Fantasy Football: Cho Knows, So Pick’em Up!!

What an important part of the season we have already come upon. Most of us as managers have an idea of if we will be making the playoffs or not, but please please PLEASE DO NOT QUIT! The last thing other managers want to see is their playoffs being decided by teams that aren’t at least sporting full lineups (unless of course you’re the one facing that team, haha)!

Okay, with that out of the way, something that I think is very important right around now is to start looking at the playoff weeks in your fantasy league. Most playoffs take place from weeks 14 to 16, especially because week 17 usually sports non-starters for playoff bound teams int he NFL. Another thing to do, especially this week, is to make any trade offers or deals that you are wanting to make as this week is the deadline for standard Yahoo leagues.

There are a few players that I wanted to note before going into some FA and Waiver Wire pickups that I am really trying to figure out. I am noting them because each was supposed to be elite at their position this year, and well, it hasn’t exactly worked out that way. I’ll tell you my thoughts on what you ought to do.

Chris Johnson (RB-TEN): I really can’t explain what is going on with this guy. CJ2k? Not likely at all. He currently sports just over 40 yards per game at 2.8 yards per carry. I don’t want to beat a dead horse (that statement would’ve been funny if Johnson was a Colt), but it is now time to panic. Against the Colts porous rush defense, CJ couldn’t muster up even a decent game. He’s so busy blaming everybody else for his troubles, but his backup Javon Ringer seemed to do just fine in the same offense with the same guys blocking for him. Am I giving up on CJ completely? I actually went back and watched some highlights from his monster year two years ago, and even last year where he still played pretty well. This year, he looks very different. Blame it on missing training camp or whatever, but he just doesn’t look like he wants to play. You can’t drop CJ outright, but he has shown that even WITH a choice matchup, he is not trustworthy. What to do? See if there’s a manager in your league willing to “buy low” on CJ based on past stats and address a need in your lineup.

Phillip Rivers (QB-SD): Here is another guy that was supposed to be a must-start weekly stud at his position. He’s averaging the 16th most fantasy points per game (17th if you consider Chad Henne’s pre-injury numbers). That is absolutely mind-boggling! There have been conjectures of injury, but both Rivers and his coach claim he is 100% healthy. I almost wish there was an injury to explain what exactly is going on as Rivers is now leading the NFL in interceptions as well. I love Rivers, but I’m not so sure I can call him a weekly must-start anymore when he’s scoring less per game than Mark Sanchez and Josh Freeman. What to do? I believe in Rivers far more than I do in the aforementioned Chris Johnson. I was looking for zip on Rivers throws yesterday night, and he still definitely has the arm. He also is on a pass-first offense with great receivers and an elite tight end in Antonio Gates. I see much better weeks ahead. Hold onto him, but if you have a capable backup like Matt Schaub, you may want to check matchups before deciding to go with Rivers.

Vernon Davis (TE-SF): I feel bad adding Vernon Davis to this list because his lackluster fantasy value lately is not a result of something that he has done. Rather, his situation is just not a good one. Can you imagine this beast on a team like New Orleans Saints? I have no doubt he’d be doing better than Jimmy Graham is right now. I love this guy, and he’s still one of the best and physically gifted tight ends in the game. Unfortunately, that doesn’t translate into fantasy points. He’s currently the 12th ranked tight end, which means he’s not even a weekly starter in standard 10-team leagues. With the conservative offense of the 49ers, I can’t trust anyone in San Francisco but the defense and Frank Gore. What to do? He’s still worth holding onto, but if there is a guy on free agency like Fred Davis or Greg Olsen, I’d consider picking them up and playing them based on matchups. I made the difficult decision to bench Vernon Davis this past week and played Fred Davis instead (which ended up being the game-winning decision in a close matchup). Again, no knock on Vernon Davis, but there may be better options depending on the matchup.

Potential Adds (Players are placed in order of value from left to right):

QB: Carson Palmer (OAK), Matt Cassel (KC), Andy Dalton (CIN)

WR: Michael Crabtree (SF), Jonathan Baldwin (KC), Greg Little (CLE), Laurent Robinson (DAL)

RB: Chris Ogbonnaya (CLE), Kevin Faulk (NE), Javon Ringer (TEN)

TE: Scott Chandler (BUF), Jake Ballard (NYG), Jared Cook (TEN)

DEF: ATL v. IND

What to do, what to do? Week 7

Each week before the weekend of games, I’m going to share about one tough decision I need to make in one of my leagues. Why? Perhaps it may be helpful to see my thought process as I go about making the decision, and if any of you faithful readers out there would like to chime in, I’d be much obliged.

Here’s my “What to do, what to do?” for Week 7.

Standard Yahoo League 8-Teams, playing for steaks. Current record: 4-2.

I had it all set up a couple weeks ago. Here was my roster in Week 5 (and yes, it is good to plan weeks ahead and even strategically during your fantasy draft).

Looking at my lineup for Week 7, I knew that I would need some bye-weeks that I would have to account for: Michael Vick (QB-PHI), Hakeem Nicks (WR-NYG), Jeremy Maclin (WR-PHI), and Vernon Davis (TE-SF).

I was lucky to snap Ben Roethlisberger (QB-PIT) as a bye-week fill-in against Arizona’s porous secondary for Vick’s bye, which I was very happy about. To round out my WR’s, which would be my most glaring need, I had picked up Julio Jones and crossed my fingers that Andre Johnson would be back in time for this. Unfortunately, instead, Julio Jones also got hurt. Which left me with Dwayne Bowe (WR-KC) as my only starting WR. What to do, what to do?

The biggest ordeal was who I could or should drop in order to pick up two WR’s that would actually be playing this week. I had Ryan Torain and Mark Ingram as pickups because Week 8 would present yet another bye-week ordeal as Matt Forte (RB-CHI) and Darren McFadden (RB-OAK) would both be off. I saw Ingram’s matchup against St. Louis and Torain’s rise to #1RB in Washington as decent enough fill-ins. But again, every week is so important, and I had to make a move. So the decision was made. I would drop Julio Jones (WR-ATL) if he was too injured to play this week, even though I see long-term value for the season, and I would also drop Ingram (RB-NO) despite his soft opponents in St. Louis Week 8.

The choices in Free Agency weren’t all too attractive, especially to find two WR’s that I could start with any confidence. The biggest names that jumped out that were still available were Eric Decker (WR-DEN), James Jones (WR-GB), Darrius Heyward-Bey (WR-OAK), Doug Baldwin (WR-SEA), Torrey Smith (WR-BAL), Arrelious Benn (WR-TB), Denarius Moore (WR-OAK).

High Upside Youth: I thought about picking up Moore, Smith, Benn or Baldwin because they are youngsters, who have shown good upside. Especially with Smith, there’s always potential for a big-time play in Baltimore. Benn has been building rapport with fellow youngster Josh Freeman, and also has shown a knack for big-play. Baldwin seems the most consistent on the Seahawks and Moore, well, a lot of people got big on him and then he disappeared (though he clearly did show what he could do given the touches). I like high upside, but these guys are too inconsistent. In fact, I also throw Jones into this group, though he’s not quite so young anymore. He’s like a Devery Henderson type that can be “boom or bust,” and I’m not sure how many looks he’ll get this week.

Up-n-Comers with new QB’s: Could Heyward-Bey finally be panning out? Would the trade for Palmer help him to build on top of his most impressive three game streak? He has been very consistent the past few weeks, and that had my attention. Meanwhile, Decker, though having some good weeks, disappeared last week for NEGATIVE points. Not only that, he also has a new QB in Tim Tebow this week; would they mesh together?

Outcome: For the time being, I’ve opted to go with the latter group, Heyward-Bey and Decker. It’s not that I have the utmost confidence in them, but I feel that they are in the best position to succeed this week when comparing them to the others. So this week, I will have Dwayne Bowe (KC), Heyward-Bey (OAK) and Eric Decker (DEN) as my starting WR’s. Lord, help me, haha. Let me know your thoughts!

Cho Knows, So Pick’em Up! Week 7

Lloyd to the Show-Me State

The first big trade of the year has happened, and it involves someone from my very own alma mater, The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Lloyd has had an enigmatic career in the NFL, seemingly exploding onto the season here and there and then managing to disappear as quickly as he sparked. But last year was different. With the help of Denver coach Josh McDaniels and a QB that loved getting him the ball, Lloyd turned in the best year of his career, putting up consistent numbers week in and week out.

I like it when you do that right thurr.

He rejoins that coach now in St. Louis, where McDaniels has taken on the offensive coordinator position. The Rams have been looking for a WR1 who young QB Sam Bradford can throw to with confidence. I believe they’ve found their man in Brandon Lloyd. His fantasy value actually rises now in light of Tebow taking over the reins in Denver as Bradford is much more accurate a passer. Look for Lloyd to make an immediate impact.

As for the other players affected in Denver, WR Decker remains the possession receiver, WR Royal should return to the slot and so the question remains who will be the big-play guy. As the Broncos have opted to go young, I wouldn’t be surprised to see WR Demaryius Thomas step into that role. He has shown flashes of his potential when healthy, and he is on the verge of returning as this deal has gone through. I would wait to see how Tebow spreads the ball this upcoming week, however, before employing an Broncos receivers.

Here are some quick names to consider adding to your roster this week:

QB: Tim Tebow (DEN) - It’s his show now in Denver, and I do believe that he will find success and prove haters wrong (I hope). The trade of Lloyd does take away a deep threat of his, but now he will have time to gel and grow with a younger WR core. Look back at his games started, and one stat you should enjoy is the number of times this guy crosses the endzone via his feet.

Matt Cassel (KC) - With veteran Jackie Battle splashing onto the scene with a decent run game and rookie WR Baldwin healing up, Cassel has room for consistency. We all know that Dwayne Bowe is the man in KC, and with the added pieces, Cassel should be able to finish the season strong.

WR: Jacoby Jones (HOU) - Jones did show some success last year when fellow WR Andre Johnson went down. And after an uneventful start in place of Johnson last week, Jones showed that he can play this past week. There’s talk that Johnson could possibly return this week, but Houston may opt to ease their stud back in. If they opt for the safe route, Jones could be a good play this week.

Steve Breaston (KC) - Baldwin will soon return, but Breaston has shown that he can play well. Look for him to build upon his 2-TD game with some solid yardage games. Cassel looks more and more comfortable leading the Chiefs offense.

Torrey Smith (BAL) - He made a big splash onto the scene eclipsing the rookie record for touchdowns in a quarter. And then, well, he showed why you can’t trust rookies (which I tried to guard you against). However, after seeing the youngster play this past week with another big grab and a decent day of yardage. If I were the Ravens, even with Lee Evans getting healthy, it would be hard for me to sit this guy. Take a flier on this guy if you have space and see if the coaching staff doesn’t look to keep him in.

Arrelious Benn (TB) - I get to write about another player from my Fighting Illini!! Last year, Mike Williams is the one who emerged as Josh Freeman’s favorite target. However, it was a battle for that spot and many actually had Benn as the better of the two skill-wise. Maybe Benn just needed a year to put it altogether because he has come on as of late. I’d take a chance on him and see if Freeman doesn’t start looking his way more. If Benn’s targets go up, I’m excited to see what he’ll do with them.

RB: Jackie Battle (KC) - If he’s still available, please get your waiver claim in on him. (I talked about him in last week’s post).

DeMarco Murray/Tashard Choice (DAL) - What a rough year it has been for Felix Jones owners (and also for Jones himself). He is hurt yet again, and it looks like the rookie may get some time to shine. Limit your expectations a bit, however, as Choice is still also a relatively young guy that has shown some potential to succeed. The Cowboys will probably do some type of time-share, but see how things pan out.

Maurice Morris (DET) - Jahvid Best suffered a concussion this past weekend, and Morris is second in line for the “lion”-share of the carries in Detroit. He’s not as talented as Best, but he has the receiving skills to offer up good value, especially in PPR leagues.

TE: Fred Davis (WAS) - I’ve mentioned Davis in a previous post, but now with another injury to Chris Cooley, look for Davis to be a lot more involved in the passing game. He should receive all the targets now at the TE position. I believe that Grossman will stay at QB despite a dismal Week 6, and that actually bodes better for Davis, who has a connection with Grossman. I like the possibilities for Davis with Cooley out.

 

I hope everybody’s fantasy season is going well and that you’re still in contention for the playoffs! Remember, it’s never too late to make a move!

Battle-Tested, Battle-Ready?

In the deepest of leagues (16-team full-team keeper), I was on the lookout for a RB to play because Ray Rice and Steven Jackson were on their byes. I scoured news sources and found a potential candidate in Kansas City… Yes! Kansas City of all places!! The land where Jamaal Charles once reigned supreme as a top-5 RB. It was now a land that had been relegated to a two-headed, not-so-intimidating monster. Dexter McCluster, who I had pushed for because of his playmaking ability (comparatively to Thomas Jones) and Jones, who is a “seasoned” vet with not much left in the oven. Enter news about a not-so-known player named Jackie Battle, a veteran who has spent most of his time in special teams. In Week 4, he had shown some burst and ability to extend drives, and what do the Chiefs have to lose in playing this guy? Week 5 made a statement and a case that Jackie may indeed be Battle-ready. I was rewarded by fine play, despite not finding paydirt.

Battle-Tested, Battle-Ready

Week 5 Stats: 119 yards rushing and 2 receptions for 21 yards. Not only did he make the most of his carries, he received more than the two aforementioned RB’s in Kansas City. Granted he tweaked his ankle a bit by the end of the game, and that this performance came against the Colts, but with a Week 6 bye, I see him being the majority stake-holder in the Kansas City backfield once the Chiefs head back onto the field. Make him a pickup if you need help at RB or have dead weight you’ve been looking to drop.

Another thing to note, we saw New England RB Stevan Ridley put up some paltry numbers, while his fellow running mate BGE get some major ones. I cautioned owners, who were quick to think Ridley would be their backfield savior. He’s still a guy I keep on my squad, but don’t see much changing in running back use unless a significant injury occurs to Green-Ellis.

Here’s a quick list of people to target early on this week on the waiver-wire:

QB – Alex Smith (SF): He doesn’t put up gaudy numbers, but he has been efficient and doesn’t hurt you. As they get some key pieces of the passing game back and as Gore continues to grow stronger in the run, Smith has some choice matchups coming in the next 4 to 6 weeks, which includes NYG and the AZ Cardinals; Tim Tebow (DEN) - John Fox has been hush hush about whether Tebow will indeed start over Orton when the Broncos play their next game, but any sane person would be able to guess that he will be. He may not be the most technically sound QB, but he is a winner, and he can energize and lead a team. Not only that, but he can lead your fantasy team as well, showing his affinity for running the ball whenever he sees the opportunity. He isn’t an every-week start going forward, but he’ll be a fun one for certain.

RB - Jackie Battle (KC) – for reasons mentioned above; James Starks (GB) – he still needs to be owned in all leagues because he is the hotter hand in a very potent offense. I loved seeing him catch a few screen passes as well; Donald Brown/Delone Carter (IND) - News is that Addai will miss 1-3 weeks with a, you guessed it, hamstring injury. I see Brown making the bigger impact in his absence, but look for Carter to find some time as well. I’d stash Brown and see what happens, as I like him better of the two.

WR – Pierre Garcon (IND) - Am I a believer? No, but I can’t get over the fact that Painter has targeted Garcon most of all of his receivers. Garcon is still known for drops, but if he gets enough looks and looks-deep while Wayne garners most of the defensive attention, he may have some success to continue building upon; Darrius Heyward-Bey (OAK) - People know this guy has speed, but they’ve been waiting for him to put it together. Could this be the year? I’m not sold yet, but he’s someone who has put together two pretty solid games, and if you’re looking for WR help, he’s a guy to stash. I like him more than Moore and Ford, who are more owned in standard Yahoo leagues. James Jones (GB) - The two guys I trust most in the receiving core of Green Bay are TE Finley and WR Jennings. Jones splashed on to the scene Sunday night, but it was Jordy Nelson in weeks previous. Again, for a high-powered offense, you just never know who will have the biggest day, so he’s not an every week start. But, again, this is a prolific pass-first offense, which should show a lot of love to all receivers; Malcom Floyd (SD) - He has shown ability, even while Jackson was out last year. Now Jackson is back, and as he draws the defenders, Floyd has enough talent to exploit secondary corners. He’s owned in less than 60% of leagues, and I think that needs to change because this guy has some good games in store.

TE – Jermaine Gresham (CIN) - I’ve mentioned Gresham in a previous post, and I still love the guy. He’s been proving great chemistry with Dalton, and he’s such an athletic TE, that I see the success continuing. Did you see that play this past week? The guy soared up in the air and brought one down like it was nothing. Dalton will continue to trust in his big friend, both as a safety valve and as a weapon. Go and get him.

**Be on the lookout for more posts soon!

Wells! Gore!! FTW!!!???

Wells of Life!!

Absolute GOREdom!

When you look at these two pictures, there are one of two likely responses:

1) “THANK YOU FOR PLAYING YOUR HEARTS OUT!!! I WON MY WEEK BECAUSE OF YOU!!”

2) “THANK YOU FOR PLAYING YOUR HEARTS OUT…. ON MY BENCH!!! I HATE YOU!!!! I HATE YOU!!!!”

After many news reports from both camps in Arizona and San Francisco, the usual health concerns fantasy owners have for both Wells and Gore, many left these two on the bench. How did they respond? Both turned in their best performances of the 2011 NFL season.

I must admit that I actually had both on a team, where I would have normally started Frank Gore as a RB2 and Beanie Wells at the flex. They got me 50 points… on my bench… It’s always better safe than sorry, and so I went instead with James Starks (GB) and Tim Hightower (WAS), who of course led many owners to be “Shanahanned…”

Roll with the punches, my friends, roll with the punches. As crushed as some of us may have been, these are the types of things that make Fantasy Football the most exciting of all fantasy sports. Anything can happen!

With that being said, here are a list of some RB’s that I think need to be added at least to see how things pan out:

Ryan Torain (WAS) - Good old Mike Shanahan is at it again. Much to the frustration of fantasy owners everywhere, we saw Torain hop onto the scene seemingly out of nowhere! Hightower had a shoulder injury in this game, but we all know that Shanahan likes to change things up a lot at running back. This could be a  temporary permanent change, and if it is a long, temporary time, you want in because Torain has shown success before.

Mark Ingram (NO) - Yes, there are 3 RB’s currently getting time in New Orleans, but I like that Ingram saw the most carries. I truly believe that the Saints will continue to increase the youngster’s role as the season goes forward. He’d be a good bye-week fill-in for owners who are looking.

Stevan Ridley (NE) - Look, it was against the Raiders, so don’t get too excited. There was also the fact that Benjarvis Green-Ellis got more carries. He’s a speculative add, but not someone who I’m going to plug and chug away with as a starter each week. See how he’s used going forward.

Kendall Hunter (SF) - He’s getting more involved, and he even got the “start,” though Gore clearly outplayed and outworked the youngster. Unless Gore gets hurt, he’ll retain minimal value; however, we all know Gore’s injury history, so it’s very possible that it can happen soon.

Look for more posts throughout the week!

 

Cho Knows, So Pick’em Up!! Week 4

“Aww man! I knew I should have played Dwayne Bowe over Kenny Britt this week!” We’ve all said something or thought something like this before in frustration of watching one of our top players being lost to injury during the game and costing us a win. But rather than complaining about it, the wise manager will already be thinking about their next move to replace said player and improve their squad.

It’s not easy to replace players of the caliber of a Jamaal Charles or Kenny Britt, and I actually know a manager who had both on his team, which is killer…  But again, wisdom says look forward and do what you gotta do. So here goes with Week 4′s Cho Knows!

Quarterbacks – Week of the Obvious

Kevin Kolb (AZ) - I think people are beginning to jump ship on this guy a bit too quickly. He has a stud WR in Fitzgerald and when Beanie is playing, a pretty good run game. Not only that, remember that Arizona’s defense is suspect and will result in the need to throw often coming from behind. These are good ingredients for QB success. Owned in just over 80% of leagues, he’s worth an add.

Josh Freeman (TB)

Consistency

- This guy has been consistent throughout his young NFL career in terms of fantasy football stats. If you’re the type of guy that wants to know what he’s going to get in week in and week out, he’s your man. He’ll get you about 15 fantasy points a game, and honestly, check out last year’s QB rankings. You’ll be surprised to find Freeman in the top ten. Like Kolb, he’s owned in just over 80% of leagues.

Cam Newton (CAR) – I mentioned last week, while everyone was still so high on Newton, that owners needed to temper expectations going forward. This proved very true this past week, although it wasn’t as if the rookie had a horrible game. He’s still worth an add if he’s somehow sitting on your Free Agency.

Wide Receivers – “Britt”-le Knee & Young Guns

Nate Washington (TEN) - Losing Kenny Britt (who I believe would have been a top-5 WR if he remained healthy) is a huge loss for any team. But the loss of Britt highlights another wide receiver in Tennessee who hasn’t gotten much love. Washington has been having the best year of his career, and I don’t see it dropping off too much with the loss of Britt. After Britt went down, Washington showed that he could still hold his own. He’s not one of the “young guns” that I’ll be mentioning later, but he’s a quality WR that could be a good WR3 play for the rest of the year, especially with good matchups.

Eric Decker (DEN)

Double Decker Supreme

- This may be your last shot at picking this guy up. I mentioned him in my previous post, but this past week seals it for me. With Eddie Royal out, and even with Brandon Lloyd back in, Decker managed double-digit targets en route to a good day. I think he’s here to stay in the Denver passing game, and Decker definitely should be started as a WR3 in 10-team leagues.

Malcom Floyd (SD) - I know that Vincent Jackson is the big name, and yes, he is the big target. However, I think people are dropping Floyd too quickly. He got through last week, and as long as he’s healthy, he’s going to be an active part of the passing game, especially if Gates is out for several weeks (as it seems he will be). Don’t expect MONSTER numbers, but playing aside VJax, I can see some good games in his future.

Torrey Smith (BAL) - I mention Smith last because it would be irresponsible of me to at least say something about the rookie that made the biggest splash in Week 3. However, I don’t see him even being an immediate starter. Yes, he had 3 Td’s, but this was without Lee Evans, and it wasn’t against a very good secondary. I’m sure they’ll try to get him more involved, but this team is still run through Ray Rice, and I believe it has room for one good fantasy WR, which of course in this case is Boldin. Pick him up if you have the space, but don’t give up any proven players to pick up Smith.

Running Back – It’s All Speculation

Dexter McCluster/Thomas Jones (KC) - Both are still worth an add if you’re hurting. It’s clear that Jones got the majority of touches, but McCluster showed that he’s the more explosive player. Again, I’d go with McCluster here, but only because I’m much more of an upside guy. KC would be smart to get the ball in McCluster’s hands more.

Monterio Hardesty (CLE) - Hillis is definitely still a beast, but I see Cleveland getting Hardesty, who they drafted last year in the 2nd round, much more involved. In fact, it looks like they’re looking to make a RB committee. Hillis owners will not be happy, but those who pick up Hardesty may have a little to cheer about. He could be a good flex option going forward.

Kendall Hunter (SF) - I know Anthony Dixon is ahead of him on the depth chart, but with Gore struggling so badly, you just have to think that San Francisco will want to see what this young man can do. At this point, Hunter is probably a deep league add, but I’d monitor the situation closely and take a shot on him.

Tight End – A Lot of Depth This year has quite a bit of depth at TE. With Gates hurting you may be one of those owners looking for a decent replacement.

Benjamin Watson (CLE) - Benjamin has had his share of success, and he is now in a situation in Cleveland where his QB McCoy trusts him and is targeting him an awful lot. You could do a lot worse than Watson, and I think he has decent upside as long as his young QB keeps looking his way.

Jermaine Gresham (CIN) - Dalton has been establishing good rapport with WR Green and also with TE Gresham. Gresham is not a spectacular add, but he is serviceable for a bye-week fill-in. He could end up being more if QB Dalton begins to hit his stride throughout the season.

James Casey (HOU)

Casey Open

-Who? Owen Daniels is still the main pass-catching TE, but Casey showed what he can do this past week against New Orleans. don’t expect those types of numbers every week, but there’s no reason that Casey can’t continue to have some moderate success. He’s a great blocker, and he’ll be in the game enough to have chances to make some plays.

Alright, I hope you guys have a good Week 4. If you’d like to comment or ask me any questions feel free to do so.

Cho Knows, So Pick’em Up!!

I find myself undefeated in 4 leagues (1 standard league, 2 8-team standard leagues and 1 16-team keeper league). It’s definitely a good feeling, but a lot of it you realize in fantasy football revolves around your guys staying healthy. With that being said, Week 2 saw some big names either sitting out or getting crushed with some tough news. Especially in fantasy though, one man’s loss can lead to another person’s significant gain. We’ll go through some players at each position that I think can help your team for the rest of the season.

Quarterback: “Alright, Killa.”

2 Weeks of Killa Cam

Cam Newton (CAR) - Am I a believer? Do I have faith that Cam Newton can keep up this torrid pace as a rookie? The answer is a resounding “No.” But, the guy has shown that he can deliver in fantasy (though I’m sure his teammates would rather have the win). I still say he is a matchups play and that defenses will be able to prepare a lot more on film, to check his tendencies and learn to capitalize on his mistakes and limit his production. I still would NEVER start Cam Newton over the elite and top tier QBs, which in my mind include Vick (PHI), Rodgers (GB), Rivers (SD), Brees (NO) and Brady (NE).

Ryan Fitzpatrick (BUF) - There’s nothing sexy about this Harvard grad, but he’s finding a way to get it done. He’s spreading the ball while Fred Jackson is pounding the ball on the ground. He seems to stay so cool, and he just loves to play the game. Again, he is a matchups play (like Newton), but he is definitely worth a pickup.

Matt Hasselback (TEN) - He was always a good QB in my opinion, and he’s establishing some great rapport with Kenny Britt. Once Chris Johnson gets going on the ground, Hasselback may turn into a good option at QB. If you need help at QB, take a flyer on him and see what happens.

Running Back: “McCLUSTER BOMB!!”

McCLUSTER BOMB!!

Dexter McCluster/Thomas Jones (KC) - Jamaal Charles owners must be in pain right now. More than anything, I think we need to realize that more than our pain, Jamaal Charles must be going through a lot, physically, emotionally and mentally. Sometimes we forget these are real people. But with that being said, what are owners to do? McCluster and Jones don’t have the same big-play potential as Charles, but I can see McCluster being the more explosive back. Meanwhile, Jones may be that TD vulture we’ve seen him play at times in previous years. If I pick one, it’s McCluster, but this RB situation is not looking very promising.

James Starks (GB) - He’s not getting as many touches as I’d like, but he’s doing work with them. He even got involved more in the passing game this past week, and that is great news for all Starks owners. If he’s still out there, I’d nab him up.

Daniel Thomas (MIA) - Reggie Bush, what can we say? You’re trying to prove something (being an every down back) that I believe is more pride than anything else. It’s okay that you’re better off as a role player out of the backfield; it doesn’t make you less of a man or a player. You are an amazing athlete, but you’ll do better to embrace your role as a change-of-pace pass-catching run-in-space type of back. Now, onto Thomas, who put up some good numbers this past week. If he’s going to be more involved, he is worth a pickup.

Willis McGahee (DEN) - Look, the rest last year playing #2 to Ray Rice probably did him a lot of good. With that rest, he’s been able to keep from being banged up and took full advantage of Knowshon Moreno’s injury by putting up some good numbers. Denver showed they trusted him with the ball and gave him plenty of touches. I’m not saying there’s a changing of the guards just yet, but I’d pick up McGahee and see what happens. I think he actually fits the system in Denver better.

Wide Receiver: “Rookie Love”

Eric Decker (DEN) – I wish his first name was Double… Mmm… Double Decker… but I digress. I know he was playing more because of an injured Brandon Lloyd. But now Eddie Royal is out with a more significant injury, which should keep Decker playing more snaps. He’s shown playmaking ability both as a receiver and as a returner, and I can see him doing some damage in the slot if he gets Royal’s snaps. If you’re hurting at WR, he’s worth a shot.

AJ Green (CIN) - It’s fun watching the chemistry between Dalton and Green develop even through the course of a couple weeks. As the only legitimate downfield threat, Green could have some big days. I still say he’s hit or miss, but you could do a lot worse.

** A Name to Keep in Mind

Come back, Danny boy!

Danny Amendola (STL) - Keep this guy in mind, guys. Bradford is hitting his stride, he just needs players who can catch! Once this little man comes back into the slot, I see some big things happening.

TE

Rob Gronkowski (NE) - Aaron Hernandez looks to be out of commission for a few weeks. Will all the balls they’ve been sharing now be his? Probably not. Will he still produce? Without a doubt. Gronkowski is an immediate add.

I hope that helps many of you, and I hope everyone has a good and healthy Week 3.

Cho Knows, So Pick’em Up!

With Week 1 out of the way, everyone is looking for that key pickup that will prime their team for victory in the remaining weeks. Here are some players that you should be looking to use that waiver claim on. They’re listed in order of value in my eyes and for the remainder of the season. Cho Knows, So Pick’em Up!

QB

Chad Henne (MIA) 

Flying Fish?

- Look, he’s always had pretty good skills at QB. The big difference is that Miami’s offense looks very different from years previous. A once run-first smashmouth offense, the Dolphins have turned to a more pass-happy attack with Reggie Bush as their lead tailback. Don’t expect 400+ yards every week, but expect a spike in yardage compared to years previous. If Henne can be more accurate and cut down on his interceptions, he’ll be in for a good year.

Rex Grossman (WAS) - I’ve been following this guy since his days as a Bear. Great games one week and horrendous turnover-filled games the next, but dude can throw. Here’s a guy that may not be an every week starter, but a guy that can exploit bad defenses, which includes Washington’s tasty matchup against the Cardinals defense. The addition of pass-catching RB Hightower also helps his case.

Ryan Fitzpatrick (BUF) - Look, this guy has shown glimpses of what he can do all throughout last season, and he did it again this past week. Fitzpatrick is another guy I would play as a matchups guy. What I liked about Week 1 is that he kept on throwing, even when they were up. Most weeks, he’ll continue to throw because his Bills will most likely be down.

Don’t Buy the Hype JUST Yet: Cam Newton (CAR) - Okay, he had a great debut, but it was against the Cardinals. If you want to add him based on potential, that’s fine, but don’t expect defenses to be as bad as the Cardinals or as surprised in the future. Defenses will plan for him.

WR

Meachem/Henderson (NO)

This Saint will Go Marching In.

- Marques Colston, oftentimes designated Brees’ favorite target is now out with a collarbone fracture. That is big news in a pass-happy offense for both Meachem and Henderson. Of the two, I’d rather have Meachem, who I believe has better hands, but both will share good numbers in Colston’s absence. A case could also be made fo Lance Moore, but he’s currently out with an injury of his own. Look for these two to make some noise, with Meachem potentially having a breakout season.

Jordy Nelson (GB) - Another pass-happy offense validates Nelson as an immediate pickup. Jennings and Driver seem like sexier names, but in the same way that Peyton Manning gets his WRs inv0lved, so, too, does Mr. Aaron Rodgers. He looked early and often for Nelson, who can be a matchup nightmare for opposing corners. The thing I loved was that he was catching passes in the middle and being looked for on deep routes as well.

RB

Reggie Bush (MIA)

Swimming Free

- Look, I know he may never be a superstar feature back, but he’s the #1RB on a Miami team that is clearly looking to get him as involved as possible in the offense. There is NO WAY that this guy should be available in ANY league. David Thomas is not ready for the pros, and this guy will do his best to make the most of his opportunity to prove himself.

Ben Tate (HOU) - Before Tate’s injury and Arian Foster blowing up last year, this was the guy the Texans placed their backfield hopes in. He’s showing exactly why, carrying over from preseason form into a great day (though yes, it was against the Colts). Pick him up as a handcuff for the fragile Foster or to make the Foster owner in your league pay for not doing so himself. This kid can run.

James Starks (GB) - It definitely looks like a time share out in the Cheesehead country, but Starks looked strong in Week 1. If the Packers are going to be up a lot this year, they’re going to be pounding the ball with Starks and Grant. Starks looks like the smarter goal line option, and he’s the one I’d actually rather have.

TE

Aaron Hernandez (NE)

A El Le Gusta Fubol Americano

- I’d much rather have Hernandez than his counterpart Gronkowski. Why? He’s much quicker, much more athletic and is a bonafide playmaker at the TE position. With no “true” deep threat (I know Welker had a 99 yard TD), Hernandez will be called upon to use his size and speed to make some big plays. Pick him up and watch him finish top 10 in TE’s though he wasn’t drafted as that.

Fred Davis (WAS) - I’ve always liked Davis. He’s never been a huge playmaker, but Grossman was looking for him all day long to the tune of his best game of his career. Chris Cooley seems out of the picture and that opens up plenty of passes for Davis to haul in. Again, nothing exciting, but I see consistent numbers in the range of averaging 60 to 70 yards each week, and you can do a lot worse than that.

Greg Olsen (CAR) - Making a move from the Bears where he was clearly underused for his talent, Olsen is now in Carolina. Cam Newton would be wise to check down to this TE and Carolina will look to incorporate their new weapon in the passing game.

It is Wells with my Soul

Remember the good old days of fantasy when you could just draft your stud RB’s and then build your team around them? With RB committees becoming more and more popular, those with full-time featured back roles become even more valuable. With that being said, I wanted to highlight a few RB’s that may surprise this year.

1. Beanie Wells (AZ – RB)

Can this be the year?

– It’s either go big or go home little Beanie. Hightower is now out of the picture, and Beanie will have all the chance in the world to show that he was worth a high pick for the Arizona Cardinals. Not only that, they now have Kolb, who can actually get the ball close enough to WR Fitzgerald for him to make a catch! This bodes very well for Wells, who should have more space to work with. All signs point to a breakout year, and his first test will be against a weak Carolina defense in Week 1. Barring injury, I can see Wells finishing as a top-10 back this year. If there is an owner who is itching to make a trade, see if you can’t trade for Wells for lower cost than his actual value.

2. Jahvid Best (DET – RB)

Simply the Best?

- He has all the talent necessary to live up to his surname, but to this point Best has been “bested” by his propensity for injury (I know, I know that was bad). If you look at pure skill set, a healthy best can join the elite ranks. To add to the sexiness, much like Wells, the passing attack of the Lions with Stafford and Johnson should help to alleviate some of the burden to carry the team.

3. Tim Hightower (WAS – RB)

Hightower's Chance

- Granted, nobody knows what is going on in the mind of Mike Shanahan, but he is clearly impressed with Hightower and his style of play. Hightower showed glimpses of ability in his stint in Arizona, and he is being given the chance to shine as the every down back of the Redskins. He is a tough runner and can catch the ball and run. As long as Shanahan doesn’t decide to play RB carousel, Hightower, who is being drafted pretty lowly, can be a steal and is someone I’d target as a buy low before it’s too late player.

The Pains of Fantasy Football

Truly, the game of Fantasy Football can be an absolute heart-breaker. How many of us have oftentimes thought to ourselves, “If only I had played him!” or “I KNEW I should have started the other guy!” or “Why do I have to play the highest scoring team when I had the second most points in the week and could have played any other team and gotten the victory, oh my gosh what in the world I can’t believe it…” Well, I think you get the point.

Tis the life we choose to live, sometimes in great joy, and sometimes in great pain. This week, I’m sure was painful for many managers, who had Kenny Britt or Darren McFadden aka Run DMC on their benches. The two players accounted for almost 100 points by themselves!

This only goes to show that you can only do so much in preparation and research from week-to-week. Unless you have some type of sports almanac from the future, you would have been foolish to start either of these guys. Britt was clearly in the doghouse, didn’t start, and he didn’t have Vince Young, his star QB throwing to him. McFadden was limited in practice all week and though willing to give it a go, never was counted on to carry the majority of the load for Oakland this week. You do what you can. You put your best foot forward week-in and week-out, and then wait for gameday to see what happens. That’s part of the fun, isn’t it? The thrill of seeing the players you manage doing well. But what joy would there be in those thrills, if you never experienced the pain of seeing someone who absolutely blew up out of nowhere, but was on your bench?

In one league I play in, my team did pretty well. The only problem was that my opponent owned both Matt Ryan and Roddy White. Yes…Needless to say, I will be 3 – 4 in that league. But still, that’s the game!

Lets learn to enjoy every aspect of the game of football and Fantasy Football, shall we?