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Fred Davis vs. Greg Olsen: Week Nine Start or Sit

Published: November 8, 2009

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Greg Olsen was nearly a consensus breakout candidate in 2009, especially with Jay Cutler being brought in to the mix. Everyone expected him to live up to his potential, especially with how weak the Bears appeared to be on the outside.

To date he has just 22 catches for 215 yards and three touchdowns. He hasn’t had more than five catches in a game, nor has he exceeded 57 yards. In fact, he has more games with less than 10 yards (two) than he does more than 45 (one).

His catch total is actually identical to what it was through the first seven games of 2008, and his yards have decreased by over 80 (he had 296 at this point in ‘08). While he’s scored one more touchdown, you certainly could consider his performance a disappointment.

With players like Devin Hester and Johnny Knox emerging as viable threats for Cutler, his dependence on his tight end certainly does not appear to be a given. With the Bears taking on a less than stellar passing defense, I’d look for Cutler to look to try to get the ball downfield (as I discussed yesterday when talking about Hester vs. Smith, which you can read by clicking here ).

As for Fred Davis, he steps into an offense that has been pretty poor.

Their quarterbacks have been sacked time and time again, tied for fifth in the league with 23. Jason Campbell has had little time to sit in the pocket and try to distribute the ball to the outside, which can be seen with the struggles of Santana Moss.

The tight end, however, is a great safety valve for him. Cooley had maintained his position as one of the solid players at his position, catching 29 passes for 332 yards before an injury forced him out of his Week Seven game prematurely. Davis stepped in and it was like they didn’t miss a beat, catching seven passes for 78 yards and a touchdown.

With the Atlanta Falcons on the schedule, the opening may be there for Campbell to try to get the ball downfield a bit more. The Falcons have allowed the second most passing yards in the league entering the day, at 256.4, and have managed to get just 14 sacks, among the bottom third in the league.

It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Davis’ strong performance wane a bit, but he should certainly still be a consistent target in the passing game. That’s the way the Redskins are designed, trying to utilize the talents of Cooley, and I wouldn’t expect them to simply abandon that completely.

I’d put Davis catching five passes for 50 yards and a touchdown, a solid outing for any tight end. As for Olsen, the matchup doesn’t seem like a good one for him to put things together and suddenly have a big game. While he should get a few catches, likely three-four, and should get a few yards, say around 45, I just don’t see him finding the end zone.

For me, I’d go with Olsen if you have the decision. What about you? Which player would you prefer and why?

Previous Week Nine Start or Sit:

Need help in trying to decide who to start this week, check out our weekly rankings by clicking here .

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Week Nine Start or Sit: Devin Hester vs. Steve Smith

Published: November 7, 2009

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Early on, the Giants’ Steve Smith appeared to be the breakout player of the season. By Week Four he had already amassed 34 catches and four touchdowns including a pair of 134-yard performances.

In his last four games, just as the Giants have begun to fade, Smith has fallen off to 19 catches and has had no more than 70 yards in a game. He also has been kept out of the end zone, while Hakeem Nicks has three touchdowns over that span.

Maybe the problems have not been his and his alone, as Eli Manning has certainly struggled, especially over the past three weeks when he has posted completion percentages of 45.2, 51.4, and 51.3. It makes it difficult for your receivers to have big games, now doesn’t it?

Smith faces a stingy Chargers defense, allowing just 178.4 yards per game through the air. On the flip side, they are the sixth worst rushing defense, so it would not be a surprise to see the Giants attempt to allow Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw run roughshod, limiting their attempts in the passing game.

Throw that in to his recent struggles and it doesn’t seem like Smith is such a good bet.

Devin Hester, meanwhile, appears to be getting better with time. He’s had 80 or more yards in each of his last three games, including a 101-yard, 1 TD performance against the Bengals in Week Seven.

This week he takes on the Arizona Cardinals, a team allowing 233 yards per game passing the ball, as well as more than a touchdown per game (11). While there were concerns over his health, missing practice on Wednesday and Thursday and being limited on Friday, he is expected to take the field on Sunday.

With the matchup and his recent string of strong outings, you have to like his potential to exploit another defense. He and Jay Cutler have clearly developed a tremendous rapport, which certainly should help, despite the lack of practice time.

It would not be surprising to see the duo break off a big play, as the Cardinals have allowed the sixth most 40-plus yard passing plays. If I had to guess I’d put Hester at six catches for 85 yards and a touchdown. Smith, meanwhile, appears to be back to being more of a possession receiver, so seeing him at 4 catches for 60 yards, or, more or less, exactly what he’s been doing, would not be very surprising.

What do you think? Which player would you rather have? Who do you see having the biggest day?

Previous Week Nine Start or Sit:

Knowshown Moreno vs. Jamaal Charles

Need help in trying to decide who to start this week, check out our weekly rankings by clicking here .

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Fantasy Football Week 9 Rankings: Top 15 Kickers

Published: November 4, 2009

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It’s always important to have a good kicker for fantasy football owners. There are weeks that they make the difference between winning and losing. Last week, there were six kickers who earned at least 12 points, certainly helping their owners to victory.

With that said, let’s see how they stack up for Week Nine:

Stephen Gostkowski – New England Patriots – vs. Miami
Matt Stover – Indianapolis Colts – vs. Houston
Robbie Gould – Chicago Bears – vs. Arizona
Mason Crosby – Green Bay Packers – at Tampa Bay
Steven Hauschka – Baltimore Ravens – at Cincinnati
Olinda Mare – Seattle Seahawks – vs. Detroit
Josh Scobee – Jacksonville Jaguars – vs. Kansas City
David Akers – Philadelphia Eagles – vs. Dallas
Nick Folk – Dallas Cowboys – at Philadelphia
Lawrence Tynes – New York Giants – vs. San Diego
Nate Kaeding – San Diego Chargers – at New York Giants
Kris Brown – Houston Texans – at Indianapolis
Matt Prater – Denver Broncos – vs. Pittsburgh
John Carney – New Orleans Saints – vs. Carolina
Jason Elam – Atlanta Falcons – vs. Washington

Thoughts:

Matt Stover has only been back in the league for two weeks, but he kicks for one of the most potent offenses in the league. He also proved last week that he was extremely accurate, going 4-4 on field goals. He’s likely to be one of the best available until Adam Vinatieri is ready to return.
John Carney has missed a field goal each of the past two weeks. He’s kicking for his job at this point, but it’s tough to trust him as a top option when he is 4-7 on kicks of 30 yards or more.
As good as Nate Kaeding and Lawrence Tynes are, kicking in the swirling winds of Giants Stadium in November have to knock them down slightly. Still, both are usable in all formats.

What are your thoughts? Who was left off the list? Who should be higher? Who should be lower?

Other Week 9 Rankings:

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NFL Saturday Morning Injury Update: Calvin Johnson, Reggie Wayne and More

Published: October 31, 2009

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It’s been a few days since we updated the injury status (click here for the original post) for many players who have been limited/missing practice heading into Week Eight. With games only a day away, let’s take a look on who appears to be in and who’s out:

Calvin Johnson is listed as questionable.

Quoted on mlive.com (click here for the article) as saying, “Just trying not to overwork it. I didn’t want to mess it up more than it is” in regards to his knee, owners have to be very concerned that he will not play on Sunday.

Keep checking the news, but make sure to stash a potential replacement that you are comfortable throwing in at the last minute.

Andre Johnson is listed as probable.

He wasn’t practicing earlier in the week, but Nick Scurfield quoted coach Gary Kubiak on Twitter as saying, “Andre looked great. He’s ready to go.” Feel confident using him in all formats.

Brian Westbrook is listed as questionable.

As I’ve said, no matter what the Eagles are trying to sell, I’m not buying it. I fully anticipate him sitting against the Giants, so find yourself another option.

Steve Breaston is listed as probable. Anquan Boldin is listed as questionable.

Both receivers have been dealing with injury concerns, but both have also continued to be on the field every week. I’d be more apt to use Boldin this week over Breaston if you have the choice.

Reggie Wayne is listed as questionable.

While the listing makes owners nervous, he did practice in full and an article on espn.com (click here to read) says that he is expected to play.

At this point there is no reason to think differently. He’s one of the elite in the league and should be used in all formats.

Matthew Stafford is listed as questionable.

He had been practicing in full earlier in the week, but was limited on Friday. Expectations are still for him to start for the Lions, however, earning him a spot on our Top 25 QB rankings (click here to view).

Use him in two-quarterback formats only, though his potential value would be significantly higher if Calvin Johnson is able to play.

Jonathan Stewart is listed as questionable.

He was limited in practice on Friday after missing practice earlier in the week. Still, the expectations are for him to be in the line-up on Sunday against the Panthers.

He has a tough match-up, coupled with being banged up, which caused him not to be on our Top 35 RB rankings this week. There certainly should be better options available to you.

Donnie Avery is listed as probable.

He was limited in Friday’s practice, but with the likelihood that he takes the field he is definitely worth using as a WR3 in all formats. He’s the best receiver on a bad team with a favorable match-up. What else do you really need to know?

Muhsin Muhammad is out for Sunday.

It’s a good thing we already removed him from our Top 40 WR rankings (click here to view). His replacement, Dwayne Jarrett, has just 16 catches in 16 career games and has three catches on the season. Don’t bother with him, as he is too big of a risk.

Nate Washington is listed as probable.

There was concern earlier in the week that he could miss this week’s game, but he practiced in full on Friday.

Still, the Titans have not shown that they will focus on any one receiver from game-to-game and have inserted Vince Young as their starting quarterback.

Any of their three receivers are a gamble, so if you have other viable alternatives I’d recommend using them.

Mario Manningham is listed as questionable.

He was quoted in New York Newsday (click here to read the article) as saying, “It’s a little bruise. I fell on it kind of hard. It ain’t no big deal” in regards to his shoulder injury.

While he plans on playing, at this point you never really know. Hakeem Nicks’ potential value gets bumped up a few spots, as he would start if Manningham is unable to go.

What are your thoughts on the injury news? Which do you find most troubling? Who are you not concerned about?

Need more help in trying to decide who to start this week, check out our weekly rankings by clicking here .

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Week Eight Rankings: Updated Top 35 RB

Published: October 29, 2009

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There’s some pretty big movement this week in the RB rankings, with the injuries to Brian Westbrook & Donald Brown wreaking some havoc. Let’s take a look at how things currently stand:

Adrian Peterson – Minnesota Vikings – at Green Bay
Maurice Jones-Drew – Jacksonville Jaguars – at Tennessee
LaDanian Tomlinson – San Diego Chargers – vs. Oakland
Kevin Smith – Detroit Lions – vs. St. Louis
Chris Johnson – Tennessee Titans – vs. Jacksonville
Steven Jackson – St. Louis Rams – at Detroit
Matt Forte – Chicago Bears – vs. Cleveland
Michael Turner – Atlanta Falcons – at New Orleans
Steve Slaton – Houston Texans – at Buffalo
Ronnie Brown – Miami Dolphins – at New York Jets
Ray Rice – Baltimore Ravens – vs. Denver
Marshawn Lynch – Buffalo Bills – vs. Houston
Thomas Jones – New York Jets – vs. Miami
Frank Gore – San Francisco 49ers – at Indianapolis
DeAngelo Williams – Carolina Panthers – at Arizona
Ryan Grant – Green Bay Packers – vs. Minnesota
LeSean McCoy – Philadelphia Eagles – vs. New York Giants
Joseph Addai – Indianapolis Colts – vs. San Francisco
Beanie Wells – Arizona Cardinals – vs. Carolina
Brandon Jacobs – New York Giants – at Philadelphia
Pierre Thomas – New Orleans Saints – vs. Atlanta
Marion Barber – Dallas Cowboys – vs. Seattle
Knowshown Moreno – Denver Broncos – at Baltimore
Ricky Williams – Miami Dolphins – at New York Jets
Darren Sproles – San Diego Chargers – vs. Oakland
Julius Jones – Seattle Seahawks – at Dallas
Fred Jackson – Buffalo Bills – vs. Houston
Jamal Lewis – Cleveland Browns – at Chicago
Michael Bush – Oakland Raiders – at San Diego
Ahmad Bradshaw – New York Giants – at Philadelphia
Tim Hightower – Arizona Cardinals – vs. Carolina
Mike Bell – New Orleans Saints – vs. Atlanta
Tashard Choice – Dallas Cowboys – vs. Seattle
Shonn Greene – New York Jets – vs. Miami
Brian Westbrook – Philadelphia Eagles – vs. New York Giants

Thoughts:

I know the Eagles are trying to sell everyone on the fact that Brian Westbrook is going to play, but I’m just not buying it. From what has been described from his concussion, there is maybe a 1% chance of him playing against the Giants and even that may be an optimistic number. I’ll leave him on the bottom of the rankings, just in case, but I certainly wouldn’t recommend using him.
Obviously, if Westbrook is out, LeSean McCoy gets a huge boost in value, vaulting into the Top 20. He’s a must use in all formats.
It appears that Beanie Wells will finally get his chance to be the main back in Arizona, so I simply flipped him with Tim Hightower.
Donald Brown is not expected to play this Sunday, so he falls off the list completely. In turn, it means more touches for Joseph Addai, edging him up a few spots.

Previous Thoughts:

LaDanian Tomlinson has shown that old jump in his step of late and a favorable match-up should allow him to produce like the player of old. While he hasn’t produced like fantasy owners had hoped, for one week he is one of the best options available.
Chris Johnson has been among the best running backs in the game, part of which stems from the Titans inability to pass the football at times this season. He has a tougher matchup against the Jaguars, but I’d look for him to continue to chew up the yards and hopefully find the end zone at least once.
The Arizona Cardinals are one of the best running defenses in the league, which forces DeAngelo Williams down the rankings for the upcoming week.
Pierre Thomas has a favorable matchup, but a glut in the backfield doesn’t allow him to be ranked too highly. With Mike Bell and Reggie Bush likely to share in the touches, he’ll like have a good game, but not a great one.
The Jets once vaunted defense has taken a huge hit with the loss of nose tackle Kris Jenkins. Look for Ronnie Brown & Ricky Williams to take advantage of that sudden void.
While Darren Sproles may not be the best starting option considering that he will share carries with LT2, chances are the Chargers beat the Raiders in a rout. That should lead to plenty of carries for Sproles, who is a solid FLEX option in all formats.
Was Sunday night a coming out party for Beanie Wells? It’s not like he had an overly impressive performance (and still showed fumble troubles), but he saw some carries at least. For now I’m still holding him down in the rankings, but if indications come during the week that he is going to be the main back, he’s going to quickly rise, with Hightower dropping down.
If Leon Washington is out for this week (and early reports are that his season is over), Shonn Greene has the potential to make a huge impact. He should it on Sunday, rushing for over 100 yards and scoring 2 TDs.

What are your thoughts? Who was left off the list? Who should be higher? Who should be lower?

Other Week 8 Rankings:

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Fantasy Football Week 8 Injury Report: Johnson, Westbrook, Wayne and More

Published: October 29, 2009

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The NFL released the early Week Eight injury report yesterday, so let’s take a look at which players are on it that fantasy owners need to be concerned about (and should quickly grab a replacement) and who you can safely leave in your line-up:

Joe Flacco practiced in full despite an ankle injury.
There was little concern coming out of a bye week after rolling his ankle in Week Six. He is going to be on the field this Sunday and is a must-use in all formats.

Andre Johnson did not practice due to a bruised lung.
He’s saying he’s going to play, as per Nick Scurfield of www.houstontexans.com on Twitter (click here to view). We all know he’s a must-use if in the line-up and for now, there’s no reason to think he won’t suit up.

Jamal Lewis and Derek Anderson both practiced in full.
Lewis (wrist) and Anderson (hip) are two of the key figures in one of the worst offenses in the league. Both could conceivably lose their starting jobs at any time, so their health isn’t the only concern for fantasy owners. They are low-end options in deeper leagues when healthy and nothing more.

Matt Hasselbeck did not practice due to a rib injury.
Coach Jim Mora was quoted in the Seattle Times (click here for the full article) as saying, “it is not anything that will keep him from playing Sunday at full strength.”

He was ranked as the 18th QB on our initial Top 25 rankings (click here to view), so this news does little to affect his ranking. He’s only usable in two-quarterback formats or as a bye week alternative.

Calvin Johnson did not practice due to a knee injury.

He has yet to practice this week after missing Week Six and having last week’s bye to rest. That cannot make owners very optimistic, though there apparently is still a chance that he finds his way onto the field.

We’ll have to monitor this as the week progresses, but owners certainly want to be prepared with a suitable alternative just in case.

Matthew Stafford was limited in practice due to a knee injury.
He’s no guarantee to return to the line-up, but he clearly is progressing. He missed Weeks Five and Six due to the injury and even with a promising match-up against the Rams this week, he’s going to be risky if he is able to suit up. I wouldn’t put much faith in him.

Bernard Berrian did not practice due to a hamstring injury.
The injury forced him out of action this past week so his inability to practice has got to make owners a bit nervous. I’m guessing that he’s not going to be able to suit up, but even if he does he no longer is the top option for Brett Favre. I wouldn’t plan on using him.

Jermichael Finley did not practice due to a knee injury.
He has become a hot sleeper tight end option, but he is highly questionable for the upcoming week. With the tight end position tough to predict as it is, he’s not worth betting on with the potential of him not playing hanging over him.

Aaron Rodgers was limited in practice due to a foot injury.
This is the second consecutive week he’s been on the injury report, but there is no chance of him not playing against the Vikings.

Donald Brown did not practice due to a shoulder injury.
He’s not expected to play in the upcoming week, helping the value for Joseph Addai. If you are in a deeper format and planned on using him, look elsewhere.

Anthony Gonzalez did not practice.
The wait to see when he finally returns to the line-up drags on. The longer it takes him to practice, the more unlikely it is that he’ll be in the line-up in the coming week. Maybe Week Nine?

Reggie Wayne did not practice due to a groin injury.
At this point the talk is that the injury is not going to keep him out this week, but time will tell. I’d make sure I have a suitable replacement on the bench, just in case, but anticipate being able to use him.

Jerricho Cotchery was limited in practice due to a hamstring injury.
After missing the past two games Cotchery was happy with how he felt, with Rich Cimini of The New York Daily News (click here for the article) saying he “was pleased with the results, so much so that he declared himself ready to face the Dolphins on Sunday.” We’ll see what happens as the week moves on, but this is certainly promising news.

Jonathan Stewart did not participate in practice due to an Achilles injury.
This is nothing to be concerned about for Stewart, who is fully expected to play on Sunday.

Muhsin Muhammad did not participate in practice due to a knee injury.
He’s a low-end option to begin with, so his absence shouldn’t cause too many issues for fantasy owners. If you are desperate to use him, monitor the news all week, but you’d probably be better off finding an alternative.

Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston were both limited in practice.
This seems to be the trend with these two, so until something else comes to light, I’d move forward assuming that they will be in the line-up this week.

Brian Westbrook did not practice due to a concussion.
The concussion was said to be a serious one, so while the Eagles are trying to convince people he may play this week, I’m just not buying it. I’d expect him to be out at least this week and possibly could be out for a few games depending on how he reacts. Make sure you get yourself a suitable replacement.

DeSean Jackson did not practice due to a foot injury.
He was actually injured in the first half of Monday’s game, yet managed to return to the line-up. At this point there is no reason to think that he’s not going to play on Sunday.

What are your thoughts on the injury news? Which do you find most troubling? Who are you not concerned about?

Need more help in trying to decide who to start this week, check out our weekly rankings by clicking here .

This article is also featured on www.rotoprofessor.com/football

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NFL Target Trends: Week 7

Published: October 28, 2009

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Targets is one of the hot stats this year for fantasy football owners, so let’s take a look at some of the recent trends:

Increase Targets (excluding those with Week 5 bye):

1. Fred Davis: Washington Redskins: +9
2. Larry Murphy: Oakland Raiders: +7
2. Sidney Rice: Minnesota Vikings: +7
4. Steve Smith: Carolina Panthers: +6
4. Gary Barnidge: Carolina Panthers: +6
4. Antonio Bryant: Tampa Bay Buccaneers: +6
4. Percy Harvin: Minnesota Vikings: +6

With Chris Cooley going down to injury, Fred Davis stepped into the main tight end role and made the most of his opportunity. There was never any question about his ability to catch the ball, so let’s see if he can continue to put up big numbers.
Larry Murphy plays for the Raiders, so does anyone really care that he saw a big increase in targets?
Gary Barnidge went from no targets to six this week, landing him on this list. Chances are he goes back to obscurity next week, considering he’s the third tight end in Carolina.
Sidney Rice is quickly emerging as Brett Favre’s go-to receiver, so the fact that he’s getting more and more targets could mean big things for him moving forward.

Decrease in Targets:

1. Brian Westbrook: Philadelphia Eagles: -11
2. Andre Johnson: Houston Texans: -10
3. Dwayne Bowe: Kansas City Chiefs: -9
3. Hines Ward: Pittsburgh Steelers: -9
5. Zach Miller: Oakland Raiders: -8
5. Leon Washington: New York Jets: -8

Westbrook, Johnson & Washington all left due to injury, justifying their spot on this list. Johnson has the best chance of playing this week, with Washington’s season already over.
After Miller’s big day two weeks ago, his dropping off the table this week is no surprise.
Bowe & Ward each had down weeks, but I wouldn’t put too much stock into it. Both should have bounce-back weeks.

Top Receivers Targeted:

1. Sidney Rice: Minnesota Vikings: 14
2. Larry Fitzgerald: Arizona Cardinals: 13
3. Marques Colston: New Orleans Saints: 12
4. Vernon Davis: San Francisco 49ers: 11
4. Chad Ochocinco: Cincinnati Bengals: 11
4. Steve Smith: Carolina Panthers: 11
4. Roddy White: Atlanta Falcons: 11
8. Fred Davis: Washington Redskins: 10
8. Larry Murphy: Oakland Raiders: 10
8. Steve Smith: New York Giants: 10
8. Wes Welker: New England Patriots: 10
8. Percy Harvin: Minnesota Vikings: 10
13. Santana Moss: Washington Redskins: 9
13. Antonio Bryant: Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 9
13. Vincent Jackson: San Diego Chargers: 9
13. Reggie Wayne: Indianapolis Colts: 9
13. Owen Daniels: Houston Texans: 9
13. Devin Hester: Chicago Bears: 9
13. Lee Evans: Buffalo Bills: 9
20. Ten Players were tied with 8 targets

For the second straight week, there were only five players who were in the Top 20 targeted receivers both this week and last (Larry Fitzgerald, Wes Welker, Owen Daniels, Devin Hester & Lee Evans)
There were three tight ends in the Top 20 this week (Vernon Davis, Fred Davis & Daniels) compared to seven last week (Tony Gonzalez, Daniels, Zach Miller, Dustin Keller, Greg Olsen, Antonio Gates and Chris Cooley)
No running backs were in the Top 20 this week, compared to two last week (Ray Rice and Brian Westbrook)

Two Games of 10+ Targets over past four weeks:

Larry Fitzgerald: Arizona Cardinals: Week 6 & 7
Roddy White: Atlanta Falcons: Week 5 & 7
Derrick Mason: Baltimore Ravens: Week 4 & 6
Mohammad Massaquoi: Cleveland Browns: Week 4 & 6
Andre Johnson: Houston Texans: Week 5 & 6
Michael Sims-Walker: Jacksonville Jaguars: Week 4 & 6
Dwayne Bowe: Kansas City Chiefs: Week 5 & 6
Steve Smith: New York Giants: Week 4 & 7
Larry Murphy: Oakland Raiders: Week 4 & 7
Hines Ward: Pittsburgh Steelers: Week 4 & 6
Vernon Davis: San Francisco 49ers: Week 5 & 7

Three Games of 10+ Targets over past four weeks:

Chad Ochocinco: Cincinnati Bengals: Week 4, 5 & 7

Four Games of 10+ Targets over past four weeks:

Wes Welker: New England Patriots: Week 4, 5, 6 & 7

What are your thoughts on these trends? Who stands out to you?

Need more help in trying to decide who to start this week, check out our weekly rankings by clicking here .

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Waiver Worthy—Fantasy Football Fallout: Jamaal Charles, Beanie Wells, and More

Published: October 27, 2009

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Let’s take a look at some players who are potentially on your waiver wire after Week Seven and determine if they are worth owning or not:

Jamaal Charles – Kansas City Chiefs – RB

As if Larry Johnson’s inability to make plays was bad enough, he now seems to be self-destructing before our very eyes. It appears to be a matter of when, not if, Charles becomes the No. 1 option running the football in Kansas City, making him worth stashing in all formats immediately.

Verdict: Worth owning in all formats

Beanie Wells – Arizona Cardinals – RB

He finally got the lion’s share of the carries and did produce, rushing for 4.8 yards a carry as well as scoring a TD. Look for his increased workload to continue, meaning if someone in your league gave up on him you need to grab him as quickly as possible.

Verdict: Must-own in all formats

Mike Wallace – Pittsburgh Steelers – WR

This is a tough one for me to gauge. He’s the third receiver on his team, behind Santonio Holmes and Hines Ward. Then, you have to factor Heath Miller’s presence into the mix. Sprinkle in Rashard Mendenhall and Willie Parker and you have to wonder if there are enough balls to spread around and keep Wallace productive.

I know the 72 yards and a touchdown this past week are nice, but in his seven games he’s had more than three catches just once. With that type of production the only way he’s going to be useful is if he can find the end zone every week and how likely is that?

Verdict: Not worth owning outside of the deepest of formats

Shonn Greene – New York Jets – RB

With Leon Washington out for the season, Greene steps up as the team’s new No. 2 back. While his 144 yard, two-touchdown performance was impressive, you have to keep in mind the level of talent it came against. He’s going to have some good days, but on other days could be rendered useless. He’s more of a FLEX option at this point, especially since he is not expected to be used on third downs.

Verdict: Worth owning as a backup

Alex Smith – San Francisco 49ers – QB

He replaced Shaun Hill at halftime and connected for three touchdown passes to Vernon Davis. Obviously, don’t look for that type of production on a weekly basis, but with the emergence of Davis and Michael Crabtree now being worked into the mix, he does have some weapons to work with. Considering the level of some of the low-end QBs (JaMarcus Russell, Derek Anderson, etc.), he’s certainly worth a flyer in deeper leagues.

Verdict: Not worth considering in smaller formats, but in two QB formats he is worth owning

Fred Davis – Washington Redskins – TE

With the news that Chris Cooley’s season has come to an end, Davis’ potential may finally be realized. The questions surrounding him were always regarding his blocking, not pass-catching ability, as he showed by catching eight passes for 78 yards and a touchdown after Cooley left the game.

The TE position is a tough one to predict, so I wouldn’t necessarily say he’s a must-own, but he has as much potential as anyone to post big numbers in any given week.

Verdict: It’s a matchup game at tight end, so use him when the matchup is favorable if you do not own one of the top-end options

David Clowney – New York Jets – WR

He’s had eight catches over the past two weeks, but that’s with Jericho Cotchery and Brad Smith on the shelf. Once they return, Clowney is at best the third option and possibly even the fourth. Needless to say, he’s not worth the gamble.

Verdict: Not worth owning in any format

Justin Fargas – Oakland Raiders – RB

He may not be the most talented running back on his team, but he appears likely to see plenty of carries until Darren McFadden is ready to return from injury. The Raiders are a complete mess, meaning I wouldn’t depend on him in any format, but as an emergency option you certainly could do worse.

Verdict: Worth stashing as an emergency option

What are your thoughts on these players? Which would you grab? Which would you avoid?

Need help in trying to decide who to start this week, check out our weekly rankings by clicking here .

This article is also featured on www.rotoprofessor.com/football

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Waiver Worthy—Fantasy Football Fallout: Jamaal Charles, Beanie Wells, and More

Published: October 27, 2009

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Let’s take a look at some players who are potentially on your waiver wire after Week Seven and determine if they are worth owning or not:

Jamaal Charles – Kansas City Chiefs – RB

Verdict: Worth owning in all formats

Beanie Wells – Arizona Cardinals – RB

Verdict: Must-own in all formats

Mike Wallace – Pittsburgh Steelers – WR

Verdict: Not worth owning outside of the deepest of formats

Shonn Greene – New York Jets – RB

Verdict: Worth owning as a backup

Alex Smith – San Francisco 49ers – QB

Verdict: Not worth considering in smaller formats, but in two QB formats he is worth owning

Fred Davis – Washington Redskins – TE

The TE position is a tough one to predict, so I wouldn’t necessarily say he’s a must-own, but he has as much potential as anyone to post big numbers in any given week.

Verdict: It’s a matchup game at tight end, so use him when the matchup is favorable if you do not own one of the top-end options

David Clowney – New York Jets – WR

Verdict: Not worth owning in any format

Justin Fargas – Oakland Raiders – RB

Verdict: Worth stashing as an emergency option

What are your thoughts on these players? Which would you grab? Which would you avoid?

Need help in trying to decide who to start this week, check out our weekly rankings by clicking here .

This article is also featured on www.rotoprofessor.com/football

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Waiver Worthy—Fantasy Football Fallout: Jamaal Charles, Beanie Wells, and More

Published: October 27, 2009

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Let’s take a look at some players who are potentially on your waiver wire after Week Seven and determine if they are worth owning or not:

Jamaal Charles – Kansas City Chiefs – RB

Verdict: Worth owning in all formats

Beanie Wells – Arizona Cardinals – RB

Verdict: Must-own in all formats

Mike Wallace – Pittsburgh Steelers – WR

Verdict: Not worth owning outside of the deepest of formats

Shonn Greene – New York Jets – RB

Verdict: Worth owning as a backup

Alex Smith – San Francisco 49ers – QB

Verdict: Not worth considering in smaller formats, but in two QB formats he is worth owning

Fred Davis – Washington Redskins – TE

The TE position is a tough one to predict, so I wouldn’t necessarily say he’s a must-own, but he has as much potential as anyone to post big numbers in any given week.

Verdict: It’s a matchup game at tight end, so use him when the matchup is favorable if you do not own one of the top-end options

David Clowney – New York Jets – WR

Verdict: Not worth owning in any format

Justin Fargas – Oakland Raiders – RB

Verdict: Worth stashing as an emergency option

What are your thoughts on these players? Which would you grab? Which would you avoid?

Need help in trying to decide who to start this week, check out our weekly rankings by clicking here .

This article is also featured on www.rotoprofessor.com/football

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

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