Boss of the Week: Steve Smith (NYG)- 11 Rec, 134 Yds, 2 TD
The Giants’ Steve Smith is for real. He has proven to be Eli Manning’s No. 1 receiver week in-week out and Sunday was no different, as Smith posted a career-high 11 receptions, 134 yards, and two touchdowns. With Plaxico Burress out of the town, the team’s receiver unit was highly questioned coming into the season. Smith, with his great route-running and hands, has been the answer. He’s currently leading the league in all three major WR categories with 34 receptions, 411 yards, and four touchdowns! If you drafted Smith, especially in the 11th round (ADP) or later, props to you. Only an injury can stop him from 100 catches now.
Weakest of the Week: St. Louis Rams offense
Per NFL.com: In pitching the shutout, the Niners allowed 177 total yards, had five sacks and scored two defensive touchdowns, including DE Ray McDonald's 11-yard fumble return in the fourth quarter.
The 49ers took advantage of the pathetic Rams Sunday, shutting them out 35 to zip. With Kyle Boller running the show, Steven Jackson and Donnie Avery were worthless in San Fran. However, the offense hasn’t been much better with Marc Bulger, as neither Jackson nor Avery have scored yet this season.
S. Jax is on pace for 1468 on 332 carries, but does not look likely to reach 10 TDs, which would not equal a mid-first round draft value. Just be happy with the yards and catches. Hold onto Avery but let him ride the pine until he shows a pulse.
Equally Weak: Darren McFadden- 6 Att, -3 Yds, 1 Rec, 5 Yds
We expected D-Mac to KILL the Texans pathetic run D this week, like every other running back has this year. Instead, he should just kill himself. J/k. With that said, the Raiders began to favor Justin Fargas, giving him 10 carries.
Super Manning Bros.
Peyton Manning threw for 353 yards and two touchdowns against Seattle Sunday, making it the first time in his career that he has thrown for 300 yards in four straight games. He leads the NFL with 1336 passing yards. He has nine touchdowns and three interceptions.
Meanwhile, Brother Eli is putting together a nice year himself, producing like a QB1 thus far. He has 1039 yards (5th in NFL), eight touchdowns, and two picks. He had 292 yards and three TDs against KC Sunday.
And oh don’t forget… The Colts and the Giants are both undefeated so far. Hulks.
Garrard to Sims-Walker
David Garrard had one the best games of his career in the Jags 37-17 win over Tennessee Sunday, throwing for 323 yards and three touchdowns, two of which went to young stud Mike Sims-Walker. Sims-Walker finished with a career-high seven catches for 91 yards. The Titans continue to get torched through the air, giving up a 300-yard passer three out of four games so far. It won’t get any easier versus the Colts next week.
Anyways, Sims-Walker is quickly becoming Garrard’s favorite target and becoming a recognizable fantasy name in the process. We told you he was a breakout candidate in the summer time, but preseason injuries left many fantasy heads unenthused, including myself. He’s on pace for 12 touchdowns. He’s been injury prone in his young career, so ride him as long as you can. Where you at Torry Holt? Not that we were ever high on Holt…
Bye Bye Buy Low
Fantasy nation has been down on Matt Forte and Steve Slaton through three weeks, and rightfully so, but both hulked up Sunday and reached the end zone for the first time. Both played a huge role in their team’s wins Sunday.
The Bears re-emphasized the run and Forte went for 121 yards and a TD on 12 carries. He had impressive runs of 61 and 37 (TD).
Slaton started off slow – six yards on his first seven carries and a fumble – but he bounced back with two touchdowns in the second quarter. He totaled 89 yards on 23 carries. His 3.1 yards per carry was weak but the workload is nice to see for sure.
Holy Mendenhall!
With Willie Parker out (toe), the bulky underachiever Rashard Mendenhall had a career game Sunday night against the Chargers- 165 yards and two TDs. Run to your free agent wire and pick him up if by some shot in the dark he’s available. It’s possible that someone in your league dropped him last week, but I wouldn’t count on it. Just saying.
Despite being a fantasy ghost before this week, Mendenhall has first-round pedigree and Parker has not been great this year so we shall see what Mendee does with this opportunity…
Random Thoughts/Observations
* The Denver defense held Tony Romo and the Cowboys in check Sunday, as they improved to 4-0. The Broncos had five sacks, an interception in the end zone, a forced fumble, and held Dallas scoreless in the final three quarters. OLB Elvis Dumervil has eight sacks in the last three games.
* Brandon Marshall had a good game – 4 Rec, 91 Yds, game-winning 51-Yd TD – but Eddie Royal’s disappointing season continued. Royal finished the game w/ two catches for 16 yards, giving him eight catches for 58 yards on the season. Yuck. He deserves a nice spot on your bench until further notice.
* Pierre Thomas did his thing in the Saints’ win over the Jets Sunday, going for 120 total yards and a touchdown. Anymore doubts he’s their man and a third round value? At this point, Thomas is a borderline RB1.
* Clinton Portis runs like an old man these days. I’m glad myself and Fantasy Hulks aren’t big Portis lovers. Haven’t been since his Denver days.
* Ronnie Brown looked good, rushing for 120 yards and two TDs on 20 carries. Ricky Williams added 85 yards and a touchdown also. Sucks for anyone who unluckily faced Williams this week… like I did. Ridic.
* Buffalo’s running backs did not look good, however. Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch combined for 46 yards on 17 carries. Blahhh. Lynch did have five catches for 43 yards though. Stay tuned with these two.
* Willis McGahee scored yet again (six on the year), but Ray Rice did the yardage damage- 11 Att, 103 Yds, 5 Rec, 49 Yds.
* The Kansas City Chiefs running game has been non-existent so far this season. I don't see a reason to believe in Larry Johnson anytime soon.
* Hakeem Nicks returned from injury (ankle) to score a 54-yard touchdown from Eli Manning. The talented rookie is still someone to keep an eye on as the season progresses.
* Chad Ochocinco scored two touchdowns against the Browns. He’s officially back.
* Jerome Harrison got the start Sunday for the Browns, and ran for 121 yards on 29 carries and added five catches for 31 yards. With James Davis out for the year and Jamal Lewis’ age/injury issues, the Football Outsiders favorite Harrison is a viable fantasy starter.
* Cleveland WR Mohamed Massaquoi blew up for eight receptions and 148 yards, but Braylon Edwards had zero catches. Wtf? The reason: Cincy had a safety over the top of Edwards all day long. Massaquoi’s threat in the passing game is actually a good thing for Edwards going forward.
* Calvin Johnson had his first big game, and it was a sick one in PPR format – 8 Rec, 133 Yds.
* Now that’s the old Antonio Gates we know and love… 9/124/2
|
