ALL HAIL THE KING: SCHARF'S HORSEMANCongratulations to Scharf's Horseman, our 2015 KAFFL Champion.
Much like the Karate Kid, Scharf suffered an injury after Jalen swept the leg and took the Trainwreck division title. But Scharf went to the locker room, got some freaky-deeky eastern medicine love from Mr. Miyagi, and his team came out ready to crane kid the rest of the league on their way to a championship. Scharf, you're the best! PLAYOFF SCENARIOS AND CHITOWN TRADES RESULT UPDATEThe Biatch and Scharf are in the lead for first round byes, tied at 9-2.
We have 4 spots open after that: - Jalen's JRLA Jags are in - The last 3 spots are up for grabs - Tie breaker is overall record first, then points for - One win and OCD should be in, given their points scored, but they can still get in even if they lose out, depending on other teams - There is a path for literally every other 5-6 and 4-7 team to get in (I think) - Although teams like CJ and LTD that aren't likely to own a points tie breaker have to go big these next two weeks to truly have a shot - DaFoundation is the only team that is out at this point If ChiTown gets into the post season, watch out. FantasyPros has them as the second best team the rest of the way (behind The Biatch). Although if you look at those trades we were all freaking out about, they aren't panning out quite like we all expected. ChiTown is winning on the Antonio Brown trade with DaFoundation...big. By 24.5 points despite Brown being on a bye last week. The Rivers trade doesn't look great now with DJax back and the Chargers just completely falling apart. You can probably get a waiver QB that will do better the rest of the way. CJ Paul is killing it in his trade...the one most of you were freaking out about. He's up 46.4 points on that trade. The tide might turn starting this week given Forte could be back, but even then, he's splitting carries with Langford. A timeshare I don't think anyone knows what to do with. CJ knows what he's doing. CHITOWN TRADES EVEN OUT, BIATCH GETS A BIG WINIn the biggest matchup of the weekend, The Biatch topped Scharf. Granted, Scharf was missing 2 of his top 3 scorers so he didn't go into the weekend with a ton of hope. But it means that we're level at the top of the rankings. With Biatch still holding a nearly 100 point lead on the points race, after winning yet again another weekly points prize. Congrats, Biatch. And you narrowly defeated ChiTown...that has to make it all the sweeter, no?
And speaking of ChiTown, the benefits of all those trades evened out a bit this past week. While Antonio Brown went bonkers, Rivers was on a bye, Dez had a quiet game, while 5 of the 6 players they traded away scored in double digits. Now, these guys still put up the second highest points of the week, but the net effect of the mega trade week for them is neutral through 2 weeks. DID CHITOWN TRADE RAPE THE KAFFL?After a week of pulling off 3 trades in week 9, ChiTown ended the week with the high score amid some controversial trades. After one week, things look mixed. DaFoundation might be walking a little funny after handing over Antonio Brown, although they wouldn't have won with him, and with Big Ben out a few games, maybe they can pick up some ground. Otherwise, the other two trades were pretty even. So far.
TRADE APPROVED: ANTONIO BROWN FOR CALVIN JOHNSON + RONNIE HILLMANThere is apparently some concern about the trade between Da Foundation DF (LeBron & Randy) and ChiTown Hustlas (James, Peter, & Ryan).
Other than the brand names involved, I don't see any problem with this trade. And neither do the numbers. When Antonio was playing with a healthy Big Ben in the first two weeks, he averaged 27.9 pts and looked like the best player in the fantasy universe. Is he going to average that in every game from here on out with Big Ben back. No, not likely. But average in last week's game where he only scored 13.7 pts and his average drops to 23.2 pts. Still probably high but probably not far off given he has 3 plus matchups over the rest of the fantasy regular season. Sorry Trice and Jalen, but the Detroit Lions are a complete and total dumpster fire. Trice and I were texting during the last game and "embarrassing" and "horrible" were used multiple times in that conversation. Calvin is only average 13.2 pts and has 3 minus matchups over the remainder of the regular season. (And just like Antonio has one bye left.) Ronnie Hillman has averaged 15.5 pts in his last two games but those were both in plus matchups and CJ Anderson finally got going last week. He's averaging 12 pts in his last 3 games and I don't think anyone can fill like it's reasonable to expect he'd average that much over the next 5 weeks, especially with 3 minus matchups coming. Commish's ruling: Perfectly fair trade. I'd rather be getting Antonio Brown if only because I don't have to watch Calvin Johnson's talent get wasted on the field and in my lineup. It's just fucking sad. Jim Bob Cooter -- get it done! Here's some data cuz I'm a nerd: 12 BOLD REST OF SEASON NFL PREDICTIONSTeams are reaching the midway point this week and there have been plenty of first half surprises. If someone told you at the beginning of the season that Devonta Freeman would be leading the league in rushing yards heading into Week 8, that person would have been raked over the coals. How about that Gary Barnidge from the Cleveland Browns would have the second most yards out of any tight end and is tied for the second most receiving touchdowns across the entire league.It’s hard to imagine things being any different watching those guys play up until this point. It’d be safe to say that every season brings surprises and often times, you can even split those unsuspecting events into two halves. To help imagine what could be in store between Weeks 8 and 17, we’ve asked the most accurate experts in the industry to give us one bold prediction with the rest of the season in mind. Q: Please give us one bold prediction for the remaining half of the season. “Since returning from his four-game suspension, Martavis Bryant has racked up 182 yards and three touchdowns in two weeks, all while catching passes from Mike Vick and Landry Jones. Bryant showed improved chemistry with Ben Roethlisberger down the stretch last year, and that carried into the preseason. With Big Ben nearing a return to the lineup, the Steelers’ offense is on the verge of erupting. Antonio Brown’s value as one of fantasy’s best receivers will be restored, and Bryant will join him as a WR1 the rest of the way.” – Justin Boone (The Score) “The long-awaited breakout from Ladarius Green appears to be in motion. He’s been productive even in the two games that Antonio Gates played, and it looks like Gates could be out for a while with a balky knee. Even if Gates makes it back on the field, we could see more setbacks – he’s 35, after all. San Diego’s offense has to be pass-happy these days, given a terrible offensive line and a messy defense. Green has an excellent chance at being a Top 10 tight end, and for the purpose of this column, let’s say he’s a Top 5 guy the remainder of the year.” – Scott Pianowski (Yahoo) “Charcandrick West will post top-20 numbers the rest of the way. West’s stellar Week 7 is a sign of things to come. He received 24 of the team’s 27 running back touches, which indicates that Andy Reid isn’t interested in working Knile Davis or any other RB into the offense. West’s rest-of-season schedule is among the best at his position, including tasty matchups with the Chargers and Browns in the fantasy playoffs.” – John Paulsen (4for4.com) “Mike Evans will be a top-5 WR the rest of the season. Although it might not be crazy bold, it is a realistic prediction. He appears to be close to 100% finally and Tampa Bay just lost Murphy for the season and Vincent Jackson for a couple weeks. He will see a ton of targets from Winston here on out as they have a very easy schedule against pass defenses the rest of the way.” – Sean Koerner (STATS) “Despite the Cowboys head-faking us last week by hinting about an expanded role for Christine Michael, only to anoint Darren McFadden as their new feature back, I’ll predict that Michael becomes the lead RB in Dallas by Thanksgiving. Maybe Michael is such a knucklehead behind the scenes that he’ll never get that chance. But can he really be *that* much more of a knucklehead than Joseph Randle? This is a double wager, really — a bet on Michael’s talent, and a stack of chips on the “Don’t Pass” line with regard to McFadden.” – Pat Fitzmaurice (The Football Girl) “Titans rookie Marcus Mariota will outscore Carson Palmer for the remainder of the season. Arizona’s signal caller currently has the 4th most fantasy points amongst QBs. With that said, his remaining schedule is horrendous. He has two matchups against Seattle (although if you’re league doesn’t play Week 17, then just one) as well as St. Louis and Minnesota. On the flip side, Tennessee goes up against Houston twice, Jacksonville twice, New Orleans and New England. That’s the weakest schedule amongst all QBs. FINE PRINT: Mariota faces the Jets in Week 14.” – Adrian Pereira (eDraft) “Thomas Rawls outscores Marshawn Lynch from Week 8 on. This is obviously somewhat of a bet on Lynch being unable to stay healthy. But the purpose of the prediction is to point out that Rawls has been far more efficient than Lynch, albeit with a shorter workload. Rawls is fourth in the league in yards per carry at 5.6 while Lynch is averaging just 3.7 yards per carry. Seattle’s offensive line is top ten in adjusted line yards, so Rawls could really do damage if Lynch were to miss time.” – Brett Talley (The Fantasy Fix) “I would have said Todd Gurley is a top 3 RB the ROS, but that was bold three weeks ago and not now, ha. So, I will say Eddie Lacy will return to being a Top 10 RB the ROS. Lacy didn’t suddenly lose his talent. That ankle injury was rather severe, and he should have taken time off. The bye week and limited action in Week 6 will help him get back to 100 percent. That offense is still one of the best, giving Lacy plenty of scoring chances, and he was the third best RB from Weeks 4-17 last year.” – Jake Ciely (RotoExperts) “The fantasy football world patiently awaits demolition of the unstable QB1 house that Blake Bortles has built himself this season. Telescopes and binoculars everywhere are trained on the structure from afar as viewers anticipate ignition of fake football’s freshest dumpster fire, but the detonator is nowhere to be found. I predict the combination of Jacksonville’s mediocre defense and poor running game will force Bortles to keep chucking it. Meanwhile, a soft schedule will help him avoid truly disastrous games en route to a top-12 finish, rather than the collapse so many expect.” – Greg Smith (The Fake Football) “You may not be a believer yet, but Tavon Austin will continue to be and finish the year as a top 25 WR. You have every right to be hesitant, reluctant or even offended; however, the Rams have the easiest WR strength of schedule from here on out. The emergence of Todd Gurley opens things up for this offense in a tremendous way. Austin is the new Percy Harvin, except healthy and hopefully without the drama.” – Matt De Lima (ScoutFantasy) “Jonathan Stewart will be a top-10 running back to close out the season. Those who drafted Jonathan Stewart after his late surge last season were highly disappointed by his output at the beginning of this year. Stewart was limited to 62 rushing yards and seven standard fantasy points or fewer in each of his first four games, gaining 3.7 yards per carry or worse in three of those four contests. However, something seems to happen to Stewart during these bye weeks. He struggled last season as well until the bye before taking off. This year, he has broken that 62-yard barrier in both contests thus far. He rushed for 78 yards and two touchdowns versus an impressive Seattle ground defense in Week 6, and then followed it up with a 125-yard output Sunday night against Philadelphia. Stewart’s offensive line is playing very well, and the opposition can’t exactly key in on him with Cam Newton being a threat to take off at any time. However, the best reason to love Stewart is his schedule. Check out his opponents, beginning now until Week 16: Colts, Packers, Titans, Redskins, Cowboys, Saints, Falcons, Giants, Falcons. Save for Atlanta, every single team on that list is ranked 19th or worse in terms of yards per carry allowed to opposing running backs. That’s pretty insane, so I expect Stewart to take advantage of that and finish his 2015 campaign on a tear – just like he did last year.” – Walter Cherepinsky (Walter Football) “I’m not even sure how bold this is, but I predict that Andy Dalton will finish the season as a top-three fantasy quarterback. People seem to believe that the 2015 version of Dalton is an aberration and that he will soon slip back to his 2014 form, but 2014 was actually the aberration, with A.J. Green, Marvin Jones, Tyler Eifert, and Giovani Bernard all missing substantial time to injuries. In 2013, Dalton was a top-five QB as a third-year player, and he also did well as a rookie and second-year starter. Each year of his career except for 2014, Dalton has been on par with, or exceeded the expectations one would have for a QB of his experience. As long his offensive weapons stay healthy, Dalton’s career trend should hold true in 2015. ” – Matthew Freedman (RotoViz) 5 Things We Learned in Week 5With over a quarter of the season now behind us, it’s easy to get carried away and project your team as the league’s rightful winner or begin to look forward to next season’s draft. However, keep in mind that at this time last year, Odell Beckham Jr. played in his first game in Week 5, so there is a lot of room for change in your fantasy league.
Whether you’re off to a hot start or in need of a boost, this is the time in the season where key additions and stashes pay dividends. This is especially true with bye weeks now in full swing, meaning your full roster will likely be unavailable for the foreseeable future. With that in mind, here are five things we learned in Week 5. Eli Manning is an underrated fantasy quarterback Coming into the season, Eli Manning was ranked on the lower end of preseason QB rankings and was likely only drafted as a backup QB or in two-QB leagues. However, heading into Week 5 he was the 11th-highest QB in fantasy scoring. After his huge performance on Sunday night, Manning will likely be a top-10 QB. The Giants’ quarterback finished Week 5 41-of-54 for 441 yards and three touchdowns with one interception. He’s had a hot start to the season, averaging over 283 yards and two touchdowns per game in five games this season). Aside from his impressive start to the season, Manning plays in a pass-happy offense that will afford him plenty of opportunities on a weekly basis going forward. It’s unlikely that a top-10 player at any position is still available in your league. But if Manning is still floating on your waiver wire, now would be the time to pick him up, especially if you need help at QB. Otherwise, he would be a great bye week fill-in or injury replacement. Willie Snead is a WR2/FLEX going forward After an active offseason for the Saints, many thought Brandin Cooks would be the top receiver in New Orleans, especially with the loss of Jimmy Graham and Kenny Stills. While Cooks has been solid this season, including a big game Sunday (five catches, 107 yards and one touchdown), there seems to be another viable pass catcher in New Orleans. Willie Snead has been more involved in the Saints’ offense over the past several games and led the team in receiving on Sunday with six catches for 141 yards on 11 targets. With Cooks getting most of the defense’s attention in the passing game, Drew Brees has been more than willing to look Snead’s way. As of now, Snead leads the team in receiving yards with 240 while being fourth on the team in targets and looks to have claimed the WR2 slot from Marques Colston. If Snead is available in your league, he’s worth a waiver claim, as he seems to have earned the trust of Brees and should be more looks as the season progresses. Julian Edelman is a (PPR) monster Edelman has always been a great receiver, but he is on fire to start the 2015 season (19th-highest fantasy WR heading into Week 5). The funny thing is that he seems to have done all this while flying under the radar. With Rob Gronkowski being his usual defense-shredding self, Edelman has been quiet in putting up equally large numbers each week. Edelman had another huge game Sunday, finishing with four catches for 120 yards and one touchdown.While Gronk gets most of the attention on the Pats’ offense, Edelman leads the team in targets (42) and catches (30). He usually relies on a heavy dose of targets to produce but used his speed to get the job done on Sunday, scoring on a 59-yard touchdown catch. But opportunities are the main game for Edelman, as he has averaged over 11 targets per game to start the season. While he may not be on the same level as DeAndre Hopkins with targets, Edelman gets plenty of looks from Tom Brady on a weekly basis. If you are in a PPR league, Edelman is the man you want on your squad. But as he proved Sunday, he can still produce for you even when he only gets five targets. Doug Martin is a legit RB1 Following his breakout rookie season in 2012, Doug Martin has got lost in Tampa Bay due to injuries and being surrounded by a pretty bad team over the past two seasons. But in 2015, Martin seems to be back to his “Muscle Hamster” ways. The Buccaneers’ running back had another big day on Sunday, toting the rock 24 times for 123 yards and two touchdowns while also adding three catches for 35 yards and another touchdown. Following his two previous sub-par seasons, Martin was underrated coming into the 2015 season and was ranked fairly low for a starting running back. However, he has proved those rankings wrong as he was the 19th running back in fantasy scoring coming into Week 5. Following his monster day Sunday, he’ll likely move up and within the top 10 going into Week 6. If you were smart enough to ignore those preseason rankings and draft Martin, it looks like you’ll have a viable RB1 for the foreseeable future and a workhorse able to carry your team to the playoffs. Gary Barnidge is a must-own tight end Coming into the season, Gary Barnidge was relatively unknown to most fantasy football players. However, Barnidge has turned out to be a viable TE1 in all leagues following his performances over the past three weeks. He had another impressive performance on Sunday in Baltimore, hauling in eight catches for 139 yards and one touchdown. Over the past three weeks, he has averaged just over six catches for 106 yards and one touchdown per game, an impressive stat line for a tight end. With bye weeks and injuries popping up on a weekly basis, Barnidge may not be available in your league. But if he is, pick him up as soon as possible. He looks settled in the Cleveland offense and has been one of Josh McCown’s top targets, which points to Barnidge continuing his superb production going forward. From my friends at FantasyPros 5 Things We Learned In Week 4 |
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With the NFL beginning to hit its stride in Week 4, fantasy owners should begin to have a solid understanding of how their teams will project for the rest of the season. While there are always injuries and bye weeks that can throw a wrench in any momentum your team may be building, now is the time for key waiver wire additions or trades to solidify for the long run. So, with nearly a quarter of the NFL season already in the books, here are five things we learned in Week 4.
DeAndre Hopkins will finish the year as a top 10 WR While being stuck on a bad team in the NFL is never easy, DeAndre Hopkins remains the lone bright spot for the Texans four weeks into the season. The Houston WR has been great to start the season, even with very inconsistent quarterback play around him. Including his monster game yesterday (nine catches for 157 yards), Hopkins is now fifth in the league in receiving yards with 409. He’s also found the end zone three times already and leads the league in targets with 61 (including a whopping 22 targets on Sunday). Hopkins is the obvious go-to guy in the Houston passing attack, no matter who is under center, so it’s easy to expect him to keep getting his average of 15 targets per game going forward. Better yet, with Arian Foster now back in the fold, opposing teams will not be able to focus on Hopkins alone, which should open up the passing game even more. Currently, Hopkins is ranked 9th for WR fantasy points this season. With the number of looks he’ll continue to get in the passing game, especially while Houston plays catch up in their games, Hopkins will likely stay in the top 10 all season, and maybe even the top 5. Veteran wide receivers continue to light it up Outside of Hopkins, veteran receivers are on a tear to start this NFL season. In previous weeks it has been the likes of Larry Fitzgerald and Steve Smith Sr. This week, several other veterans put up huge numbers to help out their fantasy owners. First, in London, Brandon Marshall continued his hot start to the season with another big game on Sunday (seven catches for 128 yards). Jeremy Maclin, after his big game last Monday, also had a huge Sunday with 11 catches for 148 yards. Not to be outdone, Vincent Jackson finished the day with 10 catches for 147 yards and one touchdown. While all these guys had big games Sunday, I’m more excited about Marshall and Maclin going forward than I am Jackson. Marshall already has three 100-yard games this season to go along with three touchdowns. Plus, Marshall is seventh in the league in targets. Maclin, while off to a slow start, is coming off back-to-back big games and seems to be hitting his stride in the new offense. I’d expect big things from him in the upcoming weeks. As for Jackson, there is reason to be less optimistic. He did have a great game Sunday, but prior to yesterday he only averaged six targets, three catches and 48 yards. Going forward, Marshall and Maclin will continue to lead their passing games and you should start them going forward. If you’re a Jackson owner, I’d be cautious, especially as Mike Evans works his way back from injury. C.J. Spiller will be a great RB2/FLEX play going forward This offseason, when the Saints acquired Spiller, it had fantasy players dreaming of the days when Darren Sproles was catching passes from Drew Brees. Following offseason surgery, Spiller was kept out of the first game of the season and his snaps were limited in the following two games. However, on Sunday Spiller showed everyone what we can do in the New Orleans offense. He finished the game with five catches for 99 yards and one touchdown while adding two rushes for 10 yards. Granted, most of Spiller’s receiving yards were boosted by an 80-yard catch that won the Saints the game in overtime, but I believe Spiller will be a solid FLEX play (and possible RB2 play in PPR leagues) going forward. The Saints, and Brees, have always loved pass-catching backs and Spiller finally seems 100% healthy. He’ll get more looks going forward and will finally fill the Sproles role that had fantasy players dreaming this offseason. Go out and get Todd Gurley for your team One of the most exciting performances in Week 4 was by St. Louis rookie RB Todd Gurley. While the rookie made his debut last week, his performance was mediocre as he worked himself back from injury (he finished with six carries for nine yards). However, Week 4 was completely different. Gurley was clearly the featured back on Sunday as he helped carry the Rams to a win over the Cardinals. The St. Louis back finished with 19 carries for 146 yards while adding two catches for 15 yards. No other player on the Rams received more than two carries, meaning Gurley will likely carry the load for the Rams going forward. If Gurley is available in your league, pick him up immediately as he looked great ripping off huge chunks of yards Sunday (he averaged 7.7 yards per carry). If he is not available, he’ll likely not be cheap after his performance on Sunday. Either way, I’d want him on my team as he’ll get a majority of the carries going forward and will likely see more targets in the passing game as he gets more comfortable in the Rams’ offense. Andy Dalton is the real deal I touched on Dalton last week as a potential fill-in for Romo and Roethlisberger owners, but that may be an insult to how well Dalton has played so far this season. The Bengals QB had another solid game on Sunday, going 17-of-24 for 321 yards and one touchdown. On the season, Dalton is third in the league in yards (with 1,187) and has thrown nine touchdowns to only one interception. After Week 4, Dalton is the second highest scoring fantasy QB. If Dalton is somehow still available in your league, pick him up, even if you already have a stud QB on your roster. You can never have too many weapons on your squad and with bye weeks and injuries upcoming, Dalton will either be a great addition to your team or solid trade bait to help you in another area of your squad. Regardless, Dalton is a must-own quarterback in all leagues. From FantasyPros |
5 Things We Learned In Week 3
Following a crazy Week 2 that included several breakout performances and a few more surprise disappointments, Week 3 brought more of the same. After Week 3, there will be several waiver claims to replace star players with injuries and to pick up those aforementioned breakout stars. With that in mind, here are five things we learned in Week 3.
Tyrod Taylor is a legit fantasy QB
After another impressive showing, Buffalo’s Tyrod Taylor looks to be the real deal. In a blowout of the Dolphins on Sunday, Taylor finished going 21-of-29 for 277 yards and three touchdowns. He also added three rushes for 12 yards. Coming into the season, after head coach Rex Ryan named him the starter, no one knew what to expect from Taylor. However, with three games in the books, Taylor looks to be a solid option for your fantasy squad. His rushing ability adds to his value even more, as he has averaged 32 rushing yards per game this season. With the number of injuries hitting the QB position right now (more on that in a bit), it’s never a bad idea to have a solid backup option on your bench. If Taylor is still available in your league, he will definitely be worth the waiver claim this week.
Lance Dunbar has emerged as a solid FLEX option
Another uncertain situation coming into the season was how the Cowboys backfield would shake out after losing Demarco Murray to the Eagles. After a huge game by Joseph Randle (14 carries, 37 yards, three touchdowns), it looks like he has won the battle as the main back in Dallas. However, there is another running back on the roster that has value; Lance Dunbar. The other Dallas back also had a huge day, but in a far different way, catching ten passes for 100 yards on Sunday. While Dunbar has only gotten two carries for 13 yards on the season, he’s amassed 21 catches for 215 yards and he was clearly the main target for Brandon Weedenon Sunday. Dunbar has yet to find the end zone this season, but he can be very valuable in a PPR league, especially while Dez Bryant is still out. If you’re looking for help in your fantasy backfield, Dunbar may be an unconventional yet solid addition to your squad.
A.J. Green shows his elite WR1 status
After a slow start to the season (by his standards), AJ Green showed everyone why he deserved his high draft pick and his elite WR1 status on Sunday. In a big win versus division opponent Baltimore, Green finished with 10 catches for 227 yards and two touchdowns. Green’s huge day likely pushed his owners to wins in Week 3, and it looks like Green is just getting started. Following an average of only 54 receiving yards in the first two weeks, the Cincinnati wide out looks to have synced up with QB Andy Dalton in Week 3. If the two of them can keep the chemistry going in the upcoming weeks, Green will likely continue to torch defensive backfields as he did on Sunday.
Devonta Freeman can carry the load in ATL
Similar to Dallas, Atlanta also had a murky situation in their backfield coming into the season. Tevin Coleman was named the starter going into Week 1 and, after two okay performances; Coleman was injured leaving the door open for second-year player Devonta Freeman. With that opportunity, Freeman looks to have made a solid claim to the starting job. Freeman had a huge day Sunday, in a win versus the Cowboys, with 30 carries for 141 yards and two touchdowns while adding five catches for 52 yards. While it’s unlikely Freeman is still available in your league (if he is, he’s worth the claim), owners will enjoy having him on their squad as it looks like he’ll remain the starter once Coleman returns. If Freeman can continue putting up numbers like he did Sunday, he’ll definitely be looked at to carry the load for Atlanta going forward.
Andy Dalton can be an injury fill-in for Ben Roethlisberger owners
As mentioned above, the quarterback position has been ravaged by injury this year. With Tony Romo and Drew Brees already out on Sunday, Ben Roethlisberger was the next victim as he left his game early with a knee injury. Initial reports have Roethlisberger out 4-6 weeks, which means if you own the Steelers QB in your league, you’ll be looking for a replacement. One such option could be Andy Dalton, who had a huge game Sunday and looks to off to a hot start on the season. Dalton finished Sunday going 20-of-32 for 383 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Outside of just Sunday, Dalton has put up solid numbers early this season as he has thrown for 866 yards and eight touchdowns with only that one interception. If you are a Romo, Brees or Roethlisberger owner, it might be worth it to look at Dalton as a fill in until your main QB returns. However, if Dalton keeps playing like he is, you may not need your other QB back to keep winning.
From FantasyPros
Tyrod Taylor is a legit fantasy QB
After another impressive showing, Buffalo’s Tyrod Taylor looks to be the real deal. In a blowout of the Dolphins on Sunday, Taylor finished going 21-of-29 for 277 yards and three touchdowns. He also added three rushes for 12 yards. Coming into the season, after head coach Rex Ryan named him the starter, no one knew what to expect from Taylor. However, with three games in the books, Taylor looks to be a solid option for your fantasy squad. His rushing ability adds to his value even more, as he has averaged 32 rushing yards per game this season. With the number of injuries hitting the QB position right now (more on that in a bit), it’s never a bad idea to have a solid backup option on your bench. If Taylor is still available in your league, he will definitely be worth the waiver claim this week.
Lance Dunbar has emerged as a solid FLEX option
Another uncertain situation coming into the season was how the Cowboys backfield would shake out after losing Demarco Murray to the Eagles. After a huge game by Joseph Randle (14 carries, 37 yards, three touchdowns), it looks like he has won the battle as the main back in Dallas. However, there is another running back on the roster that has value; Lance Dunbar. The other Dallas back also had a huge day, but in a far different way, catching ten passes for 100 yards on Sunday. While Dunbar has only gotten two carries for 13 yards on the season, he’s amassed 21 catches for 215 yards and he was clearly the main target for Brandon Weedenon Sunday. Dunbar has yet to find the end zone this season, but he can be very valuable in a PPR league, especially while Dez Bryant is still out. If you’re looking for help in your fantasy backfield, Dunbar may be an unconventional yet solid addition to your squad.
A.J. Green shows his elite WR1 status
After a slow start to the season (by his standards), AJ Green showed everyone why he deserved his high draft pick and his elite WR1 status on Sunday. In a big win versus division opponent Baltimore, Green finished with 10 catches for 227 yards and two touchdowns. Green’s huge day likely pushed his owners to wins in Week 3, and it looks like Green is just getting started. Following an average of only 54 receiving yards in the first two weeks, the Cincinnati wide out looks to have synced up with QB Andy Dalton in Week 3. If the two of them can keep the chemistry going in the upcoming weeks, Green will likely continue to torch defensive backfields as he did on Sunday.
Devonta Freeman can carry the load in ATL
Similar to Dallas, Atlanta also had a murky situation in their backfield coming into the season. Tevin Coleman was named the starter going into Week 1 and, after two okay performances; Coleman was injured leaving the door open for second-year player Devonta Freeman. With that opportunity, Freeman looks to have made a solid claim to the starting job. Freeman had a huge day Sunday, in a win versus the Cowboys, with 30 carries for 141 yards and two touchdowns while adding five catches for 52 yards. While it’s unlikely Freeman is still available in your league (if he is, he’s worth the claim), owners will enjoy having him on their squad as it looks like he’ll remain the starter once Coleman returns. If Freeman can continue putting up numbers like he did Sunday, he’ll definitely be looked at to carry the load for Atlanta going forward.
Andy Dalton can be an injury fill-in for Ben Roethlisberger owners
As mentioned above, the quarterback position has been ravaged by injury this year. With Tony Romo and Drew Brees already out on Sunday, Ben Roethlisberger was the next victim as he left his game early with a knee injury. Initial reports have Roethlisberger out 4-6 weeks, which means if you own the Steelers QB in your league, you’ll be looking for a replacement. One such option could be Andy Dalton, who had a huge game Sunday and looks to off to a hot start on the season. Dalton finished Sunday going 20-of-32 for 383 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Outside of just Sunday, Dalton has put up solid numbers early this season as he has thrown for 866 yards and eight touchdowns with only that one interception. If you are a Romo, Brees or Roethlisberger owner, it might be worth it to look at Dalton as a fill in until your main QB returns. However, if Dalton keeps playing like he is, you may not need your other QB back to keep winning.
From FantasyPros
5 Things We Learned In Week 2
With a full week of matchups behind us, Week 2 gave us the opportunity to build on a first-week win or look to turn the tide following a defeat. The second NFL Sunday, much like the first, was filled with big performances, impactful injuries and disappointing play. With that in mind, here are five things we learned in Week 2.
Matt Jones will be a top waiver commodity this week
Jones’ big game was the surprise of the weekend. The Washington running back finished the game versus St. Louis with 19 carries for 123 yards and two touchdowns while adding three catches for 23 yards. What made Jones’ performance so surprising was that he received more carries (19) than starter Alfred Morris (18), who had a great game in Week 1 with 25 carries for 121 yards. It will be interesting to see how Washington approaches their running back situation heading into Week 3, as they might go with a running back committee or just ride the hot day and take it on a game-by-game basis. Either way, Jones will be a top waiver claim this week, and his Week 2 performance will leave Morris owners feeling frustrated heading into Week 3.
Larry Fitzgerald has emerged as a legit WR1 (again)
Fitzgerald turned back the clock on Sunday, submitting one of the better receiving games in Week 2. The 32-year-old finished Week 2 in Chicago with 8 catches for 112 yards and three touchdowns. Heading into the season, many around the league viewed John Brown as the biggest fantasy receiver on the Arizona roster. However, over the past two games, it looks like Fitzgerald is not ready to give up his WR1 status. Fitzgerald looks to be back at his best, especially with a healthy Carson Palmer back in the lineup, and has led the team in targets in the first two weeks. If you were able to draft Fitzgerald in one of the later rounds of your draft (or even scoop him off the waiver wire), you’re feeling great heading into Week 3.
It was a tough week for big-name quarterbacks
Sunday was a rough one for several of the big-name quarterbacks around the league. Tony Romo had the roughest day, being forced out on Sunday with a broken collarbone. Romo played well up to that point, leading his team to a lead in Philadelphia before being injured. He will be fully evaluated on Monday, but he is expected to miss at least eight weeks. Cutler suffered a similar but less costly fate than Romo. The Chicago QB left the game late in the first half with a pulled hamstring after being stiff armed during a pick-six. The Bears fell to 0-2 and it is yet to be determined how much time Cutler will miss. Drew Brees also had a rough week, but it had nothing to do with an injury. The Saints’ QB had a rough day in the team’s loss to Tamp Bay, as he was sacked four times and threw a bad interception. Brees did finish the game going 24-of-38 for 255 yards and a touchdown to go along with that interception. Plus, the Saints did have a chance to win the game, but Brees missed several throws on their final few drives that limited their chance for a comeback. Brees owners are hoping he’ll turn it around soon, as he is off to a slow start to the season.
Allen Robinson has established himself as a must-start player
There was a lot of hype around Robinson heading into the season. Week 2 confirmed that hype, as Robinson broke out with a huge performance leading the Jags to their first win of the season versus Miami. Robinson finished the game with six catches for 155 yards and two touchdowns. The second-year player needed this performance, as he underwhelmed in Week 1 with only one catch for 27 yards. The good news is that Robinson is definitely QB Blake Bortles favorite target, as the WR finished with 12 targets while no other receiver on the Jags had more than four. Robinson should continue to get a bulk of the targets as the season goes along, so if you are lucky enough to own Robinson if your league, you probably already have him slotted in as a starter for Week 3.
Demarco Murray owners should be worried heading into Week 3
One of the bigger disappointments of Week 2 was the Eagles offense. Following a surprise loss to Atlanta in Week 1, everyone figured the offense would get rolling in a big game versus Dallas in Week 2. That was not the case and the Philly running game struggled, the team finishing with only seven rushing yards. Murray, the big offseason acquisition for the Eagles, also struggled mightily. He finished the game with 13 carries for only two yards. While he did add five catches for 52 yards, Murray continued his poor start to the season. He finished with only nine yards on eight carries in Week 1. Murray owners should be worried heading into Week 3, when the Eagles will play at the New York Jets, who have a solid defense line. At this early point in the season, Murray owners need to debate if they can sustain another poor performance from their star running back.
From FantasyPros
Matt Jones will be a top waiver commodity this week
Jones’ big game was the surprise of the weekend. The Washington running back finished the game versus St. Louis with 19 carries for 123 yards and two touchdowns while adding three catches for 23 yards. What made Jones’ performance so surprising was that he received more carries (19) than starter Alfred Morris (18), who had a great game in Week 1 with 25 carries for 121 yards. It will be interesting to see how Washington approaches their running back situation heading into Week 3, as they might go with a running back committee or just ride the hot day and take it on a game-by-game basis. Either way, Jones will be a top waiver claim this week, and his Week 2 performance will leave Morris owners feeling frustrated heading into Week 3.
Larry Fitzgerald has emerged as a legit WR1 (again)
Fitzgerald turned back the clock on Sunday, submitting one of the better receiving games in Week 2. The 32-year-old finished Week 2 in Chicago with 8 catches for 112 yards and three touchdowns. Heading into the season, many around the league viewed John Brown as the biggest fantasy receiver on the Arizona roster. However, over the past two games, it looks like Fitzgerald is not ready to give up his WR1 status. Fitzgerald looks to be back at his best, especially with a healthy Carson Palmer back in the lineup, and has led the team in targets in the first two weeks. If you were able to draft Fitzgerald in one of the later rounds of your draft (or even scoop him off the waiver wire), you’re feeling great heading into Week 3.
It was a tough week for big-name quarterbacks
Sunday was a rough one for several of the big-name quarterbacks around the league. Tony Romo had the roughest day, being forced out on Sunday with a broken collarbone. Romo played well up to that point, leading his team to a lead in Philadelphia before being injured. He will be fully evaluated on Monday, but he is expected to miss at least eight weeks. Cutler suffered a similar but less costly fate than Romo. The Chicago QB left the game late in the first half with a pulled hamstring after being stiff armed during a pick-six. The Bears fell to 0-2 and it is yet to be determined how much time Cutler will miss. Drew Brees also had a rough week, but it had nothing to do with an injury. The Saints’ QB had a rough day in the team’s loss to Tamp Bay, as he was sacked four times and threw a bad interception. Brees did finish the game going 24-of-38 for 255 yards and a touchdown to go along with that interception. Plus, the Saints did have a chance to win the game, but Brees missed several throws on their final few drives that limited their chance for a comeback. Brees owners are hoping he’ll turn it around soon, as he is off to a slow start to the season.
Allen Robinson has established himself as a must-start player
There was a lot of hype around Robinson heading into the season. Week 2 confirmed that hype, as Robinson broke out with a huge performance leading the Jags to their first win of the season versus Miami. Robinson finished the game with six catches for 155 yards and two touchdowns. The second-year player needed this performance, as he underwhelmed in Week 1 with only one catch for 27 yards. The good news is that Robinson is definitely QB Blake Bortles favorite target, as the WR finished with 12 targets while no other receiver on the Jags had more than four. Robinson should continue to get a bulk of the targets as the season goes along, so if you are lucky enough to own Robinson if your league, you probably already have him slotted in as a starter for Week 3.
Demarco Murray owners should be worried heading into Week 3
One of the bigger disappointments of Week 2 was the Eagles offense. Following a surprise loss to Atlanta in Week 1, everyone figured the offense would get rolling in a big game versus Dallas in Week 2. That was not the case and the Philly running game struggled, the team finishing with only seven rushing yards. Murray, the big offseason acquisition for the Eagles, also struggled mightily. He finished the game with 13 carries for only two yards. While he did add five catches for 52 yards, Murray continued his poor start to the season. He finished with only nine yards on eight carries in Week 1. Murray owners should be worried heading into Week 3, when the Eagles will play at the New York Jets, who have a solid defense line. At this early point in the season, Murray owners need to debate if they can sustain another poor performance from their star running back.
From FantasyPros
5 Things We Learned In Week 1
Real football is back! And with that comes the first test for your newly-minted fantasy squad. Week 1 is always interesting in that it can quickly confirm or deny your (hopefully) good feelings following your draft. So with the first official week of the NFL season coming to a close and the variety of surprising and disappointing performances around the league, here are five things we learned in Week 1.
Rob Gronkowski back to being GronkWhile he was the consensus No. 1 tight end heading into the 2015 season, Gronk showed us all why he deserves to be named the top tight end in the league. On Thursday night, the New England tight end finished with five catches for 94 yards and three touchdowns, and he will likely finish the week as a top fantasy scorer. While the Steelers defense was having coverage issues all night, Gronk ran free through the Pittsburgh secondary multiple times and was left completely uncovered for his first touchdown. While this won’t happen every week, Gronkowski is definitely Brady’s No. 1 target in the red zone, which should lead to a ton more touchdowns in 2015. Following his first game, it’s likely that Gronk will have a similar (if not better) year to what he had in 2014 (where he finished as the highest scoring fantasy TE). All of this assumes he’s able to remain healthy. Even with a tough matchup with the Buffalo defense in Week 2, Gronk looks to be back at his best. If you were lucky enough to draft Gronk for your team, you’re feeling great following his Week 1 performance.
A big week for TEs
In addition to Gronk’s big game on Thursday, there were a number of impressive performances by tight ends on Sunday. Leading the way was Tampa Bay’s tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins. The top receiver for the Buccaneers on Sunday, Seferian-Jenkins finished with five catches for 110 yards and two touchdowns. With receiver Mike Evans missing the game with an injury and the Buccaneers needing to catch up, Seferian-Jenkins was one of the top targets for rookie QB Jameis Winston. However, the tight end’s performance was the lone bright spot, as he scored the only two Buccaneer touchdowns in a blowout loss to the Titans.
Not to be outdone were Kansas City’s Travis Kelce and Cincinnati’s Tyler Eifert. Kelce was the main man for the Chiefs, finishing the game with six catches for 106 yards and two touchdowns, including a 42-yard score in the first quarter. Eifert was not far behind, finishing his game versus Oakland with nine catches for 104 yards and two touchdowns. Similar to Seferian-Jenkins, both tight ends were the top weapons for their teams on Sunday and helped carry the offensive load in big wins for both the Chiefs and Bengals. While Evans eventual return will steal some targets from Seferian-Jenkins, I believe all three of these tight ends are must starts heading into Week 2.
Matt Forte confirms his RB1 statusGoing into the season, there were some predictions that Forte’s production would dip as he approached 30 this year and after the loss of head coach Marc Trestman. However, Forte showed everyone that that would not be the case in 2015. The Bears’ running back had a huge game versus Green Bay, finishing with 24 carries for 141 yards and one score while also adding five catches for 25 yards.
The Packers were unable to stop Forte, whether in the running or passing games, all afternoon long. Due to this, Forte will finish the week as one of the top scoring running backs, ahead of other big names like Jamaal Charles and Eddie Lacy. While the Bears other big weapon, Alshon Jeffery, looks to get 100% healthy, Forte will be the main target on the team’s offense. Even though Chicago has a tough matchup versus Arizona next week, look for Forte to build on his big Week 1 performance, as Arizona just gave up a total of 122 yards to Saints’ RBMark Ingram on Sunday.
Mariota's big debut
One of the most interesting games in Week 1 was the matchup of the top two picks from the 2015 NFL Draft,Marcus Mariota versus Jameis Winston. The matchup was over early, as the Titans flew out to a big lead, behind the hot hand of Mariota, and won the game 42 to 14. The Titans’ rookie QB had a huge day, going 13-of-16 for 209 yards and four touchdowns, leading his team to touchdowns on three of their first four drives.
Mariota outplayed Winston in a big way on Sunday and will look to build on his early success. The Titans have a winnable game at Cleveland next week, before a big game in Week 3 when they host the Colts. While this is only one game, if Mariota continues to build on his great Week 1 performance, his fantasy ownership will definitely increase. If you’re in need of some QB help, or are looking to grab an early bye week fill in, Mariota is a top name to follow over the next several weeks.
Injuries strike again Week 1
While injuries were a big subject this offseason, claiming top players like Arian Foster, Kelvin Benjamin andJordy Nelson, they struck again in Week 1. The biggest name claimed was Ravens’ LB Terrell Suggs, who tore his Achilles’ and will miss the remainder of the season. Dez Bryant suffered a fractured foot and will miss four to six weeks. In Buffalo, T.Y. Hilton left the game early with an apparent knee injury. X-rays came back negative, but his status for Week 2 is unknown at this time. Arizona’s RB Andre Ellington also suffered a knee injury and was carted to the locker room. It’s likely he’ll miss their next game at Chicago. Other injuries included Redskins WR DeSean Jackson (hamstring), Raiders QB Derek Carr (hand) and Browns QB Josh McCown (concussion), and their statuses are also uncertain for Week 2.
While injuries are a part of every NFL season, it seems like they have struck early and often so far in 2015. These frequent injuries forces all fantasy owners to have backup plans on a weekly basis and make waiver wire pickups as important as ever. Although we are only in Week 1, it’s never too early to eye trades or waiver wire additions to add depth to your squad.
From FantasyPros
Rob Gronkowski back to being GronkWhile he was the consensus No. 1 tight end heading into the 2015 season, Gronk showed us all why he deserves to be named the top tight end in the league. On Thursday night, the New England tight end finished with five catches for 94 yards and three touchdowns, and he will likely finish the week as a top fantasy scorer. While the Steelers defense was having coverage issues all night, Gronk ran free through the Pittsburgh secondary multiple times and was left completely uncovered for his first touchdown. While this won’t happen every week, Gronkowski is definitely Brady’s No. 1 target in the red zone, which should lead to a ton more touchdowns in 2015. Following his first game, it’s likely that Gronk will have a similar (if not better) year to what he had in 2014 (where he finished as the highest scoring fantasy TE). All of this assumes he’s able to remain healthy. Even with a tough matchup with the Buffalo defense in Week 2, Gronk looks to be back at his best. If you were lucky enough to draft Gronk for your team, you’re feeling great following his Week 1 performance.
A big week for TEs
In addition to Gronk’s big game on Thursday, there were a number of impressive performances by tight ends on Sunday. Leading the way was Tampa Bay’s tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins. The top receiver for the Buccaneers on Sunday, Seferian-Jenkins finished with five catches for 110 yards and two touchdowns. With receiver Mike Evans missing the game with an injury and the Buccaneers needing to catch up, Seferian-Jenkins was one of the top targets for rookie QB Jameis Winston. However, the tight end’s performance was the lone bright spot, as he scored the only two Buccaneer touchdowns in a blowout loss to the Titans.
Not to be outdone were Kansas City’s Travis Kelce and Cincinnati’s Tyler Eifert. Kelce was the main man for the Chiefs, finishing the game with six catches for 106 yards and two touchdowns, including a 42-yard score in the first quarter. Eifert was not far behind, finishing his game versus Oakland with nine catches for 104 yards and two touchdowns. Similar to Seferian-Jenkins, both tight ends were the top weapons for their teams on Sunday and helped carry the offensive load in big wins for both the Chiefs and Bengals. While Evans eventual return will steal some targets from Seferian-Jenkins, I believe all three of these tight ends are must starts heading into Week 2.
Matt Forte confirms his RB1 statusGoing into the season, there were some predictions that Forte’s production would dip as he approached 30 this year and after the loss of head coach Marc Trestman. However, Forte showed everyone that that would not be the case in 2015. The Bears’ running back had a huge game versus Green Bay, finishing with 24 carries for 141 yards and one score while also adding five catches for 25 yards.
The Packers were unable to stop Forte, whether in the running or passing games, all afternoon long. Due to this, Forte will finish the week as one of the top scoring running backs, ahead of other big names like Jamaal Charles and Eddie Lacy. While the Bears other big weapon, Alshon Jeffery, looks to get 100% healthy, Forte will be the main target on the team’s offense. Even though Chicago has a tough matchup versus Arizona next week, look for Forte to build on his big Week 1 performance, as Arizona just gave up a total of 122 yards to Saints’ RBMark Ingram on Sunday.
Mariota's big debut
One of the most interesting games in Week 1 was the matchup of the top two picks from the 2015 NFL Draft,Marcus Mariota versus Jameis Winston. The matchup was over early, as the Titans flew out to a big lead, behind the hot hand of Mariota, and won the game 42 to 14. The Titans’ rookie QB had a huge day, going 13-of-16 for 209 yards and four touchdowns, leading his team to touchdowns on three of their first four drives.
Mariota outplayed Winston in a big way on Sunday and will look to build on his early success. The Titans have a winnable game at Cleveland next week, before a big game in Week 3 when they host the Colts. While this is only one game, if Mariota continues to build on his great Week 1 performance, his fantasy ownership will definitely increase. If you’re in need of some QB help, or are looking to grab an early bye week fill in, Mariota is a top name to follow over the next several weeks.
Injuries strike again Week 1
While injuries were a big subject this offseason, claiming top players like Arian Foster, Kelvin Benjamin andJordy Nelson, they struck again in Week 1. The biggest name claimed was Ravens’ LB Terrell Suggs, who tore his Achilles’ and will miss the remainder of the season. Dez Bryant suffered a fractured foot and will miss four to six weeks. In Buffalo, T.Y. Hilton left the game early with an apparent knee injury. X-rays came back negative, but his status for Week 2 is unknown at this time. Arizona’s RB Andre Ellington also suffered a knee injury and was carted to the locker room. It’s likely he’ll miss their next game at Chicago. Other injuries included Redskins WR DeSean Jackson (hamstring), Raiders QB Derek Carr (hand) and Browns QB Josh McCown (concussion), and their statuses are also uncertain for Week 2.
While injuries are a part of every NFL season, it seems like they have struck early and often so far in 2015. These frequent injuries forces all fantasy owners to have backup plans on a weekly basis and make waiver wire pickups as important as ever. Although we are only in Week 1, it’s never too early to eye trades or waiver wire additions to add depth to your squad.
From FantasyPros
The Money Stuff
Buy-in: $10,000 per team
League Champ: $50,000 2nd Place: $25,000 3rd Place: $15,000 Team with the most regular season points: $15,000 Weekly high point team payout: $1000 *All money will be paid out at the end of the season. If you haven't paid by the first Monday night game of the season, you are not eligible for the weekly high point payout. ABA Number 021000089 Bank: Citibank, New York For Benefit of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Beneficiary Account: 40611172 For Further Credit To: Adam Stalker, Account #101-027082 |