 points today.