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      Fantasy Fallout: Week 12

      November 24, 2008 /

      Everything you need to know (and a lot that you don’t) about the fantasy implications of the NFL’s Week 12 action…

      QUARTERBACKS

      It looks like the beginning of the end of the Donovan McNabb era in Philly. He was yanked for Kevin Kolb after tossing two picks in the first half. Kolb didn’t fare any better…Joe Flacco (183 yards, 2 TD) was once again effective. He isn’t going to throw for a lot of yards, but he has tossed at least one TD in each of the last six games…Brady Quinn (94 yards, 2 INT) was supposed to have a nice day against a pretty bad Houston pass defense, but he stunk up the joint and was actually replaced by Derek Anderson (51 yards, INT), who didn’t do any better…Gus Frerotte (120 yards, INT) had a string of solid performances broken against the Jags. The Vikings got up by 14 early and didn’t look deep very often. Bernard Berrian (1-6) is suffering as a result…After a strong start, something seems to be wrong with the Denver passing game. Jay Cutler is averaging just 210 yards and 0.5 TD over the last two weeks.

      RUNNING BACKS

      Brian Westbrook (16 touches, 34 yards) looks like a shadow of his old self, and it’s not clear if it’s the injuries that are bothering him or the lack of good play from his QB. Correll Buckhalter sprained his knee, so the Eagles are really hurting at RB…Jamal Lewis (12 touches, 68 yards) was fairly productive, but he failed to score a TD and fumbled once. I thought he’d be a solid start due to a nice schedule down the stretch, but the Browns’ offense is in trouble and Lewis’ numbers are suffering because of it…Warrick Dunn (19 touches, 127 yards, TD) was very productive against a bad Lions rush defense. Cadillac Williams (16 touches, 27 yards) came in for mop up duty…Kevin Smith (16 carries, 86 yards) looked pretty good against a good Bucs rush defense before leaving the game with an apparent knee injury…Larry Johnson (9 touches, 105 yards) ran the ball well, but only received seven carries since the game got out of hand…Apologies to anyone who started Antonio Pittman (12 touches, 19 yards) on my recommendation. Ryan Grant was successful against the Bears rush defense last week and I thought that Pittman would at least post 70-80 total yards and maybe score a TD…The Tennessee running game is suddenly ineffective. Over the last three games Chris Johnson and LenDale White have combined for just 243 yards and one TD. White carried the ball once against the Jets, so right now, it looks like the Chris Johnson show. He might have big week in a great matchup against the Lions next week…Even though he’s supposedly healthy, Sammy Morris (10 touches, 49 yards) didn’t get as many touches as Kevin Faulk (14 touches, 105 yards, TD). Moreover, Faulk was more productive and BenJarvus Green-Ellis (a.k.a. “The Law Firm”) vultured seven carries and a TD…Maurice Jones-Drew (12 touches, 117 yards) is so valuable in PPR leagues because when things aren’t going well on the ground (3 carries, 4 yards), he can be heavily involved in the passing game (9-113)…DeAngelo Williams (21 touches, 120 yards, TD) appears to be RB1 in Carolina for the time being. He’s startable this week, against the Packers and in Week 15, against the Broncos…Michael Turner (117 yards, 4 TD) finally broke out against a good rush defense. All year, he’s been overperforming against bad defenses and underperforming against good ones…Clinton Portis (31 touches, 159 yards) is a warrior…LaDainian Tomlinson has scored just two TD in his last seven games.

      WIDE RECEIVERS

      If the Eagles go with Kevin Kolb at QB, I’d downgrade DeSean Jackson and Kevin Curtis…It doesn’t appear that any Detroit WR other than Calvin Johnson (3-66-1) is worth owning right now…Dwayne Bowe (3-58-1) continues to clean up in garbage time. His numbers weren’t looking very good, but late in the game he caught a garbage TD to finish with a nice stat line…It looks like Torry Holt (4-84) is still WR1 in St. Louis. Donnie Avery (1-14) cannot be counted on…After a couple shoddy weeks, Greg Camarillo (6-75-1) had a nice day, but he’s going to miss the rest of the season with a knee injury. This should give Ted Ginn and Davone Bess a boost in value…Terrell Owens (7-213-1) busted out with a huge game against his old team. He hadn’t gained more than 38 receiving yards in the last five games…Simply stated, Plaxico Burress (0-0) can’t be counted on right now.

      TIGHT ENDS

      Kellen Winslow’s poor day (1-11) could be attributed to poor play at QB or his sprained shoulder. Either way, he was a disappointment…In a week when guys like Winslow, Jason Witten (1-11) and Antonio Gates (3-28) were disappointments, Tony Gonzalez (10-113-1) came up huge…Dustin Keller (6-42) continues to be a favorite target of Brett Favre. Over the last three weeks, he has posted 20-236-1 and looks like a good TE start down the stretch.

      FREE AGENTS

      LeRon McClain (18 carries, 88 yards, TD) was the most productive RB for the Ravens, continuing the season-long carousel at the position. There’s no telling who will play well week to week…Over the last three weeks, Kerry Collins has averaged 254 passing yards and 2.0 TD per game. He did most of his work this week in garbage time, which is an unusual situation for the Titans to be in…Tatum Bell got some work (7 touches, 14 yards), but it was Peyton Hillis (19 touches, 96 yards, TD) that got the lion’s share of the touches in the Denver backfield.. He has a tough matchup with the Jets next week, but a great matchup with the Chiefs in Week 14…Derrick Ward played well (24 touches, 99 yards, TD) with Brandon Jacobs out. Keep an eye on this situation as Ward could be a productive back if Jacobs misses more time. Keeper league owners should take note – Ward will be a free agent after this season…Maurice Morris produces 113 yards and a TD on 17 touches. Julius Jones had two carries for 21 yards and injured his calf. Morris might be able to help fantasy owners down the stretch.

      Fantasy Football, NFL

      Reid could follow McNabb out of Philly at season’s end

      November 24, 2008 /

      Andy ReidAfter he was benched at halftime of the Eagles’ embarrassing 36-7 loss to the Ravens on Sunday, there’s little doubt that the writing is on the wall for quarterback Donovan McNabb in Philadelphia.

      But what about head coach Andy Reid?

      After a couple of dreadful performances (and I mean dreadful), it’s hard to back McNabb at this point. His play last week in a tie against the Bengals was downright embarrassing and even hard to watch. It seriously looked like he was trying to throw into double and triple coverage just to see if he could still complete the pass. And his brilliant outing Sunday against the Ravens was JaMarcus Russell-esqe: 8 of 18 for 59 yards, two interceptions, one fumble.

      But Reid deserves plenty of criticism for throwing an unproven Kevin Kolb to the wolves after the Eagles had just cut their deficit to 10-7 at halftime. They were still in the game and while McNabb didn’t necessarily deserve to go back under center, Reid’s decision was inexplicable. It’s not like Kolb had a full week to prepare – he was thrust into a horrible situation, unprepared and against one of the nastiest defenses in the league. Reid essentially sealed his, and his teams’ fate by benching McNabb when a win was still very much in reach.

      So now what, Andy? Go back to McNabb in hopes he can save your fleeting playoff hopes? Or go with a second-year quarterback and pray he does his best Matt Cassel impression?

      Everyone likes to criticize Mike Martz for not running the football more, but what about Reid? He’s had success throwing the ball over his career, but he also continuously kills his team by not creating offensive balance. He might be the most overrated coach in the NFL and his decision to bench McNabb might not only cost him the playoffs this season, but also his job in Philadelphia. If McNabb goes, shouldn’t Reid, too?

      NFL

      Could we see an all-New York Super Bowl?

      November 24, 2008 /

      Brett FavreWith their back-to-back road wins over the Patriots and previously unbeaten Titans the past two weeks, the talk of the NFL world is now Brett Favre and the New York Jets. Some are even suggesting that the J.E.T.S, Jets, Jets, Jets are even the best team in the AFC right now.

      While there is still some debate over which team is the best in the AFC (remember, the Titans are still pretty damn good at 10-1), there’s no question that the New York Giants are the top team in the NFC, especially after they knocked off the Arizona Cardinals in Glendale on Sunday.

      What are the chances that we could see an all-New York Super Bowl come January?

      Let’s look at the Giants first. With their win over the Cards, they improved to a conference-best 10-1 on the year and sit comfortably atop the NFC East Division by three games with only five remaining. However, they have a tough schedule down the stretch: at Washington, vs. Philadelphia, at Dallas, vs. Carolina, at Minnesota. NFC East games are always tough, and the Panthers and Vikings will be competing for playoff berths themselves, so they won’t be pushovers either.

      Barring a total collapse, the G-Men will make the playoffs and of the top teams in the NFC – Arizona, Carolina, Tampa Bay, Dallas, Washington, Atlanta – nobody outside of maybe the surging Cowboys should scare the Giants. (Although the Bucs’ defense should keep o-coordinators up at night.)

      Conversely, the Jets have an easier road. They play the inconsistent Broncos next week, travel to San Fran, home against Buffalo, at Seattle and home against Miami to end the season. Considering they just crushed the Titans, one could probably assume the Jets finish no worse than 11-5.

      Eli ManningThe one main thing to consider in all of this is that the Jets would have a tough road in the postseason. The Steelers are flawed, but they’re a veteran team with a solid defense, while the Pats and Colts remain dangerous, although they’re more beatable now than ever. And if the Jets have to go back to LP Field, they can probably bet the Tennessee defense won’t surrender 400 total yards like it did Sunday.

      Still, the possibility of an all-NY Super Bowl is a reality and it would be a cool sight come playoff time. And think about the story lines: Favre leads Jets to Super Bowl; Giants try to defend title; Clash of New York; etc, etc.

      It’s fun to think about the scenario.

      NFL

      Matt Ryan the greatest rookie quarterback ever?

      November 24, 2008 /

      Mark Bradley of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes that we are watching the greatest rookie quarterback to ever play in the NFL in the Falcons’ Matt Ryan.

      Matt RyanTom Brady threw three passes his rookie season; Brett Favre threw four. Bart Starr and Joe Montana each started one game as rookies. Troy Aikman had to be benched midway through, having gone 0-11 as a starter. Peyton Manning threw 28 interceptions his first season. John Elway completed 47.5 percent of his rookie passes, Terry Bradshaw 38.1 percent.

      Joe Namath was 3-5-1 as a lavishly salaried — he was making $400,000 — rookie. Fran Tarkenton was 2-8 as a first-year starter; Johnny Unitas was 4-3, Bob Griese 3-7. Ben Roethlisberger was 13-0 as a rookie quarterback on a loaded Pittsburgh team but didn’t start until Week 3. Sammy Baugh made All-Pro as a rookie but threw six more interceptions than touchdown passes. Bob Waterfield was league MVP as a rookie but started only four games. (Doubtless he got bonus points for being married to Jane Russell.)

      Dan Marino is considered the gold standard of rookie quarterbacks, but his first start only came in Week 6, and he joined a team that had reached the Super Bowl the previous season. And now we consider Matt Ryan, who has started from Day 1 for a dilapidated team the Sporting News pegged to finish 1-15, who stands now as the chief reason the refurbished Falcons are 7-4.

      Ryan has been unbelievable, but I think we should wait until the end of the year before making claims that he’s the best rookie quarterback ever. What Big Ben did his rookie year was pretty astonishing, although Bradley’s point about him playing on an already stacked Steelers team is just. Still, Ryan still has five games left and if he leads the Falcons to the playoffs, then maybe we can talk about him being the greatest ever.

      That said, he is absolutely remarkable. Pundits figured the Falcons would win no more than two or three games not only because Ryan is a rookie, but also because the roster is devoid of overall talent. But with a little help from Michael Turner, John Abraham and Roddy White, Ryan has done some amazing things as a rookie. His poise, confidence and demeanor have been incredibly impressive and he looks like he has a bright future ahead of him.

      Fantasy Football, NFL

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