Early on, it was almost as we were living in the mid-’00s again, as Carson Palmer (371 yards, 2 TD), LaDainian Tomlinson (155 total yards, 2 TD) and Terrell Owens (10-222-1) led the early games in passing, rushing and receiving, respectively. LT2 and Shonn Greene had the same number of touches (22), but LT2 out-touched Green 16-to-8 in the first half, so Tomlinson has clearly moved ahead of Greene in terms of pecking order in the Jets’ backfield. Braylon Edwards (4-86-1) and Dustin Keller (4-28-2) starred for the Jets in the passing game. It seems like Edwards is focused and playing well after his off-the-field trouble a couple of weeks ago. (Hire a driver, Braylon. You have enough money.)
There are a few things to take from the Falcons/49ers tilt in Atlanta. First, the change at OC for the 49ers looks like it will be a good thing for Michael Crabtree (5-58) who was targeted six times by Alex Smith (188 yards, TD, 2 INT). Secondly, the San Francisco DT is not dead yet. They held Atlanta to 16 points, sacked Matt Ryan (273 yards, TD) three times and picked him off twice. The 49er special teams also came up with a score when Taylor Mays recovered a blocked punt for a TD. Lastly, Harry Douglas (3-59-1) is making his case to be the Falcons’ WR2. He was targeted eight times by Ryan.
Besides the big days from Palmer and TO, the Bengals didn’t have much in the way of fantasy success on Sunday. The Browns, however, featured Peyton Hillis again (27 carries, 102 yards, TD), and as of right now, he looks like he’ll be the feature back going forward. The Browns have a good offensive line, so he should be a solid RB2 for the time being. In the passing game, Benjamin Watson (6-60) led the team in targets with 10.
Calvin Johnson‘s performance (6-86-2) against the Packers is a great example of why it’s usually best to start your studs, even in bad matchups. Brandon Pettigrew (8-91, 11 targets) continued his hot play and is essentially the Lions’ WR2. He now has 21 catches for 243 yards in his last three games. He hasn’t found the endzone, so he’s of more use in PPR leagues. Jahvid Best played despite a turf toe injury, and he finished with 84 yards (including 5-34 in the passing game). In the Packer backfield, it looks like a serious timeshare with Brandon Jackson (10 touches, 34 yards) and John Kuhn (9 carries, 39 yards) essentially splitting the work. Kuhn is the better straight ahead runner, and the Packers just aren’t using Jackson enough in the passing game (1-1, one target) to justify having him in your starting lineup. If he can’t get it going against the Lions, then it may not happen at all.
Like a lot of fantasy owners who have had their fill of Brandon Lloyd in the past, I have what I like to call ‘fantasy fatigue.’ It’s when a player has burned enough bridges that owners are slow to react when he finally turns it around. Lloyd definitely fits into that category. He posted 11-115 on 18 targets (EIGHTEEN!), and now has three 100-yard games on the season. The guy is for real. (I guess.) Eddie Royal (8-113-1) also starred for the Broncos, who have absolutely no running game with Knowshon Moreno sidelined. I’d expect Denver to get back to better balance when Moreno returns, and that should put a dent in some of these gaudy numbers by the Bronco receivers. For now, the Denver passing game is rolling.
Over in St. Louis, Sam Bradford (289 yards, 2 TD, INT) continues to play well and can be used in spot duty when the matchup is favorable. Steven Jackson was questionable coming in but he finished with 124 total yards on 25 touches. The Seahawks were dreadful offensively, but it does appear that Justin Forsett (21 touches, 75 yards) has cemented his role as Seattle’s RB1. No other Seahawk RB had more than three touches. With five good matchups in his next nine games, he might be a guy to target if you need a RB2.
Welcome to the 2010 fantasy football season, DeAngelo Williams (14 touches, 100 yards, TD)! The Panthers may have to feature the run even more, as Steve Smith 1.0 (2-11) left the game with an injured ankle, which is reportedly the dreaded high ankle sprain. The Saints got the win, but they didn’t play all that well. Chris Ivory (12 carries, 67 yards) and Ladell Betts (17 touches, 70 yards) filled in admirably for an injured Pierre Thomas, but Lance Moore (5-37-1) was the only Saint to score a TD.
As expected, Baltimore/Pittsburgh was pretty ugly, but Rashard Mendenhall managed 88 total yards and two scores. Ray Rice (9 touches, 29 yards) was awfully quiet coming off a knee injury. Willis McGahee (16 touches, 41 yards, TD) got most of the work out of the Baltimore backfield. The Steelers have a bye next week and come back in Week 6 against the Browns with Ben Roethlisberger returning from suspension. I’d expect he’ll be much-needed shot in the arm of the Pittsburgh passing game.
In the late games, Donovan McNabb returned to Philly and only managed 125 yards and a TD, though he did get an important win. Anyone counting on Santana Moss (0-0, 1 target) this week has to be sorely disappointed. The Eagles came into the game vulnerable against the pass and McNabb/Moss were unable to take advantage. Ryan Torain (18 carries, 70 yards, TD) looks like he might be the new RB1 in Washington, though Clinton Portis (13 touches, 81 yards) looked good in his own right. He hurt his hamstring, so it’s possible that Torain might take the job for good. Mike Vick (49 yards) was knocked out of the game with a rib/chest injury, and Kevin Kolb (201 yards, TD, INT) stepped in, which gave Brent Celek (3-27-1) a boost. Andy Reid stayed conservative with Kolb, sticking with dump-offs to LeSean McCoy (28 touches, 174 yards), who had 12 catches on the day. As a result, DeSean Jackson (3-19) and Jeremy Maclin (1-15) were non-factors. Maclin specifically may need to be benched until he can show some chemistry with Kolb.
Out in Oakland, Arian Foster (19 touches, 187 yards, TD) sat out the entire first quarter for missing a team meeting, but you wouldn’t know it based on his final numbers. Andre Johnson was an injury scratch, and Kevin Walter (4-35) and Jacoby Jones (1-12) were unable to take advantage. In fact, it was TE Joel Dreessen (5-73-1) was the Texans’ top receiver. On the other side of the ball, Bruce Gradkowski (278 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT) turned in a gutsy performance after missing a few snaps due to a shoulder injury. Zach Miller (11-122-1) was his top target while Louis Murphy (1-5) and Darrius Heyward-Bey (1-2) were huge disappointments in what looked to be a great matchup. Darren McFadden racked up 129 yards on 18 touches before pulling up lame with a hamstring injury. (Uh-oh.) Michael Bush (9 touches, 56 yards, TD) stepped in for him and looked pretty good. Grab him if you can.
In a great Jaguars/Colts game, Peyton Manning (352 yards, 2 TD, INT), Joseph Addai (19 touches, 82 yards, 2 TD), Dallas Clark (7-68-1) and Reggie Wayne (15-195) were outdueled by David Garrard (163 yards, 2 TD, 1 rush TD) and Maurice Jones-Drew (28 touches, 121 yards, 2 TD), who awoke from a fantasy slumber to prove that he’s still a RB1. Mike Sims-Walker (0-0, 1 target) turned in another disappearing act (which submarined one of my teams).
In San Diego, Antonio Gates (7-144-2) led the charge for the Chargers (no pun intended), while Mike Tolbert (16 carries, 100 yards, TD) got most of the carries as Norv Turner works Ryan Matthews (9 carries, 55 yards, TD) back into things. The Cardinals were dreadful. Max Hall (82 yards) replaced Derek Anderson (64 yards, 2 INT) and Arizona only managed 47 yards on the ground. The San Diego DT was phenomenal, registering nine sacks and forcing three turnovers, including Shaun Phillips‘ 31-yard interception return.
The Sunday night game was an ugly defensive battle, but Ahmad Bradshaw rattled off 143 yards on 25 touches (and a TD). Hakeem Nicks (8-110) was the only other fantasy star in the game, and he looks like a stud in the making. For what it’s worth, Greg Olsen (5-39) led the Bears with eight targets, and has played well the last few weeks, so I think he’s a borderline TE1 in 12-team leagues assuming Jay Cutler (42 yards, INT) can play next week after suffering a concussion against the G-men. The Giants DT was awesome, registering 10 sacks, three turnovers and allowing just three points.
