December 18, 2008
1. Can you go back to Joseph Addai?
I think you can as a RB2, at least over other players with shaky matchups like LaDainian Tomlinson and Ryan Grant. We may not know Addai's status officially until gametime, but he's expected to start. The Colts should want him to get a decent workload tonight to get him ready for the playoffs. The Colts will rest their starters next week if they win. Jacksonville has played well against the run the last two weeks, slowing down Matt Forte and Ryan Grant, but they are mediocre overall.
2. Is this an Anthony Gonzalez game?
With Marvin Harrison out, it sure looks like it. Taking one option away from Peyton Manning is huge for Gonzo's targets, especially against a below average secondary. Gonzalez is up to No. 26 in my latest rankings. It helps Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark too.
Continue reading "Thursday night questions" »
December 17, 2008
Anquan Boldin, who knows how to play through injuries, missed practice Wednesday because of a shoulder injury. The Cardinals are hopeful he'll be ready for Sunday, and some am I as a Boldin owner in two finals. But this bothers me more than a usual Wednesday practice. The Cardinals have nothing to play for in Foxborough and it makes a lot of sense to rest Boldin if he's not 100%. With the conditions expected to be below freezing with some snow flurries, Arizona may be even more cautious.
Incidentally, I'm not too worried about the snow forecast yet. If it's light, it hurts the pass rush more than anything. And the New England defense does not have the bodies to hang with Arizona, whether Boldin is available or not.
Matt Bowen wrote an enlightening piece about how players really vote for the Pro Bowl. They never vote for rivals (Bills don't for Patriots) and they stack the ballot with reserves to help the starters on their own teams.
It didn't make huge national news, but King Carl Peterson's dethroning this week shook up the football world. I've watched Peterson closely during his last, worst days. Joe Posnanski, as always, provides some reasoned perspective.
Each week, I write up some borderline plays for a NBC P.R. release promoting Sunday Night Football. When I'm not too stuffed from eating late at my wife's place of work, I post them here.
Chad Pennington vs. Chiefs: The only quarterback Kansas City has held under 250 yards in the last eight games is JaMarcus Russell.
Brett Favre vs. Sea: Despite recent struggles, Favre should bounce back against the easiest defense in the league to score fantasy points against.
Kevin Smith vs. Lions: Saints The rookie is still running like his pants are on fire, regardless of the team's record. The Saints have nothing to play for.
Continue reading "Borderline Plays" »
J.P. Losman has hit bottom. First fumbling away a win in the sequel to the Miracle at the Meadowlands, and now there is a possibility that he will be benched for Gimbran Hamdan. Lee Evans owners probably think this is a bad thing, but how much worse can it get?
Remember late shoppers: An autographed J.P. Losman Tulane Green Wave Replica Mini Helmet is still available for only $49.99.
December 16, 2008
I took an early look at the Week 16 matchups by asking what players are matchup proof on championship week:
LaDainian Tomlinson owners have spent this season in purgatory, hopeful that a favorable start to the fantasy playoffs would make their first-round draft pick pay off. LT2 scored against the Raiders and Chiefs, but the yardage numbers weren't there. He gained 165 yards from scrimmage against two of the worst rush defenses in football. Tomlinson is a matchup play, and the matchup gets tougher this week in Tampa. He'll be on my bench in favor of Pierre Thomas.
The rapid fall of Tomlinson has me thinking about his future. You don't want to be an armchair psychologist, but Tomlinson sounds like a guy who has lost some of his love for the game. He already talked about retirement last May. Tomlinson doesn't seem to love Norv Turner, and he has to recognize his skills are diminishing. Could he be another running back to retire young?
At the very least, Tomlinson's future as a top-ten fantasy pick is over. The Chargers know that he is in decline, and seem likely to draft or acquire another running back this off-season. That could cut into Tomlinson's workload next year. Aging running backs fall off a cliff seemingly every year, but it is still jarring to see how fast things can change for one of the great ones.
December 15, 2008
Early last Friday morning, after the death of another Saints season (Here lies the 2008 Saints. They couldn't pick up a third-and-one.), I wondered aloud how Reggie Bush would handle taking a backseat to Pierre Thomas. The early results: not good.
After Bush sulked throughout the second half Thursday, he had this to say: "I just work here. I'm just an employee. I don't call the shots. I definitely don't call the plays."
Sean Payton didn't really defend Bush after the game either after dressing him down on the sideline during the game. Bush is now surprisingly getting an MRI on his injured knee. The results will be known early this week, although the sprain wasn't originally believed to be very serious. The friction between the two sides could all blow over in the next week, but something tells me there is a chance it blows up in the future. If nothing else, Pierre Thomas might get all the carries against Detroit this week. Giddy up!
In a season where many backs can't finish, Michael Turner's 33 carries against Tampa are comforting for his redraft owners. Turner has picked it up down the stretch when so many have faltered. As I mention in the Morning After, Turner is past the stage where tough matchups render him shaky.
His 332 carries are a concern, though. The Curse of 370 is staring him in the face, and a potential playoff run could be added to that. Dynasty owners should root for the Falcons to start losing. Some players, like Clinton Portis, got hurt before arriving at 370. But the other running back at risk of overuse this season is Adrian Peterson, with 320. This is something to keep an eye on during these final weeks and into the offseason.
December 12, 2008
The quick hitting start or site video is below, with a special guest spot by Visanthe Shiancoe. The full blown matchup previews after the jump. Thank you for your continued apathy. I'll be chatting on Season Pass in 30 minutes.
Continue reading "Video evidence" »
Very nice of the Giants to declare Brandon Jacobs out for Sunday's game so early. For Jacobs, this is a disappointing turn in a great season. He really wanted to play 16 games, but has missed two and a half of the last four. It's the smart move, though: Jacobs' most important football is ahead of him.
This allows Derrick Ward owners to start the usual backup with confidence. Ward is the type of back I love: he can do everything. His receiving ability makes him more complete of a back than Jacobs. He's not as explosive or powerful as the The Train, but he's not lacking for short-yardage ability at 235 pounds.
What a great test of strengths between Dallas' improved rush defense and the Giants offensive line. When push comes to shove, I'd still bet on New York's historical running game winning the battle. That's why Ward is ranked 14th on the updated rankings, just behind Dominic Rhodes of the Colts. Joseph Addai looks very unlikely to play. That leaves Frank Gore and Marion Barber as the biggest question marks for Sunday, with both players looking iffy at best. My gut says MBIII has the best chance to play, but he's got a tough matchup and could lose carries to "Rashard" Choice even if he plays.
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