Fantasy Football Advice

I can tell you I usually only watch snippets of most football games, but I watched that whole 99 yard game winning drive by Vince Young and it was neato.  I was impressed by Young’s arm and not just his ability to run.  He’s won 9 straight over the past 5 years or so and he’s making a case to get into fantasy lineups.  He is definitely worth a pickup if you’ve been running schmohawks out there on a consistent basis.  I grabbed him in a league I have Garrard and Alex Smith in.  If I owned Cutler I’d be grabbing whoever has a pulse.

Jay Cutler: So he’s averaging 2 picks a game, he has no offensive line and he’s a bit of a wuss.  He needs a line like Denver’s to give him time and security because when he is pressured he starts dancing and doesn’t set his feet to throw and then the ball goes wherever, usually into a defender’s hands. He gets the lowly Rams next week so it’s hard not to start him, but you don’t have to be happy about it.

Marshawn Lynch: Still stuck in Least Mode he has been passed by Fred Jackson, and got whiplash watching it happen. Marshawn isn’t really worth having on your team unless you want Fred Jackson’s backup; what was that guy’s name again?

Matt Forte: Three touchdowns in 11 games equals .2727272727 . . . touchdowns a game.  That looks like a big number, but really it isn’t.  All you math majors can explain it to the others.  So yeah, Matt Forte is usable in ppr leagues, but otherwise the #4 overall adp was a bit optimistic.

Percy Harvin: It wasn’t hard for Viking receivers to have decent games against the Bears yesterday, but Harvin just keeps putting together solid games. He’s high in the rookie of the year voting for good reason, but I’m putting all my money on Heyward-Bey.  Al Davis has never steered me wrong.

Chris Chambers: I didn’t think he was going to be worthwhile ever again.  He looked slow and barely worth avoiding with your car, but he keeps putting fantasy worthy games out there.  Denver will be tough next week, but if you are hurting in WR depth and he’s still around, scoop him up; hopefully before he becomes road kill.

Matt Leinart: He didn’t look horrible, but he can’t seem to throw the ball deep (sorry Fitz).  If you own Warner you really need to grab him.  Concussions, as we’ve heard a lot recently, are nothing to play with and Warner is old enough to have grand kids, so just play it safe.

Brett Favre: Good Lord Favre!, this guy must have sold his soul to Jerry Jones.  I’ve never seen a better fit than Favre and the Vikings.  It took him about 2 games to get comfortable and start dominating.  If someone pinned me down and grabbed a sweaty jock strap and told me they’d make me eat it if I didn’t tell them who I thought was the best team I’d say the Vikings, and then I’d say all you had to do was ask! Jeez.

Kenny Britt: 7 receptions for 128 yards and a game winning catch move him up your waiver priority.  Young seems to like Britt and he is showing that he’s the best receiver on the team.  Justin Gage might need to file for unemployment.

Jamaal Charles: Right now he is my Most Valuable Free Agent Pick Up (MVFAPU).  The Razzball favorite is leading many teams down the stretch.  He totaled 147 yards and had a TD and had a decent run back or two for you freaks in return yardage leagues. You can thank us by sending all cash donations in care of Doc at Razzball HQ, Razzballia USA.

Justin Forsett: Another great game from Forsett should knock Julius Jones into the background. He’s not on your waiver wire, and if he is, your league depresses me.

Chris Johnson: Picture me doing a fake yawn, yes, another ho hum 186 total yards and a touchdown.  What’s that, his 10th 85 yard run this season? He’s on pace for over 2,000 yards rushing and 15 touchdowns.  That’s slightly above average.

LaDainian Tomlinson: He’s getting pretty lucky with all the goal line looks he’s had.  Can’t really knock him for that, but he hasn’t had a 100 yard game in long while.  He’s worth getting out there for his TD potential, but he can easily have a down game if he doesn’t get across the goal line.

Antonio Bryant: If he can stay healthy he can help you down the stretch. Freeman is locking onto Winslow and Bryant and making both of them viable fantasy players. I may be a little biased since Bryant won me leagues last year, but he can be an elite receiver under the right circumstances.  Since these aren’t the right circumstances, he can be a workable #3.

Larry Johnson: He ran for over 100 yards and Bernard Scott got dinged up, but Cedric Benson should come back next week. He could take over Scott’s spot, but I’m not picking him up unless I’m really hurting at RB.  Remember, they were playing the Browns who lost Shaun Rogers during the game. My arthritic great aunt Melba could rack up 100 yards on them.  No, she’s not a cracker!

Michael Turner: Well, gotta call the Falcons stupid for this one.  There was no reason to rush Turner back with Snelling and Norwood ready to go.  Turner reinjured his ankle, but we don’t have any real news yet.  Snelling should still be the starting back, but Norwood will get a pretty big role as well. Turner will have to show me he’s healthy before I recommend starting him again. There’s an old saying in Tennessee — I know it’s in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can’t get fooled again.

Matt Ryan: He hurt his foot. We won’t know how bad for a while, but hopefully you listened to us and traded him for a case of peeps and a half eaten Sanchise Dog.

Desean Jackson: Another concussed Eagle for fantasy players to worry about. There is a good chance he’ll be on the sidelines next week.  The Eagles already got Westbrook knocked out twice and if it happens to DJax they’ll never hear the end of it.  If he does sit Jason Avant will be a nice pickup.

Rock Cartwright: Hmmm, I guess there was a reason he was the third string running back.

Terrell Owens: Well, he may make a believer of me yet.  I hate to say good things about The egO, but he is playing like he has something to prove, which he does.  It’s not like you can pick him up, but these last two games look like a trend.  Get him in your lineups.

Ben Roethlisberger talked to Coach Tomlin and informed him he might want to be able to tell his grand kids about winning Super Bowls instead of drooling on them, so he’s listed as questionable, but I have a feeling he’ll end up playing anyway.  The alternative is Dennis Dixon going up against the Ravens on Sunday Night Football.  Big Ben might sacrifice himself for Dixon.  I’ll be checking his hands for stigmata.

EDIT: Adam Schefter is reporting that Ben is out and Dennis Dixon will get the start. Downgrade your Steeler receivers and keep Mendenhall about where you had him before.  He’ll get a lot of looks, but the Steelers won’t have many chances near the endzone.

Anthony Gonzalez: I picked him back up last week with some sketchy reports that he might return soon, but dropped him again with some actual reports of him not practicing.  I’m just here to remind you to leave him in the free agent pool to prune.

Julius Jones: He is still hurting with a bruised lung.  I’m not a real doctor, I just play one on the internet, but that sounds not too fun to have when slamming against a defensive line.  He has been limited in practice and will be a game time decision.  We’ll have all the gametime decisions up in the comments of Sunday’s post so check them out and if Jones doesn’t go Forsett will be a great play.  Even if he does go Forsett will be worthwhile in ppr leagues.

Sammy Morris: He has been limited in practice and has been put into the Patriots’ Relocation Program and we won’t really know what his role will be going forward. I think Maroney has a pretty firm grip on the job right now.  Knowing Bill Belichick like I do, I have no idea what he’ll do.  Morris can play himself back into a bigger role, but I think Maroney can hold him off.

Brandon Pettigrew: He is done for the season.  And I thought Lord Voldermort would show pity on him and heal his knee once he was reconstituted. Oh well.  He is good and will be worth drafting next year if his knee heals well.

Bernard Berrian: He finally looks like his hamstring might be healed.  He has been on the bottom of the wide receiver barrel in Minnesota this season, but if he’s healthy look for Favre to try to get him going before the playoffs.

Steven Jackson: SJax hasn’t practiced this week due to back spasms and will be a game time decision.  If he doesn’t play there is a good chance the Rams will forfeit the game. Or they may have to start Kenneth “Trent” Darby which might be the same as forfeiting.  If SJax goes you start him.  If he doesn’t and you are in desperate need you can throw Darby into the wishing well and wish that he turns into SJax.

Jerious Norwood: Norwood will probably be eased back into his role and by the time he’s ready to go, Michael Turner should also be ready to go.  If Turner doesn’t go on Sunday I fully expect Snelling to be the main man.

Kurt Warner: He has practiced in full and should go against a still fairly weak Tennessee secondary.  I would get him into your lineup.  Maybe to play it safe you should grab Leinart and have him ready to go if the old man can’t get out of bed.

Cedric Benson: He has been limited all week and will be yet another game time decision.  My game time decisions usually revolve around which pizza place to order from. Gigio’s usually wins.  But I don’t know who wins this one.  I know who Bernard Scott owners are rooting for.

Steve Slaton: For some reason Chris Brown is now splitting time with Steve Slaton.  Kubiak is mad I say, mad!  Slaton is still the better back and is worth a flex option especially in ppr, but his chances of getting shut out are much better with his lack of touches. And I guess Ryan Moats was arrested for trying to save a kitten from a tree.

DeAngelo Hall: Hall is out against the pass happy Eagles which is good news for DMac, DJax, JMac and any other player whose name is shortenable.

We’ve got a lot of questions to answer this week.  Will Julius Jones take away carries from Justin Forsett against the hapless Rams? Will Cedric Benson be ready to go against the horrid Cleveland defense or do we get some more Bernard Scott? Does Michael Turner have any chance to get in there against the sorry Tampa rush defense or do we get another good week out of Jason Snelling? Will Ricky Williams score 5 or just 4 touchdowns against the sad Bisons’ rush “defense.”

We also have some Thanksgiving questions which we’ll find the answers to very soon.  Such as, can Marion Barber have a good game against a bad defense or is he just completely worthless? Will the Raiders have one running back come up and get most of the carries and will that be Darren McFadden because I own him? Will Kevin Smith be killed with Saint Stafford and Megatron on the sidelines? Will Ryan Grant keep making me look stupid? Will Danny Ware get enough carries to be fantasy relevant with Ahmad Bradshaw out? Will Knowshon Moreno hold onto the ball while going across the goal line so my team won’t lose by 3 points?

So, there are some questions that might be worth contemplating in say, a sweat lodge, while doing Tai-Chi, yoga, whatever your  spiritual reflection of choice.

Did you see “The Wizard” with Fred Savage? It’s this cheesy early 90’s movie with a climactic Nintendo showdown. Mario Brothers III was unveiled at the end. It was like, the future or something. I remember being so pumped about that game. In fact if you weren’t pumped about Mario Brothers III then I hate your face.

As I discussed last week “Sleeper Math” is changing with the season and will now focus on the best players to roster (mostly RB’s). It’s not easy to unearth diamonds in the rough this time of year but I’m up for the challenge. Waive goodbye to your backup Tight Ends, Quarterbacks, and marginal Team Defenses and say hello to no name running backs who might just win you a title (and be a ridiculously good keeper for next season).

Worth a Waiver Claim

Fred Jackson – Probably not available but get him if you can. Marshawn Lynch left Sunday’s game with a shoulder injury. Not sure what that means going forward other than Jackson’s value just shot up.

Rock Cartwright – No, I’m not talking about return yard leagues here people. Portis and Betts are ruled out for next week. There’s an outside chance that Cartwright could wind up starting for the rest of the season. In the meantime he’s going to get all the touches out of the backfield because he’s all there is.

Bernard Scott – He shouldn’t be on waivers but a lot of you out there have boneheads in your league. Clearly if he’s still available you should claim him. It’s unclear whether Benson will play this week against Cleveland.

Worth Grabbing in Free Agency (after Waivers clear)

Danny Ware – Jacobs got injured on Sunday. It’s tough to say what the extent of it will be. Regardless Ware is an excellent stash right now. He could  be a big surprise to close out the season.

Brandon Gibson – Jones will be taking an extensive look at him in his Targets article tomorrow. He is getting the ball thrown A TON to him.

Maurice Morris – Kevin Smith had a good game but Morris is still worth stashing because he’s talented and Smith’s been injured this season.

Chris Jennings – He had just under 10 points in PPR this week. It’s miraculous that Jamal Lewis is still out there. If he gets hurt Jennings could find his way in to your starting lineup.

Lex Hilliard – I thought he’d get more touches in his first outing but I’m sure he’ll get more involved in the offense. Miami’s offense can easily support two productive running backs (as they’ve shown all season).

Mohamed Massoquoi – He’s probably not available in your league. If he is on Waivers I wouldn’t put a claim on him, personally. I do think he could be useful toward the end of the season but you shouldn’t need to slide him in there as a starter.

Darren MacFadden – I’m not that excited about him but if he’s a free agent I’d throw him on your bench and wait to see if he does anything.

Deep Sleepers/Stashes (Drop your Snuggies to pick them up)

Tyrell Sutton – He is drawing a lot of praise in Carolina. Unfortunately that backfield is really packed right now. If either Williams or Stewart goes down he could put up useful digits though- keep your eyes open.

Rashad Jennings – Not going to be a factor unless Maurice Jones-Drew gets hurt. If that happens, however, you’ll be glad you own Rashad Jennings.

Ryan Moats – It’s evident now that Slaton’s won his starting job back. Moats has once again become a stash. The good part is he showed that he can be productive when given an opportunity.

Jerious Norwood – I guess we’re just going to wait forever for him to get healthy. With Turner still out (more than likely) you could do worse than stashing Norwood just in case.

Brandon Jackson – Just when you think he’s irrelevant again… Jackson had 6 catches for 65 yards on Sunday (he’s a running back, not a receiver). If Ryan Grant goes down to injury he could be valuable. For obvious reasons he’s a better stash in PPR leagues.

You can follow me on twitter: Razzball_Drew

Matthew Stafford just wrote a story he’ll be able to tell his grand kids.  Of course he won’t say it was against Cleveland, but still, he became the youngest quarterback to ever throw for 5 touchdowns in a game and he did it with a bad wing!  I don’t see Stafford now becoming a fantasy god with the schedule he has, but he’s going to keep Megatron relevant and hopefully make Detroit a contender at some point.

Mark Sanchez: Another rookie quarterback took the field on Sunday, but instead of giving his fans hope for a wonderful future he gave each one of them metaphorical Dirty Sanchez.

Bernard Scott: He ended up with a decent game in Oakland, helped by a 61 yard run.  I’d hold onto him as long as you can in case Benson reinjures himself.  His schedule is too good to lose him because you got nervous that you needed a third tight end to round out your team. (more…)