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      Fantasy Fallout: Week 8

      October 27, 2008 /

      QUARTERBACKS

      Ben Roethlisberger (189 yards, TD, 4 INT) had a rough day against the Giants, who sacked him five times. Big Ben’s schedule doesn’t get any easier with two upcoming games against the Redskins and Colts, two teams with better than average pass defenses…Brad Johnson (122 yards, TD) got the Cowboys a win, but he didn’t post very good fantasy numbers. A semi-tough matchup with the Giants next week isn’t very inspiring…The Lions hung around, but Jason Campbell (328 yards, TD) was very solid in the win…Trent Edwards (227 yards, INT) was a disappointment against a mediocre Dolphins pass defense…Marc Bulger (301 yards, TD, INT) is looking more comfortable leading the Rams. He has posted decent fantasy numbers the last two weeks against good competition…Matt Ryan (277 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT) continues to impress and is developing a great rapport with Roddy White (8-113-2)…David Garrard (283 yards, 2 TD) played really well against a Browns defense that has done a pretty good job against the pass this season…Derek Anderson (246 yards, TD) was pretty solid in the win, so it looks like he bought himself at least another week as the starter.

      RUNNING BACKS

      DeAngelo Williams (19 touches, 123 yards, TD) got the lion’s share of the carries this week. It’s tough to tell who’s going to get most of the work week-to-week in the Carolina running game…The Bills seem to be lightening the load of Marshawn Lynch (18 touches, 95 yards, TD) by using Fred Jackson (11 touches, 42 yards) quite a bit, even around the goal line…LaDainian Tomlinson (24 touches, 170 yards, TD) had his first good game in a month. The schedule is looking up after the bye with four good matchups over the next six weeks…Deuce McAllister (22 touches, 85 yards, TD) was the feature back with Reggie Bush out, but keep an eye on his eligibility as the league decides what to do with the report about his failing a drug test. If he’s suspended, Pierre Thomas (3 carries, 28 yards) and Aaron Stecker (7 touches, 36 yards) would both get extra work…Kolby Smith (13 touches, 30 yards) got more work, but Jamaal Charles (6 touches, 49 yards) was more effective…Michael Turner (17 carries, 58 yards) continues to struggle against good defenses and play great against bad defenses. He doesn’t get enough work in the passing game to make him a good play against a stout run D. He has two great matchups over the next three weeks, but then things are ugly down the stretch. He might be a guy to sell high in the next week or two, as he faces Tampa Bay and Minnesota in Weeks 15 and 16…Brian Westbrook (28 touches, 209 yards, 2 TD) is back and looks great…Maurice Jones-Drew (15 touches, 48 yards) and Fred Taylor (8 carries, 24 yards) just never got on track against the Browns…Jamal Lewis (20 carries, 81 yards, TD) looked solid against the Jags, and after a tough matchup with the Ravens next week, his schedule is looking pretty nice.

      WIDE RECEIVERS

      While Steve Smith (5-117-2) had a huge game, Muhsin Muhammad (5-38) dropped a sure TD early in the game…Anquan Boldin (9-63-2) returned with a big fantasy line and Larry Fitzgerald (7-115) did well in PPR leagues…Terrell Owens (5-33) continues to struggle and Roy Williams (2-10-1) didn’t do much better, though he did catch a TD…Santana Moss (9-140-1, return TD) looked great in a win and appears to be a big part of the Redskins’ attack once again…Chris Chambers (5-47) returned, but it was Vincent Jackson (4-60-1) who scored. It’s not clear who is the top WR option in San Diego…Jerricho Cotchery (9-102) was iffy heading into the game but finished with great PPR numbers…Andre Johnson (11-143) and Kevin Walter (5-70-2) chewed up the Bengals secondary…Plaxico Burress (3-15) didn’t start as part of a disciplinary measure for not getting treatment on his neck. Hopefully, he’ll fall into line, but he’s always been kind of a prima donna.

      TIGHT ENDS

      Jason Witten injured his ribs and finished with just one catch for eight yards. Don’t be surprised if he takes a week off to give himself two weeks to heal. More will be known about the severity of the injury later in the week…Jeremy Shockey (1-6) was active for the game, but he wasn’t very active. Billy Miller (7-82) outshined him…Don’t worry about Tony Gonzalez (6-79-1) flaking out because he wasn’t traded. The guy is a pro and he understands the best way to find a new home this offseason is to continue to play his heart out…Owen Daniels (3-21) had a surprisingly quiet day considering all the success the Texans had against the Bengals’ pass defense

      FREE AGENTS

      Now, for a look at a few players that probably aren’t owned in your league.

      Ted Ginn (7-175) had a breakout game. Excluding a dismal Week 6 against the Texans, he’s averaging 5.8-82 over his last four games. Maybe he’s turning the corner…Rookie Chaz Schilens (3-76) appears to be the Raiders’ most dangerous receiving threat. He and JaMarcus Russell hooked up on a 60-yard bomb that nearly went for a TD…Mike Furrey was held catchless while Shaun McDonald (5-68) filled the role of WR2 for the Lions…Antonio Pittman (22 touches, 105 yards) was the main back with Steven Jackson out…Donnie Avery (6-163-1) has now caught 14 passes for 291 yards and 2 TD over the last three weeks and seems to be making a push for Torry Holt’s claim as the WR1 in St. Louis…Kevin Faulk (17 touches, 107 yards, TD) will probably be the back that gets the most touches as long as Sammy Morris and LaMont Jordan are out…Lance Moore (6-90-1) was cut in some leagues but is still a big part of the New Orleans attack, especially with Reggie Bush sidelined…Now that he knows that the starting job is his, Tyler Thigpen (280 yards, 2 TD) seems more comfortable leading the Chiefs and he has a couple of good weapons in the passing game to throw to in Dwayne Bowe and Tony Gonzalez. If you’re desperate at QB, Thigpen has four good matchups over the last seven weeks and has great matchups during the fantasy playoffs…Don’t get too excited about Leon Washington’s (6 touches, 101 yards, 2 TD) big game. He’s more explosive than Thomas Jones, but the Jets seem committed to TJ as their starter. TJ owners should definitely own Washington as a handcuff, however…Mewelde Moore (21 touches, 94 yards, TD) was cut in some leagues and, as long as Wilie Parker is out, he is a starting fantasy RB…Seneca Wallace (222 yards, 2 TD) was much better than expected as he led the Seahawks to a much needed win in San Francisco…Shaun Hill (173 yards, TD) played pretty well in relief of J.T. O’Sullivan, who was yanked prior to halftime.

      Fantasy Football, NFL

      Game 4 was a must win for Rays

      October 26, 2008 /

      Joe BlantonMy title is stupid – all wins in the World Series are “must wins.” But surely you catch my drift – the Rays dropping Game 4 to the Phillies was incredibly detrimental to them winning a championship.

      Even though Tampa isn’t used to the weather they’ve seen the past two games, the cold had nothing to do with why they lost 10-2 Sunday night. Philadelphia was just better and Joe Blanton (a castoff in Oakland before he was traded at the deadline) deserves a ton of credit for mixing up his pitches and keeping the Rays’ hitters off balance the entire night. Tampa just has to tip their hats to the Phils tonight for knocking around Andy Sonnanstine, who is a young, developing pitcher who had won each of his previous two postseason starts.

      There’s no other way to put it – the Rays are in major trouble. Not only are they down 3-1 in the series, but they also have to face Cole Hamels – who has been nothing short of sensational – on Monday night. Crazier things have happened, but playing at home and with Hamels on the hill, the Phillies seem destined to close this thing out.

      MLB

      Report: Vikings DT’s Pat Williams and Kevin Williams face suspension

      October 26, 2008 /

      Earlier this week, reports surfaced that Saints’ players Deuce McAllister, Charles Grant tested positive for league-banned substances and could face suspensions. Now apparently Pat Williams and Kevin Williams of the Vikings also face suspensions according to Jay Glazer of FOX Sports.

      FOX Sports has learned that both of the Minnesota Vikings’ Pro Bowl defensive tackles, Kevin Williams and Pat Williams, are also facing suspensions for testing positive for the same product. Losing one of the Williams would be a major blow to the Vikings but to possibly lose both would serve as a major blow to the NFC North contenders.

      The Williams aren’t the only defensive tackles facing the penalty as well. FOX Sports has also learned that the Falcons’ Grady Jackson tested positive for the water pill and is facing a four-game ban just like the other players who are currently fighting the suspension.

      Water pills are deemed illegal in the NFL because they can be used to mask positive steroid tests. However, considering the players who have tested positive, the intent appears to be to cut weight, and not for a masking agent.

      Many of the players who have taken the product have long used water pills in order to make weight as the show up to camp or in order to make certain weight on a weekly basis. Guys like the Williams duo, Grady Jackson, Charles Grant appear on the surface to clearly fall under this reasoning.

      It’s a shame that players who use such pills, which are readily available at drug stores and health food stores, are swept in the same category as those who try test positive for juicing.

      Some reports have incorrectly stated that these players have test positive for steroids, but water diuretics aren’t in the same class and certainly don’t have the same affects. But the problem is that they can be used to mask other performance-enhancing drugs (including steroids) and the league can’t decipher which players are using the diuretics to cut weight, and which ones are using them to hide the use of other drugs. Unfortunately there might not be an easy answer to resolve the problem, either.

      NFL

      Browns aren’t dead – Derek Anderson continues to hang onto job

      October 26, 2008 /

      Cleveland BrownsNot that the Jaguars have been that impressive this season, but the Browns 23-17 win in Jacksonville might have been the best upset of Week 8.

      Without tight end Kellen Winslow, Derek Anderson still managed to throw for 246 yards and a touchdown, amassing 168 yards in the first half alone. He hit for big plays all afternoon including a of 51-yard completion to Steve Heiden on a fourth down play, a 43-yard strike to Braylon Edwards that set up a field goal, and a 53-yard connection with Syndric Steptoe in the fourth quarter to set up a Phil Dawson field goal with less than five minutes remaining.

      Cleveland has now won three of their last four games and were close to coming away with a win last week in Washington. With the Steelers losing to the Giants, the Browns are far from dead and have shown signs of life since starting the season 0-3.

      The Jaguars might be the hardest team to figure out in the NFL. They started off 0-2, but showed some mettle in close wins over the Colts and Texans to get to 2-2. But they weren’t sharp in a loss to the Steelers in Week 5, then followed that performance with an impressive win over the Broncos in Denver. Now they sit 3-4 after their loss to the Browns.

      Are the Jags are a playoff team lying in the weeds or are they underachievers that would be lucky to finish 9-7? One thing is for sure, this team isn’t running the ball anywhere close to what they had been in previous years and the passing game simply isn’t good enough to overcome it.

      Fantasy Football, NFL

      Steelers collapse against Giants could come back to haunt them

      October 26, 2008 /

      Steelers-GiantsThere are times throughout a season when a team can look back at a game they should have won and it wound up costing them a spot in the playoffs. Considering they don’t play in the toughest division, the Steelers might be a lock to make the postseason anyway, but their 21-14 loss to the Giants on Sunday could come back to bite them in the ass.

      The game was far from over when Pittsburgh had a 14-9 lead early in the fourth quarter, but they had been in control. The defense was flustering Eli Manning and the Giants couldn’t get their run game going. But while facing a 4th and 5 from New York’s 34-yard line with 14 minutes remaining, Steelers’ head coach Mike Tomlin decided to go for it instead of attempting a long field goal or pinning the Giants back with a punt. Ben Roethlisberger was then intercepted and on the change of possession, NY drove 62 yards and cut their deficit to 14-12 after a John Carney field goal.

      On the Steelers next possession, punter Mitch Berger had the snap fly over his head and out the back of the end zone for a safety. All of a sudden the game was tied and the air was sucked out of Heinz Field. The Giants then marched 53 yards on seven plays and Manning found Kevin Boss for a 2-yard touchdown pass.

      Pittsburgh never recovered.

      Not to take anything away from the Giants, but the Steelers blew an opportunity to only take a commanding lead in their division, but also beat a very good team and keep pace with the other elite teams in the AFC. Penalties, turnovers and some questionable coaching decisions cost Pittsburgh a win and spoiled an otherwise great defensive effort.

      Hand it to Eli and the Giants for hanging tough and coming away with a huge road win. They didn’t look sharp at times, but then again Pittsburgh’s defense is still one of the best in the league. Good teams find ways to win games when they don’t play to their capabilities and the G-Men did that on Sunday.

      Fantasy Football, NFL

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