Fantasy Sports Review

If you are reading this post you are either getting ready for the first round of your fantasy football playoffs, are looking for that one players to help put you in the playoffs or you are in a no playoff league. Either way, congrats because you are still in it!

The good thing about fantasy football sleepers and waiver wire pick-up this time of year is that there isn’t much competition for them. You, my friend, get the pick of the litter because half your league either isn’t looking for anyone because they are out of it or some of the other teams in the playoffs may be satisfied to just roll with what they have. You shouldn’t be.

Look this list over and make sure you aren’t missing an upcoming match up that could give you an edge

May be available now…
Ladell Betts RB (WAS) - Portis injured his ankle against the Bills late in the game and didn’t return. The Redskins have a short week and play the Bears at home Thursday night. Not much time for Portis to recover. Betts would be a great start against a Bears defense that gives up a lot on the ground this year.

Chris Brown RB (TEN) - LenDale White suffered a shoulder injury and Brown finished the game with 46 yards and a TD. If White misses this week Brown should be a solid starting at home against a so-so Charger rush defense.

Fred Jackson RB (BUF) - He showed that he could carry the load if Lynch or Thomas miss any more time. If he gets another start next week he will be a great start against Miami.

Bryant Johnson WR (ARI) - Fitzgerald missed Sundays game and now Boldin looks like he is injured as well. Bryant is very good in relief and easily a solid number two or three receiver on any fantasy team if either of Fitz or Boldin are out. Versus Cleveland he had 6 for 56 and a TD. He should’ve had another TD but dropped it.

Amani Toomer WR (NYG) - With the injuries mounting, Burress seems to get less and less effective with each passing week. Toomer is getting more and more looks from Manning. Against the Bears he had 6 for 69 and a TD.

Roddy White WR (ATL) - Not sure if he would be available but if he is he could be worth a shot this week against the Saints. He has been surprisingly consistent this year despite the rotating QB’s. He went 10 for 146 and a TD versus the Rams. He play a bad Saints passing defense next Monday at home.

Justin Gage WR (TEN) - He posted 5 for 64 and a TD. Four solid weeks in a row means he could be considered for a WR3 spot this week against San Diego.

Dallas defense - Not only are they playing better and better each week but They get to play Detroit this week. I’m not sure they are going to be available this late but just in case.

Trent Edwards QB (BUF) - He could be worth a start in deeper leagues. He had 257 against the Skins. Next up, Miami.

Keep an eye on…
Luke McCown QB (TB) - Word on Garcia is all over the place. Reports on his injury vary greatly. If it is serious and he misses more time, McCown would a decent option in deeper leagues. He had a solid game against the Saints throwing for 313 and 2 TD. Tampa next three games are against Houston, Atlanta and San Fran. Very good match-ups!

Gus Freotte QB (STL) - Likes to throw interceptions but he does have some great players to get the ball to. He went for 311 yards and 2 TD’s against Atlanta. If Bulger can’t go again this week, he gets another start this week he will play against a soft Bengals defense.

Chris Redman/Byron Leftwich/Joey Harrington QB (ATL) - Deep league special. Who know who will play this week but whoever does should be able to have success against the Saints on Monday night (just ask Luke McCown).

Sage Rosenfels QB (HOU) - Schaub went down and he did alright. Keep an eye on the situation. He doesn’t have the greatest match-up this week in Tampa Bay but he does have a few good receivers to throw to.

Aaron Rodgers QB (GB) - It looks like Favre will start this week but at least keep an eye on the situation because you never know. Rodgers isn’t Favre but it is a pretty goo offense to be at the head of.

Notable performances…
Leon Washington RB (NYJ) - 10 carries for 68 yards, 2 TD’s and 2 catches for 35 yards.

Roydell Williams WR (TEN) - Decent performance against Houston with 5 for 74 and a TD.

Sidney Rice WR (MIN) - He has three touchdowns in his last four games. Quietly, Sidney and Tavaris are developing a connection in Minnesota.

A few other resources you should check out are Fantasy Football Librarians waiver wire report and the Bruno Boys week 14 waiver wire report.

I can’t believe that we are a week away from Thanksgiving already. Where does the time go?

Hopefully many of you are either in position for your leagues playoffs or are hanging tough. Keep your nose to the grindstone because there are always a few guys that jump onto the fantasy radar screen this time of year. With that said, lets see who I can dig up for you this week.

Start’em if you got’em
Willis McGahee RB (BAL) - He had 104 yards the last time he played Cleveland and I haven’t seen anything out of the Browns defense since to make me believe that they can keep him from doing it this time. Also, as shocking as this may sound, with Boller under center and a healthier Mark Clayton, I think the Ravens will be able to keep the defense honest and give Willy some room to run. Look for 125 yards and a touchdown to go with his 4 catches for 45 yards.

Final stats: 102, a TD and 2 for 24 receiving.
Final thoughts: Solid effort.

Minnesota Vikings Defense - This week the Vikings best tackler Antoine Winfield should be back on the field after missing a few weeks with a bad hammy. He will help his team will take out last weeks Lambeau frustration out on former Viking Daunte Culpepper. The only thing the Raiders can do is run and Culpepper hasn’t been very good at passing the rock this year. That my friend plays right into the Vikings hands. Oh and word has it the Jamarcus Russell will get a few snaps this week. That has to be good for at least one pick don’t you think? Overall, this could be the ugliest game of the year which is great for defense. My feelings for the Vikings aside, sounds like 6 points allowed, 4 sacks, 2 Culpepper fumbles, 2 picks and a touchdown to me.

Final stats: 22 points allowed, 4 sacks, 1 Culpepper fumble, 1 pick and 0 touchdowns.
Final thoughts: Five field goals for SeaBass chewed up the points allowed.

Sit’em if you’ve got em
Steve Smith WR (CAR) - I don’t like to put guys on the list two weeks in a row but I had no choice. He is going into Lambeau field to face a brutal Packers defense with either a 44 year old quarterback or a sack dummy throwing him the ball. Not good. Look for the once must-start to catch 3 balls, a cold and rack up a whopping 45 yards. Don’t even think about a touchdown.

Final stats: DNP
Final thoughts: We’ll never know.

Kevin Jones RB (DET) - Word has it that he left the game twice last week with soreness in his surgically repaired foot. And going up against a 9th rank rush defense of the New York Giants I don’t like the looks of this and either should you. Don’t put your playoffs hopes on a surgically repaired foot. Play it smart and find another guy to play this week. I’m not sure he’ll hold up the whole game so I figure in 35 yards, 0 touchdowns and 1 catch for 5 yards.

Final stats: 11 for 25 rushing, 3 for 12 receiving and 0 TD’s.
Final thoughts: Kitna lost that game. He had two chances to drive for the wins and tossed interceptions each time.

Sleepers: don’t be surprised if…
…Kurt Warner QB (CAR) goes off against a Cincinnati defense that 31st overall and has surrendered 20 passing touchdowns this season. I don’t think it is unreasonable to expect 300 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Final stats: 16/22 211 for 2 TD’s and 2 rushes for -2 (Who said he was immobile).
Final thoughts: The Cards getting it done on both sides of the ball.

…Amani Toomer WR (NYG) has a solid day against the Detroit Lions. The Lions are solid at home and I am sure they won’t make things easy for Manning and company. But they are still 3oth against the pass and have allowed seven receivers to go over 90 yards this season. Plax should still get his but we haven’t heard from Amani in a few weeks and he has still been getting solid targets (9, 4, 6 and 7 the last four weeks). This week those targets turn to catches and he pulls down 7 catches for 110 yards and a TD to boot.

Final stats: 4 catches for 39 yards.
Final thoughts: Turned out to be a low scoring affair and Manning spread the ball around. Nine different players caught a ball or more.

Be sure to check out my Fantasy Football Waiver Wire post because you may be able to pick out a sleeper or two on your own.

As always, that is not all my friend. There are a few other stops you should make before finalizing your starting lineup.

First, make sure you stop by and see how the Fantasy Football Librarian can help you. Every week she posts all of the start’em sit’em articles, player ranking posts and waiver wire lists that she can find so that you don’t have to hunt for them yourself. Check her out and tell her the Goat says hi.

Second, you can get more in-depth NFL player projections throughout the week by checking out the Bruno Boys website over on MVN.com.

Third, be on the lookout for the weekly fantasy football start’em sit’em podcast I co-host with Marc Caviglia.