With it being the start of awards season and all, I decided we should nominate our own Fantasy Football Awards which YOU can vote on. I’ll nominate 4 per category and YOU can pick a 5th. The player mentioned the most in the comments section, and on Twitter & Facebook combined will be added to the category. We’ll announce the winners after Week 16. So without further ado…*drum roll*
Comeback Player of the Year
– Rob Gronkowski
– Arian Foster
– Jeremy Maclin
– Randall Cobb
Biggest Draft Bust
– Adrian Peterson
– Jimmy Graham
– Montee Ball
– Toby Gerhart
Breakout Player of the Year
– Justin Forsett
– CJ Anderson
– Ryan Tannehill
– Mike Evans
Steal of the Draft
– Antonio Gates
– Lamar Miller
– Tom Brady
– Kelvin Benjamin
Most Valuable Fantasy Player
– Andrew Luck
– Aaron Rodgers
– DeMarco Murray
– LeVeon Bell
Again, don’t forget to nominate your own player for each category in the comments section, on Twitter or on Facebook! We’ll open voting for the winners in Week 16.
Quick Hits
The last time the Broncos played the Chargers, CJ Anderson had just one carrie while Ronnie Hillman was rushing for 109 yards and catching 3 passes for 29 yards. For the last 5 weeks, Anderson has recorded either 100 yards rushing or a touchdown. He’s averaging 131 yards on the ground his past 3 games and has accumulated 5 touchdowns in that span. The Broncos have proven they can scheme a run game against the Chargers but expect more of Anderson’s production to come through the air this weekend. You’ll likely be fist bumping your buddy like these two refs did when Anderson scored last week.
Though neither receiver’s team won over the weekend, AJ Green and Julio Jones certainly helped their fantasy owners with big victories when it mattered most. Green caught 11 passes on 15 targets for 224 yard and 1 TD while Jones caught the same number of passes for 259 yards and a touchdown against Green Bay. It is worth noting that with his last performance, Jones is now the all-time leader in receiving yards per game with 88.6, surpassing Calvin Johnson’s 88. With a league leading 1,428 receiving yards this season, Jones would need to average 179 yards in his final 3 games to take Megatron’s single-season record.
Did you survive Peyton Manning’s 173 yards and 2 interceptions performance? There were casualties, but be glad if you weren’t one of them. Manning should bounce back nicely against a Chargers defense that is allowing 272 yards and 2.6 touchdowns per game to competent quarterbacks. Drew Brees owners should feel better this weekend as well. The Bears are giving up 301 yards and 2.9 touchdowns to quarterbacks not named Teddy Bridgewater. So get PUMPED!!!
Feel free to ask questions on Facebook or Twitter through out the weekend! Good luck.
Feels like just yesterday we were drafting our teams. Some of you probably thought you were sneaky, taking Maurice Jones Drew in the late rounds. Others probably couldn’t believe they got Rob Gronkowski in the 4th round. And everybody who drafted Andrew Luck is likely bragging about where they picked him, right?
Then you had 13 weeks to tinker and toy with your lineup. Early on, it was adding Steve Smith Sr. for Eric Decker, Dwayne Allen for Jordan Reed, and Justin Forsett for Knowshon Moreno.
In October you saw Branden Oliver added for CJ Spiller, Odell Beckham Jr. for Victor Cruz, and Denard Robinson for Adrian Peterson.
And when it mattered most down the stretch, CJ Anderson for Ronnie Hillman, Jarvis Landry for Larry Percy Harvin, and Kenny Stills for Larry Fitzgerald.
So what do you do to have the edge in the playoffs?
You have your players that have been reliable all year and got you where you are, but you can always add help every week.
Colts RB – Daniel “Boom” Herron: Even after fumbling twice the last two weeks, the Colts are committed to running with Boom Herron. Herron has picked up where Ahmad Bradshaw left off by making Trent Richardson look sillier and averaging 7.65 yards per carry since Ahmad Bradshaw went on IR.
Washington TE – Jordan Reed: I mentioned it a week ago, and I was right. Jordan Reed is a better player when RGIII isn’t throwing to him. Colt McCoy gets the start last Sunday and Reed catches 9 passes on 11 targets for 123 yards. If you’re in need of a tight end or Julius Thomas’s status is making you pull your hair out, pickup Reed.
Panthers RB – Jonathan Stewart: DeAngello Williams has a broken hand. Broken hand or not, Jonathan Stewart was running better than Williams anyway. Stewart gained 110 yards total (85 rushing, 25 receiving) against the Vikings defense on Sunday. Even with a 3-8-1 record, the Panthers are in the playoff hunt and establishing some kind of illusion of a run game will be key if they want to steal the horrible NFC South.
Colts WR – Donte Moncrief: The word out of Indianapolis is that Donte Moncrief has surpassed Hakeem Nicks for the #3 receiver role. He’s a boom or bust type of player much like Terrance Williams was for Dallas in the first half of the season, but Reggie Wayne’s production is sloping the wrong way. 134 yards and 2 touchdowns on 3 catches last week makes Moncrief very attractive for more Andrew Luck targets and for you to grab him if he’s available.
Quick Hits
Ryan Fitzpatrick…WHA-HAPPENED? One minute, the “bearded one” was being benched for Ryan Mallett. The next he’s throwing 6 touchdown passes. This is the same Fitz-Beard that averaged an INT per game, and couldn’t find Andre Johnson in the end zone (he did on Sunday). It seems head coach Bill O’Brien has taken off the training wheels finally and airing it out. DeAndre Hopkins had 9 catches for 239 yards and 2 TDs while JJ Watt caught his 3rd off the season. They won’t be playing stats padding Titans again, but they will see the Jaguars this weekend for more air-time.
Can we talk about the Rams? They only have 5 wins this year, and really that could have them first in the abysmal NFC South. 3 of those 5 wins have come against playoff contenders (Broncos, Seahawks, 49ers) and they just beat the Raiders 52-0. For a team decimated by injuries, they sure don’t act like it. Stedman Bailey (another guy to pick up for your playoff run) has emerged as Shaun Hill’s go-to receiver with 12 catches, 189 yards and a TD on 15 targets the past two weeks. Bailey had 100 yards in the first quarter alone against the Raiders. And Tre Mason just scored 3 touchdowns (2 rush, 1 rec.). He may have just scored again on the Raiders, I’m not sure.
And bouncing back from having his winning streak snapped, Tom Brady catapults himself to MVP frontrunner…of commercials. That mullet is…beautiful.
And now for YOU time.
DB Moenning on Facebook: “Got two burning Flex spot questions for you. Pick 1: Keenan Allen or Giovani Bernard. Fred Jackson or Denard Robinson.”
Normally I lean toward running backs in this situation for guaranteed touches. Before his injury, Gio Bernard would have been a no-brainer. But since returning, the Bengals have given the starter reigns to Jeremy Hill, as well as the red zone carries. I could see them riding whoever the hot hand is against the Steelers…The Phillip Rivers target machine Keenan Allen is finally making the most of his opportunities. 3 touchdowns in his last 2 games (3x his total before then) and coming off an 11 catch 121 performance against Baltimore. The Packers 3rd WR just put up similar numbers against the Patriots and that’s why I like Allen better than Gio this week.
For your second conundrum, I like Denard Robinson better and here’s why. While Fred Jackson dispelled the running-back-by-committee approach for the Bills last weekend, he’s running into a buzz saw that is the Broncos run defense. The D-line has found their groove, and allowed Jamaal Charles just 59 yards total (35 rush, 24 rec.). The Bills have a defense that could prevent the Broncos from getting out to a crazy early lead that has forced most teams to give up on the run, but I’m not necessarily counting on it…Shoelace has had a tough go the last two weeks, and it’s mostly been because of game-flow circumstances. The Jaguars had to come back from a 20 point deficit in the first half last week and that helped Marqise Lee out more than Robinson. They should have better luck with time of possession early on against the Texans defense and that bodes well for Robinson, who even got some effective Wildcat plays against the Giants.
Ryan Ricci on Facebook: “Larry Donnell or Jordan Reed?”
As I mentioned earlier, Colt McCoy throwing to Jordan Reed only means good things. Tight ends are what makes McCoy tick. If he’s healthy, go with Reed…I really don’t get Larry Donnell. I think some the occasional drop in his numbers is because the Giants OL can’t handle pass rushers without him blocking. He has a solid matchup against the Titans this week though. If Reed can’t go, Donnell will be a decent play in his place.
Craig Bucy on Facebook: “Romo or Tannehill?”
Tony Romo had a tough one last week. He’s dealing with a bad back but seemed to have a weekly routine to rest it. Romo throws 4 touchdowns in Week 12, goes just 3 days without taking a hit, and he has his worst game of the season. A full week with his regular routine against the Bears secondary may be the bounce back Romo needs. He threw 3 touchdowns against Chicago the last time he traveled to Soldier Field and the Bears are allowing 326.4 yards per game to competent quarterbacks (Stafford, Rodgers x2, Brady, Ryan)…Tannehill has good matchup against Baltimore, but Romo will be your guy.
Sam Kalmar on Facebook: “Terrance Williams or Malcom Floyd? Any potential waiver pickups suggestions welcome also.”
Terrance Williams has really fallen off in the last month. He started off hot and then Dez Bryant, Jason Witten, and DeMarco Murray stopped sharing the targets from Romo. Bryant and Witten will benefit the most against the Bears soft press defense this weekend. Malcom Floyd would have been a nice play if he wasn’t going to draw Darrelle Revis or Brandon Browner….I would recommend either Donte Moncrief or Stedman Bailey who I mentioned either, as well as Robert Woods who has emerged as a startable WR thanks to #OrtonMagic and a beat up Sammy Watkins.
I’ll be on a work trip in Phoenix till Sunday, but feel free to keep asking questions on either Facebook or Twitter.
Let us know what you’re thankful for by tweeting by tweeting at @Mike_Piff03 with #PiffsGiving.
And now we’re just ONE WEEK away from the playoffs…that is, if you’re in a normal league. Because nobody in their right mind should leave their Fantasy Championship up to Week 17 when players get rested.
Quick Hits
Ever since he made his debut in Week 5, Odell Beckham Jr. has been a human highlight reel. You’ve seen the catch and all the memes that followed (Kelvin Benjamin was not that impressed). He’s also a target machine. In the last 4 weeks, Eli Manning has looked ODB‘s way for 11 targets per game and he’s catching nearly 8 of those passes per outing. Shouldn’t be any different when the Giants see Jacksonville this weekend.
There are some performances from this season that make you think “These guys are playing Madden on Easy Mode.” Latavius Murray was that guy last week – 112 yards, 2 touchdowns…4 carries. Murray suffered the first concussion of his football playing career but looks to be on track to play against St. Louis this weekend. If he’s available in your league, change that.
Your Thanksgiving Football Schedule is a triple header of conference rivalry games. The Bears head to Detroit to keep their playoff dreams alive. Jay Cutler is 7-4 against the Lions for his career, throwing 15 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, and 2,389 yards for a 91.7 Quarterback Rating…The Cowboys host the Eagles with Tony Romo coming off 7 touchdowns in 2 games. Philadelphia’s defense, while they are fantasy scoring maniacs, are allowing 300 yards to opposing quarterbacks in 4 of their last 5 games…And the night cap will be a fun one as the Seahawks travels to San Francisco. Russell Wilson is averaging 70 rush yards per game since Week 5 and throws the ball a little too. Check out this Kansas City Shuffle move he put on Patrick Peterson and the Cardinals defense. “Everybody looks left, and you…”
Sam Kalmar on Facebook: “Larry Fitzgerald or Kelvin Benjamin?…And in need of a TE (assuming Julius Thomas is out) Ertz, Reed, Paul, anyone?”
Nobody sounds very confident that Larry Fitzgerald is going to go this week, but I would still go with Kelvin Benjamin regardless. We’re already seeing some early seedlings of a wide receiver rivalry between Benjamin and Odell Beckham, and really we’re all better for it. Benjamin ranks 5th in target percentage in the league and he is clear and away Cam Newton’s favorite target around the end zone. Panthers receivers have caught 10 touchdowns this season and Benjamin has accounted for 8 of them. He also faces a Vikings defense that is susceptible to big receivers in red zone situations. Case in point: Brandon Marshall.
Now regarding your TE situation…the word on Julius Thomas is encouraging that he may go this weekend. But obviously you want to have your bases covered. I think out of the 3 you brought up, I like Jordan Reed paired up with Colt McCoy. McCoy’s game is very tight end friendly, but Reed is dealing with some injury issues himself. However if he goes, Reed will be a go-to option when Washington is playing catchup against Andrew Luck…If they are available though, go get either Mychal Rivera from Oakland or Kyle Rudolph from Minnesota. Both have rookie quarterbacks who rely heavily on them in the red zone. I like both better than Jordan Reed.
Craig Bucy on Facebook: “McKinnon, Simms, Stewart, or Ivory at RB2?”
First off…I don’t want to take anymore questions on Charles Simms while the Bucs have 2 other running backs healthy. They are also bad at using them…Second, Bucy. Your options. Woof! With that said, Jerick McKinnon is your best option. Sure he hasn’t seen the end zone yet, but he’s due. And the Panthers are just the team who can let that happen as their defense has given up 13 rushing TDs, 2nd worst in the league.
Sam Latham on Facebook: “Kelvin Benjamin or Mike Evans in Flex?”
I’ve already laid out my affection for Kelvin Benjamin this weekend, but this does seem to be a tough if you have to choose between the two. Mike Evans has 8 touchdowns in his last 7 games. The Bengals defense, though, has only allowed just 6 scores to wide receivers all season. Based on the matchup, I like Kelvin more this week.
Emmet Fairfieldon Facebook: “Pick 2: Rashad Jennings, Fred Jackson, and Josh Gordon.”
I think Josh Gordon proved in his return to action last week that he IS the Browns offense. First week back and he gets 16 targets? I think they like him, despite how “alienated” he felt during his suspension…Both Rashad Jennings and Fred Jackson looked good last week getting their fair share of action coming off injuries. I like Jennings more though, based on the matchup with Jacksonville. So Rashad Jennings and Josh Gordon are your two.
Brennan Casey on Twitter: “Calvin Johnson, Sammy Watkins, Kelvin Benjamin and Alshon Jeffery. Which 1 should I sit?”
The answer is Sammy Watkins and I’ll tell you why…First, he doesn’t seem entirely healthy. Watkins should have lit up the Jets pass defense on Monday Night Football. He wasn’t necessarily limited, but just 3 catches and 5 targets? Against the Jets?…Reason #2 is Joe Haden. Yes, Julio Jones got by him for one but Haden had his revenge. Oh did he ever.
Everyone have a very Happy Thanksgiving. You’re welcome to keep the questions rolling, but if you awaken me from my post meal slumber, it will quickly turn into Slapsgiving…in which I would gladly deliver.
A few of you aren’t stressing too bad about the idea because you’ve either clinched your playoff spot already, or your record indicates that your season is already over.
Many of you, though, are fighting tooth and nail for the last available spots in your league. The difference between keeping your season alive or playing in the superbly underwhelming consolation bracket could be an Andrew Luck pass to his left tackle…
(Good for you, Anthony.)
…or a Joe Haden interception.
So who will be the difference maker for your squad when EVERY…POINT…COUNTS? You’re looking for who’s hot, who’s consistent, and who has the best matchup:
Who’s hot?
Aaron Rodgers, that’s who. Rodgers has led his team to back-to-back 50 point games. He averaged 328 yards and 4.5 touchdowns without having to play in the 4th quarter of either of those games. His top 2 wide receivers, Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson, are on pace to break the league’s record for combined touchdown catches in a season, set by Wes Welker and Randy Moss in 2007. Now Rodgers faces a Vikings defense that has allowed a 75% completion percentage in their last 4 meetings and 3 or more touchdowns in 5 of the last 8 games against him.
Who’s consistent?
Despite the team’s turmoil in the offseason, and having to deal with a pair of touchdown vultures in Bernard Pierce and Lorenzo Taliaferro, Justin Forsett has been one of the league’s most consistent backs not named “DeMarco Murray”. Forsett has totaled at least 85 yards in each of his last 8 games and leads the league with 5.4 yards per carry. The Ravens are coming off a bye week to face the Saints on Monday Night Football and that should bode well for Forsett. The Saints have allowed a total of 430 yards to Jeremy Hill, Frank Gore, and Eddie Lacy in 3 of the last 4 weeks.
Who has the best matchup?
Aside from the guys who Rodgers throws to, it’s Dez Bryant against the Giants. Bryant leads the league in targets from within the 5 yard line with 7, which is more than the carries that most of the top running backs are getting from that distance. Bryant’s been on a scoring tear since his catching 9 passes for 151 yards in Week 7 against the Giants. He’s averaging 6 catches and 94 yards in his last 5 games against New York who will be without Prince Amukamara this weekend.
Quick Hits
Don’t know if you’ve heard, but it’s cold outside (everywhere but Miami). I’m not sure if anybody has had it as bad as upstate New York, but I’m becoming a bigger Bills fan each for it. From Scuzzy Kicker Dan Carpenter shoveling 4 feet of snow out of his elderly neighbors’ driveways or Mario Williams helping out Hall of Famer Jim Kelly, they’re just so damn likable. If you want to feel better about your current climate, I recommend checking out this compilation of snowy photos by the Bills players. Buffalo is expecting 7 feet of snow this Sunday so wherever they play, anticipate some #OrtonMagic against the Jets (he threw 4 TDs against them in Week 8)
(I don’t apologize for embedding this at all.)
Why isn’t JJ Watt available as a tight end yet in most league? He officially kicked off the Ryan Mallett era in Houston last weekend catching his 2nd touchdown pass of the season…and I’m sure Mallett would love having Watt line up for him in the red zone for the rest of the season. Note: Watt has 4 touchdowns total this season. If the Texans actually made a run at the playoffs, he could be your MVP this season.
Speaking of MVP candidates, is Gronk in the conversation? He should be. A big reason for New England’s turnaround since Week 4 is Rob Gronkowski returning to form. He has 5 touchdowns in his last 3 games, and 9 total on the season. Gronk is also doing it after the catch, which makes life easier for Tom Brady.
And on that note…mail time? Mail time.
DB Moenning on Facebook: “Who to start – Denard Robinson v. Colts, Trent Richardson v. Jags, Jonas Gray v. Lions?”
If you hadn’t asked about him, Denard Robinson would likely have gotten a shoutout much earlier in this post for his consistency. Since taking over #1 running back duties in Week 7, he’s averaging 97 rush yards per game and scored 4 touchdowns in the 4 weeks before the bye. He faces a Colts defense this week that has allowed 140+ total yards to backs in 3 of their last 5 games. And they also let *gasp* Jonas Gray happen…By now, you know the story. His 200 yards and 4 touchdowns last week against Indy are probably why Jonas Gray is a part of this question right now. It was a classic Bill Belichick game plan. If his opponent is weak against the run, he will stomp them with whoever lines up in the backfield. That won’t be the case this week against the league’s best run defense. Expect more work for Shane Vereen through the air…While Trent Richardson isn’t a bad play against the Jaguars and no Ahmad Bradshaw, Robinson is your guy this week.
Pat Bauers on Facebook: “Owen Daniels or Vernon Davis?”
Does Vernon Davis still play for the Niners? You really couldn’t tell by the way he’s been used this season. He had a plum matchup against the Giants last week and caught just one pass. Based on the way this entire season has gone for Davis, I really don’t expect anything special from him this weekend…even against Washington. Go with Owen Daniels. Saints haven’t allowed much to tight ends, but Jermaine Gresham did score twice last week against them. Daniels is also another week healthier coming off the Ravens bye week and was picking up more and more targets going into it.
Craig Bucy on Facebook: “Charles Sims, Chris Ivory, or Jerick McKinnon?”
Not very high on any of your options, but Jerick McKinnon is your best bet. He and Matt Asiata combined for 118 yards against the Packers in their previous meeting, and it will be in the Vikings best interest to play the “time of possession” game this weekend. The Packers are also allowing the 8th most rush yards this season, and McKinnon is clearly the best run option up until the Vikings get to the 5 yard line…Next best will be Chris Ivory who has slipped as of late, but did score 2 TDs against the Bills in their previous meeting.
Billy Quesse on Facebook: “Flex: Mohamed Sanu, Cecil Shorts, Cordarrelle Patterson or Fred Jackson”
With Sanu losing targets dramatically because of AJ Green’s return, Fred Jackson having to face the stout Jets run defense and not 100%, and Cordarrelle Patterson just being bad…go with Cecil Shorts. He’s picking up all the targets that Allen Robinson left by going on IR. Allen Hurns is more boom or bust on the opposite side of the field while Shorts is the possession option.
Feel free to ask more questions through the weekend on Facebook and Twitter.
Before the season started, my advice to Fantasy Football enthusiasts was to NOT draft based on potential. This was in regards to rookies who were soaring in mock drafts, as they normally do. How is that Bishop Sankey pick in the early rounds working out for you? (You probably loved seeing that Leon Washington touchdown last week against Baltimore)
Standing out, however, are the wide receivers from the 2014 Draft Class. Sammy Watkins (4th overall), Mike Evans (7th), Odell Beckham Jr. (12th), Brandin Cooks (20th), Kelvin Benjamin (28th), and Martavis Bryant (118th) have all put themselves have all put themselves in the “must start” conversation…Jordan Matthews (42nd) and John Brown (91st) have their arrows pointing up as well.
During the Super Bowl Era (since 1967), only 12 rookie wide receivers have gained over 1,000 yards in a season. Just 5 have recorded 10+ touchdowns. With 7 weeks left in the regular season, 4 of the aforementioned rookies have a shot at 1,000: Benjamin (659), Watkins (617), Evans (585), and Cooks (500). Touchdowns can be unpredictable but the 2 wide receivers who will likely eclipse the 10+ mark, Benjamin (7) and Bryant (6). There are 5 rookies tied with 5 touchdown catches: Watkins, Evans, Matthews, Brown, and Allen Hurns.
The boost in rookie receiver production can be attributed to the way the game has evolved with quarterback friendly rules and the murky interpretations of pass interference in coverage, but fantasy owners aren’t complaining. When you look at the Top 25 fantasy receivers right now, you’ll find 4 rookies: Benjamin (10), Watkins (15), Evans (17), and Cooks (23).
While Benjamin is top 15 in yards and touchdowns, and Bryant is making history with the most touchdowns in his first 4 games played, these guys are still susceptible to the dread rookie mistakes.
Quick Hits
Speaking of receivers doing unprecedented things, how about the Packers wide receivers? After the Sunday Night massacre last week, Randall Cobb leads all wide receivers with 10 touchdowns and Jordy Nelson is tied for 4th with 8. The duo combined for 10, 224 yards, and 3 touchdowns against the Bears (no)defense…almost all of it in the first half. Nelson and Cobb are on pace to finish the season with 32 touchdowns combined. The record is 31, set by Randy Moss and Wes Welker with the Patriots in 2007.
Marshawn Lynch catapulted himself to the league lead in rushing touchdowns after piling 4 on the Giants last week. It was a new chapter to the Beast Mode saga that began in 2011, but really statement for the Seahawks offensive identity. Not only are they getting off the bus running, they are running to get back on it as they lead the league averaging 170.9 yards per game (nearly 20 more than the 2nd ranked Cowboys). While that might not be great news for owners of the Seahawks receivers, it’s a dance party for Lynch owners.
I don’t talk about D/ST very much on here, but what..the hell…Eagles? I went into Monday night with a 40+ point lead over my opponent and SQUEAKED away with a .04 point victory. 9 sacks, 3 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles, 3 touchdown returns (1 KR, 1 PR, 1 Pick-6)…that’s just silly. The Eagles D/ST is a real weapon though as they have returned 9 touchdowns on the season. With Monday Night Football being so out of hand, unfortunately I was forced to ask this question:
I was a little bummed out when the Patriots went on their bye week. Maybe it was having to start Larry Donnell instead of Rob Gronkowski, but deep down I was missing Tom Brady’s, now infamous, Facebook rally posting…Seriously, the guy is a Facebook fiend and it’s fun. Tom Brady owners are going to be very happy to have him back against the Colts. Before the bye week, the Colts allowed a combined 881 yards and 8 touchdowns to Ben Roethlisberger and Eli Manning. Since the bad Week 4 loss to the Chiefs, Brady has averaged 320 yards and 3.6 touchdowns. He’s also thrown multiple touchdowns in 5 straight games against Indy.
Joey McNamara on Facebook: “C.J. Anderson or Montee Ball?…other options are Joique Bell or Branden Oliver.”
Remember when Montee Ball first went down? It became a game of “who gets the ball now?” between Ronnie Hillman and C.J. Anderson. Obviously Hillman ran away and never looked back…until this week. Yes, Montee Ball is probable to play and should get some carries, but I think it is Anderson’s backfield until he’s knocked out of it. While the Rams are giving up just 2.85 yards per carry in the last 5 weeks, Peyton Manning’s running backs have benefitted in the passing game even more so than the run. And if the Broncos get out to a quick lead against the now Shaun Hill led Rams, I expect Anderson to benefit plenty…Joique Bell is a tough start against the Cardinals defense who is 3rd against the run. With Reggie Bush out again, passing downs have been going to Theo Riddick as well…While the Chargers get Ryan Matthews back this week, that actually may help Branden Oliver as he is delegated to the “Danny Woodhead” role. It was against Oakland in Week 6 when Oliver rushed for 101 yards and a touchdown, adding 4 catches for 23 yards. Again, I say go with Anderson this week.
Emmet Fairfield on Facebook: W/R/T: Deandre Hopkins, Freddy Jackson, or Dwayne Allen…Thinking about starting Jackson over Rashad Jennings.”
First, I would leave Rashad Jennings right where he is. He is facing a 49ers defense that surrendered 120 yards to a similar style runner in Mark Ingram, and I think the Giants CAN’T WAIT to hand the keys to Jennings again…I actually thought Fred Jackson could have been a decent start when he returned last week, but the Bills had other plans by giving him just 3 carries while the combo of Bryce Brown and Boobie Dixon got 75% of the action. Jackson did get 4 catches, but Brown got 6. On a short week, I don’t really like Jackson’s chances in a crowded backfield against Miami…Hopkins is an interesting play with Ryan Mallett getting his first start. My real concern is whether or not Hopkins will draw coverage from Joe Haden. Haden and the Browns secondary gave Andy Dalton a passer rating of 2 a week ago. Seriously. 2. Hopkins is drawing 33% of targets over the last 4 weeks though…The most consistent player from your group has been Dwayne Allen. Allen has 7 touchdowns this season and has hit paydirt in each of the last 3 games. He is not a world burner in yardage and he splits targets with Coby Fleener. But touchdowns are touchdowns…I lean toward Allen only because I don’t know what you’re going to get with Ryan Mallett starting.
Greg Kulaga on Facebook: “What’s the outlook for Jerick McKinnon with Adrian Peterson set to return?
Jerick McKinnon owners must REALLY hate Matt Asiata. He vultured not 1, not 2, but 3 touchdowns from McKinnon and I don’t think Adrian Peterson’s return is going to help him either. Asiata will resume 3rd down and short yardage duties and Peterson is going to have legs fresh for miles. McKinnon’s total yardage was trending downward the past 3 weeks anyway, so I don’t like his value long term after AP returns.
Brandon Watson on Facebook: “Trade: Give Odell Beckham Jr and Ahmad Bradshaw. Receive Jeremy Maclin and Heath Miller. PPR league.”
I don’t know if you’re trying to get a Tight End, but Heath Miller is not that guy. Especially for Bradshaw. Ahmad Bradshaw has the most red zone targets for running backs this season with 10. If you’re looking short term, that bodes well against a Patriots defense that has given up the most receiving touchdowns to running backs…I like Jeremy Maclin a lot and Mark Sanchez at quarterback won’t hurt him, but you’ve also got the best offensive threat in the Giants arsenal in Odell Beckham Jr. You’re better off with what you have in this trade scenario, unless womens jersey sales count in your league…No, seriously. Heath Miller has the most popular NFL jersey for women in North Dakota and Arkansas.
Last week I was asked if I would pick up Big Ben or Alex Smith to start with Tony Romo being out. I went with Alex Smith and felt pretty good about it.
“In 10 games against Baltimore, Roethlisberger has only thrown more than one touchdown twice. The Ravens have also allowed the fewest passing touchdowns this season, less than 1 per game…”
And with Alex Smith pulling plays like this off…
I felt even better about the advice I gave.
For the second week in a row, Roethlisberger threw 6 touchdown passes and added 340 yards with it. He also has a fantastic matchup this week against the Jets pass defense. So for anyone who took my advice and lost with without Big Ben’s 6 TDs…
Moving on now.
Quick Hits
Outside of some criticism of meteorologists, everything seems to being going right for Patriots. Since throwing two interceptions in a blow out loss to Kansas City, Tom Brady has thrown 18 touchdowns and just one interception. But even Brady can’t believe how well his tight end is playing…
The Packers may be rolling and the Bears might be desperate for a win, but none of that is stopping Matt Forte. Forte is second in the league in catches, third in touches, and gained 171 total yards against the Packers in Week 4. The Packers have given up 5.2 yards per carry to Matt Asiata, Lamar Miller, Jonathan Stewart and Mark Ingram. Even if the Packers jump out ahead early, Forte will get the targets like he has all season…Also, tomorrow is the 15 year anniversary of Bryan Robinson’s game winning field goal block at Lambeau…Any given Sunday, Bears fans. Any given Sunday.
Have you picked up Kyle Orton yet? I have…to back up Tony Romo (like old times). Since the Bills signed him to take over for E.J. Manuel, Orton is averaging 282 yards per game and has thrown multiple TDs in 3 of his 4 games…including 4 against the Jets before last week’s bye week. Tougher matchup against Kansas City this week, but still good spot start if you need him.
Brian Chimino on Facebook: “Tempted to play Derek Carr over Colin Kaepernick.”
I don’t blame you. Derek Carr has only had one really bad game in his last 4 starts and is coming off a solid 194 yard 2 touchdown performance on the road against the Seahawks defense. The Broncos are also allowing 270 yards and 2 touchdowns passing per game, albeit with a lot of garbage time but still start worthy…I don’t trust Colin Kaepernick. I don’t trust the Saints defense much more but they did hold Cam Newton to just 151 yards passing and 40 yards rushing last week. The upside is higher with Kaepernick but he’s only thrown more than one touchdown twice all season…Go with your gut and start Carr.
Ryan Suarez on Facebook: “Stafford or Tannehill?”
Same game decision here and one I like this week. Both are going against tough defenses but one of them is getting Calvin Johnson back. Before Megatron went inactive, Matt Stafford averaged 281 yards per game. He suffered a lull but found his groove again with 299 and 325 yards back to back with 2 TDs in each game before the bye week…While Ryan Tannehill is coming off his best game of the season, he still has to face the stingiest defense against quarterbacks in terms of fantasy football. Go with Stafford with the Megatron bump. At the very least, Johnson will draw double coverage to open things up for Golden Tate again.
Craig Bucy on Facebook: “Chris Ivory, Roddy White or Percy Harvin? Pick 2…And thoughts on Charles Sims.”
After just two weeks in the Jets system, Percy Harvin has established himself as the focal point in their passing game. He was targeted 13 times (second most in the NFL week 9) for 11 receptions last week (most in the league). With the Steelers offense rolling right now, have to think the Jets will be busy playing catchup which benefits Harvin, but not Chris Ivory. I would also go with Roddy White against one of the worst pass defenses in the league, Tampa Bay.
Charles Sims looks like he’ll be making his pro debut this week, but I wouldn’t expect that big of a work load for him yet. Bobby Rainey is the feature back in Tampa, but the bigger concern to me is Josh McCown getting the start. That thing didn’t work the first time this season, and I’m puzzled as to why Lovie Smith wants to go back to it again. Turnovers and a lack of possession time with McCown under center doesn’t help Sims’s cause early on.
DB Moenning on Facebook: “Pick 2: AJ Green, Mohamed Sanu, and Golden Tate.”
If you have a healthy AJ Green, you start him. I would actually say yes to starting Mohamed Sanu this week against a bad Browns pass defense, but Golden Tate has been too good to keep out of the lineup. Yes, Calvin is going to take targets away from Tate but he is averaging 10 yards per target and is second among receivers after the catch. As I mentioned before, Megatron back in the lineup helps Tate more than hurts him.
Sam Latham on Facebook: “Travis Kelce or Jason Witten?”
There is really one big IF involved with this. If Tony Romo plays this weekend, play Jason Witten. Even injured, Witten becomes the possession for Romo in shorter routes and the Jaguars have allowed the 7th most yards to tight ends this season..If Romo is out, play Travis Kelce. Kelce is more of a red zone target in the Chiefs system, but he has a touchdown in 4 of his last 6 games.
Brennan Casey on Facebook: “Alshon Jeffery, Kelvin Benjamin, Sammy Watkins, and Mohamed Sanu? Pick 2”
I like Sammy Watkins and Alshon Jeffery in this group and I’ll tell you why…Kyle Orton has put Watkins over the top fantasy-wise since joining the Bills. He’s the clear #1 receiver and is the only WR getting thrown to from 5 yards in. Keep an eye on the groin injury though and go with Kelvin Benjamin in case Watkins doesn’t start…Jeffery seems to have been quiet for a lot of the season, but realistically has scored or gained over 100 yards in 5 of his last 6 games. The Packers secondary is beat up with Sam Shields and Morgan Burnett dealing with injuries. There also seems to be a “now or never” feeling with the Bears offense this weekend. Going against a Packers defense that has allowed the most red zone touches to wide receivers bodes well.
And last but not least, it’s #NationalNachoDay. So go crazy kids.
We’ve officially hit the halfway point of the 2014 NFL regular season, which is more than halfway through your Fantasy season. And if you have more than one of these stars, you’re likely sitting pretty at this point.
Matt Forte – 3 TD, 562 rush yards / 58 rec., 490 yards 3 TD
Wide Receivers
Antonio Brown – 7 Touchdowns receiving, 60 receptions, 852 yards
Demaryius Thomas – 6 TD, 47 rec., 767 yards
Randal Cobb – 9 TD, 40 rec., 578 yards
Tight End
Rob Gronkowski – 7 TD, 40 rec., 558 yards
Antonio Gates – 9 TD, 32 rec., 417 yards
Julius Thomas – 9 TD, 30 rec., 327 yards
However…
There’s plenty of football left and all it takes is making the playoffs to contend for your league’s title. Who knows? You could get a Ben Roethlisberger 6 TD, 500 yard day…
or you could be screaming into nearest inanimate like this guy.
Lindsey Sikula-Hutagalung on Facebook: “Will he be ok to play or do I need to pick someone up?…Ben Roethlisberger or Alex Smith?”
The latest on Tony Romo is that his head coach is optimistic he will start on Sunday. Romo hasn’t practiced yet this week and it’s looking like a game-time decision to see how he handles the pain. If you have a roster spot to spare, you should still pick up a backup plan in case Romo is ruled out.
I don’t think Ben Roethlisberger is going to be throwing 6 touchdowns and 500 yards again anytime soon, nor do I think he’s going to be doing it against the Ravens. In 10 games against Baltimore, Roethlisberger has only thrown more than one touchdown twice. The Ravens have also allowed the fewest passing touchdowns this season, less than 1 per game…Alex Smith, on the other hand, hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass to a wide receiver yet this season. That can change against the Jets who just let Kyle Orton throw 4 touchdowns on them. Should have been 5…
Considering what Jamaal Charles and Kniles Davis can do after the catch as well, Smith will be the safer bet.
Emmet Fairfield on Facebook: “W/R/T spot: Jonathan Stewart or Dwayne Allen?”
Jonathan Stewart is finally healthy again, but it looks like Deangello Williams will be getting the start tonight. Had Stewart gotten the backfield to himself tonight, I would have recommended him to start…However, the Giants have allowed 4 touchdowns to tight ends in their last 3 games. Start Dwayne Allen who should be keep the trend going.
Ryan Suarez on Facebook: “Flex spot: Doug Baldwin, V-Jax, or Bobby Rainey?”
While Doug Baldwin is getting plenty more usage lately following the Percy Harvin trade, his offense doesn’t really make him a primary target as Russell Wilson likes to spread the wealth…Go with Bobby Rainey this weekend against a bad Cleveland defense that is allowing the 2nd most yards per carry and nearly a touchdown per game to running backs. Rainey is also the only one in Tampa’s backfield, so he’ll be getting plenty of work.
John Hayes on Facebook: “Brandin Cooks or Mohamed Sanu?”
Two decent options, but who will be the most reliable? Brandin Cooks played great last week, and he usually does at home. Cooks averages 8 catches and 75 yards per game at home. Much like the rest of the Saints though, there’s a drop off in production on the road as Cooks averages 4 catches and 37 yards away from the Superdome. However, Panthers have allowed the most touchdowns to opposing receivers…It looks like AJ Green will be back to play this week. Some suggest he could be used as a decoy like Calvin Johnson had been weeks ago, but I don’t buy it. Andy Dalton is better throwing to more options so that should take some targets away from Mohamed Sanu…Go with Cooks tonight as the Saints offense seems to be clicking after beating the Packers.
Brennan Casey on Twitter: “Flex spot: Doug Baldwin or Branden Oliver?”
I’ve already given my thoughts on Baldwin, but I would still go with Branden Oliver between these two. Oliver is still the feature back with Ryan Matthews out another week and he is also a factor in the run game. Take into account the Dolphins allowed over 100 yards rushing to Denard Robinson last week, Oliver could have a solid day for you.
Feel free to ask more questions on Twitter or Facebook through the weekend.
I know this graphic has made the rounds since Sunday night, but I would like to share it again for some perspective of how good Peyton Manning has been over the course of his career.
The most marketable man in sports surpassed Brett Favre as the all-time leader in touchdown passes. When I look at the graphic above, I think “Dang! Peyton sure did get a lot of guys paid.”
Of course this is how they thank him.
Congrats, Peyton. Looking forward to more great moments down the road.
Quick Hits
– Antonio Brown has been a monster this season. Brown is the only receiver with 50 catches so far this season, 719 yards and 5 touchdowns, and even a touchdown points. Colts Punter Pat McAfee is very aware and has one request:
Have fun with that, Pat.
– The Rams pulled off a stunner against the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks, but think about this…After facing Adrian Peterson, LeSean McCoy, Marshawn Lynch, DeMarco Murray, and Frank Gore the Rams defense has only allowed one touchdown to opposing running backs. Let’s see how they fair against Jamaal Charles this weekend. The Chiefs new all-time leading rusher has at least 84 yards over his last 3 games and 4 touchdowns during that time. Hopefully the side effects of this hit aren’t lingering.
AND DON’T FORGET!
The Lions and the Falcons play in London this weekend. Kickoff is set for 8:30 CDT. With Reggie Bush and Calvin Johnson looking like game time decisions, you may want to be awake if you have them on your team…or you’ll be complaining EXACTLY like this.
And now for something completely different.
Matt Kuna on Twitter: “Branden Oliver or Mark Ingram?”
Everyone loves making the Branden Oliver comparison to Darren Sproles, and that’s easy considering both backs are short and have worn the number 43 in San Diego. But I like Oliver to more of a vintage Maurice Jones-Drew who relies more on shiftiness and strength rather than speed. Oliver has been a solid pickup for most fantasy owners and is making the most out of his opportunity as the Chargers feature back. We saw his carries limited against the time of possession “keep away” game the Chiefs played, and unfortunately I think he’ll be limited again but for a different reason. The effect Peyton Manning has on opposing offenses is astounding. Because most teams need to play catchup with the Broncos after Manning has lit up the board a few times early, they abandon the run completely. The Broncos defense has seen less than 18 rushes attempted against them per game this season…For those keeping score, I haven’t been Mark Ingram’s biggest fan. This week is a very different story. Pierre Thomas is out for the next 2 weeks and Khiry Robinson is dinged up as well with a forearm injury. After missing 3 weeks, Ingram had the most touches last week and he will be THE back for the Saints at home against Green Bay. Go with Ingram against a Packers defense that is 9th worst against the run. I think your best bet for Oliver will be through the air and he is a decent pass catcher. I just don’t think he’ll get the touches that Ingram will.
Ryan Suarez on Facebook: “Doug Martin or Justin Forsett?”
Doug Martin is a flex player at best, in my opinion, and I would never advise someone to play him unless it’s against a bad team. The Vikings are one of those teams I would be okay letting Martin play against because they give up the 4th most rushing and eighth most receiving to opposing backs…But if you’re looking for consistency and dependable scoring, go with Justin Forsett. In his first meeting against the Bengals, Forsett had 70 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries. The Bengals allowed 129 rush yards combined to Trent Richardson and Ahmad Bradshaw, and 203 yards to the duo of Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen 2 weeks prior. While Bernard Pierce has vultured some TDs in the red zone, Forsett is still getting it done between the 20’s and will have his chances this weekend.
Kyle Doyle on Facebook: “Darren McFadden, Ronnie Hillman, or Anthony Dixon RB2”
Tonight should be a good one for Ronnie Hillman. The Chargers allow the most catches to running backs and the most receiving touchdowns. Hillman has also distinguished himself as the go-to back around the goal line in recent weeks, which was a big question when Montee Ball went down…While Denard Robinson had a coming out party against the Browns, nothing is for sure when it comes to Darren McFadden. Yes, he’s the clear feature back over MJD, but Oakland is turning into a pass-first squad with Derek Carr at the helm…And even though he’s one of the few backs left standing in Buffalo, Boobie Dixon still has to play against the Jets run defense. Nobody likes going against the Jets run defense. Start Hillman tonight.
Kirk Clark on Facebook: “Keenan Allen, Trent Richardson or Brian Quick Flex”
I don’t understand Keenan Allen. Really. For the past 4 weeks he has been awful, yet receives the most targets on the team. As I mentioned earlier, the Broncos are forcing teams to abandon the run and throw like crazy. I doubt Allen will see less balls thrown his way, but the question is if he’ll catch them. If he can’t get it done tonight, don’t ask me about him again….Trent Richardson is finally forming into a suitable running back again and has a decent matchup against the Steelers, and I like him better than Brian Quick against the Chiefs. My gut says Allen one last time, but the safe bet may be Richardson.
Craig Bucy on Facebook: “Wes Welker, Roddy White, or Kelvin Benjamin? Pick 2”
First I’ll say go with Kelvin Benjamin. All Benjamin does is catch touchdowns, right? He has 5 in 7 games, and that hasn’t been the case for your other two options…Roddy White did have a “return to form” game last week, but he is facing a Detroit secondary that’s only allowing 11 receptions and 136 yards per game to opposing wide receiver groups as a whole. But I do like him better than Welker who is just struggling to find targets, despite scoring a touchdown last week. Go with Roddy second.
Brennan Casey on Facebook: “Matt Ryan or Drew Brees at QB?”
As a Drew Brees fantasy owner, I know…2 touchdowns and 330 yards has been the standard with him lately. But I do think he’ll get a chance to be more Brees’ish in a shootout in the dome with Aaron Rodgers. The Packers secondary is banged up and, quite frankly, not that great. Have to admit, while the touchdowns haven’t been typical of him, Brees is killing it in yardage as of late…I’m actually scared for Matt Ryan’s life with a bad and injured offensive line going against the Detroit Lions this weekend. Just go Brees.
Danny Kakareka on Facebook: “Reggie Bush or Chris Ivory? PPR.”
Reggie Bush has actually been downgraded for this weekend and looks like a game time decision, so I would have Chris Ivory penciled in preemptively. Not a bad thing. Ivory almost beat the Patriots by himself last week. But I also think Joique Bell has been the bigger beneficiary in the Lions backfield than Bush already.
Erin Adell on Facebook: “Delanie Walker or Owen Daniels?”
Good week to be an Own Daniels owner as Cincinnati is giving up 100 yards per game to opposing tight ends. Just go with Daniels.
Max Rapp on Facebook: “Percy Harvin or no?” (Also has Doug Baldwin)
Until I see him do something, I really can’t trust Percy Harvin. In the world of hypotheticals, I love Percy Harvin as a football player. But really, Harvin just went from Russell Wilson to Geno Smith and worse…Darrell Bevell to Marty Mornhinweg as his offensive coordinator. Harvin is staying on my bench until I see someone use him properly.
Billy Quesse on Facebook: “Cutler or Foles?”
Jay Cutler has a chance to do something this weekend that hardly anyone ever does: Win at Foxboro. The Patriots have only lost 3 games at home since 2009…but that’s not why you called. The Patriots are one of the best teams against the pass, but realistically, Cutler will be the best quarterback they have faced so far this season (Tannehill, Cassel, Carr, Alex Smith, Dalton, Orton, Geno Smith). He’s coming off his worst output in over a year, but will be facing a Patriots defense that is without Jerod Mayo and now Chandler Jones. Assume Brandon Marshall will be on Revis Island and Alshon Jeffery will draw Brandon Browner, but who will cover Martellus Bennett or Matt Forte?…Nick Foles is still down two of his offensive lineman against a very good Cardinals pass rush, but will be throwing against a secondary that is giving up nearly 300 pass yards per game. I think the matchup favors Foles, but Cutler’s upside is greater.
But, really…The Dallas Cowboys are 5-1. They just beat the Seahawks on the road. Nobody does that! And after a game where DeMarco Murray rushed for 115 yards and Tony Romo threw for 250 yards and 2 touchdowns against the league’s best defense, left tackle Tyron Smith wins the NFC Offensive Player of the Week. Smith is the first offensive lineman to win the award since former Chiefs guard Brian Waters did in 2004. That’s saying a lot (unlike Marshawn Lynch).
Admit it. You’ve been waiting anxiously for that annual Murray injury or for Romo’s back to finally give.
While you wait, the Cowboys keep on rolling…despite their super annoying overbearing owner. For the time being, they look like the best team in a weird NFC East. And Murray has tied Jim Brown for the most 100 yard games in a row.
– Phillip Rivers has put up a 120+ passer rating in an NFL record 5 straight games. Good for you, Rios
(Batman! Woo!)
– Julius Thomas has caught more touchdown passes (9) than any tight end ever up to this point in a season, and has tied Calvin Johnson for the most by anyone in NFL history. Despite his recent backtracking, Thomas is making it look “too easy.”
– And today marks the 8th anniversary of one of the most ridiculous comebacks in NFL history, followed by the real reason we remember it.
And now to the Mailbag
Craig Bucy on Facebook: “Mark Ingram or Chris Ivory?” and “Pick 3 – Nelson, Cobb, Tate, James Jones, Rueben Randle”
Yes. Mark Ingram is back and is said to be “100%, full tilt.” While that may be true, he’s returning to a loaded backfield against the 2nd ranked run defense in the league. While I feel good about the Saints coming off a bye week and playing in a dome, that may benefit the passing game more than Ingram…Chris Ivory is coming off a tough stretch against the AFC’s two best teams (Broncos and Chargers). It seemed like the Jets abandoned the run and thought they could keep up with the arms of Geno Smith and Michael Vick (*pause* *now laugh*). Expect Ivory to get the carries he rightfully deserves tonight in a game where the weather is forecasted to be bad with a plan focused on time of possession.
For your pick 3: Nelson, Cobb and Golden Tate. Another game without Calvin Johnson only means good things for Tate.
Ryan Suarez on Facebook: “Matthew Stafford or Kirk Cousins?”
I know his output hasn’t been the same without Megatron, but Matthew Stafford has a favorable matchup against the 8th worst pass defense at home. That is as long as his offensive line doesn’t get him killed…There has been talk of Kirk Cousins potentially getting benched for Colt McCoy. While Cousins is asking for it with his interceptions, the gunslinger numbers have still benefitted fantasy owners. Based on matchup I like Stafford more, but Cousins has the better upside and more weapons to throw to.
Sam Latham on Facebook: “James Jones or Keenan Allen?”
James Jones has certainly fallen into the role of possession receiver with Derek Carr at quarterback and Jones is getting his looks while the rookie QB is progressing…I like Keenan Allen better though this weekend. Allen averaged 107 yards and 7 catches against Kansas City last year. If Eddie Royal doesn’t suit up because of his ribs injury, that only helps Allen more.
Donald Moenning on Facebook: “Pick one for Flex Spot: Jeremy Hill, Eric Decker, Keenan Allen, Brandon LaFell, Andre Holmes” (Playing Giovanni Bernard as well)
Without AJ Green in the lineup, Cincinnati has predictably relied heavily on their run game. Why not, especially when Gio Bernard is busting out 80+ yard touchdown runs…
I like Jeremy Hill as well in a matchup with a Colts defense that has an achilles heel playing against the run…But if you aren’t comfortable playing two RBs from the same backfield, go with Andre Holmes who is on fire as of late. Holmes is also the established Oakland deep threat going against the 2nd worst defense defending WRs out of the end zone.
John Hayes on Facebook: “Cutler or Flacco?”
While Joe Flacco made last week’s game against Tampa look like Madden on Rookie Mode, I caution Fantasy owners to be mindful that Atlanta has one of THE WORST RUN DEFENSES IN THE LEAGUE. If John Harbaugh and Gary Kubiak can run the ball, they’re going to run the ball…Jay Cutler will have a favorable matchup at home against a Dolphins secondary that let Aaron Rodgers fake spike on them. Really? But in all seriousness, Cutler has reached must-start territory as his giant receivers are all healthy and Matt Forte is doing unprecedented things in the pass game. Cutty Does It this weekend.
Erin Adell on Facebook: “Peyton Manning or Phillip Rivers?”
Phillip Rivers (or Rios, as I like to call him) is having an M.V…FOR GOD’S SAKE, YOU HAVE PEYTON MANNING! PLAY PEYTON MANNING! Ahem…I’ll just leave this here. Because it’s #DancingManning.
Sean Yamnitz on Facebook: “Stafford or Hoyer?”
Again, I like Stafford simply for the matchup at home against the 8th worst pass defense. But Brian Hoyer has been fun to watch while Johnny Football waits on the sidelines. While Hoyer has been very efficient, that has mostly been thanks to conservative play calling setting up play action. Cleveland may let Hoyer fly against the Jaguars or they might just run like crazy. You can depend on Stafford more this weekend against the Saints.
Did anybody have more fun in Week 5 than Mr. Suave? It’s easy to kick a guy while he’s down, especially when you’re used to seeing that guy be on top of his game for as long as Tom Brady had been. Some were even suggesting the Patriots should trade him…I took a lot of pleasure in seeing Brady be Brady again. Against the Bengals, a top 5 defense this season, Brady threw for 292 yards and 2 touchdowns. Credit his offensive line for keeping the pocket clean, but also the game plan to utilize both Rob Gronkowski and newly acquired TE Tim Wright. We’ll see if that formula works on the road in Buffalo, where the Bills defensive line is really getting after the quarterback (19 sacks, 18 hits, and 50 hurries). It was good to see Brady get his high-fives again though.
More Week 5 Recap:
– There was a united Tiger Woods style fist pump for Eddie Lacy owners. If you held onto hope (like I did), you reaped all the benefits of a 105 yard rushing, 2 TD showing against the Vikings. As the Packers offense seems to be getting back on track, expect more goal line opportunities for the 2nd year back…You should see exactly why you took him with either of your first two picks.
– Tony Romo made my favorite throw of the weekend. After nearly being Watt-Smashed, Romo shook off the $100 million monster and threw this bomb…How’s that back, Tony?
– Are you okay, Percy Harvin owners? I may have lost years off of my life watching each of his 3 touchdowns called back because of penalties (2 of which were highly questionable). Here’s a reminder of what could have been.
– And wha-happened to that epic Broncos-Cardinals matchup we were looking for? It felt like a Thursday Night Football game. If you had Peyton Manning (479 yards, 4 TDs), Demaryius Thomas (8 catches, 226 yards, 2 TDs), or Julius Thomas (6 catches, 66 yards, 2 TDs)…you weren’t too upset about it.
I’m happy to see that we have more than WR questions this week from the mailbag. As much as I love you guys asking me for input, variety is the spice of life.
Andrew Hirt on Facebook: “Dalton or Roethlisberger?”
We saw this question repeatedly last season. Being in the same division, there are plenty of comparisons between the two quarterbacks on a regular basis. Dalton has had a slow start scoring with just 4 touchdowns in 4 games and only 1 interception. Reason for that is the lack of attempts in Hue Jackson’s system. That could change against Carolina as the Panthers are 7th in pass attempts against them, but losing AJ Green to a foot injury in practice suggests otherwise. After the game Matt Forte had in Week 5 (61 yards rushing, 12 catches for 105 yards receiving), anticipate the bulk of the workload to go to Giovanni Bernard and Jeremy Hill…You probably hoped for a better game out of Ben Roethlisberger against the Jacksonville defense, which makes me concerned for the Steelers offense in general. The Cleveland secondary is ripe to bounce back against though. Joe Haden is hurt and likely not playing this week. First Round draft pick Justin Gilbert was benched against Tennessee for getting continuously burned by Kendall Wright. Start Roethlisberger in the AFC North rivalry game, despite Snoop Dogg (err Lion?) hating his offensive coordinator.
Chris Hankins on Facebook: “Picked up Hillman now that Ball is out. Should I start him over Trent Richardson?”
I know you weren’t the only one to pick up Ronnie Hillman in the mad dash following Montee Ball’s injury. Keep in mind though, CJ Anderson is a favorite of Peyton Manning’s and better built for around the goal line. Only reason Anderson wasn’t active last week was because he doesn’t play special teams. Carries are sparse to begin with in the Manning system, so I don’t feel great about the potential for Hillman’s touches against an already stout Jets run defense…And then there’s Trent Richardson. Richardson continues to just be flat out underwhelming and is being outplayed by Ahmad Bradshaw. Richardson a pretty weak flex start at best on the road going to Houston. The edge goes to Hillman simply for his pass catching ability.
Bob Kakareka on Facebook: “Should I trade Cobb and Megatron for Julius Thomas and Kendall Wright?”
I was asked about a Megatron trade a few weeks ago and was super confident he would bounce back from injury and do his thing again. That hasn’t happened yet and Calvin Johnson is still hurt. What makes this a tough call is Randall Cobb leading all receivers in receiving out of the slot and the Packers offense catching fire. Cobb has a great matchup this week alone going up against Cortland Finnegan. The question is how desperate are you for wins in the short term? Johnson could sit this week and be down for a few games but then come back and be Megatron again. Julius Thomas will continue getting touchdowns with Peyton Manning. And Kendall Wright has 3 favorable matchups against Jacksonville, Washington, and Houston in a row…If you need the wins now, DO IT. If you’re in a comfortable spot in the standings and think you’ll make the playoffs, don’t do it. Calvin Johnson could be your difference down the stretch.
Rachel Bruce on Facebook: “Cutler or Wilson?”
If you’re a Bears fan, Jay Cutler has probably bummed you out throwing bad interceptions at really bad instances. From a Fantasy Football standpoint though, Cutty Does It. Only Andrew Luck has thrown more touchdowns this season and he has multiple TDs in every game this season. The Falcons have one of the worst secondary units in football right now with starting safety William Moore injured. This weekend has strong shootout potential between for the Bears on the road…On and off the field, I love Russell Wilson. Wilson continues to prove he is one of the best in the league every week. However, his matchup with Cowboys is tougher than what he had against Washington on Monday Night Football. The Cowboys pass defense is much improved from a year ago, so it might be a heavy volume of Marshawn Lynch carries for the Seahawks. Go with the points and take Cutler.
Brennan Casey on Facebook: “Start 2: Chris Ivory, Ahmad Bradshaw, Branden Oliver.”
First, go with Branden Oliver. Oliver is a player made for the Mike McCoy offense in San Diego and you have to like his matchup against the Raiders. Even when Ryan Matthews returns, one should assume Oliver will take on the Danny Woodhead role from a year ago…This is where it gets tricky. Chris Ivory is clearly the best player in the Jets backfield, but how many chances will he get when they are forced to play from behind against the Broncos? I like Ahmad Bradshaw better after he finally got more attention than Richardson last week. Texans are the 4th worst defense against the run, and Bradshaw should be able to take advantage of that.
Sam Kalmar on Facebook: “Do I sit DeMarco murray against Seattle?”
I understand the worry when playing anyone against Seattle’s defense. They are the 2nd best run defense right now and have only given up 1 rushing touchdown. When you have the league’s leading rusher, you have to play him. DeMarco Murray is also a great threat in the pass game, and that could be the route the Cowboys offense goes if they can’t get the run going early. Keep an eye on Murray’s carries though as the season progresses. He’s on pace for more than 400 carries, and that’s just ridiculous for a back who hasn’t stayed healthy for an entire season yet.
Great stuff this week! If you have more questions, you are welcome to ask on Facebook and Twitter through the weekend.
michaelpiff 
