When most people think of Lynyrd Skynyrd they immediately think of Freebird. Perhaps a few know of Sweet Home Alabama, but it wouldn’t surprise me if many knew the song, but not who sang it. These people I mention are not real Lynyrd Skynyrd fans. Between 1997 and about 2010, I attended eight Lynyrd Skynyrd concerts. Most were on the lawn at the Garden State Arts Center, but a few times I got myself some good seats up front to enjoy the show. Skynyrd concerts are just an all around good time. Good people and great music. Perhaps I’m just a Simple Man, but once Tuesday’s Gone, I’m ready for a Saturday Night Special. So Gimme Three Steps and let’s see what The Stats Machine has to say about Week 8.
Quarterback
Drew Brees (Score: 103.7) – If I hadn’t watched the game myself I would have thought the stat line of 505 yards and 7 touchdowns was a misprint. Coming into this game he was averaging 267 yards and just over a touchdown per game. Heck if he didn’t blow those numbers out of the park. Brees is obviously a guy you are going to start every week and last week was just a reminder why. He comes in at number two in TSM’s year-to-date rankings. Call me the breeze, I keep blowin’ down the road…
Running Back (PPR)
Darren McFadden (Score: 35.66) – Finding McFadden here might come as a surprise to many of you considering he managed only 64 yards on the ground. But he did it against a stingy Seattle defense that has been tough on opposing running backs. Add in 6 receptions for 49 yards for a total of 113 all purpose yards and The Stats Machine will find you. Now Gimme Back My Bullets and move along.
Devonta Freeman (Score: 33.31) – Even though he saw his streak of 100 yard rushing games end at three, Freeman still managed a strong outing with 88 yards. Catching 6 of 8 targets for another 43 yards, he continues to prove why he is, hands down, the top running back in all formats this season.
Honorable Mention: Charcandrick West (29.58)
Running Back
Ronnie Hillman (Score: 29.62) – The running back situation in Denver is a shit show. Hillman only managed 60 yards on 19 carries, but he did find the end zone twice. The week before he rushed for 111 yards and he seems to have emerged as the RB to own in Denver. But who knows. I’m just glad I don’t own either of them.
Charcandrick West (Score: 26.22) – With 97 yards on 20 carries and a touchdown, West is reminding me why I spent $51 of my $100 FAAB on him. In the last two weeks he’s averaged 21 carries, 103 yards and a touchdown. Jamaal who? What’s Your Name?
Honorable Mention: Todd Gurley (25.46), Darren McFadden (24.62), Latavius Murray (24.57) and Devonta Freeman (24.24)
Wide Receiver (PPR)
Odell Beckham Jr (Score: 56.51) – Beckham was targeted 9 times last Sunday. He caught 8 of those targets for 130 yards and 3 touchdowns. A touchdown hat trick for Odell. He’s not the first Beckham to score a hat trick. And no I’m not referring to Gordon Beckham. As far as I can tell he never hit three home runs in a single game. At least not in the Major Leagues. Back to football. American football. Odell Beckham Jr. has emerged as a top five receiver and continues to put up the corresponding statistics.
Honorable Mention: Alshon Jeffery (49.18), Julio Jones (48.75) and A.J. Green (46.51)
Wide Receiver
Odell Beckham Jr (Score: 39.64) – See above
Honorable Mention: Brandin Cooks (26.49), Julio Jones (26.48), Alshon Jeffery (26.32) and Julian Edelman (25.43)
Tight End (PPR)
Jacob Tamme (Score: 43.57) – Here’s what I said about Tamme on Wednesday. “Tamme has been hit or miss this season. And by that I mean he has had two good games and five not so good games. This past week he caught 10 of 12 targets for 103 yards and a touchdown. Great game, belongs on the waiver wire“. I stand by that assessment.
Honorable Mention: Rob Gronkowski (36.55), Gary Barnidge (34.98) and Benjamin Watson (34.95)
Tight End
Jacob Tamme (Score: 31.81) – See above
Rob Gronkowski (Score: 30.67) – I can’t remember a game in which Gronkowski disappointed his owners. Unless, of course, you are expecting multiple touchdowns every week. Last week he had 6 receptions for 113 yards and a touchdown. On the season he is averaging 5.7 catches, 92.3 yards and 1 touchdown per game. That results in just under 21 fantasy points per game. Now I Know A Little and one thing I do know is that Gronk is a worthy first rounder.
With the regular season about halfway through I instructed The Stats Machine to calculate year-to-date rankings. Here are the results.
Year-To-Date Rankings
Quarterback
Tom Brady (82.16)
Drew Brees (72.23)
Philip Rivers (67.56)
Andrew Luck (66.54)
Aaron Rodgers (65.99)
Andy Dalton (65.95)
Blake Bortles (63.69)
Josh McCown (63.03)
Eli Manning (63)
Carson Palmer (62.35)
Running Back (PPR)
Devonta Freeman (34.55)
Matt Forte (30.63)
Le’Veon Bell (30.29)
Jamaal Charles (30.17)
Mark Ingram (28.41)
Dion Lewis (28.04)
Todd Gurley (26.70)
Chris Ivory (25.11)
DeMarco Murray (24.69)
Justin Forsett (24.60)
Running Back
Devonta Freeman (29.82)
Jamaal Charles (25.54)
Le’Veon Bell (25.39)
Matt Forte (25.27)
Todd Gurley (25.17)
Chris Ivory (23.91)
Mark Ingram (23.61)
Doug Martin (22.02)
Adrian Peterson (21.24)
Lamar Miller (20.1)
Wide Receiver (PPR)
Julio Jones (33.54)
DeAndre Hopkins (33.05)
Julian Edelman (30.99)
Odell Beckham Jr. (29.72)
Keenan Allen (28.12)
Larry Fitzgerald (27.34)
Steve Smith Sr. (26.74)
A.J. Green (26.12)
Stefon Diggs (26.09)
Martavis Bryant (25.99)
Calvin Johnson (25.57)
Brandon Marshall (25.42)
Allen Robinson (24.98)
Jarvis Landry (24.79)
Antonio Brown (24.50)
Amari Cooper (24.08)
Jeremy Maclin (24.06)
Randall Cobb (23.49)
Demaryius Thomas (23.33)
T.Y. Hilton (23.09)
Wide Receiver
Julio Jones (19.49)
Odell Beckham Jr. (19.37)
DeAndre Hopkins (19.35)
Martavis Bryant (18.72)
Julian Edelman (18.15)
Larry Fitzgerald (17.16)
Allen Robinson (16.70)
Stefon Diggs (16.20)
James Jones (16.09)
Tavon Austin (16.04)
A.J. Green (15.98)
Steve Smith Sr. (15.85)
Allen Hurns (15.58)
Keenan Allen (15.55)
Amari Cooper (14.98)
Calvin Johnson (14.89)
Jarvis Landry (14.88)
Brandon Marshall (14.77)
Randall Cobb (14.71)
T.Y. Hilton (14.47)
Tight End (PPR)
Rob Gronkowski (32.45)
Antonio Gates (29.13)
Jordan Reed (27.18)
Gary Barnidge (26.88)
Tyler Eifert (35.37)
Greg Olsen (23.72)
Travis Kelce (21.69)
Martellus Bennett (20.65)
Eric Ebron (19.61)
Ladarius Green (19.52)
Tight End
Rob Gronkowski (25.71)
Gary Barnidge (20.38)
Tyler Eifert (20.05)
Antonio Gates (19.21)
Jordan Reed (17.57)
Greg Olsen (17.41)
Ladarius Green (14.92)
Travis Kelce (14.85)
Eric Ebron (14.51)
Crockett Gillmore (14.09)
End of transmission…
