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

Fantasy Football:

Each year Fantasy owners gamble on the unpredictable nature of a NFL rookie. Some are drafted high, while others are sleepers lower on your fantasy draft board. Regardless of their future in the NFL, the eyes of  greedy “what have you done for me lately” fantasy owners are ranking them on production. Here is are the Best and Worst Fantasy Rookies of 2010:

The Best
1. Sam Bradford, QB, St. Louis Rams
The Rams selected Bradford first overall in the draft and absolutely picked correctly. Not only did Bradford win the Rookie of the Year award, but he led the Rams to seven wins (one in 2009) and nearly made the playoffs. Bradford threw up some good fantasy numbers, throwing for 3512 yards, 18 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Bradford ended up with 180 total points (according to ESPN’s Fantasy Football).
2. Mike Williams, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Williams was suppose to be second or third wide receiver on the depth chart going into the season, however, the fourth-round pick and Rookie of the Year runner-up outshined second-round pick Arrelious Benn. Williams had a great rookie year, gathering up double digits fantasy points in nine of sixteen games. He had 65 receptions, 964 yards and 11 touchdowns. Williams end up with 151 total points (according to ESPN’s Fantasy Football).
3. Jahvid Best, RB, Detroit Lions
The Lions’ running back came out on fire, putting up huge numbers the first two weeks. However injuries got the best of him and his numbers fell to average throughout the season. Best had 563 rushing yards with 4 touchdowns to go along with 487 yard receiving yards and 2 touchdowns. Best ended up with 127 total points (according to ESPN’s Fantasy Football).
4. LeGarrette Blount, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers rolled the dice on Blount, claiming him off waivers in early September, and the gamble paid off. Blount was one of the biggest surprises during the 2010 fantasy season. He ran up 1007 yards on 201 attempts with 6 touchdowns. He managed four 100 yard games and he did not even get a carry until Week 3. Blount end up with 126 total points (according to ESPN’s Fantasy Football).
5. Ryan Mathews, RB, San Diego Chargers
Taking the starting spot away from Darren Sproles, Mathews managed a good rookie year. He showed that he can put up great fantasy numbers by ending the season with a 3 touchdown game against the Broncos. Mathews had 157 carries for 675 yards and 7 touchdowns in 12 games. Mathews end up with 107 total points (according to ESPN’s Fantasy Football).
Honorable Mentions
Rob Gronkowski, TE, New England Patriots
(546 yards, 10 TDs)(ESPN Points – 107)
Dez Bryant, WR, Dallas Cowboys
(561 yards, 6 TDs, 2 punt returns TDS in 12 games)(ESPN Points – 98)
Tim Tebow, QB, Denver Broncos
(654 yards, 5 TDs, 3 INTs; 227 rushing yards, 6 rush TDs in 9 games)(ESPN Points – 95)
Chris Ivory, RB, New Orleans Saints
(716 yards, 5 TDs in 12 games)(ESPN Points – 91)
Aaron Hernandez, TE, New England Patriots
(563 yards, 6 TDs)(ESPN Points – 89)

The Worst

1. C.J. Spiller, RB, Buffalo Bills
With the ninth overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills selected the one of biggest bust in the 2010 fantasy season and he was the biggest bust amongst rookies. Spiller rushed for only 283 yards with zero rushing touchdowns and 5 fumbles in fourteen games (one start). His only touchdown was a receiving touchdown which came in Week 3 against the Patriots. Spiller ended up with 41 total points (according to ESPN’s Fantasy Football). Detroit’s Javhid Best put up 40 points in Week 2 alone.
2. Demaryius Thomas, WR, Denver Broncos
The twenty-second overall pick was a major disappoint in Denver. He was supposed to be the top receiver, taking the spot after Brandon Marshall was traded to Miami. Thomas had rough season playing only in ten games (starting two) with 283 receiving yards, 2 touchdown and 2 fumbles. Thomas ended up with 32 total points
3. Jimmy Clausen, QB, Carolina Panthers
Some experts were big on Clausen coming to the NFL, but when he was put in, he did not impress anybody one bit. Clausen threw for 1558 yards, 3 touchdowns and 9 interceptions in 13 games (10 starts). Clausen ended up with 50 total points.
4. Arrelious Benn, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Benn was supposed to be the lead dog in Tampa Bay, but the second-rounder flopped. He only put up 379 yards and 2 touchdowns and was outdone by fellow rookie teammate Mike Williams. Benn ended up with 46 total points.
5. Colt McCoy, QB, Cleveland Browns
McCoy found his way into 8 games after taking over the starting spot because of injuries. He threw for 1576 yards, 6 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. McCoy ended up with 83 total points .

Fantasy Football:

Jon Kitna (QB) Dallas-

Kerry Collins (QB) Tennessee- After getting humiliated by the Texans 20-0 three weeks ago the Titans are going to be thirsty for revenge. The Texans are on pace to be one of the worst defensive teams in NFL history and this time the Titans will have Collins and a healthy Kenny Britt in the lineup. It’s not unreasonable to assume that Tennessee could pass for over 250 yards and 2+ scored in this game.

Johnathan Stewart (RB) Carolina- Since returning from a concussion injury that kept him out for two games, J-Stew has been red hot. In those three games he has 323 rushing yards and a score. With the Panthers still being unable to mount any sort of passing attack, Stewart and the ground game will remain Carolina’s focal point. Week 15 brings the perfect matchup. The Panthers host an Arizona defense that is dead last in the NFL in terms of fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs.

LeGarrette Blount (RB) Tampa Bay- Blount has become the featured back for the Buccaneers. His emergence has opened up the passing game for Josh Freeman and has relegated Cadillac Williams to a third down back role.Over the Buc’s last two home games Blount has averaged 97 rushing yards and scored in each contest. Tampa hosts the Detroit Lions 26^th ranked rush defense that has surrendered 17 rushing scores so far in 2010.

Chester Taylor (RB) Chicago- The Metrodome roof collapse has caused this game to be moved to and outdoor stadium in Minnesota…in December. Weather will be a huge factor and the Bears are likely to give more carries to both running backs. Taylor has become Chicago’s short yardage back of choice. He’s scored in back to back games and the Vikings just surrendered over 200 rushing yards to the Giants on Monday night. Minnesota will also be led by a rookie quarterback, so that increases the likelihood that Chicago will control the game and be looking to run out the clock.

Chad Ochocinco (WR) Cincinnati- Over the Bengals last five games Ochocinco has actually outproduced Terrell Owens. Since Week 10 Ocho’s averaging five catches for 64 yards and has scored two touchdowns. Back in Week 4 T.O. destroyed the Browns for 222 yards, so he’s likely to be the focal point of the Cleveland defense this week. That could open the door for Ochocinco to produce some nice fantasy numbers.

Santonio Holmes (WR) New York Jets- Classic “revenge” situation. Holmes had a terrible drop in the end zone last week and will no doubt be looking to make amends against his former team. Although the Jets offense has struggled recently, it’s likely that they will make an effort to get Holmes the ball in his return to Heinz Field. The Steelers are actually only ranked 23^rd in the NFL against the pass.

Mike Williams (WR) Seattle- Matt Hasselbeck will no doubt be happy to have his favorite target back into the Seahawks lineup. Atlanta is expected to win this game so it could lead to some nice second half fantasy stats for Williams and Seattle. The Falcons are surprisingly poor at allowing fantasy points to wide receivers- they rank 29^th in the NFL.

Anthony Fasano (TE) Miami- In terms of match-ups, this is the best game of the year for Fasano. The Bills are ranked 30^th in the NFL at allowing fantasy points to tight ends. Fasano has yet to have a zero catch game all season and makes a good target for Chad Henne on play action passes in and around the goal line.

David Buehler (PK) Dallas- Need a safe kicking option where weather won’t be an issue? Buehler could be your guy. Since the revival of the Dallas offense he’s scored 9 or more points four times. At home against a Redskins team that is in turmoil could set Buehler up for a lot of kicking opportunities.

Fantasy Football:

Hillis putting up big numbers with extra opportunities isn’t the jaw-dropper, folks. This writer knew this guy had the skills and tough running style to do this all along. It’s that he did it against the stout Baltimore Ravens defense, is what is impressive.

This week we’re giving you two guys at each major offensive position (QB/RB/WR/TE), and making sure every single guy we name is available in at least 50% of all standard leagues.

Looking for the next Hillis for week four? Read on for the top waiver wire gems on the market:

Mark Sanchez, QB, New York Jets (Available in 57% of all standard Yahoo! Leagues)

Sanchez looked like he’d be spending his entire 2010 season on your league’s waiver wire after a pathetic week one, but then put on a show in a huge win in week two over New England. He capped a marvelous two-week run with his second consecutive three-touchdown game, and has yet to throw a pick this season, despite facing three solid defenses to start the season. Add the fact that Santonio Holmes is due back in week four, and it’s hard not to start to warm up to Sanchez. Sanchez should make for a quality back-up or spot fill-in as a QB1 if needed.

Sam Bradford, QB, St. Louis Rams (74%)

Bradford is a rookie, plays for the rams, and has five picks to his name in just three games. All bad things, true, but he’s shown a true moxie and great feel for the game in that short span, and has also put up two games of 230+ yards, while throwing at least one touchdown in each game to start the season. He’ll be hit-or-miss all season, but you know he’ll be throwing a ton in each game all season long. Bradford is a decent option in two-quarterback leagues.

Writer Pick: Peyton Hillis, RB, Cleveland Browns (52%)

We’ll keep it short and sweet: Go get this bruiser. Hillis put up 144 rushing yards on a very good Baltimore run defense; the same Ravens run defense that locked up the Jets rush attack and made Cedric Benson look extremely pedestrian. Hillis can catch at a high level, too (seven receptions in week three), and has a touchdown in each game this season. He is an absolute must-own in all leagues. Hillis is a safe RB2 with potential to be very stable every week.

LeGarrette Blount, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (99%)

There simply aren’t a great amount of backs on waiver wires who can make a huge impact right now. We could point you to Fred Taylor in New England, but he has just 27 total rushing yards in the past two weeks, despite rushing for 71 in week one. Blount runs hard and has more explosion that Carnell Williams, so there is a definite chance for more carries here. Blount had 27 yards on six carries (including a score) in week three, and could be featured more going forward. He can’t be relied on as a Flex just yet, but keep an eye on him, and stash him in deeper leagues.

Louis Murphy, WR, Oakland Raiders (70%)

We could point you to Lance Moore, Brandon Lloyd, or Roy Williams, but that’s just being lazy, and more importantly, wrong. All three of those receivers had their biggest games of the year in week three, and are almost certainly never going to see that much success again in their entire careers. Murphy, on the other hand, has been the top receiver in Oakland all season, and has the role and explosiveness to keep it going. The fact that he and Bruce Gradkowski hooked up five times for 119 yards in Gradkowski’s first start is more telling that Oakland haters will want to admit. He’s a serviceable WR3, starting now.

Brian Hartline, WR, Miami Dolphins (98%)

As I said before, you can talk about the guys who had a week from the heavens all you want, but what you need are players who have the role and ability to produce on a weekly basis. Hartline may be on the fence between being reliable and being a one-week wonder, but with opposing defenses having to focus most of their attention on Brandon Marshall, Hartline could be in for a very consistent role. Hartline is turning into a more elusive and explosive option than Davone Bess, and the more comfortable Chad Henne gets with his receivers, the more reliable Hartline will be. Stash him in deeper leagues, and keep an eye on him in shallow leagues.

Aaron Hernandez, TE, New England Patriots (67%)

You could play it safe with Todd Heap or Jeremy Shockey, but the waiver wire isn’t always about getting reliable additions. Sometimes you need to inject some life into your lineup, and an increasingly hot item at tight end is Hernandez, who has grabbed six passes in each of the past two games, becoming a very solid option for Tom Brady in New England. The best part? Hernandez has showed his explosiveness and dependability as a receiver, and he hasn’t even scored yet. The true explosion is coming. Grab Hernandez as a capable TE1 if needed, and a quality TE2.

Tony Moeaki, TE, Kansas City Chiefs (67%)

Take your pick between Hernandez and Moeaki, but either way, you’re getting a young tight end who can make plays and will be getting the ball on a consistent basis. Moeaki’s amazing one-handed touchdown grab in week three made Chiefs fans say: Tony Gonzalez, who? It truly appears the Chiefs have found their new franchise tight end, and his emergence is starting to help Matt Cassel. Don’t look for his rise to cease anytime soon, and grab Moeaki as a quality TE2 with real TE1 potential.

Buy’em Low

We know it’s not always about the role or percentages, so here’s a name to take a gander at and buy low if you have the roster space or really (really) need a shot in the arm and a “cross your fingers” type of player to get your team going.

Danny Woodhead, RB, New England Patriots (99%)

The tiny kid wasn’t meant to be a big part of their rushing attack, but he took a 22-yard run to the house and put up over 11 points in standard fantasy leagues in week three. Bill Belichick is too smart to keep romping with Fred Taylor and ignore this kid’s potential. It may not be abrupt, but something tells me you’ll be hearing more about Woodhead.

Check Out Kevin’s Fantasy Blog: NFL Soup

Fantasy Football:

The punch heard round the world….at least that is how we think of Legarrette Blount in the football world.  But what if that punch never occurred?  What if Blount played and finished his last season with the Oregon Ducks?  Would he have been a top running back coming out of the draft? Blount is a 6’2″, 240 pound mirror image of Brandon Jacobs (and we all know what a bulldozer HE is).  Blount had 19 TD’s on 159 career collegiate touches, calculating out at just over 1 touchdown scored per 8 touches; numbers that any NFL run game would die for.  So again I ask the question, what if he didn’t throw that punch?

I’ll tell you what would have happened.  Blount would have been a highly sought after goal line and short yardage specialist.  He has a nose for the end zone and a love for contact.  He would have been drafted within the first 3 rounds as a perfect compliment to any shifty non-contact track star scat back.  However, he did throw that punch and was suspended for all but one game during his senior year at Oregon.  It cost him any chance he had of being drafted, resulting in the loss of millions of dollars.  But the Lord works in mysterious ways, and that punch might have been the best thing that ever happened to young Legarrette Blount.  He wasn’t drafted, but he has been signed by the Tennessee Titans, maybe the best place in the world for the former Duck to do what he does: fly under the radar, move the chains, and score touchdowns.

Every NFL enthusiast knows the Titans struggle with the pass.  But, with the addition of this bruising RB, it doesn’t matter. Tennessee can rely much more heavily on their run game and implement an unstoppable play action pass game that even Vince Young can’t mess up.  I can easily see Blount getting 10 rushing touchdowns this year. If overrated and overweight Lendale White can do it, Blount should have no problem at all finding the end zone on a regular basis.

It’s all about the touchdowns, a lot like in one of Gridiron Experts other fantasy strategy articles “The Gambler”… 1 TD equals 60 yards rushing (or close depending on your scoring system), so while your 1^st round running back is grinding away for 120 yards but gets no scores, your opponent has started the sleeper goal line monster that comes in and grabs two 1 yard TD’s and now ties the score at 12 points each… not to mention you can get Blount late in your fantasy draft and I mean late, like 10^th round.

5 foot 10, 200 pound running backs are a dime a dozen; I could walk to the grocery store and find an average sized, average skilled running back.  But big, athletic, hardnosed, smack you in the mouth running backs like Blount are hard to find.  Which is why Tennessee had the steal of the draft and he wasn’t even drafted.

Chris Johnson’s elusiveness and Blount’s power is like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich; it’s just meant to go together… If Legarette can put in the work on the practice field and in the film room while checking his attitude and ego at the door, I can see him carving out a perfect role for himself in this run happy Titans offense… that is, of course, if Blount can keep his hands in his pockets during post game.

Fantasy Football:

LeGarrette Blount was an elite running back that was due for a break out season at Oregon in 2009. The 6’2 240 lbs running back had first round draft pick written all over him, but with one punch his career could be in jeopardy. Without this monster RB the Oregon Ducks will no doubt suffer, Blount was a focal point for the team’s offense. The Ducks looked shaky in the season opener where they lost 19-8 to Boise State.

There’s no real reason why Blount would react the way he did, unfortunately there’s no taking it back. Hout yelled in Blount’s face and tapped him on the shoulder pad in celebration of the win which must have set the running back off. Before Boise State coach Chris Petersen could pull Hout away, Blount landed a right to Hout’s jaw, knocking him to his knees.

Fantasy Football: