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AFC Goal Line Gossip – Week 12

Phil Clark — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 11:20:32 +0000

AFC Goal Line Gossip – Week 12

That�s it. No more bye weeks. Now you can just focus on matchups, injuries, weather, and the other factors that tend to keep owners awake late at night.

Remember to activate any of your backs who will be participating in the Thanksgiving trilogy. If you plan to start Ray Rice, Frank Gore, DeMarco Murray, Reggie Bush, Daniel Thomas, James Starks, Kevin Smith, or Maurice Morris; safely insert them into your lineups before their Thursday kickoffs transpire.

With that, let�s progress to a detailed look at how the backfields are evolving on every AFC team from a fantasy perspective. This column will provide the comprehensive information that you need, to maximize the chances of winning your fantasy matchups in week 12.

Check out the AFC Week 12 Goal Line Gossip report

Baltimore Ravens: After Ray Rice was completely underutilized in week 10 (five carries), it was not surprising that OC Cam Cameron made better use of his best weapon. Rice exceeded 100 rushing yards for the third time this season, by amassing 104 and 2 TDs against a Cincinnati rush defense that entered the contest ranked second. He has now accumulated 663 yards for the year, which is the NFL�s 12th highest total. Rice also collected five passes for 43 yards, and is the leader in receiving yards among all backs with 513. He must now face the league�s top rated rush defense, when the 49ers visit on Thanksgiving night.

Buffalo Bills:Updated: Fred Jackson entered week 12 having exceeded 110+ yards in six games this season, including four of the past five weeks. But the improving Miami rush defense, and a third quarter calf injury, combined to emphatically halt his momentum. He was limited to just 17 yards on seven carries, which was easily his lowest output this season. Still, he is currently third in rushing among all backs with 934 yards for the season. Jackson also collected five passes for 50 yards, and is now fifth in receiving yards with 442. Jackson�s injury will force him to miss Sunday matchup with the Jets� 17th ranked run defense, elevating C. J. Spiller into the No. 1 slot. Jackson owners should already have secured Spiller for their rosters, but he is a must add if available. Just keep your expectations low, as he will fall victim to the multiple deficiencies on Buffalo�s struggling offense.

Cincinnati Bengals: Cedric Benson generated multiple TDs for the first time since week 13 of 2010, with short bursts from both seven and three yards out in Baltimore. That doubled his total to four TDs for the year, and salvaged his performance for fantasy owners, because his 41 yards on 15 attempts (2.7 YPC) established a new season low. Benson has now failed to reach 65 yards in six different contests, and although his 634 yards for the season, places him 14th among all backs, that total actually screams underachievement, considering that his 167 attempts are the NFL�s ninth highest. That said, if there was ever a time to start him, it will be Sunday against that same Cleveland unit that allowed him a season high 121 yards and a score in week 1.

Cleveland Browns: After managing only 65 on 24 carries in weeks 8-9, Chris Ogbonnaya did not appear capable of producing sizable yardage. Then, he altered the script by erupting for 90 in week 10, although that occurred against the league worst Ram rush defense. However, a much sturdier Jacksonville unit could not contain him either, as he gashed the Jaguars for 115 yards and a TD on 21 attempts, for his first career 100-yard rushing performance. Despite his surprisingly favorable output, Ogbonnaya�s value remains dependent upon the status of both Peyton Hillis and Montario Hardesty. Owners should stay apprised of their status, and look elsewhere when the Browns face Cincinnati�s third ranked rush defense.

Denver Broncos: Willis McGahee�s troublesome hamstring did not deter him from starting against the Jets, although he did not run with his normal level of authority. He only gained 18 yards on 12 carries, as the short week deprived him of sorely needed healing time. After capturing 30 carries in week 10, Lance Ball�s workload was reduced to just seven touches, with which he amassed 44 total yards. He will not receive enough work to merit a roster spot, despite much speculation to the contrary. McGahee should be much closer to 100% by Sunday, and barring a setback, is a high end No. 2 against a San Diego run defense that is permitting a whopping 124.4 YPG.

Houston Texans: The Texans have rushed more than any other team, averaging 35.7 APG. Their 158.1 YPG is the league�s second highest, and they have accumulated a whopping 824 in their last four games, for an incredible 206 YPG. Not coincidently, the Texans have won each of those contests. It is highly unlikely that the team will suddenly deemphasize their running game, and entrust their success to Matt Leinart. All of which is extremely good news for Arian Foster owners, who have already been rewarded with 707 rushing yards and six TDs in his last seven games. He should continue his torrid pace against Jacksonville, while Ben Tate can be used as a No. 3, if you are willing to deal with his unpredictable workload.

Indianapolis Colts: Conversely, the Colts are averaging 60 YPG less than Houston (98.4), and no member of their stable has recorded a 100-yard game. Delone Carter leads the team with just 327 yards (3.9 YPC), placing him 35th among all backs. He did not take advantage of his opportunities while Joseph Addai was sidelined (hamstring), and was overtaken by Donald Brown on the depth chart. Brown has amassed 276 yards (4.5 YPC), which were all accumulated since week 5. Addai had generated 257 yards (4.4 YPC) in the team�s initial five games, before missing four of the last five. If healthy, he can be utilized as a No. 3 for Sunday�s appealing matchup with Carolina�s 30th ranked rush defense. Otherwise, stay far away from this situation.

Jacksonville Jaguars: With the Jaguar offense residing at the bottom of every major passing category, it is hardly a shock that Maurice Jones-Drew was again the focal point of the team�s offensive strategy in week 11. MJD utilized his 21carries to gain 87 yards, which was the ninth time that he has run for at least 80 this year. He has now assembled 941 yards for the season, which is the second highest total in the NFL. He has also scored in three consecutive contests, after generating his fifth rushing TD in Cleveland. MJD will now face a formidable challenge, against the same Houston rush defense that limited him to a season low 63 yards in week 8.

Kansas City Chiefs: There is no doubt that Matt Cassel�s hand injury will increase the Chiefs� reliance upon their running game. But which back will benefit most from Todd Haley�s offensive strategy is still very much in question. The distribution between Jackie Battle, Dexter McCluster, and Thomas Jones against the Patriots, was a jumbled mess from a fantasy standpoint, as each received eight carries. Jones gained the most yardage (48) primarily due to one 26-yard burst. Otherwise, his output was relatively even with McCluster�s (39), and Battle�s (33). All of which means that there is currently nobody from this trio that you should entrust in your lineup. Particularly against Pittsburgh�s sixth ranked rush defense.

Miami Dolphins: After delivering several underwhelming performances earlier this season, Reggie Bush now continues to assemble an impressive streak. He scored for the third straight game on a five-yard scoring burst through the Bills� interior line, which was also his fourth TD during that stretch. While he did not gash Buffalo for significant yardage (66 total yards), his 32 rushing yards improved his season total to 506, which is already the most since 2007. While Bush�s stock is ascending, Daniel Thomas continues to provide just modest results. He carried 15 times for 50 yards, and has not exceeded 53 since week 3. Bush can be utilized as a No. 2 against Dallas on Thursday, while Thomas is only a low end No.3.

New England Patriots: Bill Belichick chose to eschew his full collection of backs, and instead relied upon BenJarvus Green-Ellis, and Danny Woodhead until the Patriot�s final possession. BJGE captured the vast majority of touches, carrying 20 times for 81 yards, and snaring a 25-yard pass. It was his highest output since week 5, and just his second game with over 80 yards this year. Woodhead amassed 55 yards with his seven touches, while Shane Vereen carried eight times near the game�s conclusion, generating 39 yards, and a TD. Green-Ellis can be used as a No. 3 against Philadelphia�s 14th ranked rush defense, while Woodhead is only a low end flex. Vereen was impressive enough to consider stashing, if you have the space.

Oakland Raiders: Michael Bush made his third consecutive start and continued his assault on opposing defenders. He has now exploded for 461 rushing yards in his last four games, after gashing the Vikings� sixth ranked rush defense for 109 and a TD on 30 carries. Bush has also accumulated 611 total yards during this stretch as Oakland�s feature back, and has amassed 599 rushing yards for the season, along with five TDs. Not only should he remain in all lineups during Darren McFadden�s absence, but even after McFadden returns from his foot sprain, Bush will likely retain a more sizable role than he previously possessed. He can be employed as a No. 2 against Chicago, and is a borderline No. 1 if McFadden is absent again.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Sorry Rashard Mendenhall owners, you are about to be reminded just how disappointing his season has been. You selected him to be your No. 1 back or at worst a high end No. 2, after he finished 2010 as the NFL�s seventh leading rusher with 1,273 yards, and 13 touchdowns. Instead, you have been rewarded with just 517 yards after 10 games, which places him just 24th. He has failed to surpass 45 yards in five different contests, and has exceeded 70 only once. His APG has also fallen from last year�s 20.2 APG to 15.1. The good news is that three of his next five opponents rank 28th or worse against the run, including Kansas City, who Mendenhall should exploit on Sunday night.

San Diego Chargers: The Chargers� rushing attack as unable to get untracked in Chicago, as Ryan Mathews and Mike Tolbert combined for only 51 yards. Mathews generated 37 on 13 attempts, while Tolbert amassed 14 on just three carries. Neither back registered sizable receiving yardage either, as Mathews collected just two passes for 14 yards, while Tolbert garnered five passes for 24 yards. Despite those anemic numbers, Mathews remains sixth among all RBs with 379 receiving yards, while Tolbert is fourth with 42 catches. It would behoove Norv Turner to make sure that this talented tandem is utilized more extensively when they face Denver�s 17th ranked defense.

Tennessee Titans: While there was some sentiment that Chris Johnson was beginning to salvage his season, after he produced a season high 174 total yards in week 10, it appears far more likely that his success in that contest was primarily due to his matchup with Carolina�s extremely challenged rush defense. Because Johnson was completely stifled by Atlanta�s third ranked rush defense in week 11, when he could only manufacture 13 yards on 12 attempts. He has now failed to reach 35 yards in five different games, and has been limited to less than 25 yards four times. Despite an appealing matchup with Tampa Bay�s 26th ranked rush defense, limit your expectations if you plan to start him. Because he simply is not an effective runner this season.

AFC Goal Line Gossip – Week 12 Gridiron Experts Gridiron Experts - Where Fantasy Football Champions Are Born

Fantasy Football Sunday Scoop

Jody Smith — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 17:03:33 +0000

Gridiron Experts Jody Smith

Week 11 Fantasy Football Sunday Scoop

There’s only one more round of annoying bye weeks, so after week 11 you won’t have to worry about checking to see if your key starters are out. Unfortunately this is a particularly rough blow-off for the byes, as the Colts, Texans, Steelers and Saints all have key fantasy contributors who won’t contribute to your playoff push. On to the news….

This season doesn’t look like it’s going to turn around for the “Dream Team”. QB Michael Vick (ribs) and WR Jeremy Maclin (shoulder/leg) have been ruled OUT and didn’t even make the flight to New York. Now might be a good time to trade off any Philadelphia players you have, as they’re not making the playoffs and will have little incentive to leave key players in games down the stretch. Vince Young will start for Vick and Jason Avant should start opposite of DeSean Jackson.

PK Dan Carpenter won’t be kicking for the Dolphins this week. On Saturday the team signed the well traveled Shayne Graham to replace him. It should be a temporary situation for Graham, but he’s capable of putting up decent production for those in a bind at kicker.

RB Ahmad Bradshaw will miss another game when the Giants host the Eagles Sunday. Brandon Jacobs will be the main back for New York and will be spelled on passing downs by Danny Ware.

Jeremy Shockey has been ruled OUT for this week. Greg Olsen should get all the reps at tight end for Carolina.

Once again, RB Peyton Hillis is OUT and Montario Hardesty will also miss the game. It looks like Chris Ogbanaya will start for Cleveland.

Those of us who have enjoyed riding the hot hand of rookie RB DeMarco Murray should take notice that Felix Jones is expected to return to the lineup� Sunday when the Cowboys battle in Washington. There should be some sort of split between the two, but it’s still discouraging to know that the dynamic rookie is likely facing a decreased role. Murray is expected to get the start.

Looks like QB Matt Cassel (hand) will miss some time. Tyler Palko gets the chance to make his first NFL start. On the road. In New England. On Monday Night Football.

MLB Ray Lewis (toe) reportedly told Warren Sapp that he would not play this week. This is obviously a big blow to the Ravens defense. WR Lee Evans will be ACTIVE for the first time in weeks. His return could diminish the value of rookie WR Torrey Smith.

Malcolm Floyd is OUT, so red hot Vincent Brown will get another start in his place against the Bears’ 29th ranked pass defense.

Jahvid Best remains OUT for the Lions and will be replaced by Maurice Morris and Kevin Smith, who has moved ahead of Keiland Williams on the Detroit depth chart. It’s probably safe to drop Best in non-keeper formats.

Rookie WR Julio Jones will miss this game as well and will be replaced by Harry Douglas. Douglas makes for a good start for those in need of some help at at flex or WR3 spot.

Dynamic first year WR A.J. Green has been ruled OUT this week for the Bengals match-up with Baltimore. Obviously this hurts the Cincinnati offense is what is historically a low scoring AFC North rivalry. If you were planning to start Andy Dalton, you might want to reconsider.

Darren McFadden remains OUT for the Raiders. Continue to start Michael Bush with confidence. WR Jacoby Ford will also miss this game, and be replaced by Denarius Moore.

Former Browns WR Brian Robiske (hamstring) won’t get the chance to suit up against his former team. He’s been ruled OUT this week. The only players you can start for the Jaguars are Maurice Jones-Drew and the Jaguars DST.

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Week 11 Fantasy Football Rundown

DC — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 22:17:35 +0000

Gridiron Experts DC

Fantasy Football Rundown

NY Jets at Denver
The Jets will be rolling their eyes at any sort of college option offense tonight. You can bet that even after a little success the Broncos will look foolish forcing a one-week wonder offensive scheme on prime time TV.� I like many fantasy New York Jets tonight, and even like them as 6 point favorites to easily cover. The Broncos are about to face a team that even on a short week are extremely motivated to get back into the winning department. I expect a lot of Shon Greene and think Mark Sanchez could have a big day. As for Tim Tebow, unless the use the option as a wrinkle to an aggressive spread offense that features many deep shots down the field to get those safeties out of the box, then this game could get ugly.

Tampa Bay at Green Bay
The overlook game is where a team literally over looks an opponent for a bigger, typically divisional match-up the following week. That won’t happen here, even if the Buccaneers could keep this game close Aaron Rodgers will pull away in the second half. I really don’t like any Tampa players in this match- up, even in a blowout “got to throw” to get back in the game type offense, Josh Freeman and his WR’s are out of sync and frustrating for fantasy owners.

Carolina at Detroit
Now, this could be an overlook game. The Lions know they get to host the Packers next week and think they should be able to knock of the champs in their own house. The voice around the locker room could have been something like “It’s only the Panthers, we got this”.
I expect a type battle, one in which fantasy options could really pay off. The Lions may sputter at first and find themselves even losing after the first quarter. Cam Netwon is a frustrating QB to face and should confuse and possibly stun the crowd in challenging for the upset. I really like Steve Smith this week, I would have love to recommend him in our Start’em Sit’em Gauntlet, but he is one of the Elite 30. Other possible sleepers include Brandon Pettigrew Jeremy Shockey and Jonathan Stewart

Jacksonville at Cleveland
Except for MJD, there is really no one that you must absolutely start. Colt McCoy has upside but overall the game should be very low scoring. Vegas is predicting an over/under of 34.5 which is not a good sign for anyone that you are thinking of playing.

Oakland at Minnesota
This could be a great game for Ponder to show why he was drafted high in April’s NFL Draft. He is not fantasy starter-worthy but he does have better grasp of the offense and has a good match-up. Still, who are we kidding.. this is a game of the RB’s, both teams should lean heavy on the run in a back and forth contest. Both the Raiders and Vikings are not exactly front runners for being known for shutting down the power run game, and a full does of either Michael Bush and Adrian Peterson should result in high numbers.

Buffalo at Miami
Miami is talking about stringing together a winning streak that will not only save their coaches job, but ruin their chance for a nice draft pick. Don’t get me wrong I believe in playing for pride but a 7 game winning streak is not happening. Still, there’s no reason why the Fish couldn’t spoil the Bills postseason dreams before the calling it quits on their stinky season. Buffalo has fallen hard and the recent injuries to the offensive line will not only affect the passing game but hurt the fantasy stock of Fred Jackson. I expect a lot players on the Bills to continue to disappoint fantasy owners once again. As for the Dolphins, the green light is a go for expectations to a high scoring and impressive win. I think Reggie Bush has found his groove and deserves a start in a reserve roll on fantasy rosters
Dallas at Washington
This game is going to get ugly. It is a divisional match-up but much like the Eagles the Redskins just can’t get things together. There is really on one on Washington worth starting where as the Cowboys have great fantasy match-ups across the board.

Cincinnati at Baltimore
Back when I was handling the Power Rankings, I had really believed that this was the year for the Ravens. But after seeing multiple upsets and vanilla offensive play calling I have now changed my mind. The Bengals are a team on the rise and have amazing young talent that will lead their team for years. I think both offense’s tee-off and run up the score board a little bit. Both are frustrated with the Steelers and need this game more than they want to lead on. Ray Rice should see a heavy work load as well as Cedric Benson for the Bengals. Both passing games should be in playoff form as the AFC North is too close to take this game lightly, I expect a high scoring affair and one you should overlook the defensive stats for. Las Vegas is calling for an Over/Under of 40.5, my guess is we see a something closer to 50. Check out my predictions along with all the other Gridiron Experts in out Week 11 Pigskin picks

Arizona at San Francisco
Despite a one-sided affair in which the 49er’s are projected to win by 10, the Cardinals are feeling great about their spoiler victory over the Eagles last week. That confidence could translate into great fantasy production for players like Beanie Wells. If the Cardinals can keep this game close his value does hold for solid yardage. Although if the 49er’s strike fast the running game could be abandoned Risk vs. Reward.

The 49er’s passing game has yet to really be something to rely on for fantasy owners, Alex Smith has earn the respect from the team and local bay area and we may start to see the his leash loosened for more deep threat opportunities in the coming weeks. This match-up clearly looks like one that may see more deep strikes, add him and Michael Crabtree to possible sleepers

Seattle-3 at St. Louis
Not a must-see game for us average fans, but one that could translate into huge fantasy points. Both teams are known for running up the score against each other. Great fantasy match-ups for Brandon Lloyd and Marshawn Lynch

Tennessee at Atlanta
The Falcons and Titans have a lot in common. They both are the 2nd seed in their respect divisions and both are feeling the pressure of having it run away on them. The Falcons should be pressing after an embarrassing overtime performance that pretty much handed the game to Drew Bree’s and the Saints. The Titans on the other hand see their opportunity with Matt Schuab going down and will want this one badly. This could be the turning point for either team, I expect a playoff caliber game one that should be high scoring and aggressive, green light on all tier 1-2 fantasy options

San Diego at Chicago
Great game to watch but maybe not one that will help fantasy owners out. Matt Forte is a high percentage of the entire team’s offensive output, the Chargers have been pressing on defense and may choose to shadow even double team Forte the whole game. This means that the Bears passing game could reach out and connect with targets that are not usually in the routine. As for the Chargers offense, Vincent Jackson was shutdown which introduced to the fantasy world a Vincent Brown (two Vincents, C’mon really?) He played very well and may continue to see targets. Gates will be the wildcard that will get mismatches as best he can, but overall the Bears defense has just been too impressive for fantasy owners to expect anything but average numbers.

Philadelphia at NY Giants
Rumors are now that Mike Vick may suit up. Either QB really does not stand a chance against a Giants team that is annoyed with their heart breaking losing on the road last week. The Eagles are amazing on paper but play confused undisciplined football.Every Eagle is a fantasy gamble this week, not knowing what to expect. The Giants look strong and match-up well against the 5-9 and below average line-backing core. I expect great fantasy numbers from all Giants Sunday Night

Kansas City at New England
The Patriots are handed a gift Monday night, one in which all fantasy options get added fantasy potential. The Chiefs should be able to move the ball against the Patriots defense, which hardly is a shut-down unit anymore, but the troubles in KC are execution from within, Dwyane Bowe is a must-start, but one that requires a little prayer.

Week 11 Fantasy Football Rundown Gridiron Experts Gridiron Experts - Where Fantasy Football Champions Are Born

10 Fantasy Players That Pissed You Off Sunday

Mike Rodriguez — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 08:13:01 +0000

Gridiron Experts Mike Rodriguez

10 Fantasy Football Players That Pissed You Off Sunday

Fantasy Football is a fictional game that we can all take far too seriously at times. We occasional yell at the TV or our roll our eyes at our smart phones, but in reality the NFL could care less. Teams that game-plan to run the ball heavy one week can mess up your reciever’s performance or vise versa. Maybe the score is out of reach and it’s time for the 2nd tiers to get touches, (like Michael Turner this week). Or maybe drives are just cut short thanks to turnovers or great special teams play,� what ever the case may be, no matter what it is that ruins your chance for more fantasy points…. it pisses you off sometimes.

I think the biggest let down in fantasy football is the expectations that we have for our players week to week. Gridiron Experts tries to hand out modest Fantasy Player Rankings, but sites like ESPN or Yahoo can really sell you on big numbers. The following 10 players had off weeks, which is fine really….it just pissed off some of the Fantasy fans I was hanging out with or chatting with today, So I thought I’d showcase them

10) Dallas Clark & Pierre Garcon- Colts
The Colts are never going to have a lead in a game for more than a quarter, or couple drives at the most. Curtis Paniter is terrible, yet a couple weeks ago the pitiful Colts would at least throw for 90% of the game to try to make an attempt at a comeback. This kept players like Dallas Clark and Pierre Garcon active in line-ups with the chance for pity-points. PPR leagues had extra value for Garcon with the high number of targets, but at this point the Colts are a dreadful bunch that should extend beyond this Sunday for players you should forget about.

9) Jon Baldwin- Chiefs
Isn’t it always the way, you watch some rookie play an amazing game one week, pick him up on the waiver wire, only to ruin your Sunday and fantasy week the next.

Jon Baldwin was a bit of an exception entering week 9, I too thought he would shine against the Dolphins at home after a big (gift) win over the Chargers. Baldwin isn’t some player that came out of the woodwork, he is a first round WR that is just now feeling healthy and comfortable in the Chiefs offense, or at least that’s what we all thought. He is going to be a fantasy stud, but it didn’t happen this weekend.

8) Daniel Thomas- Dolphins
Is he active? or is he not active? Banged up Daniel Thomas did play, but was a non factor Sunday as he carried the ball 7 times for 12 yards. “Thanks dude, thanks a lot” was the phrase of the day my friend yell at the TV in a sarcastic voice, that has me in stitches.

7) Roy Helu- Redskins
Helu pissed fantasy owners off because apparently there are people that believed Ryan Torain was the answer in Washington. I have never for one second been on board with Ryan Torain, but never thought much of Helu either. Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said after Sunday’s game that Ryan Torain will only play when new starter Roy Helu gets “tired” going forward.

6) Knowshon Moreno- Broncos
I was able to talk a guy on out of starting Knowshon Moreno today, or at least I think he started Brandon Jacobs instead hard to tell with twitter. Knowshon had 4 yards rushing and 4 yards receiving Sunday.

5) Darrius Heyward-Bey- Raiders
Zero catches and one target

4) Willis McGahee- Broncos
This old-timer makes the list not because he upset the Raiders, but because he was on most peoples bench Sunday. Willis McGahee rushed 20 times for 163 yards with 2 touchdowns. Didn’t this guy have a broken hand? Believe it or not, McGahee carried the ball with his left hand at times Sunday. Those who had better options didn’t give McGahee a second look, but sure wish they had. McGahee tore through huge gaps in the Raiders’ defense even busting off a 60-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.

3) LeGarrette Blount- Buccaneers
More carries meant more yards right? -Wrong. With the injures to the backfield Blount owners were expecting so much more. Blount had only 13 carries for 72 yards against the Saints. We all know it’s hard to run the ball when your down by a couple scores, but a balanced offense works so much better than Josh Freeman struggling to make plays. The play-calling is just absurd right now in Tampa, and fantasy owners are paying the price.

2) Jacoby Jones- Texans
How is it that in a game that got so out of hand did the current starting wide receiver do so little. Jacoby Jones had 2 catches for 28 yards. Jones did have a couple exciting punt returns, but that really doesn’t justify the crappy numbers.

1) You Tell Me
Who was on your bench that pissed you off? Who did you start that had below average numbers, leave a comment and add to the list

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Fantasy Football Sunday Scoop

Jody Smith — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 17:06:37 +0000

Gridiron Experts Jody Smith

Fantasy Football Sunday Scoop

We are entering the second half of another fantasy football season. Staying updated on the latest rumors, news, injuries and active/inactive lists has never been more important. There’s no need for you to search all over the web or squint at the annoying scroll on your television. We’ve got all the late-breaking news for you.

Just a reminder, after this week there are NO BYES in week 10, followed by the last, devastating round of off weeks in week 11. For this week’s action, the Jaguars, Lions, Vikings and Panthers are on bye.

The Browns will be down to their third string running back, as both Peyton Hillis (hamstring) and Montario Hardesty (calf) are OUT. Rookie Chris Ogbanaya gets the start in a homecoming game for him. He played at the University of Texas and was a member of the Houston Texans earlier this season.

Kevin Kolb is OUT. John Skelton gets the start for the Cardinals. Time to downgrade all Arizona fantasy players.

WR Wes Welker is listed as questionable, but he’ll start today vs. the Giants.

Hakeem Nicks and Ahmad Bradshaw are both OUT and didn’t even make the trip. Mario Manningham and Victor Cruz become nice options in the Giants passing game. Manningham really thrived last year when Nicks was injured. Brandon Jacobs can leave his keys in his locker, as he is expected to start and get the majority of carries while being spelled by Danny Ware, who might make an impact in the passing game.

RB Daniel Thomas is ACTIVE and gets the start today at Kansas City. Reggie Bush should only be considered as a flex play in a PPR.

PK Sebastian Janikowski will return to the lineup. The team told his potential replacement, Dave Rayner, to go home.

Mark Ingram (heel) will miss his second straight game. Don’t look for Darren Sproles�to be affected at all. Pierre Thomas could see a few more carries and goal line looks. Chris Ivory is the best candidate to replace Ingram at the stripe and will be active.

Bucs RB LeGarrette Blount makes his return to the lineup this week as Tampa travels to New Orleans. Blount will get extensive playing time, including on passing downs.

No surprise, but WR Andre Johnson has been ruled out. We’ve been saying all along that we don’t expect Johnson to play until week 12, after Houston’s bye. We have some interest in Kevin Walter as a deep sleeper this week.

WR Julio Jones will return to the Falcons lineup today. He’s missed Atlanta’s last two games.

Donald Lee will start at TE for the Bengals today. Jermaine Gresham is OUT.

Joseph Addai is ACTIVE today but rookie Delone Carter gets the start. It could be another scenario where Addai will be suited up, but might only play in an emergency. Donald Brown�plays on passing downs.

It appears that RB Willis McGahee has recovered sufficiently enough from his broken hand that he will play today against the Raiders. Time to put Knowhson Moreno back on your bench. At best, he’ll be the third option behind McGahee and Tim Tebow.�

Darren McFadden won’t play and is not looking good for next week either. Get Michael Bush into your lineups for this tasty matchup with the Denver Broncos.

TE Fred Davis was listed as questionable, but he’ll start.

Fantasy Football Sunday Scoop Gridiron Experts Gridiron Experts - Where Fantasy Football Champions Are Born

Fantasy Football Mid-Season Awards

Jody Smith — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 20:59:34 +0000

Gridiron Experts Jody Smith

Fantasy Football Mid-Season Awards

Another fantastic fantasy football season is already half over. There’s a good chance that all of your exhaustive research and draft day preparation has been either devastated by untimely injuries or ineffective play. Or perhaps you were fortunate enough to take a late round gamble on a player that has gotten you off to a fantastic start.

Whether you are dominating your league, or it’s been a struggle to survive, now is a good time to take a look at the first half of another fantasy football season. From the polarizing rookie signal-caller who is looking like one of the all-time best, to that big name runner who is single handedly ruining every fantasy squad that was unfortunate enough to select him- they’re all worthy of nominations.

Here’s our picks for some of the major awards, both good and bad, for the first half of the 2011 fantasy football season. We’d love for our readers to use the comments section below to discuss our picks and contribute your own.

RUNNING BACK OF THE YEAR

LeSean McCoy- “Shady McCoy” has really taken the next step towards fantasy superstardom. Already a consensus top ten pick, he’s outperformed even those lofty expectations. He’s got a league leading 10 touchdowns, including at least one score in every game and is second in the NFL in rushing.

McCoy will likely take over that lead this week, as the Vikings are on a bye. Another exciting development for McCoy has been all those goal line touches. Michael Vick has yet to rush for a score this season.

WIDE RECEIVER OF THE YEAR

Calvin Johnson- No real debate here. Matthew Stafford has remained healthy and “Megatron” is having a phenomenal season. These two hooked up for two scoring passes in each of the Lions first four games. Johnson has failed to score only once all year. He currently ranks third in the NFL with 804 receiving yards while topping ALL players with 11 touchdowns. He’s on pace to challenge Randy Moss‘s ridiculous NFL record for TD grabs.

QUARTERBACK OF THE YEAR

Aaron Rodgers- Rodgers actually trails amazing Carolina rookie Cam Newton by a slim two points in fantasy points scored. However, the Green Bay signal-caller has already had his bye. Rodgers’ season has been nothing short of spectacular while leading the defending Superbowl champions to a perfect 7-0 start. Despite playing in one less game than the leaders, he’s third in the NFL in passing yards and actually leads the league in touchdown tosses (20) and fewest interceptions (3). Halfway through the season, Aaron Rodgers has a QB rating of 125.7.

TIGHT END OF THE YEAR

Jimmy Graham- The former Miami Hurricanes basketball star has elevated himself to the top tight end receiving threat in the NFL. Jeremy Shockey‘s departure has meant more playing time for Graham and he’s delivered in a big way. His 49 receptions lead all tight ends and are fifth in the entire NFL. He’s become the top receiving option for Drew Brees and the potent New Orleans offense.

IDP PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Jared Allen (DE)- Allen has been a beast all season. Through eight games he has an NFL high 12.5 sacks and has kept constant harassing pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Not only has Allen been a dominant pass rusher, he’s managed to pick off a pass and has forced and recovered three fumbles. In standard IDP scoring leagues, his 103 fantasy points scored (12.9 ppg) are the most of any defensive player.

WORST INJURY OF THE YEAR

Jamaal Charles (RB)- While Peyton Manning‘s ailing neck has has the most devastating injury to an NFL team, there was plenty of notice for fantasy football players to avoid drafting him as their signal-caller. There was no such warning for Jamaal Charles owners. After catching a touchdown in the season’s first week, Charles went down untouched and grabbed his knee after running out of bounds on the Detroit sideline. Those type of injuries tend to be the worst, and indeed Charles tore his ACL and was lost for the season after only 17 touches. With an ADP of 5.85, JC Superstar was being counted on to lead countless fantasy squads to the promised land, and his loss has been very difficult to recover from.

DRAFT DAY STEAL OF THE YEAR

Cam Newton (QB)- All we heard about this offseason was that there was no way Newton’s mechanics or ability to read and decipher NFL caliber defenses would have him ready to succeed any time soon. Boy were we wrong. Newton has been amazing and has shattered nearly every rookie passing milestone in the record books. Right now, he is the number one points scorer in standard fantasy football leagues. Not too shabby for a guy with an ADP of 155, as the 24th ranked quarterback.

BIGGEST DRAFT DAY BUST

Chris Johnson (RB)- CJ2K’s descent from fantasy superstar to irrelevant and un-startable has been mind-blowing. Johnson had a very public contract dispute with the Titans and coupled with the NFL lockout, missed out on valuable conditioning and preparations. One has to wonder if he has lost the desire to succeed after finally signing his big money deal. Early concerns over Johnson’s holdout caused his ADP to slip to 5.86, but after signing his contract, his fantasy draft stock began to recover. His on the field performance can only be labeled as terrible. Only 302 rushing yards ALL season. A mind-numbingly bad 2.8 yards per carry. One rushing score. Drafted as the fourth overall player in most fantasy drafts, Johnson has slipped to the 3oth ranked running back.

ROOKE OF THE YEAR

Cam Newton (QB)- What a year for Cam Newton. From leading undefeated Auburn to a BCS national championship, to being selected number one in the NFL draft, to becoming one of the most engaging superstars in the league and hero to millions of fantasy football owners. Not only is Cam second in the league in passing yards, his seven rushing scores are good for third, behind only Ray Rice and LeSean McCoy.

MOST VALUABLE FANTASY PLAYER

Fred Jackson (RB)- Defining value is difficult. In fantasy football terms, you have to look at a player’s worth in terms of expectations and performance. That being said, it’s most likely that fantasy football owners lucky enough to have drafted the forgotten superstar running back in Buffalo are having a good season. Jackson’s ADP was all the way down at 84. He was the 30th running back taken. He was the fourth JACKSON drafted. Even his wife was hesitant to select him in her fantasy league.

Plenty of players could be labeled as most valuable. Ray Rice, Cam Newton, Calvin Johnson and Aaron Rodgers are all worthy candidates. Newton has already received enough praise, and we all had high expectations for those other superstar veterans. Fred Jackson represents the best of fantasy football: superstar production (2nd amongst position players with 19.7 ppg) and a tremendous value by producing MVP level numbers at a deeply discounted price.

THE ALL-FANTASY FIRST TEAM

QB- Aaron Rodgers (GB)�

RB- LeSean McCoy (PHI)

RB- Fred Jackson (BUF)

WR- Calvin Johnson (DET)

WR- Wes Welker (NE)

TE- Jimmy Graham (NO)

PK- Jason Hanson (PK)

DST- Baltimore Ravens

Honorable Mentions: Cam Newton (QB), Drew Brees (QB), Ray Rice (RB), Adrian Peterson (RB), Matt Forte (RB), Steve Smith (WR), Greg Jennings (WR), Mike Wallace (WR), Jason Witten (TE), Rob Gronkowski (TE), John Kasay (PK), Detroit Lions (DST

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Fantasy Football Sunday Scoop

Jody Smith — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 16:06:37 +0000

Gridiron Experts Jody Smith

Fantasy Football Sunday Scoop

This is a particularly tough week when it comes to big time fantasy football talent unavailable. The Falcons, Packers, Bears, Jets, Raiders and Bucs are all on BYE, so look elsewhere when finalizing your fantasy lineups.

�Hines Ward is officially OUT. This makes both Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown nice starts against the NFL’s worst pass defense, the New England Patriots.

Cincinnati’s Cedric Benson lost his appeal and will serve his one game suspension this week as the Bengals travel to Seattle. Bernard Scott gets the start and makes a nice sleeper play for those in need of some help at the RB position.

Despite hints that he might play, WR Andre Johnson is out. At this p0int it might be safe to assume that the Texans won’t rush him back until after their bye. Unfortunately, that’s not until week 11.

The Redskins lost WR Santana Moss (hand) for several weeks and RB Tim Hightower (knee) for the year. Now LT Trent Williams is also OUT. Lower your expectations for the Washington offense accordingly.

Beanie Wells is expected to play, but might be better off being left on your bench. He’s hurt and has a tough matchup on the road against an angry Ravens defense. Todd Heap and Joey Porter are INACTIVE

There won’t be a lot of intrigue in the Dallas backfield this week. Tashard Choice was released, meaning DeMarco Murray will get the start, which is no surprise after his huge debut in the lineup last week. The only other healthy runner on the roster this week will be Phillip Tanner.

Another player who will be OUT today is Saints rookie RB Mark Ingram. Expect Chris Ivory to be activated from the PUP list and inserted into Ingrams spot in the New Orleans three back rotation. Bump Darren Sproles and Pierre Thomas up a few spot in your rankings. Both are excellent options this week facing the worst run defense in the league.

�Percy Harvin (ribs) looks to be a go this week.

The Seahawks will look to have some key starters back into their lineup this week. RB Marshawn Lynch and TE Zach Miller are all expected to start today as the Seahawks host the Bengals. QB Tarvaris Jackson (pectoral) is a game time decision.

Rookie Daniel Thomas is OUT. That makes Reggie Bush a full time player this week. Lex Hilliard will also see increased playing time.

Rookie 1st round CB Prince Amukamara will not make his much anticipated debut yet. He’s been ruled INACTIVE.

�Knowshon Moreno gets the start today vs. the Lions as Willis McGahee (hand) recovers from surgery.

RB Jahvid Best (concussion) once again is out and will be replaced by Maurice Morris and Keiland Williams

New York Giants RB Brandon Jacobs is ACTIVE.

Delone Carter will get the starting not today in Tennessee, but Joseph Addai will be active, but only in an emergency type of role. Donald Brown will likely see more playing time than Addai.

Sam Bradford will miss a second straight game. At this point, no Rams should be in a fantasy football matchup except for RB Steven Jackson.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis is expected to play today, but could be limited. Fantasy owners would probably be better off looking at other options, as it’s a tough matchup for the Patriots in Pittsburgh.

It’s always a gamble with late kick offs, but RB Mike Tolbert�is expected to miss this week’s game vs. the Chiefs. Ryan Mathews will start and play nearly full time.

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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Week 8

Jody Smith — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 22:34:07 +0000

Gridiron Experts Jody Smith

Fantasy Football Waive Wire Week 8

We’re at the halfway point of another fantasy football season. The playoff stretch drive is here, but those pesky bye weeks are still hanging around. Here’s some waiver wire picks that you might be able to utilize to get you through another tough week without your full compliment of �starters.

The numbers next to these players are the percentage of ESPN fantasy leagues in which they are readily available to be picked up off of waivers. Pay special attention if you have any starters from the following teams that are on bye this week: JETS, RAIDERS, BEARS, PACKERS, BUCS and FALCONS.

�Ben Tate (RB) 46%-�How often are you at the halfway point of your fantasy season and a guy in the top ten in the NFL in rushing is available in nearly half of fantasy leagues? The answer is never. Tate is a forgotten man while splitting carries with the �more popular�Arian Foster, but Tate is actually outperforming the incumbent stater. The second-year tailback is 9th in the NFL in rushing, has three 100 yard rushing weeks and boasts a 5.1 YPC average.

He’ll continue to be Robin to Arian Foster’s Batman, but Tate is definitely worthy of being a weekly play. The Texans have gone to a run heavy offense in the absence of Andre Johnson and Tate will continue to be heavily utilized in an effort to keep Foster from wearing down. Houston hosts a tough Jacksonville team this week, but Ben Tate is worth a start in deep leagues or those suffering from the bye week blues. He has great value for the remainder of the season.

�Roy Helu (RB) 83%-�Tim Hightower’s�season ending injury is going to have big fantasy benefits for owners of Washington’s other two runners,�Ryan Torain�and the rookie Roy Helu. Though Torain is expected to take over the starters role, one thing we all know is that sooner or later there’s going to be Shananigans at running back�that’s why Helu is a smart pick up.

Ryan Torain has himself struggled to stay healthy and has gotten into trouble with fumbles. It wouldn’t surprise anyone to see Helu start a few games for the Redskins this season. At the very least, he will continue to share carries and Hightower’s absence will only assure him more playing time.

�Alfonso Smith (RB) 94%-�Another guy who will benefit from an injury is the unheralded second year back out of Kentucky.Beanie Wells�is expected to miss at least one game for the Cardinals, so Smith will start at least this week. Smith has a good combination of size (6’1″ 205 lbs.) so he’ll do the inside and short yardage running for Arizona. He’s not likely to provide much as a receiver, as�LaRod Stephens-Howling�will play on third downs and obvious passing situations.

The Cardinals have a tough matchup up in Week 8, traveling to Baltimore to play a Ravens club that was just embarrassed on national TV. Still, those desperate for a flex or bye week spot might want to give Smith a look.

�Michael Jenkins (WR) 86%-�The Vikings’ switch to�Christian Ponder�had immediate positive effects on the entire offense. Ponder looked to get the ball downfield and that benefits Jenkins in a big way. Though he only caught three of his eight targets, Jenkins still managed to eclipse the 100 yard mark and caught a long bomb for a score.

In Week 8 the Vikings will travel to Carolina to play an opponent that Jenkins is very familiar with, having played the Panthers twice every year during his stint with the Falcons. This game should be relatively high scoring, and as long as Ponder continues to look to get the ball deep, Jenkins will remain his top playmaking option.

�Antonio Brown (WR) 90%-�Antonio Brown is a pretty hot commodity on the free agent market right now- and why not? �The Pittsburgh Steelers days of ground and pound are over, replaced by a potent passing attack that benefits Brown and the rest of the Pittsburgh receiving corps. Brown has over 66 receiving yards in four of the Steelers seven games this season, including a 102 yard performance last week. As long as�Hines Ward�is hurt, Brown stand to benefit the most.

To make him an even more appealing pick up this week, the Steelers host New England this week, the NFL’s worst pass defense. The Patriots are giving up over 322 passing yards per game- 34 more than anybody else. This game has shoot-out written all over it, and Brown is a great candidate for a half dozen grabs and a touchdown.

�Jabar Gaffney (WR) 81%-�The entire Washington offense seems to be in a state of flux.�Rex Grossman�was benched, the starting running back is out for the season, and now top wide out�Santana Moss�will miss at least a month. Jabar Gaffney now becomes the number one receiver for Washington. Gaffney is already averaging four grabs and seven targets a game, but those numbers are sure to increase with Moss out of the lineup.

Washington will be hungry to avenge a disappointing loss last week, and their opponent will be the Buffalo Bills and their 30th ranked pass defense. Don’t forget that this game will be played in Toronto, which takes the home field advantage away from the Bills and gives the Redskins a better chance of producing decent fantasy numbers.

�Heath Miller (TE) 79%-�Miller is another Pittsburgh receiving option that is benefiting for the club’s transition to a pass-first attack. He’s not going to put up huge numbers, but you can generally count on a half dozen target and four catches a week. An added bonus is that Miller has scored in two of the last three games.

Not to pile on one terrible pass defense, but just a reminder that the Steelers have a showdown with the league’s most generous pass defense. The Patriots certainly know how to utilize tight ends is the passing game, but they don’t seem to know how to cover them.

�Christian Ponder (QB) 93%-�As fantasy football rosters have become less predictable, depth has become more important at the running back and receiver spots. That’s why a lot of owners choose not to even carry a backup QB. If you’re one of those people, and you own�Aaron Rodgers�and nobody else, now’s your chance to grab a nice option for week 8. The rookie looked very good in his NFL debut last week in relief of the benched�Donovan McNabb.�Ponder added a spark to the Vikings passing attack, tossing two scoring passes and even chipped in some rushing production.

Ponder’s first road start won’t be an easy task, but the Panthers will undoubtedly focus on stopping�Adrian Peterson�which could set up some nice play-action opportunities for Ponder and the Vikings passing game.�Visanthe Shiancoe��could be the biggest benefactor of this in the red zone.

�Jody Smith is a 21 year fantasy football vet. Follow us on twitter @jodysmith_ and @gridironexperts

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Fantasy Football Sunday Scoop

Jody Smith — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 16:07:07 +0000

Gridiron Experts Jody Smith

Fantasy Football Sunday Scoop

The hours before kickoff can be a confusing and busy time for everyone. That’s why we take the time to do the hard work for you. We’ve got all the late breaking news, injury information and access to the active/inactive lists all right here. Don’t put in your fantasy football lineups until you’ve read the Sunday Scoop.

Andre Johnson is still OUT and may not be ready for another two to three weeks.

QB Tarvaris Jackson is INACTIVE so Charlie Whitehurst gets the start against a Cleveland secondary that will be without CB Joe Haden.�

Tight End Todd Heap is also OUT. Jeff King will get the start, but has minimal fantasy football value.

With Felix Jones expected to miss several games, rookie DeMarco Murray�gets his first NFL start this week against the league’s worst run defense, the St. Louis Rams. Murray will split time with Tashard Choice. Murray gets the nod in yardage leagues, while those in TD heavy formats should consider Choice.

RB LeGarrette Blount, DT Gerald McCoy�and OL Jeff Faine are all OUT and will miss the Bucs match against the Chicago Bears in jolly ole England.

QB Sam Bradford is OUT this week and will not play. Starting in his place for the 0-6 Rams will be A.J. Feely, who makes his first NFL start in four years. This would be a good week to bench all St. Louis Rams fantasy players.

It looks like Joseph Addai (hamstring) will return to the Colts backfield. Delone Carter will remain in his secondary role and Donald Brown should now be dropped.

The Raiders have signed Dave Rayner to do the place kicking duties this week in relief of Sebastian Janikowski. SeaBass will miss this game due to an injured hamstring.

Ailing tight end Antonio Gates is expected to return to action for the Chargers, but may be limited by Norv Turner and the coaching staff. Still, if he’s healthy, a limited Gates is better than nearly all other tight end options out there. If you have moved on from him and have another solid fantasy TE you might want to wait and see how he looks before re-inserting him into your lineup.

Jahvid Best (concussion) is OUT this week and could be out some further games. After a failed attempt to trade for Ronnie Brown,��the Lions will start a committee of Maurice Morris and Keiland Williams. Morris will definitely see more work and most of the receptions while Williams will be active near the goal line for a team that almost exclusively throws in that area of the field.

Peyton Hillis hasn’t practiced all week and likely won’t play with a bum hamstring.

�LaDainian Tomlinson gets the start at running back for the Jets this week, against his former club, but it’s probably more of a symbolic gesture than any real news.�Shonn Greene will still play plenty, but Rex Ryan hopes the temporary switch to Tomlinson will add a spark to the Jets troubled ground game.

Carson Palmer got all the headlines this week, but the Raiders are likely to start Kyle Boller�this Sunday against the Chiefs. Temper expectations for any and all Raiders receivers. Terrelle Pryor is coming off of his suspension and could even get some playing time in “wild cat” formations.

WR Julio Jones warmed up on the field before the game will still be INACTIVE.

Daniel Thomas will start at running back for the Dolphins against a lousy Broncos rush defense.

Follow us on twitter @gridironexperts and @jodysmith_

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