SB Nation User Blog: Maclin7

Fantasy Update: Week Eleven

Maclin7 — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:58:26 -0000

With a handful of injuries striking fantasy starters, as well as a few signings and even a suspension in the NFL, I will break down a list of fantasy news that you should be aware of.

Ronnie Brown’s Status in Jeopardy
The Miami Dolphins have ruled out RB Ronnie Brown for their upcoming Thursday game against the Carolina Panthers. He suffered a foot injury this past weekend, and has been seen hobbling on crutches. The leading rusher for Miami will have to sit on the sidelines, something that he is familiar with after he suffered a season ending ACL tear previously in his career.

Bleed Green’s Consideration at the RB position:
Ladell Betts, Washington Redskins: The Redskins’ typical starter–Clinton Portis–is still recovering from a concussion suffered two weeks ago. Betts got the start this past week against Denver (who has been one of the better defensive squads in the league) and ended up running for 114 yards and a touchdown. Head coach Jim Zorn has announced that if Portis is unable to practice this week, Betts will get the start again this weekend.

Sorry Eagles Fans…Westbrook Has Been Ruled Out
Once again, Brian Westbrook will be held out of the Eagles’ upcoming game due to a concussion. Unfortunately, this could cause Westbrook to miss the rest of the season depending on the outcome of his second concussion in recent weeks. What does this mean for the Eagles? Expect to see a lot more of the rookie LeSean McCoy, as well as more touches for the team’s new Fullback, Leonard Weaver. Westbrook’s absence now jumps McCoy’s fantasy value to a 2nd RB option in many leagues. Owners of McCoy should consider starting him this weekend against the Chicago Bears, who have not been as dominant on defense as they have been in previous years.

Larry Johnson Now Calls Cincinnati Home
After his surprising dismissal from the Kansas City Chiefs, L.J. has found a new home and is now officially a member of the AFC North division leader, the Cincinnati Bengals. Don’t expect him to just step in and get back to his old form of productivity, though. The Bengals have one of the best Running Backs this season in Cedric Benson, but Benson did suffer an injury this past weekend. The injury is not expected to keep him out of the Bengals’ upcoming game, and Johnson may not even suit up. In fantasy terms, Benson’s value is still the same and does not get affected with the arrival of Johnson. Don’t get fooled into signing Johnson off waivers, he may not even step on the field in the next two weeks.

Suspension Alert: Dwayne Bowe to Miss Four Games
Kansas City’s leading receiver has violated the NFL’s policy on performance enhancing substances, and will now be suspended for the next four games on the Chiefs’ schedule. Bowe will not be eligible to play until Week 15 against Cleveland . Fantasy owners of Bowe shouldn’t cut him immediately because he is still the Chiefs’ clear-cut best player, and he will resume play by the time most fantasy playoffs get underway.

Bleed Green’s Consideration for the WR position:
Robert Meachem, New Orleans Saints: As we already know, Saints’ Quarterback Drew Brees loves to air it out, and loves to spread the wealth around. Meachem is available in most fantasy leagues, even though he has been a great option in recent weeks. This past week, Meachem had just 27 receiving yards, but managed to get 47 yards on the ground , as well as a touchdown. If you are not capable of signing Meachem, here are some other possibilities:

- Jason Avant, Philadelphia Eagles
- Chris Chambers , Kansas City Chiefs
- Mike Wallace, Pittsburgh Steelers

Other Minor Fantasy News

—The Baltimore Ravens have cut starting K Steven Hauschka. He has struggled all season to make field goals, including three missed attempts and a blocked extra point in the last four weeks. The Ravens have not announced who will kick, but young Graham Gano seems the most likely option, after being beat out by Hauschka in training camp. Fantasy owners of Hauschka should have no trouble finding a Kicker in their league’s free agency.

—Bills’ Quarterback Trent Edwards will no longer be the starter in Buffalo . Ryan Fitzpatrick will take over the role, but he has minimal fantasy value. The Bills may look to run the ball more often, giving RBs Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson a boost in their fantasy value.

Fantasy Report: Week Nine

Maclin7 — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 04:10:44 -0000

As we approach the ninth week of the NFL season, it is necessary for all fantasy football participants–especially those involved with Bleed Green’s fantasy league–to know who to start and who to sit in order to successfully compete. Below is a brief examination of players that you should be sure to start and bench this week. Unlike previous Fantasy Reports, I now have listed multiple players for each position in the “Start” category, giving you more options and analysis.

Start Em’

QB Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle Seahawks AND QB Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia Eagles

The Seattle gunslinger is up against one of the league’s worst pass defenses in Detroit. The Lions have allowed 18 touchdown passes overall, and Quarterbacks are consistently reaching above 20 fantasy points against them. Though Hasselbeck has been very inconsistent thus far, you can not overlook the fact that he is up against a horrendous defense.

As Eagle fans, we know what McNabb brings to the table. We also know that the Eagles are a pass heavy team that relies on the big play. The Cowboys’ pass defense ranks 22nd in the league and allow 240.3 passing yards per game on the road. McNabb should be able to find his playmakers, especially DeSean Jackson. Expect McNabb to put up huge numbers in the historic rivalry game.

RB Clinton Portis, Washington Redskins AND RB Ryan Grant, Green Bay Packers

The Redskins still are terrible, but Clinton Portis remains a fantasy start. He goes up against the Atlanta Falcons, who rank 23rd against the run. They have struggled to contain the running game, allowing opposing Running Backs to compile 18.9 fantasy points per game, according to NFL.com.

Former Golden Domer, Ryan Grant has only 3 TD’s this season and just 525 yards. But don’t let this fool you into sitting him because if there is going to be one game that he can break out of his slump, it’s this week against Tampa Bay. How can you sit Grant against a team that’s 0-7 and currently ranks 30th against the run? By the way, the Bucs are going to be breaking out their former orange uniforms, the one’s that they went winless in.

WR Wes Welker, New England Patriots AND WR Michael Crabtree, San Francisco 49ers

Tom Brady’s new favorite target will be going up against his former team, the Miami Dolphins. Welker is quietly becoming one of the top receivers in the league, but still is overshadowed by fellow teammate, Randy Moss. The Dolphins rank 24th in pass defense and have a couple inexperienced players in their secondary.

Don’t laugh at my decision to put Michael Crabtree in the “Start Em” category. He already has 11 receptions in his first two games without practicing before the season. Alex Smith is going to give him the ball…a lot, and because of this, I feel he will find the end zone for the first time in his career this weekend. The Tennessee Titans, who have been allowing huge days from opposing wideouts, will be the first team to experience the true talent of Crabtree.

Sit Em’

QB Kyle Orton, Denver Broncos

The Steelers’ defense has been playing their typical way as of lately. They have been getting pressure on the opposing Quarterbacks, something that they failed to do at the start of the season. Since Week 5, the Steelers are allowing an average of 10.5 points to opposing Quarterbacks.

RB Marion Barber, Dallas Cowboys

Marion the Barbarian has done historically bad against the Philadelphia Eagles, never rushing for more then 63 yards against them. In addition to his poor play against the Eagles, he will be losing touches to the Cowboys’ home-run hitter, Felix Jones, as well as Tashard Choice. Barber should be sitting every fantasy owner’s bench this week.

WR Ted Ginn, Miami Dolphins

He goes up against a New England defense that has quickly turned things around. They rank 5th in pass defense and with Chad Henne as the Quarterback in Miami, Ginn’s fantasy value is plummeting. Also, Ted Ginn is losing touches to rookie WR Brian Hartline

Sleeper of the Week

Matt Cassell, Kansas City Chiefs

The Jacksonville Jaguars are consistently giving up big pass plays week in and week out. The Chiefs are coming off their Bye Week with nothing to lose since they realize they have no hopes of sneaking into the playoffs. With the addition of Chris Chambers, Cassell has another weapon to air it out too.

Breaking Down Cowboys' WR Miles Austin

Maclin7 — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:08:33 -0000

All of us NFL fans have witnessed the emergence of Cowboys’ Wide Receiver Miles Austin over the early course of the season. Due to the departure, or shall we say exile, of the ego-driven WR Terrell Owens in the offseason, Austin was placed in an ideal situation in the Dallas offense. The undrafted receiver has risen above Roy Williams and Patrick Crayton on the depth chart, even though Williams feels he is still the number one WR on the roster. So just how has Miles Austin made the jump from undrafted rookie to leading receiver on “America’s Team”?

The Stats

We all know that Miles Austin has proven to be one of this year’s most talented receivers in the NFL with his early season performances, but have you noticed how he ranks among some of the league’s best? He currently ranks 10th among all WRs in receiving yards, but has the fewest receptions out of all the top ten receivers. His 26 catches rank 52nd in the league, further proving how lethal he is when the ball gets in his hands, as he frequently breaks free of the secondary for long runs. He is tied for the lead in touchdown receptions by Wide Receivers at 6, and only trails 49ers’ TE Vernon Davis (7 TDs) for the most overall scores by catch. Austin also has 4 catches over 40 yards, which trails only our very own DeSean Jackson, who has 6 catches of 40+ yards.

The Defenses

Despite those impressive numbers, you can make an argument that he has faced poor defenses so far this season. He went against the 28th ranked defense in Kansas City, the 31st ranked in Atlanta, and the 18th ranked defense in Seattle. All of his big days came against those three teams. Take a look:

Week 5 vs. KC: 10 rec, 250 yards, 2 TD

Week 7 vs. ATL: 6 rec, 171 yards, 2 TD

Week 8 vs. SEA: 5 rec, 61 yards, 1 TD

How The Eagles Will Look To Contain Him

The Eagles rank 10th in pass defense, meaning that Austin will likely go against his toughest opponent yet. He clearly knows what he is up against and has addressed the situation:

“I want to see me do it against a Philly defense and a division game on the road,” “All I can do is play my hardest. That’s what I’ve been doing and we’ll see what happens.”

Just last week the Eagles shut down New York Giants’ WR Steve Smith, another young rising star in the NFL. The Eagles kept the highly-regarded target under 70 yards and out of the end zone despite his previous weeks of success. One way the Eagles were able to do this was the play of their Safeties. They used backup Quintin Demps as a “centerfielder-type” deep defensive back to shadow Smith throughout the game, and took away the deep ball. This style of defense will most likely be used a lot against Dallas, for they often rely on throwing long passes to Miles Austin.

Another way the Eagles will look to eliminate the passing game is to apply pressure on Dallas’ Quarterback, Tony Romo (who, in my opinion, is easily frightened by heavy rush). If the Eagles can bring the heat on Romo, he will likely throw his common “lame duck” passes, and have to hit the underneath routes.

The Outcome

It will be a great matchup with CB Asante Samuel primarily covering Miles Austin. Samuel is a very tough corner to go up against, but is prone to biting on quick plays in hopes of picking off a pass. He will need to avoid falling for the pump-and-go’s and hitch-and-go routes that Austin is accustomed to running. As long as Samuel can stick with Austin all game, and the Safeties help over the top, the Eagles should be able to limit the play of the dangerous Miles Austin.

(Quote gathered from yahoo.com)

The King and His Royal Family

Maclin7 — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 23:12:49 -0000

Move over Manning family, there’s a new powerhouse family on the block, and it’s the family of our very own King Dunlap. The Eagles’ Offensive Tackle has some strong athletic roots in his family tree, including a former NFL player and a few track stars. Unlike the famous Manning heritage group, which is strictly a football family (and a rather successful football family), the Dunlap’s excel in multiple sports, something that the Manning’s cannot say. Take a seat, sit back, and allow Bleed Green to introduce the Dunlap family.

King Dunlap IV

The father of the Eagles’ King Dunlap was a former NFL Defensive Tackle. Dunlap played college ball at Tennessee State, and was selected in the fifth round of the NFL Draft by the Baltimore Colts. He entered the NFL in 1969 and played in three seasons. Despite his unimpressive and short stint in the NFL, he certainly had to have made an impact on his son, King.

His previous knowledge of the NFL, and the game in general, had to have made an impact on King’s decision to play football. In the Eagles’ King Dunlap’s case, it never hurts to have a dad who previously played in the NFL either.

Robin Dunlap and Victoria Dunlap

His mother, Robin, was a former track star at the University of Auburn. Along with his mother’s track ability, King’s sister, Victoria, is currently a track starter for the Kentucky Wildcats , as well as the starting forward for Kentucky’s women’s basketball team. Clearly, Dunlap didn’t take after his mother’s speed, but it never hurts to have a mom who can outrun you. His younger sister shares something with King, both played basketball at a collegiate level.

Now that we have met his family (he also has a younger brother, George), it’s time to take a look at King himself…

King Dunlap

Dunlap played high school football at Brentwood Academy in Nashville, Tennessee. After his high school days, he attended the University of Auburn, the same college his mother attended. As a member of the Auburn football team, Dunlap played in 47 career games, and started 20 of those games. He also was a member of the Auburn basketball team.

Dunlap was selected in the seventh round by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2008 NFL Draft. He has recently seen an increase in playing time due to the plague of injuries that has hit the offensive line, and at 24 years of age, is one of the biggest and powerful linemen on the Birds’ roster. He looks to develop into an eventual leader of the line, and become one of the pieces of the future for the franchise.

We all wish the best of luck to Dunlap this season, and for the rest of his career. I hope you enjoyed this little break from the stress of the current NFL season with this interesting article, and let’s hope for a victory this coming weekend against the Giants.

Fantasy Report Week Four

Maclin7 — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 00:48:07 -0000

As Week Four approaches in the actual and fantasy football seasons, it is necessary to realize that this is the first week where certain teams will have their Bye Week. Teams that are off due to Bye Weeks are:

Be sure to start and sit these players this week for your fantasy team if you own them, as they each have specific factors giving them advantages and disadvantages during their respected games this weekend:

Start ‘Em

QB Matt Schaub, Houston Texans

In recent weeks, Schaub has been outstanding, with seven touchdowns in the last two games. This week, the Texans will look to continue their offensive success against the Oakland Raiders. The Black Hole has been nothing more then mediocre so far on defense, and with their offensive sruggles of late, the Texans will have a lot of motivation and many opportunities to move the chains on Sunday.

RB Glen Coffee, San Francisco 49ers

The Niners will be without their Pro-Bowl back Frank Gore on Sunday, giving way to rookie running back Glen Coffee. They will not look to alter their offensive scheme due to Gore’s absence, and Coffee has a favorable matchup against the St. Louis Rams. The Rams have been a mess this season on defense and the odds of them turning things around against San Fran are not favorable.

WR Mike Sims-Walker, Jacksonville Jaguars

If you haven’t heard of this guy yet, you will soon. Last week, he racked up a team-high six receptions for 81 yards against Houston. Jags’ QB David Garrard has grown comfortable with Sims-Walker over the course of the early weeks. The Titans’ secondary was proven vulnerable against rookie Jets’ QB Mark Sanchez last week, and should benefit Sims-Walker’s performance.

Sit ‘Em

QB Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers

My surprise pick belongs to Mr. Rivers, who has put up monster numbers this season. All his success has certainly made a statement that he belongs with the likes of Peyton Manning and Drew Brees, but I think he will experience his first major struggl e this week. The Pittsburgh Steelers need to win this game more than anything, and their defense realizes this, which should put a lot of pressure on Rivers.

RB Ryan Grant, Green Bay Packers

The Minnesota Vikings are solid at stopping the run, and the Williams’ Wall (DTs Pat and Kevin Williams) will make it difficult for Grant to find running lanes. I also have a feeling that the Packers will try to showcase Aaron Rodgers, who will be going up against the former Mr. Packer himself, Brett Favre. If you have another option at Running Back, I highly suggest sitting Grant this week.

WR Braylon Edwards, Cleveland Browns

Edwards has yet to find the end zone this season, and is looking like he may be faced with a disappointing season in 2009. The Browns’ QB situation has been a head-scratcher so far. QB Brady Quinn will be on the bench, while Derek Anderson will get the start. The switching of QBs is typically not good for any receiver, let alone a struggling one.

Sleeper Of The Week

RB Jerome Harrison, Cleveland Browns

As mentioned above, the Browns have an unreliable passing attack. This opens up many options on the ground, giving Jerome Harrison some fantasy value. Add this to the news that starter Jamal Lewis is listed as doubtful for the game and rookie backup James Davis was placed on the Injured Reserve, and Harrison quickly is in line for an unexpected incre ase in carries in Week 4.

The Rise Of Brent Celek

Maclin7 — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:40:36 -0000

When the Philadelphia Eagles selected Brent Celek in the 5th round, they were not expecting him to evolve into a top tier NFL Tight End. Just like the rest of us, the Eagles figured Celek could compete for a roster spot behind then-starting TE L.J. Smith. But what none of us expected, at least not so soon, was the emergence of Brent Celek (pictured) in the Eagles’ offensive schemes. After L.J. Smith received word that he would be released, and eventually signed with the Baltimore Ravens, Celek took the opportunity that was placed in front of him, and grasped it with open arms.

The former Cincinnati Bearcat has had an eventful career leading up to what he is today. As a backup to L.J. Smith in previous seasons, Celek never received many opportunities to shine on Sundays. But in the 2008 playoffs, he made a name for himself. He finished the playoff run, which was cut off by the Arizona Cardinals, with 19 receptions, placing him third on the All-Time receptions list for a Tight End in the playoffs. This is where a star was born.

With all the postseason success for Celek in 2008, the off-season in 2009 gave Celek the opportunity of a lifetime, the chance to become a starting Tight End in the NFL. His hard work, perseverance, and mental toughness has gotten him to where he is now: an elite Tight End.

As of this very moment, Celek is leading in many statistical categories. Here are the following categories that Celek is listed under…

Leads all Tight Ends in receptions (22), 2nd is Jason Witten (19)
Leads NFC Tight Ends in yardage (245), 2nd is Chris Cooley (189)
Leads NFC Tight Ends in yards per game (81.7), 2nd is Chris Cooley (63.0)
Tied for NFL lead in touchdowns (2), 10 others tied with two
Tied for NFL lead in receptions resulting in a first down (12), 2nd is Antonio Gates (12)

As you can see, Brent Celek is quickly going from the mid tier for Tight Ends, to elite tier for Tight Ends. The NFC East undoubtedly has the best group of Tight Ends, with Jason Witten, Chris Cooley, Kevin Boss, and Brent Celek all being go-to-guy’s for their respectable teams. One thing that may have helped Celek was the injury to Donovan McNabb. As strange as this may sound, Kevin Kolb has helped Celek out more than expected. Kolb has targeted Celek more than any other player on the team, and has gone to him in crucial situations. In the last two games, Celek has gone over the century mark for yardage, and with McNabb most likely returning following the Bye Week, it will be interesting to see how Celek performs during the next part of the season.

(Picture Source)

Fantasy Shuffle: Week 3

Maclin7 — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 22:20:21 -0000

With Week 2 in the books, and the fantasy season underway, it’s time to check out possible free agents to sign to your roster.

Top Free Agents (position by position)

Quarterbacks

Byron Leftwich: Just because Tampa Bay is a bottom feeder in the NFL, it doesn’t mean that you should overlook any players on their team. Leftwich has put up solid numbers so far, with 4 touchdowns and more than 275 yards a game. Despite the fact that he has the Giants, Redskins, and Eagles as his next three opponents, Leftwich will be getting plenty of throws in and has potential to put up some huge numbers if he can avoid interceptions.

Running Backs

Correll Buckhalter: A familiar face to the Eagles faithful, Buckhalter has found success in Denver . With only minimal carries, Buckhalter has rushed for more then 100 yards in two games, with no more than 9 carries in any of the first two games. He has a chance to break a long run on any given carry, and he is worth a look for your fantasy team.

Michael Bush: Similarly to Buckhalter’s situation, Bush is listed behind a starter on his team’s respected depth chart, but still puts up pretty good numbers with minimal touches. He is also a threat in the redzone to score, due to Oakland ’s fascination with using Bush within 5 yards of the end zone. He may not put up great numbers, but he can provide touchdowns throughout the season.

Wide Receivers

Steve Smith/Mario Manningham: Both members of the Giants’ receiving core, Smith and Mannigham put up huge numbers in the first two weeks. If you can pick up any of these guys, than I advise you to make the move because they are Eli Manning’s new favorite targets. Both had 10 receptions last week, both scored a touchdown, and both had over 130 receiving yards.

Johnny Knox: Jay Cutler has grown confident in Knox’s ability to haul in his passes, and he showed that when he targeted Knox late in the game last week in the end zone. Knox is available in most leagues, and if you need help in your receiving core, take a shot on Knox, especially since he has one of the best gunslingers throwing to him.

Laurent Robinson: He is not a well known player in this league, since he plays for the Rams, but Robinson could soon develop into Marc Bulger’s main target. Robinson caught a touchdown pass last week, and has led the Rams in “passes attempted to” in the first two games of the season. Expect Robinson to get more looks and more touchdowns this year, and don’t be surprised to see him make a name for himself this season.

Tight End

Marcedes Lewis: With the Jaguars’ releasing of backup Tight End Greg Estandia, Lewis now has little competition at his position. After scoring a touchdown last week, Lewis has quickly risen to a go-to-guy for the Jaguars. With a big drop off in tight ends after the top tier, Lewis is worth taking a risk on because of the number of targets he should be getting this year.

Fantasy Report: Week Two

Maclin7 — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 15:31:55 -0000

With Week One completed, and the first fantasy week over, it’s time to fix up your rosters. I’m sure most of us, even if you did win last week, could improve our team. The one player that you do not want on your team is a fantasy killer (e.g. Jake Delhomme). My fantasy predictions in Week One were fairly impressive, better than even I would have guessed. So I will attempt to improve upon my great week last week, and give you my Week Two Fantasy Start ‘ Ems and Sit’Ems.

Start ‘Em

QB Trent Edwards, Bills

The thing that impressed me the most with Edwards in Week One was his decision making. He made the most out of the new no-huddle offense by tiring out the Patriots’ defense, which allowed him to make the safe throws. His Week Two opponent is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who last week allowed Tony Romo to throw a career high in passing yards, making him look like a top tier NFL Quarterback. I expect Edwards to come out strong against the Bucs’ defense, and I think he will utilize his two dangerous wideouts, Terrell Owens and Lee Evans.

RB Darren Sproles, Chargers

Since LaDainian Tomlinson will not suit up for tomorrow’s game, Sproles will get the rock more t han he has ever had. Despite him going up against the Ravens’ defense, his quickness and agility will cause problems against Baltimore ’s aging linebackers. Another thing that Sproles brings to the table is his pass-catching ability, along with his dominance on the return team. Don’t be surprised if Sproles ends up taking a reception to the house, and adds another touchdown on the ground.

WR Torry Holt, Jaguars

Last week, Holt only netted 47 yards on 3 receptions, but the matchup against the Cardinals is a favorable one for the former Ram. In last week’s game against the 49ers, Arizona allowed Isaac Bruce to find some openings in the secondary, and finished with 74 yards. The Jaguars brought Holt in to be their number one target, and I expect him to back up that statement against the Cardinals.

Sit ‘Em

QB Eli Manning, Giants

If you are considering starting Eli than your fantasy team is clearly out of luck. The rivalry between the Cowboys and Giants will be heated tomorrow, and if the Cowboys can apply pressure to Eli, then it’s all over. The Giants will look to establish the run, but will find out that the Cowboy’s front seven is no pushover. Once Eli is forced to find his inexperienced receivers, he will make some mistakes, which we all know kill fantasy teams.

RB Steve Slaton, Texans

He had a brutal game in Week One against a sub-par defense, and now that he is faced against the Steel Curtain, I do not like his chances . His terrific rookie campaign is over, and now the sophomore slump is beginning for the West Virginia graduate. The Steelers held Tennessee Titans’ RB Chris Johnson to 57 yards and no scores. Slaton will have a tough day once again for the struggling Texans.

WR Marques Colston, Saints

The Eagles’ secondary was flawless against the Panthers, and with all the hype surrounding the Saints’ aerial attack, the Eagles’ defense will be out to prove the critics wrong. The combination of Asante Samuel and Sheldon Brown on Colston will not give him many chances to receive the ball. Coordinator Sean McDermott has been preparing for this game all week just to show how tough his defense really is. Don’t expect Colston to put up many points this week as he did last week.

Sleeper of the Week

WR Kevin Curtis

The Saints’ defense will apply all its attention to DeSean Jackson, as they should, but don’t be surprised to see Kevin Kolb looking elsewhere. In what will likely be Kolb’s first career NFL, and knowing that Jeff Garcia is breathing down his back, he needs to show the coaches that he can be a true NFL Quarterback. The Saints allowed Lions’ second WR Bryant Johnson to rack up some good yardage, so I expect Curtis to do the same, and find the end zone at least once.

Fantasy Report: Week One

Maclin7 — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 01:06:49 -0000

In what will become a weekly segment before game day, “Fantasy Report” is designed to give you a better understanding of the Eagles’ fantasy values leading up to the game. Before you lock your roster in your fantasy league, be sure to check out Bleed Green’s Fantasy Report. The segment will consist of a Start’Em-Sit Em’, and a Sleeper Watch.

The first week of football is what I like to call the beginning of fantasy season. Once the drafts ended for fantasy owners, everyone had their sights set on Week One. In what is the first real look at your fantasy team, no one wants to be on the losing end, and thus leads to our “Fantasy Report: Week One”, where I will unveil my insights on to who to build your roster around in Week One.

Start ‘Em

QB Matt Hasselbeck, Seahawks

As much as I refuse to ever draft him, Hasselbeck has a favorable matchup in Week One going up against the St. Louis Rams’ defense. The Rams’ defense is inexperienced and has struggled to contain opposing offenses. Besides the poor defense that Hasselbeck goes up against, he will have a new weapon to target, former Bengals WR T.J. Houshmandzadah.

RB Ray Rice, Ravens

My biggest surprise for 2009 has to be second year man Ray Rice. Last season, he was stuck behind Wills McGahee and Le’Ron McClain, but with McClain moving to a “true” fullback position, Rice has moved up on the depth chart, all the way up to the starting spot. Add to this the fact that the offense is a ground first team, due to the coaches not wanting to force young QB Joe Flacco to force any throws, and Ray Rice is a legit fantasy starter in Week One against a weak defensive team in Kansas City .

WR Vincent Jackson, Chargers

A reliable option in past seasons, Jackson has blossomed into Phillip Rivers’ go-to-guy. With Jackson matched up against the secondary of the Oakland Raiders, you have to give him a start if you have him. Phillip Rivers has been an unheralded top fantasy producer in his career, despite the fact that he has never had a “big named” receiver. I can almost guarantee at least one touchdown by Jackson , and seeing how effective he is in the redzone, two touchdowns may be a reasonable prediction.

Sit ‘Em

QB Jake Delhomme, Panthers

I’m sure almost everyone here at Bleed Greenloves that Delhomme is on the “Sit ‘Em” list as he will be up against the Eagles’ defense on Sunday. Delhomme has never been a solid fantasy QB, and I still have confidence in the Eagles’ defense, despite the weak showing in the preseason. Even though he may throw a touchdown or two, Delhomme is known for throwing picks ( just ask the Arizona Cardinals defense ).

RB Jamal Lewis, Browns

Simply put, he goes up against the top defense in the NFC, the Minnesota Vikings. Combine the Vikings’ strong defense with the rise of rookie RB James Davis (who is waiting to overtake Lewis), and you should have no reason to even consider starting Lewis.

WR Donald Driver, Packers A tough choice for me to put Driver here, but I don’t see the Bears-Packers game as a shootout, let alone an offensive game. I expect this to be a typical smash mouth NFC North game. QB Aaron Rodgers has grown comfortable with WR Greg Jennings, putting Driver second to him. If you absolutely have no other option but Driver, then you should just take a shot with him, but if you can avoid starting him, I highly recommend it.

Sleeper of the Week WR Jason Avant, Eagles

Of course I would have gone with an Eagle as my Sleeper to begin with, but Avant truly is a high risk- high reward guy not just in Week One, but throughout the whole season. I decided to look at the past two Week One’s for Jason Avant, just to see if he is a good option. Oddly enough, Avant has been solid during the last two Week One’s. In 2008 against St. Louis , he had 3 receptions for 45 yards, and in 2007 against Green Bay he had 54 yards and 1 touchdown.

2 Players Cut, 2 Placed On IR On Day of Cuts

Maclin7 — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 20:20:07 -0000

The deadline for all 32 NFL teams to cut their roster down to 75 players is today, and the Philadelphia Eagles have just reached the 75 player mark. The Eagles needed to cut 5 players before today’s deadline to reach 75. Their first move came yesterday with the release of Offensive Tackle Chris Patrick. Today, the Eagles cut two players, one being Charleston Hughes and the other being Brandon Harrison. In addition to the three cuts, the Eagles placed both Stewart Bradley and Cornelius Ingram on the Injured Reserve, due to both players suffering season ending injuries.

Let’s take a look at how Charleston Hughes and Brandon Harrison performed this preseason:

Charleston Hughes recorded just two tackles this preseason, both were solo tackles.
Brandon Harrison recorded only one tackle after being signed following the first preseason game.

With Linebacker Charleston Hughes officially gone, the remaining Middle Linebackers are Omar Gaither, Joe Mays and Matt Wilhelm. The Free Safety position is just down to two as of now, with Quintin Demps and Macho Harris.

The deadline for the next roster reduction is September 5th, when the Eagles will need to set their 53 man roster before the start of the regular season.