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September 2009 News
Jaguars Talking Draft Already?
Published: September 17, 2009
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With only 31 short weeks until the NFL draft, the Jaguars are already thinking about who to pick. Owner Wayne Weaver was quoted as saying the idea of drafting Tebow was “very compelling”.
This is a bad idea no matter how you want to look at it.
Tebow is a hero in Florida, there’s no doubt about that. But to draft a player as a business decision is something no team should ever consider doing.
No matter how popular a player is, the best thing a team can do to sell tickets is win. If you think there is a player available that could help your team more, that is the guy you have to pick.
Tebow is tremendous athlete. We all know that. But there is a lot of doubt about whether or not he can be a productive NFL quarterback.
According to some reports, Tebow may go in the first round. A guy who may or may not produce at the quarterback position is way too much of a risk to take in the first round. Especially with Names like Colt McCoy and Sam Bradford in the same draft class.
Even with all these great quarterbacks coming out, there is no real reason to replace their current quarterback. David Garrard had a down year last year, but the year before he was excellent in leading Jacksonville to the playoffs.
Now Tebow may become a productive tight end. But to spend a first round pick on a guy who needs to switch positions is a horrible idea.
If Tebow falls to Jacksonville in the second round, that may turn out to be a great pick for them. But to take Tebow in the first round is too much of a risk for a team that could be a serious contender in the coming years.
Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com
Michael Crabtree Never Wanted To Be a 49er: An Image Says It All
Published: September 17, 2009
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First, let me be clear, the image I am talking about is not the one on this column. To see the image I recommend you go here, and go 26 seconds into the clip.
After Michael Crabtree was informed he would play for Mike Singletary and the “Run at all Costs” offense, he has a look on his face that does not show the slightest bit of enthusiasm. In fact, he looks downright unhappy.
Scratch that. He looks as though he has been given a death sentence, yet cannot reveal it. He looks dazed, confused, and scared.
Maybe Crabtree will see it is not in his best interest to sit out a whole season (it isn’t). Maybe his sit down with Jed York will bring him together with the team.
But, from the looks of things, he cares more about playing outside of San Francisco than he cares about the dollar amount.
Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com
The Weekly Pepper Doubleheader: Week One Fantasy Pickups
Published: September 17, 2009
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Welcome to part two of my fantasy doubleheader.
Yesterday, we discussed the untradeable players of the 2009 fantasy season.
Today, I’ll kick some knowledge on the Week One pickups that could change your team.
1. Louis Murphy
Oh yes, I’m advising a Raider. The forgotten receiver from the Florida Gators’ powerhouse. If not for what could only described as a deplorable referee decision, Louis Murphy would have finished the Monday Night game with two touchdowns and nearly 100 yards. He was targeted all game and even made plays against the incredible Cromartie.
With Chaz Schilens out with an injury for up to two more weeks, with Javon Walker still out, and with Heyward-Bey being, well, Heyward-Bey, Louis Murphy will be getting quite a few looks.
Add in the fact that he plays the Chiefs/Broncos/Chargers a combined five more times this year and you have a fantasy sleeper in the wings.
2. Michael Bush
The Chargers have a top run defense and the Raiders pounded them for 105 yards in a half.
The Raiders can run the ball, and the Raiders will run the ball. Michael Bush will be getting the goal line carries.
Oh by the way, they play the Chiefs this weekend. The same Chiefs who gave the inept Ravens’ offense 500+ yards.
Start all Raiders. All of them. ALL OF THEM.
3. Oakland Defense
They held the Chargers to 77 yards rushing, and other than two great fourth quarter drives, they held the masterful Chargers’ offense to a minimum.
They play the Chiefs and Broncos four more times. Great spot defense if your defense is playing the Saints.
4.Hank Baskett
With Anthony Gonzalez going out for eight weeks with an ACL injury, Hank Baskett was recently picked up by the Colts.
Reggie Wayne will be getting all the looks, but Baskett could be a fantastic flex option for 12 team leagues.
5.Trent Edwards
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Debuts of Sintim and Boley Give D Both Flexibility and Uncertainty
Published: September 17, 2009
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On Sunday night, the Dallas Cowboys won’t be the only team with new acquisitions to show off.
According to Mike Garafolo’s Twitter page, Clint Sintim and Michael Boley each got half the snaps at their respective positions in Wednesday’s morning practice session, which is a strong indication that both could suit up for Sunday’s game in Dallas.
The nationally televised game will be Sintim’s first regular season action, and it represents both a tremendous opportunity and a stiff test. Though he’s shown himself to be a capable pass-rusher, Sintim still has a lot to learn about pass coverage, and the Cowboys are well-suited to exploit that. Both Marion Barber and Felix Jones are effective at catching passes, and Jason Witten is one of the best tight ends in the league. Every time Sintim takes the field (Danny Clark will start), he must create havoc.
Sintim is unquestionably a better pass-rusher than Clark, so his insertion into the Giants’ game plan makes sense; the Giants’ front seven must protect its perilously thin secondary, especially this week with a potent Cowboys attack waiting for them.
Even though defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan will be tipping his hand every time he sends Sintim into the game, it will still be an essential part of keeping the Cowboys’ offense in check.
And while the prospect of Sintim’s regular season debut should excite fans, seeing Michael Boley at all, even if it’s just on the practice field, should be thrilling.
After Chris Canty and Rocky Bernard, Boley was the Giants’ most important offseason acquisition. Unfortunately, he has also been the least productive. Boley spent almost the entire offseason recovering from hip surgery, and he has not had many opportunities to even walk through defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan’s schemes.
Because Boley makes more (~$2M) than Chase Blackburn, Gerris Wilkinson, and Bryan Kehl combined, his rise to the starting lineup is inevitable. But playing him for the first time against a divisional opponent would be tremendously risky, and Giants fans are hoping those practice snaps are meant to help get him up to speed, not prepare him to play on Sunday night.
Injuries to the secondary aside, the Giants’ defense still boasts admirable depth. Coach Tom Coughlin and Bill Sheridan should be able to avoid putting their new players into unexpected situations, and with a little bit of luck, they just might get to watch Sintim and Boley up on Jerry Jones’ brand new video screens, making plays that leave Cowboys Stadium absolutely silent.
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Where’s My Sports Loyalty? Wherever I Want it to Be…
Published: September 17, 2009
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That being said, Sunday night and the following days sucked for Bears fans. The season is hardly lost because one game never has and never will make a season for any NFL team, but it sure got harder for the Bears after their debacle against the Packers.
After the game, my naturally excited state of mind prompted me to go on Facebook and talk smack to Bears nation. All of the trash-talking was good natured, and while some of it got a little out of hand, it was nothing that lasted more than that night.
However, there was one argument Bears fans were making against Packers fans that got me upset and wondering why there was an issue at hand.
Being from Illinois and a suburb of Chicago, Bears fans from my hometown chastised my Packers fanhood and called out my friend—who is a fan of all Chicago teams other than the Bears—for not being a true “Chicago fan.” They stated if a person is from Chicago and does not root for all of his or her sports teams, that person is not a fan at all.
One upset fan even claimed that a person who did this was “less than scum,” which brings me to the heart of my argument. Does a person who comes from a particular city have to root for every team in that particular city, with no exceptions and no questions asked?
The answer is a resounding NO.
When my father was growing up, everyone in his family was a diehard Chicago Bears fan. Every Sunday, the boys of the house would go to the local church and watch the Bears take on their weekly opponent.
But my dad was different. Always one to go against the proverbial grain (if you know my dad, you just laughed at that and nodded your head), he decided to take up a liking for the rivals from the north, the Green Bay Packers.
Born in 1959, his career as a Packers fan got off to a fast start in the mid-60s, but the ’70s and ’80s made it almost unbearable to watch. The one thing my dad always said his father—my grandpa—told him was that once he chose a team, he had to stick with it and not become fair-weathered.
So there he was, watching the Packers amount to four winning seasons between 1970 and 1991, winning just one playoff game.
When I was born in 1990, my father molded me into a Packers fan from day one. I had always been a huge sportsfan and football was always my favorite sport, so naturally I wanted to cheer for the Packers.
My dad and I would go to games yearly and would always share information on the team at the dinner table, sparking debates that still give my mother headaches today.
Back to the main question of all this: In becoming Packers fans, despite living in Illinois basically our whole lives, did my father and I do something wrong or go against our city?
The greatest freedom we have in our country today is the freedom of speech. We are allowed to choose our leader, speak publicly about issues, and not have to worry if our house will be burnt down in the morning. This may seem like a stretch of an analogy to some, but it really is not. The same goes for sports, in that we should be able to decide whom we want to root for.
For children our age who watched football growing up, how could you not love to see Brett Favre zip a touchdown to Antonio Freeman on a snowy day at Lambeau Field? The Packers were a fun team to watch, and their leader had one of the most lovable personalities in all the game.
It became almost impossible to root against Favre, and for some people this meant coming over to the side of cheering for the Packers on a weekly basis.
You don’t choose which sports teams you love. For the most diehard fans, there is an actual bond between the teams we love and ourselves. Even if we wanted to root for our hometown teams and thought that we had an obligation to do so, we just couldn’t. There’s something about the team we chose that we love, and we wouldn’t change that for the world.
Another argument presented during the Facebook face-off Sunday night was that being a “Chicago fan” meant cheering for all Chicago teams, and once you cheered for another team—let alone a rival—you could no longer call yourself a Chicago fan.
What?
Since when is there such thing as a Chicago fan or a (enter the name of a city here) fan? It’s one thing if you choose to root for all Chicago teams and it just so happens to work out like that, but fan loyalty has nothing to do with where you live.
What is the record of the WNBA’s Chicago Sky this season? How about the Chicago Fire? Will either team make the playoffs? Come on now, you’re a “Chicago fan,” aren’t you?
No one chooses where they are born, so the argument of fan loyalty out of the womb makes little sense. This isn’t a dictatorship of a country where I have the potential to be shot if I wear my Packers jersey out in public. Do I have to be all for Chicago politics just because I reside in Deerfield? Why are sports any different from anything else in Chicago?
Sports are an amazing entertainment for every kind of fan who has ever loved a team. There are few things outside of sports that can ignite so much passion inside of us, make us sit in front of a TV for nine hours straight on a Sunday, and even shell out hundreds of dollars just to get a glimpse of our heroes in person.
Sports can be a getaway from the harsh realities of life, they can create futures for those talented enough to work in the business, and they can bring together a whole city, state, or country. Just ask the Yankees after Sept. 11th, or Team USA in the 1980 Olympics.
But above all these things, the best part about sports is that we get to decide on our own whom we want to cheer for. We find those sports figures in our life who turn into heroes, who make us want to be the best at what we do, just like them. We decide what jersey we put on as we imitate our favorite basketball player in the driveway.
Sports are a passion, and wherever we find that passion, all that matters is that we back the team we follow, through thick and thin. It isn’t a mortal sin to cheer for the rival and our loyalty isn’t some binding contract that has to match up with our zip code.
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Fantasy Football: Week One Reception Leaders
Published: September 17, 2009
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In my column last week, I took a look back at 2008’s Week One performances to see what kind of trends we might be able to glean from that tiny smidge of history.
My prognosis was that many of the trends that we see in Week One will hold true for the rest of the season—like committee splits in the backfield and rookie wide receiver performances. If that is the case and Week One gives us a pretty good window into the remainder of the season, then what can we learn from this week—maybe, which players are for real?
Since there are about a million and one ways to look at the Week One games for number nerds like me, I thought I’d assess players on just one front to keep things simple: number of receptions.
I find receptions to be a much more consistent measure of a player—plus I play in so many PPR leagues and feel like their popularity is on the rise, so why not give receptions a little extra focus?
First, I checked out the top-10 pass catchers based on number of receptions from this past week and found a few interesting nuggets.
In the top-10, we have regulars like Randy Moss, Reggie Wayne, and Wes Welker (love that both Moss and Welker had 12 receptions last week—impressive!), and there were three Steelers that made the list, two of whom were Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes—but there were some surprises, too.
RB Tim Hightower—Arizona Cardinals (12 receptions, 121 yards):
With Anquan Boldin limited and Steve Breaston out, most expected Jerheme Urban to step up to fill that void. Urban had a decent line, as did Fitzgerald, but it was Hightower that really rewarded fantasy owners with a substantial piece of the passing game. Don’t get your hopes up too high though—when Boldin gets a little healthier and Breaston returns, Hightower will inevitably lose some of those receptions. Until then, though, Hightower makes a solid flex play for those in PPR leagues and depending on his matchup, he could even be a decent RB2 player.
TE Heath Miller – Pittsburgh Steelers (8 receptions, 64 yards):
Miller was rarely even drafted in most of my leagues this year, but he hauled in eight receptions during last week’s game. Not too shabby. But, keep in mind that his yardage was fairly pedestrian considering the number of catches he had. I think Miller comes with a great big warning: avoid unless you really don’t have any better options. He’s far more likely to give you 3-5 receptions for 45 yards. Interestingly he had his best game in 2008 against the Titans (eight receptions for 69 yards in Week 16).
WR Antwaan Randle El – Washington Redskins (7 receptions, 98 yards):
I think this just comes down to the fact that in recent years, Randle El is basically a reception dynamo when facing the Giants. Last year during the Week One matchup against the Giants, Randle El put up a decent 73 yards on seven receptions, but only improved upon that yardage one time during the 2009 season: when playing the Rams. The lesson here is to avoid starting Randle El unless he’s playing the Giants or the Rams, whom he happens to be meeting in Week Two at home. Don’t let two back-to-back solid performances convince you that he’s worthy of starting in anything other than a flex spot at best.
WR Nate Burleson – Seattle Seahawks (7 receptions, 74 yards):
Burleson really benefited from Deion Branch’s absence in last week’s game—and a generally far healthier Seattle offense. Burleson’s reception history nearly tops out at seven; the only time he’s had more receptions was in Week 10 of the 2004 season (11 receptions for 141 yards). Yeah, I said 2004. However, Burleson will be up against some weak secondaries over the next few weeks and Branch’s timetable for a return remains uncertain. Plug Burleson in as a WR2 or a flex spot and feel pretty good about what he’ll do for your squad.
WR Justin Gage – Tennessee Titans (7 receptions, 78 yards):
I am a Gage-aholic. I couldn’t stop myself from picking him up in as many leagues as possible, so I now own Gage in six of my nine leagues…so I might be a little biased since I really want him to be successful, but the guy is awesome. Gage is another beneficiary of an injured starter; with Nate Washington extremely limited in Week One, Gage had plenty of room to step up and show off. But rest easy my fellow Gage-lovers, even when Washington returns, it is more likely to be rookie Kenny Britt that feels a negative impact. Gage is (and will continue to be!) targeted early and often with his schedule over the next few weeks being pretty sweet.
Finally, I’ve spent a lot of time talking my readers down off the ledge today. There are some key things to take away from this time of year: yes, we can begin to develop trends and ideas of how players will perform BUT it’s still just Week One. Be patient with your studs that are slow starters and let things evolve before you do anything crazy. Best of luck in Week Two!
Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com
The Reciever’s Who Are Going To Led Dallas To The Promise Land
Published: September 17, 2009
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As the 2009 season starts, the Dallas Cowboys are starting fresh. The team got rid of trouble maker reciever Terrell Owens in the off-season and are looking at the future with eyes wide open.
QB Tony Romo is back and barring any injuries look for at least 275 pass completions and at least 3500 yards passing.
Romo will have some veterans and some players looking to prove the belong to throw to this year.
The Dallas Cowboys recieving corp on paper probaly doesn’t look good but it will be one of the best in the league by the end of the season which will end in the Super Bowl.
Jason Witten has had at least 65 receptions over the last five years and 71.5 avgerage over his six years in the league. Witten also averaged 822.50 yards over that same six year period. Witten is one of the best tight ends in the game and will be one of Romo’s favirote targets this season.
Prediction for Witten = 93 receptions for 1075 yards and 8 TDs
Roy E. Williams will be the No. 2 target for Romo this year. Williams had his worst production as a pro last year splitting time between Detroit and Dallas.
Williams has averaged 56.2 receptions since joining the league in 2004. With 816 yards averaged per season during that time look for Williams to show why he was a top pick out of Texas.
Prediction for Williams = 91 receptions for 1100 yards and 6 TDs
Patrick Crayton has been a solid No. 3 for Dallas for the last five years and this year he will surpass all his career highs and show everybody why he is a star. Crayton is a soild 31.8 reception 453.2 yard guy but not anymore. Crayton will see the ball more than he ever has this year.
Prediction for Crayton = 64 receptions for 815 yards and 5 TDs
Miles Austin is a fourth year guy trying to prove his worth. With career numbers last year in 13 receptions for 278 yards it wont take much attention by Romo to get him by these numbers. Austin will get 1-3 touches a night so look for an improvement from last year.
Prediction for Austin = 27 receptions for 374 yards and 3 TDs
Martellus Bennett is a young star in the making. This season will be almost an exact copy from last year’s production stand point.Bennett will catch 1-2 balls a night and give Dallas a different look besides Witten.
Prediction for Bennett = 21 receptions for 286 yards and 3 TDs
Look for Dallas to cut down on their passing to the running backs this season but if the need to look for Marion Barber and Tashard Choice to get the receptions. Last year Dallas threw to the running backs over 75 times for receptions look for that number to be cut down to 40 or less.
Other recievers will get in the game for the Cowboys and could have a great impact for the team.
Romo will have a Pro Bowl year and possible MVP year. Look for career numbers from the seventh year pro.
Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com
Broncos-Browns Preview: Keys to Victory For Denver In Week Two
Published: September 17, 2009
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The Denver Broncos (1-0), coming off of their craziest victory in a long time, head home for Week Two to face off against the Cleveland Browns (0-1), who last weekend were crushed by Adrian Peterson and the Minnesota Vikings.
Many say the Broncos are “lucky” to be undefeated right now because of what is being referred to as the “Immaculate Deflection.” But if that catch happened in the first or second quarter, people would be talking about how the Broncos had a dominant defensive performance against the Cincinnati Bengals.
This week at Invesco Field at Mile High, the Broncos will play host to a Browns team characterized by the phrase, “The future is now.”
Cleveland has a bevy of young players, a new head coach, and a fanbase desperate for a return to the postseason.
The Browns boast one of the NFL’s best left tackles, kick returners, and wide receivers, along with one of the more athletic defensive linemen I have ever seen. I am, of course, talking about Joe Thomas, Joshua Cribbs, Braylon Edwards, and Shaun Rogers.
But despite the talent that the Browns possess, they have been vast underachievers over the last decade. The 2009 season appears to be no different, especially as they try to get Brady Quinn acclimated to his first full season as a starting quarterback.
All of this being said, the Broncos hold the clear statistical advantage over the Browns.
Offensively, the Broncos hold the edge in total yards and passing yards.
Defensively, Denver bests Cleveland in total yards allowed, rushing yards allowed, points allowed, third down conversions allowed, and turnovers.
The most interesting statistic I came across was that the Broncos and Browns are tied in terms of third-down conversions on offense. As Bronco fans well know, Kyle Orton and company were only able to convert on three third downs. The Browns similarly struggled to move the ball on offense.
All of this being said, let’s take a look at the key matchups the Broncos will have to win to obtain a victory at home on Sunday.
Broncos’ Special Teams vs. Joshua Cribbs
To me, this is a key matchup. Cribbs already proved why he was a Pro Bowl return man last season. He can cause serious problems for opposing defenses by giving his offense great field position.
Cribbs is extremely versatile, fast, and deceptively powerful as a return man. The Broncos will undoubtedly have their hands full. Head Coach Josh McDaniels had this to say about Cleveland’s All-Pro performer:
“He is the best in the league, in my opinion. He and [Chicago WR Devin] Hester are certainly guys that, when they touch the ball—I don’t care if it is on offense or in the kicking game—you have got a chance to score if you are on their sideline. [He is a] very explosive player, hard to tackle, great vision, and awareness in the return game.”
“Sometimes, he may not go where the return is blocked to go because he sees that people are over-pursuing or squeezing too hard. We are going to have a huge challenge with him because he is so dangerous, so explosive. If you are playing in tight games and that guy is back there returning kicks, it could be one play that changes the result of the game. [He is] one of the most dangerous players we will play all year, no doubt about it.”
Broncos punter Brett Kern saw a lot of action on Sunday against the Bengals and sources have indicated that Denver was not extremely impressed with his performance. In fact, the Broncos brought in a couple of punters, including Britton Colquitt, for a tryout this week.
Kern’s average of just around 42 yards per punt is not great. He is going to need to get a lot of hangtime on his kicks in order to keep Cribbs in check.
Unless wind is a major factor, kickoffs should not be a problem. Matt Prater is able to consistently drive the ball out of the end zone, especially in the thin air of Denver. Punts are a different story.
Broncos’ Pass Defense vs. Brady Quinn
The Broncos were able to shut down Carson Palmer, for the most part, in their win last week in Cincinnati. Early indications are that they will have no problems with Brady Quinn and the Browns’ receivers, including Braylon Edwards, Mike Furrey, Mohamed Massaquoi, and Brian Robiskie.
If I had to guess, I would say the matchups will be as such:
Champ Bailey—Edwards
Andre’ Goodman—Furrey
Alphonso Smith—Massaquoi, Robiskie, etc.
I think the Broncos match up favorably in this area and, because of that, I expect Cleveland to come out running the ball early and often—a perfect lead-in to my next matchup.
Broncos’ Run Defense vs. Jamal Lewis
Jamal Lewis was shut down against the Vikings, who have one of the better run defenses in the league led by Kevin and Pat Williams. The Broncos, obviously, do not have defensive tackles of that caliber, but they proved against the Bengals that they are far more capable against the run than they are credited for.
The Broncos’ run defense was impressive throughout the preseason, and they followed it up by holding Bengals running back Cedric Benson to 76 yards on 21 carries. (And 20 of those yards came on one run.) For those keeping score at home, that is 3.6 yards per carry. If you take out Benson’s 20-yarder, Denver held him to roughly 2.5 yards per carry.
Jamal Lewis is a load for opposing defenders to take down, but it appears the Broncos have the personnel to defend against him.
He may break a big run, maybe two, but the Broncos should be able to keep Lewis in check for the most part throughout this game.
If they can do that, they will force Cleveland to pass, opening up the game for the rush linebackers and defensive linemen that can pin their ears back and pressure Quinn.
The gameplan for the Browns is probably similar to this one, oddly enough. Looking at the Broncos, it seems the most effective way to win will be to shut down Denver’s running game and pressure Kyle Orton.
Knowshon Moreno/Correll Buckhalter vs. Browns’ Run Defense
This is going to be a huge matchup for the Broncos, and one that could neutralize the Browns’ tactics defensively.
I fully expect the Broncos to come out running the ball in the early stages of this game. Cleveland’s run defense, well, they could not stop Adrian Peterson to save their jobs on Sunday.
The Broncos have a completely healthy Knowshon Moreno, and Correll Buckhalter seems to be running inspired lately.
If the Broncos can establish the run early, the passing game will set itself up. Orton needs pressure taken off of him, and he has proven throughout the preseason and even at times on Sunday that he can be effective with time in the pocket.
If the Broncos can establish the run early on, they should be able to control the game from the outset. Denver appears to have a superior defensive unit. If they can keep Brady Quinn under pressure, they can come away from their first home game with a victory and improve to 2-0.
Here is a position-by-position breakdown the two teams’ advantages:
Quarterback: Browns
Running Back: Push
Wide Receiver: Broncos
Tight Ends: Broncos
Offensive Line: Broncos
Defensive Line: Browns
Linebackers: Broncos
Cornerbacks: Broncos
Safeties: Broncos
Specialists: Browns
My Pick: Broncos
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Fantasy Football Week Two Rankings: Wide Receivers
Published: September 17, 2009
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If Week One reaffirmed anything about the wide receiver position, it was the idea that out of all the fantasy positions wide receivers are the hardest to predict.
Sure, some big names like Reggie Wayne and Randy Moss rose to the occasion in the opening week, but others like Andre Johnson and Terrell Owens came up short. Meanwhile, fantasy owners are feverishly trying to learn everything they can about guys like Oakland Raiders rookie wide receiver Louis Murphy.
Luckily for Bruno Boys Nation, the Bruno Boys are here to make your decision in regard to the wide receiver position a bit easier with the Bruno Boys Fantasy Football Week Two Rankings.
1. Larry Fitzgerald (Arizona Cardinals) at Jacksonville
Despite Arizona’s relative struggle to throw the ball against the 49ers in Week One, Fitzgerald put up respectable numbers with six catches for 71 yards and a touchdown. The team is still transitioning from the play-calling of offensive coordinator Todd Haley last year to head coach Ken Whisenhunt this season, so look for them to be more in sync this week.
Point Projection: 18 points
2. Randy Moss (New England Patriots) at New York Jets
The Jets did an outstanding job shutting down Andre Johnson in their Week One win over Houston, but Tom Brady is no Matt Schaub. Moss lit up the Bills with 12 catches for 141 yards in their come-from-behind win on Monday Night Football, and though The Freak didn’t haul in a touchdown pass, that’ll change this week.
Point Projection: 17 points
3. Andre Johnson (Houston Texans) at Tennessee
Johnson was one of the bigger disappointments for fantasy owners in Week One, as he managed only four catches for 35 yards. Just twice last season, he had games with fewer receiving yards, and a bounce-back is in order against a Titans team that was skewered for 321 yards by the Steelers last week, not to mention the fact he’ll have Kevin Walter back to take some of the burden off of him.
Point Projection: 17 points
4. Reggie Wayne (Indianapolis Colts) at Miami
Wayne was utterly dominant in the Colts’ win over the Jaguars last week, catching 10 passes for 162 yards and one touchdown. The Dolphins do not possess the personnel to slow Wayne, a University of Miami product, who should take some comfort in playing in the city where he did his thing in college.
Point Projection: 16 points
5. Greg Jennings (Green Bay Packers) vs. Cincinnati
Jennings had a rock-solid first week, with 106 receiving yards and one touchdown against the Bears. He’ll continue his ascension in becoming one of the NFL’s elite wideouts this week against the Bengals. Cincy was pretty good against the pass against Denver—for most of the game, that is—but Aaron Rodgers is far more talented than Kyle Orton.
Point Projection: 16 points
6. Calvin Johnson (Detroit Lions) vs. Minnesota
Unfortunately, the one who may suffer the most with Matthew Stafford being the starter in Detroit is Megatron himself. Case in point: Johnson had three catches for 90 yards, which are respectable numbers, but he was targeted 13 times. It’s great that Stafford looked for him so much, but his accuracy is an issue. Nonetheless, Johnson’s as talented a receiver as there is in the NFL, and he’ll still produce, just maybe not as much as he would with a veteran quarterback.
Point Projection: 15 points
7. Roddy White (Atlanta Falcons) vs. Carolina
The Panthers gave up fewer than 100 passing yards to the Eagles in their Week One loss. Then again, with Philly starting inside the opponent’s 50 every time due to Jake Delhomme’s errant passes, there weren’t a lot of yards to be had. White had just five catches for 42 yards in the opener, but those numbers will jump significantly this week.
Point Projection: 15 points
8. Marques Colston (New Orleans Saints) vs. Philadelphia
Colston caught three passes for 30 yards and a touchdown against the hapless Lions, and the damage could have been much greater, but Drew Brees was being generous and spreading the ball around to everyone. Colston is a big, tough, target, and, even against an opponent as hearty as the Eagles, he’ll produce.
Point Projection: 14 points
9. Roy Williams (Dallas Cowboys) vs. New York Giants
It was nice to see Williams make the big plays we all knew he was capable of. He caught just three passes against the Buccaneers in Dallas’ Week One victory, but took one of them 66 yards to the house and wound up with 86 receiving yards. Tony Romo is OK to go this week, and so too is Williams.
Point Projection: 14 points
10. Steve Smith (Carolina Panthers) at Atlanta
The horrific play of Jake Delhomme cannot be understated, and that led to Smith catching just three passes for 21 yards despite being targeted 13 times. Still, we’ll give Delhomme the benefit of the doubt for one more week. Smith flambéed the Falcons secondary twice last year, coming up with a total of 14 catches for 264 yards and one touchdown. For him to do so again, Delhomme needs to stop throwing to the opposing team.
Point Projection: 13 points
11. Terrell Owens (Buffalo Bills) vs. Tampa Bay
Once a week, Owens will display a case of alligator arms—it’s a fact fantasy owners have had to live with for some time. He did it again in Buffalo’s loss to New England on Monday, and wound up with just two catches for 46 yards. This week, however, he goes up against a Tampa pass defense that was absolutely scorched by the Cowboys.
Point Projection: 13 points
12. Vincent Jackson (San Diego Chargers) vs. Baltimore
Jackson and Co. face the Ravens on Sunday, in a matchup that looked tougher before the season began. That’s because Kansas City’s Brodie Croyle threw for two touchdowns en route to a 116.1 passer rating—the fourth highest of the week. Jackson is big and fast and can beat any opponent on any given play, as he did in the team’s win against Oakland, when he had five catches for 56 yards and a touchdown.
Point Projection: 13 points
FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK 2 WIDE RECEIVER RANKINGS, CLICK HERE!
*THIS ARTICLE WRITTEN BY BRUNO BOY KYLE SMITH*
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Colts’ Anthony Gonzalez Out 2-8 Weeks; Is Hank Baskett His Replacement?
Published: September 17, 2009
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Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez is expected to miss anywhere from 2-8 weeks depending on the status of his knee injury.
The Colts organization would not specify the exact nature of the knee injury, but anyone who saw the footage of Gonzalez going down could see the injury might prove nagging for the third year receiver, second on the depth chart behind Reggie Wayne.
Rumors are swirling that the Colts are pursuing Hank Baskett, recently released from the Philadelphia Eagles, to make up for the loss of Gonzalez.
This suggests the injury may cost Gonzalez more than just two or three weeks of playing time this year.
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