All times ET…
College Hoops
Tues, 7 PM: #22 Davidson vs. West Virginia, ESPN
Tues, 9 PM: #6 Texas vs. #12 Villanova, ESPN
NBA
Tues, 10 PM: Orlando @ Portland
Wed, 8 PM: Cleveland @ Philadelphia, ESPN
Wed, 10:30 PM: Phoenix @ LA Lakers, ESPN
Thurs, 10:30 PM: Portland @ Utah, TNT
NFL
Thurs, 8:15 PM: Saints @ Bears, NFL Network
NHL
Wed, 7:30 PM: Calgary @ Detroit, TSN
Thurs, 10:30 PM: Anaheim @ San Jose
Clinton Portis is not happy with his head coach.
Clinton Portis unloaded on Jim Zorn over and over again during today’s “John Thompson Show” appearance. He swore, he suggested maybe he should go on the injured reserve, he offered to become a cheerleader, and he said this, when asked what adjustments should be made.
“We got a genius for a head coach, I don’t know, I’m sure he on top of things. He’s got everything figured out. Hey, that’s up to him. All I can do is when he calls a play is go out and try to execute to the best of my ability.”
Dan Steinberg (Redskins Insider) has more quotes from the extensive interview.
It’s going to be interesting to see if Portis plays on Sunday. Before he got nicked up, he was having a top 5 fantasy season.
Antonio Bryant has always been a tough guy to get a read on. He showed good progress in his second, third and fourth seasons by increasing the number of catches and receiving yards in each season. He took a step back in 2006 with the 49ers, who signed him to be their go-to receiver.
From Wikipedia:
Following a victory over the Seattle Seahawks on November 19, 2006, Bryant was arrested for driving his orange Lamborghini faster than 100 mph on Highway 101. He was charged with suspicion of misdemeanor reckless driving, driving under the influence, and resisting arrest. As a result, Bryant was suspended for four games by the NFL. He sat out the final two games of the 2006 season, and was scheduled to sit out the first two games of the 2007 season.
On September 17, 2007, Bryant was reinstated by the league, but was not able to sign with a team, partly because of a failed drug test over the summer. In October 2007, he filed a lawsuit against the NFL to try to get them to stop drug testing him since he is not currently a player, and to drop the failed drug test. In December 2007, the case was resolved without the details being released.
Thus far, it’s clear that the Bucs were smart to roll the dice on Bryant. Joey Galloway has been fighting injuries all season, and that leaves Bryant as the sole playmaker in the passing game (and some would argue — in the entire Tampa Bay offense). He is on pace to finish with 81 catches for 1,152 yards and six TD, which would be the best statistical season of his career. Moreover, he’s just 27 and *seems* to have turned his life and football career around.
Bryant will be a free agent this summer, and it’s going to be interesting to see where he lands. I would be most optimistic about his chances to continue this upward career swing if the Bucs were to re-sign him. It would show a desire on their part to keep him and it would show maturity on his part to show some loyalty to the team that took a chance on him when very few other teams would.
Bryant’s nine-catch, 200-yard, two-TD performance (and in particular, this amazing catch) against Carolina on Monday night surely increased his profile around the league. If you look hard enough you can see Jerry Maguire jumping for joy on the sidelines.
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, Matt Jones was suspended for three games for an arrest involving cocaine. The NFL has finally upheld that suspension.
The NFL suspended Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Matt Jones on Tuesday for the final three regular-season games of the 2008 season for violating the NFL Substance Abuse Policy.
Jones’ suspension, which is without pay, begins immediately.
Jones, who was arrested in July on cocaine possession charges, met with league officials last week to appeal a three-game suspension that was handed down earlier in the season. He entered a drug treatment program in November with the hope of erasing a felony cocaine charge in Arkansas.
There are just so many things wrong with the phrase — “a felony cocaine charge in Arkansas.”
Jones has proven this season that he has the ability to be a very solid possession receiver in the NFL. He finishes the year with 65 catches for 761 yards and two TD. Had he played a full 16-game schedule at that pace, he would have finished with 87 catches for 1015 yards and three TD, making him an interesting prospect in PPR leagues heading into next season. Assuming he keeps his nose clean, of course. (Pun intended.)
With Jones out, it would seem like Reggie Williams would get a bump, but with Green Bay, Indianapolis and Baltimore from here on out, he’s not a very good play. Mike Walker should also see more targets with Jones sidelined.
Every week, I highlight a few players that you should target in waivers. I use the ESPN league data when filtering players, so the only players eligible for discussion here are those that are available on the waiver wire of at least 50% of ESPN’s leagues. I’ll list each player’s percentage-owned after their name so you have an idea of how available they are in leagues around the country. I’ll always try to mention a few players that are available in 90% of leagues for those of you in 12-team leagues or leagues with big rosters. I’ll rank them in the order I’d pick them up in a league with a high-performance, PPR scoring system.
Please note that these rankings are for total value through the end of the year. Players with particularly good matchups this week are in bold.
QUARTERBACKS
Shaun Hill (35.7)
Kerry Collins (44.4)
Seneca Wallace (2.6)
Tarvaris Jackson (3.0)
Marc Bulger (40.4)
J.T. O’Sullivan (11.9)
Ryan Fitzpatrick (6.5)
RUNNING BACKS
A number of starter-quality RBs went down with injuries this week, so this list is dependent on their ability to come back and play in Week 15. I’m going to loosen the percent-owned requirements to account for some fringe guys.
Tatum Bell (15.5)
With Peyton Hillis out, it looks like Bell gets first shot at RB1.
LeRon McClain (59.1)
Both McGahee and Rice left the Sunday night game with injuries, so McClain is the last man standing right now.
DeShaun Foster (4.8)
Frank Gore’s ankle injury is something to watch this week. Foster’s matchup this week isn’t great (MIA), but he would have a great matchup in Week 16 (STL) if Gore is unable to return.
Maurice Morris (20.9)
Julius Jones didn’t play at all on Sunday, and Morris has a nice matchup this week (STL).
Dominic Rhodes (54.7)
The Colts are saying that Addai should be “OK” for Week 15, but Rhodes would be a great play against Detroit if Addai can’t go.
Tashard Choice (13.0)
Apparently, it was Barber’s calf (not his toe) that kept him out against the Steelers. MBIII should be able to go on Sunday, but if not, Choice is a solid fill in.
Ladell Betts (21.0)
The word is that Portis wasn’t benched due to injury. It will be interesting to see how this plays out this week with the mediocre Bengals on tap.
Chester Taylor (54.4)
Cedric Benson (39.7)
Carnell Williams (36.9)
Selvin Young (35.6)
WIDE RECEIVERS
Deion Branch (13.7)
Davone Bess (23.0)
Amani Toomer (57.2)
Domenik Hixon (37.5)
Devin Hester (43.0)
Donnie Avery (52.6)
Antwaan Randle El (37.4)
Michael Jenkins (27.8)
Matt Jones (39.2)
Nate Washington (25.1)
Justin Gage (42.0)
Bryant Johnson (17.4)
Bobby Engram (28.6)
Mark Clayton (24.1)
TIGHT ENDS
John Carlson (45.5)
Zach Miller (57.5)
Donald Lee (46.3)
Visanthe Shiancoe (53.8)
Todd Heap (48.2)
Marcedes Lewis (20.8)
L.J. Smith (18.5)
Steve Heiden (2.5)
Jerramy Stevens (16.5)
Anthony Fasano (47.4)
THINKING DEFENSIVELY (DTBWW)
Welcome to the world of Defensive Team By Waiver Wire (DTBWW). Each week, you pick up a defense, usually one playing at home against a bad offense. And each week, you get pretty good numbers out of your DT position. All teams are available in at least 40% of ESPN fantasy leagues.
I’m moving this feature up from it’s normal slot in my Love ‘Em & Leave ‘Em feature because I realize that a lot of owners are playing the waiver wire right now trying to find a defense, so the earlier you can put your bids in the better.
This week’s picks:
Patriots (@ OAK)
Redskins (@ CIN)
(I’d grab the Colts, Dolphins and Cardinals – in that order – before the Pats and Redskins, but they are owned in more than 40% of ESPN fantasy leagues, so they aren’t eligible for DTBWW this week.)
Last week’s picks:
Colts: 3 PA + 5 SK + 3 INT + 1 INT RET TD + 1 FR = 23 fantasy points
Chargers: 7 PA + 3 SK + 3 INT + 1 FR = 13 fantasy points
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