Fantasy Sports Review

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.

Did you know that Vinnie Testaverde outperformed Brett Favre, Vince Young and Kurt Warner last Sunday? Crazy isn’t it? Well this week I looked and I looked and I think I found a prediction almost as ludicrous.

But, before I tell you who and why, here’s a little reminder of how I have things set up. I list two players who I think deserve a start and two players that I think should ride the pine. Also, I have another section that will deal with some of the gray area associated with some players.

This section is called Sleepers: Don’t be surprised if. It will deal with players who, regardless of stature, will perform better or worse than expected. Rather than tell you that you should start or sit these players - since I do not know every circumstance surrounding your team in particular - I am just offering up a little food for thought for those of you who have tough decisions to make this weekend. So lets get to it.

Start’em if you got’em

Jeff Garcia QB (TB) - Is it just me or does it seem like everyone that plays Detroit - except my Vikings - get their passing game going? No reason that should stop this Sunday. Jeff has held his own this year against much stiffer competition. Last week he threw for 274 and a TD versus a very solid Titans defense. The week before that he posted two TD’s against Indy. There is no reason the Lions can’t yield 275 and, I’ll go big, 3 TD’s.

Final stats: 37/45 for 316, 2 td’s and 10 rush yards.
Final thoughts: Almost had that 3rd TD but Garcia fumbled on a first down and goal at the one. Tampa dominated the game but found a way to lose it.

Washington D - This defense is playing great right now. They are third in total defense, third in passing defense and seventh against the run. Did I mention 10th in sacks? Now just think of what they could do to a rusty journeyman at home. Look for the Skins to just abuse Tim Rattay and the Arizona Cardinals this week. Perfect bye week defense. Hell, its possible they could be laying around on your waiver wire yet. Mark them down for 13 points allowed, 5 sacks, 3 picks and a TD.

Final stats: 19 points allowed, 1 sack, 2 picks, 2 fumble recoveries and a TD.
Final thoughts: Pretty surprised they only had one sack. Kudos to the Arizona line.

Sit’em if you got’em

Minnesota D - They are my team but I have to call a spade a spade. They are last at stopping the pass and they are playing Dallas, the third best team in the league at slinging it. If you have a better option, use it. Ouch! 28+ points allowed, 1 sack, 1 turnover.

Final stats: 24 points allowed, 2 fumble recoveries and 3 sacks.
Final thoughts: They actually didn’t do to bad containing the Cowboys but the offense couldn’t stay on the field. They had a defensive touchdown called back because of a penalty.

Brian Greise QB (CHI) - Bad news for Brian this week; he’s not playing Minnesota or Detroit. Instead he will be playing on the road against the Eagles who are 10th against the pass and are quietly getting healthier. 150 yards, 1 garbage TD, a fumble and 3 ints.

Final stats: 27/41 for 322 and a TD
Final thoughts: Pretty solid game. Took them on a long game winning drive and didn’t turn the ball over. Downgrade the Eagles pass defense and give Greise props. He gets Detroit next week.

Tom Brady QB (NE) - Last year Miami shutout the Pats and treated Brady like their perty new cellmate. This year… I’m just messing with you to see if you are paying attention (remember that whole opening bit about Vinnie? Kidding there too. I just thought it was worth mentioning). Anyway, for the record, the Pats really did get shutout by them last year. Not sure how that happened. But hey, there is no way in hell that happens this week. While we are on the subject, how about a few Brady stats predictions. I see 500 yards passing, 10 touchdowns and another week on the injury report with that sore arm.

Final stats: 354 and 6 TD’s. Perfect passer rating by the way.
Final thoughts: I was just joking and I wasn’t far off. Wow. Can you say fantasy God!

Sleepers: Don’t be surprised if…

Kevin Jones RB (DET) has a solid day against Tampa Bay. Outside of the fact that Tampa Bay is 21st against the run I don’t have many stats to support my position. I just know that he has been slowly working his way back into the line-up. And now that he has had a full bye weeks worth of work with the first team, I think he is finding his rhythm. Also, I think that the Lions are going to try and run more to keep the defense from teeing off on Kitna (the Lions have allowed 25 sacks this year, most in the NFL). This is almost a complete gut call; I bet he gets 150+ all purpose yards, a touchdown and about 4 receptions.

Final stats: 76 rushing, 34 receiving on 6 catches and a TD.
Final thoughts: Looks like the Lions were actually trying to run in this one. Even Duckett had 4 for 30 yards. Promising day all around for Kevin Jones owners.

Tavaris Jackson QB (MIN) has a solid outing against the Cowboys. Last week if his receivers could have just held on to the ball, he would’ve had much better stats and maybe even another touchdown. This week he will need to hang with the Cowboys who, by the way, are 24th against the pass and bang up to boot. Adrian Peterson gets all of the attention this week and takes the pressure off Tavaris. He goes for 250+, 2+ touchdowns (one to AP of course) and one int.

Final stats: 9 for 16 for 72 yards and 20 yards rushing.
Final thoughts: After shoing promise against the Bears last week he regressed big time. He looked terrible and I don’t think I’ll be picking him for again awhile, if ever.

As always, that is not all my friend. You can get more in-depth NFL player projections throughout the week by checking out 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.

If you think you are good and want to compete for some weekly cash, stop over to Fantasy Sports Live. You can submit a new line-up every week and win real cash playing in 8, 10 and 12 team leagues. Hell, just go head to head with some other fantasy fanatics and win $80 like I have the last two weeks.

Waiver wire picks were a little trickier this week than last but there is some value out there. Here is the Bruno Boys week two waiver wire report.

Also, here are a few more that didn’t make the Bruno Boys list. Depending on your teams needs, here’s a few more that I think you should consider now or at the very least keep an eye on:

Kellen Clemons QB (NYJ) - He didn’t look too bad against the mighty Ravens defense. In fact he almost brought them back to win late before throwing a pick. Pennington could have played in last weeks game but the coach kept him out. I’m sure Mangini was being cautious but with all of the buzz going on about getting Clemons involved, maybe a part of him wanted to see what Clemons could do.

Jeff Garcia QB (TB) - If there is any chance that he is a free agent, grab him now. He looking pretty good after 250+ and two TD’s on Sunday. He also has a pretty favorable schedule throughout the rest of the season if you need him for some spot duty. Next week, he gets the porous Rams defense at home.

Roydell Williams WR (Ten) - Vince Young seems to have picked out a favorite target. He went 4 for 72 with a TD against the Colts and has an upcoming game in prim time against the porous New Orleans defense. Is there any room on your roster?

Roddy White WR (ATL) - He has been Harrington’s favorite target and after playing two very tough defenses thing will start to lighten up.

Joe Jurevicius WR (CLE) - He’s not the only guy on the team but he was the first Anderson looked to early in the redzone during Sundays score-a-thon.

Kevin Jones RB (DET) - If for some reason this guy is laying around on your waiver wire you should consider picking him up. He is expected to play next week against the Eagles. He may not produce right away but could be a pretty valuable guy on the Lions high flying offense down the line.

**Update** Jason Avant WR (PHI) - In two games he has 9 receptions for 109 yards and a TD. Not stellar by any means but McNabb has been looking to him quite a bit in the two games I watched. McNabb has been pretty inconsistent but when he gets it going Avant could as well. If you start three receivers you might want to keep an eye on him.