Squish (252)
e-roc (119)
Jeff (53)
Mal (45)
Tommy (45)
Ken (42)
Amir (37)
Tj (29)
Jaguars receiver Mike Sims-Walker has been downgraded to Doubtful for this weekend’s game, so keep a close eye on his status heading into Sunday if you were relying on his services.
Updates from January, 2010
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Brandon
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Matt
Wow, Pittsburgh – what happened? I guess I was a little off about Roethlisberger – which is just frigging great because I started him over McNabb against Brandon.
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Fantasy Outlook: Steelers @ Browns
Matt
It’s tempting to give the Browns a better shot to win this one that they probably deserve. After all, the Steelers are on a four-game slide that includes baffling losses to the Chiefs and Raiders, and they’ll be without two team captains (Troy Polamalu and Hines Ward). When you look at the game from the Browns’ perspective, your season’s effectively over, but at least you can spoil the playoff hopes of your long-time rival. They’ll show up to play (unlike most weeks).
Still, it’s the frigging Browns. My money’s on Pittsburgh.
From a fantasy perspective, Cleveland is generally a statistical bonanza for opposing players. They give up the second-most points to fantasy RBs and the tenth-most to QBs. Tight ends do particularly well against them (6th-most points) while they’re in the top half of the league in terms of defending against wide receivers. Heath Miller is a must-start, especially with Ward on the bench. Ben Roethlisberger is just a step below the elite QBs this week – I’d consider him a top-5 or -6 QB. Santonio Holmes had 104 yards against the Browns in week 6, and with Ward out he’ll likely be targeted more, so he’s an excellent start unless the weather limits the Steelers’ ability to go vertical. Rashard Mendenhall’s ankle should be fine, and given the weather, he’ll get a ton of touches against that awful rush defense. He’s easily a top-10 back this week.
The Steelers, on the other hand, remain a tough fantasy opponent, though less so in recent weeks. They’re second only to the Vikings at stopping the run, so don’t expect much from Jerome Harrison (just hope he doesn’t get hurt – the Browns have KC and OAK coming up on the schedule). I have zero faith in Brady Quinn on a sunny 70-degree day, so I wouldn’t start him in the snow if you held a gun to my head. Same for any of the Browns receivers – if you’re thinking about starting any of them, how the hell did you make your league’s playoffs? Evan Moore could be a sneaky TE play if you’re desperate, given that Quinn will probably be going to his check-down option quite a bit.
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Hits & Misses - Week 14: Win or Go Home!
Brandon
Here are our “Hits” and “Misses” for the upcoming games, listing players you want to make sure are in your lineup, as well as those you might consider shelving for the week (or at least lowering your expectations!) In most leagues out there this is the first week of the playoffs, so you absolutely need to win if you want to continue your journey towards that league championship. Hopefully a few of these hit and miss suggestions will help you make those tough roster decisions and if they don’t, please feel free to leave a comment with your specific situation. Good luck!
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As luck would have it...
Matt
Brandon and I are matched up in the first round of the playoffs in both of our big leagues. Of course this would happen. Sorry BMarshall2, but it’s kill time. Matchup screenshots are after the jump (though we both have some lineup decisions to make… I’ve noted mine). May the best geek win.
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Matt
Mostly out of curiosity, I took it upon myself tonight to put together a table combining two sets of data: Average performance of every NFL quarterback over the past three weeks (to see who’s playing at a high level as we enter the playoffs), along with the strength of schedule info for each QB (from FFToday). You can see it here. I’ll do the same for RB, WR and TE later in the week.
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Week 14 Defenses to Consider
Brandon
Here’s a quick list of teams that are playing the worst offenses in the league this week and could be available in your league in case you were looking for a plug-in. We’ve included the percent owned in parenthesis, as well as highlighted our favorites in green:
- Pittsburgh (99%) @ Cleveland
- Baltimore (98%) vs Detroit
- Green Bay (94%) @ Chicago
- New England (83%) vs Carolina
- New York Jets (78%) @ Tampa Bay
- Tennessee (49%) vs St. Louis
- Buffalo (46%) @ Kansas City
- Washington (12%) @ Oakland
- Oakland (5%) vs Washington
- Kansas City (3%) vs Buffalo
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The Wire - Week 14: Who's Starting Vince Young in the Playoffs?
Brandon
Here are our waiver wire candidates for week fourteen. As usual, you’ll find players who are either [Startable], a [Stopgap] to get you past a BYE or injury, [Worth a look] and spot on your bench, or [One-week-wonder]s who don’t warrant a roster spot, so you make your roster moves accordingly. You’ll also see the percent owned in parenthesis. This week we start off with a few quarterbacks who’s play has improved dramatically over the next few weeks. Early in the season, did you ever imagine starting Alex Smith or Vince Young (or Bruce Gradkowski?) in the playoffs? Me neither.
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Brandon
Unfortunately we didn’t place in any of the categories in the Fantasy Football Librarian’s 1st Annual Reader’s Choice poll.
If you were curious who did win in each area though, take a look at the results. A lot of big websites on there who obviously have a much bigger audience than us at this point, but maybe next year FFGeekBlog.com can crack one (or more) of the lists. Thanks to everyone who voted for us though! -
Ask the Geeks - Week 13: Game-Time Edition
Brandon
Here are the last Ask the Geek questions for week 13. Hopefully everyone can get a win this week and make the playoffs! Remember, if you have any additional questions, feel free to leave them as comments on our posts and we (or some of our great readers) will try to get back to you with advice before game-time. Good luck!
Jim asks…
Who to play this week 13: Moreno or Addai or McCoy? As a note, no points in our league until you get to 75 yards receiving OR rushing and more points the longer the touchdown
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Brandon
After acquiring the receiver accused of assault outside a night club in Cleveland, Jets ownership most likely told Braylon Edwards to “use his head” if he’s to have a future in New York. Apparently Edwards was listening very closely…but he still can’t figure out how using his head will keep him from dropping passes! (cue this sound.)
For those of you with Edwards in your line-up this week, at least he made a nice effort for a touchdown later in the game, so you can’t complain too much.
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Tonight's Game: New York Jets @ Toronto Bills
Matt
Don’t even get me started on the Toronto thing. NFL.com’s Nick Bakay sums up the situation pretty succinctly:
If you have any illusions that this counts as a home game, peep the Jets tilt this Thursday on NFL Network, and count the Bills jerseys in the stands. Last year against Miami, it took CBS three quarters to find one, but there were thousands of Dolphins threads.
So just in case your start/sit decision on a Buffalo player hinges on the fact that this is a “home” game – think again.
Anyway, since many folks have to make roster decisions today, let’s do a quick start-or-sit for tonight’s players: (More …)
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Thursday Night Football: NYJ @ BUF
Brandon
As usual, just wanted to give everyone a heads up to the fact that there is a game tonight, which could potentially mean your roster gets locked (or players get put on waivers) after game-time tonight. In terms of the players in the game that you should care about, you’ll probably want Thomas Jones and Fred Jackson in your line-ups, but besides them there is no one else all that appealing, since Darrelle Revis will most likely be shutting down T.O.
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Hits & Misses - Week 13: Win or Go Home
Brandon
Here are our “Hits” and “Misses” for week thirteen, listing players you want to make sure are in your lineup, as well as those you might consider shelving for the week (or at least lowering your expectations!) With the playoffs right around the corner, you most likely need a win badly this week to clinch that first round BYE (or to even get a playoff spot!) Hopefully our list this week can help you get over the hump and into your league’s tournament, where you will surely bring home the bacon because you frequent such an awesome and knowledgeable fantasy football website! Alright, enough tooting of our own horn, let’s get to the hits and misses for this week and GOOD LUCK!
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Ask the Geeks - Week 13: Ochocinco's a Go?
Brandon
With the first game of week 13 rapidly approaching, here is the first batch of questions. Hopefully our help can clinch a spot in your league’s playoffs…or a first round BYE if that’s an option! Either way, good luck and remember to get in any more of your questions here or leave them as comments on any of our posts and we’ll try to respond as quickly as we can.
Rob asks…
what is the deal with him? has he lost his connection with palmer? i am thinking about leaving him benched regardless of the defense he faces. what do you think of desean jackson’s injury and do you think avant is worth picking up in ppr league?
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Matt
Weeks 9-12 are in the books on the Rookie Report Card.
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Week 13 Defenses to Consider
Brandon
Here’s a quick list of teams that are playing some of the lesser offenses in the league this week and who could be available in your league in case you were looking for a plug-in (with the percent owned in parenthesis):
- Pittsburgh (99%) vs Oakland
- New Orleans (98%) @ Washington
- Cincinnati (95%) vs Detroit
- San Diego (92%) @ Cleveland
- Denver (75%) @ Kansas City
- New York Jets (65%) @ Buffalo
- San Francisco (57%) @ Seattle
- Chicago (56%) vs St. Louis
- Buffalo (34%) vs New York Jets
- Carolina (28%) vs Tampa Bay
- Houston (11%) @ Jacksonville
- St. Louis (1%) @ Chicago
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The Wire - Week 13: The Hunt for the Playoffs
Brandon
Here are our waiver wire candidates for week thirteen. As usual, you’ll find players who are either [Startable], a [Stopgap] to get you past a BYE or injury, [Worth a look] and spot on your bench, or [One-week-wonder]s who don’t warrant a roster spot, so you make your roster moves accordingly. You’ll also see the percent owned in parenthesis. With the playoffs rapidly approaching (only one week of the regular season left in my two main leagues,) many teams out there are probably in a “must win” situation this week. Hopefully some of the players below can get you a much needed victory and give you a chance at that championship trophy (or pride, cash, whatever else you get for winning a fantasy football league.) Anyways, let’s get to the waiver wire picks for this week, starting with a few wide receivers that could help your cause… (More …)
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The Titans are Terrifying
Matt
Let’s just make it official: It’s time to throw out everything bad we ever said about the Titans this year. Earlier in the season, we frequently urged you to start your players against their defense and start your DSTs against their offense. No more. The Titans are the scariest team in football right now.
Vince Young’s previously fragile psyche was slowly nursed back to health by four straight solid performances in weeks 7-11, and yesterday’s 387-yard, 0-turnover performance and 99-Yard Drive Heard ‘Round the World prove he’s in a good place now. And he’s not even the best player on the team: Chris Johnson is easily the most dynamic playmaker in the league. (Anyone care to argue with that statement? I don’t even know how you can make a case for anyone else right now.)
Meanwhile, the defense no longer resembles the banged-up, ineffective unit that started the season: Over the past five weeks, the Tennessee D has been the second-best in fantasy football (using FFToday’s base scoring), and are tied for third in sacks, third in interceptions, 12th in rushing yards allowed, and 16th in passing yards allowed. They’ve only got one really attractive matchup left on the schedule (at home vs. St. Louis in week 14), but they’re still worth picking up if you need DST depth (though it’s obviously not a great idea to start them this week at Indy).
All that said, I won’t be putting in a waiver claim for Vince Young any time soon. That isn’t a knock on him – I’m as impressed as anyone else with what he’s accomplished over the past five weeks – but I think true fantasy relevance is still a couple of years away for Young. He hasn’t had a multi-touchdown game yet this year, has never thrown for more than two TDs in his entire NFL career, and has three games with fewer than 175 yards this season (including a 116-yard performance in week 11). True, he’s capable of making things happen with his legs, but he has only one game this season with more than 30 yards rushing. I’d consider him a borderline QB2 in the week 14 St. Louis game, and that’s about it for this season, unless you’re in a keeper league.
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Brandon
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