QB’s that I love this week not named Drew Brees:
Kyle Orton (Denver Broncos): So anyone else sitting there at about say 7:00 on Sunday, watching and waiting for a third down and 6 play, which you assumed would be a completion, and win you your fantasy week? Nobody? No one? Really? Bueller? Bueller?
Well, I was sitting there, watching an ESPN gamecast of the game, waiting for an update of a completion for 10 yards, which would then lead to another completion of 10 yards, which would win me the week by say 2 points. Instead, on that third down and 6, the fumble is snapped, the Jets recover, I lose the week by 1.3 points, and I scream to the Fantasy Gods, Why Have Thou Forsaken Me? Yeah, it’s been that kind of season for me. Regardless, I love Kyle Orton against the Raiders. They ran the ball entirely too much, and they are not a running team. They are what the Patriots were in the early part of the 2000’s, minus a good defense to back them up. Hopefully they realize this, so they just chuck the ball over and Kyle Orton goes off for 400 yards and 3 touchdowns. I will be praying to the Fantasy Gods for that.
Joe Flacco (Baltimore Ravens): I like to call this the following equation , “The Transitive Property of any Quarterback playing the Buffalo Bills.” It goes like this:
Good Quarterback=playing against the Buffalo Bills Defense=Fantasy Love, therefore Good Quarterback=Fantasy Love.
Using that property, the following is therefore true:
Joe Flacco=playing against the Buffalo Bills Defense=Fantasy Love, therefore Joe Flacco=Fantasy Love
Ben Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers): Unless it is a monsoon in Miami, I fully expect Ben to have a very good game against the Dolphins. Ben looked rusty at times against Cleveland, and you can expect that rustiness to fade away this week, in playing against a Miami defense that is average against the pass. So, love for Roethlisberger, and I mean the kind of platonic, “no means no,” kind of love, particularly if I ended up in a bathroom with him. I really hate putting him on the love list. A little piece of my soul just died.
Jay Cutler (Chicago Bears): Jay Cutler is playing the Washington Redskins, whose pass defense is almost non-existant at times. With Cutler’s gun and Knox’s feet, look for them to hook up on a couple of big throws this week, scoring at least one long touchdown. Cutler should easily make it to 300 yards with at least 3 touchdowns.
Sam Bradford (St. Louis Rams): So the Rams are 3-3, thanks to a nice even balance of running and passing. Who would have thought that Sam Bradford would actually be having a halfway decent season for a rookie quarterback. It’s blowing my mind. And the St. Louis defense looks for real too, holding San Diego to only 17 points. So with the defense playing well, with Jackson running well and keeping pressure off of Bradford this week, I look for Bradford to have a very good week, throwing for over 200, approaching 250 with two touchdowns, particularly against a Tampa defense that is in the middle of the league against the pass.
QB’s that I hate:
Chand Henne (Miam Dolphins): Yes, Colt McCoy played well against the Steelers, but really, the Steelers defense had little to no film on him, so they didn’t know what to expect. They have film on Henne, and they do know what to expect. I know what to expect too, a very rough day for Henne, whose jersey won’t be white by the end of the game.
Ryan Fitzpatrick (Buffalo Bills): I’m a real huge fan of Ryan Fitzpatrick. He’s gritty, he’s tough, he’s a do whatever it takes to get positive yards kind of quarterback. However, I don’t see many positive yards coming against the Baltimore Ravens defense, who are currently ranked 3rd in giving up points to opposing fantasy quarterbacks. Add to that a lack of a dynamic receiver or a solid run game, and Fitzpatrick is set up for a low week fantasywise. I expect less than 200 yards passing and no touchdowns this week for him.
Carson Palmer (Cincinnati Bengals): I don’t expect Carson Palmer to completely bomb this week, but I don’t think he’ll do as good as he should. The Atlanta Falcons defense is sneaky good, currently ranked 9th in giving up points to opposing quarterbacks, and let’s face facts here; Carson Palmer is not the Carson Palmer of 2005. That guy was slinging the ball all over the field, making good decisions, completing long passes. This Carson Palmer does none of those things. Will he get over 200 yards, probably, but not by much. Cincinnati should be running the ball a lot in this game, but even that may not garner them a victory against a very good Atlanta team.
Donovan McNabb (Washington Redskins): No receivers besides Moss and Cooley to throw too. Cooley coming off of a mild concussion (if he plays), so he won’t be as effective. That leaves Moss. As a defense, it is real easy to eliminate only one threat, and the fact that Chicago currently ranks 2nd in giving up points to opposing fantasy quarterbacks, proves they can do it. Don’t count on much from McNabb this week.
Colt McCoy (Cleveland Browns): I’m putting him on my love list only because I respect the hell out of this kid. He has guts, he has poise, he has determination, he has the “it” factor as they call it. Problem is, he’s playing the New Orleans Saints defense, who is going to blitz the hell out of him, to the point that he will be having nightmares of blitzes for a week following. That being said, don’t count him out because of his heart and willingness to do what it takes to win. You’ll definitely get some rush yards out of him, as he is willing to tuck it and run. Maybe he’ll get a touchdown pass too. So he’s not technically on my love list, he’s actually on my “quarterbacks I want to love, have a bad matchup, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he played solid, so I like him this week,” list.
RB’s that I love not named Chris Johnson:
Frank Gore (San Francisco 49ers): Gore has been going crazy on the ground the last couple of weeks. This week the Niners are playing the CarolinaPanthers, who rank 26th in giving up fantasy points to opposing running backs. It’s a great matchup for him, so expect him to take advantage of it. Obviously you are already starting him, but he’s due for another week like he had in Week 6.
Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones (Kansas City Chiefs): Playing the Jacksonville Jaguars. Enough said.
Peyton Hillis (Cleveland Browns): You would think that in playing the defending Super Bowl Champion Saints, you wouldn’t want to be starting the running back, but you do this week. The Saints are currently ranked 24th in giving up fantasy points to opposing running backs. With Colt McCoy the likely starter for the 2nd week in a row, and the Saints a blitzing team, look for the Browns to run Hillis early and often to slow down that pass rush, and give McCoy more time to find his receivers. I love me some Hillis this week.
Marshawn Lynch and Justin Forsett (Seattle Seahawks): The Arizona Cardinals are currently ranked 30th in giving up fantasy points to opposing running backs. Matt Hasselbeck is not even close to the Matt Hasselbeck of the 2005 Super Bowl season. Seattle really doesn’t have good receivers (I’m not sold on Mike Williams). That leaves a heavy does of running, which should include both backs this week. The split most likely will go 70% Lynch and 30% Forsett. But don’t count out Forsett, since he always has the potential to break a big one and has a much better yards per carry average than Lynch.
RB’s I hate:
LeSean McCoy (Philadelphia Eagles): This is the second week in a row that McCoy appears on my hate list. The Eagles are playing the Tennessee Titans, who are currently ranked 5th in giving up fantasy points to opposing running backs, so it’s not a good matcup for McCoy. Plus, as we all know, the Eagles are a passing team. This does mean McCoy will definitely catch some balls, especially with the absence of DeSean Jackson in the lineup, but again, he won’t get many yards out of them.
Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams (Miami Dolphins): Neither guy has been overly spectacular this year, with the Dolphins turning into more of a passing team, even though most people thought they wouldn’t. I said at the beginning of the season that you don’t get Brandon Marshall and not throw to him. So the combination of the passing game and the fact that the Dolphins are playing the defense ranked 2nd overall in giving fantasy points to opposing running backs in the Pittsburgh Steelers, tells me these guys are not in a for a good week.
Any and all Green Bay Running Back: Green Bay can’t run, haven’t been able to run since the injury to Ryan Grant, and this week, they are facing a Minnesota Vikings Defense notoriously stout against the run (and this season is holding true to that). So you aren’t starting any of them, and maybe, just maybe I might consider flexing Brandon Jackson. But definitely John Kuhn should not be anywhere near your lineup.
Jonathan Stewart (Carolina Panthers): If you still have him on your roster, which I do unfortunately (hey, I’m hoping DeAngelo Williams gets injured so Stewart can take over), you haven’t been getting much if anything out of him this year, so look for that trend to continue on against the San Francisco 49ers. For some reasons Williams is the guy Carolina starts and leans on, when quite clearly Jonathan Stewart is more than a capable back. Maybe you flex him this week, but if you have a better option (check the rankings to see if you do), then I’d play that guy instead. But if you need him to fill in for a bye week, I say good luck to you, I don’t think it will turn out so well.
WR’s I love not named Roddy White:
Jeremy Maclin (Philadelphia Eagles) (tied for 23rd in targets): No DeSean Jackson, playing a defense that is ranked 18th in giving up fantasy points to opposing wide receivers, there is obvious chemistry between Kolb and himself, and you have a recipe for a big week.
Mike Wallace (Pittsburgh Steelers) (tied for 34th in targets): Everything points to Mike Wallace having a monster week. Playing the 21st ranked defense in giving up fantasy points against wide receivers, Miami’s defense being ranked 6th against the run, and top it off with Ben Roethlisberger. I know the Steelers keep saying they want to be a running team, but the matchup isn’t great this week for that. Miami’s corners are nothing special, Mike Wallace is one of the best deep threats in the league, and you know Roethlisberger is itching to launch the ball to him. It should be a spectacular week for Wallace.
Johnny Knox (Chicago Bears) (tied for 25th in targets): The Washington Redskins are horrible when giving up fantast points to wide receivers, ranked 27th. They don’t have much of a pass rush, so Cutler hopefully won’t get banged around like he has the last two times he has played. With time to throw, that means Johnny Knox should see his fair of deep balls, as well as 20 yard routes. Matchup is good and Cutler loves him. I love Johnny too.
Deion Branch (New England Patriots) (tied for 29th in targets): The San Diego Chargers are the 23rd ranked defense in giving up fantasy points to wide receivers. Clearly the chemistry between Branch and Brady remains, so expect Brady to find Branch as much, if not more this week, particularly since Welker will be receiving the majority of coverages.
Lance Moore (New Orleans Saints) (tied for 32nd in targets): Browns are horrible against the pass, coverage will most likely be rolled to double Colston if the Browns decide to double anyone, and they don’t nearly have the corners to keep up with Moore in the open field, especially out of the slot. It’s a solid matchup for Moore this week.
WR’s I hate:
Marques Colston (New Orleans Saints) (tied for 14th in targets): I’m not completely sold on hating Colston this week, but I don’t think he’s going to get as big of numbers as he should against a Cleveland Browns pass defense that gives up points week in and week out. He’s going to receive the majority of double teams, which is the reason I love Lance Moore, more than I do Colston this week. You’re still starting him regardless this week, but he’s not going to bust out for a huge game like everything most likely thinks he should.
Santana Moss (Washington Redskins) (tied for 7th in targets): He’s McNabb’s only option this week, as Cooley will most likely not be playing at 100% due to a mild concussion. The Bears will know this and plan to take Moss out of the game. Pedestrian numbers for Moss this week, even though he’ll still receive the targets.
Roy E. Williams (Dallas Cowboys) (tied for28th in targets): I’m not buying that Roy E. Williams has forgotten the Roy Williams of old, and I think he rediscovers it this week against the New York Giants. I think I’d trust Dez Bryant this week more than Roy Williams, especially since the New York Giants will be paying more attention to Roy Williams after his production the last couple of weeks.
Mike Sims-Walker and Mike Thomas (Jacksonville Jaguars) (tied for 23rd and 39th in targets): Even with a healthy David Garrard throwing to them, they were inconsistent. Now if they have say Todd Bouman (who was just signed), what do you think they’re going to do? I’d bench these guys this week, and if you have a better option to flex, flex them instead of these two.
Kenny Britt (Tennessee Titans) (tied for 32nd in targets): It’s true, Britt has been tearing it up, touchdown wise, the last three to four weeks. He’s no doubt the hot name going around, and my buddy is thinking about picking him up, even though he’s the guy that dropped him after week 2. Now, if you need a receiver for the rest of the year, pick him up, he’ll produce, but this week, against a Philadelphia Eagles defense that is currently ranked 4th in giving up fantasy points to opposing wide receivers, it’s a bad matchup. I assume Asante Samuel will draw the cover, and he’s a shut down corner. You maybe flex him this week, in case Britt gets free somehow, but you’re definitely not starting him.
TE’s I love not named Vernon Davis:
Zach Miller (Oakland Raiders) (tied for 13th in targets): There really is no one else to throw to on the Raiders, so he’s got to be the guy. You’re starting him obviously, and I expect a big week out of him.
Aaron Hernandez (New England Patriots) (tied for 33rd in targets): The Patriots are a throwing team, harkening back to the early part of the 2000s, when they were winning Super Bowls left and right. They didn’t have much of a running game then, nor do they have much of one now. With the return of Deion Branch, they literally resemble those teams. Now they have a tight end in Hernandez who is highly skilled in his routes and after the catch. Look for continuous production week in and week out, especially when playing the San Diego Chargers, who are consistently awful against tight ends.
Todd Heap (Baltimore Ravens) (tied for 23rdh in targets): So, I’m glad I picked Todd Heap up last week, as he scored a touchdown, and almost got me a win (but I’m doomed to finish last this year I think because of this blog). Anyways, Heap has another solid matchup this week against the Buffalo Bills. I wouldn’t be surprised if he found the end zone again and got some yards as well.
Benjamin Watson (Cleveland Browns) (tied for 15th in targets): I told you last week that a tight end is a quarterbacks best friend and I was proved absolutely correct when Colt McCoy targets Watson 9 times and he produced. Look for the same thing again this week against the New Orleans Saints, particularly since the Saints will be blitzing like crazy, so McCoy will be looking to dump the ball off quick.
TE’s I hate:
Kevin Boss (New York Giants) (tied for 37th in targets): Another week, more hate for Boss. Add to that the fact that he’s playing Dallas, who are currently ranked 7th in giving up fantasy points to tight ends, and I may even loathe him this week. He’s near the bottom of my rankings, and if you’re even thinking about playing him this week, you shouldn’t be playing fantasy football.
Any St. Louis Tight End: Seriously, don’t even think about it.
Rob Gronkowski (New England Patriots) (tied for 51st in targets): The Patriots may now be the most pass happy team in the league next to Philadelphia, but Gronkowski is not a beneficiary of that. Hernandez is the TE in New England as he should be. Don’t start The Gronk at all, and if you flex TEs, you’re not flexing him either.
Chris Cooley (Washington Redskins) (tied for 14th in Targets): I’m as surprised as you are that Cooley appears for the second week in a row on the hate list, but here he is. He’s mildly concussed, the Bears are good against the TE (ranked 11th), and McNabb isn’t very reliable. All three add up to a dud of a week from Cooley again.
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