As I’m sitting here attempting to start my fallout column, there’s a little two-and-a-half year old firefighter pestering me to go trick-or-treating, so don’t be surprised if this week’s version is abbreviated. I’m only going to focus on the truly surprising fantasy lines of the day.
EARLY GAMES
In my Waiver Wire Watch, I’ve been pushing Matthew Stafford (212 yards, 4 TDs) for the last couple of weeks and he delivered in a great matchup this week thanks to Calvin Johnson‘s (9-103-3) outstanding performance. The split in the backfield between Jahvid Best (17 touches, 79 yards) and Kevin Smith (14 touches, 67 yards) is a little worrisome, however. Smith has looked good in recent weeks in limited duty and we’ll have to wait and see if the Lions were limiting Best for any particular reason. Ryan Torain (12 touches, 29 yards, TD) left the game with a hamstring injury, and Keiland Williams (9 touches, 53 yards, TD) took his place. Williams may be a hot waiver wire pickup this week.
David Garrard (260 yards, 4 TD, rush TD) was a common pickup for a lot of Tony Romo owners who were scrambling for QB help this week, and boy, did he deliver. Mike Sims-Walker (8-153-1) exploded with a big game as well. Garrard has his bye next week and then has two good matchups in Weeks 10 (HOU) and 11 (CLE), so he’s a good play, at least in the short-term. And don’t read too much into Jon Kitna‘s so-so week (379 yards, TD, 4 INT). With the way that the Dallas DT is playing (poorly), the Cowboys are going to be in a lot of shootouts this season and that should mean some nice fantasy lines from Kitna. Felix Jones‘s struggles (11 touches, 36 yards) are very troublesome — I’d probably bench him until he can get it going.
Boy, was Jonathan Stewart (15 touches, 38 yards) disappointing in a pretty good matchup. It’s probably best to stay away from the Panthers offensive players if you can. David Gettis was shut out, while Steve Smith 1.0 (9-85) looked pretty good in his second game back.
Vernon Davis (1-12) left the game after re-aggravating his ankle injury, and Delanie Walker (5-85) filled in admirably for him. If Davis misses any time, look for Michael Crabtree (3-53-1) to get more targets from Troy Smith (196 yards, TD, rush TD), who actually played pretty well.
LATE GAMES
Kenny Britt (0-0) left the game early with a hamstring injury and didn’t register a catch. Nate Washington (4-117-1) picked up the slack and becomes fantasy relevant again. Vince Young (253 yards, 2 TD) had a nice game going before leaving with a leg injury of his own.
Darren McFadden (23 touches, 134 yards) is the clear RB1 in Oakland, but Michael Bush (10 touches, 106 yards, TD) had a very nice game in clean up duty. Zach Miller (1-8) had a surprisingly bad game and left the game for a short bit with an injury. Jason Campbell (310 yards, 2 TD) had another good outing. Even Darrius Heyward-Bey (5-105-1) got in on the action with Louis Murphy sidelined with a bruised young.
Fantasy-wise, Randy Moss (1-8) was a non-factor, but he opened things up for Percy Harvin (6-104). BenJarvus Green-Ellis (17 carries, 112 yards, 2 TD) had a huge game, but Danny Woodhead (11 touches, 58 yards, TD) was involved as well.
LeGarrette Blount (22 carries, 120 yards, 2 TD) had an outstanding game in his first game as the “starter.” I’d take him over Carnell Williams (7 touches, 36 yards) in all leagues (even PPR) at this point. Steve Breaston (8-147) returned for the Cardinals and had a terrific line. Larry Fitzgerald (6-72-2) also broke out with a nice game. He’s not pretty, but Derek Anderson (234 yards, TD, 2 INT) gives the Cards a better chance of winning than Max Hall (71 yards, TD, 2 INT), who just looks out of his depth at this point. Beanie Wells (17 touches, 64 yards, TD) was the clear RB1, and LaRod Stephens-Howling (4 carries, 41 yards, TD) was his primary backup. It looks like Tim Hightower (1 carry, 0 yards) is on the outs.
