Fantasy Fools

Chief Fool named "Football Writer of the Year" (again)

2012-01-24T17:26:00.011-06:00

Who says lightning can't strike twice?

I'm very proud and humbled to report that the Fantasy Sports Writers Association has voted me its "Football Writer of the Year," for the second consecutive year. Apparently, this is the first time anyone has won twice. I was also the first to be a finalist two years running.

In addition, one of my columns was voted "Best Humor Column" of the year, across all sports. If you're interested, it's this one. (It was funnier two months ago...)

I didn't prepare a speech, but I'd like to thank the FSWA, the Hollywood Foreign Press and all the little gurus out there who made this possible.

The official press release, which includes winners in other categories and sports, is here.

Hope you're having a great off-season! So far, so good, for yours truly.

Oops, they did it again!

2012-01-09T13:39:00.005-06:00

I'm pleased, honored (and quite a bit shocked) to announce that I have once again been named one of three finalists for "Football Writer of the Year" by the Fantasy Sports Writers Association. This is the most prestigious award in the biz, and apparently I am the first to have been named a finalist in consecutive years.

Am I being punked? All this time I was thinking last year was just a big mix-up.
Surely either Brad Evans or Alessandro Miglio will win the trophy this year; but it's awesome to be in their company.

I am also a finalist for "Best Humor Article" of the year, which is funny.

Here's the official announcement, if you'd like to see more.

Thanks to Fools everywhere for your support and encouragement. We'll find out next Tuesday night who the winners are.

Perfect Draft: The Final Countdown

2012-01-09T12:36:00.009-06:00

Hindsight may be 20/20. But hindsight armed with statistics is just brutal.

What seems so obvious now – of course Victor Cruz was poised for a breakout year; didn’t you see him tear it up in the preseason? – wasn’t quite so crystal clear to most of us just five short months ago.

It’s all part of our elusive quest for the perfect draft, the Holy Grail of fantasy football. One of these days, I’m going to achieve it. Probably right after I cure cancer, win the lottery and get stalked by Mila Kunis.

Until then, I’ll keep torturing myself – and my readers – by exploring what could have been had we made all the right moves during our preseason draft. Yes, it’s time for my oft-imitated, always-controversial, yet magically delicious 2011 Perfect Draft: The Final Countdown.

As usual, we operate under a few key assumptions:

1. We’re in a 10-team league using a standard scoring system that starts one quarterback, two running backs, three wide receivers, one tight end, one kicker and one defense/special teams.
2. We are drafting from the middle (fifth) position in a zig-zag format, meaning Adrian Peterson, Arian Foster and Ray Rice will be gone by the time we pick.
3. The preseason average draft position (ADP) of each player – according to multiple mock draft sites canvassed during early September – is used to determine the most valuable selections in each round;
4. Since all drafts play out differently, we’ll need a little luck along the way.

And last, in the spirit of truth, justice and the Tebow Way, our goal is nothing short of total domination and the abject humiliation of our opponents.

Now, with the fifth pick of the 2011 Fantasy Draft, we should have selected…

Round 1. LeSean McCoy, RB, Eagles. Fantasy’s most reliable tailback scored at least one TD in every game, except Weeks 11 and 16. That last one may still be tormenting some owners, but no running back carried more teams to the postseason than Shady.

Round 2. Drew Brees, QB, Saints. Passing on Aaron Rodgers in the first round might sting, until you realize who’s waiting here. In the season’s second half, Brees turned it up a notch and never let up.

Round 3. Mike Wallace, WR, Steelers. He fizzled a bit down the stretch while Ben Roethlisberger was hobbling; but Wallace’s play-making services are always welcome on our “perfect” roster.

Round 4. Wes Welker, WR, Patriots. Welker has had some impressive seasons, but this one was truly special. In point-per-reception (PPR) formats, Tom Brady’s favorite target is fantasy gold.

Round 5. Fred Jackson, RB, Bills. He was an absolute beast until he pulled up lame in Week 11. We’ll enjoy the ride while we can.

Round 6. Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seahawks. Arguably this year’s most underrated fantasy star, Lynch scored at least one TD in 11 consecutive weeks on his way to his first Top 5 finish.

Round 7. Matt Stafford, QB, Lions. Stockpiling elite quarterbacks is fun, even though we’ll rarely start them. At least we keep Stafford’s 41 scoring strikes off our opponents’ rosters.

Round 8. Steve Smith, WR, Panthers. He barely cracked the Top 70 receiver ranks last season, which is why Smith came so cheap this year. Besides, we knew he’d have to fight through the growing pains of a rookie quarterback who didn’t have the benefit of a full training camp. Uh, not so much.

Round 9. Jimmy Graham, TE, Saints. Brees spread the ball around liberally amongst his wideouts, but he played favorites with his tight end. Graham put together a monster season eclipsed only by our next pick.

Round 10. Rob Gronkowski, TE, Patriots. My choice for Fantasy MVP will give this squad a 10 to 15 point advantage at his position most weeks (especially since we won’t have to face Graham).

Round 11. Michael Bush, RB, Raiders. When Darren McFadden went down in Week 7, Bush was expected to be an interim solution. Instead, he carried the load the rest of the season and finished within the Top 10 ranks.

Round 12. Jordy Nelson, WR, Packers. “Mr. Big Play” amassed 15 touchdowns (second only to Calvin Johnson among wide receivers), including scoring receptions of 36, 37, 40, 50, 55, 58, 84 and 93 yards. If we can’t have Rodgers, it’s nice consolation to secure the services of his most prolific receiver.

Round 13. Darren Sproles, RB, Saints. New Orleans’ prized free-agent acquisition combined for 1,313 rushing and receiving yards and nine touchdowns, flourishing in the multi-purpose role originally designed for Reggie Bush.

Round 14. Cam Newton, QB, Panthers. Rookie quarterbacks aren’t supposed to be fantasy forces, much less NFL record-breakers. Especially when they are drafted by the worst team in the league. Oh yeah; Newton was his team’s best running back, too.

Round 15: 49ers defense/special teams. In many scoring formats, the 49ers finished the season as the top-ranked unit, thanks to 38 turnovers and the second-fewest points allowed. San Francisco went undrafted in most leagues.

Round 16. Victor Cruz, WR, Giants. We’ll have to tell our friends who Cruz is, but they’ll curse us in Week 3. We now own four of the top six wideouts in Fantasyland. It pays to be omniscient.

Round 17. David Akers, K, 49ers. Once again, owners who wasted an earlier pick on an “elite” kicker were out-maneuvered by those who waited patiently. While Akers had a stellar pedigree, few expected him to remain relevant once he moved cross-country.

There you have it. Piece of cake, right?

2011 Biro’s Heroes and Zeros Awards

2012-01-02T13:39:00.019-06:00

Before we close the books on another exciting/frustrating/awesome/unpredictable (circle one) fantasy season, we must take a quick stroll back through 2011 to examine the players we rooted for and against and – with as much objectivity as we can muster – give credit where credit is due.

As always, our annual accolades (and condemnations) have but a few important criteria:

1. Consistency on a weekly basis is next to godliness.
2. Production during the fantasy playoffs – for our purposes, NFL Weeks 14 through 16 – is given extra weight. Players who let their owners down at the worst possible time earn our eternal scorn. (Hear that, Eli?)
3. For the most part, Week 17 is dead to us. (Sorry, Matt Flynn.)

Without further ado, I am pleased to present the 2011 Biro’s Heroes & Zeros Awards:

Most Valuable Player: Rob Gronkowski, TE, Patriots. I made my case for Gronkowski in a column three weeks ago, in which I examined the disproportionate advantage he gave his owners at the tight end position on a weekly basis. Though Aaron Rodgers might seem the obvious choice, Drew Brees was nearly his equal. LeSean McCoy was outstanding; but in any given week, other backs out-produced him. Runner-up: Rodgers, QB, Packers.

“Peerless Price Memorial” Bust of the Year: Chris Johnson, RB, Titans. A top three selection that plays every game yet scores just four stinking touchdowns is the definition of a bust. “CJ1K” started off slow and finished nearly as poorly. Runner-up: Andre Johnson, WR, Texans.

Rookie of the Year: Cam Newton, QB, Panthers. Everyone knows rookie quarterbacks make awful fantasy passers, especially when they’re drafted by the worst team in the league. Apparently nobody informed Newton. Runner-up: A.J. Green, WR, Bengals.

Surprise of the Year: Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seahawks. Three years removed from fantasy respectability in Buffalo, all Lynch did was score in 11 consecutive weeks on his way to a Top 5 fantasy ranking. Runner-up: Newton.

Comeback Player of the Year: Steve Smith, WR, Panthers. He played 14 games in 2010 and barely ranked among the top 70 fantasy receivers. Enter a rookie passer, and Smith once again resides among the elite. Go figure. Runner-up: Reggie Bush, RB, Dolphins.

Mr. Reliable: LeSean McCoy, RB, Eagles. From Week 1 to Week 15, Shady found the end zone at least once every week but one. Until he stumbled in the fantasy postseason, no player was more consistently productive than the multi-talented McCoy. Runner-up: Brees.

Best Waiver Wire Acquisition: Victor Cruz, WR, Giants. Last season, owners plucked Brandon Lloyd off waivers and cashed in on the top wideout in Fantasyland. This year, Cruz was the game-breaking receiver everyone wished they had grabbed. Runner-up: Laurent Robinson, WR, Cowboys.

Mr. Big Play: Jordy Nelson, WR, Packers. Among Nelson’s 15 TD receptions were scoring strikes of 36, 37, 40, 50, 55, 58, 84 and 93 yards. Runner-up: Cruz.

Most Devastating Injury Loss: Peyton Manning, QB, Colts. You know your absence is conspicuous when you take an entire franchise down with you. Runner-up: Jamaal Charles, RB, Chiefs.

Steal of the Draft: Matthew Stafford, QB, Lions. Available in the 8th or 9th round of most 10-team drafts, Stafford delivered elite production from start to finish. You’ll pay dearly for him in next season’s draft. Runner-up: Gronkowski.

Most Overrated: Shonn Greene, RB, Jets. On a team replete with underachievers (see Mark Sanchez, Santonio Holmes), Greene is the ultimate imposter. It’s time to put to rest the notion that he will ever be a workhorse back. Runner-up: Dez Bryant, WR, Cowboys.

“Thomas Jones Memorial” Most Underrated: Marshawn Lynch. Even after weeks of consistent production, his owners routinely questioned whether or not he was start-worthy. Runner-up: Eli Manning, QB, Giants.

Made Chicken Salad from Chicken Scratch: Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jaguars. With virtually no talent to support him in the Jacksonville offense, the 5’-8” bowling ball led the league in rushing and reclaimed his status among the game’s elite. Runner-up: Michael Bush, RB, Raiders.

Biggest Postseason Disappointment: Eli Manning. If his 250-yard, zero-TD, three-interception performance didn’t knock you out in Week 15, his mediocre 225-yard, one-TD, one-interception outing the following weekend surely did. Runner-up: LeGarrette Blount, RB, Buccaneers.

Too Little Too Late: Philip Rivers, QB, Chargers. His end-of-season statistics look respectable; but through Week 8, Rivers had just seven passing TDs and 11 interceptions. By the time he started clicking, many of the owners who were counting on Rivers were out of contention. Runner-up: DeAngelo Williams, RB, Panthers.

Most Spectacular Bench Performance: Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Steelers. He headed into his Week 5 matchup with an injured foot and just three passing scores over his first four games. Big Ben then proceeded to amass 228 yards and five touchdowns against the Titans. Runner-up: Plaxico Burress, WR, Giants (25 receiving yards, 3 TDs vs. Chargers, Week 7).

Lived Up to the Hype: Jimmy Graham, TE, Saints. My pick for “Most Likely to Succeed in 2011,” Graham was everyone’s favorite sleeper tight end coming into the season. With a little help from a guy named Brees, Graham was nearly unstoppable. Runner-up: A.J. Green.

Most Marginalized by Pathetic QB Play: Reggie Wayne, WR, Colts. The once-elite wideout was barely startable with Kerry Collins, Curtis Painter and Dan Orlovsky under center. Runner-up: Austin Collie, WR, Colts.

“Frisman Jackson Memorial” Irrational Exuberance Award: Devery Henderson, WR, Saints. Star-crossed fantasy owners watched Henderson post 100-plus yards and a touchdown in each of the first two games. Shouldn’t they have known, after all these years, that Henderson is the most inconsistent wideout on the planet? Runner-up: Ryan Torain, RB, Redskins.

Worst Sophomore Jinx: Mike Williams, WR, Buccaneers. After a sensational rookie campaign that saw him flirt with elite status, Williams quickly became fantasy irrelevant in the Bucs’ moribund offense. Runner-up: Sam Bradford, QB, Rams.

Team Bust of the Year: Indianapolis Colts. For the first time in the modern era, you would never regret not having a Colt on your roster. What a mess. Runner-up: Cleveland Browns.

“Plaxico Burress Memorial” Bonehead of the Year: Rex Ryan, HC, Jets. Confidence is one thing. Continuing to predict Super Bowl glory as your team implodes around you is just plain asinine. Eat some humble pie over the offseason, coach. Runner-up: Rob Ryan, DC, Cowboys.

Most Likely to Succeed in 2012: DeMarco Murray, RB, Cowboys. He’ll enter the season as the unquestioned workhorse of the Dallas offense. Provided he can stay healthy, Murray should have an outstanding sophomore season. Runner-up: Robert Griffin III, QB, Sic ‘em, Bears!

As always, I’m open to your feedback on these awards. Feel free to email me, and be sure to begin your message with “You’re an idiot because…”

Next week: The Perfect Draft: Final Cut, wraps up the season.

Week 17 Heroes & Zeros

2012-01-01T23:15:00.005-06:00

This was a great week to start…

QBs
Matt Stafford, Lions – Amassed an amazing 520 yards and 5 TDs, plus 2 INTs.
Matt Flynn, Packers – Put Aaron Rodgers to shame with his 480-yard, 6-TD effort, with 2 turnovers.
Drew Brees, Saints – Piled onto his NFL record with 389 yards and 5 TDs, with just 1 INT.
Eli Manning, Giants – Dominated the Cowboys with 346 yards and 3 TDs, plus 14 rushing yards, without a turnover.
Tom Brady, Patriots – Passed for 338 yards and 3 TDs, with 1 INT.
Michael Vick, Eagles – Tallied 335 passing yards and 3 TDs, plus 2 turnovers. Only 3 yards rushing, though.
Philip Rivers, Chargers – Threw for 310 yards and 3 TDs, plus an INT.

RBs
Ray Rice, Ravens – Ran for 191 yards and 2 TDs.
Michael Turner, Falcons – Barrelled over the Bucs for 172 yards and 2 TDs.
Ahmad Bradshaw, Giants – Rushed for 57 yards and 1 TD, and caught 3 passes for 12 yards and a second score.
BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Patriots – Had 2 short TD runs to go with 22 rushing yards, and caught a 53-yard pass.

WRs
Jordy Nelson, Packers – Reeled in 9 passes for 162 yards and 3 TDs.
Marques Colston, Saints – Caught 7 passes for 145 yards and 2 TDs.
Calvin Johnson, Lions – Torched the Packers with 11 catches for 244 yards and a TD.
Victor Cruz, Giants – Salsa’d his way to 178 yards and 1 TD on 6 catches.
Michael Crabtree, 49ers – His 9 receptions produced 92 yards and 2 TDs.
Percy Harvin, Vikings – Caught 10 passes for 115 yards and ran for 13 yards and 1 TD.
Malcom Floyd, Chargers – His 7 receptions were good for 127 yards and a score.
Julio Jones, Falcons – Scored twice on his 4 catches for 76 yards.
Laurent Robinson, Cowboys – Took 4 balls and turned them into 61 yards and 2 TDs.
Darrius Heyward-Bey, Raiders – Had 9 catches for 130 yards and a TD.
Dezmon Briscoe, Buccaneers – Came out of nowhere to score twice on 8 catches for 53 yards.

TEs
Rob Gronkowski, Patriots – His 8 catches resulted in 108 yards and 2 TDs.
Aaron Hernandez, Patriots – Pulled down 7 passes for 138 yards and a score.

This was a great week to play against…

QBs
Tim Tebow, Broncos – Passed for 60 yards and an INT, and ran for only 16 yards, with a fumble.
Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers – Played the entire game, but only had 221 passing yards and no TDs.

RBs
Brandon Jacobs, Giants – Had just 16 yards on Sunday night.
Donald Brown, Colts – Ran for 24 yards and caught 2 passes for 15 more.
LeGarrette Blount, Buccaneers – Combined for just 26 yards.
Peyton Hillis, Browns – Just 30 rushing yards, and lost 3 yards on his only reception.
Daniel Thomas, Dolphins – Got his chance to start and only totaled 40 yards.
Rashard Mendenhall, Steelers – Left injured after gaining just 45 total yards.
Shonn Greene, Jets – Just 55 yards on the ground.
Cedric Benson, Bengals – Ran for 51 yards and caught 2 passes for 10 more.

WRs
Santonio Holmes, Jets – Benched for most of the game and held catchless.
Greg Little, Browns – Also had a goose egg.
Mario Manningham, Giants – So did he.
Eric Decker, Broncos – Caught one 5-yard pass.
Early Doucet, Cardinals – Had a 7-yarder.
Steve Breaston, Chiefs – He had a 9-yarder.
Mike Wallace, Steelers – Held to an 11-yard catch.
Andre Johnson, Texans – Played sparingly and caught just 2 passes for 21 yards.
Pierre Garcon, Colts – He collected 22 yards on his 2 catches.
A.J. Green, Bengals – Held to 2 receptions for 26 yards.
Mike Williams, Buccaneers – Had a 31-yard catch to show for his day.
Demaryius Thomas, Broncos – Only 34 yards on his 3 receptions.
Santana Moss, Redskins – Limited to 3 catches for 45 yards.

TEs
Tony Gonzalez, Falcons – Barely kept his streak alive with a single 8-yard reception.

Sunday morning updates -- Week 17

2012-01-01T10:07:00.008-06:00

Good morning, Fools, and welcome to Week 17. As I've stated all week, you shouldn't be playing your championship today. Rather, I hope you're waging a "Free for All Bowl," per this week's column.

Whatever you're playing for, here's the news you can use to emerge victorious. Keep in mind, when the inactive lists come out, you can't assume the active players will necessarily be very active. Andre Johnson, for example, is likely to be active and to start the game; but he's expected to be on a strict snap count. Also, if Detroit wins the early game, all bets are off for the Falcons in the later game.

OK, here's what we know so far:

Aaron Rodgers, LeSean McCoy, Arian Foster, Mark Ingram, James Starks, Lance Moore and Owen Daniels have all been declared inactive already.

I like Matt Flynn's chances against the Lions. He's a sneaky starting option and he's the kind of guy who typically emerges at the top of the passing rankings in Week 17.

It will be another start for Kellen Clemens, with Sam Bradford and AJ Feeley inactive for the Rams. Sorry, Brandon Lloyd owners.

Jackie Battle has been placed on IR, so look for Dexter McCluster and Thomas Jones to split the backfield work. It's hard to like either (they've scored one TD between them all year), but it also wouldn't be a total surprise if one of them has a nice afternoon. If I had to bet -- and I'm glad I don't -- I'd say Jones gets the TD run.

Reggie Bush is out today, leaving the rushing duties to Daniel Thomas. He faces a strong Jets run defense, but the rookie should still have a decent day.

Jacoby Ford is expected to suit up. Wouldn't be surprised if he found his way into the end zone against the Chargers.

There's 100% chance of snow on the frozen tundra of Green Bay. Both of these teams are pass-centric, though; so it will be interesting to see how the weather affects the offensive game plans. Kevin Smith could have a very nice day for the Lions.

It will be very windy in Cleveland, with a 50% chance of rain or snow. Lousy conditions for kicking field goals, and it should put more emphasis on the runners. Mendenhall is positioned for a great game, but Peyton Hillis has a tough row to hoe against the Steelers' run D.

OK, that's it for now. Inactive tweets (@ladd_biro) coming up next. Good luck, Fools!

Saturday updates around the NFL - Week 17

2011-12-31T12:10:00.007-06:00

Here are a few snippets from my column in yesterday's Sporting News Fantasy Source:

Ben Roethlisberger is likely to make a cameo appearance in Sunday's game; but don't expect a full day's work. Though the Steelers have a potential bye week at stake, Big Ben (ankle) is expected to be watching from the sidelines by halftime. Pittsburgh also knows is can probably beat the Browns with Charlie Batch at the controls.

Tony Romo will play with his swollen right hand against the Giants, and he should be among the top passers of the day, thanks to New York's sieve-like secondary. Romo will also have his full complement of receivers, including Laurent Robinson (shoulder) at his disposal.

Kevin Kolb has been ruled out of Sunday's finale due to lingering concussion symptoms. John Skelton will make another start for the Cards.

Keep an eye on Reggie Bush's status (say, via my tweets @ladd_biro), as he is dealing with a possible knee sprain. He could be a game-time decision against the Jets. If Bush can't go, Daniel Thomas is in line for a heavy workload. Despite leaving last week's game early, the rookie is not listed on the Dolphins' Week 17 injury report. [UPDATE 12/31: Bush has been ruled out for Week 17.]

You need not worry about Michael Turner's groin (not sure that came out quite right). But you do need to be aware that if the Lions beat the Packers in the earlier game, Atlanta will be locked into the sixth seed and have little reason to go full tilt. That would be a shame, since they'll be facing the pathetic Bucs defense.

LeSean McCoy (ankle) returned to practice on Thursday, indicating that he is gearing up to play as usual against the Redskins. Since the Eagles have nothing to play for besides pride, any hiccup by McCoy could send him to the sidelines early. You have to start him, but be prepared for an early exit.

Not only won't Mark Ingram suit up Sunday, but he is in jeopardy of missing the Saints' postseason run after having a setback with his turf toe injury.

The Chiefs' backfield will be a little less crowded -- yet still not very enticing -- with the absence of Jackie Battle (foot) this weekend. Dexter McCluster and Thomas Jones will split the carries, but it's hard to trust either player. They've scored one touchdown between them all season.

Both Hakeem Nicks (hamstring) and Mario Manningham (knee) are expected to join Victor Cruz in the lineup against the Cowboys on Sunday night. I wouldn't bet against any of them reaching the end zone.

Andre Johnson (hamstring) is expected to play Sunday, but only 15-20 snaps. While that could be enough to find him celebrating in the end zone, I wouldn't bank on it. Ditto for Owen Daniels (knee), who will yield most, if not all, of his playing time to Joel Dreessen.

This would have been a great time for Randall Cobb to rack up meaningless stats, but a groin injury will almost certainly have him watching from the sidelines.

Billy Cundiff will be a game-time decision for the Ravens.

Week 17 Starters & Benchwarmers

2011-12-30T12:59:00.005-06:00

Hopefully this isn’t your championship weekend and you’re just playing for fun. But since all bets are off in Week 17, some obvious choices are suddenly not so obvious. Here are my picks to roll, and get rolled, in Week 17 of the 2011 season.

Watch ‘em roll

Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, Bills at Patriots. He torched the Patriots for 369 yards and two TDs when these teams met way back in Week 3. Though Fitzpatrick has been mediocre most of December, he has a great chance to finish on a high note as he faces the worst pass defense in the league.

Ben Tate, RB, Texans vs. Titans. With its postseason seeding set in stone, the Texans will surely rest Arian Foster. That should leave the backfield to Tate, assuming he also isn’t reserved. Tate posted 104 yards rushing against Tennessee’s mediocre defense in Week 7, even though Foster started and played well.

Felix Jones, RB, Cowboys at Giants. With everything on the line and his quarterback nursing a bruised hand, Jones will be leaned on heavily in this favorable matchup. He’s had plenty of time to rest his bum hamstring, so look for a heaping helping of Jones in Sunday night’s showdown. He collected 137 combined yards in the last meeting between the division rivals.

Robert Meachem, WR, Saints vs. Panthers. New Orleans still has a bye week on the line, so the starters should get a decent amount of action. With Lance Moore likely to sit out due to a hamstring injury, Meachem has a great chance to prosper against the Panthers’ porous secondary.

Malcom Floyd, WR, Chargers at Raiders. A groin injury will likely sideline Vincent Jackson for the finale, giving Floyd an ideal opportunity to reach the end zone for the third consecutive week. Oakland’s pass defense has been pretty awful, so it should be a nice day all around for those participating in the San Diego aerial attack.

More thumbs up: QBs Michael Vick, Cam Newton, Eli Manning, Tony Romo, Matt Stafford; RBs Maurice Jones-Drew, Kahlil Bell, Rashard Mendenhall, Marshawn Lynch, Beanie Wells, C.J. Spiller, Michael Bush, DeAngelo Williams; WRs Reggie Wayne, Brandon Marshall, Percy Harvin, Jeremy Maclin, Torrey Smith, Steve Smith, Nate Washington, Stevie Johnson, Dwayne Bowe, Miles Austin, Laurent Robinson, Denarius Moore.

Roll ‘em back

Tim Tebow, QB, Broncos at Chiefs. Kansas City has played outstanding defense over the past two weeks, most notably against Aaron Rodgers in Week 15. Tebow generally makes up for his passing deficiencies with rushing scores, but those will be tough to come by as well. These teams are heading in opposite directions lately, making Tebow a very risky play in rowdy Arrowhead.

Chris Johnson, RB, Titans at Texans. In Week 7, Houston held Johnson to a paltry 45 combined yards. Though he’s broken out of his early-season doldrums, Johnson is now dealing with a nagging ankle injury on which he’s having trouble cutting. Though the Titans still have a shot at the postseason (provided they get a lot of help), it’s hard to expect a full game, or meaningful production, from “CJ1K” against the stout Texans run defense.

Steven Jackson, RB, Rams vs. 49ers. As predicted here, and virtually nowhere else, Marshawn Lynch finally punctured the 49ers’ defense for its first rushing TD of the season last weekend. Jackson won’t make it two in a row. He was held to 30 combined yards when these teams met in Week 13. It should be another ugly day to finish an ugly season for the Rams.

Jordy Nelson, WR, Packers vs. Lions. Even if Green Bay’s regular starters are allowed to play a quarter or more, Nelson should be resting comfortably on your bench. He lives and dies on big plays and limited targets, so his risk is amplified further when an early exit seems assured.

Andre Johnson, WR, Texans vs. Titans. He’s expected to return from his on-again off-again hamstring injury, but he’ll be on a strict snap count. With nothing at stake for the Texans, and his fellow starters leaving early, Johnson should remain on your bench.

More thumbs down: QBs Aaron Rodgers, Matt Moore, Mark Sanchez, Matt Hasselbeck, Rex Grossman, Andy Dalton, Joe Flacco; RBs Donald Brown, Arian Foster, LeGarrette Blount, Mike Tolbert, Kevin Smith, Willis McGahee, BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Jackie Battle, Ryan Grant; WRs Plaxico Burress, Vincent Jackson, James Jones, Lance Moore, Greg Little, Demaryius Thomas, Brandon Lloyd, Antonio Brown.

Taking a flier

Stevan Ridley, RB, Patriots vs. Bills. The rookie led his team in rushing the last time they faced the Bills, and Ridley has gotten the most carries in the Patriots’ backfield committee over the last two games. Against the NFL’s 28th-ranked rush defense, Ridley is well positioned to have the best game of his young NFL career on Sunday.

Don’t be the bonehead who…wages your title game in Week 17 again next year. Talk to your commissioner and fellow owners now, and agree to change the schedule so you’re not stuck in this same situation next season. Championships should not be contested while many of your best players are wearing baseball caps.

Week 16 Heroes & Zeros

2011-12-27T09:10:00.005-06:00

This was a great week to start…

QBs
Aaron Rodgers, Packers – Gave a final kiss to his fantasy owners, with 283 passing yards and 5 TDs, plus 18 yards on the ground, without a turnover.
Drew Brees, Saints – Eclipsed Dan Marino with his 307-yard, 4-TD effort, which also came with 2 INTs.
Cam Newton, Panthers – Kept up the Superman act with 171 passing yards and 3 TDs, plus 65 rushing yards and a fourth TD.
Tom Brady, Patriots – Rallied for his team and his fantasy owners with 304 passing yards and 1 TD, plus 17 rushing yards and 2 QB plunges.
Matt Stafford, Lions – Passed for 373 yards and 3 TDs.
Matt Moore, Dolphins – Took advantage of the New England secondary with 294 passing yards and 3 TDs plus 2 turnovers.

RBs
DeAngelo Williams, Panthers – Found the end zone twice while rushing for 66 yards. Also added 2 receptions for 18 yards.
Kevin Smith, Lions – Combined for 61 yards and 2 TDs.

WRs
Jordy Nelson, Packers – Torched the Bears with 6 receptions for 115 yards and 2 TDs.
Brandon Marshall, Dolphins – Reeled in 7 passes for 156 yards and a score.
Victor Cruz, Giants – Turned 3 passes into 164 yards, including a 99-yard TD burst.
James Jones, Packers – Hauled in 4 passes for 50 yards and 2 scores.
Julio Jones, Falcons – Brought in 8 passes for 128 yards and 1 TD, though he lost a fumble.
Wes Welker, Patriots – Had another great PPR game with a dozen catches for 138 yards.
Roddy White, Falcons – His PPR owners loved his 11 receptions for 127 yards.

TEs
Jared Cook, Titans – Hauled in 8 passes for 169 yards and a TD.

D/STs
Bills – Returned 2 Tebow INTs for TDs, scored on an 80-yard punt return, and added 2 sacks and 4 total turnovers.

This was a great week to play against…

QBs
Tony Romo, Cowboys – Left in the first quarter after a hand injury, with no completions to his credit.
Alex Smith, 49ers – Passed for 179 yards, and ran for 22, without a TD or turnover.

RBs
BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Patriots – Limited to 10 rushing yards.
LeGarrette Blount, Buccaneers – Held to 11 rushing yards against Carolina’s soft run defense.
James Starks, Packers – Returned from injury to total 19 yards.
Felix Jones, Cowboys – Limited against the Eagles to just 24 rushing yards, thanks to a tight hammy and meaningless game.
Donald Brown, Colts – Rushed for 35 yards and caught 2 passes for 13 more.
LeSean McCoy, Eagles – Uncharacteristically held to 35 rushing yards and a 10-yard catch, and was kept out of the end zone.
Beanie Wells, Cardinals – He only managed 53 yards plus an 8-yard reception.
Chris Johnson, Titans – Only 56 yards on the day.
Cedric Benson, Bengals – Just 57 rushing yards and an 8-yard catch.

WRs
Eric Decker, Broncos – Held catchless.
Laurent Robinson, Cowboys – Marginalized by circumstances, only tallied a 5-yard catch.
Hakeem Nicks, Giants – Had only a 20-yard catch to show for his day.
Brandon Lloyd, Rams – Just 29 yards on 3 catches.
Plaxico Burress, Jets – His 3 receptions amounted to just 34 yards.
Antonio Brown, Steelers – Same for him.
Torrey Smith, Ravens – Held to 2 catches for 38 yards by Cleveland’s Joe Haden.
Mike Williams, Buccaneers – Just 4 catches for 39 yards.
Vincent Jackson, Chargers – Limited to 41 yards on 2 catches.
Steve Smith, Panthers – His team racked up 48 points, but his 23 rushing yards exceeded his receiving total (9 yards).
A.J. Green, Bengals – Ran for 25 yards and caught 2 passes for 25 more.

TEs
Owen Daniels, Texans – Held on to one 4-yard pass.

After the laughter, it’s time for a free-for-all

2011-12-26T14:44:00.008-06:00

Aaron Rodgers earned his place on fantasy’s Mount Rushmore with his five-touchdown performance on Christmas night, propelling millions of gleeful owners to championship glory.

That’s the type of overwhelming firepower you’re dreaming of when you invest a first-round pick on a quarterback. Many of those who took that gamble are celebrating today.

Then again, if all they got from Rodgers’ masterful evening was a ticket to a Week 17 Super Bowl, they’d better party hearty now. Because their All World quarterback won’t be playing much, if at all, in the Packers’ meaningless regular season finale.

That’s why your league shouldn’t be playing for all the marbles, either.

With nothing at stake next Sunday, most Packers starters will undoubtedly hit the showers after a drive or two. Expect similar non-production from Arian Foster and his fellow Texans starters, who are locked in as the AFC’s No. 3 seed. There’s no telling how long, or hard, the Saints, Lions and Falcons will be battling, either.

Meanwhile, players from non-playoff bound teams may have already checked out mentally. (See Tampa Bay.)

Allow me to recommend a more enjoyable way to wrap up the fantasy season: The Free-for-All Bowl.

It’s simple. Everyone – including those owners who sat out the postseason – sets one final starting lineup. The top overall score wins five percent of the pot. (For non-money leagues, I suppose you could play for pride. Winning, in this case, would be much like hitting a perfect drive off the 18th tee after a lousy round of golf. It fuels hope for future success.)

We’ve played the Free-for-All Bowl in a couple of my leagues for as long as I can remember, because it’s a great way to keep everyone engaged while extracting one more competitive week out of the fantasy season. And I think we can all agree that’s a worthy objective.

If you can talk your fellow owners into staging a Free-for-All Bowl next weekend, I urge you to give it a try. Otherwise, be sure to lock it into your schedule next season.

Because Week 17 is a terrible thing to waste.

FREE AGENT PICKS AND PANS

Hopefully you’ve already played, and won, your league’s championship. If you still have something on the line in Week 17, there’s not much help available on the waiver wire. But here are some marginal free agent recommendations anyway, along with two who would look better in someone else’s lineup.

Catch 'em while you can

Matt Flynn, QB, Packers. The highly regarded backup out-dueled Tom Brady in passing for 251 yards and 3 TDs last season when Rodgers was injured. Flynn has the talent, and presumably he’ll have enough receiving weapons at his disposal to make things interesting against the Lions. He’s the type of unheralded player that often tops the Week 17 passer rankings.

Evan Royster, RB, Redskins. Why not one more spin on the Redskins’ backfield rollercoaster? After combining for 147 yards against a solid run defense in his first NFL start, Royster has certainly earned another opportunity against the Eagles in Week 17. Of course, only the inscrutable Mike Shanahan knows if he’ll get the chance, and that decision hinges somewhat on Roy Helu’s health.

Toby Gerhart, RB, Vikings. While we ponder the possibility that we may have just witnessed the beginning of the end to Adrian Peterson’s stellar career, it’s time again to make room for Gerhart on your roster. Now owned in less than half of all leagues, Gerhart will be called upon to finish off the Vikings’ disastrous season against the Bears next Sunday.

Don’t be fooled

Darren McFadden, RB, Raiders. There’s chatter swirling in fantasy circles that RunDMC may be preparing for a Week 17 return to the field. While anything’s possible in Oakland, the possibility seems remote at best. Even more unlikely is the notion that McFadden would deliver meaningful production in his first action since injuring his foot in Week 7, particularly when Michael Bush has performed so well in his absence.

Jerome Simpson, WR, Bengals. Even the non-football fans gathered at my home on Christmas Eve were mesmerized by Simpson’s mind-boggling scoring leap. But don’t let his signature career highlight convince you that he belongs on your roster; especially with the Ravens coming to town for the Bengals’ finale.

Saturday morning updates -- Championship Weekend!

2011-12-24T10:26:00.008-06:00

Good morning, Fools. Merry Christmas Eve, and happy Championship Saturday!

Not sure how I feel about 13 games being played on a Saturday, with so many other things going on, but it is what it is. Let's get to the news we can use to emerge victorious this weekend. (I'm hoping none of your leagues are holding your Super Bowls in Week 17, even though I know some still make that mistake. Please, for the love of Priest Holmes, stop it!)

BIG NEWS OF THE DAY: Roy Helu has been ruled OUT of today's game due to his lower leg injuries. Evan Royster will get the start against the Vikings, which makes him a real sleeper. Minnesota's run defense is good, but not the brick wall it once was. That said, Royster has had very little experience at this level. I wouldn't rush to pin your title dreams on him, unless Helu was your last option at RB.

Big Ben is out, as he should be, against the Rams. Charlie Batch will be the Steelers' QB, which hurts Mike Wallace's and Antonio Brown's stock. I wouldn't bench Wallace ever, but Brown is expendable depending on your other options. The real beneficiary is Mendenhall, who not only has a delicious matchup, but will be leaned on even more heavily than normal given the QB situation.

After telling us all week that Felix Jones' hammy was OK, and he was just being held out of practice in an over-abundance of caution, his status is now in complete doubt. He will likely be limited under any scenario, but he may even be declared inactive if the Giants beat the Jets in the earlier game (rendering Dallas' game vs. the Eagles meaningless for postseason purposes). Regardless, Sammy Morris is slated to get a big share of the workload. Avoid Felix today.

Look for a good game from Kevin Smith, as he is very close to full health and the Lions have committed to him as their workhorse back. The DET-SD tilt should be a barn-burner, and Smith is bound to get his share of the fantasy pie.

Mark Ingram will surely be declared inactive on Monday night, leading to more split touches between Chris Ivory and Pierre Thomas.

Looks like James Starks is headed back to the lineup for Sunday night's game. The rough matchup with the Bears, and the likely shared backfield with Ryan Grant (and Brandon Saine and John Kuhn), make all Packers RBs unusable fantasy options.

On the other side, it appears that Marion Barber will be held out of the game. That makes my choice of Kahlil Bell as "flier of the week" even stronger. He's a decent flex play if you're willing (or need) to gamble a bit.

Chris Johnson has been bothered by an ankle injury all week, but he is expected to suit up today vs. the Jags. You probably have to start him, though; even if he's not 100%.

Beanie Wells (knee) is questionable to play today, but most observers believe he'll start as usual in Cincinnati.

Lance Moore aggravated his hamstring in practice Friday. Not sure how serious it is, but given the Monday night start, he's now a risky option. The last thing you want now is to be left without a backup option and have to take a goose egg in one of your WR slots.

Vincent Jackson will be a game-time decision due to a groin injury. There's a very real chance he won't play in today's later game. Plan accordingly. (Malcom Floyd and Vincent Brown are decent proxies if available.)

Don't expect Mario Manningham to play today. That adds value to both Nicks and Cruz, who face a tough secondary.

Brandon Marshall is fine and will play today. In fact, he should have a monster game against the Pats.

TE Anthony Fasano, however, will not play in the delicious matchup against New England's shoddy secondary.

That's it for now, Fools. I'll be tweeting (@ladd_biro) the inactives when they start announcing them. Good luck today, and have a blessed weekend.

Week 16 Starters & Benchwarmers

2011-12-22T14:24:00.005-06:00

Wondering whether or not to start Drew Brees and LeSean McCoy, or to bench Seneca Wallace and Joseph Addai in your championship game? The network bozos specialize in that kind of advice. If you’re looking for help with your real starting lineup conundrums, read on.

Here are my picks to roll, and get rolled, in Week 16 of the 2011 season.

Watch ‘em roll

Matt Ryan, QB, Falcons at Saints. With seven TD passes and no interceptions over the past two weeks, Ryan is among the hottest QBs in the land. He’ll need to keep up the blistering pace on Monday night as he duels Drew Brees in what is sure to be a fantasypalooza.

Ryan Mathews, RB, Broncos at Lions. Coming off a week in which he gashed the Ravens’ elite defense for 90 yards and two scores, Mathews now gets to pick on Detroit’s vulnerable run defense. He could score as a rusher and receiver in this high-flying contest.

Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seahawks vs. 49ers. Call it a hunch, or pure confidence in a tailback who hasn’t failed to reach the end zone since Week 3. Not only wouldn’t I sit Lynch against the NFL’s top-ranked run defense; I’ll bet he posts the first rushing score of the year on them.

Plaxico Burress, WR, Jets vs. Giants. The cross-town smack talk is in full swing, but the Giants’ porous secondary won’t be able to muzzle the chatter, or the scoring. Look for Burress to penetrate the end zone at least once against his former team, and add some nice yardage along the way.

Jeremy Maclin, WR, Eagles at Cowboys. He’s been hindered in recent weeks by hamstring and shoulder injuries, but Maclin appears reliably healthy now. He notched 54 yards and a TD in the teams’ first meeting, and similar or better production awaits in what should be a high-scoring rematch.

More thumbs up (excluding the no-brainers): QBs Matt Stafford, Cam Newton, Tony Romo, Michael Vick, Matt Moore, Tim Tebow; RBs Michael Bush, Reggie Bush, Kevin Smith, Willis McGahee, Rashard Mendenhall, C.J. Spiller, Shonn Greene, Cedric Benson, Beanie Wells; WRs A.J. Green, Nate Washington, Vincent Jackson, Steve Smith, Mike Williams (Bucs), Percy Harvin, Dwayne Bowe, Stevie Johnson, Jordy Nelson, Santonio Holmes.

Roll ‘em back

Rex Grossman, QB, Redskins vs. Vikings. Grossman is at the top of many sleeper lists this week since he’ll be facing Minnesota’s generous secondary. That might make sense if (a) he hadn’t underachieved in other juicy matchups, and (b) he didn’t have the capacity to implode at any given moment. Don’t pin your title hopes on one of the most unreliable passers on the planet.

DeAngelo Williams, RB, Panthers vs. Buccaneers. In three of his last four games, Williams has scored at least once and rushed for 61 or more yards. But he stunk it up in the other contest, in Tampa Bay. Unless Williams breaks another long TD run Sunday, you may be left cursing Cam Newton for stealing all the goal-line glory.

Roy Helu, RB, Redskins vs. Vikings. A lower leg injury presumably was the cause of his poor productivity last week, and it could limit his touches on Sunday, too. You know how skittish Mike Shanahan can be with his rushers. Evan Royster could be this week’s favored son. Helu comes with considerable risk against a solid run defense.

Torrey Smith, WR, Ravens vs. Browns. With news that Anquan Boldin is out due to knee surgery, Smith will be the primary receiver in this matchup. That means he’ll be blanketed by Joe Haden, who is playing at an elite level.

Brandon Lloyd, WR, Rams at Steelers. Whether or not Sam Bradford (ankle) suits up, Lloyd can’t be trusted against the stingiest pass defense in the league.

More thumbs down: QBs Ben Roethlisberger, Joe Flacco, Matt Hasselbeck, Alex Smith, Kyle Orton, Carson Palmer; RBs Marion Barber, Steven Jackson, Donald Brown, BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Toby Gerhart, Jonathan Stewart, Peyton Hillis, Jackie Battle, Ben Tate, Brandon Jacobs; WRs Eric Decker, Greg Little, Steve Breaston, Reggie Wayne, Denarius Moore.

Taking a flier

Kahlil Bell, RB, Bears at Packers. Looking for a sneaky flex play? Marion Barber is quickly wearing out his welcome in Chicago, and he’s been sitting out practice this week with a calf injury. Green Bay has coughed up at least one rushing TD per game for six straight weeks. Bell is a decent bet to make it seven.

Don’t be the bonehead who…heads out for last-minute Christmas shopping and forgets that Saturday is the new Sunday. A full slate of 13 games will be played on Christmas Eve this year. Be sure to lock in your championship game lineup by Saturday morning.

Week 15 Heroes & Zeros

2011-12-20T11:04:00.006-06:00

This was a great week to start…

QBs
Drew Brees, Saints – Had a monster game with 412 passing yards and 5, count ‘em, 5 TDs, with no INTs and one fumble.
Matt Stafford, Lions – Passed for 391 yards and 4 TDs, with a fumble and no INTs.
Tony Romo, Cowboys – Threw for 249 yards and 3 TDs and ran in a 4th TD, with just one lost fumble.
Tom Brady, Patriots – Passed for 320 yards and 2 TDs, and ran in a 3rd score.
Matt Ryan, Falcons – Passed for 224 yards and 3 TDs.

RBs
LeSean McCoy, Eagles – Rushed for 102 yards and a TD trifecta. Also lost a fumble.
Reggie Bush, Dolphins – Burst through the Bills for 203 rushing yards and a TD, but lost a fumble.
C.J. Spiller, Bills – Ran for 91 yards and a TD, and reeled in 9 passes for 76 yards and a second score.
Ryan Mathews, Chargers – Gained 90 yards on the ground with 2 TDs, plus 2 receptions for 19 yards.
Donald Brown, Colts – Rumbled for 161 yards and a game-clinching TD.
Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks – His 2 TD runs made up for just 47 combined yards.
Toby Gerhart, Vikings – Only ran for 12 yards, but caught 4 passes for 46 yards and 2 TDs.

WRs
Calvin Johnson, Lions – Broke out of his slump with 9 receptions for 214 yards and 2 TDs.
Roddy White, Falcons – Reeled in 10 passes for 135 yards and 2 TDs.
Lance Moore, Saints – Scored twice on his 5 receptions for 91 yards.
Darrius Heyward-Bey, Raiders – Pulled down 8 catches for 155 yards and a score.

TEs
Brent Celek, Eagles – Hauled in 5 passes for 156 yards and a score.
Aaron Hernandez, Patriots – Did his best Gronkowski imitation, with 9 receptions for 129 yards and a TD.

D/STs
Seahawks – Returned 2 interceptions for scores while registering 4 sacks and 5 total turnovers.
Falcons – Forced 3 turnovers, amassed 5 sacks and returned a fumble for a TD while holding the Jags to 7 offensive points.

This was a great week to play against…

QBs
Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers – The hobbled QB mustered 330 yards, but no TDs and 4 turnovers.
Matt Hasselbeck, Titans – Despite the juicy matchup, only tossed 223 yards and 2 INTs, without a score, and gave way to Jake Locker again.
Eli Manning, Giants – Coughed up 3 INTs while passing for 257 yards and no scores (though it wasn’t all his fault).
Andy Dalton, Bengals – Wasted a great matchup by throwing for just 179 yards, no TDs and 1 INT.

RBs
LeGarrette Blount, Buccaneers – Held to 21 rushing yards.
Marion Barber, Bears – Limited to 33 yards.
Brandon Jacobs, Giants – So was he.
Kevin Smith, Lions – Led Lions rushers with just 43 yards, plus a 3-yard catch.
Adrian Peterson, Vikings – Out-performed by Toby Gerhart, with just 60 rushing yards in his return.

WRs
Mike Williams, Buccaneers – Laid a goose egg against the Cowboys.
Percy Harvin, Vikings – Turned 3 receptions into just 8 yards.
Doug Baldwin, Seahawks – Had a 13-yarder for the day.
Denarius Moore, Raiders – Returned from injury to catch just 2 passes for 13 yards, and he ran for 13 more.
Johnny Knox, Bears – Had a 15-yard catch, and fumble, before absorbing a stomach-turning hit.
Eric Decker, Broncos – Held to a 22-yard reception.
Pierre Garcon, Colts – Ran for 8 yards and caught 2 passes for 24 yards.
DeSean Jackson, Eagles – Just 28 yards and 2 receptions.
Jordy Nelson, Packers – He only had 29 yards on his 2 catches.
Wes Welker, Patriots – Just 4 for 41 yards against the Broncos.

TEs
Tony Gonzalez, Falcons – Just one 14-yard catch.
Antonio Gates, Chargers – Limited to 2 catches for 31 yards.

Upsets rule Week 15, in fantasy and reality

2011-12-19T14:19:00.003-06:00

Upsets made headlines across the NFL this week. So it should come as no surprise that several top-seeded fantasy teams were sent packing as well.

Who could have imagined that the lowly Chiefs would spoil the Packers’ march to perfection? Even more inconceivable was a scoreless first half performance by Aaron Rodgers and the most prolific offense in the NFL.

Rodgers managed to finish with respectable fantasy numbers, but Drew Brees, Matt Stafford, Tom Brady and Tony Romo put him to shame when it counted most.

Remarkably, three of the top seeds in my four leagues went down to defeat this weekend, thanks to uncharacteristically pedestrian performances from such stalwarts as Rodgers, Eli Manning, Wes Welker, Percy Harvin, Jordy Nelson, Rob Gronkowski and Antonio Gates. Greg Jennings’ absence hurt as well.

Hey, even the Colts had to win some time, right?

If your fantasy season ended more abruptly than expected due to poorly timed swoons from your key starters, I feel your pain. Over the years, I’ve steamrolled into the playoffs with a seemingly indestructible team, only to watch in vain as my studs wilted on the field.

For every Calvin Johnson owner exulting in his receiver’s overpowering performance against the Raiders, there’s another owner wondering why Megatron had to break out of his mini-slump this weekend. We’ve all been there, buddy.

Ultimate success in Fantasyland rarely comes by accident; but just as rarely is it achieved without a dollop of luck along the way.

Losers, keep your chin up. Momma said there’d be days like this. Winners, don’t get too cocky. Things change quickly around here.

FREE AGENT PICKS AND PANS

Now that the fantasy postseason is upon us, your starting roster should be fairly settled. But a little tweaking here or there, if only to keep your competition from improving, might still be in order. Here’s a look at a couple of players that could help in the final weeks, and a couple that won’t.

Catch ‘em while you can

Matt Moore, QB, Dolphins. I can’t imagine any scenario in which a title-contending fantasy team would need to resort to a flier at the quarterback position. But if you’re the rare exception, Moore is your man. Not only did he fare well in the snowy conditions of Buffalo on Sunday, but he’ll face the ragtag Patriots secondary next weekend.

Brent Celek, TE, Eagles. His career-best game (156 yards, 1 TD) came against a solid Jets secondary and included receptions of 13, 26, 38 and 73 yards. Now that Michael Vick is reasonably healthy, Celek is a viable receiving option, especially if DeSean Jackson’s elbow injury limits his playing time.

Don’t be fooled

Kahlil Bell, RB, Bears. It’s little surprise that after Marion Barber’s costly mistakes in Week 14, and his modest production Sunday against the Seahawks, Bell was given a chance to shine. The second-year back took advantage of his opportunity, but only if you were banking on Barber should Bell even be a consideration.

Donald Brown, RB, Colts. If you have to own a Colt tailback, Brown is the guy you want. Fortunately, nobody’s forcing you to own one. His 80-yard touchdown run against the Titans was a thing of beauty; but the highlights for this offense, and this running game in particular, are few and far between.

Greg Little, WR, Browns. The rookie flashed some promise earlier in the season, but his size and talent have mostly been squandered in Cleveland’s moribund offense. He broke loose on a 76-yard scoring reception against the Cardinals, which gave him a career-high 131-yard, one-touchdown game. Keep him on your radar for next season’s draft.

Sunday morning updates -- Week 15

2011-12-18T10:27:00.006-06:00

It's the most wonderful time of the year: Christmas and the fantasy postseason! It just doesn't get any better than this.

Let's scope out the latest news across Fantasyland so we're as well-informed as possible heading into our playoff contests.

Big Ben has been limited in practice and you know he's going to do everything in his power to play on Monday night. But you just can't take the chance that he sits, unless Alex Smith is your backup (and he doesn't exactly provide much comfort). To me, starting Roethlisberger is out of the question. But what about his receivers? Mike Wallace has to start, no matter what; but Antonio Brown is a much bigger question mark. I'm still reserving him. Emmanuel Sanders has already been ruled out.

(On a positive note, for Steelers fans, All Pro MLB Patrick Willis will likely not play for the 49ers on Monday night. Willis is the best defender on the team, perhaps in the NFL, and nobody can fill his cleats.)

John Skelton will be back under center for the Cards, with Kolb (concussion) out. You still have to start Fitz.

Sam Bradford is highly unlikely to play, leaving Kellen Clemens as the Rams' starter. If that doesn't prompt you to play the Bengals defense, I'm not sure what will. That's very bad news for Brandon Lloyd too.

Adrian Peterson is expected to be active. Even though there's talk of limiting his touches, you have to start him.

Mark Ingram has been ruled out for the Saints. Pierre Thomas has been getting the bulk of the goal line carries, Chris Ivory runs between the 20s and Darren Sproles does a little bit of everything. Makes for a very messy and unpredictable fantasy situation.

Looks like Brandon Saine may join James Starks on the inactive list today, leaving Ryan Grant and John Kuhn as the only healthy backs for Green Bay. Good news for those wanting/needing to start Grant today.

Kevin Smith is expected to suit up today, but I wouldn't touch him, even against the Raiders. Maurice Morris and Keiland Williams take too many carries.

Ahmad Bradshaw is expected to play against the Redskins. Assuming he made curfew last night, he should play the entire game, limiting Brandon Jacobs' upside.

Deion Branch won't play today. Gee, you think Gronkowski might get more involved in the game plan now?

Andre Johnson is out again.

Good luck, Fools! Make it a 200-point day! Inactives and other late-breaking news coming via Twitter (@ladd_biro) soon.

Friday updates and injury news

2011-12-16T13:11:00.005-06:00

Here are a few snippets from my column in today's Sporting News Fantasy Source:

You can never count out Ben Roethlisberger (ankle) until the last second, but his Monday night start won’t give you the luxury of waiting that long. Don’t risk a goose egg, especially since all the current indicators are pointing south for Big Ben.

Kyle Orton (finger) will likely be back under center when the Chiefs play the Packers. While he could post some nice trash-time stats, the real beneficiary is Dwayne Bowe. He should have a big game against Green Bay’s porous secondary.

I’m curious how Adrian Peterson (ankle) calculates that he is “85 percent” healthy; but all I need to know is that he’s playing on Sunday. As of this writing, it appears that he is. Follow me on Twitter (@ladd_biro) to make sure there are no last-minute surprises.

Remember way back when when Darren McFadden (foot) was a fantasy stud? Yeah, I’m having trouble remembering that, too. Keep Michael Bush in your lineup against the Lions.

Speaking of which, Kevin Smith (ankle) has resumed practicing and will likely be suiting up on Sunday. No guarantees, of course; but in any event, Smith will be sharing carries with Maurice Morris and touchdown-vulture Keiland Williams. You should have better options.

With James Starks (ankle) expected to miss another game, Ryan Grant has an opportunity to prosper against the sub-par Chiefs run defense. I still think last week’s two-touchdown outburst was an aberration in Green Bay’s pass-centric offense; but Grant is worth a flex play given the favorable matchup.

Andre Johnson (hamstring) will likely be a game-time decision. You have to start him if he plays – T.J. Yates has proven he can get him the ball – but at this point, you need to make contingency plans.

Despite lingering shoulder and hamstring injuries, Jeremy Maclin is expected to start against the Jets. But as with last week, he may not make it the entire game. Not to mention, the Jets’ vaunted secondary has finally started playing up to their pedigree. Maclin is a very risky start, particularly with Michael Vick (ribs) also struggling.

Week 15 Starters & Benchwarmers

2011-12-15T15:57:00.007-06:00

Wondering whether or not to start Drew Brees and Rob Gronkowski, or to bench Caleb Hanie and Tashard Choice? The network bozos specialize in that kind of advice. If you’re looking for help with your real starting lineup conundrums, read on.

Here are my picks to roll, and get rolled, in Week 15 of the 2011 season.

Watch ‘em roll

Tim Tebow, QB, Broncos vs. Patriots. There’s only one elite quarterback playing in this game, and it’s not Tebow. But New England’s secondary has made fantasy stars out of Rex Grossman and Dan Orlovsky over the past two weeks. Even if he’s only on-target in the fourth quarter while playing catch-up, Tebow will deliver stellar production.

Cedric Benson, RB, Bengals at Rams. There’s no better matchup for an opposing rusher than the Rams’ putrid defense. Benson is the unchallenged workhorse of Bengals’ offense, making him a must-start in virtually every league -- even over some elite options.

Beanie Wells, RB, Cardinals vs. Browns. His two-game roll was interrupted by the elite 49ers defense last week. But Sunday offers the perfect rebound scenario of a lousy run defense, combined with a strong secondary that will limit Arizona’s passing game. Another big day awaits Wells.

Lance Moore, WR, Saints at Vikings. Marques Colston had a monster game against the Titans in Week 14, but he still trails Moore in the touchdown-scoring department (five to six). Facing an opponent that has surrendered the most passing TDs in the league (26), Moore is a must-start in Minnesota.

Santana Moss, WR, Redskins at Giants. You won’t catch me jumping on the Rex Grossman bandwagon (aka rollercoaster), but there’s no denying his delicious matchup with New York’s imploding pass defense. Moss is the most reliable target in Sexy Rexy’s arsenal, making him a great bet to reach the end zone in his second straight game against inferior secondaries.

More thumbs up (excluding the no-brainers): QBs Matt Ryan, Tony Romo, Eli Manning, Matt Stafford, Joe Flacco; RBs Shonn Greene, Marshawn Lynch, Felix Jones, Michael Bush, Reggie Bush, Roy Helu; WRs Julio Jones, Laurent Robinson, Miles Austin, Nate Washington, Mike Williams (Bucs), Donald Driver, Torrey Smith, Percy Harvin, Plaxico Burress, Dwayne Bowe.

Roll ‘em back

Cam Newton, QB, Panthers at Texans. Not only does Houston boast the third-stingiest pass defense in the NFL, but they are stout against the run as well. Normally you can count on Newton to make up any passing deficiencies with a running score or two; but this week should be the exception.

Michael Vick, QB, Eagles vs. Jets. The electrifying quarterback is still playing in pain, and the Jets’ aggressive pass defense won’t make life any easier. Vick has yet to notch a scoring run all season, and multiple passing scores are not in the cards this week either.

Rashard Menden-hall, RB, Steelers at 49ers. You hate to sit a top rusher in the fantasy postseason; but when he’s facing a brick wall in San Francisco, you almost have to. Mendenhall is losing touches to Isaac Redman as well, making him an even riskier start.

C.J. Spiller, RB, Bills vs. Dolphins. Buffalo is having trouble running the ball, while Miami has quietly ascended into the elite ranks of run defenses. Spiller will have trouble getting on track against this unit, which has allowed just five rushing scores all season.

Antonio Brown, WR, Steelers at 49ers. I’ve said before he’s my new favorite fantasy wideout, but Brown is a dicey proposition if Ben Roethlisberger (ankle) can’t play. While the 49ers secondary isn’t nearly as stingy as its run defense, they’re good enough to shut down Charlie Batch and his No. 2 receiver. The Monday night start makes Brown, and Big Ben, even riskier options.

More thumbs down: QBs Sam Bradford, Kyle Orton, Ben Roethlisberger, Alex Smith, Carson Palmer, Ryan Fitzpatrick; RBs Kevin Smith, DeAngelo Williams, Marion Barber, BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Chris Ivory; WRs Deion Branch, Jeremy Maclin, Johnny Knox, Michael Crabtree.

Taking a flier

Cardinals defense/special teams vs. Browns. You thought Cleveland’s offense struggled before? Get ready for an epic failure with Colt McCoy (concussion) on the sidelines. Arizona has sacked opposing passers five times apiece over the last two games, and their secondary has elevated its game recently as well. The Browns’ three-headed backfield committee won’t find much room to run, either.

Don’t be the bonehead who…overlooks the Saturday night tilt between the Cowboys and Buccaneers. Just as we’ve grown accustomed to the Thursday night games, the NFL is throwing us another scheduling curveball. Make sure your Cowboys, especially, are locked in for what should be a fantasy smorgasbord.

Week 14 Heroes & Zeros

2011-12-13T21:40:00.004-06:00

This was a great week to start...

QBs
Tony Romo, Cowboys – Exploited the Giants secondary for 321 yards and 4 TDs without a turnover.
Matt Ryan, Falcons – Torched the Panthers for 320 yards and 4 TDs.
Tom Brady, Patriots – We’ll overlook the rare INT for the 357 passing yards and TD trifecta.
Mark Sanchez, Jets – Scored twice passing and twice rushing while throwing for 181 yards, though he also lost a fumble.
Philip Rivers, Chargers – Passed for 240 yards and 3 TDs, but fumbled once.
Eli Manning, Giants – Picked apart the Cowboys for 400 yards and 2 TDs, plus an INT.

RBs
Maurice Jones-Drew, Jaguars – Scored 4 TDs while rushing for 85 yards and catching 6 passes for 51 yards.
Ryan Grant, Packers – Looked like his old self, with 85 rushing yards and a pair of TDs, plus a 13-yard reception.
Brandon Jacobs, Giants – Rumbled for 101 yards and 2 TDs.
LeSean McCoy, Eagles – Only totaled 71 yards, but added 2 TDs.
Shonn Greene, Jets – Ran for 129 yards and 1 TD, and caught 3 passes for 58 yards.

WRs
Marques Colston, Saints – Pulled down 7 balls for 105 yards and 2 TDs.
Julio Jones, Falcons – Made his 3 catches count, with 104 yards and 2 fourth-quarter scores.
Antonio Brown, Steelers – Reeled in 5 passes for 151 yards and a score.
Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals – Brought down 7 passes for 149 yards and 1 TD.
Laurent Robinson, Cowboys – He turned 4 passes into 137 yards and a score.
Nate Washington, Titans – Caught 6 passes for 130 yards and a TD.
Hakeem Nicks, Giants – Failed to score, but turned 8 passes into 163 yards.

TEs
Rob Gronkowski, Patriots – Amassed 160 yards and 2 TDs on his 6 receptions.
Antonio Gates, Chargers – He turned 7 catches into 68 yards and 2 scores.

D/STs
Lions – Amassed 4 sacks, 6 turnovers and TDs on a fumble recovery and interception return.
Jaguars – Also scored twice (both times on fumbles) while notching 3 sacks and 6 total turnovers.
Eagles – Registered a whopping 9 sacks, 3 turnovers and a safety while holding Miami to 10 points.

This was a great week to play against…

QBs
Matt Hasselbeck, Titans – Passed for 44 yards before leaving with a calf injury.
Alex Smith, 49ers – Held to 175 yards without a score.
Ryan Fitzpatrick, Bills – Threw 2 picks while passing for 176 yards without a score.

RBs
Daniel Thomas, Dolphins – Tallied a woeful 13 combined yards.
Maurice Morris, Lions – Only tallied 13 rushing yards before exiting injured.
BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Patriots – Just 19 yards on the day.
Ahmad Bradshaw, Giants – Held out of first half for disciplinary reasons, then managed just 19 yards on the night.
DeMarco Murray, Cowboys – Left early with a broken ankle after collecting just 25 rushing yards and a 6-yard pass.
Colts RBs – Donald Brown led the trio with 28 rushing yards, and his reception for minus-6 yards was the only one of the day for all of them
Peyton Hillis, Browns – Just 25 yards on Thursday night.
Beanie Wells, Cardinals – Ran into the 49ers’ brick wall with just 30 total yards.
Willis McGahee, Broncos – Marginalized with just 36 combined yards.
C.J. Spiller, Bills – Tallied a sparse 46 rushing and 10 receiving yards on 3 receptions.
Arian Foster, Texans – In the fantasy playoffs, we expect more than 41 rushing and 33 receiving yards on 4 catches, especially when a fumble is thrown in.
Chris Johnson, Titans – Limited to 23 rushing and 43 receiving yards on 5 catches.

WRs
Plaxico Burress, Jets – Managed to go without a catch in a 37-10 rout.
Jeremy Maclin, Eagles – Caught a 13-yard pass.
Lance Moore, Saints – Just 4 receptions for 20 yards.
Greg Jennings, Packers – Had only 20 yards on his 2 catches before injuring his knee.
Calvin Johnson, Lions – Limited to 3 catches for 29 yards and an 11-yard run.
Eric Decker, Broncos – Only got to 33 yards on his 3 balls.
Mike Williams, Buccaneers – Held to 3 receptions for 35 yards.
Johnny Knox, Bears – His 3 receptions turned into 37 yards.

TEs
Dallas Clark, Colts – Returned to action to catch a 12-yarder.
Jason Witten, Cowboys – Took 3 balls to amass 12 yards.
Vernon Davis, 49ers – Held to a single 32-yard reception.

Fantasy’s MVP may not be who you think

2011-12-12T13:19:00.007-06:00

I’d like to nominate an unconventional candidate for 2011 Fantasy MVP.

No, it’s not Aaron Rodgers, who has been consistently outstanding all season.

It’s not LeSean McCoy, who tops the running back rankings with 1,482 total yards and 17 touchdowns – five more than his nearest competitor.

Nor is it Wes Welker, who leads all receivers with 100 receptions and 1,339 yards, plus nine TDs.

Rather, my choice is Welker’s teammate, Rob Gronkowski – the most lethal tight end in the business.

Here is my hypothesis, which I challenge anyone to disprove: While he isn’t the highest-scoring player in the game, Gronkowski is the most common denominator among this year’s fantasy playoff teams.

A blatantly unscientific survey from my four leagues found that Gronkowski is owned by two top-seeded teams with first-round byes and two other teams that won their Week 14 matchups thanks largely to his most recent MVP-caliber performance. I’m willing to bet one of these scenarios played out in your league, as well.

The reason is that Gronkowski, down the home stretch in particular, has consistently given his owners a decisive advantage in the tight end slot. Jimmy Graham is his next-closest competitor; but Gronkowski has nearly doubled the Saint’s touchdown receptions for the season (15 vs. 8), including a ridiculous 10 to three advantage over the last six weeks alone.

Think you can compete against Gronkowski with Jason Witten, Tony Gonzalez or Antonio Gates? You can try; but over the last half-dozen games, Gronkowski has averaged eight to 13 points more per game than each of those players, including Graham. The differential skyrockets against second-tier tight ends.

Rodgers, McCoy, Welker and other fantasy studs have been extraordinary all season. But in any given week, each can be out-gunned by multiple players at their position. Those of us with the foresight, or dumb luck, to have selected Gronkowski in the 10th round or later of our preseason draft rarely have had to overcome a deficit.

In fact, we appreciate you spotting us a touchdown or two each week.

FREE AGENT PICKS AND PANS

Now that the fantasy postseason is upon us, your starting roster should be fairly settled. But a little tweaking here or there, if only to keep your competition from improving, might still be in order. Here’s a look at a couple of players that could help in the final weeks, and a couple that won’t.

Catch ‘em while you can

Felix Jones, RB, Cowboys. Jones was released in many leagues after DeMarco Murray emerged as the workhorse of the Dallas offense. It’s time to scoop him back up now that the rookie sensation has presumably been lost for the season with a broken ankle. Jones put up 137 combined yards against the defensively challenged Giants on Sunday night. Next up: Tampa Bay, which just surrendered four TDs to Maurice Jones-Drew.

Donald Driver, WR, Packers. What a difference a week makes. Whereas I couldn’t endorse him after his stellar Week 13 performance, Driver now becomes a hot commodity while Greg Jennings recovers from his poorly timed knee injury. James Jones and Randall Cobb are also considerations; but Driver has been targeted more frequently than those two, and he’s done more with his opportunities lately.

Don’t be fooled

Jake Locker, QB, Titans. If Matt Hasselbeck (calf) is sidelined next week, Locker will draw a delicious matchup against the woeful Colts. Don’t take the bait. Despite his fine relief performance against the Saints on Sunday, Locker is simply too inexperienced to trust with a title-game berth on the line. It’s a much safer bet that Chris Johnson will lead the Titans to their inevitable victory.

Chris Ivory, RB, Saints. He was a valuable late-season addition in his rookie campaign last year, but don’t expect similar results now. Ivory must compete for touches with both Darren Sproles and Pierre Thomas; and he’ll be inactive again once Mark Ingram (turf toe) returns to action, possibly as early as this weekend. While he’ll do no harm on your bench, Ivory won’t be start-worthy for most contending teams.

Sunday morning updates -- Week 14

2011-12-11T10:42:00.008-06:00

Good morning, Fools, and happy postseason! Here's hoping you're still reading because you're still competing.

Here's the latest info to help you on your road to a championship...

Michael Vick will be back in action against the Dolphins, and Jeremy Maclin will be, too. Maclin had been downgraded to questionable after appearing to be on his way back, but he's active today. Both players have some risk of re-injury, and Miami is playing pretty sound pass defense. But I'm starting Vick in one playoff matchup (benching Tebow, who held down the fort pretty well), and I would probably start Maclin as well if I had him.

Christian Ponder will play today -- good news for Percy Harvin's owners -- but Adrian Peterson will not, in a mild surprise. Hopefully you have Gerhart to pick up the slack.

It's still looking like the Rams will be down to their 3rd (Brandstater) or 4th (Clemens) QB on Monday night when they face the Seahawks. Sam Bradford will be a game-time decision, but I'm not taking any chances. I'm reserving Brandon Lloyd and suggest you do, too.

Not only is Roy Helu a good start today against the Patriots, but Ryan Torain is inactive.

Mark Ingram is inactive today, leaving the door open for a good showing from Pierre Thomas and Darren Sproles. Chris Ivory will also get some carries.

Kevin Smith is also out. Could be a decent afternoon for Maurice Morris.

Andre Johnson is out again. If you drafted him first this season, you probably aren't paying attention anymore.

All signs point to Miles Austin returning to action in tonight's game against the Giants. Laurent Robinson looks like he'll be fine, as well.

And in other news, Robert Griffin III is your new Heisman champion. This Baylor boy would like to say congrats to RG3, and "Sic 'em, Bears!"

That's it for today. Tweets start now (@ladd_biro). Good luck, Fools!

Friday updates and injury news

2011-12-09T12:28:00.006-06:00

Here are a few updates from my Sporting News Fantasy Source column today:

Michael Vick will suit up in Miami on Sunday, wearing a vest to protect his ribs. There is obviously some risk of re-injury, and the Dolphins are playing good pass defense lately. But Vick remains a more viable starting option than all but a handful of elite passers. Especially since Jeremy Maclin (shoulder, hamstring) is also expected back on the field.

I hope you aren’t counting on Christian Ponder as your fantasy QB. But those banking on Percy Harvin should know that a hip injury could keep the rookie out of the lineup this weekend. Joe Webb is his backup, and we saw last year how that played out. (Two rushing TDs for Webb; no passing scores.) Harvin owners should root for Ponder’s speedy recovery.

The Rams will likely be piloted by Tom Brandstater on Monday night, while Sam Bradford (ankle) and A.J. Feeley (thumb) are sidelined. Say a prayer for the good people of St. Louis. It’s been a rough sports week for them, and it won’t get any better soon.

Adrian Peterson (ankle) is back at practice, but his playing status will likely go down to the wire on Sunday. Fortunately, Toby Gerhart is providing decent production in his stead, for those who secured his handcuff.

Mark Ingram could sit out this week with a turf toe injury. If he does, Pierre Thomas will vault back up the rankings and Chris Ivory will likely be active (but not startable for fantasy purposes).

Michael Bush was a dud last weekend in Miami, but don’t let that scare you off from starting him against the Packers. Darren McFadden is almost certainly out again, and Bush has proven that he is a very capable fantasy producer. One false start doesn’t change that.

Don’t expect much out of Kevin Smith (ankle) against the Vikings, if he plays. He would probably be used sparingly, with Maurice Morris getting the bulk of the carries.

Cedric Benson is taking it easy on his injured foot this week, but he should play Sunday. He has a rough matchup against the Texans, however. Benson is a low-level RB2 or flex play at best this week.

Andre Johnson (hamstring) is expected to be a game-time call, but it’s probably wisest to make other plans regardless of his status. With T.J. Yates at the helm, the Texans are an even more run-dominant team, and Johnson’s snaps could be limited.

Look for Miles Austin (hamstring) finally back in action on Sunday night. He comes with some risk of limited reps, but the tantalizing matchup with the Giants should outweigh those concerns. Though there will be fewer balls for both Dez Bryant and Laurent Robinson, I wouldn’t sit any Dallas wideout in this matchup.

Week 14 Starters & Benchwarmers

2011-12-08T13:31:00.007-06:00

Wondering whether or not to start Aaron Rodgers and Wes Welker, or to bench Dan Orlovsky and Shane Vereen? The network bozos specialize in that kind of advice. If you’re looking for help with your real starting lineup conundrums, read on.

Here are my picks to roll, and get rolled, in Week 14 of the 2011 season.

Watch ‘em roll

Carson Palmer, QB, Raiders at Packers. Even though his wide receiver corps is hurting, Palmer should have little trouble slicing up a generous Packers secondary that won’t have its best player, Charles Woodson (concussion). Palmer will have little choice but to pass early and often, and garbage-time stats will do just fine.

Roy Helu, RB, Redskins vs. Patriots. Do I trust Mike Shanahan? Heck no. But even he wouldn’t pull the plug on a back who has amassed 254 yards and 2 TDs over the past two games. (Would he?) New England’s run defense is not as strong as the two Helu has just faced.

C.J. Spiller, RB, Bills at Chargers. You probably saw his fluky fumble-turned-touchdown last week; but did you know he also had a 41-yard scoring run nullified by a penalty? Spiller has emerged as a key multi-purpose weapon for the Bills, while the Chargers are vulnerable to both the run and pass.

Michael Crabtree, WR, 49ers at Cardinals. He and Alex Smith are finally on the same page, and Crabtree collected 120 receiving yards in their last meeting with Arizona. Look for more of the same, and an end zone visit, for the emerging duo.

Torrey Smith, WR, Ravens vs. Colts. He’s been a little quiet lately, but Smith will make some noise Sunday against the putrid Colts secondary. The Ravens may not need to pass often, but they won’t be able to resist at least one big strike to the play-making rookie.

More thumbs up (excluding the no-brainers): QBs Philip Rivers, Michael Vick, Matt Stafford, Tony Romo, Eli Manning, Ryan Fitzpatrick; RBs Marshawn Lynch, Rashard Mendenhall, Shonn Greene, Reggie Bush, Michael Bush, Ryan Mathews; WRs Antonio Brown, A.J. Green, Jordy Nelson, Stevie Johnson, Laurent Robinson, Santana Moss, Percy Harvin, Lance Moore, Santonio Holmes.

Roll ‘em back

Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Steelers vs. Browns. Whether due to their awful run defense or their world-class secondary, Cleveland simply doesn’t allow much fantasy production to opposing QBs. With multiple scoring passes in only three of his last seven games, Big Ben is a risky play tonight.

Beanie Wells, RB, Cardinals vs. 49ers. Death, taxes and running backs shut down by the 49ers. Three certainties that won’t change this weekend. Wells may be on a roll, but that will come to a screeching halt on Sunday. In Week 11, he posted 33 yards against this defense.

Ryan Grant, RB, Packers vs. Raiders. You’d think Grant would be a decent play against Oakland’s soft run defense, with James Starks most likely resting his injured ankle this week. But Grant won’t have the backfield to himself, with both Brandon Saine and touchdown-poacher John Kuhn also in the mix. Avoid the unpredictable and under-utilized Green Bay backfield.

Dwayne Bowe, WR, Chiefs at Jets. It’s not just Revis Island that concerns me; it’s Tyler Palko. As difficult as it may be to sit Bowe in the fantasy postseason, it’s worth noting that he hasn’t reached the end zone since Week 5. There are better options out there.

Brandon Lloyd, WR, Rams at Seahawks. No matter how talented he is, a receiver can’t throw the ball to himself. Instead, Lloyd could be chasing down passes from Tom Brandstater in this contest. ‘Nuff said.

More thumbs down: QBs Andy Dalton, Kevin Kolb, Tarvaris Jackson; RBs DeAngelo Williams; Darren Sproles, Cedric Benson, Ahmad Bradshaw, Brandon Jacobs, Steven Jackson, Peyton Hillis, Colts RBs; WRs Hines Ward, Kevin Walter, Jacoby Jones, Pierre Garcon, Johnny Knox, Deion Branch.

Taking a flier

Nate Burleson, WR, Lions vs. Vikings. As you enter the postseason, it’s always best to stick with your studs. Burleson is no stud, but he has a stellar matchup against a secondary that has surrendered a league-worst 24 passing TDs. Burleson is an excellent flex or WR3 play this week.

Don’t be the bonehead who…benches a reliable receiver for Pierre Garcon. Sure, the Colts wideout reeled in two trash-time touchdowns last weekend. But that came against the sieve-like Patriots secondary. Baltimore’s pass defenders are relentless, and Garcon won’t stand a chance.

Week 13 Heroes & Zeros

2011-12-06T15:22:00.005-06:00

This was a great week to play…

QBs
Aaron Rodgers, Packers – Posted 369 passing and 32 rushing yards, plus 4 TDs and a rare INT. So what else is new?
Drew Brees, Saints – Drummed the Lions with 342 passing yards and 3 TDs.
Cam Newton, Panthers – Passed for 204 yards, ran for 54 yards, and scored 4 times in a record-setting performance.
Christian Ponder, Vikings – Lit up the Broncos for 381 passing yards and 3 TDs, but coughed up two INTs.
Eli Manning, Giants – Passed for 347 yards, 3 TDs and an INT.
Philip Rivers, Chargers – Broke out of his slump with 294 yards and 3 TDs, without a turnover.

RBs
Chris Johnson, Titans – Found his mojo, with 153 rushing yards and a pair of TDs.
Shonn Greene, Jets – Ran for 88 yards and a trio to TDs, plus 3 catches for 26 yards.
Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks – Was in full beast mode with 148 yards and 2 TDs.
Ray Rice, Ravens – Rumbled for 204 yards and a TD, plus 2 catches for 10 yards.
LeSean McCoy, Eagles – Scored rushing (plus 84 yards) and receiving (plus 49 yards on 4 catches).
Maurice Jones-Drew, Jaguars – Did it all for the Jags, rushing for 97 yards and adding 6 receptions for 91 yards and a TD.
Arian Foster, Texans – Carried his team with 111 rushing yards and a TD, plus 3 catches for 41 more yards.
Rashard Mendenhall, Steelers – Only 60 yards rushing, but 2 carries finished in the end zone.

WRs
Percy Harvin, Vikings – Torched the Broncos for 156 yards and 2 TDs on 8 catches, and ran for another 19 yards.
Pierre Garcon, Colts – Teased us again with his 9-catch, 150-yard, 2-TD effort in garbage time.
Demaryius Thomas, Broncos – Amassed 144 yards and 2 scores on his 4 receptions.
Hakeem Nicks, Giants – Reeled in 7 passes for 88 yards and 2 TDs.
Wes Welker, Patriots – PPR leaguers loved his 11-catch, 110-yard day.
Mike Wallace, Steelers – Scored twice on 3 catches, plus 38 yards.
Donald Driver, Packers – He also reached the end zone twice while hauling in 4 passes for 34 yards.

TEs
Rob Gronkowski, Patriots – Hauled in 5 catches for 64 yards and 2 more TDs.

D/STs
Steelers – Knotched 3 sacks, one turnover, a punt return TD by Antonio Brown and held Cinci to just 7 points.
49ers – Collected 4 sacks, 2 turnovers and held the Rams scoreless.

This was a great week to play against…

QBs
Matt Hasselbeck, Titans – Passed for 140 yards and failed to reach the end zone against one of the most generous secondaries in the NFL.
Joe Flacco, Ravens – Another dismal day with just 158 passing yards.

RBs
Matt Forte, Bears – Lost to injury after gaining just 12 yards.
Jackie Battle, Chiefs – Continued his disappearing act with 15 rushing yards against the Bears.
LeGarrette Blount, Buccaneers – Only managed 19 rushing yards.
DeAngelo Williams, Panthers – Ran for 29 measly yards.
Steven Jackson, Rams – Totaled 30 yards against the 49ers.
DeMarco Murray, Cowboys – Marginalized in Arizona with just 38 rushing yards.
Ahmad Bradshaw, Giants – Combined for just 47 yards in his long-awaited return.
Michael Bush, Raiders – Just 18 rushing and 27 receiving yards in Miami.
Michael Turner, Falcons – Limited to 44 yards on the ground.
Cedric Benson, Bengals – Only 52 yards on the day.

WRs
Eric Decker, Broncos – Gave way to Thomas, with only 2 catches for 25 yards.
Steve Smith, Panthers – Limited to 2 receptions for 32 yards.
Anquan Boldin, Ravens – So was he.
Plaxico Burress, Jets – Just 33 yards on his 3 receptions.
Brandon Lloyd, Rams – Had a 34-yarder.
DeSean Jackson, Eagles – His season of discontent rolls on after a 4-catch, 34-yard Thursday night downer.
Nate Washington, Titans – Held to 40 yards on 4 catches.
Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs – Just 49 yards on 4 receptions.

Next stop: Fantasy playoffs

2011-12-05T15:16:00.009-06:00

If you’re reading this, I’m guessing you are either (a) making plans for your postseason march, (b) wondering where everything went wrong in a season once so full of promise, or (c) an Indianapolis Colts player who has decided to look into a potentially more rewarding career as a fantasy football enthusiast.

First off, welcome to the column, Delone.

Second, if it’s any consolation to the disillusioned set, I started a lineup this weekend that featured Matt Forte, Michael Turner, DeAngelo Williams, Nate Washington, Brandon Lloyd and Jason Witten in a must-win game, and not one of them delivered double-digit production. In a point-per-reception league, no less! I suppose that’s the beauty of competing in multiple leagues; but missing the postseason still stings.

Know what I mean, DeSean?

For those soldiering on in their quest for fantasy glory, the old maxims still apply.

Ride your stallions. (Keep up the good work, Shady.)

Resist the seductive lure of the one-week wonders. (Sorry, Christian.)

Play the matchups. (Oui, Mssr. Garcon?)

Handcuff your studs. (It was fun while it lasted, Mr. Forte.)

And when all else fails, pray for a career game from a fringe starter. (Got another one of those in you, Shonn?)

The fantasy postseason is here. Let’s finish strong.

FREE AGENT PICKS AND PANS

To win a fantasy championship, it helps to start with a great draft. But filling in your roster throughout the season with the right free agents is also important. Here's a look at players worth considering, and others who would look better in someone else's lineup.

Catch ‘em while you can

Marion Barber III, RB, Bears. Stop me if you’ve heard me say this before; but if you’re a Matt Forte owner, Barber should already be safely stashed away on your bench. With the very strong possibility that Forte (sprained knee) won’t play again until after your postseason run, Barber is a must-add. He won’t give you what you’ve come to expect from Forte; but Barber has a nose for the end zone and he has a decent matchup in Week 14 at Denver.

Kendall Hunter, RB, 49ers. No, Frank Gore didn’t get hurt again. But the 49ers have clinched their division and you have to think they will lighten the workload on their injury-prone playmaker in the weeks ahead. Grab Hunter preemptively if he’s available.

Don’t be fooled

Demaryius Thomas, WR, Broncos. The advice I offered after his fine Week 7 performance still applies: Thomas has great potential; but he is perpetually injured, and he hasn’t yet earned a starting job over Eric Decker and Eddie Royal. Unless you have a crystal ball telling you when he will show up next, I’d pass.

Donald Driver, WR, Packers. Once one of the most underrated wideouts in Fantasyland, Driver is likely playing out the final games of his stellar career. His two-touchdown outburst against the putrid Giants secondary will undoubtedly be the enduring highlight of his 2011 season. He’s still the fifth receiving option, at best, on his team.

Brad Smith, WR, Bills. I’ve never understood the fantasy allure of Smith. Every time he catches more than a pass or two (a rare feat, indeed), some pundit declares Smith a worthy waiver-wire pickup. Go ahead. Let me know how that works out for ya.

Sunday morning updates -- Week 13

2011-12-04T10:38:00.004-06:00

Good morning, Fools. Cold and drizzly here in North Texas; but this is the last week of the fantasy regular season for most of us, so it's time to get serious.

Here's the news you can use to make the best lineup choices this weekend:

Adrian Peterson will be out again today. Toby Gerhart is a decent proxy in his place, though the Broncos are very stout at the goal line.

Josh Freeman will not play today due to a shoulder injury. John Johnson gets the start against the Panthers. Hopefully he knows how to get the ball to Mike Williams. Should be a big day for LeGarrette Blount.

There's a good chance Ahmad Bradshaw will be active today against the Packers, but I wouldn't risk him. Brandon Jacobs' value takes a big hit, though.

Percy Harvin has been ill this week, but he's still expected to suit up. He should have a good game at home against Denver, assuming he's close to 100%.

We should see Malcom Floyd (hip) back in action today, which means Vincent Brown is a must-sit. Floyd should also be reserved against the tough Jags secondary.

After some signs that he would play, Mario Manningham (knee) now sounds like he'll be inactive today after a setback in Friday's practice. Nicks and Cruz are the only Giants WRs you should start anyway.

That's it for now. Inactives coming next via Twitter (@ladd_biro).

Good luck, Fools!

Friday updates

2011-12-02T15:46:00.006-06:00

Here are a few snippets from my 4th & Long column on Sporting News' Fantasy Source:

The Kevin Kolb era is set to resume on Sunday now that the passer has recovered from toe and foot injuries. I’m not optimistic that this go-round will be any better than the last; and you don’t get the impression Kolb’s coaches believe it either.

you’re not counting on Josh Freeman, but he has been missing practice all week with a shoulder injury. Josh Johnson could be under center for the Bucs’ contest with the Panthers. That wouldn’t prompt me to bench Mike Williams, but it would make me feel even better if I owned LeGarrette Blount.

Looks like it will be a game-time decision for Adrian Peterson (ankle) on Sunday. If he’s active, of course you start him. If not, Toby Gerhart has a decent matchup with the Broncos, though they’ve been stingy at the goal line. [Update: AP has subsequently been ruled out.]

We could see Ahmad Bradshaw (foot) back on the field Sunday, but he’ll be a significant fantasy risk in his first action in weeks.

Beanie Wells had a career game last week against a historically putrid Rams run defense, but things get tougher against the Cowboys on Sunday. That said, in spite of continued issues with his knee, you can’t sit him now.

A foot injury that has kept Cedric Benson from practicing is not expected to keep him from facing the Steelers. But it should make your decision to bench him in this bad matchup a little easier.

Surprisingly, Kevin Smith is practicing as if he’s planning to return to the starting lineup on Sunday, after suffering a high ankle sprain on Thanksgiving. What would be more surprising is for us to trust him in our lineups against the Saints.

Another week, another Darren McFadden injury timeout.

Ditto for Miles Austin.

It’s time to give up on Mario Manningham, who is facing the real possibility of season-ending knee surgery soon. With the emergence of Victor Cruz, Manningham is already the odd man out in the Giants’ receiving corps.

Meanwhile, Hakeem Nicks has been resting his sore ribs this week, but he’s not thought to be in jeopardy of missing out on the primo matchup with the Packers. Even better, he has been cleared of any post-concussion symptoms.

Which team will win the Donovan McNabb waiver wire sweepstakes? And would that really qualify as a win?

Week 13 Starters & Benchwarmers

2011-12-01T14:02:00.007-06:00

Wondering whether or not to start Tom Brady and Calvin Johnson, or to bench T.J. Yates and Ryan Torain? The network bozos specialize in that kind of advice. If you’re looking for help with your real starting lineup conundrums, read on.

Here are my picks to roll, and get rolled, in Week 13 of the 2011 season.

Watch ‘em roll

Cam Newton, QB, Panthers at Buccaneers. Some of the shine has worn off the rookie sensation recently, as Newton has failed to keep up the ridiculous pace he set at the dawn of his NFL career. But things get much easier in Tampa Bay, where the Bucs’ sieve-like secondary won’t stand a chance against the Newton-Steve Smith combo. You can count on a rushing score from the jumbo-sized passer as well.

Reggie Bush, RB, Dolphins vs. Raiders. Rookie Daniel Thomas has taken a back seat to Bush, who consistently piles up multi-purpose yardage even when he doesn’t reach the end zone. Bush should have little trouble dominating the weak Oakland defense, and at least one TD seems assured.

DeAngelo Williams, RB, Panthers at Buccaneers. It took a dozen weeks, but Williams finally delivered. Sadly, he did so while sitting on most owners’ benches. Slot him back in your lineup Sunday so you don’t miss out on another rousing performance against Tampa Bay’s reeling run defense.

Eric Decker, WR, Broncos at Vikings. It’s hard to get excited about a guy who posted a goose egg two weeks ago, and who plays with a quarterback that rarely throws. On the other hand, Decker has four scoring receptions over the last five games, and he’s facing the league’s most generous secondary (22 passing TDs surrendered). Start him.

Deion Branch, WR, Patriots vs. Colts. Branch is typically a boom or bust play in any given week, but when the opponent is the hapless Colts, the odds are in your favor. Tom Brady could set records in this matchup if he doesn’t hit the showers early, which he rarely does.

More thumbs up (excluding the no-brainers): QBs Tim Tebow, Eli Manning, Matt Stafford; RBs Willis McGahee, DeMarco Murray, Marshawn Lynch, Toby Gerhart, Roy Helu, LeGarrette Blount, Darren Sproles, Ryan Mathews, BenJarvus Green-Ellis; WRs Percy Harvin, Dwayne Bowe, Johnny Knox, Stevie Johnson, Antonio Brown, Victor Cruz, Laurent Robinson, Dez Bryant, Lance Moore, Mike Williams (TB), Nate Washington, Michael Crabtree.

Roll ‘em back

Philip Rivers, QB, Chargers at Jaguars. The incredible, shrinking Rivers travels cross-country to face a bad team with a solid pass defense. While we never know in advance whether Vincent Jackson will show up, it is clear that Rivers is not firing on all cylinders. Reserve him if you can.

Steven Jackson, RB, Rams at 49ers. I have no choice but to start Jackson in one league, but I wouldn’t if I had a reasonable alternative. Not only have the 49ers refused to allow a runner into the end zone all year, but Jackson has been weighed down by the Rams’ anemic offense for weeks.

Peyton Hillis, RB, Browns vs. Ravens. On the positive side, Hillis appears to be reasonably healthy and he has reclaimed his workhorse role in the Browns’ offense. However, that offense struggles to move even in favorable matchups, and the Ravens are far from favorable.

Julio Jones, WR, Falcons at Texans. Not only did he post a goose egg last week, but he wasn’t even targeted once by Matt Ryan. That’s a pretty strong signal that his hamstring isn’t yet fully healed. The concerns mount this week, as Jones is facing the NFL’s second-ranked pass defense.

Anquan Boldin, WR, Ravens at Browns. Baltimore’s lead wideout has been in a rut lately, with a 35-yard TD catch comprising his highlight reel since Week 8. He’s unlikely to break out of his slump against Cleveland’s top-ranked secondary.

More thumbs down: QBs Joe Flacco, Mark Sanchez, Sam Bradford, Rex Grossman, Carson Palmer, Andy Dalton, Kevin Kolb; RBs Shonn Greene, Jackie Battle, Kevin Smith, James Starks, Joseph Addai; WRs Andre Johnson, Earl Bennett, Jason Avant, Santana Moss, Vincent Brown, Mario Manningham, Miles Austin.

Taking a flier

Matt Moore, QB, Dolphins vs. Raiders. If you’re hurting at quarterback this week, consider Moore, who has been respectable or better in three of his last four starts. Moore has developed a nice rapport with Brandon Marshall, and he has enough additional weapons to keep the Raiders’ mediocre secondary on their heels.

Don’t be the bonehead who…stops competing just because you missed the postseason. Not only is there satisfaction in playing the spoiler, but rolling over could unfairly help your competition advance over a more deserving foe. Remember, there’s no “I” in fantasy, but there is in “weenie.”

Week 12 Heroes & Zeros

2011-11-28T23:15:00.005-06:00

This was a great week to start…

QBs
Drew Brees, Saints – Tossed 4 TD passes with his 363 yards and ran in another TD from 8 yards out; all without a turnover.
Tom Brady, Patriots – Did his thing with 361 yards, 3 TDs, no turnovers and even added 28 rushing yards.
Matt Ryan, Falcons – Passed for 262 yards and a trio of TDs.
Ryan Fitzpatrick, Bills – Returned to form with 264 passing yards and 3 TDs, plus 34 rushing yards.
Mark Sanchez, Jets – Tossed 4 TD passes with his 180 yards, plus an INT.

RBs
Beanie Wells, Cardinals – Rumbled for 228 yards and a TD in a career day.
DeAngelo Williams, Panthers – Made a rare appearance on the highlight reel with 69 yards and 2 TD runs.
Roy Helu, Redskins – Ran for 108 yards and a TD and caught 7 passes for 54 yards.
Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks – Rushed for 111 yards and added a 20-yard TD catch.
BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Patriots – Only ran for 44 yards, but scored twice.

WRs
Victor Cruz, Giants – Packed on the stats while playing catchup, finishing with 9 receptions for 157 yards and 2 TDs.
Wes Welker, Patriots – Returned to the elites with 8 catches for 115 yards and 2 TDs.
Laurent Robinson, Cowboys – Scored twice while catching 7 passes for 79 yards.
Lance Moore, Saints – Had 5 catches for 54 yards and 2 TDs.
Roddy White, Falcons – Reeled in 10 balls for 120 yards and a TD.
Johnny Knox, Bears – Only 4 receptions, but posted 145 yards and a score.

TEs
Jimmy Graham, Saints – Posted 5 catches for 84 yards and a pair of scores.
Dustin Keller, Jets – Caught 4 passes for 61 yards and 2 TDs.

Ks
Sebastian Janikowski, Raiders – Nailed field goals of 19, 37, 40, 42, 44 and 47 yards.

This was a great week to play against…

QBs
Alex Smith, 49ers – Only 140 passing yards without a score, plus an INT.
Carson Palmer, Raiders – Passed for 301 yards and an INT, without a score.

RBs
Chris Ogbannaya, Browns – Ran for 16 yards and caught a 4-yard pass now that Peyton Hillis has returned.
James Starks, Packers – Just 19 rushing yards before leaving early again.
Daniel Thomas, Dolphins – Gained 25 yards on the ground while playing second fiddle to Reggie Bush.
Frank Gore, 49ers – Managed 39 rushing yards and a 9-yard catch.

WRs
Julio Jones, Falcons – Posted a goose egg.
Sidney Rice, Seahawks – So did he.
Braylon Edwards, 49ers – Caught a 5-yard pass.
Nate Washington, Titans – Just a 12-yard catch on the day.
Mike Wallace, Steelers – Held to just 17 yards on 2 passes.
Andre Johnson, Texans – Limited to 2 catches for 22 yards in his long-awaited return.
Torrey Smith, Ravens – His 2 receptions were good for 23 yards.
Vincent Jackson, Chargers – He posted 25 yards on his 2 catches.
Jordy Nelson, Packers – Only 26 yards on 4 catches.
Dez Bryant, Cowboys – Held to 3 receptions for 35 yards.

Wake me up when November ends

2011-11-28T14:09:00.011-06:00

It may have been the lingering effects of my tryptophan overdose, but I had some strange visions over the weekend.

I could have sworn I saw Jason Witten go out of his way to tackle a cheerleader on Thanksgiving.

Someone told me Percy Harvin returned a kickoff 104 yards, but they must have been yanking my chain since it didn’t register any fantasy points for the Vikings special teams or Harvin.

Is it true that Texans fans are actually disappointed that Matt Leinart is no longer leading their team?

Isn’t Kiln, Mississippi, a short drive from Houston?

I thought I saw a boneheaded receiver shoot himself in the foot while pretending to shoot himself in the thigh. Maybe Stevie Johnson should concentrate on catching more touchdown passes so he doesn’t need to double- and triple-up on the celebrations.

I heard Terrell Owens’ agent say one team was “very interested” in his client’s services. And I thought I was the one hallucinating…

I watched Pitbull perform last Thursday in Dallas. But I thought the Eagles had a home game.

Shouldn’t Tim Tebow’s rushing stats count double since he’s actually running on water?

The economy must have recovered when I wasn’t paying attention. How else can you explain that Tyler Palko, Curtis Painter, Blaine Gabbert and John Skelton all have high-paying jobs?

“Orakpo” really isn’t another word for “sack.” I looked it up.

The 49ers are 9-2 and Alex Smith is still the quarterback. Am I being punked?

And I suppose you expect me to believe that Mark Sanchez really threw four touchdown passes Sunday.

Wasn’t Andre Johnson due back this week?

I just noticed the Patriots have another bye next weekend. That’s not fair.

How could Troy Polamalu suffer a concussion with all that extra padding?

Was that Beanie Wells I saw running under the Gateway Arch? Someone needs to tell him the game is over now.

I don’t wanna be anywhere nearby when the next Suh falls.

I could have sworn I saw DeAngelo Williams celebrating in the end zone – twice! As if…

Was that “Little Nick” Novak I saw warming up on the sideline?

How is it that Laurent Robinson was expendable in San Diego, St. Louis and Atlanta, but indispensable in Dallas?

I saw the Chiefs score a touchdown. Okay, now you know I’m joking.

FREE AGENT PICKS AND PANS

To win a fantasy championship, it helps to start with a great draft. But filling in your roster throughout the season with the right free agents is also important. Here's a look at players worth considering, and others who would look better in someone else's lineup.

Catch ‘em while you can

Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, Bills. Maybe we gave up on him too early. After his 264-yard, three-touchdown outing against the Jets – which should have included a fourth scoring strike – Fitzpatrick finally returned to the form that made him a fantasy star at the season’s onset. With a favorable schedule ahead, and passers dropping like flies across the league, he’s worth adding if he’s available.

Shane Vereen, RB, Patriots. Looking for a tailback to stash away on your bench for your postseason run? Consider Vereen, who is slowly working his way into New England’s backfield rotation. The rookie is arguably the most talented back on the team, and he could emerge from obscurity next weekend against the woeful Colts.

Johnny Knox, WR, Bears. If Earl Bennett is the loser in the Caleb Hanie-led air attack, Knox looks like the winner. The young speedster was targeted 10 times Sunday and finished with 145 yards and a score. Knox will have a chance to keep up the good work given Chicago’s soft schedule down the stretch.

Don’t be fooled

Jackie Battle, RB, Chiefs. It’s hard to release any starting running back; but when he posts three consecutive games with single-digit carries for a team that has scored one touchdown in its past four games, it’s time to say goodbye. Battle’s running mates don’t belong anywhere near your roster, either.

Jason Avant, WR, Eagles. If not for his three receptions for 24 yards and a touchdown on the final, garbage-time drive, Avant wouldn’t even have registered on your fantasy radar. The career backup benefited from DeSean Jackson’s benching, New England’s porous secondary and Vince Young’s career day – a perfect storm that is unlikely to strike again soon.

Sunday morning updates -- Week 12

2011-11-27T10:27:00.010-06:00

Good morning, Fools. It's getting chilly here in DFW, but the sun is out and all is well in Fantasyland.

I'm still grieving over the loss of my beloved Dolphins on Thanks-giving here in Dallas. The recovery process has been especially long since I am surrounded by evil Cowboys fans (not including my daughter, who at least felt my pain after Dan Bailey's winning kick), but I'm ready to soldier on with my fantasy teams today. I hope you are, too. Here's the news you can use...

The following have already been ruled out: Adrian Peterson, Michael Vick, Kevin Kolb and Ahmad Bradshaw. Not that it matters, but so has Chad Ochocinco (hamstring).

LT will sit out another game, leaving the Jets backfield to Shonn Greene and the up-and-coming Joe McKnight.

I'm not a fan of the Patriots backfield, mostly because there are too many good-not-great options. And now it sounds like another back will be added to the rotation, if Bill Belichick is to be believed (and usually, he isn't). Shane Vereen is slated for more action beginning today. The rookie is arguably the most explosive of the bunch, so he would be worth keeping an eye on. If you have a bench slot open for fresh legs that could be useful down the stretch, Vereen is someone to consider.

I'll be watching CJ Spiller closely today. This is his chance to finally live up to his first-round expectations.

Look for a 3-headed backfield in Cleveland today, with the expected return of Peyton Hillis. Hardesty and Ogbannaya will remain in the mix, too, against a stout Bengals run defense. If you didn't like them before, you've gotta hate 'em now.

Andre Johnson finally returns for the Texans. Unfortunately, he'll have to track down balls from Matt Leinart. I would probably start him if I owned him, but I wouldn't expect very good returns in his first game back in weeks.

AJ Green and Julio Jones are expected to play as well.

That's it for now. Make sure you're following me on Twitter (@ladd_biro) for all the inactives and other late-breaking news. Good luck, Fools!

Friday updates

2011-11-25T12:46:00.005-06:00

Here are a few snippets from my column for today's Sporting News Fantasy Source.

Looks like one more week of rest for Ahmad Bradshaw, who is still not practicing on his injured foot. Brandon Jacobs will continue to carry the load against the Saints on Monday night.

Shonn Green (rib) is expected to suit up against the Bills on Sunday. But so is Joe McKnight, who fared well as a runner and receiver after being pressed into duty against the Broncos last week. With LaDainian Tomlinson (knee) also on the mend, this backfield is probably one worth avoiding in Week 12.

Ryan Mathews’ fortunes have dipped along with his team’s performance. He hasn’t scored since Week 3, he fumbled twice in the Week 11 loss and he can’t seem to shake the injury bug. A persistently sore knee has him iffy for Sunday’s matchup against an improving Denver defense that has allowed the third-fewest rushing scores in the NFL. Leave him on your bench this week, even if he suits up.

Stevie Johnson is playing with a bum shoulder, which has contributed to a two-game slump in which he’s managed only four catches for 24 total yards. Think twice before starting him on Revis Island.

A.J. Green is expected to return from his knee injury, but he’ll be shadowed by Joe Haden. That said, Haden doesn’t yet have a clever nickname, so Green is worth a gamble in your starting lineup if he’s active. Be sure you’re following my tweets (@ladd_biro) for all the pre-game inactive reports and other late-breaking news.

Fellow rookie Julio Jones (hamstring) is also expected back for the tasty matchup with the Vikings.

Jeremy Maclin will likely miss another game with his hamstring and shoulder injuries. Look for another start from Riley Cooper, who is a reasonable flex candidate due to his strong rapport with Young and the favorable matchup with the Patriots.

Tyler Palko is set to start in Week 12, but it’s probably more of a favor to Kyle Orton that the team is throwing Palko to the wolves (a.k.a., Steelers) instead of their new acquisition. Expect Orton to get the starting nod in Week 13 against his old friends in Chicago.

Week 12 Starters & Benchwarmers

2011-11-23T17:01:00.005-06:00

Wondering whether or not to start Drew Brees and Mike Wallace, or to bench Tyler Palko and Patrick Crayton? The network bozos specialize in that kind of advice. If you’re looking for help with your real starting lineup conundrums, read on.

Here are my picks to roll, and get rolled, in Week 12 of the 2011 season.

Watch ‘em roll

Matt Ryan, QB, Falcons vs. Vikings. He’s on a nice three-game roll, even without Julio Jones on the field for most of the last two weeks. Now Ryan gets to feast at the trough of the Vikings’ hospitable secondary, which has allowed a league-worst 19 passing scores. Start him with confidence.

Kevin Smith, RB, Lions vs. Packers. Smith proved to be an integral part of Detroit’s offense last week as both a runner and receiver. Though Green Bay is fairly solid against the rush, they are pushovers in the passing game. One way or the other, Smith will get his touches; and his points.

Cedric Benson, RB, Bengals vs. Browns. With A.J. Green sidelined last week with a knee injury, Benson was the team’s red-zone hero. The Browns are giving up 131 yards per game to opposing rushers, while their pass defense is top notch; so look for another nice outing from Benson, especially if Green sits again.

Percy Harvin, WR, Vikings at Falcons. Harvin will be the X factor in an offense run by a rookie quarterback and missing its most dangerous weapon. The multi-purpose player could line up in the backfield nearly as often as out wide in an effort to get the ball into Harvin’s hands as frequently as possible.

Nate Washington, WR, Titans vs. Buccaneers. Washington has a strong rapport with both of his quarterbacks, as evidenced by his two scoring connections with Jake Locker last week. The Bucs cough up a lot of passing scores, so get the play-maker back in your lineup.

More thumbs up (excluding the no-brainers): QBs Matt Stafford, Ben Roethlisberger, Philip Rivers, Cam Newton, Tim Tebow; RBs Chris Johnson, Willis McGahee, Reggie Bush, CJ Spiller, DeAngelo Williams, Donald Brown; WRs DeSean Jackson, Torrey Smith, Santonio Holmes, Antonio Brown, Victor Cruz, Brandon Lloyd.

Roll ‘em back

Andy Dalton, QB, Bengals vs. Browns. The rookie continues to impress, even against stiff competition. But Dalton will be facing the NFL’s top-ranked pass defense Sunday, most likely without his top wideout, Green.

Toby Gerhart, RB, Vikings at Falcons. Adrian Peterson is unlikely to play due to his high ankle sprain, but don’t expect his backup to prosper in his place on Sunday. Atlanta has surrendered the second-fewest fantasy points to opposing rushers, and Harvin is the more likely candidate to benefit from Peterson’s absence.

Ryan Mathews, RB, Chargers vs. Broncos. Denver’s improving defense has allowed the third-fewest rushing scores in the NFL. Meanwhile, Mathews’ fortunes have dipped along with his team’s performance. He hasn’t scored since Week 3 and he fumbled twice in the Week 11 loss.

Andre Johnson, WR, Texans at Jaguars. You’ve waited seemingly forever to get him back in your lineup, but you’d be wise to give him another week to get acclimated. Not only might Johnson see limited reps, but he’ll be chasing down balls thrown by Matt Leinart. The Jags’ secondary is pretty solid as well.

Michael Crabtree, WR, 49ers at Ravens. He’s coming off his best game of the season, but Crabtree continues to be bothered by a lingering foot injury. Squaring off against the stingy Ravens secondary makes him the riskiest of Thanksgiving plays.

More thumbs down: QBs Rex Grossman, Matt Moore, Alex Smith, Ryan Fitzpatrick; RBs BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Jackie Battle, Brandon Jacobs, Roy Helu, Ryan Torain; WRs Earl Bennett, Laurent Robinson, Jerome Simpson, Stevie Johnson.

Taking a flier

Beanie Wells, RB, Cardinals at Rams. He predictably fell flat last week against the 49ers’ staunch run defense, and he’s still hindered by a balky knee. But Wells remains the workhorse for an offense that is struggling in the passing game. Best of all, he’ll be facing the porous Rams run defense. Though he struggled against them three weeks ago, consider giving him a second chance as a flex play.

Don’t be the bonehead who…fails to grab C.J. Spiller off the waiver wire. With the news that Fred Jackson has been lost for the season with a fractured fibula, Spiller will step into the job for which he was selected with the ninth overall pick of the 2010 draft. He has underachieved to date, but he’s shown flashes of brilliance (mostly in the preseason), and he’s a good receiver as well.

Week 11 Heroes & Zeros

2011-11-22T07:59:00.004-06:00

This was a great week to start…

QBs
Matt Stafford, Lions – Bounced back in a big way with 335 passing yards and 5 TDs. We’ll forgive the 2 INTs.
Aaron Rodgers, Packers – Passed for 299 yards and 3 TDs, plus a rare INT, while adding 28 rushing yards.
Tony Romo, Cowboys – Another sharp week, with 292 passing yards and 3 TDs.
Rex Grossman, Redskins – Good Rex passed for 289 yards, with 2 TDs and an INT, plus 10 rushing yards and another score.
Jay Cutler, Bears – Posted 286 yards and 2 TDs with an INT, plus 11 rushing yards and a third TD.

RBs
Kevin Smith, Lions – Reclaimed his old job with 140 rushing yards and 2 TDs, plus 61 yards and another TD on 4 catches.
Ray Rice, Ravens – Ran for 104 yards and 2 TDs, plus 5 catches for 43 yards.
Cedric Benson, Bengals – Scored twice with just 41 rushing yards.

WRs
Jordy Nelson, Packers – Grabbed 6 passes for 123 yards and 2 TDs.
Nate Washington, Titans – Caught 9 passes for 115 yards and 2 scores.
Torrey Smith, Ravens – Hauled in 6 passes for 165 yards and a score.
Vincent Jackson, Chargers – He did the same on 7 passes.
Jerome Simpson, Bengals – Amassed 152 yards on 8 catches.

TEs
Rob Gronkowski, Patriots – Torched the Chiefs with 4 catches for 96 yards and 2 awesome TDs.
Kellen Winslow, Buccaneers – Reeled in 9 passes for 132 yards.

This was a great week to play against…

QBs
Matt Hasselbeck, Titans – Held to 124 passing yards (and 17 rushing) with an INT and zero TDs before leaving injured.
Ryan Fitzpatrick, Bills – Has lost his touch, with 209 yards and 2 INTs, without a score.
John Skelton, Cardinals – Passed for just 99 yards, no scores and 3 INTs before being benched.

RBs
Shonn Greene, Jets – Injured in first quarter after one 4-yard catch and 10 rushing yards.
Willis McGahee, Broncos – Playing on his bum hammy, but only got 18 yards for his efforts.
Beanie Wells, Cardinals – Limited to 33 rushing yards.
Chris Johnson, Titans – Underachieved again, with 28 combined yards.
Roy Helu, Redskins – Ran for 35 yards.
Brandon Jacobs, Giants – Rushed for 21 yards and caught 3 passes for 11 more.
Jackie Battle, Chiefs – Only 33 yards on the ground.
Fred Jackson, Bills – Held to 17 rushing and 50 receiving yards on 5 catches.
Steven Jackson, Rams – Just 42 rushing and 19 receiving yards.

WRs
Eric Decker, Broncos – Shut out on Revis Island.
Mario Manningham, Giants – Limited to a 4-yard catch.
Brandon Marshall, Dolphins – Held to a single 5-yard reception, after botching an apparent TD catch.
Greg Jennings, Packers – Just 6 yards on 2 catches.
Denarius Moore, Raiders – The rookie had a 14-yard reception.
Stevie Johnson, Bills – Only 16 yards on a pair of receptions.
Wes Welker, Patriots – Caught 2 passes for 22 yards.
Santonio Holmes, Jets – Just 39 yards on 4 catches.

Bolster bench depth for your title run

2011-11-21T10:38:00.008-06:00

Week 11 marks a welcome end to the much-reviled NFL bye schedule. Much like the sense of relief Rick Perry experiences every time he remembers lists of three or more items, fantasy owners can relax knowing they no longer must prepare for battle with one or more star players taking mid-season siestas.

Now that the bye weeks are history, this is an excellent time to give your roster a thorough checkup to be certain you are best equipped for the stretch run. The most important strategic move you can make this week is to release any dead weight from excess kickers, defenses and even tight ends. There’s little justification for carrying more than one at each position any longer unless, for instance, you are fortunate enough to own two elite tight ends. You’re much better served by stocking your bench with fresh legs that can be instrumental to your title run.

Injuries to Michael Vick (ribs), Jay Cutler (broken thumb) and fantasy backup Matt Hasselbeck (elbow) underscore the importance of reinforcing your quarterback depth this week. Though the pickings are fairly slim, guys like Carson Palmer, Andy Dalton and Matt Moore are still widely available and can help out in a pinch against favorable matchups.

But your primary goal should be adding the understudy to your lead running back, if you haven’t already. As DeMarco Murray, Michael Bush and, most recently, Kevin Smith have proven, an unheralded backup can be an invaluable contributor when injury strikes.

And with Sunday’s knicks to Adrian Peterson (ankle), Fred Jackson (calf) and James Starks (knee), the threat of disaster should be top-of-mind for every contending owner.

Some of the most important backups in the game are flying well below the radar and are still available in the vast majority of leagues. As sure as the next Perry gaffe, it’s going to happen. One or more of these ball carriers will undoubtedly be thrust into the limelight during the upcoming fantasy playoffs thanks to an untimely, yet inevitable, injury to a star runner.

Consider adding Marion Barber, Ronnie Brown, Ricky Williams, C.J. Spiller, Deji Karim, Bernard Scott or Jason Snelling to hedge your bets on your key runners. Ryan Grant has been abandoned in many leagues, yet he could see the majority of carries against the Lions on Thanksgiving thanks to Starks’ balky knee.

Don’t play running back roulette. Take steps now to avoid the waiver-wire frenzy that will occur should your lead horse pull up lame at the worst possible time.

FREE AGENT PICKS AND PANS

To win a fantasy championship, it helps to start with a great draft. But filling in your roster throughout the season with the right free agents is also important. Here's a look at players worth considering, and others who would look better in someone else's lineup.

Catch ‘em while you can

Vince Young, QB, Eagles. Only if you were counting on Vick or Cutler should you consider adding Young, whose three interceptions should not be overlooked in the euphoria over his game-winning touchdown drive on Sunday night. Young gets a short-term recommendation solely due to the Eagles’ schedule, which has them facing New England’s awful secondary in Week 12.

Kevin Smith, RB, Lions. There’s little question that Smith will be the prized waiver-wire acquisition this week after his scintillating 201-total-yard, three-touchdown outing against the Panthers. Jahvid Best (concussion) does not appear anywhere close to returning, so Smith could conceivably remain the starter through the remainder of the fantasy season.

Toby Gerhart, RB, Vikings. The truth is, even after Peterson left Sunday’s game early, Gerhart was only a bit player in the Vikings’ offense. Percy Harvin got nearly as many carries, and he will likely be the greatest beneficiary if Peterson sits out a game or two. But Harvin’s not available, and Gerhart should at least be a goal-line option.

C.J. Spiller, RB, Bills. Spiller has yet to translate his seemingly sky-high potential into production during his first two seasons. But the dual-purpose tailback could have his best opportunity yet, with injuries to both Fred Jackson and wideout Donald Jones (ankle). Though the Bills’ offense is sputtering, Spiller’s role will inevitably increase.

Don’t be fooled

Jay Cutler, QB, Bears. With news that Cutler could miss the remainder of the regular season after surgery to repair his broken thumb, there’s no reason to let him take up valuable space on your bench. Ditto for his inexperienced backup, Caleb Hanie. Earl Bennett’s bubble just burst as well.

Jerome Simpson, WR, Bengals. Unless A.J. Green (knee) misses more time, Simpson is unlikely to be a worthy pickup in most formats. As surprisingly effective as Dalton has been throughout his rookie season, there aren’t enough balls to go around in Cincinnati to make two wideouts consistent contributors.

Sunday morning updates -- Week 11

2011-11-20T10:23:00.005-06:00

Good morning, Fools. It's another beautiful day in Fantasyland. Let's get to the news you can use to dominate today.

Thankfully, this is the last week of byes. Make sure you've benched your Saints, Steelers, Texans and Colts.

Also already declared out for today: Michael Vick, Jeremy Maclin, Matt Cassel, Jahvid Best, Ahmad Bradshaw, Jeremy Shockey, A.J. Green and Dolphins K Dan Carpenter. Shayne Graham was signed to kick against the Bills.

Vince Young and Riley Cooper will start in place of Vick and Maclin tonight. I don't recommend either. Brandon Jacobs is a fine start in Bradshaw's place against the Eagles.

Andre Caldwell will take A.J. Green's place. Not liking his chances against the Ravens.

Real worried about how Tyler Palko affects Dwayne Bowe's production. I wouldn't even consider starting another Chiefs WR than Bowe today.

Looks like Frank Gore will be active, but there's no telling how much action he'll get. That makes both Kendall Hunter and him awfully risky, because one could get the lion's share of the carries -- we just don't know which one. If I was forced to choose now, I'd have to go with Gore, who has performed well after being listed as questionable entering a game.

Stevie Johnson will line up against the Dolphins, but I worry about Ryan Fitzpatrick and him today against a suddenly fired-up Miami defense. The Bills have been in a funk offensively for weeks.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis is questionable, but expected to play, on Monday night. That said, I would avoid him if at all possible given his string of bit parts in recent games.

For the IDP leagues out there, Ray Lewis is out.

That's it for now. Follow my tweets (@ladd_biro) for the rest of the inactives and any other late-breaking news. Good luck today, Fools!

Week 11 Starters & Benchwarmers

2011-11-17T14:50:00.005-06:00

Wondering whether or not to start Aaron Rodgers and Matt Forte, or to bench Colt McCoy and Chaz Schilens? The network bozos specialize in that kind of advice. If you’re looking for help with your real starting lineup conundrums, read on.

Here are my picks to roll, and get rolled, in Week 11 of the 2011 season.

Watch ‘em roll

Carson Palmer, QB, Raiders at Vikings. Since he’s gotten his bearings in Oakland, Palmer has been remarkably productive, amassing 631 passing yards and five touchdowns in his two starts. Now he faces an awful, and injury-depleted, pass defense in Minnesota. Palmer is a great injury or bye-week substitute this week.

Reggie Bush, RB, Dolphins vs. Bills. Despite Daniel Thomas’ return, Bush has remained a fixture in the Dolphins’ backfield with his solid running and receiving. Buffalo has trouble defending both, so look for more strong returns from the multi-talented back.

Brandon Jacobs, RB, Giants vs. Eagles. Get the bruising workhorse back in your lineup for another game without Ahmad Bradshaw. The Giants will look to stick a fork in the Eagles on Sunday night, and Jacobs is sure to do a lot of the damage against Philly’s mediocre run defense.

Earl Bennett, WR, Bears vs. Chargers. Now that Bennett has fully recovered from his early-season chest injury, he has reclaimed his role as Jay Cutler’s go-to receiver. San Diego doesn’t yield a lot of receiving yardage, but they have coughed up 17 passing TDs to date. Bennett is a good bet to find the end zone for the second time in three weeks.

Mike Williams, WR, Buccaneers at Packers. Among the most disappointing players in Fantasyland this season, Williams continues to get an abundance of targets in the Bucs’ passing game. Those opportunities should finally pay off against a secondary that is yielding the second-most fantasy points to opposing receivers.

More thumbs up (excluding the no-brainers): QBs Jay Cutler, Matthew Stafford, John Skelton, Eli Manning; RBs DeMarco Murray, Shonn Greene, Michael Bush, James Starks, Jonathan Stewart, Maurice Morris, Marshawn Lynch; WRs Mario Manningham, Laurent Robinson, Jordy Nelson, Denarius Moore, Brandon Marshall, Victor Cruz, Plaxico Burress, Brandon Lloyd, Percy Harvin, Vincent Brown.

Roll ‘em back

Cam Newton, QB, Panthers at Lions. As poorly as the Lions played last week, they held Jay Cutler to just 123 passing yards without a touchdown. Newton is coming off a disaster of his own, and things won’t get any easier in Detroit. Rest the rookie if you possibly can.

Beanie Wells, RB, Cardinals at 49ers. Strangely, the Cardinals have found more success lately leaning on John Skelton’s arm than Wells’ legs. His balky knee surely has something to do with that; but in any event, the pendulum is unlikely to swing back this week when Wells & Company face the league’s top run defense.

LeGarrette Blount, RB, Buccaneers at Packers. He fell flat against Houston’s top-tier run defenders last week, and he’ll face another stingy unit Sunday that benefits when opponents are forced to abandon the run early. Since Blount rarely contributes as a receiver, he’s unlikely to play a significant role in this matchup.

Stevie Johnson, WR, Bills at Dolphins. Johnson injured his shoulder last weekend, but is expected to suit up for this divisional contest. Unfortunately, Ryan Fitzpatrick has been off his game lately, while Miami hasn’t allowed a scoring pass during their two-game win streak. Johnson is a risky bet on the road.

DeSean Jackson, WR, Eagles at Giants. His team is in disarray, he’s chirping about his contract and last week’s harsh discipline, and he will probably be trying to catch passes from Vince Young. None of the above will help Jackson rebound from his three-game (and nearly season-long) slump.

More thumbs down: QBs Michael Vick, Joe Flacco, Sam Bradford, Tim Tebow, Josh Freeman; RBs Mike Tolbert, Cedric Benson, Daniel Thomas, BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Chris Ogbannaya, Ryan Torain, Roy Helu; WRs Jeremy Maclin, Steve Breaston, Torrey Smith, Sidney Rice, Eric Decker, Greg Little.

Taking a flier

Kendall Hunter, RB, 49ers vs. Cardinals. Though it appears Frank Gore is on track to play Sunday despite his gimpy knee and ankle, Hunter will see plenty of action, and possibly the bulk of the workload. Meanwhile, Arizona has surrendered a league-worst 12 rushing touchdowns. Hunter is a solid flex play.

Don’t be the bonehead who…risks a goose egg while holding out hope for Michael Vick to play Sunday night with his broken ribs. He’ll undoubtedly be a game-time decision, but his late time slot means your backup options will be limited. You don’t want to be stuck with Vince Young, either.

Week 10 Heroes & Zeros

2011-11-15T08:00:00.006-06:00

This was a great week to start…

QBs
Aaron Rodgers, Packers – Another stellar night, with 4 TDs, 250 passing yards and 21 rushing yards.
Tom Brady, Patriots – Returned to elite form with 329 yards, 3 TDs and no turnovers.
Tony Romo, Cowboys – Threw just 3 incompletions while amassing 270 yards and a TD hat trick, without a turnover.
John Skelton, Cardinals – Did his best to create a QB controversy, with 315 yards and 3 TDs, plus 2 INTs and 15 yards rushing.

RBs
Arian Foster, Texans – Torched the Bucs with 84 rushing and 102 receiving yards, and a TD both ways.
Michael Bush, Raiders – Ran for 157 yards and a TD and caught 3 passes for 85 more yards.
Chris Johnson, Titans – Finally got rolling with 130 rushing yards and a TD, plus 4 catches for 44 yards.
DeMarco Murray, Cowboys – Rumbled for 135 yards and a TD and added 6 receptions for 36 yards.
Rashard Mendenhall, Steelers – Had just 44 yards rushing and caught a 26-yard pass, but scored twice in the process.
Reggie Bush, Dolphins – He scored twice too, while running for 47 yards (plus 4 catches for 4 yards).
Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks – Amassed 109 rushing yards and a TD, plus 5 receptions for 58 yards against the mighty Ravens.

WRs
Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals – Returned to elite form with 7 catches for 146 yards and 2 TDs.
Denarius Moore, Raiders – Hauled in 5 passes for 123 yards and 2 TDs.
Laurent Robinson, Cowboys – Took advantage of his start with 3 catches for 73 yards and a pair of TDs.
Jordy Nelson, Packers – Grabbed 5 balls for 63 yards and 2 TDs.

TEs
Rob Gronkowski, Patriots – Out-matched the Jets with 8 receptions for 113 yards and 2 TDs.
Ed Dickson, Ravens – Reeled in 10 passes for 79 yards and 2 TDs.

D/STs
Bears defense/special teams – Posted 2 sacks, 6 turnovers, a Devin Hester punt return TD and 2 pick-sixes.
Titans defense/special teams – Collected 5 sacks, 2 turnovers, held Carolina to 3 points and returned a punt for a TD.
Cowboys defense – Amassed 4 turnovers, 1 sack and an INT return for a TD while limiting Buffalo to 7 points.

This was a great week to play against…

QBs
Cam Newton, Panthers – Held to 212 passing yards and 55 rushing yards, without a score but with an interception.
Jay Cutler, Bears – Passes for 123 yards without a score or INT, and ran for 188 yards.
Ryan Fitzpatrick, Bills – Picked off 3 times while throwing for 146 yards and 1 TD, plus 20 rushing yards.
Michael Vick, Eagles – Passed for 128 yards, ran for 79, but had no scores and 2 INTs.
Matt Stafford, Lions – Looked awful while being intercepted 4 times (including 2 pick-sixes), while passing for 329 yards and a garbage-time TD.

RBs
Darren Sproles, Saints – Had 4 receptions for just 2 yards, and only ran for 1 stinking yard.
BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Patriots – Rushed 8 times for 8 yards.
Mark Ingram, Saints – Returned to the field, but only had 14 combined yards to show for it.
Frank Gore, 49ers – Had just an 8-yard catch before leaving with an injury.
DeAngelo Williams, Panthers – Continued his pathetic season with 35 rushing yards and no catches.
Delone Carter, Colts – Ran for 14 measly yards.
Willis McGahee, Broncos – Ran for only 17 yards before leaving with an injury.
LeGarrette Blount, Buccaneers – Rushed for 34 yards.
Roy Helu, Redskins – Lost the start to Ryan Torain, and finished with 53 combined yards.

WRs
DeSean Jackson, Eagles – Declared inactive for missing a team meeting.
Jason Hill, Jaguars – Posted a goose egg against the awful Colts secondary.
Jeremy Maclin, Eagles – Just 6 yards on 2 balls.
Kevin Walter, Texans – He also had 6 yards, but on 1 catch.
Stevie Johnson, Bills – Held to 8 yards on his 2 catches.
Julio Jones, Falcons – The brilliant rookie amassed 9 yards on 2 receptions.
James Jones, Packers – He posted 9 yards on 1 catch.
Hines Ward, Steelers – Got in the game, but only had a 10-yard reception.
Sidney Rice, Seahawks – Caught 2 passes for 14 yards.
Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs – Limited to 2 catches for 17 yards.
Michael Crabtree, 49ers – Had a 21-yard reception.
Vincent Jackson, Chargers – Only a 22-yard catch on the night.
Anquan Boldin, Ravens – Took 2 passes to get to 22 yards.
Lance Moore, Saints – Just a 28-yard catch for the day.
Torrey Smith, Ravens – Only 28 yards on 3 receptions.
Steve Smith, Panthers – Needed 5 catches to collect just 33 yards.
Colts receivers – Austin Collie led the way with 31 yards, Pierre Garcon chipped in 30, and Reggie Wayne brought up the rear with 13 yards.

Questions abound as the fantasy postseason looms

2011-11-14T15:55:00.007-06:00

On a weekend when DeSean Jackson was benched for missing a team meeting and Matt Stafford threw more scoring passes to the Chicago defense than he did to his own receivers, I suppose we shouldn’t be shocked that the best quarterback on the field in Philly on Sunday was named John Skelton.

Or that Tim Tebow’s second, and last, pass completion of the game was a 56-yard strike to Eric Decker that not only saved the Broncos but transformed otherwise disastrous outings from both players into solid fantasy performances.

Michael Vick broke two ribs and Matt Schaub incurred a serious foot injury, and nobody knows until Monday?

This is no way to run a fantasy season.

So what are Darren McFadden’s owners supposed to think now that Michael Bush has posted three consecutive stellar games in his relief? There’s no way Bush just puts on a baseball cap and cheers from the sidelines when Run-DMC returns, right?

And as poorly has Matt Cassel has been playing recently, should Dwayne Bowe’s owners be panicked or relieved that Tyler Palko will likely be running the Chiefs’ offense for the next few weeks, if not the rest of the season?

Ah yes, these are the things that make us fantasy enthusiasts crazy, and intrigued, as we enter the stretch run toward the postseason.

On a related note, it only took 10 weeks, but it appears Chris Johnson is finally back. Hopefully you weren’t the bonehead that lost hope and traded him for Javon Ringer and a six pack of Yoo-hoo.

Now, which of my competitors can I sucker into taking Bowe off my hands?

FREE AGENT PICKS AND PANS

To win a fantasy championship, it helps to start with a great draft. But filling in your roster throughout the season with the right free agents is also important. Here's a look at players worth considering, and others who would look better in someone else's lineup.

Catch ‘em while you can

Lance Ball, RB, Broncos. Two down, one to go. Ball is the last man standing in the Denver backfield now that both Willis McGahee (hamstring) and Knowshon Moreno (knee -- out for the season) were injured in Sunday’s contest. He responded with 96 yards on a whopping 30 carries; but, of course, Tim Tebow got the rushing TD. Ball will likely lead the charge on Thursday night, albeit against a strong Jets run defense.

Kendall Hunter, RB, 49ers. Once again, if you’re a Frank Gore owner and don’t have Hunter at the ready, you’re asking for trouble. Gore added a knee injury to his ankle ailments Sunday, and missed the majority of the game. Though the starter could be ready by Week 11, there are no guarantees. And the odds keep getting worse that Gore will survive the stretch run intact.

Denarius Moore, WR, Raiders. The rookie was a popular waiver-wire wonder earlier in the season, then was promptly discarded by most owners after he disappeared from Oakland’s offense. Now that Carson Palmer has re-discovered him – most recently with a 123-yard, two-touchdown outburst last Thursday night – and with Jacoby Ford (foot) out indefinitely, Moore deserves a second chance.

Don’t be fooled

John Skelton, QB, Cardinals. A quarterback controversy is brewing in the desert, now that Skelton has played well in back-to-back wins. Kevin Kolb (toe, foot) has not played up to his contract, so Skelton could remain under center even after the starter returns. Just don’t read too much into the first three-touchdown outing of Skelton’s career.

Kevin Walter, WR, Texans. If you haven’t given up on him yet, now’s the time. Houston heads into its bye with all signs pointing to Andre Johnson’s return in Week 12. Neither Walter nor Jacoby Jones will have any remaining fantasy value at that point.

Ed Dickson, TE, Ravens. Joe Flacco’s receivers tend to accumulate stats in brief spurts, so don’t expect Dickson to lead the team in receiving, or scoring, again any time soon. Only owners desperate for bye-week help in Week 11 should consider adding Dickson; and only then as a short-term fix.

Sunday morning updates -- Week 10

2011-11-13T10:40:00.005-06:00

Happy Sunday, Fools. It's another beautiful day in Dallas (not sure how much longer I'm going to be able to say that, so I'm going to keep it up while I can). Hope it's great where you are, too.

No byes this week! That should mean you have plenty of viable options to consider at each position; so let's get to the news you can use to make the wisest decisions possible.

The biggest news of all: DeSean Jackson will be INACTIVE today because he missed a team meeting. Wow. Talk about sending a message! That's good news for Jeremy Maclin's owners, and it makes Jason Avant a solid option this week, too -- especially in PPR leagues. Vick's matchup with the Cardinals is great with or without D-Jax.

Joseph Addai will not be active today, which means its another crapshoot on Donald Brown vs. Delone Carter. Obviously, you're best off avoiding them both if you can.

Ahmad Bradshaw is already out; Brandon Jacobs will go against the NFL's top-ranked run defense. The 49ers haven't allowed a rushing TD all season. Jacobs is not a great option today.

Beanie Wells has gotten better this week and will play. He's a decent start against the Eagles.

Mark Ingram will return to action today, but it's anyone's guess how much action he will get. This obviously puts a crimp in Pierre Thomas' value, but shouldn't affect Darren Sproles at all. Chris Ivory should be on your bench.

Looks like Hakeem Nicks will be active today, so you have to start him. Mario Manningham (knee) will be a game-time call, but I'd bench him either way since Nicks is back. Victor Cruz belongs in your lineups, though.

Another week, another inactive Andre Johnson. And Felix Jones. And Jahvid Best. And Lee Evans.

Rex Grossman will start at QB for the Redskins over John Beck. Hopefully this doesn't impact you in any way, especially since Santana Moss is still out.

That's it for now. Time to tweet the inactives (@ladd_biro). Good luck today, Fools!

Week 10 Starters & Benchwarmers

2011-11-10T14:52:00.007-06:00

Wondering whether or not to start Arian Foster and Calvin Johnson, or to bench John Skelton and Chad Ochocinco? The network bozos specialize in that kind of advice. If you’re looking for help with your real starting lineup conundrums, read on.

Here are my picks to roll, and get rolled, in Week 10 of the 2011 season.

Watch ‘em roll

Tim Tebow, QB, Broncos at Chiefs. I don’t know any leagues that award style points, so Tebow’s unconventional approach to racking up fantasy production is irrelevant. The Chiefs have a lousy pass rush and give up plenty of passing TDs. Add in Tebow’s rushing prowess, and you’ll love the results.

DeMarco Murray, RB, Cowboys vs. Bills. The rookie has solidified his role as Dallas’ featured back; and after this weekend, he’ll be cemented in as an every-week fantasy starter. Buffalo’s run defense can be gashed, as the Jets proved again last week.

Willis McGahee, RB, Broncos at Chiefs. Just two weeks removed from hand surgery, McGahee left no doubt last week that this is his backfield. It’s hardly even worth calling it a committee at this point. Look for more big runs and scores against Kansas City’s mediocre run defense.

Antonio Brown, WR, Steelers at Bengals. Brown is my new favorite fantasy wideout. More important, he appears to be Ben Roethlisberger’s new fave as well. Brown has been targeted a whopping 34 times over the last three games, nearly matching Mike Wallace’s production during that time span. Even against the Bengals’ solid pass defense, lock Brown into your lineup.

James Jones, WR, Packers vs. Vikings. Here’s the thing: When Aaron Rodgers is en fuego, and he’s facing the league’s 30th-ranked pass defense, you go all-in with his receivers; including Jones, his fourth option.

More thumbs up (excluding the no-brainers): QBs Tony Romo, Matt Ryan, Eli Manning, Matt Schaub, Ben Roethlisberger, Matt Stafford; RBs Jackie Battle, Steven Jackson, Chris Johnson, Ryan Mathews; WRs Dez Bryant, Laurent Robinson, Stevie Johnson, Victor Cruz, Eric Decker, Plaxico Burress, Julio Jones, Anquan Boldin, Percy Harvin, A.J. Green, Jeremy Maclin, Jordy Nelson.

Roll ‘em back

Jay Cutler, QB, Bears vs. Lions. Cutler posted 249 yards and a score in the first meeting at Detroit in Week 5. He has been up-and-down since then, but the Lions’ fearsome pass rush will make it difficult for Cutler to shine; especially if the Windy City lives up to its name on Sunday.

Brandon Jacobs, RB, Giants at 49ers. He is expected to lead the charge while Ahmad Bradshaw (foot) sits out again. But the league’s stingiest run defense won’t make life pleasant for Jacobs. The 49ers force opponents to score through the air, and Jacobs is unlikely to be the first to crack the end zone on the ground.

Cedric Benson, RB, Bengals vs. Steelers. Over the past two seasons, Benson has alternated good and bad games against his division rivals. With just two scores to show for 2011 thus far, it’s hard to feel good about his chances this week against Pittsburgh’s stout run defense.

Brandon Lloyd, WR, Rams at Browns. He has been targeted a dozen or more times in every game he’s played as a Ram, so PPR leaguers have some incentive to start him. But facing the NFL’s top-ranked pass defense, including soon-to-be All Pro corner Joe Haden, Lloyd won’t deliver impressive returns.

Pierre Garcon, WR, Colts vs. Jaguars. Thanks to stellar outings in Weeks 4 and 5, Garcon ranks among the Top 15 fantasy receivers. Yet he’s been largely absent most other weeks, thanks to the Colts’ unsteady quarterback play. Keep him benched against the Jags’ stout pass defense.

More thumbs down: QBs Ryan Fitzpatrick, Josh Freeman, Sam Bradford, Alex Smith, Andy Dalton, Carson Palmer; RBs Daniel Thomas, Maurice Morris, Marshawn Lynch, James Starks, Chris Ogbonnaya, Colts RBs; WRs Mike Williams (Bucs), Early Doucet, Deion Branch, Austin Collie, Earl Bennett, Braylon Edwards.

Taking a flier

Jason Hill, WR, Jaguars at Colts. With no teams on bye this week, you may not be desperate for help. But if you are, give Hill a look. He’s become Blaine Gabbert’s go-to target, and he has reached the end zone in three of his last four games. Oh yeah; the Colts have coughed up a league-worst 18 passing TDs.

Don’t be the bonehead who…fails to set their lineup for the Thursday night games. Starting tonight, and running through Week 16, you’ll need to adjust your schedule early to avoid giving your opponent an undeserved head start.

Week 9 Heroes & Zeros

2011-11-08T08:45:00.006-06:00

This was a great week to start…

QBs
Aaron Rodgers, Packers – Passed for 247 yards and 4 TDs, and ran for 52 yards.
Philip Rivers, Chargers – Compiled 385 yards and 4 TDs, but spoiled it with 3 INTs.
Carson Palmer, Raiders – His 3 INTs hurt, too; but 332 yards passing with 3 TDs is pretty salty stuff.
Matt Ryan, Falcons – Passed for 275 yards and a trio of TDs, plus an INT.
Matt Moore, Dolphins – Threw for 244 yards and 3 TDs without a turnover.
Tim Tebow, Broncos – It wasn’t always pretty, but in the end he accounted for 124 passing yards and 2 TDs, and ran for another 118 yards.
Andy Dalton, Bengals – Passed for 227 yards and 3 TDs without a turnover.

RBs
Willis McGahee, Broncos – Pounded the Raiders for 163 yards and 2 scores.
Arian Foster, Texans – Rushed for 124 yards and 1 TD and caught 5 passes for 26 more yards.
Mike Tolbert, Chargers – Rushed for 83 yards and a TD and caught 4 passes for 59 yards.
Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks – Ran for 135 yards and a TD against a good run defense.
LeSean McCoy, Eagles – Scored again (of course) and racked up 71 rushing yards and 5 receptions for 46 more.
Roy Helu, Redskins – Just 41 yards rushing; but in PPR leagues, his 14 receptions for 105 yards was stellar.

WRs
Vincent Jackson, Chargers – Finally showed his elite stuff, with 7 catches for 141 yards and a TD hat trick.
Julio Jones, Falcons – Caught 3 passes for 131 yards and a pair of TDs, and chipped in 33 rushing yards as well.
Eddie Royal, Broncos – Caught 2 passes for 25 yards and 1 TD, and returned a punt 85 yards for another score.
Wes Welker, Patriots – Another PPR beauty, with 9 receptions for 136 yards, plus 13 rushing yards.

TEs
Rob Gronkowski, Patriots – Caught 8 passes for 101 yards and 1 TD.
Antonio Gates, Chargers – Pulled down 8 catches for 96 yards and a score.
Anthony Fasano, Dolphins – Reeled in 2 TDs and 38 yards on his only catches.

D/STs
Packers defense – Gave up 38 points, but scored 12 of their own on 2 pick-sixes, and added 2 sacks and 3 total turnovers.

This was a great week to play against…

QBs
Matt Schaub, Texans – Managed just 119 passing yards and an INT, but ran in for a short score.
Matt Cassel, Chiefs – Limited to 253 passing yards, and 38 rushing, with no scores or turnovers.
Curtis Painter, Colts – Only 98 yards passing with 1 INT.
Sam Bradford, Rams – It was good to see him back, but 255 yards and an INT without a score won’t help fantasy-wise.
Michael Vick, Eagles – Held out of the end zone and had just 213 passing yards, 34 rushing yards and a pick.

RBs
Delone Carter, Colts – Fumbled early and gave way to Donald Brown after collecting just 8 rushing yards.
Javon Ringer, Titans – Combined for a paltry 25 yards.
Beanie Wells, Cardinals – Held to 20 rushing and 13 receiving yards against the lowly Rams.
Chris Ogbonnaya, Browns – Hopefully you didn’t have to settle for his 41 combined yards, plus a fumble.
Jackie Battle, Chiefs – Only 49 combined yards on the day.

WRs
Darrius Heyward-Bey, Raiders – Posted a goose egg.
Hines Ward, Steelers – So did he.
Jonathan Baldwin, Chiefs – Followed up his breakout game with a 12-yard reception.
Devin Hester, Bears – Also had a 12-yarder.
Johnny Knox, Bears – Limited to a single 14-yard catch.
DeSean Jackson, Eagles – Ran for 10 yards, caught 2 passes for 16 yards, dropped plenty more and fumbled.
Colts receivers – Austin Collie led with 32 yards, followed by Reggie Wayne with 30, Pierre Garcon with 22 and Dallas Clark with 21.
Kevin Walter, Texans – Just one 5-yard reception.
Braylon Edwards, 49ers – Returned to action to catch 2 balls for 30 yards.
Nate Washington, Titans – Caught 3 passes for 28 yards.

Rivers, Johnson not back in good graces yet

2011-11-07T14:26:00.006-06:00

Ever since I mastered the art of flicking a paper football across a table until it dangled off the edge, then drilling it through a two-fingered goal post, I’ve loved fantasy football. Of course, we young lads didn’t call it fantasy back in the day; but I’m sure the grade-school time-killer has its place in the evolution of the game.

But my love of all things fantasy is being tested this year. Mostly by Philip Rivers, who I drafted as a “can’t miss” anchor of two teams, but has played more like a “miss-take” waiting to happen. Even on Sunday, amidst a long-overdue stellar performance, Rivers threw three costly interceptions, including two pick-sixes. Something is clearly rotten in San Diego.

Rivers’ disappointing season, which landed him on my bench weeks ago, is just one of several implosions that have rocked countless unsuspecting fantasy owners. Naturally, Chris Johnson’s inexplicable demise ranks at the top of the list. And no, 110 yards of combined production against the Bengals hasn’t changed a thing.

I suppose $21 million of guaranteed money (roughly half the value of the five-year deal he signed this offseason) goes a long way towards soothing DeAngelo Williams’ concerns over his reduced role in Carolina. But it doesn’t make us feel any better.

We should have known Peyton Hillis would be a one-hit wonder after he became the Madden cover boy. But when will we stop believing that Shonn Greene is workhorse material? Or that Jahvid Best, Beanie Wells and Felix Jones can possibly stay healthy?

We’ll give the Colts receivers a pass this time, since their downfall was not of their own making. So what’s Chad Ochocinco’s excuse?

Halfway through the 2011 season, these and other fantasy underachievers are vying for our dreaded Bust of the Year “honors.” They’d better step up soon, or risk earning a label they may never shake.

FREE AGENT PICKS AND PANS

To win a fantasy championship, it helps to start with a great draft. But filling in your roster throughout the season with the right free agents is also important. Here's a look at players worth considering, and others who would look better in someone else's lineup.

Catch ‘em while you can

Roy Helu, RB, Redskins. Counting on any Redskin back from week to week is foolhardy indeed. But Mike Shanahan has signaled all along that Helu would eventually get his shot at the featured role. While the rookie’s 41 rushing yards were nothing special, those who play in point-per-reception leagues are salivating over his 14-catch, 105-receiving yard effort against the 49ers. While you can’t count on that again, Helu is clearly more roster-worthy than Ryan Torain.

Laurent Robinson, WR, Cowboys. Robinson has been surprisingly effective since Dallas plucked him off the scrap heap earlier this season, in spite of the heavy competition at his position. Now that Miles Austin has aggravated his hamstring again, Robinson could be starting one or more games during a very favorable stretch.

Jacoby Ford, WR, Raiders. I still wouldn’t entrust my fantasy team to the mistake-prone Carson Palmer, but I’ve been a fan of Ford’s since last season. His re-emergence as Oakland’s lead receiver, coinciding with Darrius Heyward-Bey’s goose egg, makes Ford a high-upside pickup in leagues where he has been dropped. His role as an electrifying return man gives him bonus potential as well.

Don’t be fooled

Andy Dalton, QB, Bengals. Give the rookie his due. Dalton has fired a touchdown pass in all but one game this season, including multi-score efforts in half of them. Sunday’s 217-yard, three-touchdown, zero-turnover performance was his best to date. I’d recommend him if not for his brutal second-half schedule, which includes two dates each with the Steelers and Ravens.

Chris Ogbonnaya, RB, Browns. Hopefully you didn’t invest in Hillis’ backup’s backup. When you dig this low on the depth chart of a mediocre rushing team, you get what you pay for. Even in a favorable matchup with the Rams next week, stay away. Stay far away.

Sunday morning updates -- Week 9

2011-11-06T08:17:00.004-06:00

Happy Sunday morning, Fools. All is well in Fantasyland. Let's get to the last-minute updates before the inactives come down for your Week 9 games...

First, always remember and never forget, the following teams are on bye this week: Panthers, Lions, Jags and Vikings. I'm going to try to survive this week without Stafford and AD in two lineups.

We already know Ahmad Bradshaw and Hakeem Nicks will not be suiting up today for the G-men. That means it's the Brandon Jacobs show at RB (with an assist from Danny Ware). Mario Manningham and Victor Cruz both get a nice bump with Nicks sidelined.

You know Hillis and Hardesty are out, meaning Chris Ogbonnaya will start at RB for the Browns. Yuck. Thomas Clayton will likely share carries with Ogbannaya. Double yuck.

Run DMC (McFadden) is out. Michael Bush will be a nice proxy in Oakland today.

Felix Jones won't play, so DeMarco Murray gets another shot at seizing the permanent starting role.

Mark Ingram will miss another game. That means more opportunities for Pierre Thomas, but Chris Ivory will be in the mix again. Of course, Darren Sproles is the best fantasy back of them all.

Andre Johnson will sit out another week.

Pittsburgh's Emmanuel Sanders is out, which is good news for Antonio Brown. The bad news, though, is he's playing the Ravens.

LeGarrette Blount will be back, and he's expected to carry a full load since the Bucs are basically out of RBs.

Daniel Thomas is expected to play, but probably only sparingly, given how testy his hamstring has been. Look for more action from Reggie Bush and Lex Hilliard. Thomas is a very risky start.

Tarvaris Jackson will be a game-time decision. You don't want to start him, but his presence would help Sidney Rice and other Seahawks receivers, if you have to play them. It helps Marshawn Lynch to have a credible threat at QB, too.

Joseph Addai, Malcom Floyd and Kevin Kolb will also be game-time calls.

Fred Davis is expected to play, despite a bum ankle.

Looks like Janikowski will be back kicking for the Raiders today.

That's it for now. I'll be tweeting (@ladd_biro) an hour before kickoff, as always, with the game-day inactives and other late breaking news. Good luck today, Fools!

Week 9 Starters & Benchwarmers

2011-11-04T12:02:00.005-05:00

Wondering whether or not to start Aaron Rodgers and LeSean McCoy, or to bench John Beck and Derrick Mason? The network bozos specialize in that kind of advice. If you’re looking for help with your real starting lineup conundrums, read on.

Here are my picks to roll, and get rolled, in Week 9 of the 2011 season.

Watch ‘em roll

Matt Ryan, QB, Falcons at Colts. Ryan has thrown exactly one scoring pass in each of his last five games, making him a popular whipping boy in fantasy circles. He should break out of his funk Sunday with the expected return of Julio Jones (hamstring) and the primo matchup with the Colts’ sieve-like secondary.

LeGarrette Blount, RB, Buccaneers at Saints. He’s returning from his knee injury just in time, as the Bucs are otherwise decimated at his position. Blount should have little trouble gashing the soft New Orleans run defense.

Michael Bush, RB, Raiders vs. Broncos. Darren McFadden (foot) is still on crutches, making it highly unlikely he’ll be ready for Sunday’s tilt. Bush, already a goal-line vulture and competent receiver, will start against Denver’s average-at-best run defense. Rookie Taiwan Jones will get a few looks, too; but this is Bush’s game to shine.

Brandon Lloyd, WR, Rams at Cardinals. Despite laboring with A.J. Feeley at quarterback, Lloyd has fared better as a Ram than he did earlier this season with the Broncos; presumably due to his familiarity with Josh McDaniel’s system. Regardless of which passer gets the call this week – and Sam Bradford’s high ankle sprain is improving – you have to like Lloyd’s chances to prosper against one of the NFL’s most generous pass defenses.

Mario Manningham, WR, Giants at Patriots. Whether or not Hakeem Nicks (hamstring) plays – and he doesn’t sound like a guy who’s planning to – Manningham belongs in your lineup. He finally reached the end zone last week against the Dolphins, and he should have little trouble racking up the yards, and probably his second touchdown, against New England’s embarrassing secondary.

More thumbs up (excluding the no-brainers): QBs Eli Manning, Matt Cassel, Tony Romo; RBs Mike Tolbert, Beanie Wells, Cedric Benson, Shonn Greene; WRs Victor Cruz, Marques Colston, Mike Williams (Bucs), Jeremy Maclin, Jordy Nelson, Anquan Boldin, Sidney Rice.

Roll ‘em back

Philip Rivers, QB, Chargers vs. Packers. The once-elite gunslinger has been downright awful most of this season, and he has proven he can’t be trusted even in favorable matchups. Green Bay’s defense has racked up the second-most interceptions in the league, which doesn’t bode well for the mistake-prone Rivers.

Chris Johnson, RB, Titans vs. Bengals. As dreadful as Johnson has been all season, he is still being started each week by roughly 90 percent of his owners, who hold out hope for his “inevitable” breakout game. But Cincinnati boasts the league’s second-stingiest run defense. If a breakout is indeed coming, it won’t be this weekend.

Ryan Torain, RB, Redskins vs 49ers. Talk about a guy who has squandered his opportunities. Torain’s 14-yard rushing effort last week was actually an improvement over the five yards he lost in Week 7. Even without serious competition for carries, Torain has been a disaster. I’m setting the over/under at 20 yards against the NFL’s top-ranked run defense.

Lance Moore, WR, Saints vs. Buccaneers. Aside from Marques Colston, no Saints wideout can be banked on in consecutive weeks. Drew Brees uses his secondary receivers interchangeably, and since Moore was his leading target in Week 8, he’s more likely to disappear on Sunday than celebrate another trip to the end zone.

Nate Washington, WR, Titans vs. Bengals. On the heels of his two-touchdown outing against the Colts, it would be tough to send Washington back to your bench. But Matt Hasselbeck has been fairly pedestrian lately, while the Bengals field one of the stingiest pass defenses in the league. This should be another down week for the Titans’ lead wideout.

More thumbs down: QBs Joe Flacco, Ben Roethlisberger, Tim Tebow, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Carson Palmer, Mark Sanchez, Matt Hasselbeck; RBs BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Joseph Addai, Peyton Hillis, Marshawn Lynch; WRs Plaxico Burress, Pierre Garcon, Davone Bess, Antonio Brown, Kevin Walter, Greg Little.

Taking a flier

Jonathan Baldwin, WR, Chiefs vs. Dolphins. Kansas City’s first-round draft pick finally got a chance to strut his stuff under the Monday night lights. The 6’4”, 228-pound wideout is an imposing presence, and Miami’s lousy secondary will have a difficult time keeping up with him. Baldwin has more upside as a WR3 or flex play than teammate Steve Breaston this week.

Don’t be the bonehead who…benches Larry Fitzgerald just because John Skelton starts at quarterback. Skelton may be as raw as they get, but he managed to connect with Fitz for 57 yards and a score in just three quarters of last season’s finale. This week, if Kevin Kolb (toe) is sidelined, Skelton will face the generous Rams secondary. Fitzgerald should remain in your lineup.

Week 8 -- Heroes and Zeros

2011-11-01T13:42:00.004-05:00

This was a great week to start…

QBs
Cam Newton, Panthers – Passed for 290 yards and 3 TDs and ran for 53 yards, and lost two fumbles.
Matt Stafford, Lions – Notched 3 TDs and 267 passing yards and ran for 21 yards without a turnover.
Michael Vick, Eagles – Torched the Cowboys with 279 passing yards and 2 TDs, plus 50 yards as a rusher, without a turnover.
Eli Manning, Giants – Threw for 349 yards and 2 TDs without a turnover.

RBs
LeSean McCoy, Eagles – Ran for 185 yards and 2 TDs, and caught 2 passes for 15 more.
Ray Rice, Ravens – Had a touchdown hat trick while rushing for 63 yards and catching 7 passes for 36 more.
Steven Jackson, Rams – Burned the Saints for 259 rushing yards and 2 TDs, and added 4 receptions for 32 yards.
Adrian Peterson, Vikings – Ran for 86 yards and a TD and caught 5 passes for 76 yards and another score.
Frank Gore, 49ers – Rumbled for 134 yards and 1 TD.
Fred Jackson, Bills – Didn’t score, but amassed 194 combined yards.

WRs
Nate Washington, Titans – Scored on a 3-yard run and caught 4 passes for 34 yards and a second TD.
Calvin Johnson, Lions – Caught 6 passes for 125 yards and a TD.
Laurent Robinson, Cowboys – His 5 receptions were good for 103 yards and a score.
Steve Smith, Panthers – Reeled in 7 passes for 100 yards and 1 TD.

TEs
Scott Chandler, Bills – Scored twice and collected 35 yards on his only 2 catches.

D/STs
Lions D/ST – Scored on a fumble return and an INT return, amassed 7 sacks and 3 turnovers and held Denver to 10 points.
Bengals D/ST – Amassed 4 sacks and 2 turnovers and scored on a punt return and INT return.
Bills defense – Compiled 9 sacks and 2 interceptions while pitching a shutout against the Skins.

This was a great week to play against…

QBs
Philip Rivers, Chargers – Stunk it up again, passing for 369 yards and 2 INTs, plus a fumble, with no TDs to show for it.

RBs
Montario Hardesty, Browns – Ran for 6 yards before leaving with an injury.
BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Patriots – Ran for a measly 9 yards.
Ryan Torain, Redskins – Got the start and tallied 20 total yards. I give up.
Delone Carter, Colts – Ran for just 46 yards and let Donald Brown poach another TD.
Chris Johnson, Titans – Upstaged by backup Javon Ringer again, with just 51 combined yards.

WRs
Wes Welker, Patriots – Compiled 39 yards on 6 catches.
Miles Austin, Cowboys – Caught 3 balls for 27 yards.
Dez Bryant, Cowboys – His 3 catches went for 28 yards.
DeSean Jackson, Eagles – Went for 31 yards on 3 passes.
Vincent Jackson, Chargers – Underperformed again with just 49 yards on 3 catches.

TEs
Vernon Davis, 49ers – Just 27 yards on 3 catches.
Jason Witten, Cowboys – Had 4 catches for 28 yards.

The Perfect Draft 2.0 (a.k.a., What Could Have Been)

2011-10-31T13:11:00.009-05:00

So, uh, how’s that Chris Johnson pick working out for you?

Still think Peyton Hillis was a steal in the third round?

Did you pick the wrong year to load up on Colts?

Yes, dear reader, it’s time for our semi-annual exercise in self-flagellation, when we reflect back two short months on what could have been had we made all the right moves during our preseason draft. Step right up for The Perfect Draft 2.0: Midseason Review.

As always, we start with a few key assumptions. First, we’re in a 10-team league using a standard scoring system that starts one quarterback, two running backs, three wide receivers, one tight end, one kicker and one defense/special teams. Second, we are drafting from the middle (fifth) position in a zig-zag format, meaning Adrian Peterson was not available to us in the first round. Third, we’re selecting players based on their average draft position in multiple mock draft sites as of the end of August. And finally, our goal is nothing short of total domination and the abject humiliation of our opponents.

Now, with the fifth pick of the 2011 Fantasy Draft, we should have selected…

Round 1. LeSean McCoy, RB, Eagles. If Shady’s superiority wasn’t clear before Sunday night’s beat-down of the Cowboys, it is now. McCoy has scored at least once in every game, and trails only Peterson (by a smidge) as the top back in Fantasyland. Yet Peterson has played an extra game. I can’t argue with picking Aaron Rodgers, either.

Round 2. Matt Forte, RB, Bears. Tough call here. Calvin Johnson is probably long gone. Tom Brady and Drew Brees are hard to overlook, as are Frank Gore and Greg Jennings. Forte gets the nod for his consistency and his impressive contributions as a receiver.

Round 3. Mike Wallace, WR, Steelers. Mr. Big Play hasn’t had an off game yet, and he’s reached the end zone in five out of eight weeks.

Round 4. Wes Welker, WR, Patriots. We passed on Brady, but his most dangerous receiver is a nice consolation prize.

Round 5. Fred Jackson, RB, Bills. We could wait until the sixth round to grab him, but why tempt fate? Jackson has been an absolute beast. We now boast three of the top five fantasy backs.

Round 6. Matt Stafford, QB, Lions. Again, we’re pulling the trigger early, but drafting with 20/20 hindsight gives us that luxury. Stafford has posted 19 touchdowns and just four interceptions while emerging as an elite fantasy passer.

Round 7. Steve Smith, WR, Panthers. Most owners held their noses when drafting Smith, a frequent malcontent who seemed light years removed from his glory days. Little did we know a rookie would lead him to his fountain of youth.

Round 8. Jimmy Graham, TE, Saints. Though most of us expected Graham to climb the tight end rankings this season, few thought he’d dominate them like he has. As with Brady, we let Drew Brees slide by; but his favorite target is a good proxy.

Round 9. A.J. Green, WR, Bengals. We knew Green had the pedigree to be special. But teamed with a rookie quarterback in a lackluster offense, how much could we expect from this rookie wideout? Apparently, instant elite status.

Round 10. Rob Gronkowski, TE, Patriots. Another second-year sensation gives us the top pair of tight ends in the business.

Round 11. Ravens defense/special teams. Several units – including the young-and-hungry Lions and 49ers – also offer great value. But Ray Lewis & Company are still bringing the heat in virtually every significant category.

Round 12. Jordy Nelson, WR, Packers. He’d have a hard time starting on this roster, but Rodgers’ second-favorite receiver is clearly worthy of a Perfect Draft invitation.

Round 13. Darren Sproles, RB, Saints. Reggie who? Sproles has stepped into the multi-purpose role the Saints designed for Bush and showed him how it’s done.

Round 14. DeMarco Murray, RB, Cowboys. As long as we’re playing with house money, let’s stash this rookie on our bench for his potential late-season run.

Round 15. Cam Newton, QB, Panthers. If you were prescient enough to draft Newton, and gutsy enough to start him from Week 1, you are a true fantasy genius. Remarkably, the rookie taken by 2010’s most dreadful NFL team trails only Rodgers among fantasy quarterbacks. It helps that he is also his team’s best running back.

Round 16. Victor Cruz, WR, Giants. Cruz has performed as well as Hakeem Nicks while relegating Mario Manningham to fantasy irrelevance.

Round 17. John Kasay, K, Saints. As usual, several kickers offered excellent final-round value. An eleventh-hour replacement for the injured Garrett Hartley, Kasay has prospered in his mop-up role for the Saints’ prolific offense.

So, how perfect was your draft?

One consolation: If recent history holds, roughly half of these players will not be on our final Perfect Draft roster at season’s end. Hope abounds!

FREE AGENT PICKS AND PANS

To win a fantasy championship, it helps to start with a great draft. But filling in your roster throughout the season with the right free agents is also important. Here's a look at players worth considering, and others who would look better in someone else's lineup.
Catch ‘em while you can

Javon Ringer, RB, Titans. If you had never played fantasy football before 2011, you’d have already dropped Chris Johnson in favor of his backup. Ringer is not just a promising handcuff; he could actually supplant the incredible, shrinking Johnson as the starter if he continues to out-perform him.

Antonio Brown, WR, Steelers. Still available in more than half of all leagues, the second-year wideout was targeted a whopping 15 times Sunday. Brown also scored his first career touchdown. His stock should continue to rise even when the aging Hines Ward returns from his ankle injury.

Brent Celek, TE, Eagles. After getting off to an uncharacteristically slow start this season, Celek has scored in back-to-back games. He can help teams with bye-week and injury issues at the tight end position.

Don’t be fooled

Kevin Faulk, RB, Patriots. As much as the Patriots struggled to move the ball Sunday, it’s hard to say whether Faulk’s prominent role in the offense was simply game-plan driven or a sign of things to come. But seriously, the guy is in his 13th season. How much tread could he possibly have left?

Doug Baldwin, WR, Seahawks. Being the second-best wideout on the Seahawks is kind of like being the second-best singer in the Jackson 5. Who cares? Predicting when Baldwin – or any Seattle receiver, for that matter – will show up is a fool’s game. Don’t waste your time playing.

Sunday morning updates -- Week 8

2011-10-30T10:13:00.007-05:00

Happy day-before-Halloween, Fools. I'm not proud to report that it turns out with a pillow for padding and a long grey wig, I can pass for a certain Cowboys coach at a costume party. Scary, I know...

Hope you and yours have a safe and fun time this weekend, too.

Now, on to the real news...

First, though the league management systems make it hard to screw these things up, it's another tough week for byes, with the Packers, Falcons, Bears, Jets, Raiders and Bucs getting the week off.

Meanwhile, a large contingent of non-bye week RBs should also be on your bench today due to injuries. Already declared OUT for Week 8 are Daniel Thomas, Jahvid Best, Willis McGahee, Mark Ingram and Felix Jones. And in case you missed yesterday's tweet, Tashard Choice has been released by the Cowboys.

Also ruled out early are Sam Bradford, Andre Johnson, Hines Ward and Lee Evans.

We'll know soon about several other players, including Peyton Hillis and Beanie Wells. Mike Tolbert hasn't practiced all week and is almost certainly going to be inactive.

Joseph Addai will probably suit up, but don't expect much from him as he continues to struggle with a bum hammy. If you have to play a Colt back, make it Delone Carter.

Bernard Scott is an intriguing start in place of the suspended Cedric Benson. The Seahawks' run defense is not as formidable as it was early on. Scott is a solid flex play this weekend. So is Marshawn Lynch on the other side of the field, assuming those dreaded back spasms don't act up again.

Moreno and Lance Ball will likely share carries today for Denver. Not crazy about either option, but Knowshon definitely gets the nod over Ball in PPR leagues.

Brandon Jacobs will be back today to cut into Ahmad Bradshaw's carries. That said, don't hesitate to start Bradshaw. Jacobs, on the other hand, is a risky play in his first game back in weeks.

It will be ugly for Cardinals RBs in Baltimore whether or not Beanie suits up. Don't even think about Alfonso Smith, Chester Taylor or LSH.

OK, that's it for now. I'll be tweeting (@ladd_biro) the inactives and other late-breaking news soon. Good luck, Fools!

Week 8 Starters and Benchwarmers

2011-10-28T12:41:00.007-05:00

Wondering whether or not to start Drew Brees and Fred Jackson, or to bench Curtis Painter and Chad Ochocinco? The network bozos specialize in that kind of advice. If you’re looking for help with your real starting lineup conundrums, read on.

Here are my picks to roll, and get rolled, in Week 8 of the 2011 season.

Watch ‘em roll

Eli Manning, QB, Giants vs. Dolphins. Miami has a league-worst two interceptions on the season, which is welcome news for the mistake-prone Manning. Also encouraging, only the Broncos give up more fantasy points than the Dolphins to opposing quarterbacks. Look for big yardage and at least two passing TDs for Manning.

Pierre Thomas, RB, Saints at Rams. With Mark Ingram in jeopardy of missing Sunday’s game with a bruised heel, Thomas has an excellent chance to excel against the Rams’ pitiful run defense. While Darren Sproles continues to prosper in the role Reggie Bush squandered, there will be plenty of touches (including passes) left for Thomas to be a legitimate flex starter.

Ryan Torain, RB, Redskins at Bills. It’s always dicey counting on one of Mike Shanahan’s backs; but with Tim Hightower gone for the season, Torain will surely be the workhorse against one of the NFL’s softest run defenses. (Won’t he?) Roy Helu will get his share of the carries, too; but Torain is a much safer fantasy play for now.

Nate Washington, WR, Titans vs. Colts. The Titans’ passing game was horrendous last week against the Texans, but the Colts are just the ticket for a nice rebound. Indy has surrendered an NFL-high 14 passing TDs, and Washington should have little trouble inflating that number against this porous secondary.

Torrey Smith, RB, Ravens vs. Cardinals. Arizona is susceptible to the long ball, which is Smith’s forte. Though he’s fizzled quite a bit since his Week 3 breakout game, this is a great week to take a chance on the rookie speedster, especially if you’re bye-week challenged.

More thumbs up (excluding the no-brainers): QBs Ben Roethlisberger, Joe Flacco, Cam Newton, Matt Schaub, Matt Hasselbeck; RBs Ahmad Bradshaw, Ryan Mathews, Daniel Thomas, DeMarco Murray, Delone Carter, Bernard Scott; WRs Marques Colston, A.J. Green, Anquan Boldin, Jeremy Maclin, Victor Cruz, Stevie Johnson.

Roll ‘em back

Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, Bills vs. Redskins. After a terrific start to his 2011 season, Fitzpatrick has been fairly pedestrian over his last three games, with just 636 passing yards, three TDs and three interceptions during that span. Washington boasts a league-leading 21 sacks and has yielded only five passing scores to date. Don’t expect much from Fitz in Toronto.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis, RB, Patriots at Steelers. Now that Danny Woodhead is healthy, the “Law Firm” is the senior partner in a three-headed backfield. Pittsburgh presents a tough challenge for New England’s committee, so consider another option over Green-Ellis this week.

Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Steelers vs. Patriots. If you are blessed with the option of sitting Mendenhall this week, don’t hesitate. The Patriots are playing stout run defense, and the Steelers have been struggling to get their ground game in order. Look for another disappointing outing from Mendenhall.

Percy Harvin, WR, Vikings at Panthers. He has had very little time to practice with rookie QB Christian Ponder due to a rib injury, which caused the multi-purpose wideout to miss half of last week’s game. He’s a similar early-exit risk this week, which makes it even more unlikely that he’ll collect his first touchdown reception of the season.

Michael Crabtree, WR, 49ers vs. Browns. A minor foot injury is not expected to affect Crabtree, but elite cornerback Joe Haden will. Despite plenty of targets, Crabtree continues to struggle with Alex Smith, who relies more frequently on his tight ends, especially in the red zone. Cleveland’s pass defense is playing surprisingly well.

More thumbs down: QBs Kevin Kolb, Matt Cassel, Alex Smith, Tim Tebow; RBs Brandon Jacobs, Mark Ingram, Knowshon Moreno, all Cardinals, Lions, Browns and Seahawks RBs; WRs Lance Moore, Steve Breaston, Sidney Rice, Kevin Walter, Brandon Lloyd, Eric Decker.

Taking a flier

Antonio Brown, WR, Steelers vs. Patriots. Hines Ward will be limited, if he plays at all, with a sprained ankle. That should lead to more work for Brown, who excelled against the Cardinals last week and has an equally favorable matchup with New England’s generous secondary on Sunday. Only Mike Wallace has been targeted more than Brown by Roethlisberger this season.

Don’t be the bonehead who…makes a desperation trade to cover for bye-week absences. I’ve seen, and been queried about, several lop-sided offers over the last three weeks, as savvy owners attempt to exploit a competitor’s momentary weakness. Biting on a short-term fix usually leads to deeper regrets later, and we’ve only just reached the mid-point of the fantasy season.

Week 7 Heroes & Zeros

2011-10-25T13:49:00.004-05:00

This was a great week to start…

QBs
Drew Brees, Saints – Another brilliant outing, with 325 yards and 5 TDs, with nary a turnover.
Aaron Rodgers, Packers – Threw 3 TDs while torching the Vikings for 335 yards.
Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers – Passed for 361 yards and a TD trifecta.

RBs
Arian Foster, Texans – His 234-combined-yard, 3 TD performance was exactly what his owners have been waiting for.
DeMarco Murray, Cowboys – Ran for a record-setting 253 yards and 1 TD.
Darren Sproles, Saints – Ran for 88 yards and 1 TD, and caught 6 passes for 19 yards and a second TD.
Matt Forte, Bears – Ran for 145 yards and 1 TD and added 2 receptions for 38 yards.
Adrian Peterson, Vikings – Rumbled for 175 tough yards and a score.

WRs
Plaxico Burress, Jets – Scored 3 times on 4 catches for 25 yards.
Marques Colston, Saints – Nabbed 7 passes for 98 yards and a pair of scores.
Greg Jennings, Packers – Reeled in 7 passes for 147 yards and a TD.

TEs
Jimmy Graham, Saints – Continued his dominance with 6 catches for 54 yards and 2 TDs.

Ks
Josh Scobee, Jaguars – Hit 3 field goals over 50 yards, plus a shorty (22, 51 and two 54-yarders).

D/STs
Chiefs defense – Scored twice on INT returns, amassed 6 total INTs and a sack, and held Oakland scoreless.
Texans defense – Amassed 2 sacks, 2 INTs (one of which was returned for a score) and held the Titans to 7 points.
Saints defense – Chalked up 3 turnovers, a sack, a pick-six and held Indy to 7 points.

This was a great week to play against…

QBs
Philip Rivers, Chargers – His subpar season continues, with just 179 yards and 1 TD, plus 2 INTs.
Matt Hasselbeck, Titans – Just 104 yards and 1 TD, plus 2 INTs.
Matt Cassel, Chiefs – Tossed 2 INTs while passing for a meager 161 yards and 0 TDs.
Joe Flacco, Ravens – His 137 passing yards included a TD and an INT. He also lost 8 yards on a reception, for good measure.

RBs
Ryan Torain, Redskins – Lost 5 yards on 2 measly carries.
Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks – Back spasms took him out of the game during warm-ups, but word came too late for his owners to adjust.
Darren McFadden, Raiders – Just 7 combined yards before injuring his foot.
Joseph Addai, Colts – Returned to action to collect 19 combined yards.
Earnest Graham, Buccaneers – Managed only 13 rushing yards (and minus-2 receiving) before exiting for the season with a torn Achilles.
Chris Johnson, Titans – Ran for 18 yards and caught 6 balls for 27 more. Ugh.
DeAngelo Williams, Panthers – Continued to disappoint with 35 rushing yards.
Rashard Mendenhall, Steelers – Totaled 37 yards on the day.
Beanie Wells, Cardinals – Left with an injury after notching 42 rushing yards.
Daniel Thomas, Dolphins – Just 53 total yards against a mediocre Broncos defense.
Ray Rice, Ravens – Held to just 63 combined yards, and lost a fumble, on Monday night.

WRs
Nate Washington, Titans – Limited to a 10-yard grab.
Vincent Jackson, Chargers – Held to one 15-yard reception on Revis Island.
Percy Harvin, Vikings – Took 2 catches to get his 15 yards.
Miles Austin, Cowboys – Took a backseat with just 16 yards on 2 receptions.
Santana Moss, Redskins – Just 17 yards on 2 catches before leaving with a broken hand.
Eric Decker, Broncos – His 21 yards on 2 passes did little to suggest he’d be the man now that Brandon Lloyd is gone.
Santonio Holmes, Jets – Overshadowed by Plaxico, with 2 catches for 24 yards.
Sidney Rice, Seahawks – Caught 2 passes for 38 yards.
Colts WRs – Reggie Wayne had 3 for 36 yards; Pierre Garcon had 3 for 31.

TEs
Ben Watson, Browns – The popular bye-week sub caught a 5-yard pass.

Lousy QB play tarnishes an otherwise golden era

2011-10-24T14:46:00.005-05:00

I’ve heard several commentators refer to this as the “golden age” of NFL quarterbacking, or some hyperbolic variant of the same theme. I don’t think they’re watching the same games I am.

To be sure, it doesn’t get much better than Drew Brees’ five-touchdown performance on Sunday night. We are obviously witnessing two of the all-time greats in Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers. Michael Vick can be spectacular, Ben Roethlisberger has some serious skins on the wall, and only a neck injury is keeping Peyton Manning from continuing to re-write the record books.

On the other end of the spectrum, though, an unusually large contingent of young, old and downright incompetent quarterbacks has managed to tarnish this so-called gilded age.

On Sunday, Charlie Whitehurst and Colt McCoy combined to put up 273 passing yards, zero touchdowns, two interceptions and nine measly points for two teams. Kyle Boller and Carson Palmer teamed up for 177 yards, six interceptions and a goose egg while making Raiders fans yearn for the glory days of the Jason Campbell era.

Philip Rivers, Curtis Painter, A.J. Feeley and four Matts (Moore, Hasselbeck, Cassel and Stafford) looked like amateurs. For all but five minutes, Tim Tebow looked worse.

Holy pick-six, Batman! This can’t be as good as it gets.

FREE AGENT PICKS AND PANS

To win a fantasy championship, it helps to start with a great draft. But filling in your roster throughout the season with the right free agents is also important. Here's a look at players worth considering, and others who would look better in someone else's lineup.

Catch ‘em while you can

Christian Ponder, QB, Vikings. The rookie played well enough to beat perhaps any other team not led by Aaron Rodgers. Though his 219-yard, two-touchdown debut was marred by two costly interceptions, Ponder showed enough swagger and accuracy to suggest that much better days lie ahead.

Michael Bush, RB, Raiders. Bush is among the best backups in the game, as he showed with his 111-total-yard effort in a blowout loss after McFadden left with a sprained foot. Though the Raiders are heading into their bye week, Bush is still a wise handcuff for McFadden’s owners.

Knowshon Moreno, RB, Broncos. Just when you thought it was safe to give up on Moreno, Willis McGahee goes out and fractures his hand. We don’t yet know how much time McGahee will miss; but Moreno is suddenly relevant again. That said, Lance Ball is also in the picture; and the biggest touchdown poacher of them all, Tebow, will limit Moreno’s upside as well.

Evan Moore, TE, Browns. Need bye-week help at the tight end position? With both Ben Watson and Mohamed Massaquoi suffering concussions in Sunday’s game, Moore could again become a frequent target. That assumes, of course, that McCoy gets his act together.

Don’t be fooled

Kregg Lumpkin, RB, Buccaneers. If his not-exactly-flashy name doesn’t excite you, Lumpkin’s play in relief of the injured Earnest Graham won’t help. With Graham lost for the season with a torn Achilles’ tendon, Tampa Bay is praying that LeGarrette Blount will be ready to return after the team’s Week 8 bye. If he’s not, the team will likely bring in outside help rather than rely on Lumpkin.

Alfonso Smith, RB, Cardinals. He took over after Beanie Wells sprained his knee in the second quarter, but managed just 17 yards, including a short touchdown plunge. We’ve seen this movie before and gave it two thumbs down. With the Ravens up next, Smith is not even a short-term option; especially with LaRod Stephens-Howling also in the mix, primarily as a receiver. Wells could miss up to two weeks.

Tim Hightower, RB, Redskins. We haven’t gotten official word yet, but all signs point to a season-ending knee injury for Hightower. You can safely drop him to make room for free-agent help.

Demaryius Thomas, WR, Broncos. I’d like to get excited about Thomas’ potential, since he was clearly Tebow’s favorite target Sunday. But Denver’s 2010 first-round pick is perpetually injured, and he hasn’t yet earned a starting job over Eric Decker and Eddie Royal. Unless Tebow continues to lock onto him, there aren’t enough (accurate) passes to go around in this offense to make Thomas a consistent contributor.

Sunday morning updates -- Week 7

2011-10-23T10:31:00.006-05:00

Greetings, Fools. Just got breakfast in bed for my birthday (a day late, but we were crazy busy yesterday), so life is good.

Let's get on to the news.

AJ Feeley will lead the Rams against Dallas, while Bradford sits with his high ankle sprain. That's bad news all the way around for the Rams, who won't score as much as the Cardinals did against the Rangers last night. Sit everyone except Steven Jackson, who probably won't be so great either.

Kyle Boller gets the start for Oakland while Carson Palmer shakes off the rust. No surprise here. Look for a lot of Darren McFadden -- and maybe even more work from Michael Bush -- today.

In case you hadn't heard, Tim Tebow gets his first start of 2011 in Miami today. Not a bad place to get his feet wet.

Jackie Battle will be the lead back for KC against the Raiders. He's a decent flex start for the desperate. I still like the Chiefs' passing attack better in this one.

Peyton Hillis is OUT for the Browns today. Montario Hardesty will be the starter for Cleveland against a solid Seahawks run defense. Hopefully you have better options, because Hardesty has looked downright mediocre so far.

It will likely be a three-headed monster in the Redskins backfield today, with Ryan Torain seeing the bulk of the carries. That said, if Hightower or Helu get the "hot hand," Torain could be watching from the sidelines.

Joseph Addai (hamstring) will probably suit up for tonight's game against the Saints, making everyone in the Colts backfield (including Carter and Brown) even worse plays than usual.

Maurice Morris will start over Jahvid Best today. The news just keeps getting worse for Best, as rumors suggest he could be lost for the season due to concussion issues.

No Andre Johnson today. Julio Jones also is inactive.

Antonio Gates will be back today. Though they are saying he will be limited with his injured foot, he's still a better tight end play than 90% of your other options.

Looks like Dave Rayner will kick for the Raiders this afternoon, if Janikowski is declared inactive as expected.

That's it for today. Inactive reports coming via Twitter (@ladd_biro) next.

Week 7 Starters and Benchwarmers

2011-10-21T11:46:00.005-05:00

Wondering whether or not to start Arian Foster and Greg Jennings, or to bench John Beck and Roy Williams? The network bozos specialize in that kind of advice. If you’re looking for help with your real starting lineup conundrums, read on.

Here are my picks to roll, and get rolled, in Week 7 of the 2011 season.

Watch ‘em roll

Matt Cassel, QB, Chiefs at Raiders. With an extra week to prepare and coming off a terrific performance against the Colts, Cassel can help those with injury and bye-week conundrums. He’ll have to offset his team’s running deficiencies, and Oakland’s secondary has surrendered a league-worst 12 passing TDs.

Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seahawks at Browns. Lynch ran well in the weeks prior to Seattle’s bye, and he now has the backfield virtually to himself. He’ll be leaned on heavily against one of the NFL’s softest run defenses.

DeMarco Murray, RB, Cowboys vs. Rams. Sure, the Cowboys are a lousy rushing team, and Tashard Choice will take some carries; but the Rams give up more rushing yards (163 per game) than any team in the league. In a week when so many fantasy studs will be idle, Murray offers decent upside as a bye-week fill-in.

Greg Little, WR, Browns vs. Seahawks. The rookie was just a slip away from the end zone last week, but he should stroll in Sunday against Seattle’s young and injury-plagued secondary. Colt McCoy will need to pass often to prevail in this matchup.

Pierre Garcon, WR, Colts at Saints. Not only has Garcon supplanted Reggie Wayne as the Colts’ leading receiver under Curtis Painter’s watch, but he’ll be facing a Saints secondary that’s just as generous with the passing TDs as Oakland. Indy will likely abandon the run early while trying to keep pace with Drew Brees & Company.

More thumbs up (excluding the no-brainers): QBs Matt Stafford, Tony Romo, Ben Roethlisberger, Jay Cutler; RBs Earnest Graham, Beanie Wells, Ryan Torain, Darren Sproles, Ryan Mathews, Mark Ingram; WRs Marques Colston, Brandon Marshall, Miles Austin, Dez Bryant, Jordy Nelson.

Roll ‘em back

Joe Flacco, QB, Ravens at Jaguars. With zero TDs and two interceptions over his last two games, you could suggest Flacco is due for a rebound. Or you could say he shouldn’t be trusted until he finds his mojo. Against Jacksonville’s decent secondary, I’m not taking any chances.

Maurice Morris, RB, Lions vs. Falcons. Jahvid Best will miss Sunday’s contest following last week’s concussion; and rumors are swirling that he could be shelved for the rest of the year, given his concussion history. Morris is the next man up, but he’s been mediocre at best this season. He’s an option against Atlanta’s solid run defense for only the most desperate owners.

Browns RBs vs. Seahawks. Peyton Hillis is in jeopardy of sitting out this weekend with a bum hamstring. Montario Hardesty will see more action in any event; but it’s hard to believe either back will find success against Seattle’s defensive front.

Brandon Lloyd, WR, Rams at Cowboys. Lloyd may be the missing piece to the Rams’ struggling passing attack, but it will take him time to get acclimated. He may not even have the benefit of playing, much less practicing, with Sam Bradford, who could miss Sunday’s game due to his high ankle sprain.

Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Raiders vs. Chiefs. I realize Carson Palmer is all the rage, but it would be fairly miraculous for him to play well Sunday after such a long layoff. Heyward-Bey is a downfield threat, but it’s been years since Palmer has thrown a good (read: accurate) long ball. Give all Oakland wideouts a rest.

More thumbs down: QBs Sam Bradford, Kevin Kolb, Matt Ryan, Mark Sanchez, Carson Palmer; RBs Jackie Battle, Shonn Greene, Willis McGahee, Delone Carter, DeAngelo Williams; WRs Jacoby Jones, Jason Hill, Sidney Rice, Malcom Floyd, Plaxico Burress.

Taking a flier

Steve Breaston, WR, Chiefs at Raiders. He had a monster game prior to the bye, and he has a good opportunity to stay on a roll against a weak secondary. Dwayne Bowe will draw the lion’s share of attention, giving Cassel plenty of reason to look Breaston’s way often.

Don’t be the bonehead who…assumes Antonio Gates (foot) won’t play on Sunday. He has looked good in limited practice time so far this week, so his arrow is finally pointing up again. He’ll be a game-time decision, most likely; but there are precious few tight ends worth starting ahead of Gates if he’s active.

Week 6 Heroes & Zeros

2011-10-18T08:42:00.005-05:00

This was a great week to start…

QBs
Aaron Rodgers, Packers – Passed for 310 yards and 3 scores, with 1 INT, and ran for 15 yards.

RBs
Ahmad Bradshaw, Giants – Ran for 104 yards and a TD hat trick, plus 2 catches for 26 more yards.
Michael Turner, Falcons – Rumbled for 139 yards and 2 TDs, and an 8-yard catch.
Rashard Mendenhall, Steelers – Collected 146 yards and a TD.
Frank Gore, 49ers – Raced for 141 yards, including a 55-yard score.
Fred Jackson, Bills – Ran for 121 yards and a long TD, plus 5 catches for 47 yards.

WRs
Marques Colston, Saints – Caught 7 passes for 118 yards and a TD.

D/STs
Jets defense – Held Miami to 6 points, scored on a 100-yard INT return, added 2 more turnovers and 4 sacks.

This was a great week to play against…

QBs
Jason Campbell, Raiders – Passed for just 52 yards and lost a fumble before breaking his collarbone and being lost for the season.
Rex Grossman, Redskins – Bad Rex returns, with 143 passing yards, 0 TDs and 4 INTs.
Eli Manning, Giants – Threw for 292 yards but no scores.
Matt Schaub, Texans – Limited to 220 yards and 1 TD.

RBs
Redskins RBs – Tim Hightower was active but didn’t touch the ball, Ryan Torain ran for just 22 yards, and Roy Helu combined for 17 total yards.
Peyton Hillis, Browns – Just 14 rushing yards before leaving with a hamstring injury.
Felix Jones, Cowboys – Combined for 14 rushing and 19 receiving yards before leaving with an injury.

WRs
Denarius Moore, Raiders – Caught a 9-yarder and lost 3 yards on his only carry.
Victor Cruz, Giants – Limited to 12 yards on 2 receptions.
Roddy White, Falcons – Just 2 catches for 21 yards.
Robert Meachem, Saints – Caught a 23-yard pass.
Santana Moss, Redskins – Held to 38 yards on 2 catches.
DeSean Jackson, Eagles – 3 catches for 46 yards won’t cut it.

TEs
Vernon Davis, 49ers – His 2 receptions totaled 8 yards.
Owen Daniels, Texans – His 2 catches amounts to 13 yards.
Jermichael Finley, Packers – Caught a 20-yard pass.
Tony Gonzalez, Falcons – Only 29 yards on 3 catches.

Coaches spark controversy, even in Fantasyland

2011-10-17T11:28:00.004-05:00

In one of my leagues, our commissioner decided to try out a new option offered by the league-management site to add a head coach to our rosters. Each team win yields seven points, with a loss registering a goose egg.

I wasn’t in favor of this tricked-up option, but a collective shrug from the rest of the guys allowed the commish to institute the change.

The first challenge presented itself in the draft, since it’s awfully hard to determine the proper draft position for a head coach. So I decided to trigger a run on the position by selecting Bill Belichick at the top of the 10th round. So far, so good.

But we almost had an unexpected controversy on our hands yesterday, and it had nothing to do with “Handshakegate” between Jim Harbaugh and Jim Schwartz. Or on Mike Shanahan’s decision to sit Tim Hightower after declaring him active and signaling that he would start.

Instead, it centered on Saints coach Sean Payton, who suffered knee and leg injuries after a freak sideline collision. The Saints went on to lose to the Bucs; but had they won, should Payton’s owner have been awarded the points, even though the coach watched the second half from the locker room?

I say no. Hey, if the league chooses to add a silly position like coaches to the mix, they should be treated like every other player. Those who lost Jason Campbell in the second quarter Sunday weren’t allowed to add Kyle Boller’s stats to his total. Why should a coach be any different?

Now, on to the next challenges. Who am I going to pick up this week while Belichick is on his bye? And who do I drop to make room for his replacement?

Sheesh…

FREE AGENT PICKS AND PANS

To win a fantasy championship, it helps to start with a great draft. But filling in your roster throughout the season with the right free agents is also important. Here's a look at players worth considering, and others who would look better in someone else's lineup.

Catch ‘em while you can

DeMarco Murray, RB, Cowboys. He was recommended in this space weeks ago, after Felix Jones suffered his shoulder injury. Now that Jones has added a high ankle sprain to his list of woes, Murray again merits a pickup. Especially if Tashard Choice is traded before Tuesday’s deadline, which would be odd now that Jones is on the shelf again.

Earnest Graham, RB, Buccaneers. We found out later than normal last week that LeGarrette Blount would miss time with a knee injury, so alert owners have already snapped up the versatile Graham. But he’s still available in roughly a third of leagues, and he proved Sunday that he can shoulder a heavy workload. Blount could be out until Week 9.

Fred Davis, TE, Redskins. Davis’ value has been hindered both by the presence of Chris Cooley and mediocrity at the quarterback position. Well, eliminating one of two ain’t bad. Cooley fractured his hand and finger and will be out indefinitely. New starter John Beck will likely find it easier to connect with Davis than his wideouts.

Don’t be fooled

Montario Hardesty, RB, Browns. Hardesty racked up a combined 53 yards after Peyton Hillis suffered a hamstring injury. But he dropped a few passes and was generally unimpressive against the Raiders’ below-average run defenders. Hillis’ injury does not appear too serious (he returned to the field briefly in the fourth quarter), and the tough Seahawks and 49ers rush defenses are on tap next for the Browns.

Donald Brown, RB, Colts. Those of us who invested in Brown last season after Joseph Addai injured his neck know better than to trust him. Not only did he lose his backup role to rookie Delone Carter in the preseason, but Indy’s running game is even worse this year with Peyton Manning watching from the sidelines. Let someone else waste their roster space on the first-round bust.

Devin Hester, WR, Bears. Hester is arguably the greatest return man in NFL history. But as a receiver, he’s as unreliable as they get. His 16 career punt and kickoff return scores in the regular season exceed his 13 career receiving touchdowns. To make matters worse, he suffered a chest injury late in Sunday night’s game.

Raiders receivers. Now that Campbell has been lost for the season with a broken collarbone, all bets are off for the Oakland passing attack. Boller might just be the worst backup quarterback in the league, and his presence could have a debilitating effect on the entire team. You can drop or trade your receivers, or pray that Oakland signs free agent David Garrard. Don’t count on the team convincing Cincinnati to trade Carson Palmer.

Sunday morning updates -- Week 6

2011-10-16T10:38:00.004-05:00

Happy Sunday, Fools. It's a great day for fantasy football (which is true of any day, really; right?). Let's get to it...

I know I shouldn't have to say it, but I will anyway: Sit your Cardinals, Broncos, Chiefs, Chargers, Seahawks and Titans. It's their bye.

We'd like to have more clarity on Daniel Thomas, who is still listed as questionable for Monday night's contest. But it is what it is. My read on the situation is that he will be in the starting lineup, but there's always a risk that his hamstring will flare up during the game. He has a good matchup against the Jets' soft run defense, though. Consider him a decent flex play, with some risk.

Joseph Addai didn't travel with the Colts to Cincinnati. Looks like Delone Carter will be the starter, with Donald Brown filling in between the 20s. Carter is just a so-so flex start today, given the sorry state of Indy's running game.

Cleveland head coach Pat Shurmur said Peyton Hillis will get a heavier workload this week against the Raiders. That should be music to every Hillis owner's ears.

Tim Hightower (shoulder) will be active today, and some are suggesting he may even start. Wouldn't that be classic Shanahan? Just as we're all led to believe that Torain is the man, he pulls his Shanahanigans again. Sorry folks...you're on your own with this one.

Inactives coming up next. Follow me on Twitter (@ladd_biro).

Have a great weekend!

Week 6 early updates

2011-10-15T16:58:00.005-05:00

Here are a few snippets from my Sporting News column posted yesterday.

Ben Roethlisberger tossed five touchdowns on an injured foot last week. Now he says he feels "a lot better." I guess that means we should start him against the Jags.

Tony Romo is not yet completely healed from his rib injury, so he will wear a vest and take another shot from Dr. Feelgood before Sunday's game. But I wouldn't hesitate to rely on him against the Patriots' vulnerable secondary. Especially since he'll have both Miles Austin and Dez Bryant back on the field.

Rashard Mendenhall and his hamstring are no longer listed on the team's injury report. Though you still have to wonder if he is sufficiently healed, he is expected to reclaim his starting job this weekend. Get him back in your lineup.

Dolphins rookie Daniel Thomas fully expects to return to the backfield this weekend, but the Monday night start presents some risk. That said, he's worth a shot against a struggling Jets run defense that has given up a league-worst eight rushing TDs.

Figure at least one more week of rehab before Andre Johnson (hamstring) returns to the field.

Greg Jennings tweaked his groin in practice this week, but only people I am competing against this weekend should bench him.

Rookie sensation Julio Jones won't be suiting up on Sunday. Harry Douglas will take his starting spot, but look elsewhere if you need a fill-in.

Derrick Mason is now a Texan. Sadly, this has no relevance for fantasy players.

The Denver Post is reporting that Brandon Lloyd could also be moved before Tuesday's trade deadline, and that Carolina and Tennessee are the most likely candidates. As a Lloyd owner in two leagues, either destination would suit me just fine. But I'll go ahead and cast my vote for New England, if it's all the same to you. It's time to ocho-seis Chad Ochocinco anyway.

Week 6 Starters and Benchwarmers

2011-10-14T12:14:00.005-05:00

Wondering whether or not to start Aaron Rodgers and Ray Rice, or to bench Donovan McNabb and Donald Driver? The network bozos specialize in that kind of advice. If you’re looking for help with your real starting lineup conundrums, read on.

Here are my picks to roll, and get rolled, in Week 6 of the 2011 season.

Watch ‘em roll

Mark Sanchez, QB, Jets vs. Dolphins. Sanchez has taken a lot of heat for the Jets’ slow start, but he has also thrown a pair of touchdowns in four of five games this season. On Monday night, the Dolphins’ sieve-like secondary and non-existent pass rush should let Sanchez pick his targets with ease. 300-plus yards and three TDs are well within reach.

Felix Jones, RB, Cowboys at Patriots. While I don’t expect him to surpass 100 rushing yards, Jones is a big part of the Cowboys’ passing game as well. The combination effect will make him a quality start against a Patriots defense that is vulnerable to dual-threat backs.

Ryan Torain, RB, Redskins vs. Eagles. You can never be sure with Mike Shanahan, but Torain appears to be the feature back du jour in Washington. What we do know is that Philly is giving up 140 yards per game on the ground (third worst in the NFL), and Tim Hightower is still limited by a shoulder injury. Torain should perform admirably Sunday.

Earnest Graham, RB, Buccaneers vs. Saints. Though it’s not official yet, reports out of Tampa suggest LeGarrette Blount has a fairly significant knee injury that could keep him sidelined through the Bucs’ Week 8 bye, and possibly beyond. Graham is the next man up, and he has a track record of performing well when given the opportunity. He’s a great flex starter this week against a suspect Saints run defense.

Victor Cruz, WR, Giants vs. Bills. Not convinced about Cruz yet? He’s caught 17 passes for 369 yards and 3 TDs over the last three weeks. Sure, some have been a bit fluky; but the second-year sensation has overtaken Mario Manningham as the Giants’ No. 2 wideout. He should keep up the good work against Buffalo’s shaky secondary.

More thumbs up (excluding the no-brainers): QBs Eli Manning, Tony Romo, Cam Newton; RBs Peyton Hillis, Ahmad Bradshaw, Cedric Benson, James Starks, Darren Sproles; WRs Stevie Johnson, A.J. Green, Pierre Garcon, Jordy Nelson, Miles Austin, Dez Bryant, Santonio Holmes, Santana Moss.

Roll ‘em back

Matt Schaub, QB, Texans at Ravens. Schaub was limited to 138 yards and a single TD against the stout Pittsburgh pass defense two weeks ago, when Andre Johnson was hurt. He should have another rough go against a Ravens secondary that has surrendered just three passing scores to date. Making matters worse, Schaub is dealing with a sore shoulder.

Jahvid Best, RB, Lions vs. 49ers. It’s tough to sit someone with the hot hand; but in the two games prior to last weekend’s explosion, Best was just okay. Consider giving him a rest if you have other viable options Sunday, as he’ll be facing a defense that has yet to cough up a rushing score all year.

Delone Carter, RB, Colts at Bengals. Though the rookie is expected to get his chance to shine in Joseph Addai’s (hamstring) absence, it won’t be smooth sailing. He’ll have to share carries with Donald Brown, and Cincinnati’s run defense is pretty tough.

Brandon Marshall, WR, Dolphins at Jets. With six teams on bye, you may have little choice but to take your chances with Marshall. But you will probably be disappointed with his performance on Revis Island. And do you really want to rely on a guy whose stated goal is to do something so desperate that he gets ejected in the second quarter?

Mike Williams, WR, Buccaneers vs. Saints. Is he in the midst of a dreaded sophomore slump? Or is his struggling quarterback to blame? Either way, at this point you’d be starting Williams on reputation alone. There’s no evidence to suggest the Josh Freeman-Williams connection will get back in sync this weekend.

More thumbs down: QBs Jay Cutler, Alex Smith, Rex Grossman, Sam Bradford, Josh Freeman, Jason Campbell; RBs Jonathan Stewart, Ryan Grant, Brandon Jacobs, Reggie Bush, Isaac Redman, Tim Hightower, BenJarvus Green-Ellis; WRs Denarius Moore, Mario Manningham, Austin Collie, Jacoby Jones, all 49ers and Jaguars wideouts.

Taking a flier

Greg Little, WR, Browns at Raiders. Coming out of their bye week, the Browns have declared their rookie wideout a starter, which is surprising only in that it took this long. Little is, by far, the most physically gifted receiver on the team. He should be Colt McCoy’s favorite target, especially against a Raiders pass defense that has surrendered a league-high 10 passing scores. Little could come up big if you have bye-week issues.

Don’t be the bonehead who…waits until Tuesday to address your Week 7 lineup. This will be the Mother of All Bye Weeks, with the Patriots, Eagles, Bills, Giants, 49ers and Bengals all taking breathers. Planning ahead now by making a strategic free-agent pickup or two could save you from hitting the waiver wire in a panic later.

Week 5 Heroes & Zeros

2011-10-11T09:07:00.003-05:00

This was a great week to start…

QBs
Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers – Sore foot and all, Big Ben cranked out 228 passing yards and a record-tying 5 TDs.
Matt Cassel, Chiefs – Passed for 257 yards and 4 TDs.
Eli Manning, Giants – Responsible for 4 turnovers, but passed for 420 yards and 3 TDs too.
Michael Vick, Eagles – His 4 INTs stung, but 315 yards passing with 2 TDs and 90 yards on the ground made up for the miscues.

RBs
Adrian Peterson, Vikings – The beast trounced the Cards with 122 yards and 3 TDs, all in the first quarter.
BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Patriots – Carried 27 times for 136 yards and 2 TDs, and caught a 13-yard pass.
Fred Jackson, Bills – He rumbled for 111 yards and a TD and led his team in receiving with 6 passes for 85 yards.
Jahvid Best, Lions – Ran for 163 yards, including an electrifying 88-yard TD scamper.

WRs
Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs – Reeled in 7 catches for 128 yards and 2 TDs, one of the highlight-reel variety.
Pierre Garcon, Colts – Continued to bond with Curtis Painter, hauling in 5 passes for 125 yards and both of his TD throws.
Steve Breaston, Chiefs – Also nabbed 2 TDs with his 4 catches for 50 yards.
Hines Ward, Steelers – Showed he’s not ready for retirement just yet, with 7 catches for 54 yards and two trips to the end zone.
Victor Cruz, Giants – Caught 8 passes for 161 yards; none more exciting than his juggling 68-yard TD reception.
James Jones, Packers – Pulled down 5 passes for 140 yards and a score.
Calvin Johnson, Lions – He got 130 yards and a TD with his 5 receptions.

TEs
Vernon Davis, 49ers – Posted 2 TDs along with his 3-catch, 39-yard day.

Ks
Nick Novak, Chargers – Stayed perfect on the season with 5 field goals (24, 28, 32, 35 and 51 yards) and 2 extra points.

D/STs
49ers defense – Produced 3 turnovers, 3 sacks and a TD while holding the Bucs to 3 points.

This was a great week to play against…

QBs
Kyle Orton, Broncos – May have squandered his last opportunity, passing for 34 yards and an INT before giving way to Tim Tebow.
Kevin Kolb, Cardinals – Threw for 232 yards without a score, plus 3 turnovers.
Matt Hasselbeck, Titans – Passed for a pedestrian 262 yards and 1 TD, plus an INT.
Josh Freeman, Buccaneers – Couldn’t get it done on the left coast, with just 187 yards passing, 2 INTs and no TDs.
Matt Ryan, Falcons – Threw 2 INTs against just 167 yards and 1 TD.

RBs
Joseph Addai, Colts – Managed just 25 combined yards before exiting with a hamstring injury.
Ryan Grant, Packers – Returned to the lineup, but only combined for 24 yards.
Jonathan Stewart, Panthers – Ran for 20 yards and caught a 13-yard pass.
Cedric Benson, Bengals – Notched a paltry 53 yards against the Jags.
Darren McFadden, Raiders – Just 68 combined yards.

WRs
Eric Decker, Broncos – Somehow lost 4 yards on 2 receptions.
Nate Burleson, Lions – Just a 6-yard catch to show for starting opposite Megatron.
Jacoby Jones, Texans – With Andre Johnson out, reeled in a whopping 9-yard pass.
Johnny Knox, Bears – Just 17 yards on 2 catches.
Jordy Nelson, Packers – It took him 3 catches to amass 17 yards.
Brandon Lloyd, Broncos – Made one 20-yard catch.
Percy Harvin, Vikings – Ran for 12 yards and caught an 11-yard pass.
Julio Jones, Falcons – Did a little better than Harvin with 17 rushing and 16 receiving yards.
Mike Williams, Buccaneers – Only 28 yards on 4 catches, and lost a fumble.
Stevie Johnson, Bills – His four catches went for 29 yards.
Lance Moore, Saints – Just 30 yards on 3 catches.
Vincent Jackson, Chargers – Left Denver with 3 catches and 34 yards.
Michael Crabtree, 49ers – Managed but 36 yards on 2 balls.
Sidney Rice, Seahawks – Posted 38 yards on 4 receptions.

TEs
Marcedes Lewis, Jaguars – His only catch went for 6 yards.

Unheralded receivers steal the spotlight, and the points

2011-10-10T14:05:00.005-05:00

Fantasy scores were down virtually across-the-board this weekend, thanks in part to the onset of the dreaded bye weeks. But a quick glance at some of Sunday’s top performers also sheds light on the statistical downturn.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis out-scored his quarterback. Darren McFadden played second fiddle to Darrius Heyward-Bey. Brandon Lloyd racked up a measly 20 receiving yards which, remarkably, was 24 more than his counterpart, Eric Decker.

Matt Cassel connected on four touchdown passes, for crying out loud.

Meanwhile, very few of us own such wideouts as Doug Baldwin, Victor Cruz, James Jones, Steve Breaston or Jason Hill; so starting them was out of the question. In fact, that would have made about as much sense as Hank Williams, Jr., debating metaphysics with Stephen Hawking. Or a 12-year-old, for that matter.

Week 5 served as a reminder that every lineup position can make a difference in a tight contest. I certainly wouldn’t have bet that DeAngelo Williams would provide the winning margin in one of my leagues, and the margin of defeat in another. Countless players were burned when Rashard Mendenhall was declared active, then stood on the sidelines the entire game.

Consider this just the latest example of the often random nature of the fantasy gods. They’ll smile on you one week, then kick you in the hammy the next.

FREE AGENT PICKS AND PANS

To win a fantasy championship, it helps to start with a great draft. But filling in your roster throughout the season with the right free agents is also important. Here's a look at players worth considering, and others who would look better in someone else's lineup.

Catch ‘em while you can

Tim Tebow, QB, Broncos. Forget what you saw of his mediocre passing on Sunday and recall his impressive play of late 2010. Heading into the Broncos’ bye week, Tebow could very well emerge as the team’s starter over the uninspiring Kyle Orton. If nothing else, you know the young gun will score as a rusher; something he’s done in every game in which he’s seen meaningful action.

Jackie Battle, RB, Chiefs. Consider this the most unenthusiastic recommendation possible. Battle emerged Sunday from the morass that is the Kansas City backfield with 140 combined yards. But consider that the fifth-year player nearly doubled his career production in the process. Any starting tailback merits a fantasy roster spot, but Battle is an unlikely hero. And he’s heading into a bye.

Delone Carter, RB, Colts. We expected the rookie to compete for a starting role by midseason, and he could get the nod earlier now that Joseph Addai has suffered a hamstring injury. If Addai misses multiple weeks, Carter will be a decent flex play. But he’ll still split carries with Donald Brown, who is viewed as the better option on passing downs.

David Nelson, WR, Bills. He and Donald Jones have essentially split the No. 2-wideout duties in Buffalo since Roscoe Parrish was lost for the season. Now that Jones has been sidelined indefinitely with an ankle injury, Nelson has a chance to distinguish himself opposite Stevie Johnson. But Ryan Fitzpatrick will need to get his mojo back first.

Jermaine Gresham, TE, Bengals. With touchdowns in three of the first five games, Gresham won’t be flying under the radar much longer. Still available in the majority of leagues, the second-year player is developing a special rapport with Andy Dalton. Only A.J. Green has been targeted more.

Don’t be fooled

Alex Smith, QB, 49ers. Every season, Smith has a stretch of games that raises the eyebrows of fantasy owners. Some even take the step of adding him to their rosters, either out of desperation or a hunch that he might finally be on the verge of fulfilling his lofty expectations. And then, he turns into Alex Smith again. In an era when 300-yard passing games have become the norm, Smith has posted two since the 49ers made him the top draft pick of 2005. Sunday was just the sixth three-touchdown game of his career.

Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Raiders. It was fitting that Heyward-Bey had one of his finest performances in the game following Al Davis’ death. After all, Davis surprised everyone by using the seventh overall pick in 2009 on the speedy wideout with the butter-fingered reputation. Don’t let nostalgia fool you into investing in the underachiever.

Devery Henderson, WR, Saints. Now that Marques Colston and Lance Moore are healthy, the consistently unreliable Henderson has disappeared on cue. With one 11-yard reception (on two targets) over the past two weeks, it’s time to give him the heave-ho.

Sunday morning updates -- Week 5

2011-10-09T10:25:00.006-05:00

Good morning, Fools. It's raining in Dallas! Great for our area, bummer for the Rangers. But we'll take it any way we can get it.

Now, on to the news...

First, as you'd better know by now, six teams are off this week. Make certain you're benching your Ravens, Browns, Cowboys, Dolphins, Rams and Redskins.

Big Ben will play today on his injured foot. He's a somewhat risky start against the Titans. Mendenhall will be a game-time decision. If he sits, Redman will be the man.

Ryan Grant will be back in the starting lineup after sitting out a week with a bruised lung. He should be full-go, so he's a better option than James Starks if you have to choose.

Beanie Wells is still listed as questionable, but is fully expected to play. We'll know soon enough, as the Cards play in the early round. Which is nice.

Don't expect Brandon Jacobs to be available today. Big game for Bradshaw coming.

Danny Woodhead will probably be inactive, leading to more touches for Stevan Ridley.

It will be interesting to see if Jacoby Jones (who will play despite his knee) and/or Kevin Walter step up in Andre Johnson's absence today. They rarely have before, and guessing which one has a better performance in any given week is virtually impossible.

Seattle's Mike Williams will sit this one out with a concussion.

Vincent Jackson will be a game-time decision with his bum hammy, but is expected to play according to the Chargers beat writers. They think he'll get at least as much action as he got last week, which was enough to produce very nicely. He'll face Champ Bailey, who could be a little rusty after sitting out since Week 1.

No Antonio Gates again today.

Aaron Hernandez will be a last-minute decision. Even if he starts, I'd be wary. I'd expect him to be worked back in slowly.

90% chance of thunderstorms in Jacksonville today. With two rookie QBs facing off (Dalton, Gabbert), the passing games could be very sloppy in this one.

That's it for now. Inactive reports coming out shortly. Make sure you're following along (@ladd_biro). Good luck, Fools!

Week 5 Starters & Benchwarmers

2011-10-07T11:19:00.005-05:00

Wondering whether or not to start Matt Forte and Calvin Johnson, or to bench Blaine Gabbert and Devin Aromashodu? The network bozos specialize in that kind of advice. If you’re looking for help with your real starting lineup conundrums, read on.

Here are my picks to roll, and get rolled, in Week 5 of the 2011 season.

Watch ‘em roll

Josh Freeman, QB, Buccaneers at 49ers. Freeman has been a big disappointment this season, underscored by his dismal touchdown-to-interception ratio. But he showed some spunk last week, and he heads west to play a squad that defends against the run much better than the pass. Trust Freeman to deliver in this one.

Isaac Redman, RB, Steelers vs. Titans. There’s a very good chance both Rashard Mendenhall (hamstring) and Mewelde Moore (ankle - out) will miss this game, leaving the Steelers’ backfield in Redman’s capable hands. Though Tennessee is stout against the run, Redman should get plenty of opportunities with a gimpy Ben Roethlisberger (foot) directing the offense.

Mark Ingram, RB, Saints at Panthers. In a week when six teams are on bye, your options are probably limited. Though the rookie is still sharing time with Pierre Thomas and Darren Sproles, Ingram is a good flex play this week against the second-worst rush defense in the league. He should get at least one goal-line plunge among his 15-20 touches.

Julio Jones, WR, Falcons vs. Packers. With 17 receptions for 242 yards over the past two weeks, the highly touted rookie has been out-performing fellow wideout Roddy White. All Jones is missing is his first TD, which should come this week against the NFL’s 31st-ranked pass defense.

Plaxico Burress, WR, Jets at Patriots. Burress has alternated good and bad outings, but actually out-ranks teammate Santonio Holmes in fantasy production thus far. Both are great starts this week against a New England secondary that has been consistently torched.

More thumbs up (excluding the no-brainers): QBs Eli Manning, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Mark Sanchez, Kevin Kolb, Cam Newton; RBs Fred Jackson, Joseph Addai, Cedric Benson, Ryan Mathews, Jonathan Stewart; WRs Stevie Johnson, Eric Decker, Mike Williams (TB), Jordy Nelson, Percy Harvin, A.J. Green.

Roll ‘em back

Matt Hasselbeck, QB, Titans at Steelers. As he marches toward his Comeback Player of the Year award, Hasselbeck will encounter the occasional set-back. Heading into Pittsburgh to face-off with the league’s stingiest pass defense, this looks like one of those occasions. The Titans will surely lean on Chris Johnson to gash a suddenly vulnerable Steeler run defense.

James Starks, RB, Packers at Falcons. With the rejuvenated Ryan Grant fully healed from his bruised kidney, and Aaron Rodgers poaching scoring runs, there may not be enough carries for Starks to make a difference this week.

Shonn Greene, RB, Jets at Patriots. Though Rex Ryan says he’s committed to running more, his tailbacks don’t seem to be cooperating. While the Patriots aren’t exactly impenetrable, Greene is hard to trust in a game that could easily turn into a shoot-out early.

Sidney Rice, WR, Seahawks at Giants. Rice has performed admirably since returning in Week 3 from his shoulder injury. But he’ll face his stiffest test yet against a Giants secondary that has been playing very well of late. Traveling cross-country won’t help the Seahawks’ cause.

Mario Manningham, WR, Giants vs. Seahawks. Though he is fully recovered from his concussion, he may have lost his starting job to Victor Cruz due to poor route running. If Eli Manning doesn’t trust him, you shouldn’t either.

More thumbs down: QBs Ben Roethlisberger, Kyle Orton, Tarvaris Jackson; RBs Knowshon Moreno, BenJarvus Green-Ellis, DeAngelo Williams; WRs Kevin Walter, Deion Branch, Denarius Moore, Chad Ochocinco, Devery Henderson.

Taking a flier

Dexter McCluster, RB/WR, Chiefs at Colts. The Chiefs are starting to get their moxie back on offense; and while McCluster hasn’t produced much to date, he’s an important part of both the running and receiving games. Against a banged-up Indy defense, the dual-threat back can be a decent flex pinch-hitter for those with bye/injury problems.

Don’t be the bonehead who…continues to carry dead weight on your roster. Incredibly, Jamaal Charles is still owned in more than half of all ESPN leagues. Kenny Britt resides on slightly fewer benches. Chad Henne and Danny Amendola are the latest players headed to injured reserve. Don’t be lazy…make room for someone who actually plays.

Week 4 Heroes & Zeros

2011-10-03T20:20:00.014-05:00

This was a great week to start...

QBs
Aaron Rodgers, Packers -- Had an epic game with 408 passing yards and 4 TDs (plus an INT), with 2 more TDs and 36 yards rushing.
Cam Newton, Panthers -- Ran for 35 yards and 2 TDs when not passing for 374 yards and another score, plus an INT.
Mike Vick, Eagles -- Passed for 416 yards and 2 TDs and added 75 yards on the ground.

RBs
Beanie Wells, Cardinals -- Had a career day with 138 rushing yards and 3 TDs.
Matt Forte, Bears -- Rumbled for 205 yards and a TD, plus 4 catches for 23 yards.
Arian Foster, Texans -- Finally got rolling with 155 yards and a TD run, plus 3 receptions for 11 yards.
Michael Turner, Falcons -- Ran for 70 yards and a pair of TDs.

WRs
Pierre Garcon, Colts -- Made the most of his 2 receptions, going for 146 yards and a pair of TDs.
Wes Welker, Patriots -- Caught 9 passes for 158 yards and 1 TD.
Calvin Johnson, Lions -- It took a while, but Megatron finally got going on an 8-catch, 96-yard day with, naturally, 2 TDs.
Hakeem Nicks, Giants -- Hauled in 10 passes for 162 yards and a score.
Eric Decker, Broncos -- Scored twice on his 5 receptions, plus 56 yards.

TEs
Jimmy Graham, Saints -- Caught 10 balls for 132 yards and a TD.

D/STs
Ravens -- Scored on 2 fumble returns and an INT return, plus 2 sacks, while holding the Jets offense to 3 pts.
Jets -- Tried to keep pace with Baltimore with an INT return TD and kickoff return score, plus 2 sacks.

This was a great week to play against...

QBs
Mark Sanchez, Jets -- Passed for just 119 yards without a score, but with 4 turnovers.
Joe Flacco, Ravens -- Threw for only 163 yards with 2 turnovers and no TDs.
Jay Cutler, Bears -- Let Forte do all the heavy lifting, with just 102 passing yards and an INT, without a scoring strike.
Ryan Fitzpatrick, Bills -- Only 199 passing yards against the Bengals.
Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers -- Passed for just 206 yards and 1 INT without a TD.
Matt Schaub, Texans -- Settled for 138 passing yards and 1 TD while Foster carried the load.

RBs
Shonn Greene, Jets -- Held to 23 yards rushing.
Tim Hightower, Redskins -- Totaled 28 yards while yielding the lead role to Ryan Torain.

WRs
Torrey Smith, Ravens -- Last week's rookie sensation was a 1-yard dud this week.
Mike Sims-Walker, Rams -- Hauled in a 6-yard reception.
Marques Colston, Saints -- Caught an 8-yard pass in his first action since Week 1.
Mario Manningham, Giants -- Just a 10-yard catch on the day.
Anquan Boldin, Ravens -- Got 28 yards on his only reception.
Malcom Floyd, Chargers -- His 2 receptions totaled just 26 yards.
Jacoby Ford, Raiders -- No catches and just a 30-yard run.
Andre Johnson, Texans -- Just 36 yards on 4 catches before going down with a hamstring injury.

TEs
Rob Gronkowski, Patriots -- Caught a single 15-yard pass.
Jermichael Finley, Packers -- Just 3 catches for 28 yards.

Looking for a few good byes

2011-10-03T14:08:00.004-05:00

It seems we’ve just gotten our starting lineups settled, and already we have to start juggling them with the onset of the 2011 bye-week schedule.

From this weekend through Week 8, six teams will take a breather. In Weeks 9 and 11, four teams will be off. For some reason, the byes get a bye in Week 10.

Last season, the open dates started and ended a week earlier; but only two weekends featured as many as six resting teams. This year’s schedule, with four consecutive weeks of six-team byes, could raise roster shuffling to an art form.

We’ll get our feet wet this weekend with a modest slate of inactives from the Ravens, Browns, Cowboys, Dolphins, Rams and Redskins. Frankly, Ray Rice’s owners may be the only ones significantly inconvenienced in Week 5.

The schedule gets a little tougher in Week 6, before packing a wallop in Week 7, when the Patriots, Eagles, Bills, Giants, 49ers and Bengals enjoy a respite.

Of course, the bye-week scratches only worsen the toll that injuries have already taken on fantasy rosters. If we’re not careful, some of us may be starting Blaine Gabbert and a pack of gypsies later this month.

The moral of this story? Don’t wait until the weekend to evaluate your starting options. Moreover, it’s not too early to plan ahead for a week when your lineup will be more significantly taxed. Waiting until the last minute will only narrow your options.

FREE AGENT PICKS AND PANS

To win a fantasy championship, it helps to start with a great draft. But filling in your roster throughout the season with the right free agents is also important. Here's a look at players worth considering, and others who would look better in someone else's lineup.

Catch ‘em while you can

Matt Hassebeck, QB, Titans. I was reluctant to recommend him after Kenny Britt bit the dust; but Hasselbeck barely missed a beat against a Cleveland secondary that has been surprisingly stout. Still available in the vast majority of leagues – despite being the eighth-ranked fantasy QB in the land – Hasselbeck can be the answer to your bye-week and injury conundrums.

Ryan Torain, RB, Redskins. True to form, head coach Mike Shanahan has started shaking up his running back corps. While none of us should be shocked that Tim Hightower’s role as the Redskins’ lead back was short-lived, Ryan Torain seemed the odd man out while rookie Roy Helu was being eased into the rotation. Yet after his 135-yard, one-touchdown effort Sunday, the oft-injured Torain heads into his bye week as the team’s featured rusher. For now, anyway.

Stevan Ridley, RB, Patriots. When in doubt, grab a Patriot. The rookie third-rounder out of LSU has been steadily worked into the backfield rotation, mostly at the expense of the diminutive Danny Woodhead. On Sunday, Ridley racked up 97 yards, including a 33-yard scoring scamper. He’s worth a bench spot for now, in the event he emerges as the team’s featured back. BenJarvus Green-Ellis’ role is hardly set in stone.

Isaac Redman, RB, Steelers. If Rashard Mendenhall misses time with his hamstring injury, Redman will share carries with fellow backup Mewelde Moore. Both have played sparingly this season, but Redman is the preferred handcuff as he is the more likely candidate for goal-line carries. With Ben Roethlisberger (foot) also in jeopardy of sitting out a game or two, healthy runners will be even more integral to Pittsburgh’s success.

Don’t be fooled

Laurent Robinson, WR, Cowboys. Since he entered the league in 2007, Robinson has failed to live up to expectations; which is why he’s no longer catching passes in Atlanta or St. Louis. Now, just as he could be on the verge of shedding his underachiever label, Dallas heads into its bye week. When they return, Miles Austin should be back on the field, and Robinson will once again be an afterthought.

Kevin Walter and Jacoby Jones, WRs, Texans. You’d think one or both of these guys would step up if Andre Johnson misses time with his hamstring injury. Yet neither caught a pass on Sunday, and both have been remarkably inconsistent and unreliable throughout their careers. Arian Foster and TE Owen Daniels will have to pick up the slack.

Sunday morning updates -- Week 4

2011-10-02T10:31:00.004-05:00

Good morning, Fools! It's another beautiful morning (in Dallas anyway). Let's get to the news you can use for fantasy dominance.

Mike Vick will start as usual today. It sure would be nice if he could finish the game too. We'll see...

The situation in Indy just gets worse, with Curtis Painter getting the start at QB Monday night. It's hard to feel good about anybody in that air attack, including Reggie Wayne.

Daniel Thomas did not fly with the team to San Diego and is OUT today due to the re-aggravation of his hamstring. Reggie Bush makes for a decent flex start now, with Lex Hilliard and maybe even newly acquired Steve Slaton getting in on occasion.

Ryan Grant is out with his bruised kidney, opening the door to James Starks to prove he deserves the lead role in the Packers' backfield.

Arian Foster is expected to reclaim his workhorse duties today against the Steelers. Start him and hope he doesn't pull up lame again.

Looks like Beanie Wells will play today, but don't expect a full complement of carries. If you have another decent option at RB, sit Beanie and his bum hammy.

As expected, Tim Hightower's time as the primary tailback in Washington is quickly running out. He was almost benched last week, and Roy Helu has looked better. Now we're learning that Ryan Torain (remember him?) will start getting carries. True to form, Mike Shanahan is making a mess out of his backfield, for fantasy purposes anyway.

Frank Gore will be active today, but Kendall Hunter is starting. I don't like either guy today, frankly. The Niners aren't running well even when Gore is healthy.

Vincent Jackson (abdomen) should play today, but Antonio Gates (foot) probably won't. Don't hesitate to start V-Jax against Miami's putrid pass defense.

Mario Manningham is expected to return to the starting lineup from his concussion, which means Victor Cruz is of dubious value. Hakeem Nicks will play, and is a must-start.

Last week's other breakout WR, Torrey Smith, will get another chance with Lee Evans sitting out.

Looks like Jeremy Maclin (hamstring) will also be suiting up, which is a much different story than we were hearing earlier in the week. You have to start him, given how well he's performed lately.

Dez will play today. I don't like his chances, as you know. Miles Austin is out. Laurent Robinson will start in his place, which tells you all you need to know about Kevin Ogletree.

Kellen Winslow should play Monday night. It's about time for him to have a decent game, no? This week could be the ticket.

OK, it's time for the inactive reports. Make sure you're following along on Twitter (@ladd_biro).

Week 4 Starters & Benchwarmers

2011-09-30T14:26:00.007-05:00

Wondering whether or not to start Aaron Rodgers and Wes Welker, or to bench Curtis Painter and Chaz Schilens? The network bozos specialize in that kind of advice. If you’re looking for help with your real starting lineup conundrums, read on.

Here are my picks to roll, and get rolled, in Week 4 of the 2011 season.

Watch ‘em roll

Jay Cutler, QB, Bears vs. Panthers. Cutler may not face a softer secondary all season than the Panthers. Throw out Blaine Gabbert’s performance in last week’s monsoon, and Carolina’s pass defense has been a wreck. This should be one of Cutler’s occasional “up” weeks.

LeGarrette Blount, RB, Buccaneers vs. Colts. Blount has returned to his workhorse role (24 carries in Week 3), and he should get plenty of cracks at the end zone in this matchup. Indy’s run defense isn’t as good as they appeared against Pittsburgh last week.

Cedric Benson, RB, Bengals vs. Bills. In a bit of a surprise, Benson now appears on track to start in Week 4, since the NFL has not ruled on his suspension appeal. The Bills can be run on, and Benson will be leaned on heavily. If his appeal is denied, Bernard Scott is a quality proxy.

Denarius Moore, WR, Raiders vs. Patriots. New England’s pass defense is downright sieve-like this season, having coughed up 1,163 passing yards and 7 TDs in just three games. That’s good news for Jason Campbell (who is hard to trust) and Moore, who has scored in consecutive outings. The rookie could pay big dividends this week.

Jordy Nelson, WR, Packers vs. Broncos. He has scored in two of three games thus far, while emerging as the undisputed No. 2 wideout in Aaron Rodgers’ arsenal. Denver can’t match up with Green Bay’s aerial fire power, while the Packers’ rushing game is in flux at present. All of which combines to make Nelson a terrific start.

More thumbs up (excluding the no-brainers): QBs Eli Manning, Matt Stafford, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Matt Ryan; RBs Fred Jackson, Ahmad Bradshaw, Matt Forte, Tim Hightower, Joseph Addai, Darren Sproles, James Starks, Ryan Mathews; WRs Dwayne Bowe, Nate Washington, Mike Williams (Bucs) Stevie Johnson, Johnny Knox, Lance Moore, Brandon Lloyd, Santana Moss, Percy Harvin.

Roll ‘em back

Joe Flacco, QB, Ravens vs. Jets. Flacco has alternated up and down performances, and this week’s matchup looks like another downer. New York has given up just two passing scores to date, with seven interceptions to their credit. Sunday night’s contest should be a defensive slugfest.

Jahvid Best, RB, Lions at Cowboys. He’s nursing a bruised thigh and heading into a matchup with one of the NFL’s stingiest run defenses. Best should contribute as a receiver, but probably not enough to justify starting him; unless your options are very limited.

Willis McGahee, RB, Broncos at Packers. He has benefited from Knowshon Moreno’s absence the last two weeks, but he’ll likely have to share the load this weekend against the league’s top rush defense. No, thank you.

Marques Colston, WR, Saints at Jaguars. The Saints have a history of easing their injured receivers back into the rotation slowly, as we saw most recently with Lance Moore in Week 2. Colston is unlikely to get a full complement of snaps in his first action since injuring his collarbone in the opener. Give him a week to get back in the groove.

Dez Bryant, WR, Cowboys vs. Lions. He is still struggling with his bruised thigh, and his quarterback is clearly far from 100 percent. Meanwhile, Detroit’s pass defense has been stellar to date. I don’t like Bryant’s chances this week.

More thumbs down: QBs Mark Sanchez, Chad Henne, Sam Bradford, Tony Romo, Matt Hasselbeck; RBs DeAngelo Williams, Shonn Greene, Beanie Wells, Dexter McCluster, Thomas Jones, Daniel Thomas, Reggie Bush, Pierre Thomas, Ben Tate; WRs Reggie Wayne, Malcom Floyd, Jeremy Maclin, Michael Crabtree, Mike Sims-Walker, Plaxico Burress, Torrey Smith, Julio Jones, Victor Cruz, Donald Driver, Pierre Garcon, Chad Ochocinco.

Taking a flier

Kyle Orton, QB, Broncos at Packers. On paper, this game should be a blow-out; which means Denver will likely abandon the run early and put the game in Orton’s hands. With Brandon Lloyd healthy and Eric Decker cementing his role as a reliable target, Orton could put up some gaudy numbers. After all, everybody else has against Green Bay’s 31st-ranked pass defense.

Don’t be the bonehead who…fails to get Steven Jackson back in your lineup Sunday. He ran sparingly in his return to the field in Week 3 against the Ravens, while successfully test-driving his ailing quad. But a healthy Jackson is a must-start against any defense, especially a Redskins squad that just surrendered 155 total yards to Felix Jones, his highest output since 2009.

Week 3 Heroes & Zeros

2011-09-27T09:34:00.004-05:00

This was a great week to start…

QBs
Tom Brady, Patriots – We’ll forgive the 4 INTs with his 387 yards and 4 TDs.
Joe Flacco, Ravens – Put up 389 yards and a trio of scores, plus 29 rushing yards.
Matt Schaub, Texans – Passed for 373 yards and 3 TDs, with one INT.
Drew Brees, Saints – Threw for 370 yards and 3 TDs, with 2 picks.
Matt Stafford, Lions – Started slowly, but wound up with 378 yards and 2 scores, without a turnover.
Mark Sanchez, Jets – Amassed 369 yards and 2 TDs passing, with 1 INT, plus a third TD on the ground.
Eli Manning, Giants – Passed for 254 yards and 4 TDs.
Aaron Rodgers, Packers – He had 3 TDs and 1 INT, plus 297 passing yards.

RBs
Darren McFadden, RB, Raiders – Rumbled for 171 yards and 2 TDs.
Ryan Mathews, Chargers – Rushed for 98 yards and 2 TDs, plus 4 catches for 51 yards.
Fred Jackson, Bills – Ran for 74 yards and 1 TD while nabbing 5 balls for 87 more yards.
LaDainian Tomlinson, Jets – Ran for 38 yards and added 5 receptions for 116 yards and a TD.

WRs
Wes Welker, Patriots – Had a career-high 16 receptions for 217 yards and 2 TDs, plus a 19-yard run.
Calvin Johnson, Lions – Hauled in 7 passes for 108 yards and both of Stafford’s TDs.

TEs
Jermichael Finley, Packers – Reeled in 7 passes for 85 yards and all 3 of Rodgers’ scoring passes.
Rob Gronkowski, Patriots – His 7 catches for 109 yards came with 2 TDs.

Ks
Dan Bailey, Cowboys – Booted six field goals (23, 27, 32, 40 and 41 yards twice).

This was a great week to play against…

QBs
Jason Campbell, Raiders – Threw for only 156 yards without a score.
Cam Newton, Panthers – Finally played like a rookie, with 158 passing yards and a lone TD, plus 27 rushing yards.
Michael Vick, Eagles – Had just 176 yards passing and 31 yards rushing with an INT before leaving with a broken right hand.
Tony Romo, Cowboys – He played valiantly, but his 255-yard, 1-INT night didn’t help his fantasy owners.
Josh Freeman, Buccaneers – Passed for 180 yards and 2 INTs, but ran for 35 yards and a score.
Philip Rivers, Chargers – Continued to underwhelm, with 266 yards and 2 INTs, without a score.

RBs
Knowshon Moreno, Broncos – Was active, but posted no stat line.
BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Patriots – Just 16 yards on the ground.
James Starks, Packers – Inexplicably disappeared from the offense, with only 14 combined yards, and a fumble.
Michael Turner, Falcons – Posted a paltry 20 rushing yards.
Steven Jackson, Rams – Returned to action, but only accounted for 23 yards.
Mike Tolbert, Chargers – Combined for just 43 total yards.
Rashard Mendenhall, Steelers – Limited to 46 combined yards.
Frank Gore, 49ers – Held to 42 rushing yards on the day, plus a fumble.
Reggie Bush, Dolphins – Compiled only 36 total yards.
Cedric Benson, Bengals – 64 yards rushing.

WRs
Deion Branch, Patriots – Blanked by the Bills.
Donald Driver, Packers – Also held catchless.
Mike Williams, Seahawks – Him, too.
Roy Williams, Bears – Was active, but posted a goose egg despite 4 targets.
Nate Burleson, Lions – Only caught 2 passes for 12 yards.
Steve Smith, Panthers – Just 2 receptions for 15 yards.
Kenny Britt, Titans – Nabbed 3 passes for 18 yards before leaving with a knee injury.
Santonio Holmes, Jets – Had one 19-yard catch.
Michael Crabtree, 49ers – His 3 catches amounted to 24 yards.
Reggie Wayne, Colts – Ditto for him.
Hakeem Nicks, Giants – Limited to 25 yards on 3 catches.
Chad Ochocinco, Patriots – Caught 2 passes for 28 yards, but dropped a sure TD.
Malcom Floyd, Chargers – He also had just 28 yards on his 2 receptions.
DeSean Jackson, Eagles – Just 2 receptions for 30 yards.
A.J. Green, Bengals – Held out of the end zone with 4 catches for 29 yards.
Brandon Lloyd, Broncos – Only 38 yards on 4 receptions.
Brandon Marshall, Dolphins – His 4 catches were good for 43 yards.

TEs
Dallas Clark, Colts – Limited to 2 catches for 12 yards.
Marcedes Lewis, Jaguars – He managed 15 yards on his two receptions.

I didn’t see that coming…

Torrey Smith, Ravens – Scored on his first 3 NFL receptions, and finished with 5 catches for 152 yards.
Victor Cruz, WR, Giants – Took advantage of Manningham’s inactivity with 3 catches for 110 yards and 2 TDs.