Fantasy Sports Review

There were some pretty surprising performances last week. Antwaan Randle El, Vincent Jackson and D.J. Hackett far exceeded expectations while usual studs like Plaxico Burress and Clinton Portis laid a freakin egg.

As for my sleepers selections last week, Shaun Alexander, Nate Keading and Jeremy Stevens didn’t work out as well as I thought. But, Shaun and Nate each have a legitimate shot at posting some solid numbers this week.

Hopefully you took my advice on Eli Manning, Chris Chambers and the Seattle defense. They all posted solid numbers and advanced another round.

This week we thin the player pool a bit. Once again I have listed the players by position, fantasy football cheat sheet style. Also, along with each of these lists, I am giving you one sleeper pick for a few positions (Yep, some how, some way I am going to find someone who will perform better than expected). Lets start with the QB’s.

Quarterbacks:
Sleeper - I am sticking with Eli Manning again this week.

1. Tom Brady NE
2. Tony Romo Dal
3. Peyton Manning Ind
4. Brett Favre GB
5. Matt Hasselbeck Sea
6. Eli Manning NYG
7. David Gerrard Jac
8. Phillip Rivers SD

Running Backs

1. LaDainian Tomlinson SD
2. Joseph Addai Ind
3. Laurence Maroney NE
4. Marion Barber Dal
5. Brandon Jacobs NYG
6. Ryan Grant GB
7. Fred Taylor Jac
8. Shaun Alexander Sea
9. Julius Jones Dal
10. Maurice Jones-Drew Jac
11. Ahmad Bradshaw NYG
12. Kevin Faulk NE
13. Maurice Morris Sea
14. Kenton Keith Ind
15. Reuben Droughns NYG
16. Heath Evans NE
17. Michael Turner SD
18. Vernand Morency GB
19. Darren Sproles SD
20. Greg Jones Jac
21. Brandon Jackson GB
22. Kyle Eckel NE

Wide Receivers
Sleeper - Listening to the NFL on Sirius today I heard Pat Kirwan talking about how he thinks Bobby Engram could put up some decent numbers working out of the slot this week. He pointed out that Green Bay’s strength in the secondary is on the outside and they are soft in the middle. Sounds like a sleeper to me.

1. Randy Moss NE
2. Reggie Wayne Ind
3. Terrell Owens Dal (game time decision)
4. Plaxico Burress NYG
5. Greg Jennings GB
6. Wes Welker NE
7. Donald Driver GB
8. Bobby Engram, Sea
9. D.J. Hackett
10. Marvin Harrison Ind
11. Chris Chambers SD
12. Deion Branch Sea
13. Patrick Crayton Dal
14. Donte’ Stallworth NE
15. Reggie Williams Jac
16. Vincent Jackson SD
17. Amani Toomer NYG
18. Anthony Gonzalez Ind
19. Jabar Gaffney NE
20. Terry Glenn Dal
21. Vincent Jackson SD
22. Nate Burleson Sea
23. James Jones GB
24. Dennis Northcutt Jac
25. Ruvell Martin GB
26. Ernest Wilford Jac
27. Matt Jones Jac
28. Koren Robinson GB
29. Keenan McCardell Was
30. Sam Hurd Dal
31. Craig Davis SD
32. Sinorice Moss NYG

Tight End
Sleeper - Kevin Boss was used quite a bit in the New England game when the Giants needed to keep pace. Considering the last two games between Dallas and New York I bet the balls will fly and point go up. I’m thinking 4 catches for 30 or so yards and a touchdown.

1. Jason Witten Dal
3. Dallas Clark Ind
4. Ben Watson NE
5. Donald Lee GB
6. Marcedes Lewis Jac
7. Kevin Boss NYG
8. Marcus Pollard Sea
9. Antonio Gates SD (may not play)
10. Bubba Franks GB
11. Brandon Manumaleuna
12. Ben Utecht Ind
13. Will Heller Sea

Kicker
Sleeper - Not really a sleeper but this week I will be starting Vinatieri. The last time these teams played he was horrible. This time around the game is indoors and it is the playoffs; Adams specialty.

1. Stephen Gostkowski NE
2. Nick Folk Dal
3. Adam Vinatieri Ind
4. Josh Brown Sea
5. Lawrence Tynes NYG
6. Mason Crosby GB
7. Nate Kaeding SD
8. Josh Scobee Jac

Defense

1. Indianapolis
2. New England
3. Seattle
4. Green Bay
5. Dallas
6. New York
7. San Diego
8. Jacksonville

As always be sure make a few other stops before you fill out your roster or start your draft. Swing by and check out what the Fantasy Football Librarian has to offer. She scours the web looking for lists like this.

Also, check me out over at the Bruno Boys site over on MVN. Marc Caviglia and myself will be doing a post-season podcast later this week plus I’m sure he and Mike Whooley have a cheat sheet of their own for you to look over.

Good luck and enjoy the games.

Week two is upon us, so lets get right to it. Here are the players you probably won’t see on everyone else’s Start’em Sit’em sheet.

Start’em if you got’em

Mercedes Lewis - Everybody is talking about Broussard but what about the guy who was thrown to twice in the end zone last week. If you need a tight end you could do a lot worse than this guy this week. I’m starting him in two of my leagues. He will get at least fifty and a TD, bank on it.

** Final Stats: 2 receptions, 39 yards.
Final thoughts: He had one other target. Was involved early and forgotten in the second half.

Chris Chambers - I realize that were not talking Eli to Plaxico here but as bad as the Cowboys looked defending the pass last week, is this really that big of a stretch? Miami was able to get the ball down field a few times last week against a pretty decent secondary. I say give him a shot this week.

** Final Stats: 9 receptions, 109 yards.
Final thoughts: Solid outing without a touchdown. The Dallas defense gets four picks but show us once again that they are easy to move the ball on.

Sit’em if you got’em

Eli Manning - He looked great last week but there are to reasons I would be leery of putting him in my line up if he plays this week. First, he has the bad shoulder. You don’t know foresure whether or not he will last the whole game. Second, he has a very tough matchup this week. The Packers were able to shut down the Eagles who by the way are pretty good on offense.

** Final Stats: 16 of 29, 211 yards 1 TD, 1 Interception
Final thoughts: He looked pretty good but he did have some dropped balls. Overall, the Packer defense did bend but didn’t break .

Ron Curry - I am drinking the Ron Curry Kool Aid myself. I think he will have a decent season but after what Champ and the boys did to a Mr. Lee Evans last week (2 catches, 5 yards) I think I will set the cup down for a week.

** Final Stats: 2 receptions, 12 yards. 0 for 1 passing. 2 point conversion.
Final thoughts: As expected, not much of anything. It is good to see he’s being used in other role on offense. Next up, the Cleveland Browns. He’ll be in my lineup again for that one.

For more in depth NFL player projections throughout the week, be sure you stop by the Bruno Boys website over on MVN.com. Also, be on the lookout for the weekly fantasy football start’em sit’em podcast I co-host with Marc Caviglia.