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.
Shirley 1:03 pm on 12/01/2009 Permalink
The Rams D/ST against the Bears? Seriously? Or is it just because you expect Cutler to throw a few picks?
Brandon 1:24 pm on 12/01/2009 Permalink
Hah, yeah I should have put a disclaimer on that one. It’s only to be used if ABSOLUTELY necessary. I do expect Cutler to throw a few picks though, so that should get you 2-4 points from that.
beepdude 8:03 pm on 12/01/2009 Permalink
Which would you start in a wr/rb spot, Hightower against Min or T.O. against NYJ, in a non-PPR league, T.O. has stunk for most of the season but he seems like he is heating up
Shirley 8:21 pm on 12/01/2009 Permalink
I would go with T.O. simply because MIN’s defense is so much better than NYJ’s. I don’t see the Cardinals doing much against the Vikings.
beepdude 9:35 pm on 12/01/2009 Permalink
Thanks, I also have Hakeem Nicks vs DAL, would you consider him to be the better play over T.O.?
Matt 3:33 pm on 12/02/2009 Permalink
I don’t think you can sit T.O. right now. He’s been far more effective now that he’s got a coach who’s doing everything he can to get him the ball.
David 6:30 pm on 12/02/2009 Permalink
Respectfully, if the Jets secondary can reign in Randy Moss, they can do the same to T.O. The Giants are going to have to throw the ball this weekend in Dallas, I’d start Nicks.
David 6:31 pm on 12/02/2009 Permalink
Wow, that should have been rein in, not reign in. Yikes. It might be time to go home for the night!
Brandon 8:24 pm on 12/02/2009 Permalink
Hard to go with Hakeem Nicks over Terrell Owens, even if Darrelle Revis is on the job. Nicks has gotten about 5 points the past four games and doesn’t have the potential that T.O. has at this point. Just keep your fingers crossed!
ken 3:44 am on 12/04/2009 Permalink
Any preferences between Cincy and Denver? Both have sweet matchups. Cincy’s been a little dissapointing lately in terms of point production against weak teams.
Brandon 2:28 pm on 12/04/2009 Permalink
Even though they haven’t quite lived up to the potential, I still like Cincy this weekend, at home, against the Lions. The Bengals are good against the run and should force Detroit to air the ball out, leading to a few interceptions I have to imagine.
Ken 3:45 pm on 12/04/2009 Permalink
yea i was leaning towards them too. but they dissapointed me in points the past two weeks. Just needed the little push. hah. Thanks!