Fantasy Sports Review

Well here you are only a few weeks away from the title. Making the right call is more critical now then at any other point in the season.

But don’t sweat it my friend. Just keep doing what you’ve been doing to get here and you’ll be alright. Here are this weeks picks.

Start’em if you got’em
Willis McGahee RB (BAL) - Miami is absolutely awful against the run. They also seem to be getting worse and worse as the season goes on. The are allowing over 155 yards per game which is dead last in the league. McGahee hasn’t been burning it up as consistently as he should this year but look for a solid 125+ with at least 1 touchdown.

Final stats: 104 and zero touchdowns.
Final thoughts: Disappointing performance for the Ravens but lets give Miami their props. About freakin time.

Earnest Graham RB (TB) - Simple math in this one. The Buc’s are averaging 116 per game while Atlanta is 27th in the league and allowing 123 yards per game. Not only that but in week eleven Graham had 102 and a touchdown against the Falcons. With all the crap surrounding the Falcons, it won’t take long to get them disinterested. Graham and the Bucs get up early and run out the clock. Look for 150 and 2 touchdown out of Graham.

Final stats: 22 for 79 and a touchdown running and 5 for 40 receiving.
Final thoughts: Who needs offense when your defense and special teams are scoring. Bennett (9 for 63) and Pittman (13 for 50) also put a dent in Grahams numbers.

Sit’em if you’ve got em
Kolby Smith RB (KC) - Kolby started strong in his first start but has been sliding ever since. Only 12 yards on 13 carries last week against a below average run defense. Add to that the fact that he is now questionable with a sore knee. I bet he plays but isn’t very effective against the Titans who have been slipping but are still top ten against the run. No need to risks your title hopes on this guy when he will be lucky to get 50 yards and even luckier to sniff the endzone.

Final stats: 18 for 82 rushing, 3 for 23 receiving and 0 touchdowns.
Final thoughts: Oh that inconsistent Tennessee defense.

Any Jets Player - I don’t know how you could confidently go into this week starting any Jets player against the Patriots. They are up a against coach and a team that not only want to destroy them but have the ability to do so. Think about it, how do you feel when someone calls you a cheater? I would be pissed and very, very focused. Oh and did I mention they are playing in Foxboro? I can’t envision any Jets player getting more than 6 or 7 fantasy points.

Final stats: the closest players to anything resembling fantasy production were Chris Baker TE with 8 catches for 66 and the defense actually scored AND held the Pats to 20.
Final thoughts: The Jets gave it the old boyscout try but couldn’t get it done.

Sleepers: don’t be surprised if…
…Darius Walker RB (HOU) has a solid game versus Denver’s 29th rank rush defense Thursday night in prime time. If you have a bad match-up at RB3 or are in need of a flex player, this is your man. I like his chances on the ground and through the air. Look for 75 yards rushing, 5 for 50 receiving and a touchdown in there somewhere.

Final stats: 66 yards and missed a touchdown by about an inch. 1 catch for 2 yards.
Final thoughts: What the hell? I thought Dayne wasn’t going to play because of a bad ankle. Vulturing 11 carries and a TD. Now I know not to trust Kubiak. Gary Kubiak = Mike Shanahan.

…Clinton Portis RB (WAS) has a tough game against the Giants. His stats have been declining pretty steadily over the last half of the season; down from 5.4 yards per carry all the way down to 3.4, 2.1 and 2.0 over the last three weeks. Also, the Giant were able to contain him in week three. He had 60 yards and a touchdown that came on a very short field after a Giants fumble. I can’t see him doing much better this week; 65 yards and a touchdown vultured by Mike Sellers or Ladell Betts.

Final stats: 126 and a TD (and for the record, a touchdown for Betts).
Final thoughts: The Giants defense let me down.

Oh yeah! I also wanted to tell you to check out RotoHog.com. I figured you might want to use your fantasy skills to win a little more before the season is over.

I have been playing over there all year and I love it. You will too. It is not too late to sign up, pick a great team for this week and win some of the great prizes (like 30 gig iPods). Best of all you get to see how fun it is to play so when next year starts you can hit the ground running and go for the big prize (this year it is $100,000…I’m 69 overall). See if you can outscore me this week. Sign up for RotoHog now!

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.

Before we talk a little start’em sit’em I want to wish you a happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy the food, the football and everything else you are thankful for.

This week, along with some added content, I am putting down a few names in places that may surprise you. Check them out:

Start’em if you got’em
Vince Young QB (TEN) - I think Vince is going to continue is hot streak against Cinci this week. Over the past two weeks he has thrown for 257 and 305 yards against much stronger defenses than the Bengals 30th ranked unit. He also has been racking up yards on the ground; 52 against Jacksonville and 74 plus a touchdown against Denver. He will deal with the sore quad to put up over 275 yards and 2 td’s passing and 50 yards and a td rushing.

Final stats: 246 passing, 0 touchdowns and 6 yards rushing, 0 touchdowns.
Final thoughts: He killed me in three leagues. Five trips to the redzone and only 6 points. How do you not get any touchdowns against a bad defense?

Chris Henry WR (CIN) - All he has done since returning from his suspension is put up numbers. In two weeks he has 12 catches for 180 and a TD. Also, this week he may be the number two if Housh isn’t able to go. All that and the Titans defense has been slipping the past few weeks since Haynesworth went down. I can easily see another 7 catches for 100+ and a touchdown.

Final stats: 3 catches for 41 yards.
Final thoughts: Housh played and pretty much everything else went to Chad Johnson who was able to break out a long drought.

Sit’em if you’ve got em
Daunte Culpepper QB (OAK) - If you are one of those people who is all jacked up on Daunte because he posted 300 yards on the Vikes, don’t be. This week he will have a much more difficult time against the Kansas City defense who has only allowed nine touchdowns through the air. The last time he played them he was only good for 228 and a touchdown. Jared Allen will be in his mug all day which will keep him under 228 yards again, prevent him from scoring any touchdowns and cause him to turn the ball over at least twice.

Final stats: 170 yards passing and 0 touchdowns. Oh and no turnovers.
Final thoughts: Pretty efficient performance. This game was all about the running game on both sides of the ball.

Frank Gore RB (SF) - My how the mighty have fallen. He has to be one of the biggest bust of this year and it is time to start sitting him down before he does anymore damage. This week he takes on an Arizona defense that held him to 55 yards and a touchdown in their first meeting. The touchdown Frank scored was kind of fluky since it was the result of a turnover by the Cards in San Fran territory. He won’t be that lucky this time with the improved Cards defense playing tough at home. I’ll be generous and give him 50 yards and 0 touchdowns.

Final stats: 116 yards rushing, 2 touchdowns and 11 catches for 98 yards.
Final thoughts: Wow, the guy stunk ALL YEAR and bam. I’ve been debating for a few weeks whether or not to put him on the sit’em list. Sure enough, the second I do, he goes off. Also, his first touchdown was scored off of a Cardinal turnover deep in Niners territory, just like the first game.

**Bonus Thought** Donovan McNabb QB (PHI) - If he plays you might want to put him down anyway against the Patriots. I have a feeling that he will be getting sacked a lot which will make him more likely to leave the game anyway. Less than 150 yards and no touchdowns.

Final stats: Did not play.
Final thoughts: We’ll never know if he could’ve hung with the Pats.

Sleepers: don’t be surprised if…
…Peyton Manning QB (IND) has another less than Peyton performance against Atlanta. He has been struggling as of late in part because his line and receiving corp are banged up. Add to that the fact that it is a road game on a short week and the Colts will be looking to gut it out with the run game. I know it hurts but if you have the balls to do it, and you have a decent alternative, you should put him down. Less then 200 yards and maybe 1 touchdown.

Final stats: 272 yards, 3 touchdowns and a interception.
Final thoughts: My prediction was looking pretty good… for about a quarter and a half.

…Kolby Smith RB (KC) is able to produce a solid game against the arch rival Raiders this week. Not to take anything away from Chester Taylor and the Vikes but they were able to easily blow huge holes through the Oakland 29th rank rush defense last week. The Chiefs aren’t on the same level but they should have some success too. If you want to roll the dice, this is as safe a bet as any if you need a mid to low end RB2 or RB3. Put him down to get 80 yards and a touchdown.

Final stats: 150 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Final thoughts: Great game out of the rookie. Too bad they lost.

…the Jets play the Cowboys tough. This isn’t really fantasy but what the hell. I watched the replay of Jets game against Pittsburgh last week and they played well. It looks like they may have worked on some things during the bye week. If Jones can run the ball like he did last week and the defense can put pressure on the QB like they did last week, Dallas needs to look out. While watching, keep an eye on Chris Baker the tight end, he was getting lots of looks from Clemens last week and good do well down the stretch with a few soft defenses on the schedule. The Jets will keep it close, I say 27-21 Cowboys.

Final score: 34-3 Dallas
Final thoughts: Boy I was sure close wasn’t I? Like I said, if they can run the ball and put pressure on Romo they can keep it close. They couldn’t run the ball - probably because Clemens doesn’t scare anyone - and the defense started breaking down little by little as they wore down. I was drunk on Jets karma after watching their game against the Steelers. I will watch myself in the future replay and just try to stick to fantasy picks from now on.

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.

Here are some waiver wire and sleeper picks for you to check out. There are a ton of guys on my list because I play in some deeper leagues. I need to look a little deeper than most.

I hope you guys grabbed a`few of the suggestions for the last few weeks. D.J. Hackett, Donald Lee, Chris Henry and Chester Taylor all had great games. Lets see what we can find this week.

May be available now…
**UPDATE** Nate Washington WR (PIT) - Santonio Holmes will miss some action this week and Washington could be a decent starter this Monday against Miami.

**UPDATE** Kolby Smith RB (KC) - Priest is calling it a career and LJ is still out. Best of all the Raider bad rush d is in town. Thanks for the heads up Joe.

**UPDATE** Vince Young QB (TEN) - Is it possible that he is laying around on your waiver wire? If so it may not be a bad idea to pick him up. He showed Monday night that he is beginning to step up his game with 300 yards and a TD passing and 74 yards and a TD rushing. If his receivers didn’t have all those drops, his night could’ve been even better. His schedule is solid too. His next three games are against weak passing defenses; Cincinnati, Houston and San Diego.

**UPDATE** Ahmad Bradshaw/Reuben Droughns RB (NYG) - Brandon Jacobs has a bad hammy and Derrick Ward has been battling injuries for a few weeks now. If they can’t go next week then Ahmad and Reuben are the next in line to take on the Vikes.

Santana Moss WR (WAS) - I put him on here because I saw him in free agent pool last week in a few leagues. Take a look at yours and see if he is there. He had a solid game with 9 for 121 and a touchdown against Dallas. Campbell seems to be coming into his own the last few weeks so if Moss can stay healthy he should be solid down the stretch. (more…)