It’s Sunday morning again. The coffee is steaming in the mug. The pre-game is chattering on and on and you are either excited for your fantasy playoffs or you just heard one of the chatter boxes mention (insert injured first round bust) and you start wondering if this whole fantasy football fad is all it’s cracked up to be. Well, I hate to say it, but you are screwed like (insert a Tiger Woods acquaintance). Next season you’ll draft the next Ray Rice, Brett Favre (who will be Brett Favre), Miles Austin, Sidney Rice, etc… Next year your computer won’t crash during the draft. Next year you won’t get distracted by “the birth of your first child.” Next year you’ll outscore the #1 seeded team again, but actually make the playoffs this time. This year was a learning experience and with great suffering brings resolve and strength or some crap like that.
If you did make the playoffs things may be tense in your household this morning. The cat for some reason is sleeping under the TV and he didn’t do that for the past thirteen Sundays, so you start throwing Lucky Charms at him. Be nice! Move the cat gently. Yes, he is trying to jinx you, but don’t stoop to his level!
There are many tough lineup decisions today. I’ll take a look at some possible sleepers and busts for today and you should hit us up with your start/sit questions in the comments. Also, all of the latest injury news will be updated in the comments as well. Good luck and let’s play some made up football!!!!
Sleeping Giants
Devin Thomas: According to Football Outsiders the Raiders are 32nd against #2 wide receivers. And unless there are more teams than I remember that isn’t very good.
Donovan McNabb: He won’t be floating in your free agent pool of course, but you may be worried about starting him in Giants Stadium; don’t be. Tony Romo almost put up 400 yards on them and McNabb threw 3 touchdowns in their first matchup. Oh, and he has DJax back. I would feel good about starting DJax, Celek, and Maclin in that order. McCoy is a little shakier, but is still worth a flex.
Mike Thomas: His name won’t get him much attention, but maybe he’ll take his lead from the snoringly named Chris Johnson. With Mike Sims-Walker out, Thomas should see a lot of looks and is worth a #3 receiver slot against a poor Miami secondary.
Quinton Ganther: I’ve been getting a lot of start/sit questions about Ganther and I can honestly say if he was playing against a halfway decent run defense I would tell you to drown him in the free agent pool, but in the last 6 games the Raiders are giving up 161 yards a game on the ground. Ganther isn’t going to get 161 yards unless the event horizon starts in the Raiders’ locker room, but he’s worth a flex based solely on opportunity and matchup.
Kevin Boss: The Eagles are second to last in yards given up to tight ends. In their last matchup Boss had 70 yards and a TD. You shouldn’t play him over tight ends who get more targets, but he’s worth a shot if you are hurting at TE. Who’s the Boss? Um, I just told you.
Josh Morgan: He’s had 17 targets and 12 receptions in the last 2 games. He is now the clear cut #2 receiver in an offense that has started throwing more than they probably should. The Cardinals are giving up an average of 194 yards receiving to wide receivers in the last 7 games which is the worst in the NFL.
Busted Dreams
Kyle Orton: The Broncos have not felt good about using Orton besides in handing the ball off and throwing to Brandon Marshall. The Colts are worse against the run so I expect a lot of running which should make Moreno and Buckhalter both starts, Moreno more than Bucky since he gets goal line carries.
Greg Olsen: With Devin Hester looking unlikely to play, Chuck Woodson could shadow Greg Olsen for the game. Be wary of starting any Bear today. Unless it’s a real one.
Reggie Bush: Sean Payton doesn’t seem too keen on giving Reggie Bush much work. He hasn’t had over 10 touches since week 3 and Payton didn’t like how Bush tip-toed out of bounds instead of lowering his head for a first down against Washington. Bush is looking like a real bust more and more.
Atlanta Running Backs: The Saints should have no trouble scoring on a horrible Falcons’ defense and Chris Redman will have to keep the ball in the air trying to dig out of a hole. Coach Smith admitted that Jerious Norwood is still hip-hampered and Snelling hasn’t shown enough to warrant a start in a RBBC.
Fred Davis: The Raiders have given up a grand total of zero touchdowns to tight ends. They are very tough on tight ends in the black hole. Yeah, I said it.
Bernard Berrian: If Percy Harvin is out, it will be tempting to go with Berrian, but it looks like Leon Hall will cover B.B. I foresee Purple Jesus returning this week and Berrian could be in the way of the second coming.
