I don’t normally lead with talking about the referees but I seriously have to wonder if this is what it’s like to watch an Oakland Raiders practice. F(lag) this and F(lag) that from beginning to end. Did the refs sign up with the Buffalo Wild Wings guys? I’m sure they know the real ones are coming back so I guess I can’t blame them for trying to make money on the side. But of course, that’s just boring to talk about so let’s move on to something more titillating: Peyton Manning and his three INT. Pretty sure he was just trying to best Eli there and I have to say the attempt was admirable. I think he just missed the 510 yards by about 300 and was just two short on the TDs. Hey, everyone was putting him in their top 10 in their preseason rankings, I’m doing my best to give him a pass here. To be fair, I said he was old and coming off a serious injury. Those were my only two concerns. I did not think being terrible was going to be an issue too and still don’t. Bad game, throw it away if you’re a Peyton owner and turn your eyes to next week. In other fantasy football news…
Michael Turner - Finally did what owners were expecting him to do last night and scored a touchdown. Oh you wanted 60 to 80 yards to go with that too? Sorry, only 42 on 17 carries and a nearly lost fumble at the goal line to boot. Speaking of that fumble, let’s take a look at the first three plays of that drive together shall we? M. Turner to the left for no gain/M. Turner rushed to the left for no gain. M. Turner fumbled. M. Turner recovered fumble/M. Turner rushed up the middle for 1 yard touchdown. So Atlanta had a chance down at the one later in the game and guess what they did? Tony Gonzalez caught a 1 yard TD. Did I also mention he only had 16 yards on 11 carries going into the 4th quarter as well? My issues with Turner coming into the season were plentiful: how he finished last season, the wear and tear on his 30 year old frame, how Atlanta was now a passing team and how he’s not an RB who catches the ball and he was still being priced in with guys like Ahmad Bradshaw and Reggie Bush. My mind was officially boggled, did not compute, CTRL+ALT+DEL restart.
Roddy White - Remember when I said last week the line between Julio Jones and Roddy wouldn’t be as drastic as it may have seemed in the box score in week one? You don’t? It’s because I didn’t say it like that. I’m paraphrasing here, if you really wanna know what I said you can go read it. In essence, targets were pretty even across the board in the last game so to see Roddy be the star of the two this week is no surprise. That’s what happens when two top 10 WRs play on the same team, y’all and by ‘y’all’ I mean you and that creepy guy staring over your shoulder in the subway as you read this because y’all is plural.
Willis McGahee - Broke the century mark and scored two touchdowns. Still not a back I’d trust on a week to week basis as Atlanta set out to humble Peyton early, in turn putting the ball in Willis’ hands more than what is typical. Again, not a scathing slant against McGahee here, just a word of caution that you got more than you should expect tonight so I hope you enjoyed it.
Eric Decker - Did bupkis. Also did bupkis in week 1. Two wrongs don’t make a right and two bupkis’es don’t make a lot. Still think he’s a good WR to have with Peyton around but somehow he seems to be competing with Brandon Stokley for catches. Not good. I’d still hold onto him, of course, and put in my bench WR for him until this wackiness gets resolved.
Demaryius Thomas - A very un-Decker like 7 receptions to go with 67 yards and a TD and he’s the Denver WR I didn’t like heading into the season. So I guess what I’m trying to say is there’s absolutely nothing right I’ve nailed about the Broncos. I didn’t even have Matt Prater in my top 10 kickers. Did I even realize they were still a team in the off season? Someone fire me, NOW.
Matt Ryan- Didn’t have his best day but still threw for 2 touchdowns and totaled a little under 240 yards on the day. Don’t worry, I still heart you Matt. Can’t score 48 every week folks, especially against Denver’s defense. Speaking of which…
Denver Broncos DEF - I have to say these guys aren’t that bad. Look past the final score for a minute and realize this: after three Peyton INTs in the first quarter, they were only down 10-0. Realize further that all my talk about Turner above with regards to his fumble and 3 carries for a 1 yard TD means Denver held it’s ground pretty well. In the end, they held down a high-powered offense for most of the night even if the stats don’t show it and actually kept their team in the game. If you’re shuffling through defenses like I go through kleenex when watching Fried Green Tomatoes, Denver might be a team to stop on to see what you get.
My Demarco Murray and Greg Jennings for his Julio Jones and Chris Johnson. Is it worth taking a chance on Johnson in order to get Jones?
Don’t like that trade for you
I have the #1 WW pick. My TE is Fred Davis. Pitta, Bennet, Rosario, Chandler, & Miller are best available FA’s.
Should I put in a claim on Pitta or wait and see who’s left afters waivers process? My league is known to be pretty drastic with dropping guys who start off slow so that #1 is pretty valuable.
I know the Hernandez owner is definitely going to be looking for a TE on the wire this week.
u@stoopid, dont use ur #1 on any of those bums.
I’d keep my waiver and just take one of Pitta or Bennett. If they’re gone, I’d lean Miller. Chandler I’m not that interested in. Rosario would need Gates out for a long time to make him rosterable
@Sky @Phorts , sounds good, thanks.
What’s up? I need a replacement for Hernandez at TE…what’s left in the pool (ranked by points on CBS) is:
Pitta, Dennis
Rosario, Dante
Chandler, Scott
Myers, Brandon
Miller, Heath
Heap, Todd
Lewis, Marcedes
McCoy, Anthony
Who would you take?
Thanks a lot!!
Sorry, 14-team PPR league.
Pitta/Miller/Myers is how I’d go ranking wise
@scott, Pitta, Miller, Lewis. Lewis could be interesting since he has his screwed on his shoulders this season.
K. Hunter or J. Rodgers? Non-PPR, and I don’t own the starter on either team. Also, drop one or both of them for D. Richardson or A. Brown?
Rodgers might get an expanded role next week with Turner’s DUI. I’d hold onto him. I’d drop Hunter for Brown if it’s clear that Ahmad isn’t ready to play next Sunday but until we know more, I can’t say yay or nay on that.
turner looked awful…DUI this morning..ugh….would u pick up Rodgers?
or too early to stash….if rodgers starts can he put up big numbers..or look elsewhere
Thanks
If they’d use Rodgers correctly, you should be getting a Sproles-lite type of player (read as useful in PPR). However, he’s not that great between the tackles and ATL isn’t looking good running the ball as a whole. Really depends what’s sitting on your bench whether he’s worth stashing but I think he is.
I had Taiwan Jones stashed as DMC’s handcuff but now I wonder if it should be Goodson – what do you think?
Looks like it.
Would you start Torrey Smith (vs NE) this week and sit Percy (vs SF)?
Non-PPR
Yeah, that game might turn into a shootout. It’s gutsy, but I’d do it.
Hey, i will drop Burleson to add D.Richardson. Now who would you drop to get Andre Brown?
Lance Moore or Alshon Jeffery?
….or just stay put?
Thanks
I don’t know if I’d be dropping for Richardson. S-Jax is still the starter in STL. If you really are desparate for a spot start RB for this week, you could drop Jeffery for Brown.
@Sky, yeah, S-Jax is still the starter but i am not counting on immediate impact. I am planning long term and i see Richardson getting a chance to start by mid season. Be it through an injury to S-Jax or just because of him not being his former self anymore. Richardson looked better than S-Jax after he came in to replace him. I dont think i am giving up too much by dropping Burleson either. Do i?
I am not all that desperate yet, ok i lost Forte to injury but i still have McFadden, Spiller, Dwyer, Helu, Wilson and Hunter.
He had 9 carries for 58 yards and should’ve had a touchdown the refs took away. Then he spiked the ball in frustration and the coach disciplined him for it. I think you’re dreaming up a Steven Jackson demise that isn’t close to happening. Richardson is fool’s gold this week, IMHO. Not really about Burleson being too much, just that I don’t see the impact you’re seeing with Richardson.
@Sky, ok fair enough. Would you start Patriots, Cardinals or Cowboys defense?
Thanks again
I’d lean Cowboys.
@Moscowitz, Cardinals. Vick’s mobility makes him vulnerable to getting sacked and he’s thrown six picks already in two games.
Am I dropping Jared Cook in the struggling Titans offense or give him a chance week 3 against the Lions who cant seem to stop athletic Tight Ends?
Depends who you are picking up.
@Sky,
Avaiable on the waiver wire (non PPR)
Celek
Bennett
Rudolph
Chandler
Celek/Rudolph/Bennett/Chandler in that order.
@Sky,
Thanks I’ll shoot for Celek and hold if I don’t pick him up.
Why are you low on Bennett? I know he had a few drops last game but with Bradshaw out won’t he see continued redzone targets?
I wouldn’t say third on that list is me being low on Bennett. Rudolph almost had two TDs last Sunday if Ponder hadn’t tossed on a bit too high. He gets plenty of redzone targets himself and has less guys around him in the passing game to worry about.
@Sky,
Good point Rudolph did look good last week.
@Sky,
I’m also last on the waiver wire out of 10 teams due to my success and your weekly recommendations so I have to be realistic I have a Hernandez owner ahead of me, just trying to be realistic here
One last question Sky, can you please help clarify Louden’s “week 3 pass matchups” post? I thought for sure I was benching Vick and starting Big Ben at Oakland. How can a defense that allowed Tom Brady so few fantasy points a great matchup against Vick? And Oakland made Tannehill look like an actual Quarterback!!! Did the not watch hard knocks? This Tannehill is pretty awful
Do I give up on Chris Johnson for RG3? My rbs would be AP, Alfred Morris, Donald Brown, Andre Brown. I have bigben and Cutler now. Might leave me too weak at RB
That’s a dicey move but I’d make it and let the chips fall where they may with regards to RB. Maybe try and move a QB after that trade, though.
TRADE ADVICE
12 TEAM 2QB PPR LEAGUE
STAFFORD
LESHOURE
FOR
SCHAUB
AJ GREEN
MY CURRENT TEAM IS
QB
Big Ben
Stafford
RB
MJD
McGahee
Pierre Thomas
LeShoure
WR
G. Jennings
VJax
Britt
Meachem
TE
Gronk
Cook (trying to trade him since i just acquired Gronk)
Don’t like that trade for you.
@Suck for Luck, Don’t do it. While Green would be nice to have, he isn’t worth getting rid of Stafford to do it.
I’m looking to trade for a WR. Can you rank these WR trade targets ROS?
Non PPR
J. Nelson, R. Wayne, M. Austin, S. Smith, M. Wallace, L. Fitz, Lloyd, Colston
I rank them how I already ranked them in my rankings:
Fitz/Wallace/Colston/Smith/Austin/Nelson/Lloyd/Wayne
What Wr should I target when trying to trade Ridley/T Smith in a non ppr league.
That question is a little too open-ended. You shouldn’t go any lower than a top 10 WR with that package.
I have Matty Ice and RGIII, thinking about trying to move the latter for some RB or WR help. If I offered RGIII for Brandon Marshall, am I giving up too much?
PPR? I like Marshall but feel you should get more for RGIII at this point.
@Sky, nah, not PPR. how bout Marshall and BJGE for RGIII and Kevi Smith? thanks for the feedback.
I still think you’re undercutting values there especially if it’s Non-PPR. RGIII is ranked third overall in PPR formats according to yahoo and second in fantasy points behind CJ Spiller by about 1.5; get more for him.
@Sky, cool, thanks!
Great title for the article, was that before or after the late night beer run in the fishing sweater, I’m hoping it was after.
flex option in my PPR(1point per) DeSean vs Arizona or Doug Martin vs Dallas?
Possible number two, I start Martin at flex and the have to decide between DeSean or Antonio Brown vs. Oakland?
I know it’s Tuesday but I’m kid waiting to open his presents on Dec. 20th.
Ha, thanks! Actually got so lazy/tired the beer run never came to pass. Settled for sweet dreams of IPAs that will have to come to pass later.
Tough. I always lean RB in my flex so Doug Martin is gonna win out there for me. Even in a PPR, I’d still lean Jackson with Maclin’s hip issue.
@Sky, Jackson over Brown…no singer songwriter pun intended, but I like it!
Ha, yeah. It’s all about J-Mac.
What do you think Leshore’s role will be in detroit later in the season? I know it’s just speculation but can he really be an impact player this year?
He can be, just depends on his maturity level and Kevin Smith’s health/productivity.
PPR: Received the following offer:
My Ray Rice for His TRich and D.Bowe. Thoughts?
I wouldn’t do that trade.
@Sky, thx. what about murray and bowe?
I think you’ll get more consistency from Rice than you will with those two. Both trades were fair, I just wouldn’t do them.
RG3 (I want) for Spiller & Palmer
Would still have (can start 3):
Murray, Jones-Drew, Mathews, & Morris
Current QBs are Romo, Freeman, and Palmer (12 team standard scoring)
Thoughts?
If you make that trade, I’d see what I could get for Romo to shore back up your RB situation but I’d make it. I’m assuming you only start 1 QB.
Agree _ figured I could shop Romo after a big week and pick up some parts…
Hey Sky, I hate to bother you, but I’m on the fence. I love reading your articles and thought I would as for help. I feel that my team is a step away from being great if I get an upgrade at qb. Would you trade Nicks and big ben away for RG3? .5 ppr 6 points for passing td. We start 1 qb, 2 rb, 2 wr, and 1 wr/te/rb flex. My roster is:
Qb: big ben, schaub
Rb: Ray Rice, MJD, R. Mathews, starks, dwyer
WR. A. Johnson, Nicks, Wallace, Miles austin, J. Tamme
Dst: Texans
Would you trade Nicks and Big Ben for RG3. Thanks in advance for your response
No bother.
In a 2 WR league, I’d make that trade.
Burn the #1 Waiver priority which does not reset after each week on Andre Brown in a 12-team keeper PPR (I have Ray Rice, Jamaal Charles, ALF, Donald Brown, Ridley, and Ryan Williams already)?
He may get one or two starts but Ahmad is still the man in NYG. Don’t think it’s worth it.
@Sky, What about Hawkins or Hartline?
Nah, #1 waiver is a precious commodity. Some RB will get hurt bad and you’ll get to nab their backup. Save it for a big time like that. Like Hawkins, though.
Trade ideas from 2 leagues:
1. Chris Johnson for Fitz: CJ2k hasn’t shown anything yet and I have TRich/lawfirm/Spiller/Brown/Deangelo at RB. Non-ppr league.
2. Chris Johnson for B.Marshall: see above.
3. Steve Johnson for J.Charles: ppr league where I’m short on RB with only Sproles/Greene/F.Jackson as RBs. Other owner also has law firm to target.
Wouldn’t mind Fitz for CJ. Pretty flat on the Marshall idea.
Steve Johnson for Charles makes sense in that scenario.
Sky,
Gresham hasn’t really done anything, granted I took him as the last team to draft a TE in a 14 team league.
Pitta, Myers, Clark, and Heath Miller are available… worth a drop for one of those guys?
Thanks!
Pitta/Miller/Myers/Clark is how I’d rank them. I’d drop for Pitta or Miller. Maybe Myers.
Donnie Avery or Brian hartline?
Thanks!
Avery has the higher upside
Trade my J. Jones & A. Hernandez for his D. Murray & T. Gonzalez? 8 team league. I’d be promoting DeSean or Miles off my bench to take the vacated WR2 spot. Looking to boost my RB depth and play the matchups… Current roster is: QB: Ryan; RB1: RunDMC; RB2: T. Richardson; WR1: Megatron; WR2: J. Jones; Flex: Doug Martin; TE: A. Hernandez – Bench: DeSean, Miles, Bradshaw, K. Smith, & RG3.
Thanks!
Reasonable given Hernandez’s injury.
My RBs are:
Rice, SJax, Kev Smith, Michael Bush, Felix Jones, Jennings, Jaquizz
Would you consider adding Daryl Richardson? Would you drop any of these guys for Ben Tate? Thanks brochacho
Richardson/Tate over Jones/Jennings