Entering the season, it likely wouldn't have shocked people if you told them the Patriots quarterback would throw for 400 yards and three touchdowns against the Jets in Week 11. Of course, that was when golden boy Tom Brady was at the helm. But Matt Cassel?
Seriously? He even threw in 62 rushing yards for good measure.
He's coming around, but he's not a weekly fantasy starter. He's most certainly not a stud. The Patriots were forced to throw the football all game because of their lackluster backfield talent teamed with the Jets ferocious run defense. Cassel attempted 51 passes, which was 13 higher than his previous season high. He's usually in the low 30s when it comes to passing attempts.
With Sammy Morris regaining his health, I expect the Patriots to play more ball control football in the next few weeks. Don't get me wrong, Cassel's a fine start in good matchups -- like Week 14 in Seattle. It's just that when he plays the Steelers in Week 13 you don't want to use him. When he plays the Raiders in Week 15, the Pats will be tearing up the silver and black on the ground instead of passing. Etc.
Don't get overzealous, because he's still not Tom Brady.
Other Reality Checks
Kerry Collins to Justin Gage - Well, that's two weeks in a row they've hooked up for a touchdown, and this time it was twice. It seems like the Jags tried to copy the Bears blueprint from the previous week and eliminate the run. Collins is showing the Titans are not a one-dimensional offensive team, and that game-plan isn't exactly the key to success for opposing defenses. It's pick your poison, but I'd still be leaning more on the running attack here. Gage isn't a reliable option, and Collins is more of an injury/desperation replacement most weeks.
Ryan Grant - The Packers seem to have realized the offense needs to flow through the running game, and they just gashed a top five run defense. Grant had a field day against the Bears, and he's got the Saints on tap next. In my view, he's back. Just like last year, Grant's going to pay dividends down the stretch for his fantasy owners who stuck by him.
Shaun Hill - First things first: He's not going to face the Rams every week. On the flip-side, if you make the fantasy championship in Week 16, he sees them again. Along the way, I'd look to spot start him against the Jets and Bills if you don't have an elite quarterback. He's definitely worth owning, as all Mike Martz-coached signal-callers are.
The Carolina Panthers - Jake Delhomme threw for less than 100 yards against the Lions at home. I think at this point the writing is on the wall. Delhomme and Steve Smith are taking a back seat to the stellar running game. As long as the Panthers don't fall far behind -- and they won't much with that defense -- they seem pretty content to just shove the ball down opposing defenses' throats with Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams. I wouldn't be starting Delhomme anytime soon, and I'd strongly consider benching Smith when the matchup is tough -- like against Atlanta next week. Both Stewart and Williams are usable, especially when they play the Broncos in Week 15, for example.
Peyton Hillis - That was a complete mirage. The Falcons were not going to let the studly receiving duo beat them, so Hillis snuck in for two scores. He does have an incredibly easy matchup next week against the Raiders, but after that I'm not convinced he'll ever put up numbers again.
Tim Hightower and J.J. Arrington - Hightower's done with the easy part of the schedule for runners -- save for one matchup against the Rams -- and he only was productive in fantasy for one of the three easy games. You cannot count on him against the Giants or Eagles in the next two games. Arrington scored twice with 11 touches, but he's still only the third-down back and won't be consistent enough to be owned in fantasy. The main thing here is that Edgerrin James is completely done playing football this season.
The New York Giants - They simply don't have to pass anymore. The running game is that good. The offensive line and Brandon Jacobs set the tone early by punishing the Ravens' stout front up and down the field. Jacobs and Derrick Ward are both presently more valuable than Eli Manning and Plaxico Burress. There are many tough matchups coming up for the runners, but none are as tough as the Ravens. Start the runners, especially Jacobs, who is easily a RB1 in all formats.
