Post Mortem: Can it be Brady again?

Did Week 14 seem to overpromise some great weather games and then underdeliver? Like “Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace.” And the only weather game we got was a blowout. But it was the start of the fantasy playoffs for most of you, so let’s search through the wreckage.

Fantasy player of the week
Patriots QB Tom Brady again? Absolutely. The Patriots could certainly have been in store for a letdown coming off a huge win over the rival Jets, and traveling to play the — what we thought were — tough Bears. Battling through the snow was not a surprise; Brady has done it before. But Brady made one of the best teams in the NFC look ridiculous at home in the process. Again, to reiterate, Brady is a must-start fantasy quarterback and the only QB I would start over Brady is Eagles QB Michael Vick.

By the numbers
Seventy-two. That was the point total of my running backs, Michael Turner and Darren McFadden, for my team, the Benson Burner. The only problem — my squad was on a bye week. Not that it was really a problem. Some of you likely had huge performances from your guys on a bye for the playoffs, but one of our video producers/editors put it best: just pretend you were playing this week and that you won. That will not make it any easier if they struggle next week, but it helps right now.

Not to brag, but Andre Johnson also had a huge week for me on the bye. Can I just carry that over? This team is looking at a 50-point performance next week, right?

Thank you for stopping by
Broncos QB Kyle Orton, hate to tell you this, but Cardinals kicker Jay Feely had more touchdowns than you. That late-season swoon for Orton is happening, and not even a great matchup against the Cardinals can stop it. Orton might have got you to the playoffs, but if you played him this week, you are likely out.

Rule changes that need to happen
Should kickers be banned in fantasy football? I have long advocated banishing kickers, because you just cannot predict what they are going to do. But watching Feely score that fluke touchdown to give those gift points has me changing my mind. We might need to review this over the offseason.

Rule change that should never happen
Team quarterbacks. Don’t do it.

Best player nobody was playing
San Francisco QB Alex Smith led all fantasy football signal callers in points on Sunday. Maybe that will be enough for the 49ers to hold on to him next season. And really, do we have to credit the genius of coach Mike Singletary for making the move at quarterback? He was the only one with the stones to start Smith.

Worst player nearly everybody was playing
Chiefs WR Dwayne Bowe couldn’t go scoreless again could he? Oh boy.

You just made the list, buddy
Cardinals RB Beanie Wells has surprisingly never made the list. But it has become clear that he is not going to make a fantasy impact this season. And to be honest, there is a chance he might not ever be able to make one.

Posted in: Fantasy  

View the original article here

Post Mortem: Brady is better fantasy QB than Peyton

The Patriots have finally stopped scoring on the Jets, so let’s put Week 13 under the microscope.

Fantasy superstar

We’ve all known for years that Patriots Tom Brady was a better real quarterback than the Colts’ Peyton Manning. But right now, probably for the first time since 2007, Brady is the better fantasy option, too. It’s one thing to praise Brady after he destroys the Lions. However, his performance against the once vaunted Jets defense was rather impressive. To bring in some real football knowledge, the Patriots have beaten the Steelers, Colts and Jets in rather impressive fashion. Unless you have Packers QB Aaron Rodgers or Eagles QB Michael Vick, you need to have Brady in your lineup regardless of the matchup.

Yeah, that goes for me, too.

Rule change that needs to happen

Nearly every league does negative points for interceptions. But how about negative six points for every interception that is returned for a touchdown? Imagine how much worse Manning would be if that rule existed on Sunday. If only I knew somebody in the NFL fantasy department who could make that happen …

Why did you even put on your shoulder pads?

Hey, rookie RB Ryan Mathews was healthy and did not play at all in Week 13. Well, if you want to look at the bright side, you probably will have no problem getting Mathews in your draft next year.

Fool’s gold

Is anybody else buying Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch right now? Me either.

He’s not a machine

The world seems different when Browns RB Peyton Hillis does not score a touchdown. But don’t worry, you big lug, nobody can stay mad at you.

Best player nobody was playing

Lions QB Drew Stanton outscored Manning, Chargers QB Philip Rivers and Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger. Not sure if he was the better dancer, though.

Worst player everybody was playing

For the second consecutive week, RB Chris Johnson was a no-show for the Titans and your fantasy team. Best part for me? Johnson’s demise meant my rival, Jimmy, will not make the fantasy playoffs this season.

Coaches, you cannot trust them

Saints coach Sean Payton told NFL Network’s Kara Henderson that he was going to get the ball to RB Reggie Bush early and often against the Bengals. Final tally: Bush had five rushing attempts and three receptions. Rookie RB Chris Ivory had 15 rushing attempts for 117 yards and two touchdowns. Why do coaches do this? Did Payton think that the coaches were watching NFL Network and they were going adjust their defensive game plan?

Payton has told reporters that he will continue to go to Ivory. Yeah, right. We’ve heard that one before. Sounds to me like some Super Bowl-winning coach is itching to get on ‘the list.’

You just made the list, buddy

Redskins WR Santana Moss is awful. He was outscored by WR Anthony Armstrong this week. You would have to be an ardent West Texas A&M fan to recognize Armstrong’s name. The whole Redskins offense is struggling. Wasn’t Mike Shanahan once an offensive guru? That seems so long ago.

Posted in: Fantasy  

View the original article here

Post mortem: A lineman again makes an impact

Poor Chargers QB Philip Rivers, four touchdowns and nobody is going to bother to notice. Not after Eagles QB Michael Vick set the bar so high. At least he’s in the mix for Hall of Fame QB Dan Marino‘s single-season passing record.

But let’s look at the fantasy highlights.

Fantasy Superstar

Raiders DE Richard Seymour made the play of the week when he decked Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger. Like the Redskins defensive backs who taunted Eagles WR DeSean Jackson, this unsportsmanlike conduct seemed to further inspire the Steelers. So much so, that Roethlisberger was still throwing the ball in the waning moments. Big Ben’s toss to Isaac Redman came after the two-minute warning with the Steelers holding a commanding lead.

Not that fantasy enthusiasts are complaining. In fact, more teams should use this approach. Remember, one of the NFL playoff tiebreakers is net points.

Best player nobody was playing

Colts QB Peyton Manning continues to make stars of unknown players. Undrafted rookie WR Blair White had a pair of touchdowns. White was started in less than 1 percent of leagues. And even fewer in leagues outside of East Lansing, Mich. White could be a solid play if WR Austin Collie is held out because of concussion symptoms.

Worst player that everybody was playing

This is rather amazing, but Texans WR Andre Johnson was started in 83 percent fantasy leagues on NFL.com. (Not the 100 percent as I previously mentioned. I believe that I was merely wishing 100 percent of us had started him.) Still, with 83 percent of us starting Dre this week, I certainly don’t feel as bad about the next entry.

By the numbers

93 – That is the combined score (in my league’s scoring) of the guys I benched: Roethlisberger, Bills WR Stevie Johnson and Bengals RB Cedric Benson. And my team is named the Benson Burner.

24 – The points from the guys I started ahead of them: Vick, Dre, and Raiders RB Darren McFadden.

Here’s why you should heed your own advice and follow your gut.

When did you become so good?

Remember when Chiefs WR Dwayne Bowe was on the verge of being labeled a bust? Me neither.

Who are you, and why are you impacting my team?

There are a number of high-profile quarterbacks putting up huge fantasy numbers this season. Vick, Roethlisberger, and Packers QB Aaron Rodgers are a few of the signal callers who have been fantasy gold. Not to mention the old reliable guys like Peyton Manning and Saints QB Drew Brees. Even Bills QB Ryan Fitzpatrick has been solid.

But while the highs are soaring, the league is also putting out guys like Panthers QB Brian St. Pierre and Dolphins QB Tyler Thigpen — the Rooster, for whom I still have a soft spot. And now QB Rusty Smith will likely start for the Titans this week with Vince Young on IR and Kerry Collins a week or two away.

And I joked about it on Sunday, but I would almost consider starting Smith against the Texans this week. However, you would have to be in a pretty dire situation.

Posted in: Fantasy  

View the original article here

Post Mortem: Who says linemen don’t count?

Hey look, the Eagles have finally stopped scoring. Week 10 is in the books.

Fantasy superstar of the week who wasn’t Michael Vick

Jaguars WR Mike Thomas. After growing tired of hearing coaches and talking heads tout this strategy for years, I am glad that “just knock it down” blew up in everybody’s faces. But more importantly, it could end the Gary Kubiak era in Houston. Fantasy enthusiasts should then celebrate by tearing down that Kubiak statue in Houston. If only Thomas could find a way to end Todd Haley‘s running back rotation in Kansas City, we would really be on to something.

Best player nobody was playing

Panthers RB Mike Goodson. He is owned in only seven percent of leagues, meaning his Week 10 points went to waste. But that’s nothing compared to Chiefs QB Matt Cassel, who started in only one percent of NFL.com leagues. He led all scorers on Sunday with 33.06 points.

By the numbers

7.40 – The scoring total of Colts QB Peyton Manning in NFL.com basic scoring.

24.84 — The scoring total of Vick in NFL.com basic scoring — in the first quarter.

$40 million — The amount of guaranteed money given to Redskins QB Donovan McNabb.

Still don’t trust you

Desperate and talented teams can still rise to the occasion. Except for the Bengals. But the Cowboys have to show some consistency before we can start trusting them again in fantasy on a weekly basis.

You just made the list, buddy

Giants G Kevin Boothe. The best linemen are the anonymous linemen. But anybody who had Giants WR Hakeem Nicks and watched his touchdown get taken away will not forget this name. Not cool. Based on the scoring in my league, that meant negating five points for the yards, six points for the touchdowns and a two-point bonus for Nicks gaining 100 receiving yards. Thankfully, he plays for Tom Coughlin and that is punishment enough.

Posted in: Fantasy  

View the original article here