Saturday, October 2, 2010

Fantasy football: Week 4 studs and dud


If you are looking for a large number of double-digit fantasy football performances in one place this weekend, the hot game to focus on is Houston at Oakland. This game has the kind of bend-but-don't break defenses by both teams that should produce the most prolific fantasy football studs of any game.
Quarterback Matt Schaub,running back Arian Foster and all Texans' receivers should have a great day. Note that you should monitor Houston receiver Andre Johnson's injury status because he will be a game-time decision.

Oakland should also produce great stats with QB Bruce Gradkowski, back Darren McFadden, recievers Louis Murphy and Darius Heyward-Bey and tight end Zach Miller having a very busy day keeping up with the Texans.
The hot guy on the Jets these days is tight end Dustin Keller who has been quarterback Mark Sanchez's go-to guy in the red zone.

Jacksonville back Maurice Jones-Drew and Seattle back Justin Forsett are guys who have been mediocre at best to this point. But watch for both to have huge performances this weekend. Seattle coach Pete Carroll stated several times this past week that he wants to get Forsett more involved with the offense.
The Pittsburgh-Baltimore game is one to stay away from with two of the toughest defenses going against each other. But one guy to play is Steelers back Rashard Mendenhall who has performed well against the Ravens in the past.
Guys I would stay away from this weekend are Washington back Clinton Portis (been struggling), Arizona back Tim Hightower (Beanie Wells will take many touches away), New Orleans receiver Lance Moore (one week wonder?) and Lee Evans (facing tough defense).


My overall list of players to start-sit:
10 Players to start: Quarterbacks – Matt Schaub, Mark Sanchez, Matt Ryan; Running backs – Arian Foster, Matt Forte, Darren McFadden, Maurice Jones-Drew; Receivers – Mark Clayton, Wes Welker; Tight end – Dustin Keller.
10 Players to sit: Quarterbacks – Alex Smith, Derek Anderson; Running backs – Clinton Portis, Tim Hightower, ; Receivers – Lance Moore, Davone Bess, Lee Evans; Tight Ends-Brent Celek, Kevin Boss, Vernon Davis.

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Thursday, September 30, 2010

Fantasy football - bye weeks are a-comin'


One of the most feared and dreaded times of the fantasy football season is between week 4 and 10 when bye weeks take away fantasy players...

In Week 4, Dallas, Minnesota, Kansas City and Tampa Bay are on the bye.

The result is top tier players like Vikings back Adrian Peterson, Cowboys receiver Miles Austin, Cowboys QB Tony Romo and Chiefs receiver Dwayne Bowe are headed to the bench.

But not to fear fellow fantasy football fanatics. There are bye-week replacements out there and they should be productive.

Miami quarterback Chad Henne and Jets QB Mark Sanchez are on most waiver wires and should be solid one-week replacements if you need them. Both quarterbacks have been throwing the ball all over the place and producing double-digit points.
If you need a back, New England back BenJarvus Green-Ellis or Baltimore back Willis McGahee might still be available on your waiver wire.

If you need a receiver, Denver receiver Brandon Lloyd, New Orleans receiver Lance Moore and to a lesser extent (and I mean less production) San Francico receiver Josh Morgan are still on waiver wires.
The exception could be Moore who is the waiver-wire flavor of the week with his 149-yard, 2 TD performance last week.



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Fantasy football: Injuries to monitor in Week 4


Oh, those nagging injuries that take a bite out of our fantasy football production....

Among the top injured players to monitor between today and Sunday are Houston receiver Andre Johnson, Baltimore back Ray Rice and New Orleans back Pierre Thomas.
Johnson is nursing an ankle injury and will be a game-time decision as far as playing time.
Rice has a bruised right knee and has had limited practice according to the Ravens' web site. Willis McGahee could start in his place.
Thomas has an ankle injury and has seen limited practice time. If he can't go Chris Ivory (who?) could start in his place.
San Diego back Ryan Mathews has been plagued by an ankle injury but has been upgraded to probable and should start this week.
Monitor the progress of Cincinnati back Cedric Benson who has been bothered by a knee injury. He was listed as questionable today (Thursday).
Minnesota tight end Visanthe Shiancoe has a leg injury but fortunately he is on the bye this week.
St. Louis back Steven Jackson is still bothered by a groin injury. He is questionable. Even if he plays backup Ken Darby will likely see additional carries.
Denver back Knowshon Moreno is questionable with a hamstring injury opening the door for a likely start by former Patriots back Laurence Maroney.
Oakland receiver Louis Murphy has a clavical injury ad has been listed as questionable. He is expected to play but monitor his sitution as well.
Dallas tight end Jason Witten has a knee injuy and is listed as questionable. But like Shiancoe he is on the bye this week.
New England back Fred Taylor is still nursing a toe injury and is questionable. That could open the door for BenJarvus Green-Ellis to get a bigger workload and possibly a bigger role in the offense from here on out.




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