*New to our web site this season is James Morris, the owner and CEO of No Limit Fantasy Sports. James will provide you with insights on the coming week's game, advice on who to sit and start, as well as answer your questions via email. *
Week 9 had some interesting things go on. My wife had our third child (Selena Acacia Hernandez-Morris), Vernon Davis got sent to the corner by Samurai Mike (Singletary) and Brandon Marshall got completely shut down. What made it the best was the banter Marshall and Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter had for each other. I know this is fantasy sports, but this is also some good reading material as well:
Porter: "He's one of those guys that if he don't get the ball in the first two series in the first quarter, he's out of it. He had 18 catches in a game before. So he's not used to going the whole first half with no balls. We got in his head and he pretty much was done. I didn't get inside his head, we just were talkin'. He got in his own head. He was done. He's one of those soft receivers, where he has to have the ball all the time. If he don't get it, he's going to mope and cry. He did it to himself."
Marshall: "Porter's definitely one of those guys who all those muscles are popcorn muscles. He's soft. We hear stories floating around the league all the time about him, as far as him being in nightclubs, dancing with his shirt off like a girl, or in the playground getting beat up back in California. He's one of those guys that no matter how big he is, he can still get knocked on his butt. He's soft. And you can tell the way he's talking. His nickname's 'Peezy.' I don't know what 'Peezy' is, Joey."
Grammar and sentence structure aside, I was waiting for them to break out the can of Crisco and wrestle it out on Fox or Spike TV. In the end, Porter had the last laugh because Marshall still ended the game with two catches for 27 yards and no TDs. Maybe Marshall can call Shaq and the Diesel can teach him how to rap it out. Joey, tell me how my ...
Anyway, Greg Camarillo is looking more and more like this year's Wes Welker; Antonio Bryant looks like a viable option at WR now with 20 catches for 275 yards and 2 TDs over the past three games; and "What-choo talk'n bout" Willis McGahee sat on the bench while he was in many fantasy starting lineups. Beware that it looks like Steven Jackson will almost certainly miss this weekend, but I wouldn't rush to grab Ken Darby since the Jets have the fourth best run defense allowing just 76 yards per game.
The Bengals pulled up their pants and laid it down on the Jaguars last weekend. Chad Ocho Cinco was sitting on my bench Sunday as he broke for two TDs and five receptions, but still managed just 37 yards. Cedric Benson rolled his way to 104 yards and a score, showing that he can get on his pony when the holes are open.
Many readers are frustrated with Ryan Fitzpatrick's lack of yards, but if he can throw more TDs than INTs and just manage the game right, I will be happy with him for the rest of this season. The defense also stepped up, allowing just three points through three quarters. It was in the fourth period the Jaguars made a comeback attempt and put 16 points on the scoreboard. Carson Palmer says he's "slowly getting closer" to returning to practice and maybe even game action.
| ! Cardinals RB Tim Hightower has replaced Edgerrin James in the Arizona backfield. (Getty Images) |
David Garrard: Another ugly pick, but the matchup dictates it. Whenever a team is trying to run the table in reverse (Detroit is 0-8), you almost have to believe they will man up and find a way to let the other team play like Pro Bowlers. Garrard is that guy for me this week. I don't know who he will throw it to, but I have a feeling.
Maurice Jones-Drew: Like I used to ride the Texans bandwagon earlier this season, I am going to ride the Jaguars top dogs this week. MJD is a little bowling ball that can pick up speed when he sees daylight. Most teams see those holes against the Lions, as their 161.8 rushing yards against per game. Since he averages 4.2 YPC, I will give him the start here.
Tim Hightower: The Edge is out and Hightower is in. The 49ers give up 112 rushing yards per game and Hightower ran for 109 yards against the Rams last week. I smell a second-half fantasy sleeper on my screen right here.
Matt Jones: Now this is one of those picks that I really don't want to make. But, Garrard has to throw it to SOMEBODY right? Jones has caught 22 passes for 255 yards and a TD over the past three weeks. He seems to be finding his groove in the offense now and should be owned in all leagues.
Vincent Jackson: The Chiefs give up the 11th most passing yards per game in the NFL at 224.6. Jackson is ranked 15th for receiving yards per game with 67.2 YPG. He has also scored four TD's and has 13 catches for 236 yards and three TDs over the past three weeks. He may not be a yardage giant every week, but he has been getting a TD per week the last three weeks.
Jeremy Shockey: The Falcons give up 205 YPG in the air and Shockey is a pass catching TE when he is healthy and on the field. The Saints throw for 314.4 yards in the air per game and I like Shockey to perform well for a TE this weekend.
Carolina Panthers Defense: The Panthers defense as a whole hasn't been what fantasy owners would like (tied for third worst in INTs with five and sixth worst with just 13 sacks), but they are the eighth best defense for total yards given up (294.4) and play a weak Oakland offense this weekend. If there was a week to play them, it would be this week.
Ben Roethlisberger: Word is that Big Ben will start on Sunday, even though he missed practice again on Thursday. With him not at 100 percent, I wouldn't be shocked if the Steelers yanked him at the first sign of distress. Not to mention that the Colts are third best in the NFL against the pass allowing just 181 yards per game in the air.
Sage Rosenfels: With Matt Schaub going down for a month in Week 9, Rosenfels is the top waiver wire QB to be added this week, with Daunte Culpepper right behind him. But, since the Texans match up against the Ravens tough defense this week, I would leave him on the bench unless your regular QB happens to be Gus Frerotte, Joe Flacco or Kerry Collins. If they are, you aren't in the playoff hunt anyway, so why are you still reading this?
Ryan Grant: Grant has been somewhat of a disappointment to many fantasy owners this year as he has only scored once and currently boasts a 3.5 YPC mark. This week he faces the Vikings and they only allow 69.6 YPG on the ground, good enough for No. 2 in the NFL.
Joseph Addai: Addai may be back in the starting lineup, but the Steelers are right behind the Vikings at No. 3 for rushing defense, allowing 70.1 YPG. The problem there is the Steelers are No. 1 in passing defense with a 164 YPG average via the air. Either way, the Steelers defense will be a tough matchup for any Colts player. I don't see Indy getting shut out, but play a Colt with caution.
Donnie Avery: The Jets are much better at stopping the run than they are at the pass (76 YPG vs. 236.4 YPG), but Avery faced the Cardinals No. 1 CB in Rod Hood and was held to just three catches for 26 yards in Week 9. Look for the Jets to put Darrelle Revis opposite him this weekend as Revis has been beaten for a TD just once this season.
DeSean Jackson: Jackson was a hot play in the first half of the season, but in the second half he is losing catches to Kevin Curtis. You should have benched him after Phily's bye week (Week 7). But, in case you didn't, you almost HAVE to have a better option at WR on your team than him now.
Vernon Davis: Even in hating on Davis, I am showing him some love. He is still the starting TE, but he got booted from the doghouse and is relegated to Samurai Mike's outhouse. I don't even know why you still own Davis ... go grab Mercedes Lewis, Bo Scaife or even a nobody like Visanthe Shiancoe instead.
Minnesota Vikings Defense: The Vikings have a very tough defense, but Green Bay has a productive offense. The Packers are in the top 15 for total yards with 336.5 per game and they average just under 18 first downs per game as well. Don't forget too that they are ranked No. 8 with 210 total points scored so far. I wouldn't risk the Vikings defense this weekend people.
Q: What is up with Denver and their RBs going down? I picked up Ryan Torain and started him last night, then he went down too. Any word on what will happen with him? And, what should I do with him on my team?
--Steve, Dallas, TX **
A:** Well, word around the campfire is that Torain is expected to be placed on injured reserve with what is thought to be a torn ACL in his left knee. With Michael Pittman and Andre Hall out for the season and Selvin Young not recovered from his groin injury, the Broncos are the Lions, but they need a RB instead of a QB. Fullback Peyton Hillis, recently activated P.J. Pope, and practice squad rookie Cory Boyd are the only healthy options at the moment. I'd go see if Mewelde Moore or Benjarvus Green-Ellis are available and drop Torain right now.
The Bengals finally won a game and not a moment too soon!
The Chiefs not only are without Larry Johnson, but now they are also without Kolby Smith, who is done for the season. Denver lost both Michael Pittman and Andre Hall for the season, leaving them with Ryan Torain at RB until Selvin Young is healthy enough to take some of the load.
This week we will have a two-part article because of the Thursday game. I can't very well throw you an article worth much if I can't even get to the Thursday injury reports. So, I am going to break down the Broncos/Browns game and I will hit you back up Friday as normal with the regular article.
Broncos vs. Browns: The Broncos are down to 1 1/2 running backs and the Browns are throwing in a new QB. Sounds like a defensive game right? Wrong. Denver can't stop the pass (243.2 YPG) and Cleveland can't stop the run (148 YPG). What one can't stop, the other needs to get going.
Denver: I'd go run and pick up Torain because he is all that Denver has on the ground right now and Coach Shanahan loves to run the ball. I am a little afraid that Cleveland may take a page from Miami's playbook and try and deny Brandon Marshall the ball to start the game to get in his head. If Joey Porter was right, teams now have the chink in Marshall's armor. Jay Cutler is going to need to find a way to get Eddie Royal and Tony Scheffler involved early and often if Marshall is easily rattled. Denver's defense is not one to play this weekend because Brady Quinn has too many weapons at his disposal to not succeed.
Cleveland: Quinn steps in and takes over as the starting QB this week and what a perfect time to do so. Denver gets passed on more than me in a room full of ladies. If the rest of the league can throw for 243 yards and 12 TDs on the Broncos secondary, I think Quinn is a solid QB2 (with a possible low-end QB1 value) play this weekend.
Jamal Lewis should have himself a solid enough game to be a RB2/flex as Denver gives up as much on the ground (144.6 YPG) as it does in the air. Braylon Edwards could have a HUGE game on Thursday if he can keep from dropping every other ball thrown his way. Kellen Winslow is in line for a big day also, so play him as a solid TE1 option. Donte Stallworth should be ready for the early game this week. If he plays, he won't be a good option at less than 100 percent, so don't count on him doing much more than taking some heat off of Edwards.
Cleveland's defense is ranked around No. 20 for fantasy defenses and for good reason. They've given up 148 points and I see Denver getting in the end zone more than twice.
In the end, you need to start Cutler, Torain, Marshall, Royal and Scheffler from Denver, and Quinn, Lewis, Edwards and Winslow from Cleveland. If you try and squeeze Stallworth or Brandon Stokley into your lineup, do so at your own risk.
If you want to have your question answered for all your friends to see, shoot me an email and I will give you some one-on-one attention.
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