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.

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.