+2
Jamey Eisenberg has another review of the Sunday that was, including some of the same info passed along earlier in this SB Nation Fantasy Injury update. Also of note was Chris Johnson’s ability to put up crazy fantasy numbers and LaDainian Tomlinson’s one-week resurrection.
But perhaps the funniest thing about Week 10 in fantasy is the apology from Jacksonville’s Maurice Jones-Drew. With the Jaguars down but driving at the end of the fourth quarter, MJD took a run up the middle but stopped and went down at the one-yard line when he had every opportunity to score. Sound football strategy was at play, as Jax wanted to bleed the rest of the clock and then win on a chip-shot FG, which they did. But, oh those six points lost for MJD owners that could cost some of them dearly. Jones-Drew wasn’t immune to their anguish.
“Sorry to my Fantasy owners,” said Jones-Drew, who finished with 24 carries for 123 yards and a touchdown and two catches for 22 yards. “I apologize. I had myself today. It was a tough call, but whatever it takes to get the victory, that’s what counts.”
The follow-up question should have been – was he following his own fantasy game on the sideline with a cell phone, and did he need the points to win?
Are the Denver Broncos suddenly ready for the glue factory? The team who surprised the NFL with a 6-0 start, have now lost three straight, and are looking much like the team we expected to see in the pre-season. Did they benefit early from easy match-ups, is the age of their team's core defense catching up with them, or are they simply in a slump? From a fantasy perspective, the Broncos running game looked better this week, with rookie Knowshon Moreno coming just shy of 100 yards. WR stud Brandon Marshall hauled in two TD passes, but once again, WR Eddie Royal was quiet and QB Kyle Orton was...Kyle Orton. What made the Broncos exceptional during their six game win streak was a defense that shutdown the opposition. In their first six games, opponents were averaging 11 points per game. In the three losses, 28 per game. In their six wins they were only averaging 22 points on offense, but they are averaging 11 per game in their losses. The tides have turned.
The Washington Redskins came into the game with a struggling offense, and a running game that was not getting the job done. Ladell Betts got the job done against the formerly solid Broncos rush defense, which has now fallen apart two weeks in a row. While I think Betts is a good guy to keep around just in case, as soon as Clinton Portis returns, the Redskins will go right back to him. TE Fred Davis continues to show promise in Chris Cooley's absence.
|
Top Waiver Wire Grab of Week 10 - Seattle Seahawks, RB - Justin Forsett |
|
It took an injury to finally get Julius Jones off the field, but given a chance, back-up Forsett ran 17 times for 123 yards and a score, and a YPC of 7.2. Normally, I'd say pass on picking him up because he was merely an injury fill in, but Jones has played so poorly, Forsett could get a shot to start. Also keep an eye on Louis Rankin. He only had three carries for 24 yards, at 8 YPC, but the kid has fire and just needs opportunity. Once again Matt Hasselbeck threw for over 300 yards, and WR T.J. Houshmandzedah hauled in 9 passes for 165 yards and a score. For IDP teams, that guy I've been plugging for weeks now, David Hawthorne, had another big day with 10 solo tackles. For the Cardinals, Larry Fitzgerald found the endzone again, and Anquan Boldin had a 105 yard receiving day. The big fantasy news was rookie RB "Beanie" Wells had over 100 total yards and rushed for two touchdowns. On the IDP side, free safety Antrel Rolle had 9 tackles and an interception. |
CHI vs. SF - What was expected to be a shootout turned into a combination defensive battle and offensive bungle. Bear's QB Jay Cutler threw for more than 300 yards, however he also tossed five interceptions. Coach Lovie Smith had to be losing his mind. The only plus side is the San Francisco 49ers never managed to take advantage of the turnover windfall. RB Frank Gore scored one rushing TD in the first quarter, and other than a late field goal, that's all the offense the team managed. Fortunately, despite being outplayed offensively, it was enough for the win. Fantasy notable: Struggling Bear's RB, Matt Forte was again terrible in the run game with 40 yards on 20 carries, but he did haul in 8 passes for 120 yards, to lead the team.
ATL vs. CAR - The Panther's running game did what it always seems to; eat up yards and score. This week it was Jonathan Stewart who found the endzone twice, but DeAngelo Williams also had 92 yards. The big surprise for fantasy owners was QB Jake Delhomme finally managed to hook up with stud WR Steve Smith for 2 TDs, and almost a third, on only four catches. For the Falcons, they lost RB Michael Turner (high-ankle sprain), who was replaced by Jason Snelling. Between the two they had over 200 total yards and a TD. Snelling was a guy I recommended hiding on your bench a few weeks ago.
TB vs. MIA - Fantasy notables in the Florida showdown; Miami RB Ronnie Brown had 82 yards and a score in three quarters, and Ricky Williams added 102 yards of his own. For Tampa, Kellen Winslow had another solid 100+ yard receiving week. Unfortunately, Ronnie Brown suffered an ankle sprain and didn't finish the game. He'll have an MRI on Monday.
PIT vs. CIN - What is it with these Bengals? They've now beaten the Steelers twice. This was a fantasy wasteland. No offensive TDs, and no gaudy numbers by anyone. Keep an eye on the Cedric Benson hip injury as the week progresses.
|
Honorary Waiver Wire Grab of Week 10 - Oakland Raiders RB, Michael Bush |
|
The Oakland Raider's racked up 88 penalty yards on 10 penalties. The only sign of an offensive pulse was third string RB Michael Bush who ran for 119 yards on 14 carries for 8.5 YPC. This with both Justin Fargas and Darren McFadden ahead of him. Bush is the team's best RB, but Al Davis just won't accept it. The Raiders got WR Chaz Schilens back, but as bad as JaMarcus Russell and back-up Bruce Gradkowski played, Schilens presence was moot. Even kicker Sebastian Janikowski missed his first FG of the season. On the brightside, for IDP teams, LB Kirk Morrison had 10 solo tackles and a forced fumble. For the Kansas City Chiefs, new starting RB, Jamaal Charles had 103 yards and a TD. Don't get too excited, as Charles was playing against a very poor rush defense, but Larry Johnson probably wouldn't have gone 50 yards all day. |
MIN vs. DET - For the second time this season, the Vikings started slowly against the lowly Lions. RB Adrian Peterson had a huge day with 133 rushing yards and two TDs, but he also fumbled twice. Believe it or not, he was the Vikings 2nd best player Sunday. WR Sidney Rice eclipsed 200 yards receiving, though he did not score. The only player notable for Detroit was RB Kevin Smith, who had yet another poor showing, albeit, against a very tough run defense.
NOS vs. STL - For fantasy owners, the Rams showed some signs of life, with RB Steven Jackson who ran for 131 yards, caught 9 passes for 45 more yards, and scored a TD. Even better was that much-maligned WR Donnie Avery found the endzone twice. The Saints meanwhile played a rather sloppy game, with Drew Brees tossing two INTs, and WR Marques Colston fumbled once. Fortunately, RB Reggie Bush scored twice and yet again the Saints defense scored a TD, this time on special teams, when Courtney Roby ran back a 97 yard kick-off return.
JAX vs. NYJ - Maurice Jones-Drew's genius and selfless play on Sunday helped the Jaguars defeat the New York Jets. Unfortunately, for fantasy owners, it cost them a touchdown. On the game's final drive, MJD took a hand-off and ran for the endzone, only to crush fantasy owners by taking a knee at the one yard line, on purpose. This allowed the Jags to retain possession of the ball and run the clock out. As expected, Mike Sims-Walker didn't get much yardage, but he did score. QB David Garrard also ran a TD in. For the Jets, RB Thomas Jones and WR Jericho Cotchery both scored, but neither racked up big yards.
|
Fantasy Game of Week 10 - New England Patriots vs. Indianapolis Colts |
|
This game was pegged as the match-up of the week, if not the season, and it lived up to the hype. Both QBs threw for over 300 passing yards, with Tom Brady tossing 3 touchdowns and Peyton Manning tossing 4, including the game winner with 16 seconds left. Randy Moss caught 2 TDs, and for the Colts, Reggie Wayne caught 2 as well. Peyton was unusually sloppy, tossing 2 INTs, but RB Joseph Addai kept them in the game with two TDs, and WR Pierre Garcon, who played poorly the entire game, redeemed himself with a 4th quarter TD. Tom Brady's lone interception came in the endzone. |
PHI vs. SD - Donovan McNabb threw for 450 passing yards and 2 TDs, but it wasn't enough to beat the Chargers who finally got a solid game from RB LaDainian Tomlinson who had 96 yards and 2 TDs. QB Philip Rivers also tossed 2 TD passes. The Eagles took another loss when RB Brian Westbrook left his first game back with yet another concussion. There is no timeline for his return to action.
DAL vs. GB - Fantasy alert; Cowboys WR Roy Williams had 105 yards receiving and a TD. Could this be a sign of good things to come? For Green Bay, all the offense came through QB Aaron Rodgers, who threw one TD and ran for another. IDP stud- The Packers' Charles Woodson who had 8 solo tackles, one sack, one interception and two forced fumbles.
BUF vs. TEN - The Fantasy Stud of the week award goes to Titans' RB Chris Johnson. For the third straight week he tallied over 100 rushing yards (132) and 2 TDs. He also added receptions for 100 yards. Vince Young was uninspiring again at QB, but he's now got his team 3-0 since the bye week. For the Bills, Terrell Owens played and led the team in receiving yards, but it was Lee Evans who scored twice, once off a pass from RB Fred Jackson, and a second from just returned QB Trent Edwards. IDP studs; the Bills Paul Posluzny had 12 solo tackles, and the Titan's Keith Bulluck had 11.
By Rustyn Rose @ Top Fantasy Football
MJD Lost His Fantasy Game By Five Points
Still mad at MJD for costing you six points by kneeling down in Week 10 instead of scoring a TD? Well, take solace in the fact the Jones-Drew lost his own fantasy matchup by five points because he took the kneel down.
Said MJD:
ESPN estimates:
Nov 18 4:13p by David Halprin - 0 comments