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Love ‘Em & Leave ‘Em: Week 12

November 25, 2009 / John Paulsen

Every week, I will highlight a few players to start and a few players to sit at each position. I’m a firm believer in starting your studs, so I won’t tell you about how Drew Brees or Adrian Peterson has a tough matchup – just go ahead and keep them in your lineup. Instead, I’ll focus on the borderline guys – players you’ll only start under the right circumstances. It’s important to note that depending on your roster and situation, you may not be able to follow these recommendations. For example, if I suggest you bench a solid starter like Tony Romo, only do so if you have a clearly better option on your bench.

The “love ‘em” players are listed in the order that I’d start them this week.

Brett Favre should have a big game against a Bears secondary that has been really spotty, especially lately…Despite leaving the game early last week, Kurt Warner still looks like a nice start against a Titans defense that is ranked 31st against the pass…Carson Palmer faces a Cleveland defense that is yielding 247 yards and 1.5 pass TD per game…Matt Hasselbeck has a nice matchup with the Rams’ 24th-ranked pass defense….In five starts, Alex Smith is averaging 207 yards and 1.8 pass TD, and with the Jags’ 25th-ranked pass defense coming to down, he should have a nice day…Matt Ryan has been struggling of late, and the Bucs pass defense is somewhat improved, but he is still a pretty good start…Desperate? Josh Freeman (@ ATL) and Ryan Fitzpatrick (vs. MIA) both have nice matchups this week.

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Angels interested in Curtis Granderson

November 25, 2009 / Anthony Stalter

Along with the Yankees and several other teams, the Angels are interested in Tigers’ outfielder Curtis Granderson, whom could be available this winter for the right package of prospects.

From the Detroit Free Press:

According to the report, a Tigers executive said the team would rather move Jackson than Granderson. Another person told Foxsports.com that the Angels would be a premier trade partner because of Los Angeles’ depth in areas the Tigers need, namely catcher, shortstop and minimum-salary pitching.
In other rumor news, ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick reports that a person familiar with the situation said talks between the Tigers and the Mariners regarding Granderson and Jackson have cooled off.

The book on Granderson is that he’s a five-tool player, but he can’t hit left-handed pitching. Still, he would upgrade any outfield he winds up (if he’s traded) in, while also offering plenty of speed and a fair amount of pop as well.

If the Tigers do decide to part ways with him, Granderson will be one of the most sought after bats available this offseason. (Along with Jason Bay and Matt Holliday, of course.)

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Whitlock: It’s way too early to suggest Young will be successful

November 25, 2009 / Anthony Stalter

Jason Whitlock writes that the book is still out on Vince Young, even though the Titans have won four straight since his return to the starting lineup.

Young needed to be benched. He needed to be humiliated and humbled. It was the only way to get his attention.
Vince Young did one thing Monday night that I did not like. In his immediate postgame interview on the field with Suzy Kolber, Young did not credit his teammates for his and the Titans’ success. This was a small error. But it’s an indication of where his mind is.
Vince Young believes he was done wrong by his critics and perhaps Jeff Fisher. He’s wallowing in victimhood and looking for an I-told-you-so moment.
I hope I’m wrong. I hope Young understands the mistakes he made and what he has to do to build on the success he’s enjoying now. He’s never going to be a guy who puts up huge passing numbers. That’s fine. If he avoids turnovers and moves the chains two or three times a game with a scramble, he’s a winning quarterback. He threw for 116 yards and rushed for 73.
What I liked best about Young on Monday was his comfort in the pocket. He has accepted the challenge of being a pocket quarterback. His body language was good, too. A teammate dropped a beautiful downfield throw and Young did not react negatively. He stayed positive and moved to the next play. That’s leadership.
The intangibles — leadership, courage against the pass rush, timely scrambles and avoidance of turnovers — are what can make Young a long-term winner in Tennessee. If he can get and keep his mind in the right state, he’ll prove his critics wrong and make us all eat crow without having to say a word.
Oh, and he needs Chris Johnson to stay healthy and continue to carry the team.

Young is succeeding because the expectations were low when he re-entered the lineup. Heading into his second season after his rookie year, the expectations were extremely high and he crumbled. It’ll be interesting to see whether or not he’ll continue to perform well if the Titans win and the stakes get higher.

Some players perform better when they have a chip on their shoulder, although that kind of motivation is usually short lived. Eventually, Young will need to become a leader and a consistent performer if he’s going to succeed in the NFL. Time will tell if he has finally turned the corner.

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2009 NFL Week 12 Point Spreads

November 25, 2009 / Anthony Stalter

Along with a complete list of odds for Week 12 in the NFL, here are quick-hit previews for the marquee matchups.

Patriots at Saints, Monday, November 30
The Saints don’t have to prove anything to anyone because their record speaks for itself. That said, a win over the Patriots on Monday night will go a long ways in proving that they’re a Super Bowl contender. New Orleans has the best team in the NFC, but how does it stack up to one of the best that the AFC has to offer? The matchup between Bill Belichick vs. Sean Payton is going to be terrific.

Colts at Texans, Sunday, November 29
The Texans need a victory this weekend to keep their postseason hopes alive, while the Colts are eyeing a perfect season. In Houston over the past three years, the Colts only have a combined scoring edge of 85-78. Indy is 14-1 against the Texans in their history together, but the games have been tight at Reliant Stadium. Can the Texans rise to the challenge and finally knock off their AFC South rivals?

Steelers at Ravens, Sunday, November 29
The news surrounding this game is whether or not Ben Roethlisberger will play after suffering concussion-like symptoms in Pittsburgh’s loss to Kansas City last Sunday. At 6-4, the Steelers need a win and that means Big Ben needs to be in the lineup. Another loss would put them behind the 8-ball in terms of the playoffs, especially considering they play in a tight AFC race. Same goes for Baltimore, which would drop to 5-6 with a loss.

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