Sunday Wrap Up: Week 14

Walk It Off, Son
That was the theme as the San Diego Chargers completed a thrilling come from behind victory in Tennessee during the early set. LaDanian Tomlinson reminded why he's the best player in fantasy football and Philip Rivers bounced back from an embarrassing first half and an awkward little encounter with LT to throw two touchdowns and put the game into extra periods. (Which, by the way, should be switched to the college format. Imagine the fantasy football possibilities.) Anywho, give props to Phil too, as he walked off what looked like a serious knee injury to come in and lead the comeback. But the biggest walk off of all was LT's bust around around the left hand side of the line on first and 10 for a touchdown, putting the Chargers within one win of locking up the AFC West and sending the Titans to a potentially long off season.

Since you don't want to face the same fate in your fantasy league (that of the Titans), we're taking a different spin with the Sunday Wrap Up tonight. Instead of running through every game, we're going to focus on some of the best and worst fantasy playoff matchups and then highlight some major points from Sunday's action.

Playoff Matchups
Harumphs

Cleveland Browns - v. BUF, @ CIN
New England Patriots - v. NYJ, v. MIA
Tennessee Titans - @ KC, v. NYJ
Cincinnati Bengals - @ SF, v. CLE
San Diego Chargers - v. DET, v. DEN

Booooos*

New York Jets - @ NE, @ TEN
Oakland Raiders - v. IND, @ JAX
St. Louis Rams - v. GB, v. PIT
Carolina Panthers - SEA, DAL
Atlanta Falcons - @ TB, @ ARI

* I didn't include the Dolphins. You shouldn't be using them. Just so you know.

The Action

Tom Brady continues to tear. The Pats just shredded arguably the best defense in the NFL. Well, Brady just shredded them, tallying 399 yards and four TDs. Fantasy owners can breathe a sigh of relief -- doesn't look like they're losing any time soon, so the Golden Boy should be full force for the rest of the fantasy season as he chases Peyton Manning's record and the Pats seek perfection.

You may remember Travis Henry beating The Man and getting his drug test flipped. Well, he got flipped fa'real too, as it appears Selvin Young has upended him as the main rock-toter in Mile High. Games against San Diego and Minnesota aren't entirely appealing, but suddenly Houston can't stop anyone, so Young should be a solid RB2 for the playoffs. Henry's dealing with a knee issue; even though he scored Young is probably going to be more valuable going forward.

Someone remind Jamal Lewis it's still not 2003. On second though, don't. The former 2,000 yard rusher blew up again, sealing the game against the Jets, scoring twice and churning out over 130 total yards. Lick your collective chops with games against Buffalo and Cincinnati on tap for the fantasy playoffs; J-Lew just became a RB1 again.

Ernest Graham simply won't quit. The ex-Gator found the end zone again this week. Twice. He would have gone bigger too, if Tampa hadn't been playing from behind. He's going to crack 1,000 yards easy this season, and with playoff matchups against Atlanta and San Francisco, he's a studly RB2.

Please do not question Lee Evans. Or those of us who refuse to give up on him. He and Trent Edwards hooked up for two touchdowns Sunday as the Bills routed the Fins and the all-or-nothing wideout gets Cleveland next week and the wild-card clinched Giants in Week 16. Start him. You know you want redemption.

Look at Brandon Marshall. He's alls growns ups. He and Jay Cutler were straight clickin' (people say that, right?) Sunday, as he caught ten catches for two touchdowns and 115 yards against the Chiefs. Matchups against the Texans and Chargers (the latter should be a meaningless game) mean he's going to be a nice WR2 during the playoffs. Also note that Shanny's probably going to loosen up the gameplan with the season all but lost and let Cutler throw more -- Brandon Stokely's worth watching as a low end WR3 for the playoffs.

Arnaz Battle caught another touchdown this week -- three games in a row now. He ain't gonna go large, but if you're looking for an end zone target, he doesn't seem to care how made his quarterback is; a very low end WR3, but also very tempting for a matchup against Cincinnati in week 15.

You gotta think Mike Martz was cringing as Kevin Jones found the end zone twice on Sunday, if only because it was via ground shipping. LenDale White ran on San Diego today and Kansas City, well, you can stomp the Chiefs pretty easily, so Jones suddenly has serious flex value for the playoffs, assuming the Lions commit to the ground game more. Which they should.

Three straight 100 yard games for "Fragile" (not my words) Fred Taylor? At the end of the season?? Very impressive. Pittsburgh in week 15 means he might need to either find the bench or be a flex play at best, but with the Jags jockeying for playoff position, that week 16 game against Oakland make him and Maurice Jones-Drew RB1 fantasy options for championship week.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

12-10-2007 @ 4:56PM

chas1266 said...

I know this prolly isnt the forum for this, but im going to say it anyway. #1, hey, LT of the chargers,
what a way to show loyalty to your team, your QB comes to sit on the bench next to you, and you immediately get up and walk away with scorn on your face, face it dude, your overated, your not the best back in the nfl, and to S merriman of the chargers, stop your crying, you got a crack back block for what you did to young, and now your crying, come on dude, your a grown man in the NFL, if you cant stand the heat, then dont turn up the flame, you deserved that crack back block mr hgh, i hope you get more of what should be coming to you, you play dirty, expect to get dirty, stop your whining !!!!!!!!

12-11-2007 @ 7:21AM

Ryan said...

The Travis Henry / Selvin Young situation proves that regardless of the players involved, Shannahan will find a way to keep fantasy players pulling their hair out.

12-14-2007 @ 11:48PM

Cam said...

Ryan, the Henry/Young situation underscores that Shanahan has some secret way to change mere mortals into fantasy studs. The problem is in guessing WHICH mere mortals it will be from week to week.

12-11-2007 @ 12:29PM

%Raffaele Zuccaro said...

It seems to me that Young should be the Broncos running back for the next few seasons. Keep Hall and DUMP the Cocksman Henry--He has 9 kids to take care of{that we presently know of"} He is a sad example of man-hood and decency!!!

12-11-2007 @ 2:06PM

John said...

I got so frustrated with the Shanhanegans that I dropped Young and Hall when Henry beat his drug rap. And since then Young has started both games. Yep, I picked him back up this week. He had as many yards as "The General" Grant/GB (you can use that if you want Will!) with Henry hawking the TD. It seems Shanny has seen the light.
And the next time Will says play Crayton, yeah run like hail! sorry man, you know I'm right. hehee But I did take your advise and picked up Evans.
A Gonzalez WR/IND is a real sleeper along with D Walker RB/HOU (Dayne was a bust)according to ESPN's Phabiano.
John

12-12-2007 @ 1:08PM

The only thing that Henry produces more of IS "illigitamate" KIDS--9 of them, from 9 different women. If for any reason he should NOT be playing in the NFL, is just that!!!!

12-13-2007 @ 7:22PM

bottledsinz said...

LT...If thats what it takes to get your QB to stand up and get into the game...Do it ..I was wondering if you left him a present..Telling him he was stinking up the field...Nothing beats the smell of VICTORY...