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        <title>The Fantasy Factor</title>
        <link>http://blogs.suntimes.com/fantasysports/</link>
        <description>Your daily resource for fantasy sports information.</description>
        <language>en</language>
        <copyright>Copyright 2009</copyright>
        <lastBuildDate>Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:46:16 -0600</lastBuildDate>
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            <title>Will You Accept Maurice Jones-Drew&apos;s Apology? </title>
            <description><![CDATA[<p>I hate to use this as a vehicle for saying something stupid like "Now fantasy football has finally arrived!" because, let's be honest, fantasy football is probably more popular than real hockey at this point.  But you have to admit, this story is pretty cool.</p>

<p>Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew was lauded for making a heads up play on Sunday by taking a dive to let the clock run out instead of scoring a meaningless touchdown. Teammates, coaches, announcers...they were all singing Jones-Drew's praises. But what about fantasy owners? Shades of Brian Westbrook, eh? I can only imagine MJD owners who lost by a few points this week can't be happy. </p>

<p>Jones-Drew, of course, foresaw all of this this. So after the game, <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/recap?gid=20091115020">he issued an apology</a> to his fantasy owners.</p>

<blockquote>"Sorry to my fantasy owners," Jones-Drew deadpanned. "I apologize. I had myself today. It was a tough call, but whatever it takes to get the victory, that's what counts."</blockquote>

<p>What a fantastic quote. I have MJD in my biggest league, and I couldn't be happier with him. I did win by double-digits this week, though. Maybe I wouldn't be so kind if he screwed me over.</p>]]></description>
            <link>http://blogs.suntimes.com/fantasysports/2009/11/will_you_accept_maurice_jones-.html</link>
            <guid>http://blogs.suntimes.com/fantasysports/2009/11/will_you_accept_maurice_jones-.html</guid>
            
            
            <pubDate>Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:46:16 -0600</pubDate>
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            <title>Sunday Stars -- Week 9</title>
            <description><![CDATA[<p><strong>1) RB Chris Johnson - Titans</strong><br />
Vs. Bills</p>

<p>It appears we have a bit of a misunderstanding here. As I explained a few weeks ago, that "Running backs to like" feature isn't a "sit or start" thing, more of an "expect this dude to go ballistic" thing. And, how 'bout it, Johnson did indeed go crazy on Sunday.</p>

<p>132 yards rushing, 100 yards receiving, two touchdowns. Not surprising but surely impressive. If these numbers hold up, we're going to have a hell of a debate on our hands for the 2010 No. 1 overall pick between Johnson and Adrian Peterson.</p>

<p><br />
</p>]]></description>
            <link>http://blogs.suntimes.com/fantasysports/2009/11/sunday_stars_--_week_9.html</link>
            <guid>http://blogs.suntimes.com/fantasysports/2009/11/sunday_stars_--_week_9.html</guid>
            
            
            <pubDate>Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:14:35 -0600</pubDate>
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            <title>Running backs to like in Week 9</title>
            <description><![CDATA[<p><strong>1) Chris Johnson - Titans</strong><br />
Vs. Bills</p>

<p>"Man crush" is such a terrible term, isn't it? As such, I need to find another way to describe my love for Chris Johnson, so let's just go with "I think he's the coolest running back in the NFL". Is that good?</p>

<p>Johnson has been a tear lately, and this will only continue at home against Buffalo on Sunday. The Bills can't stop the run. By that I mean, they are <em>the worst</em> team in the league at this particular aspect of football. Buffalo gives up 173 yards per game on the ground. Johnson averages 120 yards per game. </p>

<p>I smell lots and lots of yards, and a touchdown or two.</p>]]></description>
            <link>http://blogs.suntimes.com/fantasysports/2009/11/running_back_to_like_in_week_9.html</link>
            <guid>http://blogs.suntimes.com/fantasysports/2009/11/running_back_to_like_in_week_9.html</guid>
            
            
            <pubDate>Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:40:47 -0600</pubDate>
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            <title>Sunday Stars -- Week 8</title>
            <description><![CDATA[<p><strong>1) Kurt Warner -- Cardinals</strong><br />
Vs. Bears</p>

<p>Not that I need to repeat these numbers to you, Chicago, but just for fun, let's take another look at at just how bad Warner torched the Bears on Sunday: 260 yards, five touchdowns, no interceptions. Feel free to start playing defense whenever, Bears.</p>

<p>Warner's big day now places him in a tie for third for touchdown passes with 16. He hasn't been as good as last year, but Warner is still more than an adequate fantasy quarterback. Expect his numbers to continue to go up as receiver Anquan Boldin should be ready to return to the Arizona lineup.</p>]]></description>
            <link>http://blogs.suntimes.com/fantasysports/2009/11/sunday_stars_--_week_8_1.html</link>
            <guid>http://blogs.suntimes.com/fantasysports/2009/11/sunday_stars_--_week_8_1.html</guid>
            
            
            <pubDate>Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:37:24 -0600</pubDate>
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            <title>Ryan Moats? Save your energy.</title>
            <description><![CDATA[<p>The breakout fantasy star of Week 8? It's got to be Houston running back Ryan Moats, who took advantage of Steve Slaton's incurable case of fumble-itis to rescue the Texans in Buffalo. Moats' final line was shocking: 126 yards, three touchdowns. Not bad for a five year veteran with just one 100 yard day in his entire career.</p>

<p>So now everyone should rush to their computer and pick up Moats, right? Well, not exactly.</p>

<p>First, consider the opponent: the Bills are woeful at stopping the run. This week's enemy, the Colts, are just a tad bit better than Dick Jauron's bunch. </p>

<p>It's not like the Texans have committed to Moats, either. Coach Gary Kubiak seems set to deploy a running back carousel including Moats, Slaton, and local product Chris Brown. </p>

<p>All of this is to say don't expect Ryan Moats to score two more touchdowns again this week. With a bye week coming after the Colts game, Moats probably isn't worth your time. </p>]]></description>
            <link>http://blogs.suntimes.com/fantasysports/2009/11/ryan_moats_save_your_energy.html</link>
            <guid>http://blogs.suntimes.com/fantasysports/2009/11/ryan_moats_save_your_energy.html</guid>
            
            
            <pubDate>Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:11:10 -0600</pubDate>
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            <title>Sunday Stars -- Week 7</title>
            <description><![CDATA[<p><strong>1) RB Chris Johnson -- Titans</strong><br />
Vs. Jags</p>

<p>Vince Young will probably grab the headlines in Nashville, but he maybe had 1 percent as much to do with the Titans' first victory of the season as his running back did. We throw around the "he's like a video game player!" tag too much these days, but really, Chris Johnson is awesome. Dude may be the fastest running back I've ever seen. </p>

<p>Did you see his highlights from Sunday? If not, check them out after the jump. The clips are even more impressive than the numbers, and the numbers (228 yards rushing, two touchdowns) were about as good as anything we've seen this year.</p>]]></description>
            <link>http://blogs.suntimes.com/fantasysports/2009/11/sunday_stars_--_week_7_1.html</link>
            <guid>http://blogs.suntimes.com/fantasysports/2009/11/sunday_stars_--_week_7_1.html</guid>
            
            
            <pubDate>Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:59:43 -0600</pubDate>
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            <title>Is this the week Matt Forte breaks out? Of course it is.</title>
            <description><![CDATA[<p>Fantasy bust of the season? Matt Forte, no doubt about it. Of course, since I'm writing this entry from Chicago, this news doesn't come as a surprise to anyone. Forte's struggles have been just as frustrating to fantasy owners as they have been to Bears fans. The Bears were expecting their second-year back to turn into one of the best runners in the league. Fantasy owners were counting on the same thing. Forte was a consensus top five pick in most fantasy leagues. Those owners can't be happy now.</p>

<p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><a href="http://blogs.suntimes.com/fantasysports/forte1.JPG"><img alt="forte1.JPG" src="http://blogs.suntimes.com/fantasysports/assets_c/2009/10/forte1-thumb-450x315-12856.jpg" width="450" height="315" class="mt-image-center" style="text-align: center; display: block; margin: 0 auto 20px;" /></a></span></p>

<p>There are many reasons for this, of course. The Bears are throwing more - and, as a Bears fan, I contend it's still not enough. The offensive line is also putrid. Forte is getting less chances, and they're worse chances. It doesn't look he'll break out of this funk any time soon.</p>

<p>Besides for this week, that is. The Cleveland Browns are the vaccine that cures all. </p>

<p>The Browns will enter Sunday as the second worst unit in the league when it comes to defending the run.  Backs are averaging 4.9 yards per carry against them, to the tune of over 170 yards per game.</p>

<p>You may remember that it hasn't been all bad for Forte this season. He was actually quite good against the cringe-worthy Lions in Week Four, rushing for 121 yards and a touchdown on just 12 carries. The Lions are currently the 13th worst team against the run. Again, Cleveland is the second worst.</p>

<p>So, yeah: start Matt Forte on Sunday, and watch him (probably) run wild. At this point, he owes you.</p>]]></description>
            <link>http://blogs.suntimes.com/fantasysports/2009/10/is_this_the_week_matt_forte_br.html</link>
            <guid>http://blogs.suntimes.com/fantasysports/2009/10/is_this_the_week_matt_forte_br.html</guid>
            
            
            <pubDate>Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:10:29 -0600</pubDate>
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            <title>Sunday Stars -- Week 7</title>
            <description><![CDATA[<p><strong>1) WR Miles Austin - Cowboys</strong><br />
Vs. Falcons</p>

<p>Without question, Austin has been the waiver wire pickup of the year thus far. If you've had him during his last two games, you've probably won.</p>

<p>Austin broke onto the scene in Week 5 with 10 catches for 250 yards and two touchdowns against Kansas City. During the bye week he replaced the ever-steady Patrick Crayton as a starter, and Austin proved his worth once again. Against a shoddy Falcons pass defense, Austin put up big stats: two more touchdowns, 171 yards, six catches. </p>

<p>At this point, Austin has become a must-start every week.</p>]]></description>
            <link>http://blogs.suntimes.com/fantasysports/2009/10/sunday_stars_--_week_7.html</link>
            <guid>http://blogs.suntimes.com/fantasysports/2009/10/sunday_stars_--_week_7.html</guid>
            
            
            <pubDate>Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:58:29 -0600</pubDate>
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            <title>Oh hey, Lance Moore is back</title>
            <description><![CDATA[<p>If you drafted New Orleans wide receiver Lance Moore and still have him sitting somewhere on your bench, congratulations. You're about to be rewarded handsomely.</p>

<p>Moore, of course, was one of the breakout stars of fantasy football '08. In the absence of Marquis Colston, Moore burst onto the fantasy scene, catching 79 passes for nearly 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns. Every year a fantasy league is swung by a major waiver wire pickup, and last year was the year of Lance Moore.</p>

<p>This year, Moore has been hampered by injuries, and he hasn't been very productive. Through the first five weeks, he had just three catches for 39 yards and no touchdowns. But Moore was apparently feeling better after the Saints bye week in Week 5, and it showed against the Giants: Moore caught six passes for 78 yards and a touchdown. Welcome back, man.</p>

<p>Yahoo!'s Brad Evans<a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/fantasy/blog/roto_arcade/post/Flames-Lames-Jonathan-Stewart-will-slather-Bill?urn=fantasy,197639#remaining-content"> summed it up perfectly</a>:</p>

<blockquote>Obviously, Colston is Drew Brees'(notes) main flame, but in the Saints' seemingly unstoppable spread-the-wealth attack he should continue to net at least 6-9 targets per contest. Miami has performed marginally against the pass allowing the seventh-most 20-yard pass plays. Throw in the Fins' inflexibility up front, and Moore could be a vertical slayer on South Beach. </blockquote>

<p>Moore should make another big impact on Sunday.</p>]]></description>
            <link>http://blogs.suntimes.com/fantasysports/2009/10/oh_hey_lance_moore_is_back.html</link>
            <guid>http://blogs.suntimes.com/fantasysports/2009/10/oh_hey_lance_moore_is_back.html</guid>
            
            
            <pubDate>Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:26:49 -0600</pubDate>
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            <title>Fantasy Factor official fantasy baseball league -- final results</title>
            <description><![CDATA[<p>I know we're all knee-deep in fantasy football at the moment, but I want to take a second to thank everyone who participated in the first ever Fantasy Factor fantasy baseball league this summer. The final standings are after the jump...<br />
</p>]]></description>
            <link>http://blogs.suntimes.com/fantasysports/2009/10/fantasy_factor_official_fantas.html</link>
            <guid>http://blogs.suntimes.com/fantasysports/2009/10/fantasy_factor_official_fantas.html</guid>
            
            
            <pubDate>Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:06:39 -0600</pubDate>
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            <title>Sunday Stars -- Week 6</title>
            <description><![CDATA[<p><strong>1) QB Tom Brady - Patriots</strong><br />
Vs. Titans</p>

<p>Greatest fantasy quarter of all-time? Probably. By throwing five touchdown passes in the second quarter in the snow against the lifeless Titans, Brady set a new NFL record and gave fantasy owners everywhere a reason to celebrate. Brady has been a bit of a disappointment in the fantasy world thus far, so hopefully this will get him going and he'll be able to sustain this success. </p>

<p>Also, any quarterback looks like a strong start against Tennessee right now. My how have the mighty have fallen. Not every NFL QB is Tom Brady, of course, but seriously, that was some of the worst coverage I've ever seen on Sunday. That secondary is Grade-A terrible.<br />
</p>]]></description>
            <link>http://blogs.suntimes.com/fantasysports/2009/10/sunday_stars_--_week_6.html</link>
            <guid>http://blogs.suntimes.com/fantasysports/2009/10/sunday_stars_--_week_6.html</guid>
            
            
            <pubDate>Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:23:22 -0600</pubDate>
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            <title>Running backs to like in Week 6</title>
            <description><![CDATA[<p><strong>1) Rashard Mendenhall - Steelers</strong><br />
Vs. Browns</p>

<p>It seems like there are more terrible teams than normal this year. Bill Simmons <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmonsnflpicks/091016">broke it down</a> in his column at ESPN.com today.</p>

<blockquote>St. Louis (The King of Crappy); Oakland (Queen Crappy); Cleveland and Buffalo (the Duke and Duchess of Crappy); and Kansas City, Carolina, Washington, Tennessee (the Lords of Crappy).</blockquote>

<p>In fantasy, whenever you can start a guy against one of these teams - and let's not forget to throw Detroit in there, either - go for it. Expect big things. </p>

<p>As such, you start Rashard Mendenhall this week.</p>

<p>Mendenhall is hot as any back in football. He has three touchdowns in his last two games and has averaged over five yards per carry in each. Throw in a Browns defense that is the league's worst when it comes to stopping the run, and it's not hard to see another big game for Mendenhall. <br />
</p>]]></description>
            <link>http://blogs.suntimes.com/fantasysports/2009/10/running_backs_to_like_in_week_3.html</link>
            <guid>http://blogs.suntimes.com/fantasysports/2009/10/running_backs_to_like_in_week_3.html</guid>
            
            
            <pubDate>Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:37:00 -0600</pubDate>
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            <title>Please welcome back Mike Sims-Walker from exile</title>
            <description><![CDATA[<p>Jacksonville wideout Mike Sims-Walker was making a claim for waiver wire pickup of the year. After going catch-less in Week 1, Sims-Walker exploded: he went for 278 yards and three touchdowns the next three games. </p>

<p>Last week, he was a late scratch against the Seahawks. Fantasy owners everywhere were caught off guard. Apparently, so was the rest of the Jacksonville offense. The Jags got blown out 41-0. Why didn't Sims-Walker play?</p>

<p>As you may imagine, the story is <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Report-Sims-Walker-missed-bed-check-if-you-c?urn=nfl,196080">kind of awesome</a>:</p>

<blockquote>Sims-Walker reportedly missed bed check this past Friday night due to "a late-night rendezvous with a lady friend," the Florida Times-Union reports. As a result, he was deactivated for Week 5's loss to the Seahawks.</blockquote>

<p><a href="http://www.midwestsportsfans.com/2009/10/dealing-with-mike-sims-walker/">Should we forgive Sims-Walker</a>? I guess it depends on if you started him, and if you lost.</p>

<p>Sims-Walker is back from exile this week, and he looks like a strong start. After all, the Jags are going up against the Rams, and anyone who goes up against the Rams looks like a strong start. So - barring another unforeseen late-night rendezvous - it looks like Sims-Walker should be the starting lineup, both for the Jags and your fantasy team.<br />
</p>]]></description>
            <link>http://blogs.suntimes.com/fantasysports/2009/10/please_welcome_back_mike_sims-.html</link>
            <guid>http://blogs.suntimes.com/fantasysports/2009/10/please_welcome_back_mike_sims-.html</guid>
            
            
            <pubDate>Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:30:21 -0600</pubDate>
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            <title>Sunday Stars -- Week 5</title>
            <description><![CDATA[<p><strong>1. WR Roddy White - Falcons</strong><br />
@ San Francisco </p>

<p>Dallas' Miles Austin actually put up better numbers - Austin finished with 10 catches, 250 yards, and two touchdowns - but White gets the nod because people actually, you know, start him in fantasy football. </p>

<p>Watching Matt Ryan and White tear up the San Francisco defense was a thing of beauty if you own them in fantasy. Let's just hope it doesn't happen next week against the Bears. </p>

<p>White started off this season slow, so it's good to see him finally break out. The first three games this year he only had 119 yards receiving and one touchdown. Against the 49ers alone he went for 210 yards and two touchdowns. This could be the start of something big for White and the Atlanta offense. </p>]]></description>
            <link>http://blogs.suntimes.com/fantasysports/2009/10/sunday_stars_--_week_5.html</link>
            <guid>http://blogs.suntimes.com/fantasysports/2009/10/sunday_stars_--_week_5.html</guid>
            
            
            <pubDate>Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:26:37 -0600</pubDate>
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            <title>On Crabtree and Braylon...</title>
            <description><![CDATA[<p>I know a thing or two about disappointing wide receivers. My fantasy team is rolling this year (the league's lone 4-0 team, thank you very much), but my receivers haven't been much help. After a stellar Week 1, Roy Williams has been garbage. "Garbage" is probably too nice of a word to describe my other starting receiver, Denver's Eddie Royal. </p>

<p>Two more underachieving wideouts made news this week when Braylon Edwards got traded and Michael Crabtree finally decided to accept lots of money and go to work.</p>

<p>What can we expect from them fantasy wise? Probably not much.</p>

<p>Here's RotoArcade's Scott Pianowski on <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/fantasy/blog/roto_arcade/post/2-on-2-Braylon-drops-in-New-Jersey-Crabtree-si?urn=fantasy,194593#remaining-content">Edwards to the Jets</a>.</p>

<blockquote>But let's remember why in-season deals are so infrequent in the NFL - it's very tricky to head to a new club and learn a new scheme, especially on offense. Roy Williams was liberated from Detroit 12 months ago and turned into a monstrous flop for the Cowboys. For all the fantasy hope that Edwards will be reinvigorated by a different city and a winning club, we also have to consider that chemistry with Mark Sanchez won't happen overnight. </blockquote>

<p>Word. And even if Braylon and Sanchez do develop chemistry in a timely fashion, Edward will probably just, you know, drop the passes. </p>

<p>Crabtree's case is even more dire. Rookie receivers struggle in the NFL about 95 percent of the time. Crabtree was a great prospect, but he's missed oh so much time this season. Even a super prospect like Calvin Johnson wasn't great as a rookie, and that was with an entire training camp, preseason, ect.</p>

<p>Crabtree and Edwards could get back on track next season, just don't expect too much from them in 2009.</p>]]></description>
            <link>http://blogs.suntimes.com/fantasysports/2009/10/on_crabtree_and_braylon.html</link>
            <guid>http://blogs.suntimes.com/fantasysports/2009/10/on_crabtree_and_braylon.html</guid>
            
            
            <pubDate>Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:00:20 -0600</pubDate>
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