Well, not all of us got fake football chocolate cake, but week 8 was a good one for this old fake footballer. Unfortunately it’s time to say goodnight once again to the super charged football day and start preparing for next week by taking a quick look at what happened today. Let’s do that. Ok? ok.
Steven Jackson: The Predator preyed on the Saints defense and set the tone for an amazing upset. I’ve always been a SJax fan and wished he had been with a better team during the height of his abilities, but thankfully he’s still doing his thing and we can watch him run people over a couple more years.
Frank Gore: Frank and Steve were on many a be wary list this preseason, including mine. And early on they looked like the poster children for the be wary list, but they both are playing well and Gore has topped 125 yards 4 games in a row! That’s some good fake and real footballin. He just missed 2 touchdowns and as long as the 49ers defense continues to play well and he can stay healthy he’ll be a huge part of the game plan.
LeSean McCoy: McCoy has been a fantasy stud all season, but to put up 185 yards and 2 touchdowns on one of the best run defenses is the league is quite an accomplishment. His 10 total touchdowns was what I figured his ceiling was this season! He’s stepped up his game and if he’s on your team just hope that Andy Reid doesn’t try to get him back for punching him in his over-sized gut.
Chris Johnson: If I could explain this 2011 Chris Johnson I would. Sure, he could be letting up some now that he’s been paid or he could have lost a step because of the long lay off or the offensive line might just be that bad, but whatever it is we can’t fool ourselves anymore. I traded for him in a league and I’m pretty pissed about it, but we’ve got to move on. Right now it’s turned into a “hot hand” backfield between him and Javon Ringer. There needs to be a better name for that. Ringer continues to outplay CJ which isn’t all that difficult so at this point “hot hand” is referring to Ringer, so he’ll be on the waiver wire post of course. Can you drop CJ? In 10 team leagues I’m not going to stop you for the right guy. In 12 teamers I’m going to hold onto him until he rots I guess.
Fred Jackson: It’s easy to overlook him, especially when he’s up hosering around in Toronto, but this dude just does not put up bad games. This was his first game since week 1 without a touchdown, but he still rushed and received over 200 yards. That’s nothing to scoff at even if you are pro-scoff as I am. Be happy you own him.
Brandon Jacobs: After his team won, Jacobs was elated and to prove it screamed at the top of his lungs, “I’ve got nothing positive to say. The most positive thing: I got family at home and I got a fast-ass car being delivered on Tuesday. That’s it.”!!!!! Hmm, now that I look at this again I can’t be for sure how happy he was to win.
Tarvaris Jackson:Â Tarvaris had one of the best games of his career and it came after Charlie Whitehurst had crapped the bed enough that Carroll couldn’t stand the stench and had to send TJax in to clean things up. I think this metaphor needs to come to an abrupt halt. So Jackson threw for a career high 323 yards and from what I saw looked pretty good in doing so. He didn’t get any touchdowns which killed his fantasy day, but he also didn’t get to play the whole game.
Antonio Brown: He had a crazy 15 targets and 9 receptions and is easily Rothlisberger’s go to guy. I think he doesn’t mind getting Brown killed so he can keep Wallace alive for the big plays. At least that’s my twisted logic. Of course the Patriots pass defense is nothing to write home about, or even talk about in polite company, but you can’t get past Brown’s targets and the pass first attitude by the Steelers. Make sure he is owned in your leagues, preferably by you.
Tim Tebow: Blurgh. That was painful to watch. His rushing ability still keeps him near the top 12 fantasy QBs each week, but that performance was just bad on so many levels. There were layers and layers on top of layers horridness. It was like a great work of art that each time you return to it you can get something new out of it, but in this case it is new depths of terrible.
Hakeem Nicks: He left the game with some hammy troubles and will get an MRI to see what is is going on there. It doesn’t sound like a multi-week injury, but with hamstrings you never really know. This would really help Manninham and Cruz and a little bit of Ballard. And would make Nicks owners sad.
Your all surprise week 8 fantasy team:
QB: Curtis Painter: There really wasn’t a good option here since all the leaders in fantasy points were actually supposed to be the leaders, weird. Painter had zero touchdowns and 2 interceptions, but still managed a decent day because he ran 7 times for 79 yards. Which of course blew away his opponent Chris Johnson’s numbers.
RB: Beanie Wells: It looked like he wouldn’t play and then it looked like he would see limited action and then he gets 22 carries for 83 yards and a touchdown. Jerk.
RB: Reggie Bush: He has only run for 100 yards in a game 3 other times and not since 2008, so him getting 100 yards on the ground is similar to seeing the Chupacabra.
WR: Laurent Robinson: He has really stepped up as the #3 WR in Dallas and with Romo avoiding Dez and Miles like the plague against the Eagles Robinson was the target whore and ended up topping 100 yards and a TD. Usually games won’t go this way, but keep Robinson on the radar.
WR: Nate Washington: His 2 touchdowns saved his game and many fake footballers, but I actually left this one feeling worse about him. Damian Williams looked quicker and was able to separate easier so I think this is a good time to sell Nate.
TE: Brent Celek: Your TE leaders so far are Scott Chandler, Brent Celek, Greg Olsen and Tony Scheffler. Go figure. Celek had the most targets out of those dudes with 9 and is gaining some trust with Vick. He’s worth a look.
K: Pfft.
D/ST: Detroit Lions: They have been solid all year, but their huge game was an indictment of Timothy Tebow. Oakland may be a good start next week.
