Saturday, November 8

Da Games: Early Sundayers

In our attempt to provide every possible way for you to have more reason to kick yourself after a well researched fantasy loss, we antagonizingly analyze each and every weekend matchup. A decently-sized bit of news occurred this week. The United States of America elected an African-American President. So now we're hip. Interestingly, another thing that happened was my reading this GQ article on making black friends. And the "re-segregation" of America. And modern day racism. There's multiple sides of every story. George tells Suzan that he can't go out tonight because he's gotta help Jerry move his friend, but then the next day Elaine sees Suzan at Bloomingdales and they get to talking, and Elaine says that that play she went to last night with George, Jerry, and Kramer was really fun, and Suzan comes back and slaps George. Or something. Everybody's got a different angle. Bringing a new one to the fantasy football media scene is us with our week ten game forecasts.

Seattle Seahawks at Miami Dolphins
Fantasy Impact Players QB Chad Pennington, Seneca Wallace RB— Ronnie Brown, Ricky Williams, Julius Jones WR— Greg Camarillo, Ted Ginn Jr, Bobby Engram TE— Anthony Fasano, John Carlson Key Stat 2— Only two teams have given up more fantasy points to opposing QBs and WRs than the Seahawks. Our Take Tosten Burks— Miami should dominate this one. Hasselbeck isn't coming back most likely for another week and no one else on the Hawks is worth a start either. Play the Miami running backs and Greg Camarillo. Ginn still isn't being utilized consistently enough to have real fantasy value. Zach Fein— Don't play anyone on the Seahawks. Pennington, Brown, and Camarillo are start in standard leagues. Alex Kozora— Chad Pennington and Ronnie Brown are likely to be the only two people anyone would be confident in starting this week. The Seahawks are still Matt Hasselbeck-less, I expect them to still stall in that department.
Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings
Fantasy Impact Players QB— Aaron Rodgers, Gus Ferrotte RB— Adrian Peterson, Ryan Grant WR— Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, Bernard Berrian TE— Visanthe Shiancoe Key Stat 51.2— Since 2006, Donald Driver has had five 100-yard games. He's averaged only 51.2 receiving yards in the game following that 100-yarder. Our Take Tosten Burks— I like the Packers passing game here. Green Bay knows they can't run on the Vikes so they'll throw all day, especially with James Jones back (I think, last week he was declared inactive after practicing all week) helping them open up the offense even more. Zach Fein— Grant is barely a flex play in 12-team leagues. Berrian is a top-10 receiver this week and the best in this game, despite what Tosten put in the "Fantasy Impact Players" section. Don't play Frerotte or Driver either (see Key Stat). Alex Kozora— Ryan Grant owners: proceed with caution. The Vikings run defense is one of the best in the league. I like Aaron Rodgers and Greg Jennings against a middle-of-the pack Vikings pass defense.
New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons
Fantasy Impact Players QB— Drew Brees, Matt Ryan RB— Michael Turner, Deuce McCallister WR— Roddy White, Marques Colston, Michael Jenkins, Lance Moore TE— Jeremy Shockey Key Stat 1.28— Since 2005 and updated through last week, there have been 1.28 times as more (actual) points scored by the Falcons and its opponents in the Georgia Dome than by the Falcons and its opponents on the road, the highest in the NFL for any one stadium. Our Take Tosten Burks— I'm thinking shootout. Start all the guys involved in either team's big passing offenses. Zach Fein— Start everyone. Jerious Norwood is worth a look in standard leagues as well. That's all I have to say. Alex KozoraMatt Ryan is great at home, making him a decent play. Reggie Bush is still out so feel free to deploy Deuce McAllister.
Tennessee Titans at Chicago Bears
Fantasy Impact Players QB— Kerry Collins RB— Matt Forte, Chris Johnson, LenDale White WR— none TE— Bo Scaife Key Stat 1/4— Tennessee is ranked No. 1 in points allowed per game, and the Bears are ranked No. 4 in points score per game. Our Take Tosten Burks— Both teams have no passing game to speak of. Wrecks Gross-man kills any chance of Chicago capitalizing on the Titans weaker secondary. This matchup will have tons of running, but to not much avail. Expect a low scoring borefest. Zach Fein— Don't get cute. Bench Kerry Collins, Rex Grossman, and any wide receiver or tight end. Only Matt Forte, Chris Johnson, and LenDale White (in that order) are worth playing. Alex Kozora I'm not a fan of the Bears offense this week and with good reason. Rex Grossman against the Titans' defensive line = trouble. The Bears have an unusually poor pass defense, likely because they've been decimated by injuries, but I wouldn't start Kerry Collins unless you had to. He doesn't have enough of a ceiling to warrant doing so.
Baltimore Ravens at Houston Texans
Fantasy Impact Players QB— Sage Rosenfels, Joe Flacco RB— Steve Slaton, Ray Rice, Willis McGahee WR— Andre Johnson TE— Owen Daniels, Todd Heap Key Stat 9.4— The Ravens give up 9.4 fantasy points per game to opposing RBs, lowest in the NFL. Our Take Tosten Burks— In a matchup between possibly the NFL's best defense and possibly the NFL's best offense I say... Andre Johnson is the only solid start. I can't trust that either of the two solid running games does anything against the two more than solid run defenses. Ray Rice could surprise though. Zach Fein— Contrary to what Tosten says, I'm starting many players this week: Slaton, McGahee and Rice; A.Johnson, Mason, and Walter; and Owen Daniels, each in order by position. I don't think it's a shootout, but I don't think it's a defensive showdown, either (expect a 20-17 game). Alex Kozoras— As usual Sage Rosenfels' main target will be Andre Johnson. Until Schaub returns, Owen Daniels' and Kevin Walter's values will take a hit.
St. Louis Rams at New York Jets
Fantasy Impact Players QB— Brett Favre, Marc Bulger RB— Thomas Jones, Antonio Pittman WR— Jerricho Cotchery, Donnie Avery, Laveraneus Coles, Torry Holt TE— none to speak of Key Stat(s) 5— St. Louis is in the bottom five in fantasy points allowed to each quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers. Our Take Tosten Burks— Who would've that that Torry Holt would be the fourth most valuable wide receiver in this game? He's still a solid start, as are all the pieces of both sides' passing games, but man has he disappointed. The grandpas of the league have fallen. It doesn't look like he or Marvin Harrison will ever be the same. Zach Fein— Man, did Donnie Avery disappoint me last week. So much for that. For this week, every quarterback and wideout listed above is worth a start. I'm not playing any St. Louis running back this week. Alex KozoraNo Steven Jackson? No Rams run game. Marc Bulger will have to air it out a good bit, and he's worth a start in my mind. I'm a fan of Donnie Avery this week, too. Darrelle Revis is an excellent cornerback, but he'll be focused on Torry Holt all game. That should result in a lot of targets for Avery, who's emerged as the team's No. 2 wide receiver.
Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots
Fantasy Impact Players QB— Trent Edwards, Matt Cassell RB— Marshawn Lynch, Kevin Faulk, BenJarvus Green-Ellis WR— Randy Moss, Lee Evans, Wes Welker TE— Robert Royal Key Stat 179—Receiving yards by Lee Evans in his past six games against the Patriots, less than 30 per game. Our Take Tosten Burks— Gosh I love being able to talk about a guy named BenJarvus Green-Ellis in a relevant conversation. He and Faulk are both solid with Morris and Jordan still injured. Overall, I think I am most interested in this game, more so than any of the other early Sunday matchups. Zach Fein— If you have Lee Evans, you obviously have to start him, but I'm not too pleased with his matchup (see Key Stat). I'm not playing any of the QBs, though I do like Randy Moss and Wes Welker in this game. All the RBs are worth a start. Alex KozoraThe Bills secondary is in a heap of injuries as they will be without Ashton Youboty and Donte Witner. Randy Moss and Matt Cassel could have potential field days. Trent Edwards and Lee Evans are fringe starters.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Detroit Lions
Fantasy Impact Players QB— David Garrard RB— Maurice Jones-Drew, Kevin Smith, Rudi Johnson, Fred Taylor WR— Calvin Johnson, Matt Jones TE— zilch Key Stat 90— Rushing yards by Fred Taylor in his last five games. Eight running backs had 90 yards just last week. Our Take Tosten Burks— In a battle of two teams who are starting to finally hand the whole steering wheel to their young running backs and revoke their oldies' licenses, MoJo, Smith, the Jags passing game, and Calvin Johnson are all good starts. AndI wouldn't be surprised to see Culpepper have a halfway decent game. I have a feeling... Zach FeinOh, how the might have fallen. Fred Taylor is even worth owning in standard leagues. The Lions have allowed the top weekly wideouts on opposing teams to score 14.4 fantasy points per game. Look for Matt Jones to put up numbers similar to that this week. Calvin Johnson, MJD and David Garrard are the only other starts in this game. Alex Kozora Daunte Culpepper is probably the most talented quarterback the Lions have had in a while, but he's only been with the team for a short time. Not worth a look this week. Fred Taylor has struggled this season, but I think this week he'll pick it up against Lions' run defense that has struggled equally.

No comments: