SB Nation User Blog: Kurupt

Todd McShay's First Round Mock Draft

Kurupt — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:07:49 -0000

Todd McShay's First Round Mock Draft

Buffalo Bills
Record: 5-8
Anthony Davis*, OT, Rutgers

Davis comes with a bit of baggage, but there isn't an offensive lineman in the 2010 class with a better combination of size and agility.

He has us picking 10th based on SOS, which contradicts Matt's post. All of his tiebreakers show the team with the harder SOS picking first, so he's wrong on us picking 10th instead of 8th.

He has Jimmy Clausen 23rd to Seattle, Sam Bradford 7th to Washington and Davis as the 3rd OT off the board.

Keys to Victory: Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs

Kurupt — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 06:25:25 -0000

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The final quadrant of the season is upon us, as the Buffalo Bills travel to Kansas City to take on the 3-9 Chiefs. Both teams have struggled all year on both sides of the ball and will be looking to take advantage of the weaker aspects of their opponent. The Bills will again be starting Ryan Fitzpatrick, while the Chiefs continue plugging along with the $63 million Matt Cassel experience. This isn't one of the better quarterback battles of the week. The Chiefs present potentially the last winnable game (against starters) for the Bills this year. Let's jump on in to see what they need to do to earn their fifth W.

Run wild: The last couple weeks, the Bills' running game has had some frisky moments. Last week against the Jets, Marshawn Lynch averaged 10 yards per carry and picked up his second touchdown of the season. The week prior, Fred Jackson had over 100 total yards and two touchdowns. The Chiefs are one of the worst defenses in the league trying to shut down the run, allowing 143.8 yards per game. There will be plenty of opportunities to run at this defense. In what should be a brisk afternoon, look for the Bills to try to grind out a victory. Taking advantage of the weak Chiefs front seven will go a long way in deciding the outcome of this game.

Hit a big one or two: The Bills looked to Terrell Owens deep a few times last week, but Darrelle Revis simply shut him down. A pair of Brandons (the dinged up Flowers and Carr) will attempt to duplicate Revis' success against Owen. I like TO's chances of having a bounce back performance, just as I like the potential (but not probability) of a nice Lee Evans game. In yet another game with nothing to lose, I'm guessing Ryan Fitzpatrick will air out some deep ones. Let's hope he hits a few.

Protect the football: The Bills have turned the ball over 5 times in their four victories (1.25 per game) and 18 times in their 8 losses (2.25 per game). If the Bills can hang on to the ball, with say just a lone turnover or none(!) at all, that will bode well for their chances this week. Giving the ball to a weak offense, one that is actually worse than Buffalo's, in good field position is just asking for poor results. Hang on to it Fitzpatrick and friends!

Eliminate Charles: Eliminate sounds so much cooler than "shut down" or "focus on", doesn't it? Jamaal Charles has been most of Kansas City's offense the past month after becoming the Chiefs' starting RB following Larry Johnson's dysfunctional exit. He's a big play threat every time he touches the ball, and has proven that already this season. Expect the Chiefs to run their offense (and kick return unit) through him. The Bills need to avoid giving up a big play to Charles for the same reason they need to protect the football: don't give the Chiefs offense any easy points!

Turn over the Chiefs: Obviously, turnovers have been a huge factor in the Bills' four victories this season. Maybe the biggest factor, actually. In those four games, the Bills defense has forced a whopping 16 turnovers. In their 8 defeats, they've only forced 9 turnovers. Without those key turnovers, the Bills are likely a one or two win team thus far. Against a weak quarterback and overall struggling offense, putting them in 3rd and long situations could easily result in some game-changing turnovers. (Side note: the Bills offense needs to avoid those situations just as much as the Bills defense needs to force the Chiefs into them)

Signs of Life: This is one of those games where it might be pretty easy to determine whether some players are just playing out the string while others are still going full blast. For those looking to remain in Buffalo next year, playing tough and inspired football will really give the new staff reasons to keep these guys around. There's nothing I hate more than a team that gives up and players that quit. I hope the Bills don't do that like they have the past few years.

*******

In what should be the most exciting game of the season (/sarcasm), we will all be hoping for no major injuries and a big play or two. What a sad, indifferent afternoon this is going to be. After this week, only three more games until the Bills Super Bowl... the offseason. Yay, I suppose! Anywho, go Bills! Another 54 point explosion in Arrowhead would be a fun sight to see!

Bills Fantasy Friday: Week 14 Start 'Em/Sit 'Em

Kurupt — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 05:25:24 -0000

The Buffalo Bills return to the field this Sunday as they travel to Arrowhead to face the 3-9 Kansas City Chiefs. It's safe to say, this won't be one of the marquee games this weekend. There also aren't many fantasy options available either. Coming off a rotten performance in Toronto against the New York Jets, the Bills are looking for a rebound performance against a team that just got waxed at home by the Denver Broncos, 44-13. Knowing how bad these two teams are, this could be an ugly one. Are there any players worth starting from this game as many of you are beginning your fantasy playoffs this week? Let's find out.

Quarterbacks
Ryan Fitzpatrick - After a stunningly decent two week stretch, Fitzpatrick came crashing back to Earth with his horrendous 98-yard performance against the Jets. He completed just 9 of 23 passes at 4.3 yards a pop. It was ugly and the only positive was he rushed for 32 yards! After facing the NFL's top ranked pass defense last week, he'll get a bit of a respite as the Bills will be going up against the 28th ranked passing defense. The Chiefs have allowed 250.8 yard per game, 8.0 yards per attempt and 21 touchdowns thus far. Looks appetizing, right? Well, it's Ryan Fitzpatrick we're talking about here. Don't even consider starting him unless your league starts four QB's per team. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Matt Cassel - Cassel has been a major bust for the Chiefs so far. The $63 million man has played so poorly that even Trent Edwards has a higher quarterback ranking. He's completed just 53.9% of his passes at 5.7 yards per attempt. Like Fitzpatrick, don't even think about rolling with Cassel. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Running Backs
Fred Jackson - After an excellent game against the Dolphins, Jackson struggled against the Jets last week. He finished with 13 rushes for 31 yards and added 24 yards on 3 receptions. But the Chiefs defense isn't the Jets defense. Expect Jackson to have a nice bounce back game this week. This late in the season, sometimes the best fantasy players arrive as the result of great fantasy matchups. This could be one of those arrivals. If Jackson gets the majority of the touches, or at least a solid 60/40 ratio, don't be surprised if he has one of the better games of his career. He's a great flex play and makes for a pretty solid RB2 play this week. Verdict: Start 'Em

Marshawn Lynch - Lynch had a nice performance last week with six rushes for 60 yards and a touchdown. It was probably the best he's ran all season, but he only had those six rushes. He'll likely get more carries this week, but Jackson seems like the better play and first option. I wouldn't be surprised by a very good performance out of Lynch, but at this point it's much more likely he'll end up with another 10 carry, 30 yard performance. He could be a nice flex option, especially if he gets any red zone carries, but I wouldn't even consider him in a two running back league. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Jamaal Charles - Charles has been one of the biggest fantasy surprises over the past month. The Chiefs have finally given him the majority of the touches and he's rewarding them with back-to-back-to-back-to-back nice games, including at least one touchdown in each of the past four games. He's averaged over 75 rushing yards per game in that stretch, continues to return kicks (including one for a TD against the Steelers) and is a big play RB in the passing game. The Chiefs will rely on him early and often. He should get 20+ touches and could reward fantasy owners with RB2 or even borderline RB1 numbers. For leagues awarding points for return yardage, Charles is an even better option. Verdict: Start 'Em in all leagues

Wide Receivers
Terrell Owens - Like Fitzpatrick, Owens was coming off back-to-back good games, and just like the big-headed QB, he struggled to put up numbers against the Jets. He should put up better numbers again this week, though it's hard to predict big numbers out of anyone in this passing game. I think the Bills will look to continue getting the ball to him downfield, so if they can hit on a big play, Owens might put up those big numbers here. This will be the last time I'm recommending a Bills' WR all season. Love it. Savor it. Cherish it. Verdict: Start 'Em

Lee Evans - Evans continues playing the Invisible Man in the Bills' offense. The team just can't get him the ball and I refuse to believe it's solely on the QB and play calling. At some point, Evans needs to play consistently right? Don't bother with him, although as typical with Evans, just as you write him off he responds with a monster game before fading into the sunset once again. If you have the stomach, roll the dice. Since you likely have better options, go with them. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Dwayne Bowe - In case you haven't been keeping up with the Chiefs this year, Bowe will be missing his fourth consecutive game for violating the league's substance abuse policy. Don't say I've never looked out for your best interest, Bills friends. Verdict: Duh

Chris Chambers - From the abyss, Chris Chambers has been surprisingly good since joining the Chiefs after being cut by the Chargers. Prior to last week's 11-yard stinker, Chambers racked up 17 receptions for 319 yards and 3 touchdowns in four games. I think last week is a lot closer to what Chambers will be doing the rest of the season. If you are stuck, I'd go with Chambers over Evans (for example), but don't in expecting much against the league's 4th best pass defense. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Tight Ends
Shawn Nelson, Sean Ryan - I'm lumping them together because even though they have the same pronunciation for differently spelled named, they will probably put up the same stats for different teams. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Kickers
Rian Lindell - Lindell had two field goals against the Jets last week and continues to be consistently okay as a fantasy kicker. However, okay isn't what you should be looking for. As always, go with a kicker for a better offense. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Ryan Succop - Yeah, I forgot who their kicker was and had to look it up. I suggest you treat him the same way and disregard him totally. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Defense/Special Teams
Buffalo D/ST - The Bills make for a sneaky play this week against a poor Chiefs offense. The Chiefs OL and QB's have been a part of 40 sacks this year, 2nd most in the NFL. However, surprisingly enough, they've only turned it over 15 times thus far. If the Bills can get after Cassel, look for a decent number of sacks and the potential for some turnovers. Maybe they'll even get another pick six in Arrowhead again! Unless you have a quality D/ST with a bad matchup (i.e. Denver against the Colts, Cincinnati against the Vikings, Arizona against the 49ers on the road), you'll probably steer clear of the Bills. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Chiefs D/ST - Even against the Bills, I wouldn't consider starting the Chiefs D/ST. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Sleepers
Buffalo D/ST - See above

Chris Chambers - Even though I could never imagine starting him, Chambers has indeed become the Chiefs go-to receiver. If Cassel can get the passing game going, Chambers could be in line for some good numbers this week.

**********

In what might be the last game any Bills player might have a relevant fantasy performance, let's hope we see some offensive production this week. Another ugly season can't end soon enough, but one more quality performance will at least give us a positive for this team heading into the Holidays! Good luck to any of you (except Brian) who may be taking part in your league's fantasy playoffs this week. Go Bills!

Keys to Victory: Buffalo Bills vs New York Jets

Kurupt — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 06:26:11 -0000

More photos » by Mike Groll - AP

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The New York Jets and Buffalo Bills travel up to the Great White North tonight to square off in a not-so-key AFC East divisional battle. It's a home game for the Bills, but the atmosphere isn't expected to resemble that of Ralph Wilson Stadium in any way. Both teams are coming off of strong defensive performances and look to continue their success in the Rogers Centre.

Mark Sanchez is battling a minor knee injury, but is expected to play, while the Bills will be going with Ryan Fitzpatrick's hot hand again. In the teams' first meeting, Thomas Jones ran for 210 yards, while Sanchez threw an absurd five interceptions. Fitzpatrick came off the bench for a concussed Trent Edwards and connected with Lee Evans for the game-tying touchdown; Rian Lindell hit a 47-yard field goal in overtime to win it. It was an ugly game, and the good people of Toronto are hoping for a more explosive affair this time around.

What do the Bills need to do to give their pseudo-home fans reason to celebrate? We've got six key factors for you after the jump that, if met, will make Buffalo's job infinitely easier this evening.

Ride Fred Jackson: With Jackson getting the start last week against Miami and picking up the majority of the touches out of the backfield, the Bills' offense looked better than it has since very early in the season (coincidentally with Jackson as the starter then). It's pretty evident that behind this patchwork offensive line, Jackson's talents are better suited to picking up chunks of yards than those of Marshawn Lynch. Perry Fewell seems more comfortable with Jackson, and that needs to continue this week. With Jackson netting 73 yards rushing on 15 carries, the Bills finished with 129 total yards on the ground. In the first matchup, the team rushed for 142 yards against the Jets. With an emphasis on Jackson, establishing the run and going against a Jets run defense without their best player in Kris Jenkins, the Bills could very well have one of their better rushing games of the season. Jackson was also more involved in the passing game last week (five receptions for 43 yards), so look for more of that this week. The Bills will probably go as Jackson goes in this one.

Hit some big plays: The vaunted Fitzpatrick-to-Terrell Owens connection has combined for 14 receptions, 293 yards and two touchdowns the past two weeks. Under Fewell, there has been a strong push to get the ball into T.O.'s mitts. It has worked as the Bills had hoped it would when Owens was signed earlier this year. Look for the Bills to try hitting some deep balls with Owens again this week, especially if the running game is keeping the Jets' safeties honest.

Take advantage of Lito Sheppard: Darrelle Revis might be the best cornerback in football right now. He has shut down some of the best receivers in the NFL all season, including Andre Johnson, Randy Moss (twice), Marques Colston, Steve Smith and that T.O. guy. Those five big-time receivers combined for just 19 receptions, 144 yards and one touchdown in six games against Revis. He's as good as it gets. Opposite Revis, however, is the mediocre Sheppard, a guy the Bills really need to target in the passing game this week. Evans beat him for the touchdown in the first game. Expect the Bills to work Sheppard's side with both Owens and Evans this week. If they can take advantage of the opportunities, those big plays could be there.

Pressure Sanchez: We all saw first hand how bad Sanchez can be when he feels some pressure and is forced to make plays down the field. With Jerricho Cotchery playing this week and the controlled indoor conditions, it won't be as easy to force Sanchez into mistakes. Therefore, he needs to feel the pressure. Buffalo's defense seemed to get after Chad Henne a lot better in the fourth quarter last week, leading to three poorly thrown interceptions. Sanchez is obviously mistake prone; it's up to the defense to force him to make them again this time around.

Key on Thomas Jones: Jones had the two longest runs of his career in the first game... on consecutive carries. The Bills' rush defense was terrible that day, allowing well over 300 yards on the ground. Jones will be the centerpiece again this week, and he's having a terrific season. After witnessing Sanchez implode against the Bills in the Meadowlands, don't expect the Jets to rely on him too much if they don't have to. The Bills will need to keep Jones under wraps and prevent him from moving the chains. Do that, and we might get to see some Sanchez turnovers again.

Keep up the intensity and confidence: The Bills have looked like a different team under Fewell. His energy and controlling presence on the sidelines have really given a spark to his players. In what is expected to be a sterile environment in Toronto, Bills players will again need to dig deep and continue playing tough, confident ball. If they come out flat and play without any passion, this could be one boring game.

*******

It's kind of cool getting a Bills game in prime time on a Thursday, isn't it? The Bills could move to 3-2 in the division with a sweep of the Jets in front of a "nation television audience." My advice to you all is to get through the work day as soon as possible, grab some Labatt's and plant yourself on the couch to root for the Bills on foreign soil. Go Bills, eh?

Watch Bills vs Jets LIVE on the NFL.com

Kurupt — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 04:29:31 -0000

I know some of you may be unable to catch the game Thursday as it's only being shown on NFL Network. There seems to be good news though. It looks like the game is shown live on NFL.com, as well.

Here is the link for the game.

I'm not 100% sure if it's the exact telecast being shown on TV, how delayed it might be or if it truly is the whole game. On the front of NFL.com, there's a link that says "Watch Live Online". Good luck to everyone who may want to use this, as I hope it works!

Keys to Victory: Buffalo Bills vs Miami Dolphins

Kurupt — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:29:41 -0000

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The Miami Dolphins aim to keep their playoff hopes alive as they travel to Ralph Wilson Stadium to take on the injury-depleted Buffalo Bills this Sunday. This will be the second meeting of the season between the teams, with Miami taking defeating the Bills handily, 38-10, in the first game. Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams ran wild, while the Bills' offense continued its downward spiral. Since then, Brown has been lost for the year, Buffalo's offense has gotten even worse, Dick Jauron has been fired and another Bills season has gone by the wayside. Perry Fewell will be at home in Buffalo for the first time as the Bills' interim head coach. It should be a much closer game this time around, as the Bills look to pick up their first home victory over a division rival since 2007. What do the Bills have to do take care of business and get that mythical home W?

Run at the Dolphins: Even with a depleted offensive line, I still think it's very possible to run the ball well this week. The Dolphins have placed NT Jason Ferguson on IR with a quad injury, but were already proving to be vulnerable on the ground. After allowing just 61 yards per game on the ground through four games, the Dolphins' defense has given up 136 yards per game. Fred Jackson (and Marshawn Lynch if he plays) could have a nice game assuming the offensive line isn't downright pathetic. I expect the offense to try and get the ground game going early, especially if the weather is a factor. If they can establish the ground game, look for the Bills to go play action more often than we've seen.

Get it to TO early: Maybe Terrell Owens can still get the job done. Maybe the offense can continue to look a little better with him more involved. Maybe he can make some more big plays down the stretch. One thing that does seem certain is getting the ball to TO early in the game keeps him interested and focused. That needs to continue this week. Whether or not it was the plan, Perry Fewell seemed intent on making sure TO got some looks and catches early in the game. He was open over the middle often this past week and looked great on the deep passing routes. I'd love to see more of those. Getting Lee Evans more involved, once again, should also be a priority.

Utilize Shawn Nelson: Once a game it seems like Nelson flashes his potential, but then is never heard from again (except with penalties!). With the rookie getting more and more comfortable each week, its time to start making him a bigger part of the passing game. With his size and athleticism, throwing those jump balls to him when he's single covered seem like a no-brainer. He's made a pair of great catches this year and seem routes. I'd love to see more of those, and I also would like to see him on some crossing patterns giving him the opportunity to run after the catch.

Make Henne beat them: They needed to do this in the first game, but couldn't get it done. The Dolphins ran all over Buffalo and Chad Henne only needed to complete short passes to pick up 5-10 yards at a time. In order to force Henne to make plays, the defense has to shut down Williams and the running game on 1st and 2nd downs. If they can force some 3rd and longs, I like our chances of not only forcing some punts, but also forcing some turnovers. It was too easy for Henne last time, that needs to change.

Stop turning the ball over: The Bills have turned the ball over at least twice in eight of their last nine games. No wonder this offense can put points on the board. They can't get out of their own way.

Continue playing hard for Fewell: The Bills looked a little more passionate and played a little bit tougher last week against Jacksonville than we're used to. The intensity and desire needs to continue this week in front of the faithful home crowd. I like what Fewell brings to the table energy-wise, and I like seeing it rub off on the players. Keep it up, but this time turn it into a W!

******

The season is on the back stretch and the Bills will be playing out the string as they prepare for a coaching change, philosophy change, hopefully a front office change and a very important draft. But until January, this team will continue playing hard and playing to win. Nothing will make a frustrated Bills fan happier this Thanksgiving than a win over the hated Dolphins. Let's go Bills!

Bills Fantasy Friday: Week 12 Start 'Em/Sit 'Em

Kurupt — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:16:03 -0000

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Amazingly, it's already Week 12. The fantasy football regular season is coming to a close in the next few weeks, and it's time to make one final push to the playoffs. The Buffalo Bills might be out of it, but most fantasy teams are still fighting for that championship. Congratulations to all those teams that have been good enough to clinch a playoff berth already. For the rest of you (us!), buckle up, the crazy roller coaster ride of fighting for playoff berths continues! Head on in after the jump for the individual players of note for this Sunday's Miami Dolphins visit to the Buffalo.

Quarterbacks
Chad Henne - Henne made his first NFL start the last time these teams met. He threw for just 115 yards and was sacked 6 times that day, but the Dolphins hardly needed him to do much. That trend has continued for much of the season, as Miami continues to rely heavily on the ground game. However, Henne has thrown 26 or more passes in five of his last six games. Many of those passes are of the short, underneath variety as Henne has averaged 6.4 yards per attempt or less in all but one of his starts. Expect that trend to continue, as well. He has done a nice job protecting the football, throwing just four interceptions and not losing a fumble over 218 pass attempts. On the other hand, he has just 6 touchdowns. Expect the Bills to force Henne into making plays, just don't expect him to make many big plays. He might not make many mistakes, though, either. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Ryan Fitzpatrick - Fitzpatrick looked much better against the Jaguars, although he was still amazingly erratic and inaccurate. The final numbers looked good (297 yards, 1 touchdown, 9.6 ypa) even if most of his passes didn't. Fitzpatrick continues to look downfield more than Trent Edwards ever dreamed of, and was finally able to get Terrell Owens involved. Lee Evans also caught a long touchdown that was negated by penalty. Expect those attempts to continue. I wouldn't expect 297 yards any time soon, or even 200 yards, but if he continues to throw it around, the big play potential is there. Fitzpatrick and the Bills get to face the 22nd ranked Dolphins' pass defense this week. With all that said, he still stinks as a starting quarterback and shouldn't even be a consideration for fantasy owners, especially those of you with playoff aspirations. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Running Backs
Ricky Williams - Is the holistic one the fantasy story of the year? Probably not, but he is one of the nice surprises for fantasy owners. With Ronnie Brown out for the season, Williams is going to be a huge part of the rest of the fantasy season. If you are lucky enough to have him for your playoff run, enjoy! Wiliams already has 10 touchdowns this year, has averaged 5.3 yards per carry and has even added 212 receiving yards. He also needs to average about 54 yards per game to have his first 1000 yard season since 2003. He's going to get that, barring injury, and is going to help a lot of fantasy teams win down the stretch. With the juicy Bills matchup, expect a big week out of him again this week. Even after holding Maurice Jones-Drew to just 66 yards on 25 carries this past week, don't expect that type of success for the Bills defense to continue. Williams had 85 yards and a touchdown in shared duty the first time around. Expect those numbers to go up this week. Verdict: Start 'Em

Marshawn Lynch - As of the time I'm writing this, it's unclear as to whether Lynch will play this Sunday. I'm going to say he is simply because we haven't heard of any major damage. Assuming he does give it a go, I wouldn't expect him to have big numbers again. In fact, I'd be willing to bet that Fred Jackson sees more carries anyhow. The Dolphins are 12th in the NFL in run defense giving up about 106 yards per game. Lynch has been a major fantasy disappointment this year. I'd expect it to get worse before it gets better. Keep him benched until we see some signs of life out of him. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Fred Jackson - Jackson continues to see roughly 10-12 touches a game on offense. I would guess that number goes up this week with a banged up Lynch being questionable. If Lynch were to miss the game, Jackson is probably a solid RB2 this week. Remember late last season when Lynch was out and Jackson ran wild? Well forget about that. Other than Lee Evans, every single other starting player on offense is different. Don't expect a similar close to the season for him this year. BUT you can expect solid numbers, especially if he gets the full workload. If Lynch plays this week, I'd still consider Jackson a flex option as he seems to be getting involved in the passing game more, while continuing his kick return duties. Verdict: Start 'Em as a flex, and a RB2 if Lynch sits

Wide Receiver
Davone Bess - Bess leads the Dolphins with 46 receptions for 397 yards. When your leading receiver averages 8.6 yards per catch, it's safe to say none of these guys are startable. I actually really like Bess as a slot receiver in real life, but he's not a fantasy option and neither are his fellow Dolphin receivers. Bess does have 16 catches for 191 yards in his last three games, so he does have some PPR value. If you are stuck and need a guy to get you 6-8 points in your PPR league, Bess could be your guy. Other than that, don't start him or Ted Ginn, Brian Hartline and Greg Camarillo. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Lee Evans - Poor Evans. He lost out an amazing 53 yard touchdown catch last week because Jonathan Scott couldn't avoid the Three Stooges penalty. He finished with just one catch for 15 yards. Many people wanted to start Evans after his nice game the previous week against Tennessee and his solid production with Fitzpatrick under center before. Pity you folks. If there's one fantasy football mantra to follow, it's never start Lee Evans, ever! He will burn you. He has routinely hurt the Dolphins in the past, but again, don't. start. Lee. Evans. If he puts up big numbers on your bench, so be it. That means the Bills offense did something good and you didn't have to worry about whether he'd actually do anything in your starting lineup. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Terrell Owens - Welcome to the 2009 NFL season T.O.! You were missed. I really don't know what to make of his performance against Jacksonville. Is it a sign of things to come down the stretch, or is it just a blip on an otherwise quiet radar? Did the promotion of Perry Fewell to head coach mean anything for Owens? There are too many questions and too many useless performances from Owens this year to consider moving him back into your starting lineup. He is, however, back in the discussion. If Fewell's gameplans are to get Owens involved early and often, he could be one of the playoff heroes in fantasy football this year. It wouldn't surprise me if Owens were to have a nice finish to the season, I just want to see how he's used this week before recommending him again. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Tight Ends
Joey Haynos and Anthony Fasano - Both barely have 100 yards receiving on the season. They are barely a part of the Dolphins' passing game, they shouldn't be a part of yours. I'd rather start a Bills Tight End. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Shawn Nelson - Nelson made a beautiful catch over the top of the defender against Jacksonville, but again wasn't much of a factor overall. That should continue, although it'd be nice to try utilizing him more in the passing game. He's not even worth considering here. I'd rather start a Dolphins Tight End. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Kickers
Dan Carpenter - Carpenter has been rather good for Miami this year, connecting on 16 of his 17 field goal attempts. Against the Bills, he might be worth a spot start. As always, I'd be looking at a guy on a team with a better offense. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Rian Lindell - Lindell has also been quite good for Buffalo, hitting 17 of his 19 field goal attempts. Just like Carpenter, I'd be looking at a guy with a better offense. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Defense/Special Teams
Miami D/ST - This unit had four sacks and an interception last week against Carolina. Going against the sieve that is the Bills' OL and Ryan Fitzpatrick, those numbers look likely again. I wouldn't start them, though. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Buffalo D/ST - They sacked Henne six times in the first matchup, but don't go expecting that again. Expect a sack or two and maybe an interception. Injuries have ravaged this unit that was only mediocre to begin with. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Sleepers
None. Really, I don't see a surprise performance out of anyone in this game. It'll probably be a boring field goal contest with Ricky Williams running wild.

********

The Thanksgiving games have come and gone, so your Week 12 matchup is likely well under way. This Sunday will make or break a lot of fantasy seasons. Good luck and enjoy the games!

Titans' Adams buys ad in Buffalo News

Kurupt — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:21:50 -0000

Titans' Adams buys ad in Buffalo News

"We wish the Bills and their fans good luck today and for the remainder of the season," a large white caption in the blue ad says. A photo of Buffalo's defensive line anchors the page, topped with a Bills team logo.

Keys to Victory: Buffalo Bills at Jacksonville Jaguars

Kurupt — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:31:17 -0000

More photos » by Wade Payne - AP

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After a very eventful week, the struggling Buffalo Bills head south to Florida to take on the suddenly surging Jacksonville Jaguars. Perry Fewell will be coaching his first game as the Bills' interim head coach and looks to start off on a positive note. It'll be a tough challenge, as the ravaged Bills defense faces another tough running back matchup, going against Maurice Jones-Drew and his league-leading 12 touchdowns.

With new leadership, a new starting quarterback and even more new starters on defense, it's tough to figure out how well the Bills will play this week. Who knows? Maybe the biggest question that needs to be answered this week is what there will be more of heading into the game: Bills players on Injured Reserve or tarped over sections of seats in Jacksonville Municipal Stadium. If the Bills come to play, this is yet another winnable game. Let's see how they can get it done.

Give Fitzpatrick a chance: I don't know if it was a coincidence or not, but the Bills have done a better job protecting Ryan Fitzpatrick, who has been sacked just four times. That's roughly once every 19 passes he's thrown. Trent Edwards on the other hand has been sacked 21 times, roughly every 9 passes. It's probably not so much the blocking as it is Fitzpatrick making quicker decisions and getting rid of the ball. He needs to continue that this week, but the blocking needs to give him a chance to make some plays against a Jacksonville secondary missing their best piece (Rashean Mathis). If Fitzpatrick is hurried and under duress all day, it's going to lead to turnovers and some terrible passes. That can't happen if the Bills want to pull the upset.

Show some semblance of a ground game: With Andy Levitre over at tackle and Seth McKinney in the lineup, is it possible the run blocking could be a little more physical this week? Could that mean more success? Who knows, but they are facing the 22nd ranked run defense this week, so the opportunities will certainly be there. The Jaguars are also likely to be without starting MLB Justin Durant. Fewell had his guys in pads on a Wednesday this week, for the first time in a long time, so maybe that small adjustment could lead to a more physical approach on Sunday. Let's hope so.

Hit some slants to Evans: He hasn't played well at all, but Fitzpatrick did seem interested in getting the ball to Lee Evans more while he was in the lineup before. He showed a willingness to throw the slant and actually completed a few. I really want to see more of this and would love to see Evans get his chances against a mediocre Jaguars secondary.

Take away MoJo's mojo: This is pretty much the exact same key as last week against the Titan when the Bills needed to slow down Chris Johnson. It's highly unlikely that they'll actually shut him down, but avoiding big plays is a must. They need to watch out for Jones-Drew in the passing game as well as he's one of the better RB's out of the backfield in the NFL.

Shut down Sims-Walker: Mike Sims-Walker has burst onto the scene this year and become a legit No. 1 WR for the Jaguars. He's had an excellent season to date, and it's not coincidence that when he performs well, the Jaguars tend to win. They are 3-1 when he scores a touchdown and 4-1 when he has six or more receptions. The banged up Bills secondary will need to focus on slowing Sims-Walker down, in addition to helping keep Jones-Drew from hitting on some big plays, so its obviously easier said than done.

Play like hell and win: Perry Fewell's motto is a simple one, and a good one to follow. Let's hope the players take his guidance to heart and go all out to try and win his first game. It'll be nice to see the team play off the head coach's personality and passion, in a good way, for once.

*****

That's it. There's not much else to add, in my opinion. The Bills look to be in a hopeless situation with injuries, coaching changes and a quarterback shuffle, in addition to their normal ineptitude. I hope they can play well and not get embarrassed. That's pretty much where this team is at this point, so a nice performance would be a pleasant surprise. Go Bills!

Bills Fantasy Friday: Week 11 Start 'Em/Sit 'Em

Kurupt — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:32:27 -0000

It's been a rather eventful week, hasn't it? There's a new head coach, new starting quarterback and maybe some new hope for the future. Unfortunately, the Buffalo Bills' fantasy prospects are still quite dim for the rest of the season. The Bills head down to northern Florida to take on the 5-4 Jacksonville Jaguars this Sunday. It'll be another difficult matchup for the Bills, especially for the run defense.

There aren't many fantasy players of significance for either side in this game, but we'll take a look at anyone who might have some value. Head on in after the jump for a review of all the individual fantasy players of note for Bills at Jaguars.

Quarterbacks
Ryan Fitzpatrick - Fitzpatrick was named the starting quarterback twice this week, by two different head coaches. That's odd and probably caused a few winces out of many Bills fans this week, but not as cringe-worthy as Fitzpatrick's play on the field this year. He's completing less than 50% of his passes at just 4.7 yards an attempt. His quarterback rating checks in at 49.8, which is slightly better than JaMarcus Russell's 47.7. Fitzpatrick has been that bad. It's hard to believe this guy is believed to give the Bills a better chance of winning, but such is life in Buffalo. Don't bother with him and don't bother keeping Trent Edwards anywhere near your roster either. Verdict: Sit 'Em

David Garrard - Garrard's had some good moments this year and overall his stats look pretty solid. However, he's been an up and down fantasy option, but has could be a borderline starter this week. He's thrown a touchdown pass in just four games this season (same as Edwards), but has done a good job racking up yards as he's averaging 232 yards per game. In league's where passing yards are weighed more heavily, Garrard has more value. Look for him to continue his modest success this week. Touchdowns could remain an iffy proposition, but he should be in line to reach his average yardage total. He's a potential starter in deeper leagues and you could do a lot worse this week. I'd rather go with someone else, though. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Running Backs
Marshawn Lynch - Lynch continues to see his production decrease as the Bills offense continues to struggle. For the fourth consecutive game, Lynch's rushing yardage was less than the prior game. He finished with just 37 yards on 9 carries last and had a long carry of just 7 yards. Simply put, he hasn't been a fantasy option this year. He did add four receptions for 18 yards last week, but its hard to imagine him having much value behind the current Bills' offensive line. He will remain a flex option at best and until he puts up some big numbers, I can't envision using him. Keep him on your bench and hope a change in mindset at the head coaching position might provide him more opportunities. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Fred Jackson - Jackson was a little more involved last week against the Titans, but a good chunk of his production came late in the game when the score was out of hand. The Bills got him involved in the passing game again (3 receptions for 23 yards) and he actually threw a touchdown pass out of a beautifully designed Wildcat play. His value in the rushing game is quite limited at this point, so unless the Bills being using him more as a receiving again, he's probably not much of a flex option either. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Maurice Jones-Drew - If it wasn't for the spectacular Chris Johnson, MoJo would be the top scoring RB in most fantasy setups. He's been excellent in his first go-round as the Jaguars every down back. He leads the NFL in touchdowns with 12 through nine games, is fourth in the NFL with 860 yards rushing and has also added 32 receptions for 220 yards. He's lived up to his status as the number two player taken in many fantasy drafts this year. Expect it to continue against the terrible Bills run defense this week. A week after Johnson racked up 232 total yards and a pair of touchdowns, Jones-Drew looks every bit capable of matching that. Verdict: Start 'Em

Wide Receivers
Lee Evans - Evans once again had a solid fantasy game last week posting 4 receptions for 50 yards and two first half touchdowns. Quietly, despite overall horrific numbers, Evans has been somewhat useful the past month putting up 222 receiving yards on 15 catches and 4 touchdowns the past four games. I still can't recommend starting him at one of your WR spots, but he does look like he'll be a good flex option from time to time. This week, against the Jaguars 26th ranked pass defense, is one of those weeks. Verdict: Start 'Em as a flex

Terrell Owens - Owens' 85 yards receiving last week were the most he's put up in a Bills uniform. Is that a sign of things to come or just a fluke? I think it's most definitely the former. Last week was just the third times he's put up 50 or more receiving yards this season, and he still hasn't scored a touchdown through the air since week 2. With Fitzpatrick back under center, expect Owens' struggles to continue. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Mike Sims-Walker - MS-W has been one of this fantasy season's top free agent additions. He's been one of the biggest surprises so far this season, and looks to continue his success this week against the mediocre Bills' pass defense. Sims-Walker has caught a touchdown in 4 of his 7 games, and has six or more catches in 5 of those games. For the most part, he's been a consistent performer and David Garrard's favorite receiver. He's an every week starter and has played like a borderline #1 WR all season. Don't take him out now. Verdict: Start 'Em

Torry Holt - The veteran receiver hasn't scored a touchdown all season, but has put up a solid 35 receptions for 485 yards thus far. Unless Sims-Walker gets hurt or suspended again, Holt doesn't have much value in fantasy lineups. Keep him on the bench. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Tight Ends
Shawn Nelson - With Derek Fine placed in Injury Reserve earlier this week, Nelson assumes the starting tight end role a lot sooner than many Bills fans expected. He hasn't exactly earned that role, but has a chance to prove himself over the final seven games of the season. Expect him to get more and more comfortable every week and with his athleticism, he could bust a big play at any time. Wait to see it first before you even consider adding Nelson to your bench. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Marcedes Lewis - The former first round pick has really disappeared after a solid first month of the season. He's a guy that routinely flashes big time ability, but never seems to be able to put it together. Unless you are desperate, look elsewhere. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Kickers
Rian Lindell - Lindell continues to have a quietly efficient season. Too bad that doesn't mean much for fantasy owners. Look elsewhere for your kicker, especially to a good offensive team. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Jose Scobee - Scobee has hit just 10 of 16 field goals this year and has scored seven points less than Lindell so far this year. That should tell you all you need to know about whether to go with him this week. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Defense/Special Teams
Buffalo D/ST - Jairus Byrd had another interception last week and he's about the only thing good about this unit at this point. With a poor pass rush and weak return units, it's hard to imagine even using a bench spot on these guys. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Jacksonville D/ST - Another very poor fantasy option, the Jaguars defense has been pretty ineffective totaling just 7 interceptions, 6 fumble recoveries and just 8 sacks. Even against the bumbling Bills offense, they aren't worth the pickup. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Sleepers
Buffalo - This space will remain vacant for the Bills until a guy outside of Jackson or Evans puts up some numbers. There aren't many options here for Buffalo.

Jacksonville - Mike Thomas (WR): Thomas is the Jaguars 3rd WR and actually has 23 receptions on the year for 220 yards, while adding another 70 yards rushing. He's the primary punt returner and has returned kicks this year in addition to his WR duties. For teams that pick up fantasy points for return yards, Thomas is a deep option.

*****

There are only a few weeks left of most fantasy regular seasons, so this week is of utmost importance. Keep rolling with your studs (MoJo, Sims-Walker) and consider your matchups for the other players in this game. With the bye weeks past us, it's unlikely you'll be using any of the other players in this game, but take a look at Evans, Jackson, Lynch, Garrard and Holt if you must. As always, good luck and use the comments section to discuss your fantasy issues. Go Bills!