Fantasy FanHouse

Checking the Schedule: I Love the Colts

Matt Snyder — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy Football, NFL Fantasy Felony

By and large, the Indianapolis Colts have been a disappointment as a fantasy squad this season. None of them have lived up to their hype. Sure, Peyton Manning has had some vintage Peyton games ... and Reggie Wayne has been himself a few times. There was even one Marvin Harrison sighting. This just hasn't been the type of offense we've grown accustomed to seeing over the past decade from Indy.

That's all about to change.

While Sean Lalley made a great case against Joseph Addai earlier this week, I'm going to have to respectfully disagree and say that I'd be mortgaging my team right now to acquire Colts. They have made it through the difficult part of their schedule, and now face a nice stretch where we'll see the return of the offensive machine. The trips to Tennessee, Green Bay, Minnesota, and Pittsburgh are safely in the rearview ... as are the home games against the Patriots, Bears, and Ravens (who the Colts pummelled anyway).

Make way for a smorgasbord of defensive ineptitude ... because here's what's left for Indy: A good mix of bad run defenses with bad pass defenses. Not one team is good at both pass and run defense left on the docket until Week 17. Check it out below:

Next to the week I'll list the opponent and then (overall defensive rank, pass defense rank, run defense rank).

Week 11: Texans (19, 14, 23)
Week 12: Chargers (26, 32, 13)
Week 13: Browns (27, 21, 26)
Week 14: Bengals (20, 10, 25)
Week 15: Lions (31, 29, 31)
Week 16: Jags (16, 17, 20)
Week 17: If it even matters ... the Colts face the tough Titans defense, but they likely won't be playing for anything. I believe the Colts will, so I'd still like all the guys. By this point they'll have the swagger back and be completely healthy.

Mmmmm ... Colts fantasy players. Love them. Go get some of your own and enjoy the machine. It's coming back.

Checking the Schedule: I Love the Colts originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Fantasy Hit List

Ryan Dembinsky — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy Football, NFL Fantasy Felony

As much as we all pretend we build our fantasy teams are based solely on data, trends, matchups and depth charts, there is an undeniable emotional element involved. If you have ever played in a league with the same crew for multiple years, you know exactly what I am talking about. For instance, I know my colleague here at FanHouse, Sean Lalley, will always want Larry Fitzgerald, probably draft Chad Johnson, and will sniper any young running back that looks poised to slip into a starting role. On the other hand, if Curtis Martin, Tiki Barber, and Torry Holt played until age 75, they would probably all end up my team.

We grow attached to guys who have helped us win... and vice versa. On the contrary, we grow to despise the players who sink our teams as if they pushed our grandma to the ground in an effort to steal the last seat on a busy subway car. They are evil and we do not forget this. Thus, the following comprises a sampling of some of the guys who have burned fantasy teams beyond repair over the years. In other words, this is our fantasy hit list.

Corey Dillon - We'll date ourselves here a little, but back in 2003 fantasy team-killin' Corey Dillon came off a 1,300-plus yard and seven-touchdown rushing season with all the hype of a new Vampire Weekend album. Much like the band, Dillon proved to be totally overrated, providing owners a whopping 541 yards and two teeders.

Michael Clayton - The ultimate sophomore slump. Clayton came out of nowhere his rookie year, posting almost 1,200 yards, 80 catches, seven scores, and making a nice little name for himself in Tampa Bay. Fast forward one season and Clayton caught freaking 32 balls for 372 yards and no touchdowns. And he still sucks to this day.

Randy Moss - Moss was nobody's favorite corn-rowed G in 2006 when he left fantasy owners eating a hot turd platter consisting of 42 catches, 553 yards and a lousy three touchdowns.

Mike Shanahan - Everybody always talks about the Mike Shanahan surreptitious backfield situations as if they are so perplexing. To me, it's obvious; Mike Shanahan has dominated his personal fantasy league at his wife's office for years by screwing over anyone who ever started a Broncos running back.

Laurence Maroney - How is that third-rounder working out for you guys this season? With two promising seasons right out of college, Maroney looked like he had a franchise tag headed his way one day. Fast forward to 2008 and he is done for the season after a whopping 83 yards and an injured reserve tag instead. As much as I love me some Sports Guy, never ever take fantasy advice from Bill Simmons.

LaMont Jordan - Lamont Jordan circa 2006 added ulcers to ambitious fantasy owners after a tremendous 2005 season where he strutted for over 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns while catching 70 passes for another 563 yards and two scores. After complaining his way out of the Jets organization, Jordan's career exploded in Oakland like a Roman candle, but ended like a wet match. He returned after the big Oakland debut season with 479 yards and two touchdowns on the ground with just 15 catches for another 100 and change. Pundits suspect In-and-Out Burger led to Jordan's ultimate demise, but nobody knows for certain.

Daunte Culpepper - While a lot of the guys on this list angered me deeply over the years, I never personally hated any of them, but nor did they singlehandedly destroy my team like Daunte Culpepper in 2005. In retrospect, Culpepper owners should have known better and stuck a fork in his season earlier, but back then, fantasy owners weren't quite as nimble in ditching a first- or second-rounder. It didn't make sense how he could go from totally dominant to putrid in one season (pardon me Mr. Dembinsky, Mr. Moss would like a word with you). Still, I will never forgive Daunte Culpepper, unless he singlehandedly wins a Super Bowl in Detroit. Otherwise, I'll die with an arch-nemesis.

Larry Johnson - Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to introduce you to the new tyrant of the fantasy s**t list. Unfortunately, I told myself to stay away from LJ this season, but in one league I took the bait like a banjo minnow in the third round. He burned fantasy owners by getting suspended this season (and getting injured last season). Furthermore, he now sits on the waiver wire, leaving us all to wonder if and when he will play over the course of the next month, before his double hearing and getting suspended again, or if Jamaal Charles will just take over now for good. In a just world, the Chiefs would respect their organization and its reputation by opting for the latter.

So, who is on your list?

The Fantasy Hit List originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Thu, 06 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Value Meter: It's All About Brady Quinn

Matt Snyder — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 14:45:00 EST

Filed under: Sunday Wrap-Up, Fantasy Football, NFL Fantasy Felony

Value Machine checks out the overall perceived value of fantasy players. If you want to commit a fantasy felony, you'll sell high on the up arrow guys and buy low on the down arrow guys.

Brady Quinn has never started an NFL game. He's only appeared in one, completing only three of eight passing attempts for 45 yards.

And I'll guarantee you he's the hottest waiver wire add this week in fantasy football. He may even have been rostered in many leagues (only six percent in fleaflicker leagues, though), but now the guy who did own him thinks he's struck fantasy gold.

Can he measure up?

The Browns do have some explosive options at receiver, even if they have issues with dropping balls or staph infections. They have a quality offensive line to provide protection for the youngster, and Jamal Lewis is an established feature back. The offense just put up its fair share of points against a really solid Baltimore Ravens defense, though they were missing personnel in the defensive backfield.

Also, don't discount the learning Quinn did while holding a clipboard for a season and a half, not to mention the built up proverbial fire in the belly. He's a competitor, and he's always been thought of as a smart QB.

His schedule lines up this way, with passing defense rank in parentheses:

- Broncos (27th)
- Bills (15th)
- Texans (14th)
- Colts (3rd)
- Titans (12th)
- Eagles (8th)
- Bengals (9th)
We'll know a lot more after his performance this week against the terrible Denver defense. If he just flat out kills it, he's worth a hold. If he has a good, but not great, game, I'd deal him in a heartbeat with those opposing defenses rounding out the schedule.

Either way, Brady's all the rage this week, and he's your top riser.

Some Other

Sage Rosenfels - Took over for the injured Schaub, and racked up 224 yards and two TDs in just a half.

Gus Frerotte - He's making sweet music with Bernard Berrian, and has easily settled into that Minnesota offense.

Calvin Johnson - I'm holding now. They are going way out of their way to get him the football, so it's not going to stop anytime soon. The WR is the focal point of the Lions offense.

Falcons D/ST - They don't play the Raiders every week. Remember that.

Ray Rice - Now is the perfect time to ship him to Willis McGahee's owner.

Anthony Gonzalez - I'd hold. The Colts are going to have to rely on the pass with the running game sputtering. He's getting more looks than Marvin Harrison.

Top Fallers

Matt Schaub, Kyle Orton, Derek Anderson -- Lots of owners were stung with losing QBs from their fantasy rosters this week. Schaub is out for at least a month, it sounds like Orton will miss two to three games, and Anderson has -- in my opinion -- taken his last relevant snap of the season. The QB switch signifies that the Browns are likely waving the white flag for this season and trying to see what they have in Quinn. You can't just switch back without giving Quinn enough leeway to make a few mistakes and learn on the job.

Other

Marshawn Lynch - The Jets have a tough run defense, so he had a rough time. It happens. He likely won't find a ton of running lanes against the Pats this week, either. Be ready to pounce next week, though, because that schedule reads Cleveland, KC, and SF for the next three.

Plaxico Burress - He has too much talent to sputter like this. I am starting to wonder if the Giants are trying to prove they don't need him, kinda like with Jeremy Shockey? I'd be worried if I owned him ... and you know what that means: Bargain shopping time!

Larry Johnson - Sigh. I hate to say it, but you could probably get a bargain right now for this piece of work. Kolby Smith is out for the season, and when LJ returns in Week 11 he faces a relatively easy schedule for runners the rest of the way. Just don't give much. I don't trust him.

Willis McGahee - The job is still his if he ever gets healthy.

Joseph Addai - Something just isn't right with the Indy running game right now.

Fantasy Football Value Meter: It's All About Brady Quinn originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Tue, 04 Nov 2008 14:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Value Meter: Joe Flacco's Stock Way Too High Right Now

Matt Snyder — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 16:15:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy Football, NFL Fantasy Felony

Value Machine checks out the overall perceived value of fantasy players. If you want to commit a fantasy felony, you'll sell high on the up arrow guys and buy low on the down arrow guys.

Joe Flacco - That was a great game, and any fantasy owners who were likely forced to starting him ended up delighted. The Ravens, however, win the game by running the football and playing defense. Their matchups don't even matter moving forward, because Flacco's never going to be a reliable starter in fantasy.

Deuce McAllister - Deuce paid off this past week for fantasy owners, but I'm weary about him moving forward. It's possible he's suspended for this whole steroid fiasco, and the Saints have a bye this week. That's two full weeks in which the NFL could decide upon a punishment. Also, Reggie Bush isn't out much longer. All owners know when Bush is coming back, at which point Deuce loses all his value. That means now is the perfect time to deal him.

David Garrard - He's the hot hand right now, and the Bengals and Lions are on tap for the next two weeks ... hold him. Please.

Anquan Boldin - I was really happy for Boldin as he found the end-zone twice in his return to the field from a bad injury. The problem is, he's not always going to get those looks with Larry Fitzgerald opposite him. Steve Breaston also was a huge part of the game-plan, and he's not going away. I expect that game to be the best we see from Boldin the rest of the way. By far.

Matt Schaub - The Texans have played four straight games at home, and the last few have been awful teams. Now they head out to the road. Pundits everywhere are crying to shop him now. If you get elite-level talent back, I guess you can deal him. If not, hold. He's still got some game left in him against the Vikings, Colts, Browns, Jags, and Packers ... to name a few. He's also a good young QB with arguably the best WR in the league on his side. Don't just give up based upon some circumstantial junk that some geek stumbled across.

Ted Ginn - You win fantasy games and championships with consistency. Ginn is the polar opposite of a consistent point-scorer, so move on ... without Teddy.

Ben Roethlisberger - It's not easy to put up stats against the Giants, especially with Santonio Holmes benched because he loves reefer ...

Brandon Jacobs - ... and it's certainly not easy to run against the stout Steelers front. He'll be back to his bruising and touchdown scoring quite soon.

Michael Turner - Another good run defense, another bad game. This isn't rocket science people ... avoid him. If you own him, you should have listened to me earlier and traded him by now. Hopefully it's not too late.

Maurice Jones-Drew - Bengals and Lions coming up for the next two weeks ... get him now, and then trade him after that because the Titans, Vikings, and Bears (among others) await after that.

Marques Colston - Don't give up. He's still a stud. It's in there somewhere and will rear its head soon enough.

Jonathan Stewart - Nine touches, all in short yardage, and no touchdowns. It's not like the Arizona Cardinals are some huge run-stuffing unit either. He's being outplayed by DeAngelo Williams when not close to the goal-line. On the other hand, he has tons of potential, and there are four suspect run defenses awaiting after the bye (Raiders, Lions, Falcons, Packers).

Around the NFL: Week 8

Tennessee 31, Indianapolis 21
If you're still undefeated, please raise your hand. The Titans' dream season continued on Monday night, as Tennessee blew past the struggling Colts to take a commanding lead in the AFC South.

Andy Lyons, Getty Images

Giants 21, Pittsburgh 14
The Giants batter and bruise the Steelers, then rally late for a victory when Eli Manning hits Kevin Boss for a touchdown. The win keeps the Giants alone in first in the NFC East.

Keith Srakocic, AP

New Orleans 37, San Diego 32
The Saints and Chargers give the fans of London a show. Drew Brees, left, and Philip Rivers combine for 680 yards passing and six touchdowns. It's Brees' Saints, though, that come through with a much-needed victory.

Getty Images

Dallas 13, Tampa Bay 9
Cowboys quarterback Brad Johnson hits Roy Williams for the wide receiver's first Dallas touchdown, staking the 'Boys to a halftime lead against Tampa. The Dallas defense then takes over, stopping the Bucs in the red zone in the game's final minute.

Mike Stone, Reuters

Philadelphia 27, Atlanta 14
A healthy Brian Westbrook makes all the difference for the Eagles. Westbrook carries 22 times for 167 yards and two touchdowns - including a 39-yard romp in the fourth quarter to put the game on ice for host Philadelphia.

Tom Mihalek, AP

Miami 25, Buffalo 16
Chad Pennington's arm strength appears just fine, thank you. Miami's signal caller picks apart Buffalo for 314 yards and a touchdown, helping the Dolphins upset their AFC East rivals. The Bills cough up a 16-7 second-half lead in the loss.

Doug Benc, Getty Images

Baltimore 29, Oakland 10
The Ravens defense dominates, opening the game with a safety, and holding Oakland to just 234 yards in an easy victory. Baltimore QB Joe Flacco punches in a pair of touchdowns - one through the air, one on the ground - as the Ravens improve to 4-3.

George Bridges, MCT

New England 23, St. Louis 16
The Rams look primed to move to 3-0 under new head coach Jim Haslett - until Matt Cassel finds Kevin Faulk for a 15-yard TD pass late in the fourth quarter. The strike allows New England to escape with a win and tie Buffalo for first in the AFC East.

Jim Rogash, Getty Images

Jets 28, Kansas City 24
Desperate for a victory, the Jets survive a serious scare from Tyler Thigpen and Kansas City. New York trails 24-21 after a Brett Favre interception is returned for a TD midway through the fourth, but the Jets answer with a late score. Leon Washington, pictured, crosses the goal line for a pair of touchdowns.

Al Bello, Getty Images

Carolina 27, Arizona 23
Steve Smith earns the right to celebrate, reeling in a short pass from Jake Delhomme and sprinting 65 yards for a third-quarter touchdown that gives Carolina the lead for good. The Panthers trailed Arizona by as much as 17-3 in the second half before beginning a comeback.

Streeter Lecka, Getty Images

Fantasy Football Value Meter: Joe Flacco's Stock Way Too High Right Now originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Tue, 28 Oct 2008 16:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Injuries To Watch: Week 8

Ryan Dembinsky — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Injury Report, NFL Fantasy Felony

Every week when the dinner bell rings on Friday evening, we'll be here to provide you a comprehensive commentary of the key injuries for the NFL weekend to follow. For those injuries that go right down to the wire, drop by our Fantasy Fanhouse expert live chat from 10am to 1pm EST every Sunday and we'll take care of you on those bloody game-time decisions. As always, please feel free to chime in with opinions, updates, and rumors in the comments.

The Arizona Cardinals

Anquan Boldin - After a well-timed bye week affording Boldin an extra week to rest his dome, he is expected to play on Sunday. Boldin allegedly lost about ten pounds though after having his jaw wired shut and slurping his food for two weeks. I'm in this predicament myself and plan to start him, but it's not an easy decision. If you have other quality options, it is probably worth waiting to see what he does this weekend.

The Baltimore Ravens

Derrick Mason - Unfortunately for Mason owners, who saw his value tick up after his six catch, 86 yard, one touchdown game last week, he was unable to practice this week with an undisclosed illness. Mason is not reliable enough to risk starting unless the illness dissipates completely.

The Carolina Panthers

D.J. Hackett - While I doubt too many people are reeling over Hackett's day-to-day status, he looks to be practicing lightly and should be available to play.

The Chicago Bears

Brandon Lloyd - Brandon Lloyd continues to nurse a sprained knee, so hopefully this week's bye should be the final stage in the waiting game. After a hot start to the season, owners are eagerly anticipating his return, but who knows what kind of shape he will be in upon returning.

The Cincinnati Bengals

Carson Palmer - Palmer is listed as out for Sunday's matchup against the Steelers.

T.J. Houshmandzadeh - Housh dressed on Thursday after practicing without pads on Wednesday. He is expected to go on Sunday, but given the injury in conjunction with Palmer's inactive status, he is probably not a great start for a #1 or a #2 wide receiver. Still, he is likely to get his fair share of targets regardless of who throws to him, so it's not regretable to keep him in the lineup.

The Cleveland Browns

Kellen Winslow - Kellen Winslow done went and got himself suspended. While he is attempting to appeal the decision, make other plans until further notice.

The Dallas Cowboys

Tony Romo - After leading everybody to think he was going to play through the pain last week with a broken pinkie, Romo announced he will miss the Cowboys' week 8 game against the Bucs. Worse yet, he now does not expect to return until after the bye week in mid-November.

Felix Jones - Jones is out this week and is expected to miss roughly another month with a partially torn hammy.

The Indianapolis Colts

Joseph Addai - While I think the Colts are playing mind games here, they are claiming that Addai might be available for the week eight game against Tennessee on Monday Night Football. They say it's 50/50, but I would not count on seeing much, if anything, from Addai this week. Stay tuned.

The New England Patriots

Sammy Morris - A lot of fantasy owners were feeling pretty smart after last week's first half dominance, but Morris is very questionable this week. While you never really know with Belichick, Morris has yet to practice this week. I'd recommend holding him out this week unless we hear any positive news. Again, take everything in new England with a grain of salt, but there have been some reports saying he will miss two to three weeks.

The New Orleans Saints

Marques Colston - Rest easy Colston owners, he is no longer on the injury report and should return to form this week. While the Reggie Bush injury hurts the Saints, it's likely an addition-by-subtraction situation for the receivers, so I expect big things from Colston.

Jeremy Shockey - After a disappointing return last week, Shockey is now listed as probable and should be ready for a real return this week.

Reggie Bush - Easily the most devastating injury of the week, Reggie Bush is definitely out this week and is expected to miss two to four weeks after having his knee scoped earlier in the week.

The New York Giants

Plaxico Burress - Plaxico missed two straight practices as his shoulder and neck stiffness continues to cause him problems. At this point, he is questionable, but if anybody will figure out a way to play, it's Plaxico. Check in before game time, but he should be available to go this week for the big game against the Steelers.

The New York Jets

Laveranues Coles - Coles remains on the injury report and the Jets confirmed that Coles suffered a concussion in week seven. Wait on Coles until we hear if the doctors clear him to play, but if they do, he should be good to go.

Jerricho Cotchery - Cotchery has practiced light all week with a shoulder injury and did not perform well last week against the Raiders. While he should be available to play, the Favre to Cotchery connection is not consistent. He'll put up more big games, but figuring out where and when is becoming too detrimental to fantasy owners.

The Philadelphia Eagles

Brian Westbrook - After the bye in week seven, Westbrook is good to go and ready to continue his perpetual fantasy domination.

The Pittsburgh Steelers

Willie Parker - Willie Parker 's knee injury continues to annoy fantasy owners as he was initially expected to return by now, Parker's status is still listed as doubtful, so continue to look elsewhere for one more week.

The San Diego Chargers

Chris Chambers - Chambers is questionable this week with the sprained ankle and does not seem to have made all that much progress. Hold off on him until he gives us reason to do otherwise.

The Seattle Seahawks

Deion Branch - It's just more of the same for Deion Branch. He continues to miss practice and has made no progress to report. Don't waste a roster spot until further notice.

Matt Hasselbeck - Hasselbeck looks to miss another week due to his inured back. Keep him on the roster, but he probably doesn't even constitute a worthy starter when he returns.

The San Francisco 49ers

Josh Morgan - The buzzy waiver wire wide receiver is questionable with a groin injury after missing Wednesday practice and participating in a limited capacity on Thursday. While he should be ready to go, I can't say I'd feel to comfortable starting him this week.

The St. Louis Rams

Steven Jackson - Jackson's status is looking grim this week as he sat out of both Wednesday and Thursday practice. Coach Haslett put his status at 50/50, but given his caliber and the Ram's improved play the last two games, don't get too down on him. He knows the offense, so the rest is not such a bad sign. Wait until game time, but I'd lean toward starting him if any positive news comes prior to gametime.

The Tampa Bay Bucs

Joey Galloway - Galloway continues to practice light after the extended bout with a foot injury. He is not worth starting, but Galloway should return soon for owners hoping he will add some firepower to the corps down the stretch.

Warrick Dunn - Dunn was limited in practice all week with a back injury. Don't expect too much from Dunn, given Earnest Graham's availability.

The Tennessee Titans

Justin Gage - Gage looks ready to return after nursing his knee injury. He practiced three straight days, so if you need him, go ahead and start him. He is not a great start, given the Titans heavy reliance on the run, but you could do worse for your #3 wide receiver.

The Washington Redskins

Clinton Portis - Portis did not practice on Thursday, but Coach Zorn continues to reiterate that he will play this weekend against the Lions. You should start him as always, but did I mention the Redskins were playing the Lions? They might not need too much out of Portis, since there will probably be plenty of garbage time. If there is ever a game for Shaun Alexander to show his stuff, this is likely the one.

Injuries To Watch: Week 8 originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Fri, 24 Oct 2008 18:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Value Machine: Is Sammy Morris For Real?

Matt Snyder — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 10:37:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy Football, NFL Fantasy Felony

Value Machine checks out the overall perceived value of fantasy players. If you want to commit a fantasy felony, you'll sell high on the up arrow guys and buy low on the down arrow guys.

Sammy Morris - That was a stellar half last night, which qualified for a great game. The problem is, there are two caveats ... he tweaked his knee, and the Broncos run defense is abysmal. I do think the Patriots will try to limit the heavy lifting done by Matt Cassel the rest of the season, but worry that Bill Belichick will be reluctant to have one man carry the entire load for the rest of the season. Now is probably the best time to deal Morris, but holding him wouldn't be horrible, in light of the knee injury limiting your possible returns.

Calvin Johnson - Megatron is the only Lions receiver worth guarding for opposing defenses. He was only able to grab two catches Sunday against a suspect, at best, Texans defense. The reason he's here, though, is because he shook free for a long catch and a ridiculously long touchdown. You can't count on that every week, despite his enormous talent.

Derrick Mason - I can't justify counting on the Ravens passing attack on a weekly basis, especially now that Willis McGahee is back carrying the load and the defense returned to form.

Ryan Grant - We finally got our payoff this past weekend, and now it's time to let him fly. I understand that last year the Packers running game hit its stride mid-way through the season, but Grant has faced several bad run defenses, and now he has a stretch of really good ones coming.

Dominic Rhodes - Joseph Addai could be back this week, but even if he's not the running lanes won't be found against the mighty Titans.

Matt Cassel - Last night must have been fun for those who dove on Cassel like Tom Brady is a "system quarterback," but it was an aberration more than anything else. He's not a three TD guy.

Jeff Garcia - He won't lose this job again, of course, he won't be facing such a sieve of a defense often either. What has happened to the Seahawks in just one year?

Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson - Hold them both. This is a premier QB-to-WR connection.

Brett Favre - He's obviously not going to be consistent. He's also not going to be terrible, either.

Willie Parker - He'll be back. Eventually.

Greg Jennings and Donald Driver - The Packers won't be able to rely on the run as much as they did this past week. When they can't, they'll go through the air and these two stud WRs will get theirs. Again.

Frank Gore - He just faced an angered Giants defense after a cross-country trip.

All Cowboys - Look, Tony Romo is going to get healthy, Roy Williams is going to learn the offense, and they'll be a point-scoring machine again. It might take a few weeks, sure, but it will most certainly happen before your fantasy stretch run. Have some foresight and get the studs now if you can.

Steve Breaston - Anquan Boldin is coming back, but I'm not sure he'll be the same guy the rest of the way. Don't give up on Breaston.

Ronnie Brown - While the Wildcat falters, everyone wants to jump ship on Brown. He's still a great running back when healthy, and he is healthy. He's not facing the Ravens stout run defense every week ... especially not when they are trying to disprove a beatdown from the previous week (when the Colts embarrassed them).

Fantasy Football Value Machine: Is Sammy Morris For Real? originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Tue, 21 Oct 2008 10:37:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Value Machine - Sorting the Upside Down Week

Matt Snyder — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy Football, NFL Fantasy Felony

Value Machine checks out the overall perceived value of fantasy players. If you want to commit a fantasy felony, you'll sell high on the up arrow guys and buy low on the down arrow guys.

As I said yesterday, this week was really weird from a fantasy perspective. Let's find some buy-lows ...

Edgerrin James -- I'm not a fan, but he's going to do more than 29 yards most weeks.

Steven Jackson -- As the Rams' confidence grows under their new regime, they'll remain competitive in games ... and when they are, Jackson's the focal point of the offense. He just faced a really strong Redskins defense.

Matt Hasselbeck -- As long as he's healthy, he's going to have a big second half. You just have to have the depth to wait on him for a few weeks.

Jake Delhomme -- I have no idea what that crap was all about. He's maddeningly inconsistent, but he also has Steve Smith.

Brett Favre -- Easy Jets schedule coming up. He'll get his.

Steve Slaton -- Detroit and Cincy the next two weeks, and the Dolphins run defense is underrated.

Jason Campbell and Santana Moss -- I'm not bailing just yet.

LeRon McClain -- That entire game was an embarrassment. Just write it off as the Ravens running into the buzzsaw known as the 2005 Colts.... and sell highs

Patrick Cobbs -- Really shouldn't have even listed him here, because no one owned him and no one's trading for him. Of course, you can always find an idiot somewhere, so you could consider him a pickup and package deal piece.

Maurice Jones-Drew -- They won't be facing many run defenses as bad as Denver's, and their offensive line is still not in very good shape.

Thomas Jones -- I'd actually trade for him now. The upcoming schedule shows Oakland, Kansas City, Buffalo, and St. Louis. He should keep going for a bit.

Correll Buckhalter -- Deal him to Brian Westbrook's owner and get back a stud. Unless you are Westbrook's owner, in which case you have to hold both.

Vincent Jackson -- When Chris Chambers returns, he'll be relegated back to being irrelevant in fantasy.

Steve Breaston -- Same sentence as the one next to Jackson, just insert Anquan Boldin for Chris Chambers.

Matt Ryan and Roddy White -- They'd rather have controlled the clock via the run, it's just that you can't run on the Bears.

Warrick Dunn -- I'm not buying it one bit. Still, you can deal him to Earnest Graham's owner for better value than he possesses.

Fantasy Value Machine - Sorting the Upside Down Week originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Tue, 14 Oct 2008 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FanHouse's Quasi-Weekly LIVE Fantasy Football Chat: Thursday, 1:00 PM Eastern

Matt Snyder — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:45:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Position Rankings, NFL Sleepers, NFL Waiver Wire, Fantasy Football, NFL Fantasy Felony, Expert Chats

Sure, you can wait to set your lineup until Sunday morning -- when we tailgate -- but there are other things to be done in the middle of the fantasy week.

Need advice on any trades in the works?

Are bye weeks killing your roster, meaning you're in need of a desperation sleeper option?

We will also accept lineup questions, but there is so much more going on in the world of fantasy. You can even come check in if you just want to argue with us. You'll be wrong, but it's cool to try and stuff. We've got no problem with that.

No matter the reason, stop on in and check us out.

By the way, Larry (above right) wants me to tell you he's a must-start every week. Please don't ask about him.

FanHouse's Quasi-Weekly LIVE Fantasy Football Chat: Thursday, 1:00 PM Eastern originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Turner the Burner: Accept Him Yet?

Matt Snyder — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 12:15:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy Football, NFL Fantasy Felony

Part of being a fantasy analyst is accepting the fact that you are going be wrong. When you discuss and rank hundreds of players every week without the luxury of telepathy, it's impossible to be right about every single player.

For me, the biggest thorn in my side -- thanks now to Larry Johnson for showing everyone how much he sucks last week, by the way -- has been Michael Turner.

I don't know why I can't accept him, really. 'The Burner' is one of those guys we should all love. Went to a small college, dabbled in obscurity behind the best running back in the league for a few years, and finally struck the big contract in the offseason.

Instead, I've continually ranked him too low and tried to give you reality checks about him after his weaker opponents let him run wild. Yet he currently leads the league in rushing and fantasy points for RBs in standard scoring formats.

I have become sold on him as a fantasy starter, but I'm still not sold on him as a RB1 and I most certainly don't think he'll end up the top-scoring RB this season. He won't even end up in the top five.

Here's why:

Examine performance vs. strength of opponent, and there is a trend jumping out of the screen at you.

Week 1 stats: 220 yards, two TDs
Week 1 opponent: Detroit Lions, who currently rank 30th in rushing defense. Frank Gore and Matt Forte also went nuts against them.

Week 2 stats: 42 measly yards rushing on 14 carries.
Week 2 opponent: Tampa Bay Bucs, who sit a mediocre 14th in rush defense. Reggie Bush and Matt Forte had big fantasy games against them, but that was mostly due to pass-catching abilities.

Week 3 stats: 104 yards on 23 carries with three touchdowns.
Week 3 opponent: The dreaded Kansas City Chiefs ... who currently sit 31st in rush defense. Sammy Morris played well against them. Darren McFadden and Michael Bush embarrassed them, and DeAngelo Williams looked like Jim Brown against them last week.

Week 4 stats: 56 yards on 18 carries.
Week 4 opponent: Carolina Panthers, who sit 13th in run defense. In fairness, the Panthers abused L.J. last week, and have held LaDanian Tomlinson, Adrian Peterson and Matt Forte relatively in check. All three posted good, but not great, games.

Week 5 stats: 121 yards on 26 carries and a score.
Week 5 opponent: The Green Bay Packers, who are 27th in run defense. Earnest Graham had just as good a game against the Pack as Turner did. Felix Jones and Marion Barber schooled them. Even Silent Bob Kevin Smith averaged four yards a carry.

So we can conclude that Turner is a great option, as long as he's facing a terrible run defense. He's had two good games, one phenomenal game and two "ugh" games. The two sub-par games were against middle-of-the-road run defenses, and the three solid ones were against awful run defenses.

Let's check the rest of the schedule, with their run defense rank in parentheses:

Week 6: Bears (4th)
Week 7: BYE
Week 8: @ Philly (8th)
Week 9: @ Raiders (17th)
Week 10: Saints (16th)
Week 11: Broncos (25th)
Week 12: Panthers (13th)
Week 13: @ Chargers (18th)
Week 14: @ Saints (16th)
Week 15: Bucs (14th)
Week 16: @ Vikes (3rd)
Week 17: Rams (28th)

If your championship is in Week 16 -- as it is in most leagues -- good luck heading into it with your RB2 facing the Vikes. Ouch.

Realistically, Turner's going to be fine ... as a lower-tier RB2. If you want to sell him high, now is a good time with the next two opponents likely to lock him up and a bye week included in there. You could even try to trade back for him after Week 8 if you really love him. He's had trouble with the two run defenses ranked in the teens thus far, though, and eaten the sucky ones for breakfast. He only has two more matchups the rest of the way that are in with the Packers, Lions and Chiefs in terms of being shredded on the ground. The Saints, for example, just showed drastic improvement in totally locking down Adrian Peterson. Turner sees them twice. Running in San Diego in Week 13 won't be easy as if he had them in Week 2.

Another factor I alluded to above is that backs like Forte and Bush can garner points via receiving if they face a tough run defense. Turner only has three catches for 11 yards this year.

I simply don't like how things stack up.

Once again, I'm telling you to sell. Do it before my Bears show him how the Monsters of the Midway roll this week. Thank me later.

Turner the Burner: Accept Him Yet? originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Wed, 08 Oct 2008 12:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Value Machine: Thanks Carson!

Matt Snyder — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sunday Wrap-Up, Fantasy Football, NFL Fantasy Felony

Value Machine checks out the overall perceived value of fantasy players. If you want to commit a fantasy felony, you'll sell high on the up arrow guys and buy low on the down arrow guys.

Hopefully you traded Rashard Mendenhall, as we insinuated last week when we said his value will never be higher. Remember, fantasy sports are all about value and perception is reality in between games. Many owners flocked to Mendenhall last week because he was "replacing" Willie Parker. His perceived value skyrockets, which means it's the perfect time to spin him. Just keep this in mind as we move forward.

Top week four : Laveranues Coles ... He busted loose for 30 plus points in most leagues. The problem is that he didn't receive the majority of Brett Favre's attention and rarely will this result in three scores. Jerricho Cotchery, Chansi Stuckey, and Dustin Keller all take looks away from Coles. This was a one week ride, so hopefully you enjoyed it and can move him for good value this week.

Top week four : Carson Palmer ... He comes off his one good game of the season -- against a solid defense, no less -- and decides to not fully disclose his injury. Owners found out he couldn't go right before game time, and surely some guys were screwed over by this. Keep an eye on his health, because if he can come back, his owners will surely be pissed enough to deal him for less than market value.

Also

Matt Hasselbeck - It's actually the perfect time to buy, as long as his owner isn't paying attention. The receiving corps has been decimated, but Deion Branch and Bobby Engram are both ready to return to action.

Marc Bulger - After only a one week hiatus from the starting lineup, he's back ... with a new coach.

Jake Delhomme - Second week with Steve Smith back, and he has a solid week.

Steven Jackson - Busted through for a 25 point outing. His team does, however, still suck.

Earnest Graham - Bounce back after facing some studly run defense in Chicago. He's a fine option moving forward, so I wouldn't sell.

Shaun Alexander - There's talk he'll end up on the Steelers with Fast Willie banged up and Mendenhall done. I still think his good running days are behind him, though, so if he signs, immediately trade him.

Deuce McAllister - Great to see from a great guy who has endured too many injuries in his career. He's not done afterall.

Michael Bush - With Justin Fargas on the shelf and Darren McFadden not totally healthy, Bush is showing himself a capable NFL back.

Lance Moore - We liked him all week, leading up to a game that even surpassed our expectations. I'd hold him at least through this week against the Vikings ... but after that you have to start eying the impending return of Marques Colston, which will murder Moore's value.

Muhsin Muhammad - They only play the Falcons twice, Steve Smith is the top air target, and the Panthers like to run the football. Consider last week an aberration and bail.

Kevin Walter - The Jags were paying so much attention to Andre Johnson that they forgot to guard anyone else. Walter won't be putting up these kinds of numbers again anytime soon, so he's a good sell.

Derrick Mason - Call me crazy, but I'd hold. The Steelers play the pass well, and Mason still had a great game. Joe Flacco is going to progress as a passer as the season goes along, and he seems to trust Mason the most. Obviously Mason's far from elite, but as a spot-start he'll be just fine.

Devin Hester - He caught that TD, sure, but he also dropped a surefire score in the first half. He's my favorite player of all-time and I'm telling you to sell him if you can. What's that tell you?

Zach Miller - That was a long touchdown ... skewing his stat line.

Greg Olsen - Two good weeks, and two bad ones. Sounds like a sell-high following a good one.

Also

Aaron Rodgers - Subpar game, and he's injured now. He either plays through a shoulder injury or sits. Either way, that doesn't help your team.

J.T. O'Sullivan - The Saints pass defense hadn't exactly been stellar heading into the week, and JTO still didn't do a ton with his opportunity on the road. There's enough reason to still like his chances moving forward, though, so look past the week for now.

Ben Roethlisberger - They were playing the Ravens. He will need a running game behind him, ultimately, but for now you should expect better numbers than last night.

Pierre Thomas - Not a buy, as long as Deuce is healthy. Pierre's been surpassed on the depth chart.

Matt Forte - There is no better time to buy than immediately. He was held to 43 yards on 19 carries, but it was against the Eagles. That's three stout run defenses in a row Forte has had to deal with. Three of the next four games, though, are against the Lions and Falcons. Go get him.

Marshawn Lynch - Ten points against the Rams? Ugh. He'll be back ...

Willis McGahee - He can't stay healthy and LeRon McClain runs hard. I wouldn't be buying here. Get McClain.

Marion Barber - The Cowboys abandoned the run, and Terrell Owens is bitching? What an absolute farce. If anyone should be complaining it's Barber. Of course, unlike T.O., he's not pathetically selfish.

Ryan Grant - I'm starting to get worried ... BUT, if Rodgers is hurt the Pack must run.

Anquan Boldin - He had another great game, but he almost died on the field thanks to an obliteration to the dome. I wonder what Drew Rosenhaus is trying to do to Eric Smith?

Chris Chambers - A slight dip in production, but he'll be back.

Brandon Lloyd - The injury is a concern, so keep an eye on it. If he does end up being alright, he's going to be a good play against the Lions this weekend as the Bears number one wideout.

Chansi Stuckey - Favre threw six TDs, and none to Stuckey. He had shown love to Stuckey earlier in the season, so here is a really, really cheap buy this week.

Hank Baskett - Reggie Brown is back, DeSean Jackson is a valuable playmaker, and Kevin Curtis will be back eventually. Baskett has nearly no value left.

Jerry Porter - The Jags finally got something done through the air. Of course, Porter only caught one ball for six yards.

David Patten - Drew Brees torched the Niners, and Patten only came away with one catch while Lance Moore and Robert Meachem blossomed in front of everyone's eyes.

Antonio Bryant - Welcome back to Earth, Antonio.

Chris Cooley - He's yet to get things going in this offense, which seems to be heavily reliant upon Clinton Portis and the outside receivers. I'd give him another week or two before giving him a shot, but he could be had for really cheap right now, I'm sure.

Tony Scheffler - He was blanketed by the Chiefs, but I'm not expecting that to continue. He's a fine buy this week.

Fantasy Value Machine: Thanks Carson! originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Tue, 30 Sep 2008 11:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Even With Shockey and Colston Down, Brees Still Elite Fantasy QB

Matt Snyder — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Position Rankings, Fantasy Football, NFL Fantasy Felony

Drew Brees has had to deal with losing two of his best receiving options -- Jeremy Shockey and Marques Colston -- early on this season, but the stats are looking quite sparkling thus far. Will it continue? In a word, yes.

Brees carved up the Broncos for 421 yards through the air, with a wildly efficient 39 completions in 48 attempts. His most reliable option has been Reggie Bush out of the backfield, and the losses of Colston and Shockey aren't going to do anything to change that. The reason is that the Saints -- through the offensive scheme of Sean Payton and horizontal field-stretching ability of Bush -- can make a weapon out of nearly any receiver. You know Terrance Copper? Well, you wouldn't had he played for any other team.

Moving forward, you can expect Brees to remain an elite QB in fantasy and in reality. He's facing the Niners at home this week, so I'm calling for at least 300 yards and multiple TD passes.

Let's check out the impact on some other players:

Reggie Bush
His value in PPR leagues skyrockets even further. He's now not only the electric one on screen passes, he's Brees' only reliable check-down option. He's averaging 14 carries per game, and that's about all you should expect. He's definitely a dual-threat, as the 26 catches in three games proves. He's a low-tier RB2 in non-PPR leagues and lower-tier RB1 in PPR leagues.

David Patten
He left the game against the Broncos with a strained groin. He wasn't putting up big enough numbers to look past a leg injury for a receiver and justify sticking with him. Move on.

Robert Meachem
It's now or never, young buck. We've seen a 19-yard TD grab in Washington and a 74-yard catch that barely missed the end zone in the past two weeks. He's going to be a deep threat in this offense, and Brees has got to start utilizing him in secondary routes as well with the absences of Shockey and Colston (and possibly Patten) sooner rather than later. For now, though, he's not getting enough of those looks to consider starting.

Devery Henderson
He's got much more experience than Meachem and will be on the field more often. Still, though, he's lost his deep looks to Meachem and has only caught four passes in the past two weeks without Colston on the field. If you really, firmly believe Henderson's one or two catches will result in a long TD, go ahead and gamble with him. I'd personally rather have Meachem.

Lance Moore
He came away with seven catches Sunday against the Broncos. That was a very telling stat, as apparently Brees trusts him more as a possession-type receiver than any other wideout. As long as Colston's still out, Moore is a viable bye week replacement for your regular starters this week against the Niners, should you lack receiving depth. Heading into Week 4, he is the most fantasy viable WR on this roster. Who'd have thought we could say that in the preseason?

Pierre Thomas
His value shouldn't be affected much. He'll still be counted on as the change-of-pace back while Bush is the outside-the-tackles speedster. You can hope for 50 yards and a touchdown per week as his ceiling.

Even With Shockey and Colston Down, Brees Still Elite Fantasy QB originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Wed, 24 Sep 2008 16:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Value Machine: Fast Willie Goes Down, Mendenhall Slides Up

Matt Snyder — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:10:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Position Rankings, NFL Sleepers, Sunday Wrap-Up, Fantasy Football, NFL Fantasy Felony

Value Machine checks out the overall perceived value of fantasy players. If you want to commit a fantasy felony, you'll sell high on the up arrow guys and buy low on the down arrow guys.

We caught a glimpse of vintage Willie Parker in week one, and have since seen a steady decline. The points -- we'll round and generalize, as many leagues use different scoring formats -- have gone from 30 to 10 to 2. And now he's hurt. He will not play in week four. He didn't score a TD in the past two weeks after putting a three-score hurtin' on the Houston Texans in week one. Even if he comes back, you have enough evidence to worry about durability and week one being fluky (for what it's worth, he did have a 100-yard game in week two ... but that was on less than four yards per carry).

In light of this, Willie Parker is your top this week.

On the flip side, your top in value is Rashard Mendenhall. Fast Willie received 53 carries in the first two weeks, so you know the Steelers like to run the football. Mewelde Moore becomes the de facto backup to Mendenhall, and he's nothing more than a third-down back. Expect Mendenhall to get 20-plus touches per game while Parker sits. Also, Mendenhall's value will never be higher, because people love the "new guy" starter ... and Mendenhall's likely to get stuffed all night against the Ravens this week.

Other

Philip Rivers -- Gotta consider him an elite option at this point. Don't sell. Just enjoy.

Jason Campbell -- He's got a little something going in Jim Zorn's offense with Santana Moss.

Steve Slaton -- What a coming out party that was in Tennessee. We loved Slaton in the preseason here at FanHouse, so it wasn't altogether shocking.

Correll Buckhalter -- Came through with some good stats after Brian Westbrook's exit. Westbrook now has a high ankle sprain, which poses a significant issue for a guy that uses speed and agility as his main weapons.

Trent Green -- He's now the starter in St. Louis, so there's that. The bad news is that the Rams are just brutal.

Brandon Lloyd -- He's emerged as the clear-cut number one WR option for the Bears. Sure, they don't rely upon the pass, but a number one wideout is still a viable option. Oh yeah, in weeks five through nine -- when you'll likely be missing guys due to bye weeks -- the Bears face the Lions twice and the Falcons. Stash Lloyd now.

Carson Palmer -- Quality numbers against the stellar Giants defense, so maybe he's not dead after all?

Brady Quinn -- Derek Anderson is down to his last chance. Unfortunately for Quinn, it's the Bengals. Quinn's stock is rising because everyone has given up on Anderson, but Anderson could torch Cincy, so let's hold off on the love for now.

Julius Jones -- Two straight big weeks, and it appears that with a decimated receiving corps Mike Holmgren is ready to keep the ball on the ground. We'll see, but I don't think his value ever rises higher than it currently is.

Chansi Stuckey -- Brett Favre loves him. You know how he always finds way to get the ball to guys he loves.

LeRon McClain -- Two TDs and more carries than Willis McGahee. He's surely a coveted player in all fantasy leagues this week. I suspect that once McGahee is finally full-go, McClain is relegated to backup duties again, though.

Joseph Addai -- He's back. Once the Colts offense can stay on the field for more than a third of the game he'll get more carries, too.

Antonio Bryant -- He was the main benefactor of Brian Griese's onslaught, and is thus worth a look should Joey Galloway continue to miss games.

Other

Jeremy Shockey -- Sports hernia. Ouch. The reports say three-to-six weeks ... and I'm betting on the latter being much more realistic.

Brian Westbrook -- As I said above, the ankle sprain poses significant issues for Westbrook for the next few weeks.

Marc Bulger -- Lost his job, not that he was doing much with it anyway. Don't buy.

Derek Anderson -- As I stated earlier, this week is his absolute last chance as the Browns' starting QB. It is, however, his first chance against a subpar defense. I'm going out on a limb and predicting he blows up and keeps the job.

Jon Kitna -- He sprained his knee after a really lackluster day against the Niners' defense. Zero TDs to Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson is not good.

Jonathan Stewart -- His value was sky-high after week two. Then he faced a stellar run defense in Minnesota. If you catch an owner of Stewart's that lacks foresight, trade for him now. He proved his value in the second half against the Bears ... and they face the stop-the-run challenged Falcons this week at home. He's gonna go nuts.

Brandon Jacobs -- Other than the touchdown, that was a pathetic effort against the Bengals at home Sunday.

Plaxico Burress -- Just when you think you can count him as a top-five option, he pulls a disappearing act.

Bryant Johnson -- Someone on Sunday Morning Tailgate called me a homer because I recommended Marvin Harrison over Johnson ... which was weird since I'm a Bears fan. Either way, scoreboard. Three points against the Lions defense? That's a precursor for a season of unpredictable fluctuation. Not fun for Johnson's owners.

Andre Johnson -- The Texans are probably going to be a bit unpredictable all season following the destruction of Hurricane Ike in their hometown. That being said, you have to assume last Sunday will be one of Johnson's least productive of the season.

Fantasy Value Machine: Fast Willie Goes Down, Mendenhall Slides Up originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Clark, Saturday Should Play Sunday for Colts

Matt Snyder — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 13:50:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy Football, NFL Injury Report, NFL Fantasy Felony

The Colts defense suffered a big blow earlier this week, but the offensive side of the ball received some (possibly) great news today. Studly receiving tight end Dallas Clark and pro-bowl center Jeff Saturday could be back on the field for Indy come this Sunday against the Jags, according to Head Coach Tony Dungy:

"If I were guessing," Dungy said, "I would say they were going to play."

"Jeff is ready to go and kind of felt like he was ready to go last week. Dallas is going to practice and if everything goes well, I think he'll play as well, but we really need to see Dallas practice this week."

This is huge news for the Colts, especially after losing Bob Sanders this week.

The running game has sputtered -- to say the least -- up to this point, and even the passing attack has had its fair share of issues. Plugging Saturday into the middle will instantly solve many problems, as most of the pressure Peyton Manning has faced thus far has come from the middle.

As for the running game, both Clark's perimeter blocking and Saturday's presence in the middle help. Holes will begin to present themselves for Joseph Addai shortly.

Fantasy Spin:
The Colts aren't going to be "all the way back" just yet, as it could take them a couple weeks to get back in sync. Still, this is great news for owners of Manning and Joseph Addai, especially, while it filters down to help everyone else.

This is a phenomenal time to buy-low for Addai, in light of this news.

Clark, Saturday Should Play Sunday for Colts originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Thu, 18 Sep 2008 13:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Slinging the Rock: The Old, Annual San Diego Handcuff Stab

Will Brinson — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 12:10:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Sleepers, NFL Waiver Wire, Fantasy Football, NFL Fantasy Felony

Having a short term memory is pretty awesome sometimes. (Other stories, other times.) Not as much in fantasy football. Why? Because last year, we draft LaDanian Tomlinson with our top picks and, as I recall, well, we kind of freaked out about how he performed during the first few weeks.

It took him to the fourth game of the season to crack 150 yards ... on the season. He averaged well under three yards per carry and only scored once in three games. Seriously, we completely freaked out. Remember?

Well, look at this year. Two games, 130 some yards, no touchdowns. Tomlinson's case of turf toe, with which he's not practicing, isn't exactly helping things either. And so we are in the middle of another fantasy meltdown. "What do I do with LT? Do I trade him? I need to add Darren Sproles, right? Should I drop Tomlinson for Eddie Royal?"

And the answers would be: "Simma. No. Perhaps. Yeah, sure." See, Tomlinson is dealing with some offensive line issues, he has a backup performing well, he's injured and his team is losing, so he's essentially caught in a perfect storm of fantasy devaluing.

This is why you need to involve him in a trade in some way. And there are two easy ones. First, to lay out the obvious, trade for him. Stop. Just stop. I don't want to hear the excuses. He's LaDanian Tomlinson. He was a consensus top two pick this year. You go get him if you can do it for a RB2/WR2 combo that are overperforming.

Or, alternately, you grab Sproles off the wire and you trade him to Tomlinson's owner. This has worked for Michael Turner owners for years; Tomlinson owners in semi-panic have overpaid for someone that they could never actually use. That's because the idea of losing the Chargers valuable fantasy points is a terrifying proposition. And whoever has been running for the Chargers has always excelled.

So, to sum up, go get LaDanian. Don't freak out. This is two weeks into the season. He's underperforming. It's gonna be cool. You'll enjoy his stats. And more importantly, you'll win.

Slinging the Rock: The Old, Annual San Diego Handcuff Stab originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Thu, 18 Sep 2008 12:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Slinging the Rock: Why Trading Michael Turner Is as Smart as the Lions Are Bad

Will Brinson — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:10:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Sleepers, Fantasy Football, NFL Fantasy Felony

There aren't many people hotter in fantasy circles right now than Michael Turner. The Falcons running back was the top fantasy scorer in Week 1, rushing for 220 yards and two touchdowns against the very, very hapless Detroit Lions. So naturally, people are freaking out at how good he could be over the course of a season.

There's some precedent for this, considering that he looked like a monster while he was backing up LaDanian Tomlinson in San Diego. "Some" being the key word. There is absolutely zero precedent for him averaging 10.0 yards per carry for more than one week; that being the number per tote he tossed up against the Lions.

That's not to say he won't be effective -- he will be. But at the same time, Matt Ryan is also not going to go 9/13 for 160 yards and a touchdown every time out, which are pretty monstrously efficient numbers for anyone's first game as a pro.

The point? The Lions are flat out the worst team in the NFL, and by a long margin. They made the Falcons look like an offensive juggernaut, and to do so is nothing short of embarrassing. Also, because this game seemed like the worst possible matchup available, not many people got to see the 400 or so missed tackles by Detroit on Turner.

Now, you might be somewhat stretched to actually get someone like Randy Moss for Turner at this point ... but then again, maybe not. Moss did after all, just lose his QB, and people are legitimately talking about whether or not he'll quit on this season. (Hint: he won't. The Pats aren't Oakland.)

But even if you can't pull Moss, you can at the very least get someone like Anquan Boldin, Steve Smith or possibly Braylon Edwards. These are all receiving options that, assuming you've bolstered your running backs enough at the draft, can push you over the edge by giving you three strong number one options at wideout.

And while it's nice to sit back and extrapolate Turner's numbers over a full season, clearly that's not going to happen. Besides, if you took Turner and a few other good running backs, you're only gambling with yourself in terms of having to make lineup decisions.

Slinging the Rock: Why Trading Michael Turner Is as Smart as the Lions Are Bad originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Preseason By The Numbers

Ryan Dembinsky — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 19:50:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy Football, NFL Fantasy Felony

Look, I understand that attempting to predict regular season success by sorting through preseason (exhibition, whatever) statistics makes roughly the same amount of sense as the average Ewok, but there is one thing you can tell from preseason numbers. When your gut tells you a particular player is going to have a bad year, it never hurts to confirm that hunch by looking at their performance in the pointless games. Let's take a look at some of the duds so far through the 2008 exhibition season.

Larry Johnson - Everybody says Larry Johnson is done based on his insane workload, 2007 burnout, and support of the worst offensive line in the NFL, but let's take a look at the numbers. As suspected, on the second highest total number of carries (35) in the league, Larry piled up a paltry 118 yards. That's a whopping 3.3 yards per carry with one touchdown folks. His longest rush went for 18 yards. If you're scoring at home, put him down as "do not touch with a radiation suit."

Matt Forte - Being a Bears guy, my colleague Matt Snyder is gonna string me up for this one, but the Bears line is just downright terrible. Forte ran the ball 25 times thus far and has yet to touch the century mark with 86 rushing yards total. Unsurprisingly, he has not spent time in the endzone either. Do not consider this a testament of his inability, but rather confirmation that whoever lines up behind Orton is gonna get killed out there.

Tatum Bell. Despite playing for the NFL's best team, the 3-0 Detroit Lions (screw you guys, this is as good as it gets for us Lion's fans), Tatum has done absolutely nothing good. On 16 carries, Tatum Bell has amassed a total of, get this, 26 yards. That's a APC of 1.6 yards. IN other words, Kitna could basically fall forward for more yards than Taco Bell running the ball.

Clinton Portis - Portis is always tough to gauge, but if you want to sleep at night, you might be better off passing on him in the latter part of round one. He is always nursing hurts and possesses an average yards-per-carry of 3.3 yards, and one of his 16 carries went for 17 yards, so you do the math. As a caveat, of all these guys this probably means the least for Portis as he is typically not much of a fan of preseason play, as evidenced by this concise verbiage in the Washington Post, "I kind of want to play, and I don't want to play. Being that I have to play, and it's not my choice, I can't do nothing but be excited about it." Portis is also expected to see an uptick in targets in the new West Coast offense, so we'll wait and see how that plays out.

Rashard Mendenhall - Rashard racked up the fifth most attempts so far this preseason, proving the Steelers are serious about his development, but he dropped the ball twice. If anything leads to rookie bench time, it's fumbling, so keep an eye on this. When he held on, he performed fine averaging a modest 4.3 yards per carry.

Laurence Maroney - This is more of a heads up than a red flag waving, but Maroney only averaged 2.2 yards per carry on 18 tries so far. The Pats have a great line in front of him, but keep an eye on Lamont Jordan. I still think he might have something in the tank, so beware of the committee.

Preseason By The Numbers originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Mon, 25 Aug 2008 19:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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