Week 4 is when strategy comes into play in fantasy football. Injuries are starting to hit star players and bye weeks have arrived. Here's a look at the week 4 rankings:
QB
1. Peyton Manning at Jacksonville
2. Aaron Rodgers vs. Detroit
3. Philip Rivers vs. Arizona
4. Tom Brady at Miami
5. Drew Brees vs. Carolina
6. Matt Ryan vs. San Francisco
7. Michael Vick vs. Washington
8. Carson Palmer at Cleveland
9. Jay Cutler at NY Giants
10. Matt Schaub at Oakland
11. Bruce Gradkowski vs. Houston
12. Donovan McNabb at Philadelphia
13. Eli Manning vs. Chicago
14. Mark Sanchez at Buffalo
15. Chad Henne vs. New England
16. Matt Hasselbeck at St. Louis
17. Kyle Orton at Tennessee
18. Vince Young vs. Denver
19. Joe Flacco at Pittsburgh
20. Sam Bradford vs. Seattle
RB
1. Chris Johnson vs. Denver
2. Arian Foster at Oakland
3. Cedric Benson at Cleveland
4. Maurice Jones-Drew vs. Indianapolis
5. Ryan Mathews vs. Arizona
6. Darren McFadden vs. Houston
7. Michael Turner vs. San Francisco
8. Rashard Mendenhall vs. Baltimore
9. DeAngelo Williams at New Orleans
10. Frank Gore at Atlanta
11. LeSean McCoy vs. Washington
12. Peyton Hillis vs. Cincinnati
13. Ahmad Bradshaw vs. Chicago
14. Ronnie Brown vs. New England
15. Justin Forsett at St. Louis
16. BenJarvus Green-Ellis at Miami
17. LaDainian Tomlinson at Buffalo
18. Joseph Addai at Jacksonville*
19. Matt Forte at NY Giants
20. Shonn Greene at Buffalo
21. Jonathan Stewart at New Orleans
22. Steven Jackson vs. Seattle**
23. Pierre Thomas vs. Carolina***
24. Ray Rice at Pittsburgh
25. Beanie Wells at San Diego
26. John Kuhn vs. Detroit
27. Laurence Maroney at Tennessee
28. Ricky Williams vs. New England
29. Jahvid Best at Green Bay****
30. Clinton Portis at Philadelphia
31. Mike Tolbert vs. Arizona
32. Brandon Jackson vs. Detroit
33. Marshawn Lynch vs. NY Jets
34. Mike Hart at Jacksonville
35. Willis McGahee at Pittsburgh
36. Tim Hightower at San Diego
37. Kenneth Darby vs. Seattle
38. Jason Snelling vs. San Francisco
39. Maurice Morris at Green Bay
40. Ladell Betts vs. Carolina
WR/TE
1. Roddy White vs. San Francisco
2. Reggie Wayne at Jacksonville
3. DeSean Jackson vs. Washington
4. Austin Collie at Jacksonville
5. Randy Moss at Miami
6. Brandon Marshall vs. New England
7. Chad Ochocinco at Cleveland
8. Greg Jennings vs. Detroit
9. Wes Welker at Miami
10. Anquan Boldin at Pittsburgh
11. Jeremy Maclin vs. Washington
12. Antonio Gates vs. Arizona
13. Dallas Clark at Jacksonville
14. Malcom Floyd vs. Arizona
15. Jermichael Finley vs. Detroit
16. Louis Murphy vs. Houston
17. Calvin Johnson at Green Bay
18. Donald Driver vs. Detroit
19. Larry Fitzgerald at San Diego
20. Dustin Keller at Buffalo
21. Tony Gonzalez vs. San Francisco
22. Mark Clayton vs. Seattle
23. Marques Colston vs. Carolina
24. Andre Johnson at Oakland****
25. Hakeem Nicks vs. Chicago
25. Johnny Knox at NY Giants
26. Zach Miller vs. Houston
27. Legedu Naanee vs. San Diego
28. Santana Moss at Philadelphia
29. Steve Smith (NY) vs. Chicago
30. Steve Smith (CAR) at New Orleans
31. Brandon Lloyd at Tennessee
32. Aaron Hernandez at Miami
33. Braylon Edwards at Buffalo
34. Terrell Owens at Cleveland
35. Devery Henderson vs. Carolina
36. Mike Wallace vs. Baltimore
37. Nate Washington vs. Denver
38. Kevin Walter at Oakland
39. Deion Branch at St. Louis
40. Devin Hester at NY Giants
41. Lance Moore vs. Carolina
42. Mike Sims-Walker vs. Indianapolis
43. Jabar Gaffney at Tennessee
44. Lee Evans vs. NY Jets
45. Blair White at Jacksonville
46. Kenny Britt vs. Denver
47. Hines Ward vs. Baltimore
48. Eddie Royal at Tennessee
49. Darrius Heyward-Bey vs. Houston
50. Jacoby Jones at Oakland
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Week 4: Working the Waiver Wire
If you listened to me two weeks ago, then you’re probably pretty happy with the addition of RB Peyton Hillis to your roster. Two weeks ago I also had RB Kenneth Darby listed as a “sneaky pick-up” after Steven Jackson underwent an MRI for his knee. As injuries begin to stack up for teams across the NFL, it’s important to start positioning yourself for a mid season run. Also, teams are entering bye weeks and depth on your fantasy football team gets very important. Here are some players that may help you fill out your roster as the season goes on.
Peyton Hillis – RB Cleveland
This is the last time I’m putting him on this list. Go get him right now if he’s still available. He is the clear-cut starter in Cleveland and looks to be headed for a solid season.
BenJarvus Green-Ellis – RB New England
I will add a warning with this pick-up, Green-Ellis is the hot runner right now in New England, but knowing Bill Belichick, that could change at any moment. But for right now Green-Ellis is the most intriguing of the four RBs for the Patroits (Fred Taylor, Sammy Morris, Danny Woodhead). If you need a RB, Green-Ellis is a good option.
Kenneth Darby – RB St. Louis
Darby stepped in nicely when Steven Jackson went down with a groin injury Sunday. Darby looks to be in line for more carries this week when St. Louis hosts the Seattle Seahawks. Jackson's groin injury isn't serious, but couple that with his on-going knee problems, and that tells me Jackson may miss some time if he can't get healthy. Darby is a good guy to have on your roster just in case.
Ryan Torain - RB Washington
After starting the season on the practice squad, I had a feeling Torain would crack the Redskins 53-man roster at some point this year. However, I didn't expect it to be this soon, and I certainly didn't expect Torian to lead Washington in rushing. With Portis slowing down, Torain is the Skins best young RB. He's worth a solid look.
Marshawn Lynch - RB Buffalo
The reason Lynch lands on this list is because I see him getting traded soon. I'm not sure if the reports are true that the Buffalo Bills are listening to offers, but it makes sense. The Packers would be a great fit for Lynch. If the Packers land Lynch, he instantly becomes a solid starting fantasy football RB. Are you willing to role the dice? I am.
LaGarrette Blount - RB Tampa Bay
You may not recognize his name, but you know who LaGarrette Blount is. He's the guy who was suspended for his entire senior season at Oregon for punching a Boise State player in the face. Before that incident, Blount was thought of as a promising NFL RB. After that incident he went undrafted. Blount is now the goal line RB in Tampa and is expected to be more of a contributor for the Buccaneers. It wouldn't surprise me if Blount started eating away at Cadillac Williams' carries. Keep an eye on Blount.
Louis Murphy - WR Oakland
Like Hillis, this will be the last time Murphy is on this list. Murphy is coming off back-to-back solid games and has had good chemistry with new QB Bruce Gradkowski. Murphy is a great option this week against the Houston Texans and should be on some one's roster before Sunday.
Brandon Lloyd - WR Denver
The pass-happy Denver Broncos have a stable full of nice WRs, and Lloyd may be the least known of the bunch. He's getting recognized now, especially after his 169 yard/1 TD game against Indianapolis in week 3. The Broncos have a good thing going with their offense and Lloyd looks like a solid fantasy football WR going forward.
Lance Moore - WR New Orleans
I'm not as high on Moore as some people, but he's still worth a look. Moore was huge in week 3, catching 6 balls for 149 yards and 2 TDs. The reason I'm not sold on Moore is because he plays on the Saints. You would think that's a good thing considering how often New Orleans throws the ball. But Drew Brees spreads the ball around so well, it's hard to pick which WR is going to have the best game week-to-week. If you're desperate, Moore is a good option, but don't expect him to repeat his week 3 output every week.
Dustin Keller - TE NY Jets
Keller is fast becoming Mark Sanchez's go-to guy. The TE ran wild on Sunday night, catching 6 balls for 98 yards and 2 TDs against the Miami Dolphins. A week earlier against the New England Patriots, Keller grabbed 7 balls for 115 yards and a TD. He's in line for another good showing this week against the Buffalo Bills. Keller should get even more looks once Santonio Holmes comes back for the Jets.
Blair White - WR Indianapolis
Whoever is lining up as the Indianapolis Colts third WR, pick him up. That role has produced some great WRs, and White is now that guy (for the moment). White caught a TD against the NY Giants in week 3 and faces a poor Jacksonville defense in week 4. White is a good pick-up if you need a bye week WR fill-in. But don't expect White to unseat Pierre Garcon or Austin Collie as the team's #2 and #3 WRs.
Peyton Hillis – RB Cleveland
This is the last time I’m putting him on this list. Go get him right now if he’s still available. He is the clear-cut starter in Cleveland and looks to be headed for a solid season.
BenJarvus Green-Ellis – RB New England
I will add a warning with this pick-up, Green-Ellis is the hot runner right now in New England, but knowing Bill Belichick, that could change at any moment. But for right now Green-Ellis is the most intriguing of the four RBs for the Patroits (Fred Taylor, Sammy Morris, Danny Woodhead). If you need a RB, Green-Ellis is a good option.
Kenneth Darby – RB St. Louis
Darby stepped in nicely when Steven Jackson went down with a groin injury Sunday. Darby looks to be in line for more carries this week when St. Louis hosts the Seattle Seahawks. Jackson's groin injury isn't serious, but couple that with his on-going knee problems, and that tells me Jackson may miss some time if he can't get healthy. Darby is a good guy to have on your roster just in case.
Ryan Torain - RB Washington
After starting the season on the practice squad, I had a feeling Torain would crack the Redskins 53-man roster at some point this year. However, I didn't expect it to be this soon, and I certainly didn't expect Torian to lead Washington in rushing. With Portis slowing down, Torain is the Skins best young RB. He's worth a solid look.
Marshawn Lynch - RB Buffalo
The reason Lynch lands on this list is because I see him getting traded soon. I'm not sure if the reports are true that the Buffalo Bills are listening to offers, but it makes sense. The Packers would be a great fit for Lynch. If the Packers land Lynch, he instantly becomes a solid starting fantasy football RB. Are you willing to role the dice? I am.
LaGarrette Blount - RB Tampa Bay
You may not recognize his name, but you know who LaGarrette Blount is. He's the guy who was suspended for his entire senior season at Oregon for punching a Boise State player in the face. Before that incident, Blount was thought of as a promising NFL RB. After that incident he went undrafted. Blount is now the goal line RB in Tampa and is expected to be more of a contributor for the Buccaneers. It wouldn't surprise me if Blount started eating away at Cadillac Williams' carries. Keep an eye on Blount.
Louis Murphy - WR Oakland
Like Hillis, this will be the last time Murphy is on this list. Murphy is coming off back-to-back solid games and has had good chemistry with new QB Bruce Gradkowski. Murphy is a great option this week against the Houston Texans and should be on some one's roster before Sunday.
Brandon Lloyd - WR Denver
The pass-happy Denver Broncos have a stable full of nice WRs, and Lloyd may be the least known of the bunch. He's getting recognized now, especially after his 169 yard/1 TD game against Indianapolis in week 3. The Broncos have a good thing going with their offense and Lloyd looks like a solid fantasy football WR going forward.
Lance Moore - WR New Orleans
I'm not as high on Moore as some people, but he's still worth a look. Moore was huge in week 3, catching 6 balls for 149 yards and 2 TDs. The reason I'm not sold on Moore is because he plays on the Saints. You would think that's a good thing considering how often New Orleans throws the ball. But Drew Brees spreads the ball around so well, it's hard to pick which WR is going to have the best game week-to-week. If you're desperate, Moore is a good option, but don't expect him to repeat his week 3 output every week.
Dustin Keller - TE NY Jets
Keller is fast becoming Mark Sanchez's go-to guy. The TE ran wild on Sunday night, catching 6 balls for 98 yards and 2 TDs against the Miami Dolphins. A week earlier against the New England Patriots, Keller grabbed 7 balls for 115 yards and a TD. He's in line for another good showing this week against the Buffalo Bills. Keller should get even more looks once Santonio Holmes comes back for the Jets.
Blair White - WR Indianapolis
Whoever is lining up as the Indianapolis Colts third WR, pick him up. That role has produced some great WRs, and White is now that guy (for the moment). White caught a TD against the NY Giants in week 3 and faces a poor Jacksonville defense in week 4. White is a good pick-up if you need a bye week WR fill-in. But don't expect White to unseat Pierre Garcon or Austin Collie as the team's #2 and #3 WRs.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Week 3: Good calls, bad calls
I went big this week trying hard to set myself apart from the rest of the fantasy football prognosticators. It turns out I’m still a work in progress. I was right on most of the week three predictions, but my boldest prediction fell short (albeit not by much). Here’s a recap.
Bad Calls:
Justin Forsett – RB Seattle
Forsett was my big pick this week, my would-be defining moment. I suggested that Forsett would have a breakout game against a very good San Diego defense. I had a feeling Seattle would win the game and Forsett would be the reason. It turns out his RB mate Leon Washington was the difference with two kick-off returns for TDs. Forsett did get 20 touches (17 carries/3 catches), tallying 94 yards. It was by far the most touches he’s seen this year. I still believe Forsett will be a valuable fantasy football RB over the next several weeks. He has a favorable schedule ahead (@STL, Bye, @Chicago, Arizona, @Oakland, NY Giants,@Arizona) and is clearly the best RB option for the first place Seahawks.
Forsett was my big pick this week, my would-be defining moment. I suggested that Forsett would have a breakout game against a very good San Diego defense. I had a feeling Seattle would win the game and Forsett would be the reason. It turns out his RB mate Leon Washington was the difference with two kick-off returns for TDs. Forsett did get 20 touches (17 carries/3 catches), tallying 94 yards. It was by far the most touches he’s seen this year. I still believe Forsett will be a valuable fantasy football RB over the next several weeks. He has a favorable schedule ahead (@STL, Bye, @Chicago, Arizona, @Oakland, NY Giants,@Arizona) and is clearly the best RB option for the first place Seahawks.
Beanie Wells – RB Arizona
I thought it would take Wells a couple weeks to be a factor in Arizona’s running game. It turned out he was ready to contribute in week 3. It was revealed earlier in the week that Wells underwent knee surgery. I didn’t think he would play much, let alone lead the team with 14 carries. His 75 yards were a surprise and he looked ready to retake the number one RB role. Once again, I cannot figure out the Arizona RB situation, go figure.
I thought it would take Wells a couple weeks to be a factor in Arizona’s running game. It turned out he was ready to contribute in week 3. It was revealed earlier in the week that Wells underwent knee surgery. I didn’t think he would play much, let alone lead the team with 14 carries. His 75 yards were a surprise and he looked ready to retake the number one RB role. Once again, I cannot figure out the Arizona RB situation, go figure.
Brett Favre – QB Minnesota
I thought this would be the game Brett Favre threw TD #500. It turns out Favre is still one TD short of 500, which means he managed just one TD against Detroit. Favre did connect with Percy Harvin on a nice TD, but that was it. The Vikings enter their bye this week and when they return in two weeks, their schedule is brutal. Games @NY Jets, vs. Dallas, @New England and @Green Bay will put Favre to the test. I would start looking for an alternative starting QB if you have Favre.
I thought this would be the game Brett Favre threw TD #500. It turns out Favre is still one TD short of 500, which means he managed just one TD against Detroit. Favre did connect with Percy Harvin on a nice TD, but that was it. The Vikings enter their bye this week and when they return in two weeks, their schedule is brutal. Games @NY Jets, vs. Dallas, @New England and @Green Bay will put Favre to the test. I would start looking for an alternative starting QB if you have Favre.
Good Calls:
Joe Flacco – QB Baltimore
After two rough games against the NY Jets and Cincinnati Bengals, Flacco had no problem dismantling the Cleveland Browns. Flacco's 262 yards and 3 TDs (all to Anquan Boldin) was his best statistical performance of the year. Feel good about keeping Flacco in your starting line-up (even this week against the Pittsburgh Steelers).
Cincinnati Bengals defense
They could have been better, but 4 turnovers and a sack is still pretty good. Carolina played it safe most of the game with Jimmy Clausen making his pro debut. The Bengals defense is a good start any week, but the next two should be great. The Bengals face Cleveland this week and Tampa Bay the week after.
Kyle Orton – QB Denver
I have liked Orton from the beginning of the season, but what he did Sunday was unreal. The Broncos QB threw for a mind-boggling 476 yards and a TD against the Indianapolis Colts. Orton is a solid fantasy football starter and looks to be a consistent performer each week.
Ryan Torain - RB Washington
I wanted to get on the record with Torain last week, but I had no idea he would lead the Redskins in rushing. His 7 carries for 46 yards was nothing great, but it could signal a change in Washington's backfield. Owners of Clinton Portis should grab Torain now.
Cedric Benson – RB Cincinnati
I expected 100+ yards rushing out of Benson this week, I missed by 19 yards. However, Benson did reward fantasy football owners with two TDs. Look for Benson to be used more heavily as the Bengals try and figure out its passing game.
Brandon Jackson – RB Green Bay
Green Bay's running game is non-existent without Ryan Grant. Jackson proved on Monday night that he is not an every down RB. If Jackson is one of your starting RBs, start looking for an alternative.
Joe Flacco – QB Baltimore
After two rough games against the NY Jets and Cincinnati Bengals, Flacco had no problem dismantling the Cleveland Browns. Flacco's 262 yards and 3 TDs (all to Anquan Boldin) was his best statistical performance of the year. Feel good about keeping Flacco in your starting line-up (even this week against the Pittsburgh Steelers).
Cincinnati Bengals defense
They could have been better, but 4 turnovers and a sack is still pretty good. Carolina played it safe most of the game with Jimmy Clausen making his pro debut. The Bengals defense is a good start any week, but the next two should be great. The Bengals face Cleveland this week and Tampa Bay the week after.
Kyle Orton – QB Denver
I have liked Orton from the beginning of the season, but what he did Sunday was unreal. The Broncos QB threw for a mind-boggling 476 yards and a TD against the Indianapolis Colts. Orton is a solid fantasy football starter and looks to be a consistent performer each week.
Ryan Torain - RB Washington
I wanted to get on the record with Torain last week, but I had no idea he would lead the Redskins in rushing. His 7 carries for 46 yards was nothing great, but it could signal a change in Washington's backfield. Owners of Clinton Portis should grab Torain now.
Cedric Benson – RB Cincinnati
I expected 100+ yards rushing out of Benson this week, I missed by 19 yards. However, Benson did reward fantasy football owners with two TDs. Look for Benson to be used more heavily as the Bengals try and figure out its passing game.
Brandon Jackson – RB Green Bay
Green Bay's running game is non-existent without Ryan Grant. Jackson proved on Monday night that he is not an every down RB. If Jackson is one of your starting RBs, start looking for an alternative.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Put it in Print: Week 3 Predictions
If you're going to say it, why not put it in print. Here is a snapshot of what's going on in my head heading into week 3.
Joe Flacco – QB Baltimore
Flacco has been a fantasy football disappointment in the first two games of the year. Expect a strong performance this week as the Ravens host the Cleveland Browns. Flacco has faced the New York Jets and Cincinnati Bengals to open the season, which is no easy task. The Browns will offer much less resistance in week three. Don’t dump Flacco on your bench quite yet.
Cincinnati Bengals defense
After getting destroyed by the New England Patriots in week one, the Bengals bounced back with a nice win against Baltimore in week two (4 interceptions by the defense). This week, Cincy faces a Carolina team that is looking to find its offense. The Panthers made a switch at QB and will start rookie Jimmy Clausen against the Bengals. I expect Clausen will look good at times, and awful more of the time. If you own the Bengals defense, get ready for a good afternoon in Carolina.
Kyle Orton – QB Denver
If the weather is nice in Denver, look for Orton to have a good performance in week 3. He faces an Indianapolis defense that has struggled to stop the run and could be susceptible to Denver’s play action. Orton has great command of Denver’s offense right now and with the addition of WR Demaryius Thomas to the line-up, the Broncos have a loaded fantasy football roster. Think about it, in most leagues you will find Thomas, Jabar Gaffney, Eddie Royal and Brandon Lloyd on a roster. Add Knowshon Moreno, Laurence Maroney, Correll Buckhalter and Orton to that list and there are eight relevant fantasy football players.
Beanie Wells – RB Arizona
There was some surprising news regarding Wells this week. Wells revealed that he had surgery on his knee to fix a torn meniscus. Wells appears ready to return to the Cardinals line-up soon, but don’t expect him to be a good option for at least a couple of weeks. Head coach Ken Whisenhunt hasn’t yet ruled Wells fit to play and expect the Cards to take it slow in bringing him back. Another factor in keeping Wells out longer is Tim Hightower is running okay right now. Wells will get his chance to reclaim that number one RB role, just not this week. Stay tuned.
Justin Forsett – RB Seattle
I’m probably the only fantasy football prognosticator (Note: I’m not an expert, fantasy football experts don’t exist) picking Forsett to have a good week this week. The Seattle RB faces a stout San Diego defense that ranks 10th against the run (206 yds. allowed in two games/56 yards of that total came on one run from Jamaal Charles). The reason I like Forsett is because of his ability to break long runs, similar to way Charles did in the first game against the Chargers. In Pete Carroll’s new offense, Forsett hasn’t had many opportunities put together a complete game. However, in limited action, Forsett has made the most of his carries. He’s averaging nearly six yards per carry and is the best RB option in Seattle. Carroll will eventually commit to Forsett carrying the load. To Carroll I say, why not start this week at home in front of the 12th man.
James Davis/Ryan Torain
I wanted to get on the record with both of these players now. I’ll start with Davis because he’s in the better situation of the two right now. The second year back finds himself one step closer to the field now that Jerome Harrison is likely out for week 3. Davis was a preseason star who has been buried on the Browns depth chart. Look for him to get some carries this week as a compliment to Peyton Hillis. The problem for Davis this week is he’s facing Baltimore’s defense. However, if Davis finds success against the Raven he may be on the field more this year. As for Torain, I’m taking more of a wait and see approach. Just activated from Washington’s practice squad, Torain brings a spark to the Redskins that Clinton Portis and Keiland Williams can’t provide. I’m not saying Torain is ready to supplant Portis, who’s questionable with a wrist injury in week 3, as the starter. Keep an eye on Torain’s workload as the weeks go on. He may be worth a roster spot, especially if you have Portis.
Brett Favre – QB Minnesota
Two straight losses will make you do crazy things in the NFL. Case in point, Favre lined up as a DB at practice this week. It turns out he did it to learn more about how his WRs run routes. As weird as it sounds, this drill — where Favre didn’t even throw a pass — might be the one that helps Favre connect with his WRs. Favre should be better this week and I expect him to get TD pass #500 this Sunday against the Lions (he has 498 TD passes currently).
Cedric Benson – RB Cincinnati
Like most RBs in the league, Benson wants more carries. The Bengals should be able to feed him the ball often on Sunday against the Panthers. Benson got 23 carries last week against Baltimore’s defense and he gained 76 yards. That’s not a terrible outing against a very good Ravens defense. If Benson gets 23 carries this week, expect 100+ yards and at least a TD. With Jimmy Clausen taking over at QB for the Panthers, look for the Bengals to control this game. That will be good news for fantasy football owners who have Benson.
Brandon Jackson – RB Green Bay
Last week he was the hot pick-up of the week, now Jackson’s role in Green Bay’s offense is a mystery. The Packers came out this week and said Jackson is not a “carry the load” type of back. That tells me the team isn’t satisfied with him as a runner. Jackson will remain the Packers third down RB, but expect his role to diminish and he will lose carries to John Kuhn and Dimitri Nance. It’s bad news for all those fantasy football owners who spent a lot of their free agent budget to nab Jackson off the waiver wire.
Joe Flacco – QB Baltimore
Flacco has been a fantasy football disappointment in the first two games of the year. Expect a strong performance this week as the Ravens host the Cleveland Browns. Flacco has faced the New York Jets and Cincinnati Bengals to open the season, which is no easy task. The Browns will offer much less resistance in week three. Don’t dump Flacco on your bench quite yet.
Cincinnati Bengals defense
After getting destroyed by the New England Patriots in week one, the Bengals bounced back with a nice win against Baltimore in week two (4 interceptions by the defense). This week, Cincy faces a Carolina team that is looking to find its offense. The Panthers made a switch at QB and will start rookie Jimmy Clausen against the Bengals. I expect Clausen will look good at times, and awful more of the time. If you own the Bengals defense, get ready for a good afternoon in Carolina.
Kyle Orton – QB Denver
If the weather is nice in Denver, look for Orton to have a good performance in week 3. He faces an Indianapolis defense that has struggled to stop the run and could be susceptible to Denver’s play action. Orton has great command of Denver’s offense right now and with the addition of WR Demaryius Thomas to the line-up, the Broncos have a loaded fantasy football roster. Think about it, in most leagues you will find Thomas, Jabar Gaffney, Eddie Royal and Brandon Lloyd on a roster. Add Knowshon Moreno, Laurence Maroney, Correll Buckhalter and Orton to that list and there are eight relevant fantasy football players.
Beanie Wells – RB Arizona
There was some surprising news regarding Wells this week. Wells revealed that he had surgery on his knee to fix a torn meniscus. Wells appears ready to return to the Cardinals line-up soon, but don’t expect him to be a good option for at least a couple of weeks. Head coach Ken Whisenhunt hasn’t yet ruled Wells fit to play and expect the Cards to take it slow in bringing him back. Another factor in keeping Wells out longer is Tim Hightower is running okay right now. Wells will get his chance to reclaim that number one RB role, just not this week. Stay tuned.
Justin Forsett – RB Seattle
I’m probably the only fantasy football prognosticator (Note: I’m not an expert, fantasy football experts don’t exist) picking Forsett to have a good week this week. The Seattle RB faces a stout San Diego defense that ranks 10th against the run (206 yds. allowed in two games/56 yards of that total came on one run from Jamaal Charles). The reason I like Forsett is because of his ability to break long runs, similar to way Charles did in the first game against the Chargers. In Pete Carroll’s new offense, Forsett hasn’t had many opportunities put together a complete game. However, in limited action, Forsett has made the most of his carries. He’s averaging nearly six yards per carry and is the best RB option in Seattle. Carroll will eventually commit to Forsett carrying the load. To Carroll I say, why not start this week at home in front of the 12th man.
James Davis/Ryan Torain
I wanted to get on the record with both of these players now. I’ll start with Davis because he’s in the better situation of the two right now. The second year back finds himself one step closer to the field now that Jerome Harrison is likely out for week 3. Davis was a preseason star who has been buried on the Browns depth chart. Look for him to get some carries this week as a compliment to Peyton Hillis. The problem for Davis this week is he’s facing Baltimore’s defense. However, if Davis finds success against the Raven he may be on the field more this year. As for Torain, I’m taking more of a wait and see approach. Just activated from Washington’s practice squad, Torain brings a spark to the Redskins that Clinton Portis and Keiland Williams can’t provide. I’m not saying Torain is ready to supplant Portis, who’s questionable with a wrist injury in week 3, as the starter. Keep an eye on Torain’s workload as the weeks go on. He may be worth a roster spot, especially if you have Portis.
Brett Favre – QB Minnesota
Two straight losses will make you do crazy things in the NFL. Case in point, Favre lined up as a DB at practice this week. It turns out he did it to learn more about how his WRs run routes. As weird as it sounds, this drill — where Favre didn’t even throw a pass — might be the one that helps Favre connect with his WRs. Favre should be better this week and I expect him to get TD pass #500 this Sunday against the Lions (he has 498 TD passes currently).
Cedric Benson – RB Cincinnati
Like most RBs in the league, Benson wants more carries. The Bengals should be able to feed him the ball often on Sunday against the Panthers. Benson got 23 carries last week against Baltimore’s defense and he gained 76 yards. That’s not a terrible outing against a very good Ravens defense. If Benson gets 23 carries this week, expect 100+ yards and at least a TD. With Jimmy Clausen taking over at QB for the Panthers, look for the Bengals to control this game. That will be good news for fantasy football owners who have Benson.
Brandon Jackson – RB Green Bay
Last week he was the hot pick-up of the week, now Jackson’s role in Green Bay’s offense is a mystery. The Packers came out this week and said Jackson is not a “carry the load” type of back. That tells me the team isn’t satisfied with him as a runner. Jackson will remain the Packers third down RB, but expect his role to diminish and he will lose carries to John Kuhn and Dimitri Nance. It’s bad news for all those fantasy football owners who spent a lot of their free agent budget to nab Jackson off the waiver wire.
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