FANTASY FOOTBALL INJURY FALLOUT: GIOVANI BERNARD OUT FOR SUNDAY

                                          

Cincinnati Bengals second-year running back Giovani Bernard is on the classic upward plane with regards to his ability to be one of the best and most complete backs in all of fantasy football.  After a terrific rookie season splitting work with veteran BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Bernard was set to be the main runner for the Bengals in 2014.  The team did draft Jeremy Hill but his role was going to be mostly as a change-of-pace power back who would steal the odd goal-line carry.  So far through two months of the season, Bernard has been just decent as he has logged only one 100-yard rushing game but had also scored five times on the ground.  In addition, Bernard was showing his PPR skills as he caught 22 balls out of the backfield.  A hip injury in Week 8 however derailed things a bit as Bernard is now slated to sit out Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars.  It is a sizable blow even beyond the fact Bernard was an expensive first-round pick this season as the Jaguars poor defense was a prime opportunity for him to have a great game.  Be that as it may, the starting job now falls to the rookie Hill who himself has been good this season as well in averaging 4.8 yards per carry and running with pop.  Hill has also caught 13 passes himself which shows he can help in PPR formats this week as well.  Like I already stated, the Jaguars should be amendable for Hill to have a big game and he is well worth a start in all formats as a good RB 2 option.  As far as Bernard is concerned, he is expected to only miss one week so no panic there.

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL THURSDAY WRAPUP: SAINTS/PANTHERS

Fantasy football Week 9 kicked off with the New Orleans Saints taking an impressive road win over the Carolina Panthers.  Let's take a look at all the fantasy football-worthy news coming out of the game.

Drew Brees:  24/34 for 297 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT to go along with 1 fumble.  Brees was actually pretty good in this one despite the two turnovers and only one score.  The Saints got in close after a few big pass plays which led to Mark Ingram stealing two scores.  However after some early struggles, Brees looks like his old top-three QB self.

Cam Newton:  10/28 for 151 yards with 1 INT and 1 fumble.  Simply pathetic.  I have been on record for years saying how overrated Newton is and this season has been his worst yet.  The Panthers have no offensive help for him outside of Greg Olsen and the results show.  In addition, Newton has not been as interested in running as he had when he first got into the league which is a huge negative since so much of value comes from the ground.  Bench in all single-QB formats.

Mark Ingram:  30 carries for 100 yards and 2 TD's.  Ingram has been hot all season going all the way back to the preseason.  He is running like a completely different back since his first few years when he was overly hesitant.  While he doesn't catch passes, Ingram is running as well as anyone in the NFL right now and moving into RB 1 territory given the fact he is the rare workhorse as well.

Jimmy Graham:  7 catches for 83 yards and 1 TD.  Graham is looking like his old self after battling through some injuries which is great to see.  No one is in his realm outside of Rob Gronkowski at tight end. 

Kenny Stills:  5 catches for 72 yards.  Last week it was Brandin Cooks' turn to shine among the Saints wideouts and this time it was Stills.  Par for the course when it comes to the Saints passing game as Drew Brees loves to move it around outside of Graham.  Stills remains a risky play though given the volatility of his numbers.

Brandin Cooks:  3 catches for 38 yards.  Cooks continue to post up and down numbers which again is par for the course with the Saints.  Overall though Cooks has been very good as a rookie and figures to only get better as he gains more experience in the league.

Greg Olsen:  3 catches for 30 yards.  Yuck.  Can't knock Olsen much since he has been very good this season but the Panthers passing attack is broken right now which doesn't bode well for his numbers going forward.

Kelvin Benjamin:  2 catches for 18 yards.  Benjamin was almost completely invisible in this one after a string of nice outings.  Like with Cooks, rookie receivers tend to go up and down with their numbers.  He does remain the top wideout on the Panthers so at least some more prime opportunities will be there.

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL BREAKING NEWS: ROBERT GRIFFIN III TO START SUNDAY

                                          

According to various reports, Washington Redskins QB Robert Griffin III will return to the lineup Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings.  Griffin went through a full practice on Wednesday and proclaimed himself all the way back from his previously injured ankle. 

Analysis:  Told you all to pick up Griffin even before this nugget and now the competition to add him off waivers will be that much more fierce.  Griffin has his negatives such as declining passing efficiency and a vast propensity for injury but he is well worth a start in two-QB formats as soon as this Sunday.

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 9 QB RANKINGS

Here are the fantasy football Week 9 QB rankings based on opposing matchups.

1.  Peyton Manning
2.  Tom Brady
3.  Andrew Luck
4.  Drew Brees
5.  Russell Wilson
6.  Nick Foles
7.  Philip Rivers
8.  Cam Newton
9.  Carson Palmer
10. Ben Roethlisberger
12. Tony Romo
13. Eli Manning
14. Ryan Tannehill
15. Andy Dalton
16. Joe Flacco
17. Alex Smith
18. Teddy Bridgewater
19. Michael Vick
20. Brian Hoyer
21. Ryan Fitzpatrick
22. Austin Davis
23. Colt McCoy
24. Mike Glennon
25. Robert Griffin III
26. Derek Carr
27. Blake Bortles

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 9 ADDS

Week 9 is already here as the fantasy football season moves along at a brisk pace.  Let's see who the prime waiver adds are for this week. 

Michael Vick:  The Jets were arguably the worst offensive team in the game with Geno Smith at QB but Vick now gets the start against his former coach Andy Reid and the Chiefs.  Vick retains his top-notch speed and cannon arm (not to mention his knack for turnovers) and has two very good wideouts in Percy Harvin and Eric Decker at his disposal.  Those in two-QB formats should be interested for as long as this lasts.

Robert Griffin III:  RGIII could return as soon as this Sunday after missing virtually the previous 8 weeks with yet more injuries.  Colt McCoy was terrific in the upset win over the Dallas Cowboys Monday night but he is a backup at best which means there is absolutely no QB controversy.  Griffin is like Vick in that he can do it al physically but also suffers physically. 

Kyle Orton:  I think Orton just threw another TD pass against the Jets.  Orton lit up the Jets last Sunday on his way to a monster game and generally he has been excellent since taking over for E.J. Manuel.  Again this is strictly for those who play in two-QB formats or who have their starter on a bye.

Charles Sims/Bobby Rainey:  Doug Martin hurt his ankle last week and is iffy to go this Sunday.  In addition, Martin has been so putrid this season that he is close to being benched anyway.  Rainey has had his moments so far this season spelling Martin but Sims carries some more intrigue since he is the unknown with more upside. 

Donte Moncrief:  Yet another toy for Indianapolis Colts QB Andrew Luck.  Hakeem Nicks has not worked out for the team and thus Moncrief has moved ahead of him on in Luck's pecking order.  There is a nice blend of size and speed here and of course the Colts love to sling it. 

Brandon LaFell:  We recommended LaFell last week but his ownership is still down.  He caught another TD pass last week and is growing more of a rapport with the hot Tom Brady.  Get him now.

Allen Robinson:  He has led the Jacksonville Jaguars in targets since Week 4 and Blake Bortles is getting more comfortable under center.  Bortles has to throw it to someone on the weak Jaguars offense and Robinson has clearly the most ability of any receiver on the roster.

Tyler Eifert:  Eifert is close to returning from injury and thus will have the chance to show that he is yet another Notre Dame tight end standout.  The Cincinnati Bengals are still possibly going to be without A.J. Green for another week so again Andy Dalton could use as many additional weapons as he could get this week. 

Cleveland Browns:  The Browns get the awful Tampa Bay Buccaneers this week and their turnover-prone offense.  The Browns have racked up 15 sacks this season and grabbed 8 interceptions so they are making the big plays thus far and are a nice streaming add this week.



 

FANTASY FOOTBALL MONDAY NIGHT WRAPUP: DALLAS/WASHINGTON

Colt McCoy engineered a nice comeback to his career Monday night in an upset win over the Dallas Cowboys and Tony Romo owners got a major scare.  Let's get to the latest.

Tony Romo:  17 of 28 for 209 yards and 1 TD.  Not a big statistical game but the most significant issue was the fact Romo left in the third quarter with a scare to his twice surgically-repaired back.  Romo seemed to wrench the back when going down under a sack and stayed down for almost ten minutes. He would go back to the locker room and be replaced by Brandon Weeden (who looked good in throwing a TD pass) but somehow managed to return for the last drive of the game and overtime.  Romo returning obviously is a good sign going forward but clearly there is major risk as well that another flare up could occur.  If you are a Romo owner, you should have already covered yourself with a solid backup.

Colt McCoy:  25 of 30 for 299 yards with 1 INT and 1 rushing TD.  Amazing stuff for a kid who hasn't started in years and who was fighting just to stay in the league.  McCoy has always been a accurate passer who can move around in the pocket but he has little to no fantasy football value sine Robert Griffin III could be back for Week 9.

DeMarco Murray:  19 carries for 141 yards and 1 fumble to go along with four catches for 80 yards.  Murray is now 8-for-8 in 100-yards rushing games on the season as he stays on pace for 2,000.  Remarkable in every way, especially when you consider the fact Murray has stayed healthy thus far.  All that work is eventually going to take its toll so selling high is never the worst idea but we also understand riding this out given how terrific Murray has been.

DeSean Jackson:  6 catches for 136 yards. Jackson and McCoy played "go long" all game.  Jackson is usually heavily depended on scores and yardage so at least he got one working here since he doesn't show up weekly as a PPR guy. 

Jordan Reed:  7 catches for 40 yards.  The Niles Paul show was fun while it lasted (3 catches for 27 yards) but Jordan Reed is back as a top ten and very intriguing tight end option.  Reed has terrific speed and athleticism for the position and was a popular sleeper going into 2014 before yet more injuries.

Pierre Garcon:  4 catches for 47 yards. Garcon has been far from the PPR dynamo he was last season and is really hurting with RGIII out.  Those two had a special rapport going and with Griffin coming back next week, a buy low trade is a smart idea. 

Alfred Morris:  18 carries for 73 yards and 1 TD.  With all the QB issues the Redskins have had, opposing defenses have stacked the box against Morris which have really hurt his numbers.  Again with Griffin back, Morris will see more field to run on and thus reclaim low end RB 1 status in standard formats and RB 2 in PPR.

Dez Bryant:  3 catches for 30 yards and 1 TD.  Bryant also dropped a potential second TD pass.  Not a great game at all and he saved his day overall with the score.  No bother as Bryant is right there with Jordy Nelson and Antonio Brown as the number 2 fantasy football wideout this season after Demaryuis Thomas.

Jason Witten:  5 catches for 70 yards and 1 TD.  Second TD catch of the season for Witten who finally looked like his PPR monster self in this one after doing virtually nothing the previous seven weeks.  I would think about buying low here as Witten is more than a proven commodity despite the slow start.



 

FANTASY FOOTBALL STATUS REPORT: BEN ROETHLISBERGER QB PITTSBURGH STEELERS

                                            

It was an outing that you had to see to believe.  The clear star of fantasy football Week 8 was undoubtedly Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger who put up a truly amazing performance in the team's win over the Indianapolis Colts Sunday when he threw for a ridiculous 520 yards and SIX!!!!! touchdowns.  Besides the fact that anyone could have such an outing in general, seeing a Steelers passer accumulate such passing numbers when the organization's bedrock has always been to run the football was startling.  No matter how you slice it, Roethlisberger served notice that he is an every week fantasy football starting QB in single-passer formats despite going up and down with that status since coming into the league. 

The whole point of this post however is not to look back at Roethlisberger's past with injuries and sometimes shaky play that made him more of a backup fantasy football passer than a starter.  The current version of Roethlisberger is clearly a force to be reckoned with and clearly has earned the right to be your number 1 guy.  As far as the numbers altogether are concerned, Big Ben goes into Week 9 with a crazy 16 touchdowns and only 3 interceptions while throwing for a total of 2,380 yards.  The addition of pass-happy Todd Haley as the Steeler's offensive coordinator prior to 2013 no doubt has been a big part of Roethlisberger's elevation with regards to his passing numbers and the rise to stardom of Antonio Brown has done wonders as well.  When you look at it as a whole, Roethlisberger has arguably one of the best collection of offensive talent in the league.  In addition to Brown, young promising wideout Markus Wheaton joins veteran tight end Heath Miller and young star RB Le'Veon Bell to give nightmares to defensive coordinators.  Roethlisberger and Brown have an amazing connection right now and the development of Bell as both a runner and a receiver have been a major boost as well. 

When you put things all together, Ben Roethlisberger makes the grade as a top ten fantasy football QB for the remainder of the season.  Again we have to ignore his inconsistent past and instead focus in on the current model which has been virtually unstoppable.  You always want to ride hot players for as long as the fun lasts and right now no one is more scorching than the veteran Steelers passer.

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 8 INJURY REPORT: BLACK CLOUD HANGING OVER JORDAN CAMERON

The injury bug never takes a break as another week of fantasy football got into focus Sunday.  Let's get to all the latest maladies.

-Cleveland Browns tight end Jordan Cameron was looked at universally as a top 3-5 tight end talent for 2014 fantasy football off his tremendous breakout season a year prior.  With star WR Josh Gordon suspended by the Browns until Week 12, Cameron was expected to do the heavy lifting in the receiving game.  Well Cameron's body has not gotten the memo as he has constantly been dealing with one health woe after another.  First it was a shoulder problem that plagued him the first six weeks of the season and now we have a concussion added to the mix which was suffered Sunday in the win over the Oakland Raiders.  Cameron will now enter into the protocol procedures by the league in order to determine his availability going forward.  There is a decent history of concussions here so knee-jerk reaction says Cameron won't be able to go.  We have not reached the point of cutting Cameron yet but it feels like it is getting close as a guy who is constantly hurt can't help you.

-St. Louis Rams WR Brian Quick figures to be down a couple of weeks after he was forced out Sunday with a shoulder injury.  Quick was seen in a sling after the game and head coach Jeff Fisher hinted he could be out a few weeks.  Kenny Britt now moves into the number 1 receiving role on the hot and cold Rams passing attack under Austin Davis.

-A major scare was felt by all owners of Giovani Bernard when the Cincinnati Bengals RB didn't play in the fourth quarter due to a hip injury.  Still it was called a precautionary move by head coach Marvin Lewis afterwards and all discussions centered on Bernard being ready to go for Week 9.  Big sigh of relief.

-Doug Martin suffered a third-quarter ankle injury for the Tampa Bay Buc's in their OT loss to the Minnesota Vikings and his status for Week 9 is uncertain.  Charles Sims is expected back next week as well which further muddles the already disgraceful running back situation for the club.

-Minnesota Vikings WR Cordarelle Patterson was seen after the game walking around in a boot which is always disconcerting.  Patterson downplayed the issue however and he had one of his best games of the season.  Something to check on in the next two days.

-Nate Washington suffered a sprain AC joint in his shoulder Sunday which can be a multi-week injury.  Still Washington was not more than a WR 3 on his own team so this is not a big news item.

FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 8 WRAPUP: BIG BEN STEALS THE SHOW

Lots of big-time performances to get to Sunday as fantasy football Week 8 got going.  Let's get right to all the results.

-Of course we have to lead with the absolutely incredible performance by Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger who threw for a remarkable 522 yards and SIX!!!!!!!! touchdowns in the team's win over the Indianapolis Colts.  The arrival of pass-happy Todd Haley as offensive coordinator has elevated Roethlisberger into the type of numbers passer he has never been before and in the process he has elevated himself into a top 10 fantasy football QB based on what we have seen thus far.  Amazing stuff truly.  Hands down the top performance from any player this season at any position on the field. 

-Carolina Panthers WR Kelvin Benjamin held his own against Seattle Seahawks All Pro CB Richard Sherman Sunday as he caught 4 balls for 94 yards in the team's loss.  It has become quite apparent that Benjamin is for real as a big-play receiver who may not be a big PPR guy like a Vincent Jackson.

-It was another miserable day for Seattle Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch who rushed for only 62 yards on 14 carries against the Carolina Panthers.  This just hours after reports surfaced that the Seahawks are tired of his bad locker room behavior.  The Panthers completely neutralized Lynch and the Seahawks began to use Robert Turbin a good deal in the second half.  Thus far the mileage and age on Lynch look like they are taking its toll.

-Nice comeback game by Cincinnati Bengals QB Andy Dalton who had performed horrible over the last few weeks which coincided with the injury to star WR A.J. Green.  Dalton threw for 266 yards in completing 21-of-28 with one interception and rushed for two scores.  Dalton is still best used as a QB 2 given how run-heavy the team has been under new OC Hue Jackson.

-Jamaal Charles showed why he was the number 1 overall pick in most leagues as he rushed for 117 yards and two touchdowns on only 13 carries in the Kansas City Chiefs' win over the St. Louis Rams.  He also chipped in four catches for 44 yards.  So far Charles has been much better than LeSean McCoy who also was in the discussion for number 1 player overall.

-Houston Texans RB Arian Foster was an absolute beast Sunday as he rushed for 151 yards on only 20 carries and two touchdowns while also scoring a third touchdown on his four catches for 22 yards.  Outside of DeMarco Murray, Foster has been the best fantasy football running back this season along with Matt Forte.  As long as his hamstring is cooperating, Foster has proven that he still has the ability to be a monster contributor. 

-Lorenzo Taliaferro had his day in the sun in the ever changing Baltimore Ravens backfield as he rushed for 27 yards on 7 carries and 2 touchdowns.  He also chipped in 2 catches for another 42 yards.  While Justin Forsett continues to get his share of work, Taliaferro looks like the classic goal-line back for the Ravens as Bernard Pierce was a healthy scratch.

-It looks like New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski may finally feel like his old self as he had a turn-back-the-clock game Sunday in catching 9 balls for 142 yards and 3 touchdowns.  This is the kind of performance that made Gronkowski a star in the first place before all his injuries and if this keeps up, he will surely pass Jimmy Graham as the top tight end in fantasy football.

-Mohamud Sanu is enjoying life as the number 1 receiver for the Bengals with A.J. Green out injured as he caught five balls for 125 yards Sunday to go along with 2 carries for another 27 yards.  While Sanu did not score, he will remain a high-end WR 2 as long as Green is out.

-The red-hot run of Tom Brady continued Sunday as he was almost flawless in throwing for 354 yards and five touchdowns as he completed a ridiculous 30-of-35 passes.  This is easily the second-most impressive overall passing game of any QB this season (you know the other one) and over the last four games, Brady has now tossed 14 scores and 1 picks in that span.  Incredible stuff and it reaffirms that Brady has a ton of life left in his arm.

-More lack of clarity in the St. Louis Rams backfield as Tre Mason led the team in rushing in getting only 32 yards on 7 carries.  Benny Cunningham actually got the start and Zac Stacy also got work.  Avoid this situation altogether.

-Cordarelle Patterson has pretty much gone bust this season due to the horrid QB play in Minnesota but he had a solid game Sunday in catching 6 balls for 86 yards while also taking a reverse for ten more yards.  With the green Teddy Bridgewater under center however, it is likely Patterson will continue to struggle putting up numbers despite some significant ability.

-We wrote earlier in the day how Sammy Watkins is performing like the stud wideout his talent dictated he would be now that he has a competent QB in Kyle Orton throwing to him.  They continued their magic Sunday as Watkins caught 3 balls for 157 yards and a touchdown in the team's win over the New York Jets.  Watkins has now scored five times this season and could be a top tier talent as soon as 2015.

-Despite getting dinged up early in the second half, Philadelphia Eagles WR Jeremy Maclin was virtually unstoppable Sunday as he caught 12 balls for 187 yards and two touchdowns in defeat versus the Arizona Cardinals.  Maclin has been every bit the sleeper made good and more for his owners this season and with the Eagles continually throwing all game long, swell WR 1 numbers should continue.  Of course health is always Maclin's biggest challenge and the head scare today was  a big reminder of his fragility.

-Despite going down in defeat, Andrew Luck kept his numbers going as he threw for 400 yards and 3 more touchdowns in the loss to the Steelers Sunday.  Luck was picked off twice but that is part of the deal when you are a pure gunslinger like Luck is.  Luck is on pace for 44 touchdowns this season and is right there behind Peyton Manning as the best fantasy football passer in the game.

-Michael Floyd was held without a catch Sunday as the Arizona Cardinals wideout continued with his disappointing start to his season.  Yours truly dealt Floyd and Matt Ryan for Nick Foles prior to the week as I am not a huge believer yet in the former Notre Dame standout.  Carson Palmer seems to prefer Larry Fitzgerald and John Brown right now which means sitting on the bench is likely the best way to go here if you are his owner.

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL ISSUES: JULIO JONES A VICTIM OF ATLANTA O-LINE

For the second week in a row, Atlanta Falcons WR Julio Jones saw his numbers negatively impacted due to the awful offensive line situation that the team is going through.  After Jones caught 5 meaningless balls for 56 yards last week in the team's horror show loss to the Baltimore Ravens, the big-play wideout grabbed only 5 passes for 58 yards early Sunday in London.  With so many injuries impacting the Falcons offensive line, Matt Ryan and offensive coordinator Dirk Kotter have been forced to use a short-passing game that gets the ball out quickly.  That is a huge problem for Jones who in that situation will not be allowed to make big plays down the field as he was doing the first month of the season.  That is why yours truly sold high on Jones prior to this week when I moved him, Larry Donnell and Ben Tate and bought low on Jimmy Graham to go along with Rashad Jennings and Michael Floyd (who I flipped in the Nick Foles deal).  The evidence is pretty clear the last two games that this could be an ongoing problem for the team and Jones' numbers the rest of the season.

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL BREAKING NEWS: SEAHAWKS NOT EXPECTED TO BRING BACK MARSHAWN LYNCH FOR 2015

                                              

According to ESPN's Chris Mortensen, the Seattle Seahawks are not expected to being back Marshawn Lynch for the 2015 season.  Citing locker room issues and a negative attitude, the Seahawks are looking at Robin Turbin and Christine Michael as options to man the starting running back spot a year from now.

Analysis:  It is likely a combination of age and poor attitude that has the Seahawks ready to move on.  Lynch has been a huge disruption in the locker room this season according to various reports and his numbers are down as well. 

FANTASY FOOTBALL ISSUES: COULD HAVE TOLD YOU MATT RYAN WOULD THROW 2 TD'S IN FIRST QUARTER

Yours truly spoke at length about how Atlanta Falcons QB Matt Ryan was a major SELL due to the fact the team's offensive line has been beyond ravaged this season with injury.  Things got so bad that Ryan has no chance to even throw short passes last week in an ugly loss to the Baltimore Ravens.  Thus as my Experts League team sat at 4-3, I unloaded Ryan along with Michael Floyd in a deal for Nick Foles.  And of course Ryan goes out and throws two touchdowns in the first quarter in London against the number 1 defense in the league.  Figures.  Doesn't that always happen when we trade players? 

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL BREAKING NEWS: VINCENT JACKSON (RIBS) TO START

                                    

Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Vincent Jackson will fight through his injured ribs for the second week in a row as he will get the start against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday.  Despite missing practice during the week due to the ribs as he did leading up to Week 7, Jackson will gut it out again.

Analysis:  I have never been a fan of Jackson and never felt the pull to own him.  His production runs hot and cold and he is not a PPR weapon.

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL BREAKING NEWS: A.J. GREEN (TOE) OUT AGAIN SUNDAY

                                        

As expected, Cincinnati Bengals WR A.J. Green is OUT Sunday with his injured toe/foot.  Green will sit out his third straight game as Mohamud Sanu gets the start against the New England Patriots.  The big-play Bengals wideout is aiming for a Week 9 return.

Analysis:  Amazing that two of the top three fantasy football wideouts are both dealing with some serious injuries.  That just goes to show you how everyone in a draft is a risk, especially in Round 1.  Sanu should get WR 2 numbers in a possible shootout versus the Pats so be sure he is included in your lineups.

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL BREAKING NEWS: CALVIN JOHNSON AND REGGIE BUSH BOTH OUT FOR LIONS

                                        

Both Detroit Lions WR Calvin Johnson and RB Reggie Bush are OUT Sunday for the team's London game versus the Atlanta Falcons. Johnson continues to be hobbled by an ankle injury that has now cost him three games.  Meanwhile Bush is dealing with his own leg troubles as Joique Bell gets the start.

Analysis:  Golden Tate and Bell are both in line for big fantasy football games this week against the horrific Atlanta Falcons defense.  Meanwhile the beat goes on as disappointment is at an all-time high for Johnson in particular. 

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL STATUS REPORT: SAMMY WATKINS WR BUFFALO BILLS

                                            

Sometimes guys are just destined for greatness.  Such was the talk surrounding Sammy Watkins both while in college at Clemson and soon after the Buffalo Bills traded up and picked him fourth overall in the 2014 draft.  Blessed with a rare combination of size and speed, Watkins had it all physically to be a dominant Pro Bowl star for years to come.  Of course being a wide receiver, part of the requirements of turning into a star is to have a competent QB throwing the passes to you.  And that was the main issue clouding Watkins' 2014 fantasy football value as the woefully inept E.J. Manuel once again was primed to open the season as the Bills' starter.  It was that issue that had us a bit leery of drafting Watkins as anything more than a WR 3 in fantasy football terms and we actually argued hat Brandin Cooks of New Orleans was the better rookie investment.  Certainly that argument held true early on in the season as Manuel was predictably awful and his poor production hurt Watkins' numbers.  In three of his first four games with Manuel, Watkins failed to catch more than 4 balls and pick up more than 31 receiving yards.  Yes he did grab 8 passes for 117 yards and a score in Week 2 but that outing proved to be the outlier with Manuel under center.  Having a QB who could not make even moderately difficult throws, Watkins was being neutered right before our eyes. 

The big break of course came when head coach Doug Marrone made the change to veteran Kyle Orton as he sent Manuel to the bench.  While Orton is no Peyton Manning, he has been a decent passer during his time in the league who most always makes the correct read.  The results have been dramatic as Watkins caught 7 balls for 87 yards in Orton's first start and after a two-catch hiccup the next week, went nuts in Week 7 against the Minnesota Vikings in a comeback win.  Against the Vikings, Watkins caught 9 passes for 122 yards and 4 touchdowns, grabbing the game-winning throw with 1 second on the clock.  Now with four touchdowns on the season, Watkins looks everything like the star he was destined to be.  With Orton continuing to hold down QB duties, this fun show should go on the rest of the season and beyond.  Overall Watkins reminds me of Julio Jones or A.J. Green with his size and speed and underrated ability to make the difficult catch.  Watkins has moved into WR 2 territory with Orton as his QB and his status is only going to grow from this point on.  Thank you Kyle Orton. 

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 8 INJURY REPORT: MEGATRON TO SIT AGAIN SUNDAY

Saturday is the day you want to fine-tune your roster when it comes to injuries and possible replacements so let's get to all the latest.

-Widespread reports indicate that Detroit Lions All-Pro WR Calvin Johnson will miss his third game of the season Sunday in London with continued ankle problems.  Johnson is listed as questionable and is officially is a game-time decision but all indications are that he will sit.  Clearly the ankle injury Johnson suffered has been serious and his first round status makes him a slam dunk bust considering how much time he has missed and how his numbers were down even before this cropped up.  Golden Tate owners are rejoicing of course as the former Seattle Seahawk has been a top ten performer each of the last three weeks and that should continue against an awful Atlanta Falcons secondary.
-New England Patriots RB Shane Vereen will gut through what reports indicate is the flu.  In a nice surprise for his owners, it was Vereen and not Brandon Bolden who got the majority of carries in the running game in Week 7 in place of the injured Stevan Ridley.  Vereen is a locked-in RB 2 and carries even better value in PPR formats.

-Ryan Matthews could make his return in Week 9 from his knee injury which takes away a ton of value from Branden Oliver.  Matthews has been a slow healer in his career however so don't take this to the bank.

-It will be the Mark Ingram show Sunday versus the Green Bay Packers as both Khiry Robinson (forearm) and Pierre Thomas (shoulder) are out Sunday.  Ingram was playing great before he got injured and the poor Packers defense should be able to accommodate a nice day.

-Vincent Jackson is once again listed as questionable with his rib injury.  Jackson fought through the injury to play last week and the same should be in play for Week 8 also.

-As expected Cincinnati Bengals WR A.J. Green is listed as doubtful for Sunday against the New England Patriots as he has not practiced one bit all week.  This would mark the third straight missed game for Green due to his dreaded case of turf toe.  Mohamud Sanu can threaten top 15 numbers among all wideouts this week as he did in Week 7 in Green's absence.

-In a surprisingly late development, Baltimore Ravens tight end Owen Daniels will miss Week 8 due to having to have his knee scoped.  Daniels is no stranger to injury but he is at this point only expected to miss on game.  Hold him.

-Indianapolis Colts power back Trent Richardson is questionable to go Sunday due to a hamstring injury and he missed every practice during the week.  Ahmad Bradshaw is fully capable of being the main ballcarrier for a week and he already carries RB 2 value due to his solid running and nice work in the passing game.

-Speaking of the Colts, Reggie Wayne is out for Week 8 due to his elbow injury that he suffered last week.  Right now the team is indicating Wayne may only miss the one game but there is a chance he could be out longer.

There you have it.  As always check back Sunday morning for all the latest.

 

FANTSAY FOOTBALL WEEK 8 TIGHT END RANKINGS

Here are the fantasy football tight end rankings for Week 8 based on opposing matchups.

1.  Julius Thomas
2.  Rob Gronkowski
3.  Greg Olsen
4.  Martellus Bennett
5.  Jimmy Graham
6.  Travis Kelce
7.  Jordan Cameron
8.  Jordan Reed
9.  Dwayne Allen
10. Delanie Walker
11. Zach Ertz
12. Owen Daniels
13. Jared Cook
14. Charles Clay
15. Clay Harbor
16. Jason Witten
17. Heath Miller
18. Jace Amaro
19. Jermaine Gresham
20. Coby Fleener
21. Scott Chandler
22. Tim Wright
23. Eric Ebron
24. Austin Seferian-Jenkins
25. Gavin Escobar

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 8 WIDE RECEIVER RANKINGS

Here are the fantasy football Week 8 wide receiver rankings based on opposing matchups.

1.  Dez Bryant
2.  Jordy Nelson
3.  Antonio Brown
4.  Randall Cobb
5.  Brandon Marshall
6.  Golden Tate
7.  Alshon Jeffery
8.  Julio Jones
9.  Jeremy Maclin
10. Sammy Watkins
11. T.Y. Hilton
12. Mike Wallace
13. Steve Smith
14. Kelvin Benjamin
15. Michael Floyd
16. Vincent Jackson
17. Roddy White
18. DeSean Jackson
19. Mohamud Sanu
20. Terrance Williams
21. Andre Johnson
22. Pierre Garcon
23. Eric Decker
24. Doug Baldwin
25. DeAndre Hopkins
26. Julian Edelman
27. Torrey Smith
28. Marques Colston
29. Larry Fitzgerald
30. Mike Evans
31. James Jones
32. Brandin Cooks
33. Kendall Wright
34. Brian Quick
35. Cordarelle Patterson
36. Allen Robinson
37. Andrew Hawkins
38. Dwayne Bowe
39. Cecil Shorts
40. Brandon LaFell
41. Greg Jennings
42. Davante Adams
43. Justin Hunter
44. Donte Moncrief
45. Percy Harvin

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 8 RUNNING BACK RANKINGS

Here are the fantasy football Week 8 running back rankings based on opposing matchups.

1.  DeMarco Murray
2.  Matt Forte
3.  Marshawn Lynch
4.  Arian Foster
5.  Jamaal Charles
6.  Andre Ellington
7.  Le'Veon Bell
8.  LeSean McCoy
9.  Lamar Miller
10. Giovani Bernard
11. Joique Bell
12. Ben Tate
13. Eddie Lacy
14. Ronnie Hillman
15. Jerick McKinnon
16. Branden Oliver
17. Ahmad Bradshaw
18. Tre Mason
19. Justin Forsett
20. Shane Vereen
21. Chris Ivory
22. Alfred Morris
23. Reggie Bush
24. Darren McFadden
25. Trent Richardson
26. Isaiah Crowell
27. Bishop Sankey
28. Anthony Dixon
29. Bryce Brown
30. Mark Ingram
31. Denard Robinson
32. Doug Martin
33. Jeremy Hill
34. Jonathan Stewart
35. James Starks
36. Steven Jackson
37. Roy Helu
38. Chris Johnson
39. Benny Cunningham
40. Knile Davis

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL ISSUES: HANDICAPPING THE BUFFALO BILLS BACKFIELD FOR WEEK 8

Week 7 was a horror show injury-wise for the Buffalo Bills backfield as both Fred Jackson (groin/out a month) and C.J. Spiller (broken collarbone/out for season) went down injured.  Thus as Week 8 approaches, the two names that have moved to the front of the running back rotation are power back Anthony Dixon and the speedy but fumble-prone Bryce Brown.  There have been conflicting reports about how the carries will be divided for this week, with Dixon being the starter the general consensus at the very least regarding who will get more touches.  Be that as it may, let's dig in a bit more on each and see what they can bring to the fantasy football table.

Bryce Brown:  We all remember Brown from his big three-game stretch for the Philadelphia Eagles the second half of 2012 when he scored four touchdowns and averaged 4.9 yards per carry filling in for an injured LeSean McCoy.  He was not a big factor last season as McCoy went nuts and soon Brown was flipped to the Bills in a 2014 draft-day deal.  Brown has yet to record any action for the Bills this season but he is expected to be the speed complement to Dixon in Week 8.  If a time-share is put in place, Brown will be the PPR weapon in that he will play on third-down due to his pass-receiving ability and speed running.  Dixon however should get the goal-line work which severely knocks his value down in standard setups.

Anthony Dixon:  Dixon is a veteran power back who was a fourth round pick of the San Francisco 49ers back in 2010.  He has scored two touchdowns in each of his 4 seasons as a spare runner who was used in some goal-line situations.  Brown has next-to-no receiving skills so that part of the game will be covered by Brown.  That also means Dixon has little value in PPR formats.  Dixon has appeared in all seven games for the Bills this season and the fact Brown has not indicates he will likely get the lion's share of carries for at least Week 8.  Those in standard formats should take Dixon out for a spin if they are desperate for a body to help out.  Still Dixon has not been a starter since entering the league for a reason as his lack of speed prevents him from being a major weapon.

There you have it.  Let us know who you prefer over the other.

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 8 QB RANKINGS

Here are the fantasy football Week 8 QB rankings based on opposing matchups.

1.  Peyton Manning
2.  Aaron Rodgers
3.  Andrew Luck
4.  Philip Rivers
5.  Tom Brady
6.  Drew Brees
7.  Nick Foles
8. Tony Romo
9.  Russell Wilson
10. Matthew Stafford
11. Carson Palmer
12. Jay Cutler
13. Joe Flacco
14. Cam Newton
15. Ryan Tannehill
16. Alex Smith
17. Matt Ryan
18. Ben Roethlisberger
19. Kyle Orton
20. Andy Dalton
21. Austin Davis
22. Mike Glennon
23. Teddy Bridgewater
24. Robert Griffin III
25. Derek Carr
26. Ryan Fitzpatrick
27. Geno Smith
28. Brian Hoyer
29. Colt McCoy
30. Blake Bortles

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 8 ADDS

Week 8 is almost here which means more fine-tuning for your roster is in order.  Let's see who are the prime pickups for your squad as Thursday night football beckons.

Robert Griffin III:  By now it is obvious that RGIII is the Washington Redskins starting QB for better or worse as Kirk Cousins is fresh off a benching for Colt McCoy last Sunday.  Griffin has not been cleared to play yet but he could return as soon as Week 9.

Johnny Manziel:  Brian Hoyer could be turning back into a pumpkin as we speak as he comes off a truly horrific performance in a loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars of all teams.  Reports circulated that Mike Pettine thought of replacing Hoyer with Johnny Manziel and a change could come quickly this week if the former struggles again. 

Tre Mason:  Mason should be the top waiver claim of the week as he got 18 carries last week in his second game back from injury while Zac Stacy received zero.  There is an explosive aspect to Mason's game that Stacy and Benny Cunningham doesn't have and the Rams know it.  Could be a sweet add.

Bryce Brown/Anthony Dixon:  There are conflicting reports on whether Brown or Dixon will be the primary ballcarrier in place of the injured Fred Jackson/C.J. Spiller.  My bet is on Dixon as Brown fumbles too much and the Bills are surprisingly competitive. 

Denard Robinson:  Comes off a 100-plus rushing game which no other Jaguars runner can claim this season.  Robinson has big-time speed and has been anointed the starter for now which automatically means RB 2 value. 

Doug Baldwin:  With Percy Harvin out of town, Baldwin steps into the number 1 wide receiver slot.  While Baldwin may not be up to such a lofty task, Russell Wilson has to throw it to someone. 

Brandon LaFell:  LaFell is playing great over the last month which happens to coincide with the re-emergence of Tom Brady as a prime fantasy football weapon.  The top hasn't popped off yet so you still might be able to steal LaFell away on waivers.

Owen Daniels:  Daniels is fitting in seamlessly with the Baltimore Ravens as he takes over the top tight end spot over he injured Dennis Pitta.  We have seen solid production from the guy in the past which means this is no shock.  Get him in there as the Ravens and Joe Flacco have been potent on offense.

Jermaine Gresham:  Gresham is a forgotten guy but he comes off a 10-catch day that shows you his ability.  Andy Dalton is looking for weapons with A.J. Green injured which is why Gresham has seen such a lofty increase in targets the last two weeks.

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL BREAKING NEWS: COLT McCOY TO START SUNDAY FOR REDSKINS

Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden announced Monday that Colt McCoy will start at QB for the team in Week 9 and not the benched Kirk Cousins.  Cousins will fall to number 3 on the depth chart when Robert Griffin III returns as well.

Analysis:  Wow.  How quick Cousins' stock fell.  McCoy looked good last week in leading the team to a comeback win over the Tennessee Titans but he has zero value in all fantasy football leagues.  Meanwhile Cousins can be dropped in all formats if you haven't done so already.

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 7 INJURY REPORT: BUFFALO BACKFIELD A HUGE MESS

Once again injuries are a major topic of conversation as fantasy football Week 7 unfolded.  Let's get to all the latest.

-It was a bad day to be a Buffalo Bills running back to say the least.  First co-starter Fred Jackson went down with a groin injury that necessitated him being carted off the field.  Jackson immediately admitted afterward he was out for Week 8 and the team later confirmed it could be a month before he gets back onto the field.  Making matters worse, not even one half later C.J. Spiller was lost for the season with a broken collarbone.  No sooner had we typed out the piece about how Spiller would finally get his chance to shine as the clear-cut starter with Jackson out and yet another setback falls into his path.  For Spiller, his career has been defined by unmet expectations and disappointing numbers that are not totally his fault.  Injuries have been a huge problem going back to his Clemson days and have followed him to the NFL.  The maddening committee that the Bills have always operated since Spiller was drafted have also ruined his potential. 

The fallout here is that third-stringer Tashard Choice gets dusted off and will be the bell cow back until Jackson returns.  We could be looking at 4-6 games where Choice is the clear starter and that alone makes him worth picking up.  He has shown some solid running in the past to go along with some receiving skills so Choice will be a solid pickup in all formats this week.

-Reggie Bush continues to be hobbled by an ankle injury that flared up again Sunday.  Overall Bush got only 9 touches and Joique Bell pretty much did all the work out of the backfield.  Bush is not likely to practice much this week and his availability is in question for Week 8 given the fact he team has to fly to England to play early Sunday. 

-A shoulder injury knocked out New Orleans Saints RB Pierre Thomas but this is only newsworthy in PPR formats.  With Mark Ingram back in the fold, Thomas was not getting much at all on the ground and is almost always dependent on receptions. 

-Trent Richardson suffered a hamstring injury that didn't allow him to finish Sunday's win over the Cincy Bengals.  His status is in question for Week 8 and Ahmad Bradshaw will get most of the work in his place.  Bradshaw has been very solid this season both in the running and receiving game and he will be a good RB 2 option this week no matter if Richardson plays or is on the bench.

-

FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 7 WRAPUP

Ryan Tannehill:  25/32 for 277 yards and 2 touchdowns.  Tannehill is on a hot streak the last two weeks which of course coincides with some bad opposing defenses.  He remains a QB 2 in two passer formats and nothing more as we have yet to see him take that complete next step.

Matt Forte:  12 carries for 49 yards and 1 TD to go along with 6 catches for 60 yards and another score.  It was a miserable offensive day for the Chicago Bears overall but Forte did his job.  He has been a monster receiver out of the backfield this season, now with 28 catches in the last three games which is ridiculous.  No one is even close in PPR formats and overall only DeMarco Murray has been better. 

Roddy White:  9 catches for 100 yards and 1 TD.  Julio Jones was not the receiving star for the Atlanta Falcons Sunday as White had his best game of the season.  Overall the Falcons have major issues on their offensive line which will limit Matt Ryan's downfield throws.  That hurts Jones immeasurably and benefits White who will be a weapon in the short and intermediate game. 

Giovani Bernard:  7 carries for 17 yards to go along with 2 catches for -1 yard.  Ugh.  One of those days for Bernard and the Bengals as a whole.  Nothing went right for Cincy against the Indianapolis Colts so just throw this away.  Bernard remains a near top-five back in all fantasy football setups.

Russell Wilson:  23 for 36 for 313 yards and 2 touchdowns to go along with 106 rushing yards and another score.  Wilson will likely go down as the highest-scoring passer in Week 7 and really he did anything he pleased despite the team losing to the St. Louis Rams.  I have knocked Wilson in fantasy football terms due to the lack of high impact passing yardage but his work on the ground is unparalleled and his passing efficiency is never better.  He is now a firmly top ten passer overall this season.

T.Y. Hilton:  7 catches for 107 yards.  Hilton has firmly taken control as the number 1 receiver for Andrew Luck, as this is the third time in the last four games he has gone for 100 yards,  Hilton is not just serving as a big-play guy either as he has been a PPR weapon as well.  Upwards we go.

Tre Mason:  18 carries for 85 yards and 1 TD.  Meet your new St. Louis Rams starting RB.  After seeing first Zac Stacy and Benny Cunningham fumble away the starting chance, Mason has come off injury and sparked the teams backfield with explosive runs the last two weeks.  Blessed with top end speed, Mason could score whenever he touches the football.  If he wasn't last week, Mason will eb the top waiver claim for Week 8.

Aaron Rodgers:  19 of 22 for 255 yards and 3 TD.  Pretty much a perfect game for Rodgers who is clicking on all cylinders.  This is the best Rodgers has looked since the start of 2013 and when he is playing like this, he is unstoppable.  Now challenging Peyton Manning for the top QB spot.

Denard Robinson:  22 carries for 127 yard and 1 TD.  Forget Toby Gerhart or Storm Johnson, Robinson is now the guy to own in the Jacksonville backfield.  He has always been an explosive runner going back to his QB days in Michigan and his top-end speed looks like a nice fit for the Jags.  While the Jaguars are horrible, anyone in need of a RB 2 should bite.

Golden Tate:  10 catches for 154 yards and 1 TD.  So it clearly looks like playing in the run-heavy Seattle Seahawks offense held Tate back from his true potential.  He has been a monster WR 1 the last three weeks with Calvin Johnson injured.  Even when Megatron comes back, Tate has been way to good for the Lions to move away from him.  Already one of the best values in the game this season.

-Speaking of Zac Stacy, he played all of one snap and received no touches which speaks volumes about his place in the St. Louis Rams offense.  Tre Mason is the clear starter now so Stacy can be dropped in all formats as his rookie season a year ago is looking like a fluke.

-We warned all of you before the games about the risk in playing New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham and the results backed us up as he was held without a catch Sunday.  Graham was clearly not himself as he battles a shoulder ailment but he should be better for next week. 

-Randall Cobb caught 6 balls for 121 yards and another touchdown in the team's win over the Carolina Panthers.  Cobb has been a top 5-7 fantasy football wideout and is only slightly behind his teammate Jordy Nelson in the rankings.  As long as Cobb remains healthy, he is a huge weapon in all formats given the ferocity of the Green Bay Packers passing game.  With 8 touchdowns already, Cobb is making a run at 15.

-It certainly looks like Buffalo Bills rookie WR Sammy Watkins is the real deal.  The change from the awful E.J. Manuel to veteran Kyle Orton has paid immediate dividends.  Watkins was a machine Sunday in catching 9 balls for 122 yards and two scores.  Blessed with monster athleticism and speed, Watkins is destined for WR 1 status very soon.  Those who gambled on his rookie status are paying off now.

-Odell Beckham Jr. was an obvious add last week when Victor Cruz was lost for the season and even though he picked up only 34 yards on 4 catches, 2 went for scores.  Beckham Jr. figures to be the big-play guy for the Giants and the number 1 red zone threat so he warrants every week consideration going forward.

-Another week and monster game for Dallas Cowboys RB DeMarco Murray.  He has now run for over 100 yards in all 7 games this season as he went for 128 yards on an insane 28 carries and one touchdown.  The workload is a major concern going forward for one of the more injury-prone players in the game and honestly I would not scoff at selling high here.  We all know Murray is an injury waiting to happen and his value can't get any higher.  You can name your price right now for Murray and getting a LeSean McCoy and another piece would be worth it. 

-Andre Ellington has done a better impersonation of Jamaal Charles than the player himself.  In the summer Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians said that Ellington would be used like the Chiefs use Charles and so far the results have been spectacular.  Ellington rushed for 88 yards on 24 carries Sunday while also catching 6 balls for another 72 yards.  The workload is very impressive and shows that Ellington is now a clear number 1 back in all formats. 

-Speaking of Charles, he rushed for a solid 95 yards on 22 carries while also hitting the end zone for a score.  Charles has been good but not anywhere near as dominant as he was last season and so far is not living up to his number 1 overall price tag.  Still in a season where guys like Montee Ball and LeSean McCoy have failed either miserably or a bit, Charles has been solid.





 

FANTASY FOOTBALL ISSUES: IT IS SHOWTIME FOR C.J. SPILLER WITH FRED JACKSON HURT SUNDAY

Buffalo Bills RB Fred Jackson has suffered the most noteworthy injury Sunday as he was carted off with what looks like a serious groin injury.  That means finally C.J. Spiller gets the starting allotment of carries all his own which is what his fantasy football owners and all of us interested in seeing how good he can be have been waiting for.  Jackson is likely out a few weeks bare minimum like what is going on with Montee Ball and maybe longer.  Spiller meanwhile could do a Giovani Bernard impression now that he is the starter.  Pick him up where available. 

UPDATE:  Not even one half later, Spiller goes out with a shoulder injury and will not return.  On and on it goes. 

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL ISSUES: I WARNED YOU ABOUT MATT RYAN

Another game and another injury for an Atlanta Falcons offensive lineman.  Two weeks ago I suggested all Ryan owners (which includes myself) to sell high on the Falcons passer due to hard to fathom amount of serious injuries affecting his line.  We have now reached the point of no return for Ryan as he has had no chance to throw the football Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens.  The Falcons trail 17-0 at the half and Ryan has lost a fumble and tossed for only 54 yards.  In addition, Julio Jones is being neutered in that his big-play ability has no chance with Ryan having zero time to throw.  It is now too late to sell high here and Ryan is now moving into only backup status.  Unreal.

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL BREAKING NEWS: CALVIN JOHNSON (ANKLE) OUT AGAIN SUNDAY

                                         

Detroit Lions WR Calvin Johnson is out of the lineup again on Sunday due to ongoing ankle issues that go back to Week 3.  Still no word on how much longer Johnson will be out but Golden Tate figures to be heavily involved again.

Analysis:  All Tate owners are rejoicing about Johnson being out another week because is a borderline WR 1 with him absent.  Those who do own Johnson are beyond frustrated by the absence of their number 1 draft pick but obviously you need to stay the course and wait this out.

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL BREAKING NEWS: MARK INGRAM (HAND) ACTIVE SUNDAY

                                            

New Orleans Saints RB Mark Ingram is active Sunday as he makes his return from his hand injury.  Ingram will get the starting nod over Khiry Robinson against a tough Detroit Lions defensive line.

Analysis:  Ingram was off to his best start ever before his latest injury and he really should be benched for another week as his first matchup is a real bear.  It is also safe to drop Robinson in all formats.

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL STATUS REPORT: MONTEE BALL ALREADY LOOKING LIKE HUGE FIRST ROUND BUST

                                          

As 2014 fantasy football drafts rolled around, the general consensus was that Denver Broncos second-year running back Montee Ball was a locked in first round pick due to the prime opportunity he was being handed as the new starting running back for the Denver Broncos.  After Knowshon Moreno put up the fifth-highest point total among all running backs last season for the Broncos despite the fact Peyton Manning set all sorts of passing records, the idea of the younger and more powerful Ball being just as good was almost set in stone.  Fast forward seven weeks and what we have now is the argument that Ball is already looking like the biggest potential first round bust.  Currently set to miss his second straight game with a groin injury (and watching backup Ronnie Hillman run for 100 yards in his place in Week 6), Ball has been nothing short of a bomb.  Even before he got injured, Ball was playing miserably as he averaged only 3.1 yards per carry and his highest rushing total in his four games was a mediocre 67.  Throw in the fact Ball had scored all of one touchdown and what you have here is a clear bust candidate.  Making matters worse is that word out of Denver is that Ball may not get his starting running back job back when he does return to the field.  If Hillman continues to play well, at most Ball would be on the short end of a committee and maybe relegated to the bench altogether.  No matter how you slice it, Ball has done next-to-nothing for his owners and is on the verge of irrelevancy altogether.

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL BREAKING NEWS: PANTHERS WR KELVIN BEMNJAMIN (CONCUSSION) TO START

                                          

Carolina Panthers rookie WR Kelvin Benjamin has been medically cleared to start Sunday from last week's concussion.  Benjamin is already slated to start and barring any late issues, will get a full compliment of snaps according to a team source.

Analysis:  Good news here as Benjamin has been a solid WR 3 on a receiver-needy team.  The Panthers are going to have to throw a bunch against a Green Bay Packers squad that is hitting on all passing cylinders.  Get him in there.

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL BREAKING NEWS: JIMMY GRAHAM TO BE ACTIVE BUT WON'T START

                                           

New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham will be active Sunday but won't start as he continues to battle the shoulder injury he suffered back in Week 5.  The Saints had a bye last week and originally Graham was expected to miss 2-3 weeks so his return is a nice surprise for the team.  He is only expected to play a number of snaps however which the team did not discuss publicly.

Analysis:  Graham is a big risk to play due to chance of re-injury and for the unknown numbers of snaps he might take.  Still Graham is by far the top tight end in fantasy football and sitting him down whenever he is active is a tough pill to swallow.  Flip a coin.

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL TRADE FALLOUT: PERCY HAVIN NOW A NEW YORK JET

                                     

In a shocking pre-deadline trade, the Seattle Seahawks agreed late Friday to send WR Percy Harvin and his remaining bloated contract to the New York Jets for what the NFL Network reports is a mid-round pick.  The connection was there between the teams as Jets GM John Idzik previously worked in the Seattle front office and Harvin was deemed a bad fit in the run-heavy Seahawks offense.  Either way this was as big a deal as you could get in the middle of an NFL season and there certainly are some fantasy football repercussions as well.

First off, Harvin's instantly takes a hit in value in moving from Seattle to New York as he goes from having a Pro Bowl/Super Bowl-winning QB throwing passes to him in Russell Wilson, to now having to grab balls from arguably the worst starting passer in the league in Geno Smith.  In addition, Eric Decker takes a sizable hit as he no longer will be the number 1 receiver for the Jets as Harvin comes aboard.  The flip side is that Doug Baldwin and Jermaine Kearse see a decent uptick in value and either one could be moving into WR 3 territory as a result.  Meanwhile Smith does have more weapons now with Harvin on the offense but he still has zero value as you can't trust him and all the turnovers he commits.  Wilson loses a major weapon but he is as crafty as they come and had not thrown much to Harvin this season outside of the opener. 

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL THURSDAY WRAPUP: JETS/PATRIOTS

The first game of fantasy football Week 7 is in the books so let's check out the noteworthy performances from Jets-Pats.

Tom Brady:  20/37 for 261 yards with 3 TD.  Brady has now thrown 9 touchdowns and no interceptions the last three games.  In other words he is back to being Tom Brady.  Which means serving as an every week fantasy football ace passer.  While we never love his receiving corps, doubting Brady has always proved foolish.

Geno Smith:  20/34 for 226 yards with 1 TD and 37 rushing yards.  Smith is playing better the last two games which of course is not saying much given how awful he had been.  Still among the worst starting passer in the entire league and is not worth using under any scenario.

Chris Ivory:  21 carries for 107 yards and 1 TD.  Ivory is now firmly entrenched as the starting RB for the Jets and carries solid RB 2 value in standard formats.  He is an injury waiting to happen but Ivory can pound out yards effectively and will get all goal-line work.

Chris Johnson:  13 carries for 61 yards to go along with 2 catches for 19 yards.  Solid game but Johnson has dropped all the way to RB 4 status which means he should be on the wire.

Shane Vereen:  11 carries for 43 yards to go along with 5 catches for 71 yards and 2 scores.  Was a shock that Brandon Bolden did not get even one carry as Vereen was an all-around weapon.  We all know he is a monster PPR play and that is even more so if he continues to get the majority of carries in games.

Brandon LaFell:  4 catches for 55 yards.  LaFell is looking like the new number 1 wide receiver in the Pats offense as he has logged a string of four straight solid to very good games.  Works well as your WR 3.

Rob Gronkowski:  5 catches for 68 yards.  Gronk is playing better himself as he more healthy and recovered from all his surgeries but he looks a step slow as well which is disturbing.  It is possible all the maladies have taken a chunk out of his game as Gronk has not been nearly the monster he has been in the past.  Wouldn't panic yet but the signs are not terrific yet.

Eric Decker:  4 catches for 67 yards.  Solid game versus Darrelle Revis as Geno Smith showed no hesitancy to throw in his direction.  WR 3 territory remains though for Decker as he follows the path we all expected he would take in losing stats leaving Denver.

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 7 TIGHT END RANKINGS

Here are the fantasy football Week 7 tight end rankings based on opposing matchups.

1.  Julius Thomas
2.  Rob Gronkowski
3.  Greg Olsen
4.  Martellus Bennett
5.  Jordan Cameron
6.  Antonio Gates
7.  Travis Kelce
8.  Jordan Reed
9.  Vernon Davis
10. Jason Witten
11. Larry Donnell
12. Delanie Walker
13. Dwayne Allen
14. Jared Cook
15. Owen Daniels
16. Jace Amaro
17. Tom Wright
18. Heath Miller
19. Eric Ebron
20. Charles Clay
21. Coby Fleener
22. Scott Chandler
23. Clay Harbor
24. Josh Hill
25. Jermaine Gresham

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 7 RUNNING BACK RANKINGS

Here are the fantasy football Week 7 running back rankings based on opposing matchups.

1.  DeMarco Murray
2.  Matt Forte
3.  Marshawn Lynch
4.  Arian Foster
5.  Le'Veon Bell
6.  Jamaal Charles
7.  Andre Ellington
8.  Giovani Bernard
9.  Branden Oliver
10. Ben Tate
11. Justin Forsett
12. Lamar Miller
13. Alfred Morris
14. Eddie Lacy
15. Joique Bell
16. Andre Williams
17. Ahmad Bradshaw
18. Fred Jackson
19. Frank Gore
20. Ronnie Hillman
21. Reggie Bush
22. Jerick McKinnon
23. Chris Ivory
24. C.J. Spiller
25. Shane Vereen
26. Isaiah Crowell
27. Brandon Bolden
28. Bishop Sankey
29. Jeremy Hill
30. Trent Richardson
31. Storm Johnson
32. Steven Jackson
33. James Starks
34. Antone Smith
35. Zac Stacy
36. Khiry Robinson
37. Mark Ingram
38. Darren McFadden
39. Bernard Pierce
40. Roy Helu

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 7 QB RANKINGS

Here are the fantasy football Week 7 QB rankings based on opposing matchups.

1.  Aaron Rodgers
2.  Philip Rivers
3.  Peyton Manning
4.  Andrew Luck
5.  Drew Brees
6.  Tom Brady
7.  Matthew Stafford
8.  Jay Cutler
9.  Tony Romo
10. Cam Newton
11. Russell Wilson
12. Carson Palmer
13. Joe Flacco
14. Colin Kaepernick
15. Matt Ryan
16. Ben Roethlisberger
17. Eli Manning
18. Brian Hoyer
19. Andy Dalton
20. Kyle Orton
21. Kirk Cousins
22. Alex Smith
23. Blake Bortles
24. Ryan Tannehill
25. Austin Davis
26. Teddy Bridgewater
27. Derek Carr
28. Blake Bortles
29. Ryan Fitzpatrick
30. Jake Locker
31. Charlie Whitehurst
32. Geno Smith

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 7 ADDS

Another week is almost here as fantasy football Week 7 beckons.  Here are the prime pickups to make in order to keep your roster as viable as possible with all the injuries around the league.

Carson Palmer:  Threw two touchdowns in his return to action from his mysterious shoulder injury so Palmer at the very least proved he can still sling it.  With Michael Floyd, John Brown, and Larry Fitzgerald at his disposal, Palmer has a slew of weapons to be a 275 yards/2 TD weapon each week.

Brian Hoyer:  In case you haven't gotten the memo (and remember we pushed Hoyer way back in Week 2), here is a reminder.  It is likely Hoyer is already gone in two-QB formats as he should be and even in single passer leagues he is a solid backup.  The guy is for real.

Jerick McKinnon:  Likely the most fought over player this week, the big-play McKinnon is now the starting running back for the Minnesota Vikings.  Those who play PPR will also enjoy his pass catching ability.  Will lose goal-line work to Matt Asiata though.

Brandon Bolden:  With Stevan Ridley out for the season, Bolden gets an extended run to show what he can do.  Bolden has done some nice things in the past with his power running and he also can catch the football.  Should be the second-most sought after player this week.

Darren McFadden:  It looks like McFadden has moved squarely ahead of the finished Maurice Jones-Drew for what it is worth.  The Raiders offense has looked better of late and while healthy (for the next week or two), McFadden is worth a pickup as depth insurance.

Andre Holmes:  Has grabbed 9 passes the last two week, with three going for scores.  Holmes is looking like the new number 1 wideout for QB Derek Carr and their chemistry is hard to ignore. 

Odell Beckham:  For the second week in a row we push Beckham after Victor Cruz was lost for the season with his knee injury.  Huge potential here so grab him quickly.

Jonathan Stewart:  Stewart is getting set to return from yet another injury and he will start as soon as this week.  Good runner when on the field but of course we can never depend on his health.

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL RUNNING BACK HOT ZONE: JERICK McKINNON ERA BEGINS

It is Tuesday which means it is fantasy football running back hot zone day where we check in on all the latest news coming out of those in the backfield.  Let's get right to it.



LEVEL 4

Jerick McKinnon-Matt Asiata:  Despite having at here-touchdown game just a few weeks ago, it looks like Matt Asiata has been cast aside by the Minnesota Vikings in favor of a more explosive Jerick McKinnon based on their usage in Week 6.  McKinnon got 48 snaps to only 15 for Asiata and showed what he can do by rushing for 40 yards on 11 carries and catching 6 balls for another 42 yards.  While Asiata is likely to continue to get goal-line work, McKinnon has immediate value as a RB 2 in PPR formats and has upside for more given his speed. 

Lamar Miller-Knowshon Moreno:  It didn't take Miami Dolphins lead running back Knowshon Moreno long this season to uphold his injury-prone ways.  First he injured his elbow early in Week 2 which kept him out until last Sunday.  Than Moreno proceeds to tear his ACL in the game which will cost him the rest of the season.  That means Lamar Miller will continue to get the majority of work in the Miami backfield for better or for worse.  Miller has been pretty decent but not exceptional this year but he is a locked-in RB 2 given his high volume of carries.

Tre Mason-Zac Stacy-Benny Cunningham:  There is a new face who has been entered into the ongoing St. Louis Rams running back discussion as rookie scatback Tre Mason is finally healthy and just made his debut in Monday night's to the San Francisco 49ers.  Mason actually finished with the most rushing yards as he picked up 40 yards on only 5 carries.  Mason also caught 1 pass for 12 yards as he showed off his big-time ability.  Mason was a monster player for Auburn during his stay there and he can score whenever he touches the football form anywhere on the field.  Meanwhile Zac Stacy continues to run in place and Benny Cunningham doesn't get enough work to warrant starting.  Mason should be added in PPR formats as his debut was very solid and there should be more on the way going forward.

LEVEL 3

Ronnie Hillman-Montee Ball:  Always possessing interesting running ability, Ronnie Hillman made the most of his starting debut Sunday by rushing for 100 yards on 24 carries against a tough New York Jets while also catching 3 balls for 16 yards.  The biggest problem with Hillman has always been fumbles which cost him the chance to start last season.  He did lose a fumble last Sunday but he wound up with almost all the carries which is key going forward as Montee Ball is likely to miss another week or two with his injured groin.  Continue starting Hillman.

LEVEL 2

Ben Tate-Isaiah Crowell-Terrance West:  Ben Tate once again was the bellcow back for the run-happy Cleveland Browns in their huge win over the Pittsburgh Steelers last Sunday as he ran 25 times for 78 yards and 2 scores.  Tate has now carried the ball 22 and 25 times the last two weeks but Isaiah Crowell seems to have firmly supplanted rookie Terrance West as the backup.  Crowell got 11 carries of his own last week but he is not worth adding unless desperate.  Tate meanwhile is an every week start but don't look for much in the way of receptions. 

Bishop Sankey-Shonn Greene:  It was not the most impressive starting debut for rookie back Bishop Sankey in Week 6 as he rushed for 61 yards on 18 carries.  Sankey took the place of the injured Shonn Greene but he still is the future of the Tennessee Titans running game.  There is big-play ability here and Sankey can also catch the football, although he only grabbed one pass last week.  Pick him up where available. 


 

FANTASY FOOTBALL STATUS REPORT: JOE FLACCO QB BALTIMORE RAVENS

Other than a four-game stretch that came in the postseason and culminated in a Super Bowl trophy, Baltimore Ravens QB Joe Flacco has been considered nothing but a backup fantasy football QB in single-passer formats throughout the duration of his career.  With the Ravens often operating a ground-based attack, Flacco's career-high in touchdown throws was a modest 25 back in 2010 and he comes off a 2013 horror show year when he tossed 22 interceptions.  Fast forward to the conclusion of the team's Week 6 annihilation of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where Flacco threw not one, not two, not three, not four, but FIVE!!!! touchdown passes in the first half (which made him the only QB in history to do so) as he finished with 306 yards passing.  That brought Flacco's season totals to 12 touchdowns and only 3 picks while throwing for 1,596 yards.  Based on the numbers, Flacco is performing like an every week fantasy football starter in single-passer 12-team leagues.  So the question now after 6 years is what has all of a sudden changed for Flacco?  And is this sustainable?

Well the first point that has to be made is that the Flacco got a game-breaking wideout for arguably the first time in his career prior to 2014 in the form of the field-stretching Steve Smith.  Despite the fact he is aging, Smith continues to produce at a high level as he has shown with big play after big play in his huge start for the Ravens.  Smith's presence has also allowed Torrey Smith to gain single-coverage on the other side of the field and he too is capable of getting down the field and making long-distance grabs like Smith does.  That has given Flacco two big-time passing weapons to go along with Owen Daniels at tight end who is a natural receiver.  Throw in the three-headed running back monster that is gaining huge chunks of yards and forcing defenses to keep men closer to the line of scrimmage and what you have here is the perfect confluence of changes for the better with regards to the offense and Flacco's potential numbers.  Of course Flacco could very well go back to being the hot and cold passer he has always been numbers-wise but we think this run can continue on if everyone stays healthy.  Flacco is worth adding in all formats as he at the very least can be good insurance in single-passer leagues if an injury takes out your number one guy.  Ride this out.

 

2014 FANTASY FOOTBALL UPDATED RUNNING BACK RANKINGS

With six weeks in the books, it is time to update the 2014 fantasy football running back rankings.  Let's take a look.

1.  DeMarco Murray:  Six games played and six games with over 100 rushing yards and a score.  The latest gem came against the Seattle Seahawks on the road of all teams.  We are always holding our breath with Murray's health but right now he has no peer.
2.  Arian Foster:  The "old man" still has a lot of life left in his legs.  5 rushing scores and over 500 yards on the ground are proof.  Great value so far.
3.  Matt Forte:  Already has an amazing 46 catches (22 in last two games) to go with terrific rushing totals.  The best PPR back outside of Murray.
4.  Le'Veon Bell:  Only one rushing touchdowns but Bell has been excellent both in the run and receiving game. 
5.  Jamaal Charles:  A bit quiet early on due to injury and light usage but Charles is primed for huge production going forward.
6.  LeSean McCoy:  Big game against the Giants for now put his early struggles behind him.
7.  Marshawn Lynch:  Has 3 rushing and receiving touchdowns and still running with great power.  Father Time not taking over yet.
8.  Giovani Bernard:  Jeremy Hill has not sabotaged Bernard's production like some feared.  Only getting better.
9.  Alfred Morris:  Doing his standard league thing with good power running but almost zilch in passing game.
10. Justin Forsett:  One of the best values in the early season as Forsett has 408 yards rushing and 23 catches.
11. Rashad Jennings:  Knee injury pushes Jennigns down a notch but his production was very good prior.
12. Andre Ellington:  Early injuries capped his production the first few weeks but no one has been hotter outside of Murray the last two weeks. 
13. Eddie Lacy:  Was pretty miserable early on but Lacy has rounded into form his last two games with power running and touchdowns.
14. Frank Gore:  The ageless Gore has not been a PPR factor for a few years but he continues to churn out the yardage for this run-heavy outfit. 
15. Ahmad Bradshaw:  Has already scored five receiving touchdowns as Bradshaw is a trusted Andrew Luck outlet.
16. Lamar Miller:  Will likely drop down the rankings with Knowshon Moreno back to take goal-line work and maybe more.
17. Stevan Ridley:  The next time we update the rankings in a month, Ridley will be gone from this list due to his knee injury.
18. Knile Davis:  Davis was very good spelling an injured Jamaal Charles and was still involved when his counterpart returned. 
19. Steven Jackson:  A shell of his former self, Jackson still does a little of everything on a smaller scale.
20. Branden Oliver:  With Ryan Matthews out injured and Donald Brown ineffective, Oliver has been a terrific find.
21. Montee Ball:  Ugh.   Right now Ball is in major bust territory as he was not playing well even before he injured his groin.
22. Jerick McKinnon:  Now taking over for the mediocre Matt Asiata.  Big-play potential and comparisons to Andre Ellington are spot on. 
23. Fred Jackson:  Once again siphoning value from C.J. Spiller and doing good but not great things in the running and passing game.
24. Ben Tate:  Looking solid since coming back from his knee injury.  Has growing competition for touches with Isaiah Crowell.
25. Shane Vereen:  Only holds PPR value as Vereen has not gotten enough running plays to be an effective standard option.
26. Trent Richardson:  Running better than last season although that is not saying much.
27. Knowshon Moreno:  Back healthy which means Moreno should move up at least 10 spots quickly.
28. Reggie Bush:  Hurt again and numbers were at his worst levels prior.  Fading.
29. Chris Ivory:  Classic power runner like an Alfred Morris who won't catch passes.
30. Andre Williams:  With Jennings injured, the rookie Williams will get to continue showing off his power future.
31. Zac Stacy:  Terrible follow up to his solid rookie season.  Looming shadow of Benny Cunningham is growing quick.
32. C.J. Spiller:  Will never get to show off potential unless he gets out of Buffalo.
33. Bishop Sankey:  Has bright future but training wheels are still on.

There you have it.  Post your arguments below.  Let us hear it.

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 6 INJURY REPORT: VICTOR CRUZ WON'T SALSA UNTIL 2015

It was another week filled with injuries to big-name players, as fantasy football rosters took the hit.  Let's check out the latest carnage.

-New York Giants WR Victor Cruz is done for the season after tearing the patella tendon in his knee Sunday night in the team's shutout loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.  Cruz was seen visibly upset while being carted off so one had to instantly know that it was not good.  While Cruz' numbers have taken a dip the last year and a half from his 2011-12 explosion, his status as a high-end WR 2 was firm.  His loss however means that the exciting Odell Beckham Jr. moves into the starting position and Reuben Randle also will get more looks.  Boost their stocks.

-The Eagles also took an injury hit as Darren Sproles might have injured the MCL or ACL in his knee.  While no one was whispering about a tear, a strain along the lines of what Rashad Jennings suffered last week is very likely which means Sproles will miss the next 2-3 weeks. 

-Stevan Ridley could be finished for 2015 himself as he went down with an ugly knee injury Sunday in the team's win over the Buffalo Bills.  Tests are being ordered for Monday but a team source said the Pats are bracing for the worst.  Brandon Bolden will be the primary ballcarrier in his absence and not Shane Vereen who remains mostly a passing game weapon.  Bolden also can catch the football though so those in PPR should not ignore him.

-A major scare was felt by the owners of Giovani Bernard as the Cincy Bengals back left with a shoulder injury but he eventually returned.  Bernard had his best game of the season and remains a top five back.  He should be good to go for Week 7.

-Eddie Royal's run as a fantasy football asset looks interrupted after only two weeks as left with rib injuries.  The interesting thing is that the San Diego Chargers used Ladarius Green in two-tight end sets which makes him a must-grab in that situation.

-Word is already out that A.J. Green is out next week with his ongoing foot issues.  Not good.

There you have it.  As always post your thoughts in the spot below.  We would love to hear it.

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL BREKING NEWS: REGGIE BUSH OUT SUNDAY WITH ANKLE INJURY

                                           

Detroit Lions RB Reggie Bush is out Sunday with an ankle injury and Joique Bell will start in his place. 

Analysis:  Not a surprise as Bush did nothing during the week.  Bell has very good value this week in going against a shaky Minnesota Vikings defense.  Bell himself is coming back from a concussion but he should be heavily involved in the offense both in the passing and running game.

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL BREAKING NEWS: KNOWSHON MORENO TO BE ACTIVE SUNDAY

                                             

Miami Dolphins RB Knowshon Moreno will return to action Sunday against the Green Bay Packers and receive anywhere from 8-12 carries according to various reports.  Moreno is making his way back from a serious elbow injury suffered on his first carry in Week 2 but Lamar Miller will draw the start.

Analysis:  Nice to see Moreno get back on the field and by next week he should be back to starting material.  Keep him on the bench given the expected light workload Sunday and especially considering the passing shootout that is expected there.

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL BREAKING NEWS: VINCENT JACKSON (RIBS), MIKE EVANS (GROIN) TO START SUNDAY

                                               

Both Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR's Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans will start Sunday versus the Baltimore Ravens despite battling rib and groin injuries respectively.

Analysis:  Jackson is a risky play at less than 100 percent going against Pro Bowl Ravens CB Jimmy Smith but Evans could be a sneaky good WR 3 under that scenario.  Either way there figures to be a lot of passing in this one. 

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL BREAKING NEWS: CARSON PALMER (SHOULDER) TO START SUNDAY

                                                  

Arizona Cardinals QB Carson Palmer will start for the team Sunday against the Washington Redskins which will mark his first outing since going down after Week 1 with a shoulder injury.  Palmer replaces backup Drew Stanton who did a serviceable job while Palmer was sidelined.

Analysis:  Good news for owners of Arizona skill players like Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd.  Palmer may be a bit rusty but is worth an add in two-QB formats given his array of weapons at his disposal.

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL INJURY FALLOUT: JIMMY GRAHAM DOWN 2-3 WEEKS WITH INJURED SHOULDER

                                   

Sunday morning brought some sobering news for New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham's owners as it was revealed he would miss the next 2-3 weeks with an injured shoulder that he suffered back in Week 5.  The severity of the injury was not released by the Saints since they are on a bye but multiple sources have already said Graham won't return until Week 9 or 10.  The slam dunk number 1 tight end in fantasy football, the chore of replacing Graham in the lineup is an almost impossible one.  However we have already seen some new tight end names appear or re-appear as useful every week options such as Larry Donnell, Dwayne Allen, and Niles Paul, so all hope is not lost.  Jordan Reed returns this week for the Washington Redskins and he instantly becomes a top target for QB Kirk Cousins starting today against the Arizona Cardinals.  In addition, names such as Jared Cook, Tim Wright, Eric Ebron, and Heath Miller are all serviceable options who could be out there on waivers.  Wright stands out as the most interesting of the bunch.  So yes replacing Graham is a tough chore but again it is way too early in the season to throw in the towel. 

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL STATUS REPORT: STORM JOHNSON RB JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

                                       

Another week and another potential new starting running back for the Jacksonville Jaguars.  Arguably the NFL's worst team, the Jaguars have already discovered that Toby Gerhart is best left as a little-used backup and Denard Robinson should not be in the NFL if he can't throw passes.  With Gerhart slated to sit out Week 6 with injury, the job now falls to Storm Johnson who was fourth on the team's depth chart in training camp.  The 7th round pick out of UCF (same school as Blake Bortles) in the 2014 Draft, Johnson carried the ball four times for 27 yards last Sunday.  Johnson showed a decisive burst through the hole and at the very least is a fresh body who could may be get a chance to literally run with the job if he has a solid game in Week 6.  There are only two teams on a bye this week and much better waiver options like Andre Williams and Ronnie Hillman.  But those who are desperate at least will get a volume runner for Week 6 who has good speed to pick up yards in quick fashion.  Make the speculative add even as a depth play in case Johnson "storms" out of the gates.

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 6 TIGHT END RANKINGS

Here are the fantasy football Week 6 tight end rankings based on opposing matchups.

1.  Julius Thomas
2.  Martellus Bennett
3.  Rob Gronkowski
4.  Antonio Gates
5.  Greg Olsen
6.  Vernon Davis
7.  Delanie Walker
8.  Jordan Cameron
9.  Larry Donnell
10. Owen Daniels
11. Zach Ertz
12. Heath Miller
13. Jason Witten
14. Dwayne Allen
15. Jordan Reed
16. Charles Clay
17. Tim Wright
18. Jared Cook
19. Eric Ebron
20. Niles Paul
21. Ladarius Green
22. Austin Seferian-Jenkins
23. Levine Toilolo
24. Garrett Graham
25. John Carlson

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 6 WIDE RECEIVER RANKINGS

Here are the fantasy football Week 6 wide receiver rankings based on opposing matchups. 

1.  Demaryuis Thomas
2.  Julio Jones
3. Jordy Nelson
4.  Brandon Marshall
5.  Antonio Brown
6.  Alshon Jeffery
7.  Randall Cobb
8.  Dez Bryant
9.  Steve Smith
10. Victor Cruz
11. Golden Tate
12. Emmanuel Sanders
13. Calvin Johnson
14. Jeremy Maclin
15. Vincent Jackson
16. Kelvin Benjamin
17. Roddy White
18. Percy Harvin
19. Keenan Allen
20. Pierre Garcon
21. Mike Wallace
22. Julian Edelman
23. Wes Welker
24. Michael Floyd
25. Brian Quick
26. Kendall Wright
27. Reuben Randle
28. Sammy Watkins
29. Justin Hunter
30. Larry Fitzgerald
31. Mohamud Sanu
32. Eric Decker
33. Michael Crabtree
34. James Jones
35. Torrey Smith
36. Terrance Williams
37. Eddie Royal
38. Andrew Hawkins
39. Odell Beckham Jr.
40. Markus Wheaton
41. Cordarelle Patterson
42. Davante Adams
43. Greg Jennings
44. John Brown
45. Anquan Boldin
46. Allen Robinson
47. Kenny Britt
48. Devin Hester
49. Brian Hartline
50. Allen Hurns