It was a snowstorm powerful enough to deflate the Minneapolis Metrodome. But it could not deflate was the New England Patriots offense. The Patriots set a new season high with 475 yards of total offense, more than enough to carry them to a 36-7 victory over the Chicago Bears and clinch a spot in the playoffs. Combined with a New York Jets loss to the Miami Dolphins, New England now enjoys a two-game lead in the AFC East and is tied for the best record in the NFL at 11-2.

Patriots Score on Six Straight Possessions

The Patriots went three-and-out to open the game, perhaps giving the Bears some hope that they could hang with terrifyingly efficient Patriots offense. But, any hope they might have felt after one defensive stand was killed on the next Patriots possession. Tom Brady could not be fazed by the snow, the wind or the starting field position (their own 15). He calmly marched the team 85 yards, capping off a drive in which he went 6/8 for 68 yards with a 7-yard strike to Rob Gronkowski, putting the Patriots up 7-0 with just under six minutes left in the first quarter. Gronkowski ran straight at the always-crafty and menacing Brian Urlacher, stopped in front of him and turned around. It required perfect timing for Brady to find Gronkowski, made all the more impressive by the gusting snow that sometimes reached whiteout conditions.

The key play on that drive was a 24-yard strike to Wes Welker, who was able to keep his footing enough to drag Bears defenders for almost 9 yards while being tackled, finally going down at the Chicago 10-yard line. Although the Patriots sometimes struggled to tackle on special teams (the Bears managed 28 yards per kickoff return), the Bears were the far weaker tackling defense. Numerous times the Patriots runners barreled straight through the teeth of the Bears defense for extra yardage. Numerous times the wide receivers dragged the corners behind them after making the catch.

After the defense forced a second-straight punt by the Bears offense, Brady went right back at it, this time starting even deeper, at the New England 13-yard line. This time it was the running game that did most of the work. BenJarvus Green-Ellis rushed for 38 of his 87 rushing yards, including a 17-yarder from the Chicago 20-yard line that broke a tackle. Then Danny Woodhead punched it into the end zone from 3 yards out, putting the Patriots up 14-0 in the second. The Patriots running backs combined for 126 total yards and a touchdown.

The Patriots next scored six points on two successful Shayne Graham field goals, then got the ball back one more time before the half. On third-and-9 from the New England 41-yard line, the Bears defense lined up casually, figuring the Patriots would not risk a deep ball through the storm. But that’s exactly what they did, since the Bears defense had played so anemically in the first half that it was hardly a risk at all. Deion Branch made a move on cornerback Charles Tillman at the line, and Tillman let him go by without trying to jam him. Brady then lofted an easy, floating pass to Branch, who then had a clear path to the end zone. Branch beat the pursuing safety and put the Patriots up 33-0 (Graham missed the point-after) at halftime. Branch finished the game with eight catches for 151 yards and a touchdown. Brady finished the game 27/40 for 369 yards and two touchdowns.

The Patriots ended their streak of scoring possessions at six, on a 29-yard field goal to put them up 36-0 with just under 11 minutes left in the third quarter. They didn’t score again, but they didn’t have to.

Turnovers Kill Bears’ Chances

The starkest contrast between the Patriots and the Bears was in turnovers. The Patriots committed none (except one on downs), and Brady has now thrown 268 consecutive passes without an interception. The Bears turned the ball over four times, and it hurt the team every time. First, Devin McCourty stripped wide receiver Johnny Knox after a 1-yard completion to the Chicago 39 in the second quarter. Gary Guyton, playing more this game due to Brandon Spikes’ four-game suspension for performance-enhancing drug violations, grabbed the loose ball and ran it in for the touchdown, putting the Patriots up 21-0. Later in the second, defensive end Eric Moore stripped Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, and Jerod Mayo recovered it at the Chicago 17. This lead to the second field goal, a 25-yarder that put the Patriots up 27-0.

Even when the Patriots were not scoring off Bears turnovers, they were still using them to kill Bears scoring drives and keep Chicago from getting back in the game. After a 61-yard Devin Hester kickoff return set up a 1-yard Chester Taylor touchdown run to cut the Patriots lead to 36-7, the Bears penetrated into Patriots territory again on their next possession, which came with less than three minutes left in the third quarter. But, on second-and-10 from the New England 26, Guyton dropped back into coverage and intercepted Cutler’s pass. The Patriots punted at the end of the ensuing possession, but by the time Chicago got the ball back they had just over nine minutes to score four times. That possession also ended in turnover, this time with Brandon Meriweather picking off Cutler in the end zone, after Cutler had been flushed and tried to throw it away. The Patriots took over, ran enough plays to put the game out of reach (including a beautiful 28-yard floater to Brandon Tate, who caught the ball in a fully extended layout dive), then knelt down three times to end the game.

Trap Evaded

This game had all the makings of a “trap game.” The Patriots were playing on short rest, on the road, in the snow, against a tough opponent, and having just defeated a division rival in a game whose atmosphere and intensity would be impossible to replicate. But the Patriots proved just how good they were, building up an insurmountable first-half lead and never looking back. The Bears managed three sacks and six defensed passes, but the third-ranked defense in the NFL never made a play that actually swung momentum back in their favor. The Patriots controlled the ball almost twice as much as the Bears (39:41 to 20:19), and the defense held Chicago to just 185 total yards, including only 42 on the ground (and half of that was from two Cutler scrambles).

Any still-held belief that Chicago is somehow grittier because it plays in the snow was put to rest by a Patriots team that showed what real teams can do, regardless of the weather. The Patriots continue to chew up and spit out the other “elite” teams in the NFL. Week in and week out, they prove that no matter how good these other teams think they might be, the Patriots are still the team to beat.

© Matt Goisman for Sports of Boston, 2010. | Permalink | No comment
Filed under: Featured, Patriots, Top Story.

Our fourth divisional fantasy preview takes us to the NFC North, a division that features heated rivalries and is filled with top notch fantasy talent.

Last season, the Vikings earned the top spot in this foursome, coming ever-so-close to a Super Bowl appearance, instead losing in overtime of the NFC title game at the hands of the eventual champs, the Saints. The big question around the division focuses on the QB position in Minnesota, with “Flip Flop” Favre still yet to make a decision on whether or not he’ll be wearing purple this fall. If he doesn’t come back, look for Favre’s former team, the Packers to make a strong case at taking aim at the throne, with fantasy stud Aaron Rodgers emerging as an elite NFL quarterback.

Here now, let’s sink our teeth into this four-pack of gritty Midwest squads, highlighting their stars and their value in fantasyland.

Team Profiles

Chicago Bears

The Bears were a bit of a mystery last season, posting a mediocre 7-9 record amidst high expectations from the Windy City faithful. Prior to the season, they brought in QB Jay Cutler, who was supposed to solidify a quarterback position that has been anything but solid in recent years. Instead, Cutler’s tendency to turn the ball, coupled with a very disappointing sophomore season from RB Matt Forte, helped turn Chicago into one of the bigger disappointments of the ’09 season. However, Cutler and the Bears’ offense comes into the 2010 campaign with new coordinator Mike Martz at the helm, which instantly gives Cutler added value as a fantasy starter. He remains at the bottom end of the top 10 guys at the QB position, with Martz likely to air it out as he always has. The turnovers won’t completely go away, but Cutler should have a better year than last year.

Who he’ll throw to, however, remains a mystery. The Chicago receiving corps features a trio of lackluster receivers: Johnny Knox, Devin Aromashodu, and Devin Hester. All three should end up being drafted in your fantasy leagues, but if you’re starting any of them, you’re probably in trouble. One will emerge as Cutler’s go-to guy, but it’s anyone’s guess as to who it may be. My guess: Aromashodu, who has seemed to catch on with Cutler through the off-season. Greg Olsen, the team’s tight end, should also get some fantasy consideration, even after a somewhat off year last season.

Chicago’s ground game will try to get back on track with Matt Forte looking to regain the form he had in his rookie year. To push Forte, the Bears brought in veteran back Chester Taylor, who comes over from division rival Minnesota. Forte will be given every opportunity to keep his starting role, but if he gets off to a slow start, there’s no doubt that Taylor will be there to run the rock.

Detroit Lions

Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford is hoping a sophomore slump isn’t in his near future this upcoming season, but with some of the talent that has been brought in to help Stafford in his development, there’s no doubt Stafford’s big size and big arm has the opportunity to climb the ranks of the fantasy quarterbacks. Heading into this season, most draft boards have Stafford as a low-end #2 QB, but by season’s end, I like him to be a reasonable, low-end fantasy starter.

Stafford’s favorite weapon is the speedy Calvin Johnson, has some better help around him, which will keep teams from focusing solely on the stud WR. Nate Burleson was added to the roster in the off-season, after putting up very solid numbers as a part of Seattle’s weak offense last year. Johnson’s going to be drafted in the first three rounds of your draft, with Burleson acting as a great sleeper option in the middle rounds.

Detroit’s running back tandem will feature rookie Jahvid Best and a rehabilitated Kevin Smith. Best is the “best” option of the two (sorry, had to do it), with the youngster likely to get the “lion’s share” of the carries over Smith (sorry, had to do it again). Smith, who led the team in touches last season, will contribute, but his injury history limits his fantasy value greatly. Best is among the top 25-30 players at his position, and has great potential to climb those rankings.

Green Bay Packers

He hasn’t got the Super Bowl rings that Tom Brady has, or the MVP trophies that Peyton Manning has, but look atop most quarterback rankings heading into this year’s fantasy football season, and you’ll see a new top dog…Aaron Rodgers.

Rodgers, who should at least be one of the top two QBs off the draft board, is surrounded by underrated talent on the offensive side of the ball, with the always dependable Greg Jennings and Donald Driver leading the receiving corps, and tight end Jermichael Finley ready for a breakout season in only his third year in the league. Jennings is a guy you’ll probably need to burn a third or fourth round pick on to get, with Driver likely available in the middle rounds.

Running back Ryan Grant is one of a handful of “feature backs” that still remain around the league, as he will again shoulder a good amount of the workload on the ground, with Brandon Jackson and rookie James Starks vying for the few carries that will be left up for grabs. Grant will be off the board by the end of the second round most likely, with Jackson and Starks having only minimal fantasy value.

The defense in Green Bay is also worth some consideration, as their new 3-4 scheme installed last year takes shape and matures.

Minnesota Vikings

Fantasy owners have to project the Vikings’ players two ways heading into their drafts; one mentality with Brett Favre coming back to run the offense, and the other with the likes of Tarvaris Jackson under center. Needless to say, if Favre decides to come back again, the value of the players around him holds strong. If however, he decides to finally hang it up and stick solely to shooting Wrangler jeans commercials, you’ll see many Vikings start to slip down the rankings. That being said, if “Flip Flop” decides to suit up before your draft day, treat him as a low-end fantasy starter, in the same class as Matt Ryan, Donovan McNabb, or Eli Manning. Otherwise, if he hasn’t made his decision before you go on the clock, draft him at your own risk.

Whoever the starting QB is for the Vikes, they’ll have a talented batch of receivers to take aim at, led by last year’s breakout star Sidney Rice, second-year speedster Percy Harvin, and underrated veteran Bernard Berrian. All three pass catchers should end up being drafted, with Rice and Harvin going in the early-to-mid rounds, and Berrian acting as a depth pick at WR in the later rounds.

The ground game of course, is in great shape again this year with the return of Adrian Peterson. Peterson, who in most pre-draft rankings, sits behind only Tennessee’s Chris Johnson atop the list, is poised for yet another stat-packing season. Behind A.P. on the depth chart is rookie Toby Gerhart, who really only has good fantasy value as a handcuff pick for teams who draft Peterson, as he’ll likely only see minimal action unless an injury sidelines the All Pro starter.

Minny’s defense is also worth looking at early, ranked among the top 5-10 units in the NFL, and with a rather easy schedule in the second half of the season, loading up on Vikes could bring your fantasy squad the momentum it needs to propel you into the playoffs.

Top 5 NFC North Studs (Players Worth Early Picks)

• Adrian Peterson, RB Minnesota
• Aaron Rodgers, QB Green Bay
• Ryan Grant, RB Green Bay
• Calvin Johnson, WR Detroit
• Greg Jennings, WR Green Bay

Top 5 NFC North Duds (Players I Think Will Flop)

• Chester Taylor, RB Chicago
• Kevin Smith, RB Detroit
• Greg Olsen, TE Chicago
• Tarvaris Jackson, QB Minnesota
• Jay Cutler, QB Chicago

Top 5 NFC North Sleepers (Players Whose Value Will Increase)

• Nate Burleson, WR Detroit
• Jermichael Finley, TE Green Bay
• Bernard Berrian, WR Minnesota
• Matt Forte, RB Chicago
• Matthew Stafford, QB Detroit

© Brian Kintz for Sports of Boston, 2010. | Permalink | No comment
Filed under: Fantasy, Featured.

This has been some NFL offseason. Well, not quite for Patriots fans. I mean, solving the Vince Wilfork issue was a big accomplishment, as they got their man in the middle, but now need to look for some complementary pieces. They might have missed out on some big name players, but there are more fish in the sea. Still, other teams have made out like bandits, while others have struggled to keep their franchises afloat. Here are some of the top stories from the short, but productive NFL offseason.

These Bears Mean Business:

It was the first day teams were allowed to sign free agents and one team went out if its way to sign valuable free agents. But it was the Bears…a team that is notoriously cheap? They went to the Super Bowl and then dropped their top running back in Thomas Jones. So, when then opened up their wallets, it was a surprise.

Still, they walked away with the top player available in defensive end Julius Peppers. He will now give the Bears a solid pass rusher and someone who, combined with a healthy Brian Urlacher, could give the Bears the best defense in the NFC North.

Then, the Bears topped it off by signing running back Chester Taylor and tight end Brandon Manumaleuna. Taylor will team with Matt Forte to give the Bears a balanced running game and Manumaleuna will be a much needed weapon for Jay Cutler.

Browns vs. QB’s:

When Mike Holmgren was brought in as President for the Cleveland Browns, change was going to take place. There was questions if Eric Mangini would remain with the team, but he is still there. However, someone had to be blamed for the Browns 5-11 record last year. It became clear who was taking the fall.

Cleveland traded for Seneca Wallace, as the former Seahawk was part of the Holmgren system. It was similar to when Holmgren went to Seattle and took some Green Bay backup quarterback named Matt Hasselback with him. The, Cleveland did something amazing. They cut Derek Anderson and traded hometown hero Brady Quinn, leaving Wallace as the only quarterback on the roster.

However, when Jake Delhomme was released by the Panthers, he vowed revenge against his former team. So, he found his way to Cleveland, where he would most likely be the teams opening day starter. Should he remain the teams go-to guy, he will have his chance at revenge this upcoming season. The Browns are rebuilding, but for now they might have found their quarterbacks for both the first and second string.

Tomlinson’s Journey:

Future Hall of Famers just get no respect. LaDainian Tomlinson was one of the most dominant running backs in the history of the game. He passed the likes of Jim Brown on the all time rushing list this year. Still, now he will have to finish he career like Emmitt Smith did, with another team. It has been a whirlwind offseason for Tomlinson, but now he needs to move on.

On Feb. 22, The Chargers released their nine-year veteran after they put nearly 12,500 yards on him. It must be hard to leave a place where the weather is always perfect, but Tomlinson still believes he has stuff to offer other teams. He was being recruited by top quarterbacks. Drew Brees publicly stated his desire, while Brett Favre apparently was sending some text messages. (If that’s true, then can we put the Brett Favre is coming back rumors to rest. He’s coming back.) However, who would turn down the opportunity to join a team on the rise in the largest TV market in the country. That’s why Tomlinson will join the Jets in New York next season, making his first appearance on the first Monday night game in the new Meadowlands Stadium.

The Best Offense in Cincinnati:

Last season, The Bengals surprised many by winning the AFC North. They started with season with a strong offense, but it faltered by the end of the season. Then during the playoffs, they could only muster up 14 points against the Jets while their star receiver Chad Ochocinco was completely shut down. This was mainly due to the fact that he did not have a receiver to take the pressure off. Say what you want about Laveranues Coles, but he was hit or miss. They re-signed the defensive players they needed to, so now they needed to turn to the other side of the ball.

They have been flirting with Terrell Owens. Sure Owens had a down season in Buffalo, but come on, that was Buffalo. They are currently a step below the Raiders. So, do not be surprised if you find two great receivers playing together in Cincinnati to form the ever entertaining “T-O-chocinco”. However, the Bengals have already a former 1,000 yard receiver who makes big plays all the time. Antonio Bryant was well under the radar as a member of the Buccaneers last season. Now he joins Chad and a stellar quarterback Carson Palmer and could possibly be part of the trifecta with Owens. Along with Cendric Benson, would that be the best offense in football? There would be a chance.

The Ravens The Team to Beat?:

Baltimore made only one real move this offseason, but it should prove to be a great one. After a surprising trip to the AFC Championship in 2009, the Ravens followed it up by starting the season 3-0 with the best offense. Then after a loss of the Patriots, they began to struggle. They lost their next three games and throughout the rest of the season were either as explosive as can be, or couldn’t put up the points. The were missing one piece and they might have received it.

They needed a wide receiver, but not just any one would do. They needed a dominant one and they got it. Anquan Boldin will now move from under the shadow of Larry Fitzgerald and become the man in Baltimore. Veteran Derrick Mason will be able to take the load off his shoulders and put it on Boldin. Also, the signing of Donte Stallworth will give Joe Flacco more targets and could make the Ravens the team to beat next season.

Parting Thoughts:

Do not think the small moves don’t matter. Nate Burelson and Kyle Vanden Bosch will immediately help the Detroit Lions. However, losing Karlos Dansby, Antrel Rolle and Kurt Warner could spell doom for the Cardinals. For New England, they now have holes they need to fill because of their players signing elsewhere (tight ends especially, though the team reportedly signed Alge Crumpler). Still, there are plenty of months ahead of them to find their own diamonds in the rough.

© Teddy for Sports of Boston, 2010. | Permalink | No comment
Filed under: Featured, Opinion, Patriots.

There were many fans that were hoping the Patriots would land the coveted Julius Peppers in free agency. However, it was not meant to be. ESPN is reporting that Peppers just inked a six-year deal with the Bears for apparently $12 million per year, and he could get $40 million within the first three years. Peppers was expected to get a big contract, and the Bears went above and beyond to ensure Peppers would be in Chicago next season.

So what does that mean for New England? Believe it or not, this could be a lucky break for the Patriots. There were reports that New England and Philadelphia offered Peppers a similar contract, but not quite as much as ‘Da Bears.’ If New England wanted, they could have upped their offer, but it would have limited their ability to make a push at other free agents.

Sure, having Peppers would have given the Patriots a great pass rusher. His age (30) was called into question, but he has proven that his endurance and health is nothing to worry about. Still, New England had other holes in their team that needed to be addressed. On the Patriots shopping list is help for the secondary, a healthy running back (sorry Fred Taylor), a second wide receiver to fill the temporary Wes Welker void, and a pass rusher.

Who Else is Out There?

Some possible targets are already gone. Chester Taylor joined Peppers in Chicago. Nate Burleson and Kyle Vanden Bosch are heading to Detroit. Gary Brackett is back with the Colts. Brandon Marshall seems Seattle-bound.

• Still, there is Thomas Jones, who is being linked with the Patriots.
• As for that pass rusher, Karlos Dansby is still out there and the Patriots are thought to be on his wish list.
• Also, with the Bears signing Brandon Manumaleuna, Greg Olsen might be on his way out of Chicago and possibly on his way to New England to replace Ben Watson.
• The Pats are rumored to be in the mix to trade for Anquan Boldin, or they could even sign a free agent like Antonio Bryant.
• There could also be Jason Taylor, Joey Porter, or Antonio Pierce that could be brought in for a fraction on the price of Peppers.

Banta-Cain Gets Three-Year Deal

The best part of Friday, so far, was the Patriots locking up Tully Banta-Cain for three years. Banta-Cain was right there with Peppers in sacks and he even had more tackles. Should the Patriots find a complement to Tully, then they will have a strong one-two attack.

So, do not worry that New England was unable to land Julius Peppers. Instead, be happy that they have financial freedom to secure several other players. Plus, there is always the chance that Peppers could be this year’s Albert Haynesworth. If that’s the case, then New England just avoided a potential disaster.

© Teddy for Sports of Boston, 2010. | Permalink | 2 comments
Filed under: Featured, News, Patriots, Top Story.

The 2010 off-season features a long list of free agent running backs. Some familiar faces including LaDanian Tomlinson, Thomas Jones, and Brian Westbrook will all be looking for new homes this summer.

Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots are notorious for being active in free agency over the past few years, and I expect them to continue this trend in 2010. Whether or not they’ll pursue a free agent running back is another question. Belichick has a knack for bringing in veteran players and reigniting their careers.  Guys like Roosevelt Covlin, Junior Seau, Randy Moss, Shawn Springs, and Fred Taylor headline a list of players who have made Foxboro their home in the twilight of their careers. So it wouldn’t surprise me if Belichick made a push to acquire an older running back like LaDanian Tomlinson, Brian Westbrook, or Thomas Jones.

The Patriots used a committee of running backs in 2010. Laurence Maroney led the team with 757 yards rushing while Kevin Faulk and Sammy Morris chipped in with over 300 yards apiece. Together, the three combined for about the amount of yardage a franchise back like Adrian Peterson or Ray Rice did.

The key to the puzzle is Laurence Maroney. Maroney, who was in Belichick’s doghouse for much of last season, hasn’t turned into the player the Patriots thought he would become. If the Patriots decide to cut Maroney, they will probably look to add another back in free agency. However, if they keep Maroney, they’ll use him as the featured back, and work a rookie draft pick in gradually throughout the season. Either way the Patriots are going to draft a running back in the first or second round.

Here is a closer look at some of the free agent running backs (in no particular order) the Patriots could be considering adding to the committee:

LaDanian Tomlinson

At age 30, LT is younger than Fred Taylor, Kevin Faulk, and Sammy Morris. However, his production has significantly declined over the past couple of seasons. In his first eight seasons, LT rushed for over 1,000 yards. In 2003 and 2006 he averaged over 5.0 yards per carry, and scored 28 touchdowns in 2006. He also caught at least 50 passes every year from 2001 to 2008. But in 2009 LT caught only 20 passes and rushed for only 730 yards. The once heralded San Diego back averaged a dismal 3.3 yards per carry last season.  After multiple knee surgeries and almost 3,000 carries, the once explosive playmaker appears to have lost a step. Many around the league have written LT off. Will Belichick give him a chance to prove his critics wrong? I doubt it, especially considering the two hate each other. Other than Peyton Manning, LT is probably the most despised player amongst Patriots fans.

Thomas Jones

In the wake of rookie Shonn Greene’s coming out party in the 2009/2010 NFL Playoffs, the New York Jets released Thomas Jones who is coming off a 1,402 yard 14-touchdown season. At 32, Jones is older than LT, but he had a much better 2009-2010 campaign. Jones also has almost 1,000 less carries than LT, and doesn’t have the surgically repaired knees either. In his past two seasons combined Jones has rushed for almost 3,000 yards and found the end zone 27 times. Clearly this guy still has some gas left in his tank. Jones is a powerful back and his built to carry the ball consistently on first and second down. Realistically he will probably be out of the Patriots price range. It’s too bad because he would be a great filler if they decide to cut Maroney. Then again, 2010 is an uncapped year. So who knows what will happen.

Brian Westbrook

Brian Westbrook is the type of back that thrives in a past-first offense like the Patriots run. He did so in Philadelphia for eight seasons, rushing for almost 6,000 yards and catching passes out of the backfield from Donovan McNabb for another 3,790. At 5’10″, 203 lbs. Westbrook is a smaller back and can’t be counted on to carry the load. He would fill a role similar to the one held by Mr. Reliable Kevin Faulk, and for this reason, it seems unlikely the Patriots will sign him. The Patriots may also shy away from Westbrook after his recent streak of concussions. One more big hit could end Westbrook’s career for good.

Chester Taylor

Chester Taylor, overlooked the past few years while playing second-fiddle to Adrian Peterson, is a poor man’s Brian Westbrook. He’s a solid option on third down who can catch passes out of the backfield, and make big plays in the open field with his quickness and ability to change direction in the blink of an eye. Taylor doesn’t have Westbrook’s career numbers, but he also doesn’t come with the concussion issues. And to be fair, his resume isn’t bad. In eight seasons playing for the Baltimore Ravens and Minnesota Vikings, Taylor has rushed for 4,396 yards, averaged 4.3 yards per carry, and has over 2,000 yards receiving. He’ll also be cheaper than Jones and Westbrook. If the Patriots were to consider bringing in someone to compete with Faulk, I think they’d look at Taylor before Westbrook.

Darren Sproles

The Chargers decided not to use their franchise tag on 5 ft. 6 Darren Sproles. Some think Sproles could start in a pass-first offense, despite never rushing for more than 400 yards in a season. Unlike the other free agent running backs Sproles is young (26) and brings far more explosiveness to the table. The Patriots have power backs in Taylor and Morris, and they could certainly use more speed on offense. For these reasons, Sproles has to be attractive to the Patriots. However, like Thomas Jones, Sproles will be looking for a fat contract.

• Other significant unrestricted free agent running backs include Mike Bell (New Orleans) and Jamal Lewis (Cleveland).

© Andrew Kipp for Sports of Boston, 2010. | Permalink | No comment
Filed under: Featured, Patriots.

Every Wednesday, I will talk about potential fantasy football sleepers for each matchup taking place. I will go game-by-game and pick out one or two players who can most likely be found in your league’s free agent pool and explain why they can be of use to you that week.

Here we are, it is championship week for some of you. Others have to wait ’til next week to battle it our for fantasy glory. I know a lot of you are waiting for the Colts to lose so that you can rush out and pick up Jim Sorgi. Hey, if Indy loses this week to the Jets, then I would suggest moving at the speed of light in order to do so.

Week 16 Sleepers

San Diego @ Tennessee

Justin Gage (WR), Tennessee Titans

Gage played for the first time since Week 9 and put up 43 yds with 2 TD on Sunday. The Chargers will wreak havoc on the Titans secondary, so Vince Young and Co. will be throwing it a lot. The Chargers defense has allowed 263 pass yds over the past three weeks. Tennessee has also won their last six home games.

Tampa Bay @ New Orleans

Josh Freeman (QB), Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Freeman is averaging 243 pass yds with 5 TD in four road games and the Saints defense has allowed 290+ pass yds in three straight games.

Houston @ Miami

Kevin Walter (WR), Houston Texans

Walter has been a huge letdown this year, but he finally did something significant last week with 42 yds and a score. That was against the Rams though, but Miami’s pass defense is just as bad.

Seattle @ Green Bay

John Carlson (TE), Seattle Seahawks

He is getting more looks recently and had a season-high seven catches last week. Carlson has also scored in two straight games.

Jermichael Finley (TE), Green Bay Packers

I can’t keep doing this if you won’t listen. He has 70+ yds in three straight games and has scored 3 TD in that time.

Carolina @ New York (Giants)

Matt Moore (QB), Carolina Panthers

He’s coming off his best game of the season where he tore apart the Vikings for 299 yds and 3 TD. The Giants dominated the Redskins on Monday night, but I am not ready to restore my faith in New York’s defense just yet.

Oakland @ Cleveland

Michael Bush (RB), Oakland Raiders

Bush had a great game on Sunday with 133 yds and a TD. Both the Browns and Raiders have horrendously bad rush defenses (both give up 140+ rush yds per game), so this one should be heavy running on both sides.

Jacksonville @ New England

Ben Watson (TE), New England Patriots

He has been up and down in the offense lately, but the Jaguars are in the bottom 10 in pass defense. A redzone TD is not out of the question.

Kansas City @ Cincinnati

Shayne Graham (K), Cincinnati Bengals

The Chiefs defense is terrible and the Bengals will run the ball all day with Cedric Benson. Graham will get plenty of chances in this one.

Baltimore @ Pittsburgh

Mike Wallace (WR), Pittsburgh Steelers

Roethlisberger found him twice in the endzone last week and the Ravens give up 244 pass yds per game on the road.

Buffalo @ Atlanta

Jason Snelling (RB), Atlanta Falcons

With Michael Turner once again suffering an ankle sprain, he is questionable this week. Even if he does play, the odds of him getting hurt again are looking very good. Buffalo allows the most rush yds per game in the league, so Snelling should run wild.

St. Louis @ Arizona

Donnie Avery (WR), St. Louis Rams

The Rams will lose this game and will be trailing by a lot. Somebody else besides Steven Jackson has to catch the ball for St. Louis.

Detroit @ San Francisco

Alex Smith (QB), San Francisco 49ers

Teammates Vernon Davis and Michael Crabtree are owned in more leagues, but there is no love for the man throwing them the passes. Smith gets a crack at the league’s worst pass defense and you should keep him for Week 17 against the Rams.

Denver @ Philadelphia

Tony Scheffler (TE), Denver Broncos

Scheffler should get more looks this week against the league’s worst defense against tight ends.

New York (Jets) @ Indianapolis

Austin Collie (WR), Indianapolis Colts

Darrelle Revis will own Reggie Wayne, so Collie will be getting more looks this week. Also take a look at Pierre Garcon.

Dallas @ Washington

Felix Jones (RB), Dallas Cowboys

He has received 10+ touches in two straight games and Dallas rushed for over 150 yds in their last meeting.

Minnesota @ Chicago

Chester Taylor (RB), Minnesota Vikings

The Bears are a mess on defense and they are allowing over 140 rush yds per game in their last seven games. Adrian Peterson will have fun, but Taylor will get 10+ total touches in this blowout.

© Pete Rampino for Sports of Boston, 2009. | Permalink | No comment
Filed under: Fantasy, Featured.

Every Wednesday, I will talk about potential fantasy football sleepers for each matchup taking place. I will go game-by-game and pick out one or two players who can most likely be found in your league’s free agent pool and explain why they can be of use to you that week.

If you didn’t start the playoffs last week, then you are now in the hunt for a championship this week. It is now more important than ever to find those diamonds in the rough that will push your team over the edge each and every single week. Enough chit chat, let’s get to it.

Week 15 Sleepers

Indianapolis @ Jacksonville

Austin Collie (WR), Indianapolis Colts

Collie has found the endzone in two straight games and the Jaguars defense is allowing over 230 pass yds per game.

David Garrard (QB), Jacksonville Jaguars

Although he is not putting up great numbers, Garrard is much better at home than on the road (9 TD, 4 INT). The Colts find a way to win every week, but they are giving up a healthy amount of passing yds doing it. Since Week 9, the Colts have allowed 281 pass yds to QB’s.

Don’t forget, the Colts did let Brandon Marshall catch 21 passes last Sunday, so they clearly have coverage problems.

Dallas @ New Orleans

Patrick Crayton (WR), Dallas Cowboys

The Saints will be scoring a lot of points as usual, so Dallas will have to keep up with their pace. Obviously Miles Austin is the receiver you want in Dallas, but Crayton will be getting plenty of looks against a Saints team that has allowed back-to-back 300 yd games to QB’s. By the way, those QB’s were Jason Campbell and Chris Redman.

Cleveland @ Kansas City

Chris Jennings (RB), Cleveland Browns

The Browns ran the ball 37 times last week in their win over the Steelers and Jennings led the team with 20 carries. The Browns will probably stick to their run-heavy ways against the Chiefs, who don’t have a good passing game. Instead, Kansas City should stick to their best player, RB Jamaal Charles.

Cleveland will also hand it off all day and Jennings is a good bet to carry 20+ times again. The Chiefs have given up 200+ rush yds in back-to-back games, so grab Jennings today if you can.

Atlanta @ New York (Jets)

Shonn Greene (RB), New York Jets

OK, so he didn’t come through last week, but I have no problem recommending him again this week. Atlanta will have no chance at moving the ball against the NFL’s best pass defense, so the Jets should be controlling the clock for the whole game.

Thomas Jones will get 20-25 carries, but Greene will have a shot at 10 touches. The Falcons are more well known for their terrible pass defense (30th in league), but they also give up 4.3 yds per carry.

Miami @ Tennessee

Tennessee Titans Defense/Special Teams

Titans are giving up an average of just 289 total yds in each of their last four home games. Miami QB Chad Henne has 3 TD and 5 INT in six road games this season. This sounds like a simple decision, right?

Houston @ St. Louis

Houston Defense/Special Teams

The Rams have allowed their QB to be sacked 11 times in their last four games and Rams QB’s have thrown nine interceptions in that time. The Texans have become heat-seeking missiles on opposing QB’s lately, racking up nine sacks in their last three games. St. Louis is averaging less than 12 points per game in their last four as well.

Arizona @ Detroit

Early Doucet (WR), Arizona Cardinals

Larry Fitzgerald is cleared to play, but if he is still hampered by his sprained knee, the Doucet could see more action. Doucet actually led the Cardinals in receiving in their loss to San Francisco last Monday with 41 yds.

Plus, this is Detroit we are talking about. They literally have the worst pass defense in football, so anybody can shine against them.

San Francisco @ Philadelphia

Reggie Brown (WR), Philadelphia Eagles

Rookie receiver Jeremy Maclin will miss 1-2 weeks with a foot injury, and Brown is most likely to take Maclin’s share of targets. The Eagles should throw it well against the 49ers, who give up 243 pass yds per game.

There has also been talk of the Eagles activating WR Kevin Curtis for this week’s game, but since he is recovering from knee surgery, it isn’t realistic for him to make an impact on his first game back.

New England @ Buffalo

Kevin Faulk (RB), New England Patriots

As it turns out, Sammy Morris wasn’t the one taking the most carries from Laurence Maroney. Faulk carried 10 times last week against the Panthers and he even found the endzone for the second straight game.

Running against the Panthers was great, now Faulk gets to run against the league’s worst run defense that allows 170 rush yds per game. Look for another 10+ carries from Faulk in addition to his 3-4 receptions.

Chicago @ Baltimore

Willis McGahee (RB), Baltimore Ravens

McGahee has scored 4 TD in his last three games and now he will run against Chicago’s pathetic run defense this week. The Bears have allowed 135+ rush yds in each of their last four games and Jay Cutler and Co. are 1-5 on the road this season.

Baltimore ran the ball 40 times last week against the Lions and McGahee ran it 12 times (Ray Rice ran it 13 times) and scored 2 TD. I can’t see any reason why the Ravens would change their strategy against a rush defense that is just as bad as Detroit’s.

Oakland @ Denver

Matt Prater (K), Denver Broncos

Prater’s problem this season is that he doesn’t get a lot of field goal opportunities against good teams. Well, the Oakland Raiders are not a good team. Prater could be the week’s bets kicker when Denver faces the Raiders.

The Raiders won’t move the ball at all, especially since QB Bruce Gradkowski has ruled himself out for this week’s game. The points will be scored at will for Denver, giving Prater a nice stat line for the day. Prater was also 3/3 on field goals in their fist meeting this season.

Cincinnati @ San Diego

Malcom Floyd (WR), San Diego Chargers

Floyd has consistently put together 3+ receptions in five straight games. Given WR Vincent Jackson’s inconsistency this season, Floyd is a breakout candidate at any time.

The Bengals will be a tough game for San Diego. Cincinnati will pound away with Cedric Benson and it will work because the Chargers allow 4.3 ypc. The Chargers have plenty of weapons at their disposal, but Floyd could break one off for a huge gain.

Tampa Bay @ Seattle

Josh Freeman (QB), Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Hey, his numbers at first glance look terrible, but Freeman’s best games have come on the road this season with games of 250 and 321 pass yds in Weeks 12 & 13 respectively.

Will Freeman be mistake free this week? No way! I still think he will gain a lot of yards though, and Seattle’s defense is giving up an average of 306 pass yds over the last five weeks.

Green Bay @ Pittsburgh

Jermichael Finley (TE), Green Bay Packers

We all know by now that Pittsburgh is in shambles this season. In addition to Aaron Rodgers, Greg Jennings, and Donald Driver, tight end Jermichael Finley is a great play this week.

Finley has been great since returning from a knee injury four weeks ago and has caught 22 passes for 228 yds in his last four games. He has 149 yds and 2 TD in his last two games and since the Packers give up sacks like crazy, QB Aaron Rodgers is always looking for the short pass to Finley.

Minnesota @ Carolina

Chester Taylor (RB), Minnesota Vikings

This game looks to be a blowout with the Vikings defense taking control of this one from the start against Matt Moore and the Panthers.

Combining Carolina’s terrible rush defense (137 yds per game) with the sheer amount of garbage time to be had, Chester Taylor could be in line for 7-8 carries and 4-5 receptions in this one.

New York (Giants) @ Washington

Jason Campbell (QB), Washington Redskins

Jason Campbell has stepped up his game in recent weeks with 7 TD and 3 INT in his last three games.

When the teams first met in Week 1, the Giants won 23-17, but things have changed since then as the Giants’ defense has broken down and has allowed an average of 293 pass yds in their last four games.

Don’t expect the world from Campbell this week, but a solid game is something you can count on.

© Pete Rampino for Sports of Boston, 2009. | Permalink | No comment
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We’re getting down to the nitty gritty in the final weeks of the fantasy regular season. I myself have only three weeks left before the playoffs start and I am searching desperately for whatever edge I can get.

In honor of this important time of the season, I am going to shake things up a bit. I will go through every game one-by-one and see what minimally owned players have the best shot of outperforming your expectations. Whether you need to fill a spot for an injured player, or if you just want a better matchup, then have a look at what I have to say.

Week 12 Sleepers

Green Bay @ Detroit

Daunte Culpepper (QB), Detroit Lions

All signs are pointing to rookie Matthew Stafford sitting out the Thanksgiving Day game. Culpepper may not have the services of WR Calvin Johnson, but Johnson is more likely to play than Stafford.

In Culpepper’s one home start this season, the team came away with a loss, but Culpepper had a great fantasy day with 282 yds and a TD with 44 rushing yds.

Oakland @ Dallas

Felix Jones (RB), Dallas Cowboys

His knee is finally 100% healthy and as a team, Dallas has the 8th best rushing attack in football with over 130 rush yds per contest. The Raiders allow almost 160 rush yds per game and have given up nine rushing TD’s in their last four.

Jones will be splitting carries a usual with Marion Barber, but it is crazy not to think that Jones will be getting you points this Thursday.

New York (Giants) @ Denver

Danny Ware (RB), New York Giants

Word from New York is that Ahmad Bradshaw is unlikely to play this week due to sore ankles. Third stringer Danny Ware would be the one to step up and take Bradshaw’s share of carries.

Not much is known about Ware, the guy has only carried six times in two seasons, but the matchup is favorable. Denver has given up 170+ rushing yds in three straight games and have allowed 202 pass yds or less in three of their last four. Expect the Giants to run it all day.

Tampa Bay @ Atlanta

Kellen Winslow (TE), Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Rookie QB Josh Freeman LOVES to look in Winslow’s direction. The tight end has been targeted 24 times over the past two games.

The Falcons allow over 250 pass yds per game and just gave up 2 TD to New York TE Kevin Boss on Sunday.

Jason Snelling (RB), Atlanta Falcons

Michael Turner is still questionable to make his return this week, which would put Snelling back on the field. His ypc could be better (3.2 in two starts), but he is finding the endzone with three TD in his last two games.

The Bucs defense gives up the most rush yds per game (168), and they have let opposing teams rush for 170+ yds in three straight. In fact, Tampa Bay has allowed over 100 rush yds in every game this season except for one.

Miami @ Buffalo

Fred Jackson (RB), Buffalo Bills

Marshawn Lynch’s status is still up in the air, but if he can’t go, the Jackson would take the spot that is rightfully his. Remember when Marshawn Lynch was suspended and Jackson was the featured back for the first three games and averaged 141 total yds per game? Don’t you want that back?

IF that happens this week, then Jackson should go back to his old ways of being an effective runner and pass catcher.

Ryan Fitzpatrick (QB), Buffalo Bills

Against a vulnerable Jacksonville defense, Fitzpatrick turned in 297 yds and a TD on Sunday. Miami’s defense is also having trouble stopping the pass with 235 pass yds allowed per game. Fitzpatrick and Terrell Owens really clicked in their last game (9 catches, 197 yds, TD), so a decent showing from Fitzpatrick is not out of the question.

Washington @ Philadelphia

Rock Cartwright (RB), Washington Redskins

Clinton Portis has a concussion and Ladell Betts is done for the season. This means that Cartwright is the cheese…and the cheese stands alone. When Cartwright was called upon last week, he responded with 13 carries for 67 yds and seven catches for 73 yds.

The Eagles have allowed three rushing TD in their last three games with an average of four receptions per game to featured backs in that time.

Seattle @ St. Louis

Justin Forsett (RB), Seattle Seahawks

Starting RB Julius Jones will be limited in practice this week, and is questionable for this Sunday. Forsett would start if Jones can’t go. Forsett had 123 yds and a TD in Week 10 when he took over for Jones. He struggled last week with only nine rush yds against Minnesota, but he did have 80 receiving yds and a score. In fact, Forsett has 5+ catches in three straight games.

If the Rams defense was an iceberg, then they probably would have let the Titanic run right through them without any damage. St. Louis has allowed 150+ rush yds in four of their last five games.

Kyle Boller (QB), St. Louis Rams

Boller will start for the injured Marc Bulger. Boller has 2 TD and 3 INT on the season in his limited playing time, but the Seahawks’ defense has allowed 249+ pass yds in four of their last five games. Not to mention, Seattle has lost every single road game this season,

Carolina @ New York (Jets)

Carolina Defense/Special Teams

Jets rookie QB Mark Sanchez has thrown six interceptions in his last two games with a 47% completion percentage. New York has also lost six of their last seven games.

The Panthers defense has eight picks in their last three games. Carolina should put more defenders in the box to stop Thomas Jones and force Sanchez to throw the ball all day.

Cleveland @ Cincinnati

Mohamed Massaquoi (WR), Cleveland Browns

Massaquoi and Brady Quinn connected for five catches for 115 yds and a TD against Detroit last Sunday. The rookie WR only has one other 100-yd game on the season, and that was against the Bengals in Week 4 when he had eight catches for 148 yds.

Hey, if you’re a believer in history repeating itself, the take a gamble.

Indianapolis @ Houston

Indianapolis Defense/Special Teams

The Colts defense has nine takeaways and eight sacks in their last four games. Houston is 29th in the NFL in rushing, so don’t expect Steve Slaton and company to start turning it on this week.

Houston has beaten Indy only once…EVER. The last time the Texans were victorious over the Colts was December of 2006, and it took a last second field goal to do it.

Kansas City @ San Diego

Matt Cassel (QB), Kansas City Chiefs

Cassel is back to his “no mistakes” way of playing with 4 TD and 1 INT in his last three games. The Chiefs have won two in a row, and newly acquired Chris Chambers has been a huge help to Cassel’s game (10 catches, 249 yds, 2 TD).

Cassel had a bad outing in his last game against the Chargers in Week 7 (3 INT), but he has had time to learn from it. The fact that he has chemistry with Chris Chambers, and that Jamaal Charles has given a rushing game to the Chiefs, should make things smoother for the passing game.

Jacksonville @ San Francisco

Alex Smith (QB), San Francisco 49ers

Smith is coming off a great game against the Packers where he threw for 227 yds and 3 TD. Now he gets to face one of the worst pass defenses in football.

The Jaguars are eighth in the league with 244 pass yds allowed per game and they are in the bottom-10 in football with 17 passing TD allowed. They just let Buffalo’s Ryan Fitzpatrick throw for 297 yds and a TD last Sunday, so their secondary has holes.

Chicago @ Minnesota

Chester Taylor (RB), Minnesota Vikings

Last week when Minnesota was blowing out Seattle, Taylor got extra carries in garbage time. He finished with 11 carries for 73 yds.

Could more garbage time be in the works this Sunday against Chicago? Well, the Bears have lost five of their last six games. They are 1-4 on the road this season, averaging just 14 points per game. Chicago QB Jay Cutler has 6 TD and 15 INT on the road this season and he will have to throw it all day because Matt Forte will be ineffective against Minnesota’s run defense (3rd best in football).

So yeah, I’d say a cheap 12-14 carries for Taylor sounds reasonable.

Arizona @ Tennessee

Kenny Britt (WR), Tennessee Titans

Britt has been Vince Young’s favorite receiver over the past two games with nine targets and six catches for 97 yds and a TD.

We all know the Titans will run the ball with Chris Johnson, but the Cardinals pass defense is among the worst in football with 247 pass yds allowed per game, including over 300 pass yds in two of their last three.

The Titans have won four in a row, and we know that it is not because Vince Young was putting up monster passing numbers. However, if Tennessee’s running game stalls at any point, Britt will be the beneficiary of the passing game.

Pittsburgh @ Baltimore

Billy Cundiff (K), Baltimore Ravens

Yeah, a kicker! Hey, it was hard trying to find a sleeper in this matchup.

Cundiff, recently signed by Baltimore, made good on his end of the deal with five field goals last Sunday against Indianapolis. The Ravens were able to move the ball effectively against a Colts defense that was without Pro-Bowl safety Bob Sanders.

This week, the Ravens should do the same thing, only this time against a Steelers defense with out All-Pro safety Troy Polamalu. Don’t be surprised if Cundiff gets a fair share of opportunities when the Ravens can’t pound the ball into the endzone against Pittsburgh’s #1 ranked rush defense.

New England @ New Orleans

Laurence Maroney (RB), New England Patriots

Maroney has scored a TD in five straight games (6 TD total). The Saints have allowed 130+ rushing yds in four of their last five games and four rushing TD in their last four games.

Maroney should find the endzone again in what looks to be an offensive showcase this Monday.

Robert Meachem (WR), New Orleans Saints

Drew Brees will be utilizing all of his weapons against the Patriots, and Meachem will benefit.

Meachem may not get a lot of yards, but he is the one who is scoring. He has found the endzone in three straight games, with four TD in that time. He won’t be the one moving the ball down the field, but he will be the one getting the looks in the redzone.

© Pete Rampino for Sports of Boston, 2009. | Permalink | One comment
Filed under: Fantasy, Featured.

Welcome to the first edition of the Fantasy Radar: Football Edition! For the football season I will be recommending players to start and sit at each position for the upcoming week. I will avoid recommending the obvious names such as, Adrian Peterson, Drew Brees or Tom Brady who you start no matter what team they are facing. I will focus more on the middle-of-the-road players. The ones who you need to decide between that can make or break your week. I can promise you that it is much more useful to research a decision between Jerricho Cotchery and Derrick Mason rather than Drew Brees and Joe Flacco. So without further delay, let’s jump right into it!

Quarterbacks

Start ‘Em

David Garrard, QB, Jacksonville (vs. ARI)

I know he looked awful against the Colts on Sunday, but that defense is better than people give them credit. Garrard faces a much weaker defense in Arizona and it’s a home game so I see a nice game out of Garrard here. I am one of those who think Torry Holt still has some juice left and Garrard will squeeze it out of him and make a fantasy drink. That makes no sense.

Matt Schaub, QB, Houston (@ TEN)

He had a rough time against the Jets, but I see better things this week vs. the Titans. Tennessee let Big Ben throw for over 350 yards in Week 1 and their secondary is not as good without big ‘ol Albert Haynesworth putting the pressure on the QB every down. Schaub also gets Kevin Walter back this week.

Other mentions: Joe Flacco (@ SD), Matt Hasselbeck (@ SF), Jason Campbell (vs. STL)

Sit ‘Em

Eli Manning, QB, New York Giants (@ DAL)

No wide receiver really emerged as a #1 target for the Giants last week and Eli is going to miss Plaxico Burress so much this season that he may just shoot himself in the leg to be on the same prison football team as his old WR. They play football in jail right? Anyways, I can see the Giants just sticking to the run game because that is what they do best.

Mark Sanchez, QB, New York Jets (vs. NE)

We’re sticking with the New York theme here. Yes he looked good last week and yes the Patriots defense looked bad without Jerod Mayo, but something about Belichick against a rookie QB scares me. I do think the Jets will find success with Leon Washington on screen passes and dump offs, but Belichick will find a way to force the rookie into a couple mistakes, which could really hurt your team.

Other mentions: Kevin Kolb (vs. NO), Jake Delhomme (@ ATL), Matt Cassell (@ OAK)

Running Backs

Start ‘Em

Chester Taylor, RB, Minnesota (@ DET)

Obviously you are starting Adrian Peterson, but what about his backup? Chances are the Vikings will be up big in the second half, which means less carries for AP and more touches for CT. He got 12 touches (7 carries and 5 catches) against the Browns in week one and I expect Taylor to do more against a Lions defense that allowed Mike Bell to rush for over 150 yards last week.

Leon Washington, RB, New York Jets (vs. NE)

Washington has been getting more and more involved in the offense since his arrival in New York and last week he managed to touch the ball 19 times. Granted he is not the #1 RB on the team, but the offense loves his versatility and with the group of LBs the Patriots are throwing out there in week two, there will be a lot of mismatches that Sanchez could take advantage of.

Other mentions: Jamal Lewis (@ DEN), Darren McFadden (@ KC), Lendale White (vs. HOU)

Sit ‘Em

Kevin Smith, RB, Detroit (vs. MIN)

Poor guy. He has loads of talent, but is just stuck on the wrong team. Detroit will be playing from behind most of the game and Smith will not see as much action as his owners would like. It would be nice to see them involve him more in the passing game, but it’s too risky to rely on him to score touchdowns when the majority of the throws go to the beast that is Calvin Johnson.

LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, San Diego (vs. BAL)

This is a tough one because many owners used a first round pick on LT so how can you bench him? Well, for starters, he isn’t healthy (surprise surprise!) so even if he does play, chances are they are going to rest him a lot and he won’t get a full game in. He may get you a cheap TD (like last week), but that will not be enough to justify starting him this week against a tough Baltimore defense.

Other mentions: Larry Johnson (vs. OAK), Ronnie Brown (vs. IND), Julius Jones (@ SF)

Wide Receivers

Start ‘Em

T.J. Houshmandzadeh, WR, Seattle (@ SF)

“Who’s your daddy” is a guy I like a lot this year and I think he will put up #1 WR numbers for a #2 WR price. This week him and Matt Hasselbeck should be able to find the end zone at least once and it will begin what should be a very successful season for both players.

Torry Holt, WR, Jacksonville (vs. ARI)

Like I said earlier, I believe that Holt still has something left in the tank and I think that he will have some success against an average Arizona defense. He should be able to find the end zone in week two and could be a viable option as a #3 WR or flex play.

Other mentions: Jerricho Cotchery (vs. NE), Santana Moss (vs. STL), Percy Harvin (@ DET)

Sit ‘Em

Bernard Berrian, WR, Minnesota (@ DET)

What? Sit a WR against Detroit after Drew Brees just torched them for 358 yards and six touchdowns? Here’s my argument, Berrian played in 55 plays last week and only had two balls thrown at him. He is clearly still hurt and unless there are reports that he is at 100% health before this game I’m sitting him. I think the Vikings are going to run, run and run some more on the Lions because they can and also they do not want to strain Brett Favre’s arm if they don’t have to.

DeSean Jackson, WR, Philadelphia (vs. NO)

With McNabb’s status uncertain, Kolb is preparing to start in week two. Kolb has looked absolutely awful when starting in the place of McNabb in the past and the addition of Jeff Garcia isn’t going to help right away either. I think Jackson puts up a stinker this week. Yes it’s a risky call, but I like to say it’s more risqué.

Other mentions: Braylon Edwards (@ DEN), Antonio Bryant (@ BUF), Devin Hester (vs. PIT)

Tight Ends

Start ‘Em

Chris Cooley, TE, Washington (vs. STL)

The Rams have a horrible team. Cooley should put up big time numbers. It’s just common sense.

Todd Heap, TE, Baltimore (@ SD)

Heap has always been a monster, but has never managed to stay healthy. Right now he’s healthy and the Chargers just saw Zach Miller have a nice game against them so expect the same from Heap.

Other mentions: Dallas Clark (@ MIA), Zach Miller (@ KC), Tony Scheffler (vs. CLE)

Sit ‘Em

Ben Watson, TE, New England (@ NYJ)

If Watson was ever consistent at anything, it is being inconsistent. He was a total no-show for the first 55 minutes of the game Monday night and then catches two TD passes and becomes the #1 pickup of the week. It’s ridiculous! The Pats spread the ball around way too much and Watson is about fifth on the list for Tom Brady’s targets.

Jeremy Shockey, TE, New Orleans (@ PHI)

It only took him a year, but Shockey finally found the end zone (twice) in a Saints uniform. I actually am buying into this a little, but I don’t think the Saints have the same success as they did last week throwing the ball. Also, the hopeful arrival of Pierre Thomas will cut into the targets of some receivers.

Other mentions: Vernon Davis (vs. SEA), Donald Lee (vs. CIN), Kevin Boss (@ DAL)

© George for Sports of Boston, 2009. | Permalink | 5 comments
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Don’t confuse this piece with my man KC’s literary work of art about Kevin Garnett. However, the vibe is similar. Adrian Peterson burst onto the NFL scene and sent shockwaves through the game of football that have not been seen before. As a rookie, he rushed for 1,341 yds and scored 13 total TD’s. His season included a pair of 200+ yd rushing games including an NFL record 296 yds in week 9 against the San Diego Chargers. He was named the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year and made the NFL Pro Bowl where he was named the MVP. Whew, that is quite the resume to have.

As fantasy football drafts are going on now, Adrian Peterson is being taken either 1st or 2nd overall (with LaDainian Tomlinson being the other player being decided between). However, is this man going to the hype and surpass an amazing rookie season? Unfortunately he has factors working against him that just may cause you to stray away from taking him in the top two.

INJURY HISTORY

It is no secret that Peterson is the not the healthiest horse in the barn (kind of an odd metaphor). His college career was plagued with injuries. During his freshman year he suffered a dislocated shoulder. In his sophomore year he had a high ankle sprain and in his junior year he broke his collarbone. Due to his injury history, he fell to the 7th overall pick in the 2007 draft. If it had not been for the injuries he surely would have gone in the top 3.

In the NFL during Week 10 against the Packers, Peterson suffered a knee injury that caused him to miss two games. He then returned in Week 13, less than a month after the injury occurred.

Running backs are always prone to injury and Peterson has clearly displayed that. If you break it down from college to the pros, then Adrian Peterson has been injured and has missed time in every single season he has played from 2004 to 2007.

INCONSISTENT NUMBERS

Yes, we all know how Peterson’s entire season was statistically impressive. He had two games where he rushed for more than 200 yds and four games where he rushed for more than 100 yds. So out of the 14 games he played, Peterson passed the century mark just 6 times.

One important aspect of a fantasy team’s draft preparation is how well a player will do during playoff time. A playoff time in a fantasy league can last anywhere from weeks 14-17. Down the stretch, where it really mattered to fantasy owners, Peterson seemed to hit a wall. During weeks 14-17, Peterson averaged just 2.7 YPC. This string of bad games included a horrible 14 rush, 3 yd effort against San Francisco. He may have been unstoppable early on, but when it mattered most to fantasy owners, Peterson fell flat on his face.

CHESTER TAYLOR

In his first season as a Viking, Chester Taylor compiled over 1,500 total yards and 6 TD’s. He averaged 4.0 YPC and caught 42 passes out of the backfield. The point is simply that Peterson is not the only back in Minnesota.

Despite having to share and give away most of the carries, Taylor still ran for 844 yds on just 157 attempts (5.4 YPC). He also had 281 receiving yds on 29 receptions. Filling in for Peterson in week 11, Taylor ran for 164 yds and 3 TD’s. He also impressively had another 100+ yd game in week 14 (the week Peterson ran for 3 yds) with 101 yds and a TD on just 8 carries.

If and/or when Peterson goes down, Taylor is more than ready to step up and carry the load. The fact that Peterson splits carries will keep him from carrying the ball close to 300 times. When it is draft day, drafting Taylor should be essential if you draft Peterson.

Nobody is saying that Adrian Peterson is not worthy of a first round pick. I am not saying that he is not a gifted athlete. However, when you break it all down, Peterson is an injury certainty and he is not getting every single carry on that field. If you are looking for a guaranteed performer and you have the first pick in your draft, take the sure thing and draft LT.

© Pete Rampino for Sports of Boston, 2008. | Permalink | 2 comments
Filed under: Fantasy, Featured.