FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 8 RUNNING BACK RANKINGS

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

1.  Le'Veon Bell
2.  Devonta Freeman
3.  Todd Gurley
4.  Adrian Peterson
5.  Matt Forte
6.  Mark Ingram
7.  Justin Forsett
8.  Marshawn Lynch
9.  Chris Ivory
10. Doug Martin
11. Danny Woodhead
12. Charcandrick West
13. Chris Johnson
14.  Darren McFadden
15. Jonathan Stewart
16. Eddie Lacy
17. Giovani Bernard
18. Frank Gore
19. Alfred Blue
20. Ronnie Hillman
21. Latavius Murray
22. Duke Johnson
23. Carlos Hyde
24. Jeremy Hill
25. Ameer Abdullah
26. Charles Sims
27. Theo Riddick
28. C.J. Anderson
29. Andre Ellington
30. Antonio Andrews
31. C.J. Spiller
32. Dexter McCluster
33. Shane Vereen
34. Rashad Jennings
35. Chris Polk

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL THURSDAY NIGHT WRAPUP: PATS/DOLPHINS

The New England Patriots remained unbeaten as they swatted away the Miami Dolphins with ease.  Let's get to all the latest fantasy football news coming out of the game.

Tom Brady:  26/38 for 356 yards with 4 TD.  Right now Brady is the fantasy football MVP and it is not close for second.  Now up to 20 touchdowns and 1 pick on the season and what really is great about owning Brady is that the Pats continue to throw it even when the game is well in hand.  Clearly it is ridiculous to think that some got Brady as late as Round 8 in their draft due to the suspension that was overturned.  Amazing stuff. 

Ryan Tannehill:  28/44 for 300 yards with 0 TD and 2 INT.  Just a week after tossing a perfect game and four touchdown passes, Tannehill was left with a bagel on the scores column.  He was downright brutal in this one and it comes just when we felt comfortable using him in single passer formats.  AS volatile a player as there is to own this season.

Dion Lewis:  5 carries for 19 yards to go with 6 catches for 93 yards and 1 TD.  Lewis has been nicked up lately but when the lights go on he has been stellar.  He is playing the Danny Woodhead role in the Pats offense perfectly, racking up the receptions to make him a new PPR back gem.  Of course in standards you don't use Lewis but that was obvious given the lack of carries.

LeGarrette Blount:  17 carries for 72 yards to go with 1 catch for 2 yards.  Nothing much going on here as the Pats continue to throw it even right by the goal line.  That is why owning a primary runner on New England has never been such a good thing.

Lamar Miller:  9 carries for 15 yards and 1 TD to go with 5 catches for 19 yards.  Miller had been as hot as any running back in the game over the last two weeks but the New England defense was utterly dominant in this one.  Luckily for Miller and his owners, he got a score to at least give you something in this disaster of a game.

Rob Gronkowski:  6 catches for 113 yards and 1 TD.  Gronk is on one of those ridiculous runs right now in terms of having his standard weekly TD catch and 100 yard games.  There is virtually nothing that can be done to stop the guy right now and again this is why we have debates over him being a first round pick.  The numbers say he is worthy.

Julian Edelman:  7 catches for 81 yards and 2 TD.  The previous knock on Edelman was that even though he catches 100 passes a season, he doesn't score much.  Not an issue this season as Edelman is finding his way into the end zone often enough and is continuing with his unbelievable overall play the last three years.  On the border of low-end WR 1 value in PPR setups. 

Jarvis Landry:  6 catches for 71 yards.  The only Dolphin to really do anything in this game, Landry remains a big PPR weapon who always gets his catches.  A bit more yardage each week would help though. 

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 8 QB RANKINGS

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

1.  Tom Brady
2.  Aaron Rodgers
3.  Philip Rivers
4.  Carson Palmer
5.  Ben Roethlisberger
6.  Cam Newton
7.  Drew Brees
8.  Andy Dalton
9.  Matt Ryan
10. Ryan Tannehill
11. Matthew Stafford
12. Andrew Luck
13. Eli Manning
14. Jay Cutler
15. Russell Wilson
16. Peyton Manning
17. Ryan Fitzpatrick
18. Brian Hoyer
19. Joe Flacco
20. Derek Carr
21. Teddy Bridgewater
22. Josh McCown
23. Marcus Mariota
24. Nick Foles
25. Colin Kaepernick
26. Matt Cassel

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 8 ADDS

Time once again to check out the latest prime adds for the upcoming week in fantasy football.  Let's see who made the cut.

Darren McFadden:  Yeah him again.  It looks like McFadden has earned the majority of carries for the Dallas Cowboys after he ran wild against a tough New York Giants run defense last week.  McFadden also catches the football so much better than Joseph Randle (who himself is dealing with an oblique problem) which means he is worth an add in all formats.  While McFadden has been terrible the last few years, you can't argue with the fact the Dallas offensive line is as good as it gets.

Brian Hoyer:  Yes the Houston Texans are garbage but Brian Hoyer is putting up touchdowns at a high rate since taking over again for Ryan Mallett.  Hoyer has now thrown ten touchdown passes over the last four weeks and even if the Texans are getting blown out, we know they will continue throwing it to the very end.  With bye weeks here, Hoyer is worth a look if your starter is sitting. 

Eric Ebron:  We are really starting to see the development of Eric Ebron as the Detroit Lions tight end has become a big red zone weapon for Matthew Stafford and his catch rate is growing as well.  With the Lions offensive line issues incredibly stark, Ebron will likely be a popular short-to-intermediate outlet for Stafford going forward.

Danny Amendola:  The New England Patriots don't even bother running the football anymore and that means Amendola is back to being useful.  While Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman will continue to dominate looks from Tom Brady, Amendola scored last week and has grown in importance lately. 

Dallas Cowboys:  The Cowboys are really starting to get after the quarterback and they have a good matchup on that front Sunday against a Seattle Seahawks team that all of a sudden can't protect Russell Wilson. 

Tyler Lockett:  Speaking of the Seahawks, it has been Tyler Lockett and not Jimmy Graham as the best receiving weapon on the team over the last month.  Lockett was a solid prospect when he came into the league and his deep threat ability was on display last Thursday. 

Alfred Blue:  Obviously with Arian Foster out for the season, Blue becomes a factor again.  Remember he had his best rushing game as a pro right before Foster got back from his groin problem so that is a last positive memory to go on.  At least will be the main runner in the offense the rest of the way. 




 

FANTASY FOOTBALL INJURY/LINEUP REPORT: DARREN McFADDEN A HOT PROPERTY AGAIN

Lots to get to as fantasy football Week 7 is almost in the books with just Monday night's game left on the docket.  Let's get to all the latest.

-New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin had nothing but praise for the work of fourth-string running back Orleans Darkwa, further distorting an already ugly situation there for the team and fantasy owners of those involved.  Darkwa was dusted off the bench and proceeded to rush for 48 yards and a touchdown on just 8 carries.  Meanwhile Rashad Jennings and Andre Williams will nudged aside as Shane Vereen handled the pass receiving duties.  Coughlin hinted that Darkwa will play again this week and reports are beginning to circulate that he is ready to further lessen the workload of Jennings.  Needless to say, you don't want to own any Giants running back outside of Vereen in just PPR formats as there are way too many mouths to feed here.  Jennings and Williams can both he cut in all formats. 

-Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly once again came to the defense of embattled QB Sam Bradford Monday morning, just a night after he played poorly again in a loss to the Carolina Panthers.  Bradford is now up to 10 interceptions on the season against only 9 touchdown passes, an almost inexcusable ratio given the past potency of the offense.  Kelly is resisting the calls for Mark Sanchez and no doubt he has hitched his wagon to Bradford after dealing away Nick Foles in the offseason.  We all thought Bradford may be in line for a career year in 2015 once he was traded for by the Eagles but it is looking more and more like his poor play in St. Louis had more to do with the player and less to do with the offense around him.  Bradford too can now be cut in almost all formats. 

-Green Bay Packers wideout Davante Adams will return in Week 8 for the team after missing the equivalent of three games with a bad ankle.  However James Jones has played so well in his absence and even going back to the start of the season that Adams has now been dropped into the third spot in the order.  That is a mild disappointment as we all raced to pick up Adams once Jordy Nelson was lost for the season with injury but it just has not worked out well yet.  Still the Packers spread things around enough that Adams is worth holding onto for another week. 

-New York Jets running back Chris Ivory suffered from tightness and not a strain in his hamstring in Sunday's loss to the New England Patriots and at least initially he is expected to play in Week 8.  Ivory has been a top five back all year going into last week's game but the tightness pretty much ruined his day outside of a TD reception.  Ivory has a long history of injuries so this is something to watch closely.  Get Bilal Powell ready in case if you are a Ivory owner. 

-It looks and sounds like Darren McFadden is back to being the starting running back for the Dallas Cowboys, especially after he ran all over a very good New York Giants run defense on Sunday.  With Joseph Randle not playing well and suffering from an oblique injury, McFadden will likely see the majority of carries again next week.  With the Cowboys boasting the best offensive line in the game, McFadden is surely worth an add again this week. 

-It appeared as though Detroit Lions QB Matthew Stafford dodgers serious injury on his hand as X-rays were negative.  Stafford was driven hard into the turf late in Sunday's game and seemed like he was in a great deal of pain but the fact the X-rays were clean likely means he will be ready to go on London.

-Look for Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisbeger to return in Week 8 as expected.  Big Ben almost started this past Sunday but the Steelers felt it was a better idea for him to sit out one last game as a precaution.  Once again Antonio Brown owners rejoice.

-Cleveland Browns QB Josh McCown could be iffy for Week 8 after he injured his shoulder in Sunday's game.  An MRI was conducted on the shoulder but no update was given as of this writing.  McCown has moved into every week territory in two-QB leagues but backup Johnny Manziel would have no value if he had to go in there. 

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 7 WRAPUP

E.J. Manuel:  Buffalo Bills QB E.J. Manuel redefined what a bad day at the office is early Sunday as he completed just 24-of-42 passes for 298 yards with 2 touchdowns and 2 interception.  Manuel also lost a fumble and two of his turnovers were returned for scores.  Tyrod Taylor is expected back for Week 8 which means Manuel will go back to the bench where he belongs. 

Blake Bortles:  If you haven't been paying attention, a nice breakthrough is taking place with Jacksonville Jaguars second-year QB Blake Bortles.  Bortles completed 13-of-29 passes for 182 yards with 2 TD's and 1 INT.  While his accuracy was not great, Bortles has now tossed 16 touchdowns on the season with 8 picks.  With the ability to also pick up some yardage on the ground, Bortles is pushing toward every week usage in fantasy football in all formats.  At the very least he is a very solid QB 2 in setups that use two passers. 

Charcandrick West:  Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has gone on record saying that he beleved second-year running back Charcandrick West could do a very good job as the main back for the team after Jamaal Charles was lost for the season. It took a week but so far, so good on that assessment as West ran for 110 yards and a score on 22 carries Sunday, while also catching two balls for another 19 yards.  With Knile Davis only getting one carry, West clearly is the guy to own in the Chiefs backfield.  By the looks of this outing, West could be a sweet value the rest of the way. 

Todd Gurley:  The amazing rookie season for St. Louis Rams running back Todd Gurley continued on Sunday as he rushed for 128 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries for the team, while he also chipped in with 4 catches for 35 more yards.  Gurley has now gone for over 100 yards on the ground in three straight games and already he looks like a monster RB 1 who would get picked in the first round if drafts were tomorrow.  What a talent and Gurley quickly is showing he was worth the wait after he sat the first few weeks of the season recovering from his 2014 torn ACL.

Lamar Miller:  It was pure insanity for Miami Dolphins running back Lamar Miller who rushed for a crazy 175 yards and a touchdown on just 14 carries in the team's win over the Houston Texans on Sunday.  Miller also caught 3 passes for another 61 yards and a second score as pretty much every time he touched the football was a big play.  The veteran has been extremely hot over the last few weeks and that is terrific news going forward.  Pretty much the entire Dolphins team has responded since Dan Campbell took over as head coach and they gets the New England Patriots next Thursday. 

Stefon Diggs:  Those who snagged Minnesota Vikings rookie wideout Stefon Diggs have a real gem on their hands.  The guy who many say reminds them of Antonio Brown caught 6 passes for 108 yards and a touchdown on Sunday, continuing a tremendous burst over the last few weeks.  Diggs is now a locked-in starter on the Vikings ahead of Charles Johnson and he is especially valuable in PPR formats. 

Rob Gronkowski:  A big game always means big production from New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski who caught 11 passes for 108 yards and a touchdown in the team's win over the New York Jets.  Typical Gronk who the Jets had no answer for and there is no one even close to his production among tight ends this season.  So far Gronk has been well worth the late first round pick his owners spent on him. 

Ryan Tannehill:  It was the QB equivalent of a perfect game for Miami Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill as he completed 18-of-19 passes for 282 yards and 4 touchdowns in the team's blowout of the Houston Texans.  There was nothing Tannehill couldn't do in this one and he and the entire team continues to play their best since Dan Campbell took over as coach.  Coming into the season Tannehill was boosted big time by this staff but a rough September quieted things for awhile.  However Tannehill is clicking on all cylinders right now and looks back as an every week starter even in single QB formats. 

Nate Washington:  Talk about a garbage time special.  One of the reasons fantasy football is so popular is that blowout games still warrant attention due to the late statistics that are accumulated.  Case in point is Houston Texans wideout Nate Washington who went off for 9 catches for 127 yards and 2 touchdowns.  Washington was not likely owned in leagues as DeAndre Hopkins is the primary receiver on the Texans.  Nothing to do here as Washington is not worth an add based on this fluke of a game. 

Chris Ivory:  New York Jets running back Chris Ivory came up lame again on Sunday, this time a sore hamstring that allowed him to rush for just 41 yards on 17 carries.  Luckily for Ivory, he was able to score a touchdown on one of his two catches that went for a sum of 12 yards.  We said leading up to the week that the Jets need to pull off the gas when it comes to Ivory as he is much in the same way as Arian Foster in terms of only being able to withstand so many carries before he gets injured.  Something to watch for Week 8 as Ivory could very well sit out given his penchant for slow recoveries from injuries. 

T.Y. Hilton:  We saw the T.Y. Hilton Special on Sunday as the big-play Indianapolis Colts wideout caught only 4 passes but they went for 150 yards and two touchdowns in the team's loss to the New Orleans Saints.  This is typical Hilton as he is not a great PPR wideout due to the fact he doesn't catch a ton of passes in any given game but he has a knack for big yardage and scores due to his speed.  He remains a WR 1 in standard formats and a 2 in PPR setups. 

Matthew Stafford:  It was a incredibly tough day for Detroit Lions QB Matthew Stafford on Sunday, just one week after he exploded for four touchdown passes.  Stafford did throw for two more scored but he was sacked 7 times overall and needed X-rays on his hand afterwards.  While Stafford say he is will be fine, you really can't run with him as your starter right now given the awful state of the Lions offensive line which is as bad a unit as there in the NFL.

Antonio Brown:  Finally.  We all know how rough it has been for Pittsburgh Steelers wideout Antonio Brown who was a virtual non-factor the last three weeks with Ben Roethlisberger.  With Big Ben expected to come back next week, Brown's owners had to get through one last game without him.  Well Brown actually had a nice day on Sunday as he caught 6 passes for 124 yards in the team's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.  Brown should be back to his number 1 overall wideout self next week when Roethlisberger gets back, a development that his owners have been waiting on baited breath. 

Mark Ingram:  New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram has shown that the team's investment in re-signing him was a smart move as he rushed for 143 yards on 14 carries and one touchdown.  He also added two catches for another five yards.  Ingram has thus far stayed healthy and been cashing in nicely around the goal-line.  He also has been a surprising help in the receiving game, gathering his highest rate of receptions since breaking into the league. 

Brandon LaFell:  It wasn't the return that New England Patriots wideout Brandon LaFell expected on Sunday, as he had an absolute nightmare of a game in dropping SIX passes.  Overall LaFell caught just 2 passes for only 25 yards in his awful outing.  LaFell still has good value as a standard league wideout due to his past success in 2014 with Tom Brady.  Hold onto him as things will just get better the more work he gets. 

Derek Carr:  It was a walk in the park for Oakland Raiders QB Derek Carr on Sunday as he continued his ascent into an upper-level passer.  Overall Carr completed 24-of-31 passes for 289 yards and 3 touchdowns.  That upped Carr's TD/INT ratio to a terrific 11/3 as he did whatever he wanted against the San Diego Chargers defense.  He no doubt has graduated into every week material.  

Amari Cooper:  Part of the reason for the Carr rise is the already dominant play of rookie wideout Amari Cooper who went off for 5 catches for 133 yards and a score Sunday.  Cooper did his damage mostly in the first half for the Raiders before taking it easy in the second.  He has been everything as advertised thus far and already is knocking on the WR 1 door. 

Rashad Jennings:  Now we have four running backs in the picture for the New York Giants after Orleans Darkwa came off the bench to run for a touchdown while also getting more than a cameo look.  In addition, Rashad Jennings, Andre Williams, and Shane Vereen all got carries as well.  Needless to say, you don't want to be using any Giants running back right now.

Danny Woodhead:  Another garbage time special came from Danny Woodhead as the Oakland Raiders barely played defense on him in the second half of the blowout game.  Woodhead was a PPR monster again as he caught 11 passes for 75 yards and 2 touchdowns, also rushing five times for another 26 yards on the ground.  He remains a top RB 2 in PPR formats an a lower level option in standard setups. 





 

FANTASY FOOTBALL BREAKING NEWS: ARIAN FOSTER SUFFERS TORN ACHILLIES

Houston Texans running back Arian Foster suffered a torn Achilles tendon and is out for the remainder of the season.  Foster suffered the tear at the end of the team's game against the Miami Dolphins as he went down on a run play and was writhing on the ground in pain.  Initial testing centered on the tear and an official confirmation will come after the game. 

Analysis:  Done.  Wow is this the topper when it comes to Foster and his injury issues this season.  First the groin, then a concussion scare, and now the tear of the Achilles.  This could also be the end of Foster as a starting running back as he clearly can't hold up anymore physically.  Cut him loose. 

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL BREAKING NEWS: CHIEFS DECIDE TO HOLD OUT JEREMY MACLIN (CONCUSSION)

Updating an earlier item, the Kansas City Chiefs decided to hold out receiver Jeremy Maclin for Sunday's game despite earlier reports he would play.  Maclin was still feeling less than 100 percent early Sunday which led to the late scratch. 

Analysis:  Look for a very heavy dose of Travis Kelce in this one as the Chiefs have no one else left to throw the football to.  Maclin has had numerous injuries in his career which continue to undermine terrific ability. 

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL BREAKING NEWS: JEREMY MACLIN (CONCUSSION) TO START SUNDAY

Kansas City Chiefs wideout Jeremy Maclin will start Sunday after recovering from the concussion he suffered in last week's game.  Maclin passed he NFL's concussion protocol two days ago and Andy Reid signaled to reporters on Saturday that he believed his number 1 receiver would be able to play.

Analysis:  Good news here as concussions are always a dicey proposition.  Maclin has been good but not great so far this season in the scaled-down Chiefs offense. 

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL BREAKING NEWS: LANDRY JONES STARTING SUNDAY

Updating an earlier item, the Pittsburgh Steelers will start Landry Jones and not Ben Roethlisberger Sunday versus the Kansas City Chiefs.  An earlier report hinted that Big Ben was still in the running to play but his knee was simply no ready yet. 

Analysis:  Darn.  That would be the collective reaction to anyone who owns shares in Antonio Brown who has been awful the last three weeks through no fault of his own.  Stay patient as Roethlisberger should be back in Week 8. 

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL BREAKING NEWS: MELVIN GORDON OUT SUNDAY WITH ANKLE

San Diego Chargers RB Melvin Gordon is OUT Sunday with an ankle injury and will be replaced by Branden Oliver.  Gordon joins Antonio Gates as two big weapons who are potentially out for Sunday's game, while Keenan Allen is also battling a hip injury. 

Analysis:  Gordon is not much of a loss based on how badly he has been playing and losing fumbles like crazy.  Oliver is worth an add in standard formats, while Danny Woodhead will see a bunch of receptions in this one. 

FANTASY FOOTBALL BREAKING NEWS: T.J. YELDON (GROIN) ACTIVE FOR SUNDAY

Jacksonville Jaguars running back T.J. Yeldon is ACTIVE and will start Sunday in London versus the Buffalo Bills.  Yeldon missed last week's game with a groin injury but was able to work himself back into shape for Sunday's contest. 

Analysis:  Decent matchup for Yeldon as the Bills defense has been rocked the last few weeks.  He is developing into a very good PPR running back who is a firm RB 2 in all setups. 

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL BREAKING NEWS: BEN ROETHLISBERGER STILL COULD PLAY SUNDAY

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger could still play Sunday and that they team will wait until the last moment to see if he can go. 

Analysis:  All week reports have been all over the map about whether or not Big Ben will go and Antonio Brown's fantasy football outlook depends on it. Check back in a bit but we get the suspicion he will give it a shot. 

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL BREAKING NEWS: DION LEWIS (ABDOMEN) OUT SUNDAY

New England Patriots running back Dion Lewis is OUT for Sunday according to multiple reports due to the abdominal injury that he first suffered two weeks ago.  Lewis did play through the injury last week but the pain was more pronounced over the last few days. 

Analysis:  Those who own LeGarrette Blount will be happy with this news because that means he will get a bunch of carries in what is expected to be a tight game against the New York Jets.  Blount offers nothing in PPR as far as receptions and the matchup is a rough one with the great Jets defense though so put a cap on expectations for this one. 

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL BREAKING NEWS: ADRIAN PETERSON (FLU) SET TO START

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is set to start Sunday despite battling the flu over the last few days.  Multiple team sources have said Peterson was never in jeopardy of missing the game.

Analysis:  Peterson is as tough as they come so there was simply no way he would sit with an illness.  He has a great matchup against an awful Detroit Lions defense and his questionable status likely shifted his DFS value to an attractive margin for Sunday. 

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 7 WIDE RECEIVER RANKINGS

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

1.  DeAndre Hopkins
2.  Julio Jones
3.  Odell Beckham Jr.
4.  Larry Fitzgerald
5.  Keenan Allen
6.  Calvin Johnson
7.  Brandon Marshall
8.  Allen Robinson
9.  T.Y. Hilton
10. Antonio Brown
11. Mike Evans
12. Eric Decker
13. Jeremy Maclin
14. Allen Hurns
15. Martavis Bryant
16. Donte Moncrief
17. Julian Edelman
18. Jarvis Landry
19. John Brown
20. Steve Smith
21. Amari Coooper
22. Willie Snead
23. Travis Benjamin
24. Vincent Jackson
25. Pierre Garcon
26. Stefon Diggs
27. Golden Tate
28. Kendall Wright
29. Brandin Cooks
30. Michael Crabtree
31. Anquan Boldin
32. Jordan Matthews
33. Michael FLoyd
34. Jamison Crowder
35. Mike Wallace
36. Terrance Williams
37. Reuben Randle
38. Rishard Matthews
39. Leonard Hankerson 
40.  Ted Ginn Jr. 

 

FANTASY BASEBALL WEEK 7 INJURY REPORT: DEZ BRYANT "DOUBTFUL" FOR SUNDAY

Lots of big names permeate the fantasy football Week 7 injury report so let's get to all the latest as Sunday gets ready to unfold. 

-Dallas Cowboys wideout Dez Bryant is listed as doubtful for the team's game Sunday versus the New York Giants and honestly it was a very long shot for him to play anyways just six weeks removed from suffering a broken foot.  Week 8 is likely the return for Bryant but without Tony Romo until at least Week 11, he could have a tough time returning WR 1 value.

-Ben Roethlisberger is listed as questionable to play Sunday as he attempts to make a rapid comeback from his knee injury.  Landry Jones is still expected to start, a sentiment repeated by almost everyone in the Pittsburgh organization.  However if there is one person who could make that miraculous return, it is Roethlisberger so check back early Sunday.  Antonio Brown owners the end of the recent misery is in sight. 

-New York Giants wideout Odell Beckham Jr. is being listed as questionable yet again this week as he continues to battle a hamstring injury.  It is the same setup as last week when Beckham got in just one day of practice leading up to the game and ultimately played.  Look for Beckham to once again suit up as the Giants seems to have a firm plan mapped out in dealing with the hamstring. 

-Arizona Cardinals wideout John Brown is adamant that he is playing on Monday, despite the fact he has missed all of this week's practices with a hamstring strain.  The Cards will do a bit of work on Saturday which could go a long way in determining Brown's status.  If he does some work on Saturday, he should play.  Brown has really turned it on over the last few weeks and holds good WR 3 value in all formats. 

-Kansas City Chiefs wideout Jeremy Maclin has cleared the NFL's concussion protocol which makes his availability for Sunday much more likely.  All indications are that Maclin will be able to suit up and that means he remains as your WR 2. 

-Don't look for San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates Sunday as he has been diagnosed with a MCL sprain in his knee.  While it sounds bad, Gates COULD possibly play but more likely he will sit in favor of Ladarius Green.  With the Chargers throwing the football at a record pace, Green makes for a tremendous pickup.

-Keenan Allen returned to practice Friday for the Chargers as his sore hip has improved over the last few days.  Allen is leading the NFL in receptions and is on pace to break the single-season record.  A PPR gem all the way. 

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 7 TIGHT END RANKINGS

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

1.  Rob Gronkowski
2.  Greg Olsen
3.  Antonio Gates
4.  Gary Barnridge
5.  Travis Kelce
6.  Charles Clay
7.  Jason Witten
8.  Julius Thomas
9.  Jordan Cameron
10. Ben Watson
11. Delanie Walker
12. Jordan Reed
13. Crockett Gilmore
14. Jacob Tamme
15. Zach Ertz
16. Ladarius Green
17. Larry Donnell
18. Heath Miller
19. Jared Cook
20. Kyle Rudolph
21. Dwayne Allen
22. Vernon Davis
23. Coby Fleener
24. Mychal Rivera
25. Tim Wright
26. Darren Fells

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL TREND/MIRAGE: DeANDRE HOPKINS THE NEW NUMBER 1?

Another week has gone by and that means it is another chance for us to take a look at some of the main storylines surrounding fantasy football in our latest TREND/MIRAGE feature.

1.  Houston Texans wideout DeAndre Hopkins is the new number 1 wideout in fantasy football:  It has been a spectacular season for DeAndre Hopkins as the youngster has now fully ascended to elite status as he goes into Week 7 with 52 receptions for 726 yards and 5 scores despite having very mediocre QB play under center.  Hopkins has been so good that some are now saying he is the best wideout in fantasy football.  What makes Hopkins so good is that he has blazing speed AND tremendous route running ability.  With Antonio Brown struggling with the Pittsburgh backups, Hopkins keeps going with Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallett under center. The numbers in 2015 don't lie and those who got Hopkins in Round 3 or later made out like bandits. 
VERDICT:  TREND
2.  Demaryius Thomas Won't Catch 8 Touchdown Passes:  The drastic falloff of Peyton Manning for the Denver Broncos has been startling and the effects on the wideouts is obvious as number 1 weapons Demaryuis Thomas has all of one touchdown catch going into Week 7.  Thomas has noticeably dropped a bunch of passes as well amid reports the wideouts are having trouble hauling in the wobbly throws from Manning.  Throw in a persistent neck problem that has plagued Thomas all season and those who take part in standard formats especially are being hurt by what has transpired here.
VERDICT:  TREND
3.  Cam Newton Will Continue Playing Like a Top 5-7 Fantasy QB:  It has been the best start of Carolina Panthers QB Cam Newton's career as the physically awesome specimen of a player has passed for 8 touchdown and rushed for another 3 on the ground in an MVP-like performance.  Never a guy who is fantasy football friendly due to a severe lack of passing scores and declining rushing totals, Newton is putting the team on his back this season.  The question is whether he can keep it up.  Well with still a dearth of receivers outside of Greg Olsen at his disposal and Newton taking a bunch of hits that will likely wear him down, he likely will see erosion as the season goes on.  In addition, Newton is playing way above his head right now and career trends always speak loudly. 
VERDICT:  MIRAGE

4.  Sammy Watkins Can Be Cut Loose Already:  It has been another miserable season for Sammy Watkins on the heels of a very disappointing rookie campaign for the Buffalo Bills.  In adition to having to deal with awful QB play since his debut, Watkins has been constantly injured.  He is likely to sit out Week 7 and the Bills continue to trot out horrible passers.  The name brand is sizable but the numbers not so much.  Cut your losses on the kid.
VERDICT:  TREND

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 7 RUNNING BACK RANKINGS

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

1.  Devonta Freeman
2.  Arian Foster
3.  Todd Gurley
4.  Le'Veon Bell
5.  Chris Ivory
6.  Adrian Peterson
7.  Mark Ingram
8.  Marshawn Lynch
9.  Lamar Miller
10. Doug Martin
11. LeSean McCoy
12. Dion Lewis
13. Frank Gore
14. Latavius Murray
15. DeMarco Murray
16. Carlos Hyde
17. Justin Forsett
18. Christine Michael
19. LeGarrette Blount
20. Danny Woodhead
21. Rashad Jennings
22. Jonathan Stewart
23. Melvin Gordon
24. Chris Johnson
25. Charcandrick West
26. Alfred Morris
27. Duke Johnson
28. Shane Vereen
29. Ryan Matthews
30. Amir Abdullah
31. Joseph Randle
32. Antoino Andrews
33. Andre Ellington
34. Matt Jones
35. Knile Davis 








 

FANTASY FOOTBALL BREAKING NEWS: UNLIKELY BIG BEN PLAYS WEEK 7

Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger remained a limited participant in practice on Thursday and OC Todd Haley said afterwards that he is still planning on Landry Jones starting.  Roethlisberger is ramping up his work on an everyday basis and he said on Wednesday he doesn't feel any pain anymore in the knee.  Team insiders still suggest Roethlisberger will return in Week 8. 

Analysis:  I wish to heck Big Ben would return as a Antonio Brown owners but we might have to wait another week or so.  If you can try and buy low on Reothlisberger, do it now before he gets back. 

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL BREAKING NEWS: JOHN BROWN SUFFERS HAMSTRING STRAIN THURSDAY

Arizona Cardinals deep threat wideout John Brown suffered a slight hamstring strain in Thursday's practice.  Bruce Arians downplayed the injury and proclaimed Brown will be ready to go for Monday night. 

Analysis:  It sounds like Brown dodged a bullet here and will be ready to reprise his deep-ball magic with QB Carson Palmer Monday night.  While Larry Fitzgerald has been the most productive of the three wideouts for the Cardinals, Brown is starting to get into a groove the last few weeks.  He should be started as a WR 3 in all formats. 

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL BREAKING NEWS: ANTONIO GATES (KNEE) SITS OUT AGAIN THURSDAY

San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates sat out another practice on Thursday due to the knee injury he suffered at the end of last week's game.  Gates was only back for his second game after missing the first four of the season due to a PED suspension.  A team insider says Gates is in jeopardy of sitting out Week 7.

Analysis:  There is the rub with owning Gates who is aging and has a long history of leg and knee injuries.  On a production basis, Gates is still as good as ever as he showed in his two-touchdown debut in Week 5.  Get Ladarius Green queued up again. 



 

FANTASY FOOTBALL BREAKING NEWS: GIANTS EXPECTING ODELL BECKHAM JR. (HAMSTRING) TO PLAY SUNDAY

The New York Giants expect wideout Odell Beckham Jr. to play Sunday after missing practice again on Thursday due to ongoing soreness in his hamstring.  The same scenario unfolded last week as well, with Beckham Jr. missing practice all week but then playing Monday night against the Philadelphia Eagles. 

Analysis:  Count on Beckham Jr. playing as he said so himself Thursday and he figures to repeat what took place last week.  While his numbers are down due to more defensive attention, Beckham Jr. is still every bit the top five wideout this season. 

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 7 QUARTERBACKS RANKINGS

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

1.  Philip Rivers.
2.  Andrew Luck
3.  Tom Brady
4.  Carson Palmer
5.  Drew Brees
6.  Matt Ryan
7.  Cam Newton
8.  Eli Manning
9.  Blake Bortles
10. Russell Wilson
11. Ryan Fitzpatrick
12. Matthew Stafford
13. Brian Hoyer
14. Tyrod Taylor
15. Ryan Tannehill
16. Sam Bradford
17. Derek Carr
18. Nick Foles
19. Teddy Bridgewater
20. Josh McCown
21. Jameis Winston
22. Joe Flacco
23. Landry Jones
24. Matt Cassel
25. Kirk Cousins
26. Zach Mettenberger
27. Marcus Mariota
28. Colin Kaepernick
29. Alex Smith

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL BREAKING NEWS: T.J. YELDON "50/50" FOR SUNDAY

Jacksonville Jaguars running back T.J. Yeldon didn't practice on Wednesday as he continues to battle soreness in his groin, an injury that first became a problem in Week 5.  Yeldon already sat out last week with the groin and is still feeling the effects with Week 7 a few days away. 

Analysis:  Yeldon is in jeopardy of missing a second game with the injury which is a decent loss for his owners as he was starting to come into his own.  He has good ability both in the running and receiving game which makes Yeldon as RB 2 in all formats.  Denard Robinson will likely handle the  majority of carries in his place. 

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL BREAKING NEWS: CHIEFS NOT COUNTING ON JEREMY MACLIN (CONCUSSION) FOR WEEK 7

Doubt in growing in the Kansas City Chiefs organization regarding the availability of number 1 wideout Jeremy Maclin for Week 7.  Maclin is in the concussion protocol and he didn't practice on Wednesday after still feeling the effects. 

Analysis:  It sounds like Maclin will be a no-go which is a shame since he has been playing very well going back to preseason.  Maclin always seems to be banged up which is why the Philadelphia Eagles didn't open the vault to keep him.  He has better PPR value than standard due to his lack of scores but overall Maclin fits nicely into the WR 2 realm. 

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL NEWS: CECIL SHORTS OUT SUNDAY WITH HAMSTRING

The Houston Texans have already ruled out wide receiver Cecil Shorts for Sunday due to a persistent hamstring injury.  Shorts will likely be replaced in the starting lineup by rookie Jaleen Strong who caught a pair of touchdowns in Week 5.

Analysis:  All of a sudden the Texans are a decent passing team with Brian Hoyer back under center.  Strong is worth a look in very deep formats as he has a knack for big plays but the Hoyer to DeAndre Hopkins show will continue on. 

FANTASY FOOTBALL BREAKING NEWS: TITANS EXPECTING MARCUS MARIOTA (KNEE) TO PLAY SUNDAY

The Tennessee Titans expect rookie QB Marcus Mariota to give it a go on Sunday despite being diagnosed with a sprained MCL in his knee.  Mariota was hit low in last Sunday's loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars which earned the ire of coach Ken Whisenhunt.  While he didn't practice on Wednesday, Mariota is expected to try and get into at least Friday's preparation. 

Analysis:  Mariota should take a seat as the Titans are not going anywhere and they need to protect their franchise QB.  Whisenhunt is fighting for his job though and needs to start picking up wins.  As far as fantasy football is concerned, Mariota had some QB 2 value the first two weeks but he has been terrible since. 

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 7 ADDS

Once again it is time to tinker with your roster in order to maximize your fantasy football team's chances to stay on top of your league.  Let's get to the latest hot adds.

Christine Michael:  The Dallas Cowboys reportedly are going to give Michael a chance to literally run with the starting spot in the team's backfield after souring on the ineffective Joseph Randle and the washed-up Darren McFadden.  Michael showed some flashes during his time with the Seattle Seahawks but he never really got a shot with Marshawn Lynch dominating looks.  Given the mammoth offense line in Dallas, Michael is a potential mid-season lottery pick.

James Starks:  Well it certainly looks like something is amiss with Eddie Lacy who joins first round guys Jamaal Charles, Dez Bryant, Antonio Brown, and up until last week Andrew Luck as first round busts.  With Lacy not playing well and possibly banged up, Starks ran for over 100 yards and scored two touchdowns last Sunday.  Mike McCarthy said that Starks deserves a look and that is all we need to hear. 

Stefon Diggs:  When you get compared by your team to Antonio Brown, ears perk up.  That is what has been said about Minnesota Vikings wideout Stefon Diggs who has caught 13 passes the last two weeks for over 80 yards in each game in place of the injured Charles Johnson.  With Diggs playing so well, there is no chance Diggs takes a seat.  Major PPR potential here. 

Blake Bortles:  We are seeing some big signs of progress with Jacksonville Jaguars QB Blake Bortles in his second NFL season and with big weapons in Allen Hurns, Allen Robinson, and Julius Thomas catching passes, the good times should continue.  Absolute value in two-QB formats and works as a very good bye-week replacement in standard setups.

Brian Hoyer:  Since being put back under center in place of the woeful Ryan Mallett, Brian Hoyer has thrown 5 touchdowns the last two weeks in less than two games.  For the season Hoyer has 8 scores and just 2 picks and seems fully in command of the offense.  Should never have been benched in the first place.

Brandon LaFell:  LaFell is getting close to returning to the New England Patriots and any receiver who plays with Tom Brady should get a bunch of attention .  Having shown a knack for getting into the end zone and hauling in throws from Brady, adding LaFell during the bye weeks is a good idea.

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 6 MONDAY NIGHT WRAPUP: GIANTS/EAGLES

The Philadelphia Eagles managed to blow out of the New York Giants despite their QB having an epically horrific performance.  As always we get right to the latest fantasy football news emanating from the game.

Sam Bradford:  24/38 for 280 yards with 1 TD and 3 INT.  My goodness was Bradford pathetic in this one.  I am now fully convinced that he simply is not a good quarterback.  Whereas I gave him a pass in the past due to injuries and lack of supporting cast in St. Louis, Bradford has looked awful this season in Chip Kelly's explosive offense.  No change will be made off a win but Bradford has been so bad that I can't see him making it to the end of the season as the starter if this keeps up.  In fantasy football terms, you want to avoid this summer curiosity given the inept level of play.

Eli Manning:  24/38 for 189 yards with 1 TD and 2 INT.  Yeah Manning was brutal himself but I will give the guy a pass since he has been money all season to this point.  Manning still has a ton of weapons in this offense even without Victor Cruz so I would continue using him liberally in all formats.

DeMarco Murray:  22 carries for 109 yards and 1 TD to go with 3 catches for 14 yards.  Second straight solid outing for Murray who is emerging from that unbelievably bad start.  I am still very frustrated to see Kelly having Murray run side-to-side instead of north-south which is what he did all last season for the Dallas Cowboys in his offensive MVP year.  Not sure why the stubbornness there on Kelly's part but it is hurting Murray no doubt.  At least it was nice to see another score and the fact he dominated carries over Ryan Matthews and Darren Sproles.

Rashad Jennings:  13 carries for 63 yards and 1 fumble to go with 3 receptions for 20 yards.  Jennings is a nice player but he can't ever seem to have a running back spot all to his own.  He shares work with not only Andre Williams but also Shane Vereen.  Williams has been so bad however that Jennings should be getting more carries.  Either way he is not even worth starting in PPR formats given the lack of touches.

Odell Beckham Jr.:  7 catches for 61 yards and 1 TD.  Beckham Jr. did about as well as could be expected with a sore hamstring that had him questionable leading up to the game.  He was used mostly on crosses which worked nicely but nothing deep.  Overall Beckham's numbers are down by a solid margin but that was to be expected without Cruz and with opposing D coordinators having a full offseason to work on him.

Jordan Matthews:  6 catches for 59 yards and 1 fumble.  Matthew is being held back some by his QB which is not helping in fantasy football but he is still getting his hands on the ball a decent amount.  We thought we would see more though in this offense but it just hasn't been there. 

Riley Cooper:  3 catches for 76 yards and 1 TD.  Cooper had the one Bradford TD catch but that was pretty much it.  He remains a bench guy in all formats due to the fact he doesn't catch a high volume of passes. 

Shane Vereen:  1 catch for 6 yards.  Unreal.  It is crazy that this is all Vereen got in a game the Giants had to pass after being down so much so early.  He is not in New England anymore that's for sure.

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 6 INJURY REPORT: BIG BEN COULD RETURN IN WEEK 7

As always there are a bunch of injury news and notes to discuss as fantasy football Week 6 is nearly in the books.  Let's get right to them.

-The Pittsburgh Steelers have managed to keep the ship afloat over the last three weeks without QB Ben Roethlisberger but they may not have to do it much longer.  Already taking part in practice, Roethsliberger proclaimed himself ready to go for Week 7 which has to be music to the ears of Antonio Brown owners.  Michael Vick and Landry Jones have gone a collective 2-1 in Roethlisberger's absence but the offense as a whole has suffered, in particular Brown whose numbers have been barely WR 3 territory during that span.  Don't count Roethlisberger out as he is a dogged worker and always seems to return early from injuries.

-Washington Redskins wide receiver Desean Jackson is in jeopardy of missing Week 7 after suffering a setback with his hamstring in last Thursday's practice.  Jackson was expected to return this past Sunday before suffering the setback and now he could sit this week as well.  The Redskins offense has certainly missed his big-play ability but Pierre Garcon has benefitted in his place.  Either way Jackson remains a boom-or-bust receiver in the WR 3 range.

-X-rays on the injured leg of Jacksonville Jaguars wideout Allen Robinson came back negative which is a good sign for his availability going forward.  Already a burgeoning star, Robinson has played very well throughout the early portion of the 2015 season.  Right now the smart bet is on Robinson playing and he is a solid WR 2 based on his early production.

-Tough blow for rookie Detroit Lions running back Zach Zenner who suffered broken ribs and a punctured lung this past Sunday in the OT win over the Chicago Bears.  As a result Zenner is out for the season which puts an end to a guy who got a lot of pub going back to training camp.  At the very least it opens up more carries for Amir Abdullah until Joique Bell returns. 

-The biggest news of the day was the fact Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy hardly played in Week 6, splitting time down the middle with James Starks.  Lacy got three carries for four yards while Starks went over 100.  Mike McCarthy confirmed that Starks has worked his way into additional playing time and Lacy is still dealing with soreness in his ankle which first became a problem back in Week 2.  With Lacy not playing well and Starks excelling, this is a big problem for the owners of the former who spent a top 1-3 pick on him.  Lacy has simply been brutal and it calls to mind the quick fade of Trent Richardson who had a nice rookie season for the Cleveland Browns and than completely bombed out with terrible play and injuries.  Not good.

-Another week and another injury for Buffalo Bills wideouot Sammy Watkins.  After returning this past Sunday from missing two games with an injured calf, Watkins was on crutches by the end of the game after hurting his ankle.  The early indications are that he will sit in Week 7 which puts Robert Woods in the driver's seat in terms of getting the most looks along with Charles Clay from whoever plays QB.  Also Percy Harvin will remain out for awhile with a hip issue. 

-An MRI was on tap for rookie Tennessee Titans QB Marcus Mariota after he injured his knee in Sundays game.  He was replaced by Zach Mettenberger and his status us very iffy for Week 7 and maybe even beyond.  After a hot first two weeks, Mariota has sunk to shaky rookie levels which is no shock.  He is barely in the conversation now in two passer setups. 

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 6 WRAPUP

Lamar Miller:  Fantasy football owners of Miami Dolphins running back Lamar Miller have been nothing but disgusted with his play through the first five weeks of the season but they got a glimpse of hope in Week 6 when he rushed for 113 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries in the team's win over the Tennessee Titans.  Miller also caught two passes for five additional yards.  While Miller is not completely back in his owners' good graces, at least this is something. 

Andy Dalton:  During the past week we included Dalton in our Trend/Mirage feature where we talked about whether or not he could continue to perform like an MVP candidate.  We said he could and he continued with his ridiculous play in Week 6 by completing 22-of-33 passes for 243 yards and three more touchdowns.  For the season now, Dalton has thrown 14 touchdowns and only two interceptions in a spectacular start for him.  Dalton is no doubt one of the best values at any position this season. 

Peyton Manning:  Another week and another very ugly outing for Denver Broncos QB Peyton Manning.  Somehow the Broncos are 6-0 though despite Manning completing just 26-of-48 passes for 290 yards with 1 TD and 3 INT's.  Manning is turning the ball over constantly now and his passes continue to flutter badly.  A change can't be made with the team undefeated but Manning has justified all the summer issues we had with him going into the season.  He is not even worth using in 12-team leagues as a starter. 

Antonio Brown:  Ben Roethlisberger can't get back soon enough for his fantasy football owners and the man himself.  Brown once again was a non-factor in the offense for the third straight week, catching just three passes for 24 yards.  Of course his three ugly weeks have coincided with the games Big Ben has missed and so it is imperative he returns ASAP for Brown to be a WR 1 again.  Just a brutal stretch for Brown and his owners. 

Gary Barnridge:  The crazy story of Cleveland Browns tight end Gary Barnridge continued Sunday as he caught two more touchdowns from QB Josh McCown in the team's loss to the Denver Broncos.  By now it is an old story about how Barnridge was nothing but a journeyman player before catching fire the last few weeks.  While Barnridge only caught three passes for 39 yards total, the two scores made it another tremendous day for his owners.  Right now you obviously have to ride this out as long as it goes and even McCown is worth using in weekly leagues that play just one QB given how hot he has been as well. 

Chris Ivory:  During the past week New York Jets wideout Brandon Marshall went on record saying he believed running back Chris Ivory was the best in the league.  Well Ivory put up his second straight blockbuster game in rushing for 146 yards and a touchdown on only 20 carries in the team's win over the Washington Redskins.  Ivory also included a bonus three catches for 50 more yards as he clearly is in top ten among running back territory.  In fact you can say Ivory is top five right now given how tremendous he has been.  The red flag with the guy has always been a high injury rate and the Jets might want to scale back some of his workload to prevent that.  However Ivory is even helping in PPR formats right now as everything is going swell. 

Martavis Bryant:  After missing five week with a suspension and injury, Pittsburgh Steelers wideout Martavis Bryant exploded in his return by catching 6 passes for 137 yards and two scores in the win over Arizona.  Bryant had a nice chemistry going with third-string QB Landry Jones and the took hooked up for a monster game-winning score late in the fourth quarter.  Bryant should be added wherever available as Ben Roethlisberger could get back as soon as next week.

Landry Jones:  The Steelers keep on winning no matter who is at QB.  They were down to third-stringer Landry Jones and the former Oklahoma star was terrific in completing 8-of-12 passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns.  Jones was very poised when you consider it was his first ever action as a professional and he sparked the offense after Michael Vick was doing nothing.  If Big Ben sits out next week, Jones should get the start even if Vick can go. 

Brandon Marshall:  The Jets are getting monster numbers not only from their running back but also their ace wideout as Brandon Marshall caught 7 balls for 111 yards and a touchdown Sunday.  Showing tremendous chemistry with QB Ryan Fitzpatrick from day 1 this season, Marshall is averaging over 100 yards a game and scoring touchdowns.  We all thought that Marshall could be a bust in going to a team that was originally going to have he woeful Geno Smith starting but Fitzpatrick has proved to be a very good fit with him. 

DeAndre Hopkins:  No matter who is at QB for the Houston Texans, wideout DeAndre Hopkins will post ridiculous numbers.  He caught two more touchdown passes on Sunday as part of his 10-catch day for 148 yards.  With a tremendous blend of speed and size, Hopkins is almost impossible to defend right now and the numbers surely bear this out.  Hopkins was out number 1 start among wideout this week and he more than made the grade there. 

Matthew Stafford:  Once in awhile Matthew Stafford puts forth a ridiculously productive game that gats you enticed to use him or pick him up again.  Such it was on Sunday when Stafford completed 27-of-42 passes for 405 yards and 4 touchdowns and 1 interception.  When he has time to throw, Stafford can complete any pass and he was in total control throughout this one.  He did take advantage of an awful Bears defense but Stafford at least finally supplied a very good outing for his disappointed owners.  The offensive line problems remain though so Stafford is tough to trust going forward. 

Emmanuel Sanders:  It was a bit of good and bad for Denver Broncos wideout Emmanuel Sanders in Week 6.  He caught the only touchdown pass from Peyton Manning which went for 75 yards and overall caught 4 balls for 109 yards.  Unfortunately Sanders injured his shoulder late in the game with his arm limp.  The Broncos are off next week though which will help in his recovery. 

John Brown:  It was John Brown's turn to be the receiving star for the Arizona Cardinals as he caught 10 passes for 196 yards in the team's loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.  With Larry Fizgerald getting most of the publicity and Michael Floyd having caught an early score, Brown has the best overall day of all three.  While there is a fierce competition for catches among the Cards wideouts, Brown looks like an excellent WR 3 option in PPR setups.

Calvin Johnson:  The return of Megatron was seen on Sunday as the Detroit Lions All-Pro wideout caught 6 passes for 166 yards and 1 touchdown in the overtime win for the team.  Johnson was quiet early on before catching fire late and it helps overshadow a somewhat quiet start to the season.  There is some question whether Johnson is still truly his Megatron self but at least for this week he was. 

Philip Rivers:  In one of the more insane performances of the season no matter the position, San Diego Chargers QB Philip Rivers threw for 503 yards and two touchdowns as the team came up a hair short in a loss to the Green Bay Packers.  Rivers completed 43-of-65 passes for the 503 yards and two scores as the Chargers pretty much abandoned the run from the start in undertaking the shootout.  Always underrated every season, Rivers looks primed to challenge for the yardage title this season. 

Keenan Allen:  While he was forced to leave early with a hip injury, San Diego Chargers wideout Keenan Allen was a prime beneficiary of the massive amount of passes Philip Rivers threw as he caught 14 balls for 157 yards.  Allen did not score but he once again caught a crazy amount of passes.  He will likely have to go through some testing in order to determine his availability going forward but he is starting to put together a tremendous season. 

James Starks:  Something is brewing in the Green Bay Packers backfield and it is not good for those holding stock on running back Eddie Lacy.  It was James Starks and not Lacy who got the majority of work Sunday as he rushed for 117 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.  Starks also chipped in with a receiving score as Lacy got just four carries for six yards.  It was shocking to see as Lacy was not listed with any injury and no doubt all of his owners are petrified over what this could mean.  If Mike McCarthy is using a meritocracy, Starks could move into a firm timeshare here.  Lacy has been a bit bear up this season and truthfully has not played that well.  There is concern Lacy could be following the Trent Richardson path in terms of former Alabama runners who are declining very quickly due to massive usage in college.  Something that needs to be watched closely.

Melvin Gordon:  It was one big bomb of an outing for San Diego Chargers running back Melvin Gordon Sunday as he lost two fumbles and was benched.  Gordon ran for only 29 yards on 7 carries and he is now up to four lost fumbles on the season.  Truth be told, Gordon has not played well and that goes back to preseason as well.  We told you all not to draft Gordon as he was a gimmick guy in college and has zero instincts. 

Kirk Cousins:  The Washington Redskins QB situation is pathetic again as Kirk Cousins tossed two more interceptions in the team's loss to the New York Jets.  Head coach Jay Gruden said that he is sticking with Cousins but Robert Griffin III could find his way back under center if this keeps up.  Either way you don't want anything to do with this mess. 

Tom Brady:  While he didn't put up 50 points like some said he would, New England Patriots QB Tom Brady still had an excellent game Sunday night in completing 23-of-37 throws for 312 yards  and 3 TD with 1 INT.  Another vintage outing in what is shaping up as a fantasy and real-life MVP campaign for Brady who has been a blockbuster value considering where he was first drafted when the suspension was in play.  Nothing short of spectacular here and it should continue on as the Pats throw it all game every week. 

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL BREAKING NEWS: LeSEAN McCOY TO SPLIT WORK WITH DAN HERRON AND ANTHONY DIXON

Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy will make his return to the lineup Sunday but he will be on a snap count that will ensure a split workload with Anthony Dixon and Dan Herron.  McCoy admitted he is still being bothered by the hamstring strain he suffered back in training camp and doesn't know how much he will be able to go. 

Analysis:  Those who own McCoy might want to re-think starting him.  Dixon figures to get goal-line work in order to lessen the pounding on McCoy and the latter may get as few as 10 carries under this setup.  Again McCoy has been a monstrous bust this season no matter you look at it. 

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL BREAKING NEWS: T.J. YELDON OUT SUNDAY WITH GROIN

Jacksonville Jaguars rookie RB T.J. Yeldon is OUT Sunday with the groin injury he suffered in last week's game.

Analysis:  This surely is a surprise because it seemed like Yeldon would be able to go.  Clearly the groin was more serious than the player and team let on and he will now be replaced by Denard Robinson.  Robinson can be effective in short bursts but he is tough to depend on in standard formats. 

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL BREAKING NEWS: TYROD TAYLOR AND PERCY HARVIN OUT SUNDAY

Buffalo Bills QB Tyrod Taylor and WR Percy Harvin are both OUT Sunday due to knee and hip injuries.  Taylor will be replaced by E.J. Manuel, while Harvin would miss weeks with the hip ailment. 

Analysis:  The Harvin thing is a surprise but only for the fact it was not walked about as much this past week.  Meanwhile Taylor was only a fringe fantasy asset in two-QB formats and reports indicate Manuel could steal the job with a big week.  Either way, the Bills are a mess. 

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL BREAKING NEWS: ANDREW LUCK (SHOULDER) TO START SUNDAY NIGHT

Indianapolis Colts QB Andrew Luck is expected to start tonight versus the New England Patriots after missing two games with an injured shoulder.  Luck has practiced over the last week and has felt better with each passing day according to reports.  He is not expected to be limited in any way during the game as a result. 

Analysis:  This is what was being said all along as Luck has done enough in practice to get back out there.  His season is off to a very rough start as Luck has not earned anywhere near his top 1-3 draft price.  The Pats defense is solid against the run but not so much against the pass which should help Luck post a good game in an expected shootout. 

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL BREAKING NEWS: DEMARYUIS THOMAS (NECK) TO START SUNDAY

Denver Broncos wideout Demaryuis Thomas will start Sunday despite continued neck pain that limited him in practice over the last week. 

Analysis:  As expected since Thomas was never considered in jeopardy of missing the game.  The bigger issue is that his big-play ability is being neutered right now under the noodle-arm of QB Peyton Manning. 

FANTASY FOOTBALL BREAKING NEWS: CHARCANDRICK WEST TO "DOMINATE" CARRIES SUNDAY

A team source connected to the Kansas City Chiefs coaching staff indicated that running back Charcandrick West will "dominate" carries during his first career start Sunday.  West is taking over for the injured Jamaal Charles who tore his ACL last week.  The source indicated that Andy Reid has put West squarely into the Charles role in the offense which means he will get all the dump-off passes and majority of called running plays. 

Analysis:  I am a bit leery of going all-in on West but if you have no depth than go for it.  The guy was undrafted previously and has a big set of shoes to fill which many guys have failed to do in the past.  On opportunity alone though, West is very intriguing. 

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL BREAKING NEWS: BOTH STEVE SMITH (BACK) AND JUSTIN FORSETT (ANKLE) TO START SUNDAY

The Baltimore Ravens offense is getting healthy as both wide receiver Steve Smith and running back Justin Forsett will start Sunday.  Smith returns after sitting in Week 5 with fractures in his back, while Forsett winds up not missing any games after spraining his ankle late in last week's game. 

Analysis:  Those who bought in on Kamar Aiken need to look elsewhere now as Smith should dominate looks as always from Joe Flacco.  Forsett is set for a big game himself and going forward now that Lorenzo Taliaferro is on IR.  Use them both liberally. 

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 6 WIDE RECEIVER RANKINGS

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

1.  DeAndre Hopkins
2.  Larry Fitzgerald
3.  Emmanuel Sanders
4.  Julian Edelman
5.  Odell Beckham Jr.
6.  A.J. Green
7.  Demaryuis Thomas
8.  Calvin Johnson
9.  Randall Cobb
10. Allen Robinson
11. Brandon Marshall
12. Alshon Jeffery
13. Jeremy Maclin
14. Jarvis Landry
15. T.Y. Hilton
16. Antonio Brown
17. Jordan Matthews
18. Allen Hurns
19. Keenan Allen
20. John Brown
21. James Jones
22. Kendall Wright
23. Eric Decker
24. Travis Benjamin
25. Donte Moncrief
26. Mike Wallace
27. Reuben Randle
28. Sammy Watkins
29. Anquan Boldin
30. Kamar Aiken
31. Marvin Jones
32. Golden Tate
33. Pierre Garcon
34. Andre Johnson
35. Desean Jackson
36. Doug Baldwin
37. Torrey Smith
38. Martavis Bryant
39. Jamison Crowder
40. Percy Harvin

 

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FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 6 TIGHT END RANKINGS

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

1.  Rob Gronkowski
2.  Greg Olsen
3.  Tyler Eifert
4.  Travis Kelce
5.  Antonio Gates
6.  Gary Barnridge
7.  Delanie Walker
8.  Jimmy Graham
9.  Martellus Bennett
10. Charles Clay
11. Larry Donnell
12. Julius Thomas
13. Richard Rodgers
14. Jordan Cameron
15. Kyle Rudolph
16. Zach Ertz
17. Ladarius Green
18. Owen Daniels
19. Garrett Celek
20. Dwayne Allen
21. Coby Fleener
22. Derek Carrier
23. Nick Boyle
24. Tim Wright
25. Darren Fells

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL THURSDAY WRAPUP: SAINTS/FALCONS

Upset City Thursday night as the New Orleans Saints got their first win of the season against the previously unbeaten Atlanta Falcons.  Here are the fantasy football storylines coming out of the game.

Drew Brees:  30/39 for 312 yards and 1 TD.  Vintage Brees despite the lack of scores.  He completed almost everything he threw out there and the Saints offense as a whole looks like its old self with the high potency of the passing game.  With a lot of new weapons coming into the season, it is likely it just took a few games for things to get into sync. 

Matt Ryan:  30/44 for 295 yards and 2 TD.  Ryan was very good himself but he got a garbage-time score to make his night better.  Another reason why fantasy football makes you drink is the fact Ryan was throwing down 10 with 24 seconds left and fumbled the ball away.  Depending on your league, that was 2-5 points lost for a needless play.  Hope that doesn't come back to bite you.

Mark Ingram:  20 carries for 46 yards and 2 scores to go with 3 catches for 10 yards.  Yet another reason fantasy football makes you drink is if you played against the Ingram owner.  He averaged less then 3.0 yards per carry but yet scored twice from in-close.  Still at least Ingram continues to catch passes which is unexpectedly helping those who are in PPR formats.

Devonta Freeman:  13 carries for 100 yards and 1 TD to go with 8 catches for 56 yards and another score.  The bonanza that is Devonta Freeman continues on.  He has been by far the number 1 player in fantasy football over the last month and his scoring is insane right now.  No one is even close right now in terms of being the value of the year and at this rate Freeman could be on the most winning rosters this season.  Amazing.

Ben Watson:  10 catches for 127 yards and 1 TD. Watson has been around forever but hardly has been worth owning during his career due to a lack of numbers.  He was a monster in this one and has been good overall in taking advantage of the lack of receivers on the Saints.  If he is still on the wire, absolutely run and make the add.

Julio Jones:  6 catches for 93 yards.  Jones gutted it out but he looked slow and made very little in the way of impact plays.  Had no separation after the catch which is where he gets a ton of his numbers.  Rough couple of weeks but hopefully things get better in Week 7.

Willie Snead:  4 catches for 55 yards.  Snead has been very good in his breakout season but overall as a bit quiet in this one.  Continue using liberally though in PPR formats.

Brandin Cooks:  5 catches for 41 yards.  For the fifth time in six games, Cooks was not much of a factor which adds to the disappointment of his season.  Thought Cooks would be a PPR monster as did most of us all.  Hasn't happened yet and Willie Snead now stealing looks. 

Roddy White:  3 catches for 23 yards and 1 TD.  White is still in the NFL I guess.  Ryan dusted White off a bit but the guy is still third on the receiving depth chart.  Lave him alone on the wire as the guy is looking finished this season. 



 

FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 6 RUNNING BACK RANKINGS

Here are the fantasy football Week 6 running back rankings based on opposing matchups.

1.  Le'Veon Bell
2.  Devonta Freeman
3.  Adrian Peterson
4.  Matt Forte
5.  Dion Lewis
6.  Arian Foster
7.  Mark Ingram
8.  Eddie Lacy
9.  Chris Ivory
10. Justin Forsett
11. Frank Gore
12. Carlos Hyde
13. DeMarco Murray
14. T.J. Yeldon
15. Marshawn Lynch
16. Charcandrick West
17. LeGarrette Blount
18. Giovani Bernard
19. Melvin Gordon
20. Danny Woodhead
21. Jeremy Hill
22. Ronnie Hillman
23. Duke Johnson
24. Chris Johnson
25. Joseph Randle
26. Rashad Jennings
27. Lamar Miller
28. C.J. Anderson
29. Ameer Abdullah
30. Ryan Matthews
31. Isaiah Crowell
32. Theo Riddick
33. Andre Ellington
34. Shane Vereen
35. Antonio Andrews
36. Alfred Morris
37. C.J. Spiller
38. Jonathan Stewart
39. Matt Jones
40. Tomas Rawls

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL BREAKING NEWS: NO GUARANTEE ANDREW LUCK RETURNS SUNDAY

Indianapolis Colts QB Andrew Luck was "limited" in practice on Thursday and he is no guarantee to play Sunday against the New England Patriots based on multiple reports.  Luck continues to be bothered by soreness in his throwing shoulder and backup Matt Hasselbeck continues to get work with the starters.

Analysis:  Ugh.  It has been a disaster of a season for Luck who was not even playing all that well before getting hurt.  For a guy who was the number 1 pick in many leagues, Luck joins DeMarco Murray and Jamaal Charles are first round busts already. 

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL BREAKING NEWS: GIANTS EXPECT ODELL BECKHAMR JR. TO PLAY MONDAY

Multiple sources connected to the New York Giants report that the team expects WR Odell Beckham Jr. to play Monday night despite being limited in practice again on Thursday with a sore hamstring.  Beckham first hurt the hamstring late in last week's win over the San Francisco 49ers but he later returned to the game.

Analysis:  Dicey week for Beckham as the Monday game makes it tough to bank on him if there is a game-time decision call.  Also Eli Manning's value hinges on Beckham playing as both Reuben Randle and Victor Cruz are out.  If Beckham sits, Manning would not be worth using. 

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL BREAKING NEWS: DEMARYUIS THOMAS (NECK) SITS OUT PRACTICE THURSDAY

Denver Broncos wideout Demaryuis Thomas sat out practice on Thursday due to a persistent bout of soreness in his neck.  No indication was given about Thomas' availability for Week 6 but a team source said the team expects him to play.

Analysis:  Thomas has been bothered by the neck for a few weeks now and his lack of touchdowns could be related.  Then again he is not getting help from QB Peyton Manning who is dealing with his own problems.  Somewhat disappointing start to the season for Thomas but he remains a clear WR 1.

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL BREAKING NEWS: JUSTIN FORSETT (ANKLE) EXPECTED TO PLAY SUNDAY

Baltimore Ravens running back Justin Forsett is expected to play Sunday despite dealing with ongoing soreness in his ankle that he suffered in last week's game.  With the Ravens already having put Lorenzo Taliaferro on IR, Forsett will be leaned on even more heavily going forward.

Analysis:  As expected as Forsett said so himself right after last Sunday's game.  He has been limited in practice and Buck Allen could steal some touches but Forsett could be primed for a big finish to the season with Taliaferro out of the equation.

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 6 TREND/MIRAGE: ANDY DALTON FOR MVP?

Another week and another set of fantasy football Trend/Mirage features as we continue to get a read on the season.  Let's get to the latest installment.

1.  Andy Dalton will continue performing like a fantasy football MVP candidate:  The number 1 ranked fantasy football QB this season is Tom Brady.  No shock there.  Number 2?  Try Andy Dalton who is absolutely tearing it up for his 5-0 Cincinnati Bengals.  Dalton goes into Week 6 with 11 touchdowns, only two interceptions, and 1,518 yards.  Coming into the season, Dalton was pretty much ignored when it came to starting-caliber QB's in fantasy football and that was no shock after an ugly 2014 which was his worst ever as a pro.  Throw in the fact new OC Hue Jackson wanted to run all day and Dalton was just another guy who many tabbed as a simply backup.  Well fast forward a year and Dalton is in the running for both real-life and fantasy football MVP.  So can he keep it up?  Well for one Jackson has opened up the passing game as he promised to do.  Secondly, Dalton has a very good batch of receivers to throw to, led by All-Pro A.J. Green and complemented by Mohamud Sanu and Marvin Jones.  The new variable that has helped Dalton jump a level has been tight end Tyler Eifert who just so coincidentally missed 2014 with injury.  Eifert was tremendous receiving skills and already is becoming a major red zone target of Dalton's.  Finally, Giovani Bernard is an excellent receiver out of the backfield which gives Dalton weapons all over the field.  So until proven otherwise, Dalton should continue putting up big numbers.
VERDICT:  TREND

2.  Josh McCown can be used as a QB option even in single passer formats?  Well McCown is doing whatever he can to get noticed ever since he came back from injury.  Over the last three weeks, McCown has thrown for 341, 356, and 457 yards with 6 touchdowns and zero interceptions.  This from a Browns outfit that vowed to run the ball all game long.  McCown is a lifetime backup who had just a brief glimpse of ownership in 2013 when he came off the bench to have some big games for the Chicago Bears.  He was beyond brutal last season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers despite big-time wideouts in Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson.  Ultimately the Browns know they can't go on like this with the winter coming and McCown is simply not that kind of passer.  In two QB formats by all means give him a whirl but in single passer setups you are going to hurt yourself.
VERDICT:  MIRAGE

3.  Mark Ingram is now a decent factor in PPR formats.  Coming off a very good 2014 that earned him a new contact with the New Orleans Saints, running back Mark Ingram has unveiled a new skill this season in the form of pass receiving.  Ingram was a complete zero in that category since coming into the NFL, with Pierre Thomas and Darren Sproles handling those duties for the team.  However with the Saints losing a ton of receiving weapons this season, Ingram has developed quite nicely there.  He goes into Week 6 with 24 receptions for 220 yards.  His catch totals have read like this in the first five games:  8, 3, 5, 6, and 2.  That is consistency for you and ultimately makes Ingram growvalue in PPR setups.
VERDICT:  TREND

4.  The Atlanta Falcons are now a running team and Matt Ryan is a step or two below his past value.  The Falcons are 5-0 but their QB comes off a brutal outing last week where he tossed two picks and lost a fumble while throwing zero touchdowns.  Through those five weeks, Ryan has only 6 touchdowns on the season as the Falcons have run wild under new star Devonta Freeman.  It may not be a coincidence that pass-happy OC Dirk Kotter is no longer in town and the Falcons seems intent on establishing the run under the new coaching staff led by Dan Quinn.  Julio Jones is having a big year but he is currently hobbled with a bum hamstring.  This is a tough call as the Falcons are running it more than in recent memory but Ryan is in his prime and still has major weapons.  Ultimately I think Ryan will start producing the scores, starting this week against the terrible New Orleans Saints defensive unit. 
VERDICT:  MIRAGE
 

FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 6 QB RANKINGS

Here are the fantasy football  Week 3 QB rankings based on opposing matchups.

1.  Tom Brady
2.  Aaron Rodgers
3.  Matt Ryan
4.  Carson Palmer
5.  Eli Manning
6.  Andrew Luck
7.  Drew Brees
8.  Philip Rivers
9.  Andy Dalton
10. Sam Bradford
11. Russell Wilson
12. Peyton Manning
13. Joe Flacco
14. Jay Cutler
15. Josh McCown
16. Cam Newton
17. Marcus Mariota
18. Matthew Stafford
19. Ryan Tannehill
20. Teddy Bridgewater
21. Blake Bortles
22. Colin Kaepernick
23. Brian Hoyer
24. Kirk Cousins
25. Alex Smith
26. Ryan Fitzpatrick
27. Michael Vick
28. E.J. Manuel

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 6 WAIVER ADDS

Already it is Week 6 in fantasy football which means it is getting late early for some of you.  Let's get right to the latest pickups that should headline this weeks games.

Charcandrick West:  The vacuum left behind in the season-ending absence of Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles centers on the speedy second-year West.  It was West and now Knile Davis who took over the running duties for the team after Charles went down and on that alone he deserves a look.  Of course West is an undrafted second-year player which speaks to his lack of pedigree.  Still we have seen countless cases, especially at running back (Arian Foster anyone?) of guys who were not even drafted turning out to be very solid players.  West can catch the football as well which makes him a good fit for the offense on skill alone. 

Knile Davis:  Davis ran for over 100 yards in two straight games for the Chiefs last season which shows he does have some skills.  Unfortunately Davis has some pronounced fumbling problems which Andy Reid can't stand.  I can see Davis being a goal-line option as the bigger back between he and West, which means he has pickup value just in standard formats.

Josh McCown:  The Cleveland Browns all of a sudden have turned into the New England Patriots passing the football and Josh McCown is Tom Brady based on the last two weeks.  McCown has thrown the football all over the lot and went nuclear last week with 3 total touchdowns and well over 400 passing yards.  With a lot of byenio As coming up, McCown might just be able to work in single QB leagues as well at double. 

Minnesota Vikings Defense:  90 percent of the Kansas City Chiefs offense revolved around Charles and that means they could be well out of synch Sunday when they go up against an aggressive Minnesota defense.  Again this is why it is always a good idea to stream defenses in order to take advantage of setups like this. 

Willie Snead:  If Snead is still available in your league, by all means run and pick him up.  Drew Brees has a new favorite passing toy and that will be more pronounced with Marques Colston now out of commission.  Snead runs good routes and has some very interesting PPR appeal especially.

Antonio Andrews:  The Tennessee Titans seems set on trying out Antonio Andrews to fill their ongoing running back void and on opportunity alone that makes him well worth trying out.  The offense has potential behind rookie QB Marcus Mariota and Andrews's power running game could lead to a decent allotment of scores. 

Roddy White:  If ever there were a week for Roddy White to come back to life, this would be it.  With the Atlanta Falcons facing the league-worst New Orleans Saints defense in an expected shootout Thursday night, White and Leonard Hankerson will likely be picking up the receiving slack if Julio Jones does sit out. 

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL BREAKING NEWS: FALCONS ALREADY MAKING PLANS WITHOUT JULIO JONES

A team source connected to the Atlanta Falcons front office said on Tuesday that wide receiver Julio Jones is unlikely to play Thursday night versus the New Orleans Saints due to the hamstring injury that hobbled him throughout last Sunday's win over the Washington Redskins.  The source also indicated that Jones should have sat out in Week 5 but that the coaching staff gave in to his demand to play. 

Analysis:  Well there you go.  That is the rub when it comes to owning Jones who is a spectacular top 2-3 receiver but whose penchant for injuries undermine him at least once per season.  Leonard Hankerson moves up to the top wideout spot for Week 6, with Roddy White being dusted off as well.  Jones' absence also is a big blow for Matt Ryan owners as the QB looked terrible with a hurt Jones last week. 

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL MONDAY NIGHT WRAPUP: STEELERS/CHARGERS

Monday night's game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and San Diego Chargers was a classic as Le'Veon Bell scored a last second touchdown for the win for his team.  As always let's take a look at all of the fantasy football-worthy performances from the game.

Philip Rivers:  35/48 for 365 yards with 2 TD and 1 INT.  Life is good for Philip Rivers who got back old friend tight end Antonio Gates to join what looks like a very imposing group of San Diego receivers which include Keenan Allen, Danny Woodhead, and eventually Stevie Johnson when he gets healthy.  Rivers has had a career of underrated accuracy and his gunslinging approach continues to make him a very good fantasy football QB.

Michael Vick:  13/26 for 203 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT, while also rushing for 24 yards on 1 carry.  Obviously you shouldn't own Vick but at least he picks up a big win for his team.

Le'Veon Bell:  21 carries for 111 yards and 1 TD to go with 4 catches for 16 yards.  Bell has shown since his return from suspension that he is the best player in all of fantasy football.  His extreme running/receiving game makes any Bell owner a big threat to take him their league winnings.

Melvin Gordon:  15 carries for 42 yards and 1 TD to go with 7 catches for 52 yards and 1 fumble.  Not a good running game for sure by Gordon but his receiving has been a nice surprise as he was not a big threat there while in college.  Gordon has looked tentative running the football going back to training camp which is something that is hurting his bottom line but if he can keep catching passes like this, he will make his owners their money back in PPR formats.

Markus Wheaton:  1 catch for 72 yards and 1 TD.  Wheaton made the most of his one catch by scoring which is the ultimate fluke when it comes to fantasy football.  Martavis Bryant should be back for Week 6 which means Wheaton can be dropped.

Antonio Brown:  3 catches for 45 yards.  Second straight bust of a game for Brown which coincides with Ben Roethlisberger's injury.  It is beyond frustrating for any Brown owner right now as his extreme talent is being completely underutilized.  Pray Big Ben makes it back for Week 8 as anticipated as this garbage can't end soon enough.

Antonio Gates:  9 catches for 92 yards and 2 TD.  You just knew Gates would score in his first game back but he doubled down on the TD's.  It is an amazing chemistry that Gates has with Rivers and he is showing no signs of slowing down despite a rapidly advancing age.  A top five tight end in all formats when healthy.

Keenan Allen:  6 catches for 57 yards.  Allen is a prime beneficiary with Rivers throwing so much but he will likely cede a catch or two to Gates now that the latter is back.  Overall though Allen has been a very good WR 2 which is where he should have been graded all along going back to 2014. 

Danny Woodhead:  5 catches for 66 yards.  Woodhead continues to be a PPR dream in the same way the New York Giants use Shane Vereen.  Only in PPR formats does Woodhead earn his keep but he is a firm RB 2 the rest of the season. 

 

2015 FANTASY BASEBALL FINAL CATCHER RANKINGS

We begin with the catchers as we put the finishing touches on the 2015 fantasy baseball season by updating our position rankings.  Let's see who this group shakes out with an eye toward 2016.  Following the recent trend of impact hitters losing eligibility here such as Joe Mauer, Victor Martinez, and Mike Napoli, both Carlos Santana and Evan Gattis are now removed from the position as well after not playing catcher at all in 2015. 

1.  Buster Posey
2.  Kyle Schwarber
3.  Brian McCann
4.  Salvador Perez
5.  Devin Mesoraco
6.  Stephen Vogt
7.  Jonathan Lucroy
8.  Wellington Castillo
9.  Yan Gomes
10. Yasmani Grandal
11. Travis D'Arnaud
12. Blake Swihart
13. Matt Wieters
14. Russell Martin
15. Derek Norris
16. Blake Swihart
17. J.T. Realmuto
18. Miguel Montero
19. Robinson Chirinos
20. Wilson Ramos
21. Cameron Rupp
22. Francisco Cervelli
23. Hank Conger
24. Kurt Suzuki

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL BREAKING NEWS: NO THOUGHTS FOR GARY KUBIAK TO BENCH PEYTON MANNING

After another disturbing outing on Sunday when he failed to throw a touchdown and tossed two INT's, Denver Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak said he feels no need to bench QB Peyton Manning.  Kubiak professed faith in Manning and said there was not a thought in his mind to putting in backup Brock Osweiler. 

Analysis:  This is getting very ugly for Manning and the Broncos offense as a whole as running back C.J. Anderson has been a joke and the wideouts are being hurt by their QB's struggles.  Manning is a guy we told you all to avoid this season as he highlighted out bust list and needless to say he has done everything to prove us right. 

 

FANTASY FOOTBALL BREAKING NEWS: STRUCTURAL DAMAGE FOUND IN MARQUES COLSTON'S SHOULDER

An MRI conducted on the injured shoulder of New Orleans Saints wideout Marques Colston revealed structural damage that a team source said could be a "multi-week" absence.  Colston was injured in the team's loss Sunday to the Philadelphia Eagles and left Drew Brees down another prime receiver. 

Analysis:  Colston joins Kenny Stills and Jimmy Graham as three big weapons Brees no longer has at his disposal.  Brandin Cooks is coming off his best game of the season and the terrific breakout of Willie Snead should continue on. 

FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 5 INJURY FALLOUT: CAN'T GET ANY BIGGER THAN JAMAAL CHARLES

Fantasy football Week 5 brought forth one of those seminal moments that shakes the game to the core when Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles was likely lost for the season with a torn ACL in his knee.  The number 1 pick in the highest amount of leagues, Charles suffered his second career ACL tear and is now done until 2016.  His loss can't get any bigger and is blows away any other injury suffered by any other player this season.  There is absolutely no way to overcome this in terms of replacing Charles' numbers but his owners have to at least try.  Charles was playing very well this season until the injury and that means his owners were likely competitive in their leagues which means they can still salvage things.  The fallout here involves a split between Knile Davis and undrafted rookie Charcandrick West who got the majority of work in Charles' place.  Davis did some decent things a year ago backing up Charles but Andy Reid was not happy with his summer performance and that is why West got a look.  West has decent speed and can help a bit in the pass catching game but he went undrafted for a reason.  Davis looks to be behind West but he should get goal-line work.  That means Charles owners in standard formats should look at Davis, while those ion PPR should look at West.  Another name that could be looked at is Tennessee Titans back Antonio Andrews. 

-New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. had his owners' hearts skipping a beat when he went out in the second half with soreness in his hamstring.  Beckham was seen being stretched out on the field and he did return at the end of the game on the winning drive.  However Beckham has a long history of hamstring injuries and it flared up this past summer as well.  That means he will be watched closely by the Giants who also lost Reuben Randle to a hamstring injury of his own.  Both men are likely going to be questionable for Week 6, with Beckham having the better shot to be in there.

-Jacksonville Jaguars rookie running back T.J. Yeldon left at the end of the team's loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday with a groin injury but he said afterwards it was no big deal.  Of course hearing this from a player needs to be taken with a grain of salt but Yeldon looks like he should be all right.  Yeldon is starting to come into his own both in the running and receiving game as he is already a firm RB 2. 

-Justin Forsett couldn't finish out the Baltimore Ravens' loss to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, leaving with an ankle injury.  More will likely be revealed on Monday as to how bad the ankle is but Forsetts status could be murky for Week 6.  Lorenzo Taliaferro sat out Week 5 with his own injury issues so Buck Allen could be the fallback option.

-Julio Jones was hobbled throughout the Atlanta Falcons' overtime victory of the Washington Redskins but he was able to finish it out. The fact Jones was able to play was a positive going forward but he remains a very big injury risk.