Our look at the fantasy football magazines now dominating the sports section of your favorite newstand continues with one of the best-known titles in America.
USA Today 2010 Fantasy Football
Vital stats: $7.99, 144 pages, 354 offensive and 75 defensive players ranked.
Top 10 picks: If you're in a 10-team league, USA Today's experts (including recruits from at least a half-dozen other Web sites) say the first round of your draft should look like this: Chris Johnson, Adrian Peterson, Andre Johnson, Drew Brees, Steven Jackson, Larry Fitzgerald, Peyton Manning, Michael Turner, Maurice Jones-Drew and Ray Rice.
Intriguing nugget: Sigmund Bloom and Jason Wood of Footballguys.com are targeting Donald Brown as a steal, because he's a second-year running back who didn't live up to expectations last season. "Most people move on to the new flavors of the month at the position, but Ray Rice, Jamaal Charles, and Rashard Mendenhall were members of a lot of championship teams" last year.
Head scratcher: The section on quarterbacks starts with a list of the top 50 players available at that position. However, thanks to some fuzzy math, the section that follows that list has two quarterbacks ranked 42nd: Ryan Fitzpatrick (who appears on the list) and JaMarcus Russell (who does not).
I'm not sure which is a bigger head scratcher -- the fact that there's two quarterbacks ranked 42nd or the fact that someone thinks there are nine quarterbacks worse than Russell. That includes Colt McCoy, who also appears in the section with a rank of "NR."
Kicker rule obeyed? Again, the USA Today experts did not conduct a mock draft. David Dorey of TheHuddle.com advises players not to draft a kicker until the very last round. "Anything earlier is as optimistic as e-mailing Jennifer Aniston and asking her out on a date."
However, two pages after saying that, Dorey offers a system for those who want to carry two kickers on the roster: "You can make weekly decisions that can net you an extra three points. Just pick whichever kicker is more likely to be on a winning team that weekend."
(If anyone here plays in a league where you can get an extra pick in the final round of your draft, feel free to leave a comment explaining how.)
Prediction likely to go wrong: That Vincent Jackson will be a top 10 fantasy wide receiver this season. Here's USA Today's assessment: "Jackson has even pushed ahead of TE Antonio Gates as a scoring threat. Jackson continues to upset the team with his immaturity, which could lead to a short suspension, but that's the only thing going against him. Make him your No. 1 receiver."
For the moment, let's set aside the three-game suspension Jackson is facing for his second DUI guilty plea (probably not anyone's definition of a "short suspension," anyway). Unless he and the Chargers kiss and make up quickly, he could end up missing the majority of the season through a holdout. If that sounds like a No. 1 fantasy option to you, maybe you need to lay off the wine.
We'll be back with the weekly NASCAR predictions.
Showing posts with label Donald Brown. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Donald Brown. Show all posts
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
The People's Win (and the Next Step)
The People's Pigskin made all the right moves and chalked up a 103-100 win this week over the Southern Rebels. Here's a breakdown of how we did it.
Kurt Warner, QB. The stats: 20 of 36 passing, 231 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception, and 11 fantasy points. His Arizona Cardinals did just enough to defeat the New York Giants. The primary credit goes to the defense: Eli Manning was picked off three times.
Steve Slaton, RB. The stats: 18 carries for 67 yards, 4 receptions for 22 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 fumble, and 18 fantasy points. His Houston Texans held off a rally by former No. 1 draft choice Alex Smith to beat the 49ers. Slaton continues to get his touches.
Donald Brown, RB. The stats: 2 carries, 58 yards, and 5 fantasy points. Brown left the game against the St. Louis Rams in the second quarter with a shoulder injury. He says the injury was no big deal, and there was no need for the Indianapolis Colts to risk any aggravation against the Rams. It's disappointing, but it seems like he'll be available next week.
Matt Forte, Flex. The stats: 6 carries for 24 yards, 4 receptions for 25 yards, and 4 fantasy points. The Chicago Bears found themselves in a gargantuan hole early against the Cincinnati Bengals. As a result, they had to abandon any hopes of a running game and throw deep. Fantasy football players, as usual, suffered the consequences.
Greg Jennings, WR. The stats: 5 receptions, 52 yards, and 5 fantasy points. The Green Bay Packers threw a lot of short routes against the Cleveland Browns. That was bad news for a deep threat like Jennings.
Chad Ochocinco, WR. The stats: 10 receptions, 118 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 23 fantasy points. Now that's more like it. Carson Palmer found Ochocinco early and often against the Chicago Bears. Ochocinco has been nothing short of a fantasy football stud.
Chris Cooley, TE. The stats: 2 receptions, 21 yards, and 2 fantasy points. Both catches came on the Redskins opening drive. And it's a good thing Cooley caught them when he could, because his night ended early. (More on him later.)
Nick Folk, K. The stats: 3 for 3 on field goals, 4 for 4 on extra points, and 14 fantasy points. Welcome back to the fold, Folk. The Dallas Cowboys finally had a complete offensive day against the Atlanta Falcons, and the kicker always benefits from this.
Philadelphia Eagles, D/ST. The stats: 1 interception returned for a touchdown, 3 fumble recoveries, 6 sacks, 17 points allowed, and 21 fantasy points. They made us wait until the last minute, but the Eagles' dominance at the line against the Washington Redskins provided the winning margin.
Now, back to Cooley. He left the Monday night game with a broken ankle. His season may or may not be over, but we cannot afford to find out. We need to get another tight end who can play right away. That means it's time for another poll. Here are the nominees:
Jeremy Shockey, New Orleans Saints. He has at least 3 fantasy points in every game he has played this season, and he currently ranks ninth among tight ends with 45.
Tony Scheffler, Denver Broncos. Another player who has scored at least a point in every game he has played. After his team's bye last week, he ranks 18th among tight ends with 31 points.
Marcedes Lewis, Jacksonville Jaguars. He has a point in five of the six games he's played so far. After his team's bye last week, he ranks 19th among tight ends with 29 points.
The poll is up and will be available until Wednesday night. Please vote and/or comment. We'll be back next time with a more detailed look at our upcoming game.
Kurt Warner, QB. The stats: 20 of 36 passing, 231 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception, and 11 fantasy points. His Arizona Cardinals did just enough to defeat the New York Giants. The primary credit goes to the defense: Eli Manning was picked off three times.
Steve Slaton, RB. The stats: 18 carries for 67 yards, 4 receptions for 22 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 fumble, and 18 fantasy points. His Houston Texans held off a rally by former No. 1 draft choice Alex Smith to beat the 49ers. Slaton continues to get his touches.
Donald Brown, RB. The stats: 2 carries, 58 yards, and 5 fantasy points. Brown left the game against the St. Louis Rams in the second quarter with a shoulder injury. He says the injury was no big deal, and there was no need for the Indianapolis Colts to risk any aggravation against the Rams. It's disappointing, but it seems like he'll be available next week.
Matt Forte, Flex. The stats: 6 carries for 24 yards, 4 receptions for 25 yards, and 4 fantasy points. The Chicago Bears found themselves in a gargantuan hole early against the Cincinnati Bengals. As a result, they had to abandon any hopes of a running game and throw deep. Fantasy football players, as usual, suffered the consequences.
Greg Jennings, WR. The stats: 5 receptions, 52 yards, and 5 fantasy points. The Green Bay Packers threw a lot of short routes against the Cleveland Browns. That was bad news for a deep threat like Jennings.
Chad Ochocinco, WR. The stats: 10 receptions, 118 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 23 fantasy points. Now that's more like it. Carson Palmer found Ochocinco early and often against the Chicago Bears. Ochocinco has been nothing short of a fantasy football stud.
Chris Cooley, TE. The stats: 2 receptions, 21 yards, and 2 fantasy points. Both catches came on the Redskins opening drive. And it's a good thing Cooley caught them when he could, because his night ended early. (More on him later.)
Nick Folk, K. The stats: 3 for 3 on field goals, 4 for 4 on extra points, and 14 fantasy points. Welcome back to the fold, Folk. The Dallas Cowboys finally had a complete offensive day against the Atlanta Falcons, and the kicker always benefits from this.
Philadelphia Eagles, D/ST. The stats: 1 interception returned for a touchdown, 3 fumble recoveries, 6 sacks, 17 points allowed, and 21 fantasy points. They made us wait until the last minute, but the Eagles' dominance at the line against the Washington Redskins provided the winning margin.
Now, back to Cooley. He left the Monday night game with a broken ankle. His season may or may not be over, but we cannot afford to find out. We need to get another tight end who can play right away. That means it's time for another poll. Here are the nominees:
Jeremy Shockey, New Orleans Saints. He has at least 3 fantasy points in every game he has played this season, and he currently ranks ninth among tight ends with 45.
Tony Scheffler, Denver Broncos. Another player who has scored at least a point in every game he has played. After his team's bye last week, he ranks 18th among tight ends with 31 points.
Marcedes Lewis, Jacksonville Jaguars. He has a point in five of the six games he's played so far. After his team's bye last week, he ranks 19th among tight ends with 29 points.
The poll is up and will be available until Wednesday night. Please vote and/or comment. We'll be back next time with a more detailed look at our upcoming game.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Pick the People's Team - Week 7
This week the People's Pigskin has a date with the Southern Rebels. Here's what the lineup looks like now. Three weeks ago the Pigskin defeated the Rebels by a score of 115-92. With your help, the Pigskin can win again.
If you've played fantasy football for any length of time, you've had a week like this one, where it seems like everyone on your bench is injured, on a bye week, or both. However, there are always options. Here are ours.
Quarterback. Once again, Kurt Warner is slated to get the ball. Yes, he faces the New York Giants on Sunday night, but after the Giants loss to the New Orleans Saints last week, that matchup seems less scary. Trent Edwards, who left last week's game with a concussion, is probably not an option, so if you vote to bench Warner, we'll have to dip into the waiver wire for a substitute.
Running back. Your current starters are Steve Slaton, whose receiving is making up for any slack in his running, and Donald Brown, whose Indianapolis Colts face the St. Louis Rams, a team that may be on the verge of throwing in the towel, despite the local optimism. If you disagree, Jamal Lewis is available on the bench.
Flex. This week Matt Forte fills this slot. His fantasy performance has been subpar at best of late, but he's still the starting running back of a team that needs to run the ball (and hit running backs on short passes) to open up the type of vertical passes Jay Cutler can throw. If you want to bench Forte, Jamal Lewis can take this spot.
Wide receiver. The good news: We have Greg Jennings and Chad Ochocinco (now the star of his very own iPhone application) in our starting lineup. The bad news: The other options, T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Nate Washington, both have bye weeks. This will give Nate time to ponder why his coach loves Peyton Manning so much. It also means that if you want to bench one of these receivers, we're going to the waiver wire for a substitute.
There are no changes at tight end (Chris Cooley) or defense/special teams (Philadelphia Eagles). The kicker spot will be filled by the winner of our poll on the righthand side of this page. That poll will close tonight.
Speaking of polls, the new one is open and will stay open until Saturday night. Please feel free to vote and comment. We'll be back later with some recommended reading.
If you've played fantasy football for any length of time, you've had a week like this one, where it seems like everyone on your bench is injured, on a bye week, or both. However, there are always options. Here are ours.
Quarterback. Once again, Kurt Warner is slated to get the ball. Yes, he faces the New York Giants on Sunday night, but after the Giants loss to the New Orleans Saints last week, that matchup seems less scary. Trent Edwards, who left last week's game with a concussion, is probably not an option, so if you vote to bench Warner, we'll have to dip into the waiver wire for a substitute.
Running back. Your current starters are Steve Slaton, whose receiving is making up for any slack in his running, and Donald Brown, whose Indianapolis Colts face the St. Louis Rams, a team that may be on the verge of throwing in the towel, despite the local optimism. If you disagree, Jamal Lewis is available on the bench.
Flex. This week Matt Forte fills this slot. His fantasy performance has been subpar at best of late, but he's still the starting running back of a team that needs to run the ball (and hit running backs on short passes) to open up the type of vertical passes Jay Cutler can throw. If you want to bench Forte, Jamal Lewis can take this spot.
Wide receiver. The good news: We have Greg Jennings and Chad Ochocinco (now the star of his very own iPhone application) in our starting lineup. The bad news: The other options, T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Nate Washington, both have bye weeks. This will give Nate time to ponder why his coach loves Peyton Manning so much. It also means that if you want to bench one of these receivers, we're going to the waiver wire for a substitute.
There are no changes at tight end (Chris Cooley) or defense/special teams (Philadelphia Eagles). The kicker spot will be filled by the winner of our poll on the righthand side of this page. That poll will close tonight.
Speaking of polls, the new one is open and will stay open until Saturday night. Please feel free to vote and comment. We'll be back later with some recommended reading.
Monday, October 12, 2009
The People's Loss (and the Next Step)
Congratulations are in order for t-day jacks 151rum stumblrs, who defeated the People's Pigskin by a score of 77-76. Each team had two players put up zero points, so this one could easily have gone either way. Here's a breakdown of our team's letdown.
Kurt Warner, QB. The stats: 26 of 38 passing, 302 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 20 fantasy points. His team had to sweat a goal-line stand by its defense, but the Arizona Cardinals offense clearly goes through Warner.
Steve Slaton, RB. The stats: 13 rushes for 39 yards, 6 receptions for 59 yards, and 8 fantasy points. One has to wonder what would have happened, for both the Houston Texans and the People's Pigskin, if Slaton had been on the field for that goal-line stand.
Donald Brown, RB. The stats: 6 rushes for 22 yards, 2 receptions for 13 yards, and 3 fantasy points. The Indianapolis Colts did go into preserve-the-lead-and-kill-the-clock-with-runs mode with Brown late in the game, but Brown still couldn't find holes in the Tennessee Titans defense.
Brandon Stokley, Flex. The stats: 0 receptions, 1 target, and 0 fantasy points. More on him later.
T.J. Houshmandzadeh, WR. The stats: 5 receptions, 77 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 19 fantasy points. Now, there's the T.J. we all know and love. Matt Hasslebeck's return to form was a godsend for fantasy players who did not give up on his receivers.
Chad Ochocinco, WR. The stats: 7 receptions for 94 yards, 1 fumble, and 7 fantasy points. His Cincinnati Bengals rallied to beat the Baltimore Ravens, but Ochocinco was kept out of the end zone.
Chris Cooley, TE. The stats: 0 catches, 0 targets, and 0 fantasy points. Cooley was held without a catch for the first time since 2004, when he was a rookie. Hopefully, this won't become a trend.
Nick Folk, K. The stats: 2 for 3 on field goals, 2 extra points, and 7 fantasy points. Fantasy football players who started Folk may be the only people outside of Kansas City who were disappointed that Miles Austin scored in overtime to give the Dallas Cowboys a victory.
Philadelphia Eagles, D/ST. The stats: 3 interceptions, 1 safety, 14 points allowed, and 12 fantasy points. Yes, these numbers came against the hapless Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but as long as they keep coming (and as long as Donovan McNabb stays upright), we'll take them.
Bench. Jamal Lewis put up 11 points, and Trent Edwards put up 8.
Now, about Stokley, who was held without a fantasy points for the third straight week, it's time for him to go. (Yes, I'm being Mr. Obvious here.) That means it's time for you, the Internet, to vote on who should be picked up off the waiver wire. Here are the nominees.
Nate Washington, Tennessee Titans. He's averaging 7.5 fantasy points a game, and that average would have made the People's Pigskin 4-1 today instead of 3-2.
Kenny Britt, Tennessee Titans. Yes, another Titan, but this one has at least a point in every game this season.
Kelley Washington, Baltimore Ravens. His team is becoming a passing one as much as a running one, so Washington has as good a chance as anyone to get scores on any given week.
Earl Bennett, Chicago Bears. This receiver, whose team had a bye this week, has at least 2 fantasy points in every game this season.
Bobby Wade, Kansas City Chiefs. He has 2 touchdowns to his name so far this season, and this team seems ready to beat somebody.
Those are the nominees. Here is the poll. It will stay open until Wednesday. Please vote now.
[polldaddy poll=2109615]
Kurt Warner, QB. The stats: 26 of 38 passing, 302 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 20 fantasy points. His team had to sweat a goal-line stand by its defense, but the Arizona Cardinals offense clearly goes through Warner.
Steve Slaton, RB. The stats: 13 rushes for 39 yards, 6 receptions for 59 yards, and 8 fantasy points. One has to wonder what would have happened, for both the Houston Texans and the People's Pigskin, if Slaton had been on the field for that goal-line stand.
Donald Brown, RB. The stats: 6 rushes for 22 yards, 2 receptions for 13 yards, and 3 fantasy points. The Indianapolis Colts did go into preserve-the-lead-and-kill-the-clock-with-runs mode with Brown late in the game, but Brown still couldn't find holes in the Tennessee Titans defense.
Brandon Stokley, Flex. The stats: 0 receptions, 1 target, and 0 fantasy points. More on him later.
T.J. Houshmandzadeh, WR. The stats: 5 receptions, 77 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 19 fantasy points. Now, there's the T.J. we all know and love. Matt Hasslebeck's return to form was a godsend for fantasy players who did not give up on his receivers.
Chad Ochocinco, WR. The stats: 7 receptions for 94 yards, 1 fumble, and 7 fantasy points. His Cincinnati Bengals rallied to beat the Baltimore Ravens, but Ochocinco was kept out of the end zone.
Chris Cooley, TE. The stats: 0 catches, 0 targets, and 0 fantasy points. Cooley was held without a catch for the first time since 2004, when he was a rookie. Hopefully, this won't become a trend.
Nick Folk, K. The stats: 2 for 3 on field goals, 2 extra points, and 7 fantasy points. Fantasy football players who started Folk may be the only people outside of Kansas City who were disappointed that Miles Austin scored in overtime to give the Dallas Cowboys a victory.
Philadelphia Eagles, D/ST. The stats: 3 interceptions, 1 safety, 14 points allowed, and 12 fantasy points. Yes, these numbers came against the hapless Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but as long as they keep coming (and as long as Donovan McNabb stays upright), we'll take them.
Bench. Jamal Lewis put up 11 points, and Trent Edwards put up 8.
Now, about Stokley, who was held without a fantasy points for the third straight week, it's time for him to go. (Yes, I'm being Mr. Obvious here.) That means it's time for you, the Internet, to vote on who should be picked up off the waiver wire. Here are the nominees.
Nate Washington, Tennessee Titans. He's averaging 7.5 fantasy points a game, and that average would have made the People's Pigskin 4-1 today instead of 3-2.
Kenny Britt, Tennessee Titans. Yes, another Titan, but this one has at least a point in every game this season.
Kelley Washington, Baltimore Ravens. His team is becoming a passing one as much as a running one, so Washington has as good a chance as anyone to get scores on any given week.
Earl Bennett, Chicago Bears. This receiver, whose team had a bye this week, has at least 2 fantasy points in every game this season.
Bobby Wade, Kansas City Chiefs. He has 2 touchdowns to his name so far this season, and this team seems ready to beat somebody.
Those are the nominees. Here is the poll. It will stay open until Wednesday. Please vote now.
[polldaddy poll=2109615]
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Pick the People's Team - Week 5
Thanks to those who voted in the latest waiver poll. Unfortunately, your unanimous choice (Jerome Harrison) got scooped up by someone else, so the People's Pigskin went "off the board" by making a claim on Chris Cooley of the Washington Redskins. This transaction would not be processed until Sunday morning, when Cooley would replace Kellen Winslow, who has become a nonentity in fantasy football for the time being.
Anyway, now it's time to prepare for this week's contest against the t-bay jacks 151 rum stumblrs. Let's take a look at our current lineup.
Quarterback. Kurt Warner, fresh off his bye week, returns to the starting lineup and faces the Houston Texans. Trent Edwards goes back to the bench but is available if you deem it necessary.
Running back. Matt Forte's Bears have their bye week, so our current starters are Steve Slaton (against the Arizona Cardinals) and Donald Brown (who faces the Tennessee Titans. If one of them is not to your liking, we can have Jamal Lewis (if he's healthy enough to play) or Chris "Beanie" Wells (if Lewis can't go).
Flex. Yes, it's another Brandon Stokley sighting. His Broncos get the New England Patriots. The other option is to insert Wells/Lewis here. (Again, Lewis would get the start if he's healthy, and Wells would get it if Lewis is still hurt.)
Wide receiver. With Greg Jennings having his bye week, we have a reunion of sorts: T.J. Houshmandzadeh (who faces the Jacksonville Jaguars) and Chad Ochocinco (who gets the Baltimore Ravens). If you want to bench one of them, we could go to the waiver wire for a replacement.
We already discussed the tight end situation. Nick Folk remains our kicker, and the Philadelphia Eagles defense/special teams return to the starting lineup this week.
Here's the poll. You should know the drill by now -- it will close Saturday night. Please vote now, and feel free to comment.
[polldaddy poll=2093245]
Anyway, now it's time to prepare for this week's contest against the t-bay jacks 151 rum stumblrs. Let's take a look at our current lineup.
Quarterback. Kurt Warner, fresh off his bye week, returns to the starting lineup and faces the Houston Texans. Trent Edwards goes back to the bench but is available if you deem it necessary.
Running back. Matt Forte's Bears have their bye week, so our current starters are Steve Slaton (against the Arizona Cardinals) and Donald Brown (who faces the Tennessee Titans. If one of them is not to your liking, we can have Jamal Lewis (if he's healthy enough to play) or Chris "Beanie" Wells (if Lewis can't go).
Flex. Yes, it's another Brandon Stokley sighting. His Broncos get the New England Patriots. The other option is to insert Wells/Lewis here. (Again, Lewis would get the start if he's healthy, and Wells would get it if Lewis is still hurt.)
Wide receiver. With Greg Jennings having his bye week, we have a reunion of sorts: T.J. Houshmandzadeh (who faces the Jacksonville Jaguars) and Chad Ochocinco (who gets the Baltimore Ravens). If you want to bench one of them, we could go to the waiver wire for a replacement.
We already discussed the tight end situation. Nick Folk remains our kicker, and the Philadelphia Eagles defense/special teams return to the starting lineup this week.
Here's the poll. You should know the drill by now -- it will close Saturday night. Please vote now, and feel free to comment.
[polldaddy poll=2093245]
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Behind the People's Victory
There were no Monday night miracles last night, even though Brett Favre was on the field. The People's Pigskin held on to defeat the Southern Rebels by a score of 115-94. Our record improved to 3-1. Here's a breakdown of how it happened.
Trent Edwards, QB. The stats: 14 of 26 passing, 192 yards, 1 touchdown, 3 interceptions, and 5 fantasy points. The Miami Dolphins made life miserable for Trent and the other Buffalo Bills all day. But fear not, fantasy football fans -- Kurt Warner is back in the lineup this week.
Matt Forte, RB. The stats: 12 rushes for 121 yards and 1 touchdown, 2 receptions for 29 yards, and 19 fantasy points. The Detroit Lions were just the tonic that Forte and the rest of the Chicago Bears needed, as the Monsters of the Midway racked up 48 points. Expect more good things from Matt.
Steve Slaton, RB. The stats: 21 rushes for 65 yards and a touchdown, 2 receptions for 24 yards and a second touchdown, 1 fumble, and 18 fantasy points. Another runner with an easy opponent. (Yes, I said it, and I might be banned for it.) The Houston Texans maintained control over the Oakland Raiders all day. Again, more good things to come to Steve.
Donald Brown, Flex. The stats: 9 rushes for 33 yards and 1 touchdown, 1 reception for 13 yards, and 10 fantasy points. One of Peyton Manning's many strengths is ball distribution. Brown is officially a backup to Joseph Addai, but the Indianapolis Colts are not shy about putting the ball in Brown's hands.
Greg Jennings, WR. The stats: 3 receptions, 31 yards, and 3 fantasy points. The Minnesota Vikings had the Green Bay Packers' number for most of the night. Jared Allen sacked Aaron Rodgers 4.5 times all by himself. It's tough for Aaron (or his predecessor) to complete passes when he's flat on his back.
Chad Ochocinco, WR. The stats: 3 receptions for 24 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 14 fantasy points. In all, Chad was targeted 11 times against the Cleveland Browns. There was no Dawg Pound leap, but maybe that was for the best.
Kellen Winslow, TE. The stats: 2 receptions, 21 yards, and 2 fantasy points. OK, so maybe the quarterback switch wasn't the tonic the Tampa Bay Buccaneers needed.
Nick Folk, K. The stats: 1 field goal made, 1 PAT made, and 5 fantasy points. Enough has been said elsewhere about the Dallas Cowboys performance against the Denver Broncos, so let's leave it at that.
San Francisco 49ers D/ST. The stats: 1 interception, 2 fumble recoveries, 2 touchdowns (that's 2 touchdowns scored, by the way), 0 points allowed, and 39 fantasy points. Once again, this defense was the top scorer in fantasy football this week. Normally, a bye week defense is sent right back to the waiver wire as soon as the other defense's bye week is over. But in this case? I wonder if the words "trade bait" apply here...
Anyway, be sure to vote in the waiver poll and offer a comment. We'll be back later with a look at this week's matchup.
Trent Edwards, QB. The stats: 14 of 26 passing, 192 yards, 1 touchdown, 3 interceptions, and 5 fantasy points. The Miami Dolphins made life miserable for Trent and the other Buffalo Bills all day. But fear not, fantasy football fans -- Kurt Warner is back in the lineup this week.
Matt Forte, RB. The stats: 12 rushes for 121 yards and 1 touchdown, 2 receptions for 29 yards, and 19 fantasy points. The Detroit Lions were just the tonic that Forte and the rest of the Chicago Bears needed, as the Monsters of the Midway racked up 48 points. Expect more good things from Matt.
Steve Slaton, RB. The stats: 21 rushes for 65 yards and a touchdown, 2 receptions for 24 yards and a second touchdown, 1 fumble, and 18 fantasy points. Another runner with an easy opponent. (Yes, I said it, and I might be banned for it.) The Houston Texans maintained control over the Oakland Raiders all day. Again, more good things to come to Steve.
Donald Brown, Flex. The stats: 9 rushes for 33 yards and 1 touchdown, 1 reception for 13 yards, and 10 fantasy points. One of Peyton Manning's many strengths is ball distribution. Brown is officially a backup to Joseph Addai, but the Indianapolis Colts are not shy about putting the ball in Brown's hands.
Greg Jennings, WR. The stats: 3 receptions, 31 yards, and 3 fantasy points. The Minnesota Vikings had the Green Bay Packers' number for most of the night. Jared Allen sacked Aaron Rodgers 4.5 times all by himself. It's tough for Aaron (or his predecessor) to complete passes when he's flat on his back.
Chad Ochocinco, WR. The stats: 3 receptions for 24 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 14 fantasy points. In all, Chad was targeted 11 times against the Cleveland Browns. There was no Dawg Pound leap, but maybe that was for the best.
Kellen Winslow, TE. The stats: 2 receptions, 21 yards, and 2 fantasy points. OK, so maybe the quarterback switch wasn't the tonic the Tampa Bay Buccaneers needed.
Nick Folk, K. The stats: 1 field goal made, 1 PAT made, and 5 fantasy points. Enough has been said elsewhere about the Dallas Cowboys performance against the Denver Broncos, so let's leave it at that.
San Francisco 49ers D/ST. The stats: 1 interception, 2 fumble recoveries, 2 touchdowns (that's 2 touchdowns scored, by the way), 0 points allowed, and 39 fantasy points. Once again, this defense was the top scorer in fantasy football this week. Normally, a bye week defense is sent right back to the waiver wire as soon as the other defense's bye week is over. But in this case? I wonder if the words "trade bait" apply here...
Anyway, be sure to vote in the waiver poll and offer a comment. We'll be back later with a look at this week's matchup.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Pick the People's Team - Week 4
First of all, thanks to those of you who voted and commented on our defense poll. You were unanimous in saying the San Francisco 49ers should start this week in the Eagles' place, so the 49ers will start in our game against the Southern Rebels.
And now the moment you fantasy football fanatics have all been waiting for ... it's time to pick our starters. Here's who's slated to play right now, and here are your options.
Quarterback. Trent Edwards remains a starter for one simple reason: Kurt Warner and the Arizona Cardinals have a bye week. If you feel Trent needs to take a seat, the People's Pigskin will need to find a free agent.
Running back. Matt Forte and Steve Slaton are our current starters. We have subs available, but they are either questionable with injuries (Jamal Lewis) or on a bye week (Chris "Beanie" Wells). If you want to sit one of them, Derrick Ward could be pressed into service, since the Bucs won't be getting big numbers from their quarterback anytime soon.
Flex. Donald Brown, our top scorer last week, gets the nod once again. If we want someone else, T.J. Houshmandzadeh (whose last name I can now spell in my sleep) can be pressed into service. Either way, we'll have reason to watch the Indianapolis Colts-Seattle Seahawks game.
Wide receiver. Once again, our starters are Greg Jennings and Chad Ochocinco. Chad and the Cincinnati Bengals face the reeling Cleveland Browns, while Greg gives us the potential to make a Monday night comeback. If either option isn't an option for you, Mr. Houshmandzadeh is available.
We've already discussed our defense. There's no change at tight end (Kellen Winslow) or kicker (Nick Folk).
Here's the poll. Once again, you have until Saturday evening to vote. And don't forget about our other poll. We'll be back later with a preview of this week's Landshark Maniacs action.
[polldaddy poll=2063505]
And now the moment you fantasy football fanatics have all been waiting for ... it's time to pick our starters. Here's who's slated to play right now, and here are your options.
Quarterback. Trent Edwards remains a starter for one simple reason: Kurt Warner and the Arizona Cardinals have a bye week. If you feel Trent needs to take a seat, the People's Pigskin will need to find a free agent.
Running back. Matt Forte and Steve Slaton are our current starters. We have subs available, but they are either questionable with injuries (Jamal Lewis) or on a bye week (Chris "Beanie" Wells). If you want to sit one of them, Derrick Ward could be pressed into service, since the Bucs won't be getting big numbers from their quarterback anytime soon.
Flex. Donald Brown, our top scorer last week, gets the nod once again. If we want someone else, T.J. Houshmandzadeh (whose last name I can now spell in my sleep) can be pressed into service. Either way, we'll have reason to watch the Indianapolis Colts-Seattle Seahawks game.
Wide receiver. Once again, our starters are Greg Jennings and Chad Ochocinco. Chad and the Cincinnati Bengals face the reeling Cleveland Browns, while Greg gives us the potential to make a Monday night comeback. If either option isn't an option for you, Mr. Houshmandzadeh is available.
We've already discussed our defense. There's no change at tight end (Kellen Winslow) or kicker (Nick Folk).
Here's the poll. Once again, you have until Saturday evening to vote. And don't forget about our other poll. We'll be back later with a preview of this week's Landshark Maniacs action.
[polldaddy poll=2063505]
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
How the People Won (and How We Keep Winning)
Once again, the fantasy football gods made us wait until the very end for a resolution, but once again, you, the Internet emerged victorious.
The People's Pigskin recorded a 54-45 victory over Tinks Revenge, raising our record to 2-1. Here's a breakdown of the results.
Trent Edwards, QB. The stats: 20 of 35 passing for 156 yards, 1 interception, 2 rushes for 13 yards, and 5 fantasy points. The Buffalo Bills have to be disappointed in those stats. His longest completion against the New Orleans Saints was only 18 yards. And none of his completions went to Terrell Owens, who, to his credit, refused to throw anyone under the bus afterward.
Matt Forte, RB. The stats: 21 rushes for 66 yards, 6 catches for 40 yards, and 10 fantasy points. These are not the stats of a first-round fantasy pick, but they are getting better as the season progresses.
Steve Slaton, RB. The stats: 12 rushes for 76 yards, 3 receptions for 37 yards, and 10 fantasy points. Again, not the type of production the Houston Texans would want from their primary running back, though he is clearly being targeted.
Donald Brown, Flex. The stats: 14 rushes for 40 yards, 1 reception for 72 yards, and 11 fantasy points. These numbers were mostly generated late in the game, as the Indianapolis Colts played keepaway with the Arizona Cardinals. Still, that was the highest point total among our starters.
Chad Ochocinco, WR. The stats: 5 receptions, 54 yards, and 5 fantasy points. Our favorite baby kisser also had several drops, but his Cincinnati Bengals did pull out a victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers and are an early contender for Most Improved Team.
Brandon Stokley, WR. The stats: 0 receptions, 0 yards, and 0 fantasy points. The Denver Broncos didn't need his help in whipping the Oakland Raiders. Hopefully, things will be different this week against the Dallas Cowboys.
Kellen Winslow, TE. The stats: 3 receptions, 14 yards, and 1 fantasy point. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers looked like a JV squad against the New York Giants on Sunday. It was so bad that the Bucs will start Josh Johnson instead of Byron Leftwich at quarterback this week. We have to hope Johnson knows that a good tight end can be a young quarterback's best friend.
Nick Folk, K. The stats: 2 for 3 on field goals, 1 PAT, and 6 fantasy points. I have to admit I got nervous when Folk missed his first field goal attempt of the night, since our team was docked a point. But Nick was solid the rest of the way and managed to avoid a Mora-style tirade.
Philadelphia Eagles, D/ST. The stats: 1 fumble recovery, 14 points allowed, and 6 fantasy points. The Eagles controlled the Kansas City Chiefs all day long and remain the top-scoring defense in fantasy football.
Bench. Kurt Warner got 13 points, while Greg Jennings got 10, so you Warner fans (or anti-Stokley fans) can go ahead and feel vindicated.
Our defense provides us with our first bye week challenge of the season. The Eagles are off this week (music to the ears of both Donovan McNabb and Andy Reid, I'm sure), so we need another defense. Rather than waiving the top-scoring defense in fantasy football, the plan is to bench the Eagles, waive Rashard Mendenhall (call us when/if your team figures out its running game), and pluck a defense off the waiver wire. Here are the leading candidates.
New Orleans Saints. Believe it or not, this defense racked up 12 fantasy points last week and are sixth in fantasy points this season. They face the New York Jets this week.
San Francisco 49ers. Mike Singletary is clearing putting his stamp on this team, which got 11 fantasy points from its defense last week. They face the St. Louis Rams this week.
Cincinnati Bengals. Yes, Carson Palmer got the headlines, but his defense also played a major role in the Steelers upset, getting 9 fantasy points for their effort. They face the Cleveland Browns this week.
Once again, we have until Thursday morning to get the waiver requests in, so this poll will close Wednesday night. Please vote now.
[polldaddy poll=2054226]
The People's Pigskin recorded a 54-45 victory over Tinks Revenge, raising our record to 2-1. Here's a breakdown of the results.
Trent Edwards, QB. The stats: 20 of 35 passing for 156 yards, 1 interception, 2 rushes for 13 yards, and 5 fantasy points. The Buffalo Bills have to be disappointed in those stats. His longest completion against the New Orleans Saints was only 18 yards. And none of his completions went to Terrell Owens, who, to his credit, refused to throw anyone under the bus afterward.
Matt Forte, RB. The stats: 21 rushes for 66 yards, 6 catches for 40 yards, and 10 fantasy points. These are not the stats of a first-round fantasy pick, but they are getting better as the season progresses.
Steve Slaton, RB. The stats: 12 rushes for 76 yards, 3 receptions for 37 yards, and 10 fantasy points. Again, not the type of production the Houston Texans would want from their primary running back, though he is clearly being targeted.
Donald Brown, Flex. The stats: 14 rushes for 40 yards, 1 reception for 72 yards, and 11 fantasy points. These numbers were mostly generated late in the game, as the Indianapolis Colts played keepaway with the Arizona Cardinals. Still, that was the highest point total among our starters.
Chad Ochocinco, WR. The stats: 5 receptions, 54 yards, and 5 fantasy points. Our favorite baby kisser also had several drops, but his Cincinnati Bengals did pull out a victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers and are an early contender for Most Improved Team.
Brandon Stokley, WR. The stats: 0 receptions, 0 yards, and 0 fantasy points. The Denver Broncos didn't need his help in whipping the Oakland Raiders. Hopefully, things will be different this week against the Dallas Cowboys.
Kellen Winslow, TE. The stats: 3 receptions, 14 yards, and 1 fantasy point. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers looked like a JV squad against the New York Giants on Sunday. It was so bad that the Bucs will start Josh Johnson instead of Byron Leftwich at quarterback this week. We have to hope Johnson knows that a good tight end can be a young quarterback's best friend.
Nick Folk, K. The stats: 2 for 3 on field goals, 1 PAT, and 6 fantasy points. I have to admit I got nervous when Folk missed his first field goal attempt of the night, since our team was docked a point. But Nick was solid the rest of the way and managed to avoid a Mora-style tirade.
Philadelphia Eagles, D/ST. The stats: 1 fumble recovery, 14 points allowed, and 6 fantasy points. The Eagles controlled the Kansas City Chiefs all day long and remain the top-scoring defense in fantasy football.
Bench. Kurt Warner got 13 points, while Greg Jennings got 10, so you Warner fans (or anti-Stokley fans) can go ahead and feel vindicated.
Our defense provides us with our first bye week challenge of the season. The Eagles are off this week (music to the ears of both Donovan McNabb and Andy Reid, I'm sure), so we need another defense. Rather than waiving the top-scoring defense in fantasy football, the plan is to bench the Eagles, waive Rashard Mendenhall (call us when/if your team figures out its running game), and pluck a defense off the waiver wire. Here are the leading candidates.
New Orleans Saints. Believe it or not, this defense racked up 12 fantasy points last week and are sixth in fantasy points this season. They face the New York Jets this week.
San Francisco 49ers. Mike Singletary is clearing putting his stamp on this team, which got 11 fantasy points from its defense last week. They face the St. Louis Rams this week.
Cincinnati Bengals. Yes, Carson Palmer got the headlines, but his defense also played a major role in the Steelers upset, getting 9 fantasy points for their effort. They face the Cleveland Browns this week.
Once again, we have until Thursday morning to get the waiver requests in, so this poll will close Wednesday night. Please vote now.
[polldaddy poll=2054226]
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