Week 12 Players to Play/Avoid: Different Shades of Brown

November 20, 2013 | 2013 Fantasy Football, Rush & Pass Strategy | 59 Comments

Although there are plenty of players capable of rising above a bad matchup, terms like “Revis Island” would not exist if it wasn’t at least somewhat true. Take T.Y. Hilton, for instance. After the loss of Reggie Wayne, Hilton has been an incredible asset for fantasy owners, but put him up against the Titans’ defense and suddenly he’s scoring less than 5 fantasy points. He should have a slightly easier time against Arizona this weekend, but I mean it when I say slightly. Cecil Shorts is a talented guy and he only managed 22 yards against Arizona last Sunday so start Hilton if you need him, but don’t expect WR1 production.

Speaking of Tennessee’s defense, they travel to Oakland this week and that makes the Raiders’ WRs unplayable. Rod Streater had a great outing this past weekend and Denarius Moore has been pretty consistent this weekend, but there are much better options this week.

Another consistent WR this year has been Antonio Brown, but this is definitely the week to sell high on him. Brown is still worth starting in many leagues. He hasn’t scored below six fantasy points in standard scoring leagues yet this season. However, Joe Haden is a special talent. If you were to rattle off a few receivers more talented than Antonio Brown, A.J. Green might be one of the people you list and Green was held to two catches for seven yards with Haden as his shadow. You never want to bench your best guys, but depending on your available options, you will want to consider it with Brown this week.

Please, blog, may I have some more?

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DraftKings – On The Upswing, About To Get My Golden Ticket

November 20, 2013 | DraftKings | 6 Comments

by: JB Gilpin

DraftKings is back baby! And we’re one week closer to that HUGE WEEK 17 MILLIONAIRE FINALE, and while I’m still struggling in my attempts to win my ticket on the cheap, I’m slowly improving. Last week I was 234/862 and with another 233 players worth of improvement, a ticket is mine! I’m sticking with the $2 Fantasy Millionaire Qualifier to try and win the Ticket with just a few peanuts. That said, I’m feeling better about my roster than any other week, so I might branch out into some other contests for a nice payday. Bring it in the Millionaire Qualifier, Razzball Nation!

Please, blog, may I have some more?

BuyBuy O’Riley

November 20, 2013 | 2013 Fantasy Football, Fantasy Football Buy/Sell | 171 Comments

by: Sky

Out here on the fields. He fights for his meals. He puts his back into his living. And then he gets wasted! And says something really dumb that you probably shouldn’t click on while at work. Deadspin, ya couldn’t censor the word in your title? What the Eff…see? You can get the point across without actually saying it. Neverthewho! It seems that our media darling Riley Cooper has torn the fantasyniks asunder. One side of the camp will tell you he’s been extremely lucky with the production he’s had since week 6. I mean, he’s only averaging 6 targets per game during that span. Want a little perspective on how low that is? Well, over the last 4 weeks, he’s outscored Demaryius Thomas (10.75 TPG), Pierre Garcon (10.5 TPG) and AJ Green (11.5 TPG). So somehow, he’s squeezing similar or better production from 40%-45% less targets. REGRESSION ALERT! Right? Well, maybe not so fast. You see, chemistry is a crazy thing between QB and receiver. This Foles to Cooper love affair could be spotted last year as the season wound down and has carried into this year. It’s not just that Foles likes throwing to Cooper because he’s a great receiver – I don’t think he is – or because he’s especially fast – he’s not – but because he trusts him. Trust goes a long way in those relationships. I have no doubt Foles and Cooper would excel at a marriage retreat with trust exercises. Catch me Coop I’m falling into your loving arms! That’s Foles. He calls him Coop, trust me. All this to say, Foles is willing to throw dangerous passes Riley’s way because he knows he’ll fight for them. Plus Cooper has this going for him: he’s not the best receiver on his own team. But, but Sky…you said to buy him…why would I not want the best receiver on the team? That’s the great thing about Riley and his situation. He doesn’t have to be to get results. DeSean pulls the toughest corner more often than not, the ground game threat usually keeps the safety playing up tight and Cooper is left by his lonesome to do some damage against the second best coverage player on the team. And because this topic is getting ridiculously long, I’d like to finish with a few notes. Consider this the lightening round portion of your reading info-tainment. Since becoming a starter, Foles is averaging 26.4 attempts per game. Remember when we all said ‘these stats can’t be sustained because of low target totals’? Well, Cooper has been 22.7% of Foles’ targets during that span. Perspective? Aforementioned DT has been 22.7% of Peyton’s all year. Yup, for as explosive as the Eagles offense has been for the year, many forget they’re a run-first team and Foles hasn’t had to attempt many passes to garner the success he’s had. Oh and Cooper’s last game was regression? FUGGEDABAHDIT. Dropped a would be 40+ yard bomb of a touchdown and got dropped at the one inch line for another TD opportunity. Cooper is as real as he needs to be, just had a ‘bad’ game and is on bye. BuyBuy O’Riley indeed. In other buy/sell news for 2013 Fantasy Football…

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Jam it or Cram it: Blame it on the Rainey

November 19, 2013 | 2013 Fantasy Football, Waiver Wire | 72 Comments

by: The Guru

The possibilities are nearly endless with the Bobby Rainey references. Who knew Bobby Rainey would go off for nearly 35 fantasy points and start trending on Twitter? Some of my faves include #ItsRaineyMen, #NovemberRainey, #ChocolateRainey and #SomewhereOverTheRaineyBow. Personally, I went the Milli Vanilli route because I see Bobby Rainey more fraud than Grammy winner. Now and then something comes along that is just too good to be true. Ask Sky about his investment in Planet Hollywood. One of those things was the “band” Milli Vanilli. Back in late 80’s, early 90’s, your-humble-but-nonetheless-handsome Guru was trapped in Top 40 radio Hell and forced to spin tunes by MC Hammer, Wilson Phillips and Roxette. I refer to those four years as my “lost weekend.” Personally, I believe we all need a few lost years or decades in our lives. It’s hard to respect someone that didn’t completely piss away their life for at least a year or two doing something crazy like follow the Grateful Dead, travel with the carnival or marry a Russian bride. Unfortunately, I wasted my time playing the lip-sync hits from Milli Vanilli. Blame it on the rain. And the free cocaine. It’s time to jam it or cram it.

Please, blog, may I have some more?

RCL Football Update: Week 11

November 19, 2013 | 2013 Fantasy Football, Commenter Leagues, Razzball Writers League | 13 Comments

by: JB Gilpin

2013 RCL Football Ugh… RCL needs a new definition. “Ridiculously Callous Leagues”. “Random Chance Leagues”. “Really wanna Choke myself Leagues”. My teams are tanking worse than M. Night Shyamalan’s directorial career. My Writer’s League squad has dropped three straight, my RCL team which was decent is looking god awful; it’s just been a rough few weeks on virtually all my teams. Stupid Nick’s 1-9 team starting Michael Floyd. Fantasy football is all luck [drops mic]. You can check out the full interactive 2013-2014 RCL Standings tab up under “Leagues” that shows you how you’re stacking up against your Razzball competitors in your journey to RCL glory.

RCL Top Scorer TOP SCORER: May the world sing your praises, Puttin on the Fitz, for topping the RCL scoreboard in week 11 and becoming a legend amongst RCL teams. Fitz stomped all over the Rancho Rajneesh league for 191.52 points led by Bobby Rainey in an astute gamble (started in only 3% of Yahoo leagues), LeSean McCoy and the huge Antonio Brown game. Conrgats to the Fitz! Unfortunately that only moves him to 6-5, while the two top RCL teams heading into week 11, Mega Gronk SMASH! and ReadOptionForDummies, both got wins moving to 10-1 and solidify top spots on the RCL leader board.

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Lights, Cam, NEWTON!

November 19, 2013 | 2013 Fantasy Football, Fantasy Football Daily Notes | 143 Comments

by: Sky

Football is a funny sport, especially for a team that rarely gets to be in the spotlight. The last time I remember seeing Cam Newton under the watchful eye of prime time, it was Thursday Night Football, week 3 and it was the 2012 season. Heading into the game, the Panthers were 1-1 and were fresh off a win over a division rival – the New Orleans Saints – and were riding high. It was Cam’s second season in the league and people were expecting great things from the young man. And then September 20th happened and the good times left the building. Cam and company left their home turf after a humiliating loss at the hands of the Giants. After a 36-7 loss, a lot of people – both fantasy enthusiasts and real – began to question Supermans superpowers. Was the guy that looked like he was pouting on the sidelines under his towel really a leader? Was the guy who just threw 3 interceptions really the person that was gonna bring Carolina back to prominence? And so on and so forth and the rest of the season played out and people forgave but never forgot the towel-covered Cam. He was a childish athlete who’d never learn how to play within the game, they said. An egotistical prat who lacked the ability to guide a team to victory, they chattered. And for most of 2012, the people were right. But some light must’ve popped on at the end of 2012 as they went on to win 5 of their last 6. Sure, the Panthers finished 7-9 but there were flashes of the team we saw on Monday last year. We were just too blinded by Cam hatred to see. And of that Cam hatred? Well, to help his team go to 8-3 on the 2013 season, Newton finished with 209 passing yards and 3 passing TDs while leading his team in rushing on the night with 62. Yeah, but you ain’t talking fantasy, Sky, this is all about real football. No one cares. Well you SHOULD care, imaginary reader. This team is fighting for the playoffs. It has motivation and incentive down the stretch to actually win their division and a supercharged Cam can be a Superman Cam at any moment and tonight he definitely was that. Cam looked better than he has in a while in the passing game. I don’t know if it was his receivers stepping up or him playing at another level – I’ll defer towards the former but that’s cuz Cam’s been pretty damn good all year, y’all – but there’s reason for JB to be pointing at the back of that jersey tonight. Cam is legit. Panthers are legit. And now I have to write about other guys and I’m completely spent. In other news from week 11 MNF for the 2013 Fantasy Football season…

Please, blog, may I have some more?

The Razzball Football Podcast – The One Where JB Does A One Man Show

November 18, 2013 | 2013 Fantasy Football, Razzball Podcast | 14 Comments

by: JB Gilpin

The Razzball Podcast returns, and appropriately for a week of no-shows from several fantasy studs, it’s only me manning the podcast with super producer Kyle turning the knobs. We would survive a zombie invasion, Kyle! I recap all the action from week 11 including the Bobby Rainey breakout, why I’m still in love with Kris Durham and my DraftKings picks in my quest for a ticket into the Week 17 Millionaire Finale. I also go into why Nick’s Writers League team is a piece of hot garbage. If your game hinges on tonight’s game, good luck and be rooting for my Panthers!

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Bucs Were Saving Bobby For A Rainey Day

November 18, 2013 | 2013 Fantasy Football, Fantasy Football Daily Notes | 169 Comments

by: Sky

I swear, players with names like this were made for Razzball. Do you know how many puns I’m gonna squeeze out of this down the stretch with him? Trust me, you don’t even know. But more to the point, we here have been all over this guy this week. This isn’t an ‘I toldja so’ but I do hope you all listened to the Razzball Podcast on Tuesday when I said you should pick up Chris Rainey. Then I hope you read the first comment on the Podcast post where I clarified who I was talking about. Anyone out there picking up the 5th string RB for the Steelers…mea culpa. Hopefully you read my BUY column on the following day and made sure it was Bobby Rainey. Sure, I didn’t tell you to start him but Tampa Bay said Leonard was starting. And clearly Tampa Bay never lies…wait, what? Neverthewho! Finally, as if we didn’t treat you like a baby seal enough, we clubbed you over the head on Friday with J-FOH making Rainey the lead in The Handcuff Report. All this to say, unless you were in a coma for the last week, we got you in early on this gem. And if you’re reading us first after coming out of a coma, thank you! Now you should really put life in perspective if we’re the first thing you think of upon waking from something like that. But now that we’re done slapping each other on the ass for the good call over here, let’s get to the numbers: Rainey carried the load in Tampa with 30 carries for 163 yards and 2 TDs on the ground while chipping in 2 for 4 through the air and another score. Yes, that’s three TDs from a guy who’s 23% owned as of mid-day Sunday which probably means he was owned under 10% prior to games starting. Seriously guys, put it at automatic waivers when Sundays start. Cheaters! But more about Bobby: that boy ain’t right…to opposing defenses. There was a lot of concern about his size holding him back from being a lead RB but all I have to say to that is Warrick Dunn. Bobby (5-8, 212) and Warrick (5-9, 180) have a little in common in that area. Everyone wants to pick on the little guy back there but little doesn’t mean these guys can’t carry the load when presented. Looking forward, Rainey had a nice matchup against a Falcons team that has given up plenty on the ground to fantasy backs on the year so I’m not going to anoint him straight away. I’d like to see a little adversity before I do that but I do think if you nabbed him, you’ve got a mid-tier RB2 right now with explosive upside and the potential to make up for all the RB heartache you’ve no doubt suffered to date. Here’s to Rainey making you into the Reigning champion this year. See? We got this for days, people. In other news from Sunday of week 11 for 2013 Fantasy Football…

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Last Second Decisions – Fight Or Flight

November 17, 2013 | Last Second Decisions | 130 Comments

by: JB Gilpin

So I finally got to watching Flight last night, and I love the way it made me think of fantasy. Mostly because most of my teams make me want to go on one of those Denzel benders. But seriously, I loved the tie in of flight or flight. The majority of owners with bad teams flight it away and don’t check their teams, however some of us fight it out, invert the plane and try to save our dignity. As much as I tried to skirt past with the lies and manipulation (“my team sucks because everyone got hurt!”), I finally fessed up, got a lot of courage and purported “I drafted bad, I managed bad week one, I managed bad week two, I’m managing bad now!” And with a little bit of good fortune and waiver wire moves, I turned a 14-teamer where I drafted in order (and this is no joke) Ray Rice, Stephen Jackson, Randall Cobb, Marques Colston, Ryan Mathews, Daryl Richardson, T.Y. Hilton (that one worked!), Kenbrell Thompkins and Michael Vick into an actual playoff contending team. None of those guys I was particularly high on – just how the draft played out – and through a series of moves and pickups I’m 4-6 and a game out of the playoffs. Fight! This is a pivotal week for me and I’m sure a lot of teams in Razzball Nation as we start getting into the playoff push crunch time.

Please, blog, may I have some more?

The Handcuff Report – Love Rainey O’er Me

November 16, 2013 | 2013 Fantasy Football, Handcuff Report | 56 Comments

by: J-FOH

Why did I pick up Bobby Rainey, the guy who was waived by the Cleveland Browns back in October? This move makes me feel dirty, not pigpen dirty, but the I just picked up a hooker in an alley dirty. Maybe I should go back to the beginning. *wavy lines wavy lines wavy lines* I drafted Doug Martin in the hopes he would lead me to championship glory. He’s PPR gold and that’s all I play, standard makes me fall asleep from boredom. But nope, that was an unwise selection. Hey I listened to Sky and I was so pissed at him that I hopped on a little plane, flew to where he lives, got drunk and told him off. What can I say, I really think my insults are better in person. OK, now I grab Mike James who drops 158 on the Seahawks and makes me think that maybe I scored some pure lottery type luck. Nope, that’s strike two on your hopes and dreams. Now what do I do, Tampa is cursed, they lost their QB who woke up one day and said “I suck”, a bunch of them got MRSA, their coach is a dick, and now Brian Leonard is the lead back. Wait!….What? Bobby Rainey looked so good on Monday night, “well Jack he was playing the weak rush D of the Dolphins”, that is true diligent commenter. But Really? I know what I’ll do, I’ll grab both and beat the devil at his own game. Damn, this shizz is making me depressed. Rainey has the upside here. If you don’t already own him I would grab him. Bucs are showing signs of life and I think every current and former Browns running back is better than T-Rich. Yup, I would drop T-Rich for Rainey. If you’re going to go for it then I would go grab Rainey and hopefully the curse of the Bucs is over and they all play really well ROS.

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Sawbones Scribings Week 11 – Arian Foster’s Bad Disc Crashes Houston Offense

November 15, 2013 | 2013 Fantasy Football, Fantasy Football Injury Report | 11 Comments

by: Andrew Nordmeier

The big injury news of the week is Houston running back Arian Foster undergoing back surgery to repair and alleviate issues stemming from a disc in his lower back. It’s a good thing this finally happened. He missed OTAs with the issue and was having pain down into this legs during the little time he was on the field a training camp.

What is a ruptured disc anyways?

When a disc is ruptured, the jelly-like shock-absorbing “filling” for lack of a better term oozes out. When that does, it can put pressure onto the spinal cord itself and that could be the source of the pain for Foster.

Other symptoms include pain and weakness in the legs (not good for a running back), shooting pains when doing simple things like sneezing or using the toilet, and a low chance of loss of control in the bladder and/or bowel.

Maybe that explains why Houston has crapped the bed for the last two months and lost seven in a row—ruptured disc.

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Hard Targets: John Carlson Returns Like Jesus

November 15, 2013 | 2013 Fantasy Football, Hard Targets | 24 Comments

by: LT Murray IV

MFer I’m a monster in this game, similar to the Lochness. My writing’s nappy rooted, all my pieces have a process. Greetings all! Tis I, Beddict, back with more fantasy football goodness, and boy am I excited tonight. No, not because Chris Johnson scored 2 TDs on Thursday night football, but for the reason that more biblical fairy tales are being turned into movies. If you’re anything like me, you’ve been hungrily awaiting a Passion of the Christ sequel. We aren’t receiving that YET, but it’s bound to happen some day right. We can always count on Uncle Mel to deliver us the classics. Instead we get my main man Russell Crowe in the blockbuster, Noah, and man does it look scrumptious. While it doesn’t have Gibson’s maniacal touch, it does reunite Crowe with Jennifer Connelly as they, with God’s help, wipe the face of the earth of all other human life. The Elder Gods laugh hysterically about these children’s tails but one has to wonder how Hollywood has waited so long to turn these fascinating works of fiction into billion dollar hits. This is only the beginning as we should soon expect big budget pictures about Peter walking on water, the Ethiopian in the desert, the stoning of Stephen, Moses and the parting of the Red Sea, Daniel in the lion’s den, and the aforementioned Christ sequel. I for one am praying on a trilogy depicting the battle of David and Goliath, Hobbit style. Peter Jackson would be a perfect fit in bringing these storybooks to life and if the Gods will it, Elijah Wood could even play the role of David. Hollywood is sitting on a goldmine and we are the main benefactors. Rejoice!

I should probably now write something regarding football since that’s why they pay me the big bucks. Let’s lead off with John Carlson since he seemingly returned from the dead like Jesus Christ himself. Take heed.

Please, blog, may I have some more?