November 20, 2008
1. Limas Sweed has been a big disappointment as a rookie. The physical Texas product was the first wide receiver off the board in some Mock Drafts last April, and wound up being one of ten wideouts to go in the second round. The pick was hailed as a steal, but he's struggled to get on the field as a pro with four catches. Tonight, with some chances, he made a weak effort to pick up a first down and let a punt hit him, causing a turnover. These sort of mental mistakes and soft play plagued him in the preseason. He's got a long way to go in his career, but it doesn't look good for dynasty leaguers.
2. Willie Parker isn't helped by the deteriorating Heinz Field. He's not a mudder, and Gary Russell threatens to steal all his short-yardage work. Parker did get a carry inside the five-yard line, but didn't go anywhere.
Chad Johnson's absence elevates T.J. Housmandzadeh slightly in my updated rankings on Season Pass. The weather won't help matters and the Steelers are the best pass defense in the league, so Housh is still rankled only No. 24. Cincy is missing the left side of their offensive line and they couldn't protect Ryan Fitzpatrick when they were healthy. It promises to be an ugly game, with the Steelers likely to start running clock once they get two scores up. Chris Henry gets his chance to start, but he'll run into the same problem Chad Johnson had. Fitzpatrick can't complete vertical passes.
Rotoworld has been pumping up Nmandi Asomugha as the best cornerback in football since Tyler Thigpen was a twinkle in Herm Edwards' eye. It appears Mike Shanahan shares our passion:
He's the most underrated top player in the game -- I can't say the history of the game because I haven't been around here that long -- but I can say in my 25 years, he is by far the most underrated player. I've never met him but I'm going to shake his hand after the game because I keep on looking for him but I never get a chance to talk to him. He's one of my favorite players, even though he is with the Raiders. That shows you how much I like him.
Continue reading "Mike Shanahan: Welcome to the Nmandi fan club" »
November 19, 2008
These are anxious times for Brian Westbrook owners for a few reasons:
1. His play: Westbrook has averaged 75 total yards with no scores the last three weeks with two plus matchups and one negative one: Seahawks, Giants, and Bengals.
2. His health: Westbrook reportedly looked "alarmingly hobbled" on Monday. Jason La Canfora, a Redskins beat writer (where Westbrook's brother plays), hears that Westbrook is "badly hurt." He wonders if Westbrook could be sat down for a week or two at some point.
3. His schedule: Baltimore, Arizona, Giants, Browns, Redskins. Three of the matchups are fine. But this is not the time of year Westbrook owners thought they would be considering putting him on the bench. At this point, that has to be on the table against Baltimore and a possibility for Week 14 against New York. I ranked him twelfth in my initial rankings. After the latest injury updates, he may slip further.
Every week, I send some borderline plays to NBC's PR department for part of a press release. When I remember, I post them here ...
Sage Rosenfels, Texans: Despite tough matchups, he would rank in the top-five in yards-per-attempt if he qualified. Look for 300 yards against a weak Cleveland secondary.
Jeff Garcia, Bucs: He’s averaging roughly 280 yards per-start since returning to the starting lineup. Against the hapless Lions, he’ll finally throw for some touchdowns.
Derrick Ward, Giants: The steady backup quietly has averaged 80 total yards per game and cracks 50 every week. He may get more work than usual with Brandon Jacobs less than 100%.
Brandon Jones, Titans: The Jets will force Tennessee to pass, and Jones’ physical style will score for the second straight week. Our '06 sleeper makes good. Just like Brandon Jacobs, we never time our man love quite right, it always works out in the end.
Zach Miller, Raiders: Quietly on pace for nearly 700 yards and gets the Broncos.
Marcedes Lewis, Jaguars: Minnesota’s zone defense struggles to cover tight ends
November 18, 2008
The Steelers passing game has been a huge disappointment all season. Ben Roethlisberger doesn't rank among the top-20 fantasy quarterbacks, Santonio Holmes isn't in the top-40 wideouts, and Heath Miller is outside the top-25 at tight end. Hines Ward, on track for his first 1,000-yard effort since 2004, is the only one thriving.
I could come up with a variety of shortcomings from each player, but it all comes back to the offensive line. Ben Roethlisberger doesn't have time to set up for deep passes to Holmes; Miller stays in to block too much when healthy. Roethlisberger threw 41 times the last two games, with great yardage and no touchdowns. The Steelers have turned into a dink-and-dunk team.
I have lost faith that they will turn it around. Their Thursday night matchup against the Bengals looks tasty, but Cincy's pass defense is the strength of its team. Leon Hall and Jonathan Joseph make them average. I expect to see a lot of called running plays, just like Willie Parker wants. Willie may be a good sell high after that game because Pittsburgh finishes with New England, Dallas, Baltimore, and Tennessee. Roethlisberger and Holmes, usually drafted in the top-60 overall picks, should be on most fantasy benches during the fantasy playoffs.
Tiffany and I talk injuries and waiver pickups below, including some love for the Titans wideouts. And the last week of the 100K Challenge regular season is after the jump. Thank you all for your continued indifference.
Continue reading "Talking pictures" »
I try to watch one game on Shortcuts every Monday evening before the game starts. For some reason, this week I chose the field goal fest between the Bucs and the Vikings. My big takeaway was that Warrick Dunn, Jeff Garcia, and Antonio Bryant are all going to be sneaky matchups over the next month.
No coach gets more production out of less than Jon Gruden. Every Garcia completion seems like a small miracle, an escape from disaster, but he's averaged 280 yards-per-start and 7.38 YPA since re-entering the starting lineup. Warrick Dunn was on pace for 1,000 total yards before Earnest Graham's injury and looks reborn. It's hard to believe how well he's playing. He made a lot of defenders miss against Minnesota with spin moves and lateral cuts. Throwing to running backs is a huge part of the Tampa offense and Dunn will catch a lot of passes. He gets Detroit and New Orleans in the next two weeks. San Diego looms in Week 16 as another choice matchup.
Dunn's biggest downside is that Clifton Smith and B.J. Askew may steal goal line touches. Don't expect Cadillac Williams to make a big impact, if any. Antonio Bryant is also on pace for 1,000 yards. Garcia's inability to throw deep hurts Bryant, but he's making athletic plays after the catch. Joey Galloway is a non-factor and Bryant looks like a steady WR3 with all the good matchups coming up.
November 17, 2008
The only time Adrian Peterson touched the football in the fourth quarter against the Bucs was on a kick return. In the final drive of the game, Chester Taylor was in over Peterson, like he often is during passing situations. The result? Taylor whiffed on a block, which led to a Gus Frerotte sack. Then Taylor lost a fumble on the next play.
As you can imagine, Brad Childress is getting some questions about his usage of Peterson today. He doesn't appear to be taking it while. From the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Childress finished his presser with this quote:
Continue reading "Brad Childress loves quotes" »
I spent last night and this morning sorting through running backs; these sort of things tend to take longer than ever now, as I weigh the pros and cons of the all important LeRon McClain vs. Kevin Faulk debate. That leaves most of Week 11 left to be examined here.
Ryan Grant's boffo effort against Chicago was the fantasy story of the day, along with the Addai/Slaton duel in Lucas Oil Stadium. Only one back in ten previous games cracked 80 rushing yards against the Bears - Adrian Peterson. Grant went for 145 and a touchdown while plowing through monster holes. Brandon Jackson went for 50 yards on ten carries, another great sign of the line's turnaround.
I've spent the last month doubting the Grant resurgence, but he's convinced me now. He still doesn't catch passes or excel in short-yardage, but who cares if he averages 100 yards, as he now has for the last six games. The toughest matchup Grant has left is Chicago in Week 16. It took a while, but Grant owners now have the RB2 they thought they were drafting.
|
