Fbkid's Week 9 Fantasy Studs

This past week wasn't the greatest for my fantasy studs as only Matt Stover had a big game while Devin Hester and Jeremy Shockey both put up respectable numbers. The past few weeks have been a little rough for my fantasy so hopefully this week is a step in the right direction.

QB: Matt Hasselbeck vs Lions: In some leagues, Hasselbeck is a free agent. If he is still available, pick him up now. He goes up against a Lions defense that struggles against the pass and is now flying across the country. Remember what Hasselbeck did to the Jaguars pass defense a few weeks back? This could be a repeat. Expect around 260 yards and three touchdowns.

RB: Jamaal Charles vs Jaguars: Charles will be replacing the suspended Larry Johnson this week and could be in for a big game. He is a solid receiver out of the backfield and is a very similar runner to Chris Johnson who just slashed the Jaguars for over 200 yards. He may not be worth starting, but would be an excellent flex play. Expect around 100 total yards and a touchdown.

WR: Michael Crabtree vs Titans: The past few weeks, it seems that everything has been going Crabtree's way. He finally got payed, he is getting more involved in the offense each week and he has already more than doubled Darrius Heyward-Bey's reception output for the season in two weeks. While all these things make Crabtree happy, fantasy owners are thrilled their patience has payed off.

He now goes up against a Titans pass defense that has been one of the worst in the league and should be a safe number three fantasy receiver for the rest of the year. Expect around 60 yards and a touchdown.

TE: Kellen Winslow vs Packers: A reliable tight end is a rookie quarterback's best friend and Winslow has already scored four touchdowns with quarterback play that has been inconsistent to say the least. Look for Josh Freeman to find Winslow early and often. Expect around 80 yards and a touchdown.

K: Ryan Succop vs Jaguars: This past year's Mr. Irrelevant is starting to develop into a relevant fantasy option as a bye week fill in and could even emerge as one of the better fantasy kickers in the next few years. At this time, he faces a favorable matchup against a Jaguars defense that has struggled the past few weeks. Expect around 2 field goals and two extra points.

DEF: Falcons vs Redskins: The Redskins offense has struggled the past few years, but only now has it gotten to the point where Dan Snyder is being compared to Al Davis. Unlike many others I actually like Davis. While the game may have passed him by, he is a big reason why the NFL is what it is today, still has a very sharp wit and is guaranteed to make at least one "What were they thinking" move each draft.

In my opinion, those comparisons are actually an insult at Davis considering he has actually won in the past (Three total Super Bowls the last being in 1984) and to his credit he at least goes after certain kinds of players. Snyder's team has no direction whatsoever and is built more like something out of a Madden 10 fantasy draft than an NFL team. Anyway after that mini rant, back to my main point.

The Falcons defense hasn't been overly impressive this year, but against a struggling Redskins offense, they are a great plug-and-play option if you happen to have the Vikings defense which is on bye or another defense with a tough matchup. Expect around 4 sacks, two interceptions and a fumble recovery.

Start all Packers: On a day where the Buccaneers honor hall of famer Lee Roy Selmon and wear their creamsicle jerseys (one of my two favorite throwbacks of all time the other is the Chargers baby blues), there won't be a lot of Selmons's specialty as a player: defense.

This game could end up reminding Selmon of his first few years on the Bucs where they started their first two years 0-26. The Packers have tons of offensive fire power and the game could be decided early.

In fact, if I was a Bucs fan, I would go to the game, pay your respect to Lee Roy and afterwards go over to his restaurant Lee Roy Selmon's a few blocks away. Trust me, I don't live in Tampa but the place is fantastic. Every time I am in town I go there at least twice and everything on the menu is very good. I would recommend the wings with the Oklahoma Sauce (Help! I'm turning into Peter King) or the ribs.

Finally after my non caffeinated Peter King-esque rant, the Packers you should start (I am including the obvious) are Aaron Rodgers, Ryan Grant, Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, Jermichael Finley, Mason Crosby, Packers defense and a flier in very deep leagues is James Jones.

Fbkid's Week 9 Predictions

Last week was a solid week for my predictions but it was filled with ups and downs. While my Texans vs Bills and Cowboys vs Seahawks picks were right on the money, I missed badly with my Jaguars vs Titans and Panthers vs Cardinals picks. Hopefully my week 9 picks can me more consistent.

Game of the weak: Chiefs vs Jaguars: On a week where neither the Browns or Raiders play, it's hard to find a game for this category but if you have to choose, this would be the one.

Game of the week: Texans vs Colts: This is a huge game for the Texans and a possible trap game for the Colts. If the Texans win, they prove that they are a legitimate playoff contender in the AFC. The Colts, who face the Patriots next week, are now without two of their starting defensive backs and face one of the league's more explosive passing attacks.

Last week: 9-4
Overall: 78-38

Last week with the spread: 7-6
Overall: 66-50

Redskins 16 Falcons 28
Cardinals 20 Bears 24
Ravens 26 Bengals 21
Texans 27 Colts 35
Chiefs 17 Jaguars 24
Dolphins 20 Patriots 35
Packers 28 Bucs 13
Panthers 24 Saints 35
Lions 14 Seahawks 31
Chargers 20 Giants 26
Titans 17 49ers 23
Cowboys 21 Eagles 27
Steelers 21 Broncos 26

Fbkid's Week 8 Fantasy Studs

Last week wasn't the best for my fantasy studs as only Austin Collie and Nate Kaeding had good games. In most fantasy leagues, the first half of the year is already over and now is the time to plan your playoff push. More then ever, it is important to analyze the matchups and search the waiver wire for key free agents.

QB: David Garrard vs Titans: Garrard usually doesn't put up great fantasy numbers, but has a very good matchup against a struggling Titans pass defense. Expect around 230 yards and a touchdown.

RB: Beanie Wells vs Panthers: The Panthers have had trouble stopping the run so far this year and if last week is any indication Wells is going to start getting some more carries in the Cardinals offense. Expect around 80 total yards and a touchdown.

WR: Devin Hester vs Browns: The Browns have really struggled stopping the pass so far this year and Hester also has the potential to score anytime he touches the ball. Expect around 80 yards and a touchdown.

TE: Jeremy Shockey vs Falcons: The Falcons proved last week that they have a hard time stopping the pass and now they face the explosive Saints passing attack. Shockey got a lot of balls thrown his way last week and based on his performance, that should continue. Expect around 60 yards and a touchdown.

K: Matt Stover vs 49ers: The 49ers defense was one of the surprise stories of the first few weeks but have been in a tail spin for the past few weeks. Stover replacing the injured Adam Vinetari, should get plenty of opportunities. Expect around four extra points and a field goal.

DEF: Cardinals vs Panthers: The Cardinals have loads of talent on the defensive side of the ball and the last time they played the Panthers in the playoffs Jake Delhomme had one of the worst days of his career. While it will be hard to repeat that performance, look for the Cardinals to get pressure on Delhomme through out the game. Expect around two sacks and two interceptions.

On another note, make sure to start all of your Lions and Rams players this week. While the two teams combine for only one win, there should be lots of fantasy points as neither team plays much defense. Some players to consider starting other then the obvious such as Steven Jackson and Calvin Johnson are: Matthew Stafford, Kevin Smith, Brandon Pettigrew, Marc Bulger, Donnie Avery and Keenan Burton (very deep leagues only).

Fbkid's Week 8 Predictions

Last week was a very good one for my picks as I went 11-2 against the spread. As far as picks go, this year has been a pretty solid one as I am now 15 games over .500 against the spread and I have also been doing pretty well straight up as well. Hopefully I can keep the positive momentum going with my week 8 predictions.

Game of the weak: Rams vs Lions: This game could end up being pretty high scoring, but when both teams combine for a total of one win, it's hard to go against it.

Game of the week: Vikings vs Packers: This game isn't only Brett Favre's return to Lambeau.It is a huge game for both teams as the winner will emerge as one of the favorites in a competitive NFC.

Last week: 9-4
Overall: 69-34

Last week against the spread: 11-2
Overall: 59-44


Broncos 20 Ravens 24
Texans 26 Bills 14
Browns 13 Bears 28
Seahawks 17 Cowboys 31
Dolphins 23 Jets 17
49ers 17 Colts 35
Giants 21 Eagles 27
Rams 20 Lions 28
Raiders 13 Chargers 26
Jaguars 28 Titans 14
Vikings 24 Packers 28
Panthers 13 Cardinals 27
Falcons 23 Saints 35

Fbkid's Week 7 Extra Points

After seven weeks, a record three undefeated teams are still left standing. Many of the games this past week were blowouts. Two games however could apply to some of what was said in the Denny Green rant that occurred over four years ago. Here are my week seven extra points.


The Giants aren't who we thought they were: While their 5-2 record is impressive, the Cowboys are the only team they have beat with any chance of making the playoffs. Other than that, the Giants have beaten the Chiefs, Buccaneers and Raiders. The team does have a talented roster, but not being able to beat the Cardinals or Saints who are playoff caliber teams is a reason for concern.



We let them off the hook: The Dolphins led by 21 points at home against an undefeated Saints team and still managed to lose. The Dolphins game plan was working perfectly as they were running the ball all over the Saints. Then the Saints offense got going and the game was never the same. If we learned anything out of this game it’s that Chad Henne really needs some playmakers for him to be successful. Brian Hartline had a very good game and Davone Bess is an excellent slot receiver, but Ted Ginn isn’t turning into the player they hoped he would be. Look for this to be one of the 1st positions addressed this offseason.



One play that really stood out to me in the Giants Cardinals game was when Antrel Rolle lined up at quarterback in the wildcat and threw the ball. The play didn't count, but it stood out to me for two reasons. I had no idea that Rolle could throw the ball that well as he threw a perfect strike 40 yards down field to Larry Fitzgerald. The second thing is that Rolle could have a stronger arm than backup quarterback Matt Leinart who was drafted to be the future of the franchise four years ago. Leinart with the weapons around him could end up turning into a solid pro, but as of now it looks like he will be another disappointment from the overhyped 2006 draft class.



Alex Smith should have won himself the starting job in San Francisco with his performance against the Texans. In one half, he threw for over 200 yards and three touchdowns. With the emergence of Vernon Davis and the recent signing of Michael Crabtree, Smith has some weapons to throw to and could put up some solid numbers.



The Josh Johnson era looks to be over in Tampa. Even though he threw eight interceptions, Johnson showed some potential but after drafting Josh Freeman in the 1st round this past year, it was only a matter of time until Johnson would get the shaft. Johnson could end up being a solid quarterback so it should be interesting to see if they keep him or try and trade him this offseason.



A real darkhorse for the defensive rookie of the year is Bills safety Jairus Byrd. Byrd is always around the ball and that is a main reason why he is among the league leaders with five interceptions. Look for him to only get better over the course of the year and take his game to another level in his second year.



A player who doesn't get much attention but could end up being a Hall of Fame player is Saints safety Darren Sharper. With 60 interceptions he is the league's active leader and with 11 only trails Rod Woodson for touchdown returns. Sharper has a few good years of football left in him so don't be surprised if he ends up with more than 70 interceptions for his career.



If you are looking for a running back in your fantasy league, a guy to consider is Jets rookie Shonn Greene. Leon Washington is out for the season so Greene will be getting his carries and has he proved against the Raiders, he can make the most of them. Greene also has the body to be effective around the goal line so don't be surprised if he becomes one of the more valuable fantasy backs in the stretch run.

Fbkid's Week 7 Fantasy Studs

Last week I didn't get the chance to do my week six fantasy studs so hopefully with these predictions I can bounce back.

QB: Matt Cassel vs Chargers: The Chargers defense has really struggled this year and Cassel's numbers have improved every week and is starting to form a solid connection with Dwayne Bowe. Expect around 210 yards and two touchdowns.

RB: Jonathan Stewart vs Bills: Stewart has been hurt battling injuries so far this season and got back on track last week against the Buccaneers. Now he plays the Bills who have the worst run defense in the league and should have another big game. Expect around 125 total yards and a touchdown.

WR: Austin Collie vs Rams: Pretty much every Colts player would be worth starting against the Rams, but none will be more value then the rookie out of BYU. Collie is really emerging as one of Peyton Manning's favorite targets and now faces a very weak Rams secondary. Expect around 80 yards and a touchdown.

TE: Heath Miller vs Vikings: Miller is on pace for a career season and now faces a Vikings pass defense that isn't very strong. He is one of Ben Roethlisberger's favorite targets and should get some red zone opportunities. Expect around 65 yards and a touchdown.

K: Nate Kaeding vs Chiefs: The Chiefs defense is one of the worst in the league and Kaeding should have lots of opportunities as the Chargers have no problem scoring. He got back on track against the Broncos so look for him to keep it. Expect around three extra points and two field goals.

DEF: Panthers vs Bills: The Panthers defense has played fairly well the past few weeks and now goes up against a struggling Bills offense starting a backup quarterback. Expect around three sacks, two interceptions and a fumble recovery.

Fbkid's Week 7 Predictions

This past week was one of the first that showed the parity which we have seen around the league in past years. Teams such as the Chiefs, Raiders and Bills all had very surprising wins which were huge hits to survivor pools. Here are my week seven predictions.


Game of the weak: Bills vs Panthers: Both of these teams won last week, but if you enjoy good quarterback play, this one isn't for you.

Game of the week: Vikings vs Steelers: The Vikings are arguably the best team in the league right now and the Steelers are the defending champs who are missing a quality win. Look for the Steelers defense to pressure Brett Favre and make him win the game.

Last week: 8-6
Overall: 60-30
Last week against the spread: 6-8
Overall: 48-42

Packers 28 Browns 14
49ers 23 Texans 28
Chargers 26 Chiefs 20
Colts 42 Rams 10
Patriots 35 Bucs 13
Vikings 21 Steelers 27
Bills 14 Panthers 20
Jets 24 Raiders 16
Bears 17 Bengals 23
Falcons 26 Cowboys 17
Saints 20 Dolphins 26
Cardinals 23 Giants 28
Eagles 26 Redskins 10

Fbkid's Week 6 Extra Points

The Saints are currently the best team in the league. Gregg Williams' defense was impressive yesterday constantly getting pressure on Eli Manning and the offense is almost impossible to stop. There next big test is in a few weeks at home against the Falcons which will be a very important game in both the division and overall NFC standings.

If anyone has benefited the most from the Brett Favre era in Minnesota it is Sidney Rice. He is emerging as a big play threat and is showing the potential that has some in the Vikings organization comparing him to Larry Fitzgerald. Favre and Rice are only going to get better as a tandem as the year goes on so it wouldn't be surprising if he had over 1000 yards receiving.

The Jets really need to be worried about the way Mark Sanchez played yesterday in cold weather. The Meadowlands is very windy and it could be possible that he doesn't have the arm strength needed to play there. This is also a question that frequently is asked about Eli Manning and while he doesn't put up great numbers at home, there are few quarterbacks who are better on the road.

Out of all the great running backs to come out of the 2008 draft class, it's possible that Ray Rice doesn't get enough attention. He was very impressive this week rushing for over seven yards a carry along with ten receptions and two touchdowns. With Rice and Joe Flacco, the Ravens are certainly not the same team they were a few years ago and the offense could become one of the league’s elite in the next few years.

Last week I mentioned that it might not be until December that Tom Brady returns to his 2007 form. If the six touchdown passes against the Titans are any indication, he's back. Unlike prior weeks, Brady hit all of his receivers and seemed comfortable in the pocket. This offense is still very explosive and they are heating up at the right time.

After their embarrassing 59-0 loss, I have finally realized that the Titans are in the exact same situation the Jaguars were last year. Both teams over-achieved and faced high expectations heading into the next season. Instead of being a Super Bowl contender, both teams looked old and ready to rebuild. There is some talent to build around with players such as Chris Johnson, Cortland Finnegan and Michael Griffin. However the strength of the Titans has always been upfront and until they address that through free agency or the draft, it could be a few years until they are contenders again.

After seeing him play in person for the first time, it is clear to me that Steven Jackson deserves a better team. At 6’2 235 pounds he is built more like a linebacker but he is one of the best running backs in the entire league. Jackson is a very powerful runner and also has soft hands. His all around play was shown on a screen pass that he broke for 40 yards on a very impressive run dragging tacklers with him. Jackson is under contract until 2013, but if he is ever given a chance to play on another team, he will be in the discussion with Adrian Peterson over who is the best running back in the league.

Fbkid's Week 6 Predictions

A new thing that I am going to start adding to my predictions is how I am fairing against the spread. When I make my predictions, I don't look at it but afterwards it is interesting to see how far off they are from the Vegas lines. Here are my week six predictions.

Game of the weak: Rams vs Jaguars: Last week these two teams combined to score a total of ten points. Considering how poor both of these defenses are though, it could end up being a high scoring game.

Game of the week: Giants vs Saints: Both teams have impressed in every aspect of the game and the winner should be the early front runner in the NFC.

Last week: 9-5
Overall: 52-24
Last week against spread: 8-6
Overall: 42-34

Texans 20 Bengals 24
Lions 21 Packers 34
Rams 14 Jaguars 26
Ravens 23 Vikings 27
Giants 17 Saints 21
Browns 10 Steelers 28
Panthers 24 Bucs 13
Chiefs 21 Redskins 26
Eagles 35 Raiders 10
Cardinals 24 Seahawks 28
Titans 16 Patriots 27
Bills 13 Jets 24
Bears 20 Falcons 26
Broncos 17 Chargers 23

Fbkid's Week 5 Extra Points

This past week was another example of how this year doesn't contain the parody that a normal NFL season does. There are still four winless teams and as crazy as 0-16 sounded last year, it looks like that a few teams could give the Lions a run this year. Here are my week five extra points.

Ronnie Brown doesn’t get as much attention as he deserves. He has put up solid numbers but until you watch him you don't know how good he really is. The wildcat offense may not be conventional, but Brown thrives on it and few players have his decision making ability with the ball. He is a tough runner who can either get a first down in a short yardage situation or take it 60 yards for a touchdown. Another thing that is underrated is his throwing ability as he has proven on multiple occasions that he can throw when called upon.

Rex Ryan should be pretty worried about the Jets performance on defense. They didn’t get any pass rush against Chad Henne and in order to rattle a young quarterback, you need to get in his face. The defense has loads of talent, but they need to keep the games relatively low scoring. Mark Sanchez has shown a lot of promise in his first five games, but he hasn’t yet shown that he can put the team on his back and win.

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that Johnny Knox could be a dark horse for the offensive rookie of the year award. Right now Austin Collie is showing that he could be in it for the long haul. He is quickly developing into one of Peyton Manning’s favorite targets and is getting more involved in the offense each week. In fact, it wouldn’t be surprising if Collie is starting even when Anthony Gonzalez returns.

Like many people, the Patriots were my pick to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. The way they are playing of late they could be in trouble. Tom Brady is not back to his old self yet and has missed receivers on passes that could have been easy touchdowns. The defense has also had some injury problems on a unit that isn’t getting any younger. Predictions for the Patriots this season were mainly based off the impact that Brady would have on the team. For all we know, it could take him until December to regain his 2007 form.

If the season ended today, it would be hard not to give Kyle Orton the most improved player award. Granted, he now has more weapons around him but he is making better decisions with the ball as he has only thrown only one interception through five games. As impressive as the Broncos have been, Orton’s play will determine how far they go this year.

As hard as it is to believe, the Ravens defense could hold them back this year. The pass defense has really struggled up to this point and what they have been doing late in games is reason to worry. Yes, there were some very controversial calls in the game against the Patriots, but their defense lost their composure towards the end of the Bengals game. They became over aggressive trying to make plays but that ended up leading to penalties that helped the Bengals cap their game winning drive. Even Ray Lewis got in the act hitting a defenseless Chad Ochocinco for a crucial unnecessary roughness penalty. This is a veteran unit though and if any group can fix this they can.

In case you were wondering, along with the Broncos, the Bengals are for real. They have already beaten every team in their division and are doing it in dramatic fashion. The offense which was supposed to drive the team this year has struggled at times but a young, athletic defense is what really is standing out so far. The unit is improving by the game and is filled with emotion as defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer’s wife unexpectedly passed away this past week. If the offense plays up to its potential, look out.