The Fantasy Factor

Week 9 Pickups: Are You In Or Out?

2010-11-02T20:53:31Z

We're halfway through the NFL season and nearly two-thirds of the way through most fantasy regular seasons. By now, you know what's up with your team.

Most teams are in three categories.
1: You're firmly entrenched in the playoffs, and your roster only needs the occasional tweaking for injuries. You can take some risks, speculate on guys with good playoff matchups and generally coast until things get hot. It's good to be in this category.
2: You're in the playoff hunt, but still need a few wins to get in. This is a critical juncture for you. You gotta make moves, but don't want to get too crazy with your lineup. Don't sacrifice a win today for what might be a playoff berth tomorrow.
3: You're in the lower half of the league, and need to make moves ... fast.

I have a team in each of these positions. I almost would rather be completely out of it than in a losing battle for a playoff spot. At least then you can focus your attention on other things, like scouring the "rouge" leaders in your fantasy CFL league (what, is that just me?).

The guys below are mostly for groups 1 and 3. The waiver wire is a barren wasteland of sure-fire talent these days, especially for quarterbacks and running backs. You need to take some chances if you're a couple games out of a playoff spot, and you can afford to take some fliers if you've already got one wrapped up. Hopefully these guys will help.

]]> QUARTERBACK
Ryan Fitzpatrick, Bills
I'll keep touting this guy as long as he remains unowned in more than half the leagues out there. A 10/3 TD-to-INT rate over the last month is worthy. The emergence of solid receivers like Steve Johnson and the fact that the Bills have decided to throw caution to the wind and just starting flinging the ball all around is a great sign of things to come.

Josh Freeman, Buccaneers
I don't know how much longer people are going to hate on Tampa Bay before realizing they're an elite team in the NFC. Freeman is not flashy, but he hasn't thrown an interception in his last three games, averaging 230 yards and a touchdown in that span. If you're looking for a QB at this point, you better be prepared to be happy with those numbers.

RUNNING BACK
LeGarrette Blount, Buccaneers
Is his nickname "Philly"? It should be. Of course, after putting up 120 yards and two scores last week, you should call him whatever he wants to be called.

Shonn Greene, Jets
I'm seeing him get dropped in a bunch of leagues. If this is the case in your league, and you've got an open spot, pick him up and stash him away. I'm not a gambling man, but I'd put a grand down on LaDainian Tomlinson breaking down sometime this year.

Javarris James, Colts
OK, this is completely speculative, as the dude has 3 carries for 4 yards in his entire career. But he's the fourth string RB in Indy, and the other three are hurt. Why not?

WIDE RECEIVER
Steve Breaston, Cardinals
He came back strong after missing a month with a knee injury, racking up a career-high 147 yards. When healthy, he looks to be the No. 2 guy behind Larry Fitzgerald, which means plenty of single coverage. Good times!

Jordan Shipley, Bengals
Forget the numbers. Watch this rookie live in a game and you'll see he's a star in the making. He's got burning speed and runs great routes out of the slot. Plus it looks like Carson Palmer is starting to trust him more and more. He broke out two weeks ago with 100 yards and a score against Atlanta. I'm not saying he'll do that against Pittsburgh this week, but I would bet on him becoming a much bigger part of the Cincy offense sooner rather than later. And with Chad Ochocinco getting banged up last week, Shipley could become the No. 2 guy after TO.

TIGHT END
Visanthe Shiancoe, Vikings
Not sure if you heard, but a certain receiver whose name rhymes with Dandy Loss is no longer in the picture. He's been a non-factor ever since Marshall's finest came back to town, but here's betting Favre gets back to basics and looks for his well-endowed tight end once again.

Greg Olsen, Bears
What's our rule about tight ends playing against the Bills? That's right! Always start them. Even if they have three catches in the past month and a half. Olsen is too good not to be involved in this offense. Of course, you can almost hear the collective cry from Bears fans across the city - "Check down, Jay, check down!" - as he gets sacked yet again every week.

DEFENSE
Lions
Normally we wouldn't suggest playing the Detroit defense in a million years. Howeva! ... Damo Suh is a sack machine, they got a pick and a score last week against the Redskins, and they're playing against a Jets team that just got shut out at home. What the hell, gotta take a gamble every once in a while.

Bills
Let's put it this way: My grandma could sack Jay Cutler. Of course, she's 6-foot-2, 245 and runs a 4.5 40 ...

KICKER
Connor Barth, Buccaneers
It's gonna be a defensive battle against Atlanta, meaning not many touchdowns, and it's gonna be in a dome. These are both good things for a kicker.

Garrett Hartley, Saints
Looks like this whole team got their mojo back after a win over Pittsburgh. If he's still available, I'd bank on him getting over his early-season woes and being a solid play in this offense going forward.

Week 8 Pickups: Who Needs Class When You Can Catch A Pass?

2010-10-26T21:54:39Z

If you thought character meant anything in the NFL, Kenny Britt's performance on Sunday should be example No. 243,000 why it doesn't. Nobody cares about what you do off the field as long as you produce in between the lines.

Case in point: Britt, the Titans wide receiver who got into a bar brawl on Thursday night, then came back for 200 yards and three touchdowns on Sunday. He probably would have been suspended, except Tennessee didn't have many other receiving options with Justin Gage out. So in walks Britt, and has one of the best performances of the season.

You can find any number of other cases, like Braylon Edwards, who got a DUI earlier in the year, then went on to catch a pair of touchdowns in the following game. How about Bengals RB Cedric Benson, who was arrested for assault over the summer but was suspended nary a game.

And don't get me started on Michael Vick, who seems to be doing just fine after his jail stint for dog fighting.

If you can play, you can stay. And if you can stay, we'll take you on our fantasy team - especially if you rack up 40 points in a week.

The search for the next Kenny Britt starts here, with the Pickups of the Week:

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QUARTERBACK
Jon Kitna, Cowboys
God I hate Jon Kitna. He's a career backup QB who seems to get chance after chance in a starting role, and he never performs well. He railroaded the Lions in their year of futility (0-16 in '08) and he's been a clubhouse cancer wherever he's gone. That said, with Tony Romo out for two months with a broken collarbone, Kitna's the Cowboys starter for the foreseeable future. This means he will be fantasy relevant. God have mercy on us all.

Matthew Stafford, Lions
Speaking of Lions QBs sabotaging seasons ... Stafford is back after a shoulder injury in Week 1 gave Shaun Hill fantasy relevance for the first time in his career. Anyone who is throwing to Calvin "Megatron" Johnson, I'm not going to ignore.

RUNNING BACK
Kenneth Darby, Rams
Steven Jackson's got a broken finger and probably won't practice all week. If he's a no-go, Darby is a must-have, as the Rams play Carolina this week.

Darren Sproles, Chargers
As long as San Diego 's receiving corps is banged up, Sproles will be valuable as a safety valve for Phillip Rivers. He had nine catches for 70 yards on Sunday, which we'll take for a RB pickup at this point.

WIDE RECEIVER
Kenny Britt, Titans
Here's the no-brainer of the week. He was only owned in just over half of ESPN leagues over the weekend. Yeah, that's probably gonna change a bit after his monster day.

Anthony Gonzalez, Colts
I talked about Pierre Garcon last week, and he's probably already owned. Gonzalez, who has been a major disappointment this year, gets a second look, as the Colts just don't have any other options at this point.

Lee Evans, Bills
Evans is the classic up-and-down guy. It seems like he either goes for 150 yards and three scores (like he did last week) or two catches for 12 yards. Here's betting he repeats last week's performance against the Chiefs.

TIGHT END
Brandon Pettigrew, Lions
He and Tony Sheffler have had similar numbers in Detroit. One difference, BP has 19 catches the last three games, compared to just 12 for Sheffler. I think Pettigrew is the more useful TE going forward.

Tony Moeaki, Chiefs
Rule of thumb: Any tight end playing against the Bills is gonna have a good game. Like clockwork, bro.

DEFENSE
Buccaneers
Everybody's sleeping on Tampa. I think they're for real (at least in the NFC) and their D is a big reason. Plus they get the putrid Cardinals this week.

Lions
Normally it's a bad idea to have anything to do with the Detroit defense. This week they play the Redskins, and you saw what the Bears did to Donovan McNabb.

KICKER
Josh Brown, Rams
He's been perfect since Week 3 and he's in a dome. What more do you want?

Rian Lindell, Bills
How 'bout that Bills offense! I don't know much in this world, but I do know that when you score, so does your kicker.

Week 7 News and Notes

2010-10-24T16:08:59Z

Some notes as you set your lineups for Week 7:

QB Michael Vick is inactive for the Eagles, meaning the game is Kevin Kolb's to win or lose. I had Kolb as a bye-week fill-in, but dropped him for Matt Cassel earlier this week. One of my fears was Kevin Kolb having a few bad series and Andy Reid getting trigger happy with Vick. That won't happen. I'm still riding the Cassel train (Jags are a terrible pass D), but Kolb is a great option if you need it.

Kerry Collins is starting at QB for the Titans. Vince Young is still nursing a knee and an ankle. Collins isn't a great play, but sometimes you're desperate with bye weeks.

Speaking of the Titans, Justin Gage is out with a hamstring. This would be a great week to play Kenny Britt (preysent), but homeboy had to go and get in a fight on Thursday night and isn't starting. Way to go, guy. Advantage Bo Scaife. And Damien Williams, if you want to get nuts.

Darren McFadden (hamstring) is a game-time decision but will most likely play for the Raiders. Expect Michael Bush to start. Unfortunately, it's a late game, so you kinda have to roll the dice on McFadden. He should get plenty of carries, although it wouldn't be a bad idea to play a better option, if possible.

In tight end news, Chris Cooley and Todd Heap are both active. Cooley should have a good game against the Bears. I'm a little more worried about Heap, who got jacked up last week and still has a stiff neck. In fact, I dropped Heap in favor of Heath Miller this week. Call it a hunch, but at least I know Miller's going to be on the field and going to get looks from Big Ben.

Steve Breaston is a game-time decision. Late game. Bad QB (Max Hall? Really?). No thanks.

Speaking of bad quarterbacks, Todd Bouman is expected to get the start under center for the Jags. Needless to say, don't play Bouman under any situation. But it also means you can downgrade any other Jags players you might have. Like Maurice Jones-Drew and ... um, Mike Thomas? Yeah, just avoid all of 'em.

Breaking News: Dallas Clark Out For Season

2010-10-22T16:04:44Z

Rotoworld is reporting the Colts have put tight end Dallas Clark on the injured reserve list, effectively ending his season with a wrist injury. This is bad news for Clark owners, who most likely took him as one of the top two TEs in their draft.

Some replacement options:
For this week, go get Todd Heap. The Bills are terrible at covering tight ends, and he's been a bigger part of the Baltimore offense as of late. For the long term, look at Heath Miller, who has a great relationship with recently reinstated QB Ben Roethlisberger. Also, if anyone dropped Minnesota's Visanthe Shiancoe after his zero-catch performance last week, I would recommend picking him up.

Other options: Benjamin Watson (Browns) has been solid in an otherwise anemic offense, and Marcedes Lewis (Jaguars) is a touchdown machine.

This is terrible news for the Colts, as it looks like WR Austin Collie will be out for at least a couple weeks with a hand injury. If Pierre Garcon - who has been inconsistent at best this year - is still available, he would definitely be worth a flier. And Anthony Gonzalez should get some more looks as well Reggie Wayne can't catch everything over there.

(Special thanks to fantasy insider Noni Kavuri for bringing this story to my attention)

Week 7 Pickups: To Lead Or Not To Lead

2010-10-19T22:45:11Z

For the first time this year, I was sweating out a Monday night game, trying to eke out 12 points from the Tennessee defense. I could see the writing on the wall as the Jaguars drove down the field in a meaningless 30-point game, desperately trying to put a garbage-time touchdown on the board and break my fantasy spirits.

Fortunately, a goal-line interception saved the day and I squeezed out a two-point win in a game literally nobody else in the world cared about. Ahhh, gotta love the fantasy football world.

We've all been there before, watching a boring Monday night game and rooting for meaningless plays to save our week. My question to you: Would you rather be the one trailing and rooting for your guys to score points, or would you rather be ahead, playing the role of hater against your fantasy opponent?

Personally, I'd rather be down, rooting my team on to score. I feel like it gives me some control over my team, even though we all know we have none, no matter the situation.

While you ponder the fantasy debate of the day, check out this week's top pickups:

]]> QUARTERBACK
Ryan Fitzpatrick, Bills
Yeah, Buffalo sucks. And yes, they're playing Baltimore this week. But if you're looking for a QB this late in the game, you're probably desperate, and you could do a lot worse. He has at least two touchdowns in each of the three games he's started.

Matt Cassel, Chiefs
His scoring line in the last three games: 29, 8, 28. You feelin' lucky? Well, Jacksonville did give up 30 to an average Titans defense playing without their starting QB, for what it's worth.

RUNNING BACK
Chris Ivory, Saints
New Orleans doesn't seem to be in any rush to get Pierre Thomas back on the field. And if you can pick up a guy who runs for 150 yards at this point in the season, by god, you do it.

Earnest Graham, Buccaneers
Assuming his hamstring injury is just "mild," as coach Raheem Morris called it, Graham should be a big part of the offense now that Kareem Huggins is out for the year.

Danny Woodhead, Patriots
I still don't know how a Division II guy who never got drafted gets the most carries for a 4-1 team. But I don't have to know. I just have to enjoy 110 total yards and close to 20 touches from a guy who is RB and WR eligible and stop questioning it.

WIDE RECEIVER
Deion Branch, Patriots
It's OK, you don't have to admit your man-crush on Tom Brady. But he'll readily admit his infatuation with Branch, who quickly scored a TD in his first game back with New England.

Jabar Gaffney, Broncos
It seems there's a new Denver receiver who breaks out every week. Gaffney's got two straight 80-yard games, so we'll roll with him again. On a side note, if you want to get a Bears fan riled up, start a debate about who the better quarterback is between Jay Cutler and Kyle Orton.

Steve Johnson, Bills
Forgive me for suggesting both a QB and WR from the Bills - especially when they're playing Baltimore this week - but one would be foolish to overlook Johnson's four touchdowns in the past three games.

TIGHT END
Heath Miller, Steelers
Is there anyone happier to see Big Ben back on the field? Heath Bar got his first score of the year in his QB's first game back from suspension, and can most definitely expect more red zone looks coming his way.

Todd Heap, Ravens
He took Brandon Merriwether's best hit (which cost Merriwether 50 grand) and kept on ticking. Now he gets the Bills, who don't actually cover tight ends.

DEFENSE
Seahawks
They manhandled the Bears offensive line, and now get to feast on Arizona this week.

49ers
Not a very sexy D, but they've posted double-digit points two of the past three weeks and get the lowly Carolina Housecats this week.

Redskins
Speaking of manhandling the Bears offensive line ...

KICKER
Josh Scobee, Jaguars
Assuming Jacksonville doesn't lay another egg like it did on Monday, Scobee should be a good play. Did you know he scored 22 points against the Bills two weeks ago? Daaaaamn!

Dan Carpenter, Dolphins
Anyone who kicks a game-winning field goal against the Packers is A-OK around these parts.

Last-Minute Fantasy Notes For Week 6

2010-10-17T15:54:35Z

Some notes to consider as you set your lineups for Week 6:

Notable inactives: RBs Jerome Harrison (Eagles), Donald Brown (Colts), Clinton Portis (Redskins), Pierre Thomas (Saints); WR Legedu Naanee (Chargers); TE Jermichael Finley (Packers).

Also, Packers stud defensive end Clay Matthews is out, meaning they should be knocked down a few spots in the defense rankings.

Bye weeks: Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers

Peyton Hillis (Browns RB) is active, and he's a safe start. Same with Lions WR Calvin Johnson, who has a shoulder problem.

Cowboys WR Dez Bryant is active, but I would look for different options. With Roy Williams emerging as a threat in Dallas, there's just not enough balls to go around.

A word about Packers QB Aaron Rodgers. He's listed as active, but I don't trust that concussion at all. I could see him taking a hit and going out early, killing your fantasy team. If you have a better option, roll with it. I'm debating a Joe Flacco play instead, but not sure if I have the guts to pull the trigger.

Justin Forsett is listed as the starter against the Bears. Not a great play, though, especially with Marshawn Lynch there to steal a bunch of carries. Proceed with caution.

Good luck today.

Week 6 Pickups: At Least You're Not A Chargers Fan

2010-10-12T21:05:58Z

I'm in San Diego for the week, soaking in the sun, planning a wedding and thoroughly enjoying not being a Chargers fan. They blew another one this past weekend, against the Raiders, no less. Watching Norv Turner coach is like watching your fantasy opponent run up a huge score: You see it happening right before you, but there's nothing you can do about it.

Those who care about football hate this guy out here. Of course, 90 percent of the people are at the beach and haven't even heard of Norv Turner, so good for them.

The thin pool of running back relief gets even thinner this week, so hopefully you're not in dire need of a bye week replacement. On the plus side, there are receivers galore, but who knows which will pan out. That's why I'm here.

]]> QUARTERBACK
Sam Bradford, Rams
Last week I told you to pick up Lions backup-turned-starter Shaun Hill, who was playing against the Rams. Then I went against my own advice and picked up Bradford. Advantage: Hill. Fantasy loser: Wood. This week, Bradford plays - you guessed it - the Chargers. I'm still taking him long-term, especially since it looks like Matthew Stafford will be back soon for the Lions.

Kevin Kolb, Eagles
For some reason, Michael Vick is still the starter if he can go, but I wouldn't bet on it this week. Kolb gets the Falcons, who are terrible against the pass. As long as Vick doesn't make a miracle recovery, I think Kolb gets some solid numbers ... for at least one week.

Ben Roethlisburger, Steelers
He's back from suspension. Maybe someone dropped him?

Colt McCoy, Browns
Sounds like the rookie will start this week. Want a deep, deep keeper option? Yeah, me neither.

RUNNING BACK
Donald Brown, Colts
He's been sidelined with a hammy the past two weeks. Now he's practicing, and Joseph Addai may be out this week. If he plays and Addai doesn't, it's a no-brainer. If both are out, take a look at Mike Hart.

Michael Bush, Raiders
I was huge on this guy at the start of the year, but had to drop him because of a roster crunch. Now I'm kicking myself, because he'll put up some numbers at some point this year. Looks like it will be sooner rather than later. If he's still around, grab him.

Derrick Ward, Texans
He had one carry for one yard and one touchdown on Sunday. Now that's what I call efficiency! Well, he did have 80 yards and a score the week before, and Arian Foster is banged up. You could do worse.

Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks
Could be a favorable workload split with Justin Forsett coming off the bye.

Ladell Betts, Saints
The Saints are a mess. Pierre Thomas has been out the past two weeks. Betts has also been terrible, but at least he's better than Chris Ivory.

WIDE RECEIVER
Deion Branch, Patriots
You don't trade for a guy and then not throw to him, right? Well, with the Patriots, who knows? I'll take my chances.

Danny Amendola, Rams
Mark Clayton is out for the year. Name another Rams receiver. Exactly.

Davone Bess, Dolphins
He's a favorite target of Chad Henne, which makes him a PPR machine.

Dexter McCluster, Chiefs
Dwayne Bowe? More like Dwayne Blowes. Yeah, I said it.

Nate Burleson, Lions
Megatron is banged up. Burleson is coming around. He'll get some looks.

TIGHT END
Marcedes Lewis, Jaguars
He has three scores in his last two games. He's still about 30 percent unowned. If he's available and you haven't picked him up yet, what's wrong with you?

Brandon Pettigrew, Lions
Tony Scheffler's nursing a concussion, and I expect BP to pick up the slack. Hill seems to look for him in the red zone. Just what we like to see.

DEFENSE
Falcons
Can you find another team that has two picks and a fumble recovery in each of its last four games? You can now.

Patriots
They got six picks the last two weeks, and it's not like Joe Flacco (this week's opponent) is tearing up the joint.

Buccaneers
They play the Saints this week. We've established the Saints are a mess. Good times.

KICKER
Nick Folk, Jets
Mark Sanchez is really great at getting the offense to the 15-yard-line or so. This is a good thing if you're a kicker. And it's not like the Broncos D is stout or anything.

Sebastian Janikowski, Raiders
As long as you're not worried about the swirling winds in San Fran, Seabass is a great option.

Ryan Succop, Chiefs -
All they do is kick field goals.

Garrett Hartley, Saints
After John Carney blew his chance, it looks like Hartley's the starter again, which may or may not be worth something ...

Randy Moss Trade Fallout

2010-10-06T21:09:41Z

Another day, another trade that affects many fantasy rosters. This one is a whopper, as WR Randy Moss is dealt back to his original team, the Vikings, for a third-round pick.

The winners are obviously Moss owners. He was in a bad situation in New England. He had no catches and barely got a look in Monday night's game. Minnesota is desperate for receivers, and you can bet Brett Favre will be throwing to him off the bat.

Other winners are Pats receivers Brandon Tate and Julian Edelman, who should see more looks. But they're no Randy Moss, and should be treated thusly. Might want to let things shake out a bit before you drop everything and pick one of them up.

Big loser: Well, all the Vikings receivers sucked anyway. But Visanthe Shiancoe may lose out the most. He was getting a ton of looks from Favre. Maybe this will free the field up for him more, but I'm leaning toward him getting lost in the shuffle. I hope I'm wrong, since I own the guy and have been big on him all year.

One side note: Randy Moss owners get an extra week of him, since the Vikings already had a bye week. Of course, he did last week, too, even though the Patriots played in Miami ...

Marshawn Lynch trade fallout

2010-10-05T21:29:43Z

As expected, the Buffalo Bills traded running back Marshawn Lynch to the Seattle Seahawks on Tuesday. While not significant, this will have an impact on a few peripheral fantasy players.

First, Bills rookie C.J. Spiller gets a vote of confidence as the RB of the future in Buffalo. He should become an every-week starter, especially as his confidence grows. I also think Fred Jackson gets a boost in value, at least until Spiller's putting up good enough numbers to take over the role of top back. But remember, this is one of the worst teams in the league, even if they did put up 30 points against New England two weeks ago. So temper any expectations for either running back.

In Seattle, Justin Forsett's stock should drop considerably. He has struggled in the featured back role, amassing just 215 yards in four games and failing to reach the end zone. You have to think Lynch will cut into his workload. Julius Jones, already barely on the fringe of the fantasy world, becomes all but obsolete barring injury.

Of course, it's not like Lynch was tearing up the league for the Bills. He only had 164 yards this season, and actually put up negative numbers in Week 4, running for just 8 yards and fumbling. But he did have back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in his first two years with the Bills, so maybe some of that fantasy magic will be tapped in his new role.

Week 5 Pickups

2010-10-05T18:55:51Z

There are some cardinal rules that a good fantasy football player always follows. You always get a top-tier running back in the first two rounds. You always handcuff that running back (make sure you draft their backup). You always wait until the last round or two to draft a kicker. And you always make sure your backup quarterback doesn't have the same bye week as your starter.

Well, I broke that final rule, drafting Tom Brady and Chad Henne - who both have Week 5 off. Way to go, Wood.

So, in case you're in the same boat as me - in desperate need of a serviceable QB, or any other position - here are some quality pickups for Week 5. Remember, do as I say, not as I do ...

]]> QUARTERBACK
David Garrard, Jaguars
He had a great game against the Colts last week, completing 17 of 22 passes and running for a score. The Buffalo is no Indianapolis. Of course, let's not talk about his eight points combined the two weeks before ...

Shaun Hill, Lions
I would actually be more comfortable with his counterpart this week, Sam Bradford. But Hill is more likely on the waiver wire than the Rams rookie phenom. I really think you'd be OK with either, though, as this should be a high-scoring affair.

Other guys I like:
Alex Smith, 49ers - He's a quality backup, but I hesitate this week against Philly.
Josh Freeman, Buccaneers - Ditto here against the Bengals, who have played surprisingly tough pass D all year.

RUNNING BACK
Mike Bell, Eagles
It's another thin week on the RB front, so we're going to do some injury speculation. LeSean McCoy fractured a rib in Sunday's loss to the Redskins, and while he hasn't yet been ruled out, I can't see him playing this week against San Fran. That would leave Bell as the logical choice to lead the backfield. With Michael Vick out and Kevin Kolb struggling, expect the Eagles to rely heavily on the run.

Ryan Torain, Redskins
Here's another injury fill-in that could be serviceable. Clinton Portis is most likely out with a groin injury. Torain produced 70 yards and a score in backup duty on Sunday. You do the math.

Danny Woodhead, Patriots
Here's the New England running back portion of the pickups section, as the position seems to bee a revolving door for fantasy points. I think Woodhead will get some run, and he's proved he can do something with it with scores the last two weeks. You know Bill Belichik loves guys with something to prove, and this undrafted Division II kid (who was cut by the Jets before the season) certainly fits the profile.

Other guys I kinda like:
Correll Buckhalter, Broncos - Well, I like him better than Laurence "11 carries for 5 yards" Maroney, that's for sure.
Fred Jackson, Bills - Looks like Marshawn Lynch is on his way out of town, so there will be some carries to go around.

WIDE RECEIVER
Roy Williams, Cowboys
I'm seeing him available in way more leagues than he should be. The Dez Bryant craze scared people off to start the season, and he was a little quiet before breaking out with 117 yards and a pair of scores in Week 3. Expect more of that as Tony Romo gains confidence in him. This offense is going to be good - eventually - and there will be plenty of catches to go around.

Kenny Britt, Titans
He's got TD catches in two straight games. And you can't help but think of "Flight of the Conchords" every time you say his name. "Britt." "Prey-sent." (What, is it just me?)

Danny Woodhead, Patriots
Did I mention he qualifies at receiver too in most leagues? As Pats fans would say: Wicked ahh-some.

Other guys I kinda like:
Mario Manningham, Giants - If he clears concussion tests and plays ...
Davone Bess, Dolphins - If you have room to stash him away for the bye week, I highly suggest you do so.

TIGHT END
Tony Moeaki, Chiefs
I told you last week to pick him up and stow him on the bench if you could. Now he's off a bye and playing the Colts, who are all sorts of banged up in their secondary. Got a TE on a bye? Go get him right now!

Benjamin Watson, Browns
He's averaging five catches a game the last three weeks. One of those has to eventually be in the end zone, even if it is Cleveland.

John Carlson, Seahawks
I swear, this guy is getting dropped every week in some league. Strangely, I never actually see anyone pick him up. Weird. Anyway, I think there are more Week 3s (61 yards and a TD) in the future than Week 4s (one catch for 15 yards). Just call it a hunch.

Other guys I kinda like:
Aaron Hernandez, Patriots - He didn't have a very good game on Monday, but neither did New England's other TE, Rob Gronkowski. I still like this guy better going forward.

DEFENSE
Bengals
They're my top choice in a week filled with good D matchups. Tampa Bay just doesn't move the ball, and it sounds like a running back by committee is in the works. Smells like some fumbles to me.

Falcons
When a team is playing against the Browns, you go out and get that effing defense!

Other guys I kinda like:
Rams and Lions - They play each other, and both are probably available. Neither team is that good, so you never know what could happen.

KICKER
Ryan Succop, Chiefs
Playing in a dome against a bad D usually leads to favorable fantasy days for a kicker.

John Carney, Saints
A week ago, the 46-year-old was sitting at home in San Diego, enjoying his NFL pension. After Garrett Hartley inexplicably blew a gimme FG in overtime, Carney got the call and promptly kicked three FGs for one of the best offenses in the league. As long as his leg doesn't fall off, he should be a good option.

Other guys I kinda like:
Jason Hanson, Lions - They play the Rams indoors ...
Josh Brown, Rams - They play the Lions indoors ...

Week 4 Fantasy Recap

2010-10-04T22:34:46Z

MVP
Terrell Owens, WR, Bengals
10 catches, 222 yards, 1 TD
The most impressive number is the 15 targets, meaning Carson Palmer - who has been struggling all year - is looking TO's way. I can see this as a wake-up call for the entire Cincy offense, and more big numbers coming soon.

All-Stars
Arian Foster, RB, Texans
He's gotta be the early favorite for fantasy MVP this season. His 187 total yards and two TDs (one rushing, one receiving) were stellar.

David Garrard, QB, Jaguars
Raise your hand if you thought he would be the top scoring quarterback this week. That's what I thought. Big win over the Colts, and a big day for Garrard, who completed 17 of 22 passes for 163 and two scores, and also ran one in. Solid.

Giants Defense
Not sure if you heard, but Jay Cutler got sacked a lot on Sunday night. Is it time to start playing any D against the Bears? Let's not go that far, but it's probably not a bad idea.

LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, Jets
Many people wrote him off after a sub-par year in San Diego. Big mistake. He's inching closer and closer to becoming the featured back for the Jets; 133 yards and two scores will only help his cause.

No Stars
Louis Murphy and Darius Heyward-Bey, WR, Raiders
I liked both of them as sleepers this week against Houston. Boy, was I wrong. Seven friggin' yards between them. Thanks fellas.

Eli Manning, QB, Giants
He had 195 passing yards, which isn't horrible. But those two fumbles are killers.

Ray Rice, RB, Ravens
We knew he was banged up coming in. After just 20 yards on the ground, he would've been better off not playing at all.

NFL Week 4: You Oughta Know

2010-10-02T14:47:13Z

Some things to take into consideration heading into Week 4 fantasy action. We'll start with the worst news and head down to better situations.

Pierre Thomas' status is in doubt after hurting his ankle. The Saints RB was limited in practice all week, and the signing of DeShawn Wynn is not a good sign. He is listed as the dreaded game-time decision.

Rams RB Steven Jackson is in the same boat with his groin injury. He practiced on Friday, but was limited. I'm not sure what to tell you with either, other than to check on Sunday for their status.

If either is playing, no matter how limited, you have to think of them as a must-start option unless you have serious RB depth.

]]> Add Fred Taylor (Patriots) to that list, although he is probably not on your starting list anyway. What this means is, if you are in need of RB help, go get BenJarvis Green-Ellis right now. He should be serviceable after a solid outing last week. Of course, this always comes with the caveat that nobody knows who will get the ball for New England ...

All signs point to Andre Johnson starting for the Texans. He was limited with an ankle injury last week and has been battling in practice all week. This is a situation where you just have to go with it and hope he doesn't tweak it early on. What are you going to do, bench your top pick?

Chargers RB Ryan Mathews took first-team snaps and should be a go. He sat last week, and the San Diego running game suffered. The rookie has yet to have a big game, and hopefully he'll be close to 100 percent.

Both of the Raiders' top WRs - Louis Murphy (collarbone) and Darius Heyward-Bey (groin) - are listed as questionable. Not sure what to tell you here. Somebody's gotta go out there. I liked Murphy as a spot start this week, and am having second thoughts. Advantage Zach Miller. I'm huge on this tight end, and he should get even more looks with the receivers dinged up.

Joseph Addai is questionable with a knee injury, which really sucks because he's the man with Donald Brown out for sure. I'd still roll with Addai, assuming he's going to play, but double check tomorrow morning.

The Jets confirmed earlier this week that Darrelle Revis is out. This is a blow to the Jets D, which is one of the best in the league. But you're still starting them against Buffalo, unless you want to roll the dice on a better matchup. It better be a good one, though.

Ray Rice, whose status was in doubt earlier this week, will definitely start in the Ravens backfield. Start him with confidence.

More updates Sunday morning as we get closer to kickoffs.

Fantasy Pickups Week 4 - Bye Week Beware

2010-09-28T18:16:16Z

Welcome to the first bye week of the NFL, just another pothole in the bumpy road to fantasy glory.

For your records, here are the Week 4 byes: Dallas, Kansas City, Minnesota, Tampa Bay. Please do me a favor and don't be the guy who starts three players on a bye this week.

You need bye week help? Wood feels your pain, and is here to help.

]]> QUARTERBACK
Mark Sanchez, Jets
Three TDs the past two weeks for the Sanchize. And he gets the Bills this week. Like taking candy from a baby ...

Kyle Orton, Broncos
The Broncos couldn't seem to get out of their own way against Indy on Sunday, but that shouldn't stop ol' Neckbeard from putting up his points. He's gone for 295 or more yards every week, topped out with 476 last week. It's a tough matchup with the Titans this week, but I would still expect Orton to get his. He's been clicking with every one of his WRs, which is a good sign going forward.

Other acceptable options:
Michael Vick, Eagles - If he's still there, you need a better league
Chad Henne, Dolphins - Coming off a 360-yard passing game, and the Pats D has been atrocious
Josh Freeman, Bucs - On a bye this week, but quietly putting together a pretty solid year

RUNNING BACK
BenJarvis Green-Ellis, Patriots
Listen, I'm sorry I keep recommending New England RBs. I'm not happy about it either. But there's fantasy value to be had, and somebody's gotta get it. Right? Right? BJGE looked pretty good after Fred Taylor hurt his toe. I'd like to confidently say he's the man in Beantown, but honestly, I just don't know. Still, there are probably not a whole lot of better RB options on your waiver wire right now.

Correll Buckhalter, Broncos
Here's another ugly time-share that is tough to predict, but could yield significant points. Denver brought in Laurence Maroney last week, and he looked ineffective at best. So there's still room to move. The key here is Knowshon Moreno's hamstring injury. If he's back, avoid everyone else (and probably avoid him, too). But if he's out, I think they'll give Buckhalter a shot. I mean, who else can they try?

John Kuhn, Packers
Not that a fullback is ever a good choice in fantasy. The Big Cheese could be an exception to the rule, though. He went for 51 total yards against the Bears, and the Lions are coming up. One thing we do know: Brandon Jackson is not the answer.

Other acceptable options:
Peyton Hillis, Browns - Man, I told you three weeks ago to pick this guy up, but did you listen? If he's still available, go get him right now!
Rashad Jennings, Jaguars - This is more for the future, but he could get some time against the Colts this week. Everybody runs on Indy.

WIDE RECEIVER
Louis Murphy, Raiders
He's getting 80 yards a game, which should only improve with Bruce Gradkowski under center. On a side note, does it seem like the Raiders start with a different QB every year, only to give up and go back to Gradkowski by the middle of the season? Just an observation ...

Mario Manningham, Giants
All this guy does is go up and gets balls! Wait, that didn't sound right. Anyway, you know what I mean. Eli Manning seems to have confidence in him. Maybe it's because their names are eerily similar. Then again, maybe not.

Brandon Lloyd, Broncos
This guy is second in the league in receiving yards. Who knew? The problem is his numbers have gone: 117, 53, 169. Not exactly the most consistent guy. And only one touchdown. But still, Orton seems to like him, and Denver's gonna throw. A lot. If Eddie Royal or Demariyus Thomas is available and you want to go that route, I got no beef.

Other acceptable options:
Roscoe Parrish, Bills - Somebody's gotta get some yards for Buffalo ... I think
Deion Branch, Seahawks - He had 60 yards, but woulda had a better day if he didn't fumble on the goal line; a trip to St. Louis cures all ills

TIGHT END
Aaron Hernandez, Patriots
He's like that little fish that swims behind sharks and picks off all the little bits of food the shark (in this case Randy Moss and Wes Welker) doesn't eat. Anyone else hungry right now?

Marcedes Lewis, Jaguars
After a great first two weeks, the luxury car of tight ends came back down to earth. Expect him to pick it back up this week.

Other acceptable options:
Tony Scheffler, Lions - He's like the white Brandon Pettigrew!
Brandon Pettigrew, Lions - He's like the black Tony Scheffler!
Tony Moeaki, Chiefs - On a bye week; keep an eye out, as Matt Cassel likes him

DEFENSE
San Diego
This was a highly ranked D to start the season which has yet to produce a whole lot. Enter the hapless Cardinals, who should provide plenty of sack/fumble fodder this week

Other acceptable options:
Atlanta - Hopefully the Niners don't wake up for another week; either way, this is a solid D
Cincinnati - Man, I wish my co-ed flag football team could play the Browns this week ...

KICKER
Matt Bryant, Falcons
Garrett Hartley, eat your heart out. This is the guy who made his overtime field goal to win the game on Sunday. I like him this week (against SF) and going forward as well, especially home in the dome.

Other acceptable options:
Mike Nugent, Bengals - Again, playing the Browns is a good thing
Matt Prater, Broncos - Denver's gonna score; we don't know much more than that, but we know they're gonna score

Week 3 Fantasy Recap

2010-09-27T22:21:34Z

MVP
Anquan Boldin, Ravens
There are a lot of choices this week. Lance Moore, Brandon Lloyd and Austin Collie had more yards, and Michael Vick scored more points - but none did it as efficiently, as Boldin scored three times on eight catches (and only 11 targets).

All-Stars
Austin Collie, WR, Colts
He led the league with 12 catches and 171 yards, adding a pair of TDs.

Lance Moore, WR, Saints
Six catches on seven targets is stellar; he also scored twice.

Adrian Peterson, RB, Vikings
We'll take 160 yards and two rushing TDs, but it was against the Lions ...

Michael Vick, QB, Eagles
There is no stopping this guy. Kevin who?

]]> No Stars
Carson Palmer, QB, Bengals
How can a guy with all these offensive weapons only throw for 195 yards?

Matt Schaub, QB, Texans
Some garbage time yards saved what was an otherwise horrendous afternoon against the Cowboys.

Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jaguars
Yeah, he had 88 yards. But he didn't sniff the end zone and needs to come up bigger as your top pick.

Andre Johnson, WR, Texans
Two out of three sub-par weeks is not cool. Is the ankle hurting more than he's leading on?

NFL Week 3 Fantasy Sanctions

2010-09-22T21:24:48Z

We've got two weeks of the NFL season under our collective belts, and we're finally learning a little more about who is going to have a solid year and who is worth dumping. For example, my great sleeper picks of Justin Forsett and Bernard Berrian - not so good. So let's see if we can't make some additions to bolster our squads. These aren't top dogs, but they should still be available in many leagues.

I hereby sanction these pickups for Week 3 - and beyond.

]]> Quarterbacks
Michael Vick, Eagles
If he's still on your league's waiver wire, run - don't walk - to pick him up. He's the starter in Philly for Week 3 and, presumably, beyond. And he's a big ball of fantasy juciness (is that a word?). He's got Jacksonville this week, and I would think long and hard about starting anyone else but the most elite of QBs if you own Vick.

Kyle Orton, Broncos
He threw for 300 yards and a pair of scores on Sunday, and seems to be quite comfortable with his Denver receivers. It should be a shootout with Indy this week, and the Colts secondary is banged up.

Matt Hasselbeck, Seahawks
His four interceptions might scare some away, but he will put up yards and a few scores against the Chargers. And yes, he'll force a few passes and probably get picked at least once. But if you're still in need of a QB, you could do worse.

Other sanctioned QB options: Mark Sanchez, Jets; Shaun Hill, Lions

Running Back
Jason Snelling, Falcons
I don't care if Michael Turner is back from a groin injury. This guy had value last year as a backup and he'll have value this year. Maybe not this week against the Saints, but in the near future. Mark it, dude.

Mike Tolbert, Chargers
He's apparently the man in goal-line situations, which will be plentiful for the San Diego offense. It's telling that Norv Turner leaned on Tolbert, and not Darren Sproles, when Ryan Mathews went down last week.

Peyton Hillis, Browns
He's more efficient and more productive than Jerome Harrison, or pretty much any other Browns RB. He's got TDs in the first two games, and should get some more carries going forward.

Willis McGahee, Ravens
Another goal-line vulture who should have plenty of chances with the Browns on the slate this week. Ray Rice fans everywhere just cringed.

Marshawn Lynch, Bills
He took most of the carries last week, and trade rumors mean he could find himself in a better offense soon. Yes, Buffalo sucks, but someone's gotta get some points on that team ... right?

Other sanctioned RB options: Donald Brown, Colts; Fred Taylor, Patriots

Wide Receivers
Santana Moss, Redskins
No, he hasn't found the end zone yet this year. But he's averaging eight catches a game and Donovan McNabb has found a connection with him. Expect bigger and better things going forward, and grab him now if you still can.

Demariyus Thomas, Broncos
How's that for a debut! No, he's probably not going to get 97 and a score every week, but the rookie definitely showed some talent. I'd roll the dice on something close to that this week against Indy.

Michael Crabtree, 49ers
He has not produced near what everyone expected in his second year. And he doesn't seem to be on the same page with QB Alex Smith. I'm still on his bandwagon, though, and I think he'll work his way into the offense. He was hurt all offseason, so give him a chance to get back in the swing of the offense.

Other sanctioned WR options: Louis Murphy, Raiders; Devin Hester, Bears

Tight Ends
Dustin Keller, Jets
He went for 115 and a TD last week, and with the Braylon Edwards DUI mess meaning a thin receiving corps, Keller should be a big target for MarK Sanchez this week.

Owen Daniels, Texans
It seems everyone's getting into the fantasy act in Houston. Daniels was having a great year before getting hurt midway through last season.

Other sanctioned TE options: Marcedes Lewis, Jaguars; Heath Miller, Steelers

Defense
Redskins
They had a great opener, holding Dallas to a lone touchdown, before getting railroaded by the Texans last week. Look for the 'Skins to bounce back against the sorry Rams.

Other sanctioned D options: Patriots, Cardinals, Titans

Kicker
Jay Feely, Cardinals
Arizona's got to figure out this scoring thing at some point, right? Look for them to get right - and give Feely some chances - against Oakland this week.

Other sanctioned K options: Jon Kasay, Panthers; Jeff Reed, Steelers