Kerstan Kranker becomes new editor of NFL Fantasy Tips starting Week 13. Kerstan has over 20+ years of Fantasy Football experience. Kerstan is currently in the top 100 for PayTheFan.com and is a level 5 on CBS Sports. Look forward to Kerstan’s Week 14 tips coming soon!
Sep 28 - Chargers’ Ryan Mathews feels ‘normal’ after Monday workout
Sep 28 - Cardinals’ Steve Breaston out for a couple of games after knee surgery
Sep 28 - Seattle’s Mike Williams already questionable for Week 4
Sep 27 - Cowboys’ Jason Witten has a sprained MCL
Sep 27 - Ravens’ Ray Rice has a ‘significant’ knee contusion
Sep 27 - Rams’ Steven Jackson says he has a strained groin
Sep 27 - Texans’ Andre Johnson re-aggravates ankle injury, has high ankle sprain
Sep 27 - Lions’ Jahvid Best is day-to-day with turf toe
Sep 27 - Rams may be interested in Larry Johnson
Sep 27 - Ravens’ Ray Rice injures knee, tests coming
Sep 26 - Browns’ Jerome Harrison among Sunday’s early-game inactives
Sep 26 - Colts’ Pierre Garcon out
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings (Week 4): Team Defenses - Tier 1
1. Pittsburgh Steelers Defense
2. San Diego Chargers Defense
3. Green Bay Packers Defense
4. Tennessee Titans Defense
5. Philadelphia Eagles Defense
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings (Week 4): Team Defenses - Tier 2
6. New York Jets Defense
7. Indianapolis Colts Defense
8. Seattle Seahawks Defense
9. Atlanta Falcons Defense
10. New Orleans Saints Defense
Donovan McNabb gets his first shot at his former team, going to Philadelphia in Week 4.
There are going to be a lot of emotions involved, but in one-quarterback formats, it is tough to trust him.
The Eagles have allowed just 183.3 yards per game through the air and are tied for second in the league with five interceptions; they also come after the quarterback hard, with 11 sacks.
While McNabb has generated a rapport with Santana Moss, the running game hasn’t done enough to keep the Eagles defense of balance. Emotion could help drive him, but it’s still hard to trust him.
It should seem like a no-brainer to start Orton at this point, shouldn’t it?
However, he’s only owned in 70% of Yahoo leagues and 58.5% of ESPN leagues.
While he may have a tougher matchup with the Titans, he has been on an amazing roll to open the season. Through three games. he has already thrown for 1,078 yards, with games of 295, 307, and 476. While you never know which Broncos receiver is going to have the biggest day, devaluing them as a whole, Orton should continue to produce. After Eli Manning threw for 386 yards in Week 3, Orton could certainly be in store for a solid day.
A great list of sleepers populated by NFLSoup.com
Sam Bradford, QB, St. Louis Rams (Available in 81% of leagues)
Okay, so it’s not amazing or jaw-dropping that Bradford is available in this many leagues, but we all might quickly find out that it actually is. Bradford is playing behind an atrocious offensive line and has durability concerns, and also just lost his number one receiver (Donnie Avery). Okay, we get it, the guy is set-up to fail this year.
But that doesn’t mean he will. He still has a guy by the name of Steven Jackson to help take the defense’s focus away, and we actually like rookie Mardy Gilyard’s play-making potential, think Brandon Gibson is fairly under rated, and also believe that Danny Amendola is more than a return guy that can make a living in the slot.
The Rams won’t be going to the playoffs, but after an inspiring performance in his third preseason game against the Patriots, we’ve come to the conclusion that Bradford isn’t necessarily the horrible fantasy option he’s cracked up to be. In the right league, he can pose as a serviceable QB2.
Josh Freeman, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (94%)
Freeman is a massive kid with a huge arm and very nice athletic ability. Short of the fact that he plays on a young team with unproven offensive talent, there’s a lot to like about him. In other words, it’s astonishing to us that he’s available in 94% of all standard leagues.
True, he has a rookie receiver as his number one target, but there’s a lot to like about Mike Williams, and you can’t ignore the positive impact of having the reliable Kellen Winslow as a tight end. Carnell Williams and the running game are constantly over-looked, as well.
Freeman will throw picks just like he did in 2009, but he showed glimpses of real talent in his rookie season, and could make major strides in year two. If he hadn’t hurt his finger and seen more action this preseason, we might have already found out that he’s more valuable than we think. Just like Bradford, he’s a decent QB2 in deep leagues, with raw potential that could blow him up as a real weapon at any moment.
Other deep league candidates: Derek Anderson (93%), Trent Edwards (93%), Jake Delhomme (93%)
Toby Gerhart, RB, Minnesota Vikings (80%)
Gerhart has some interesting value, despite not “officially” being listed as the top back-up yet to Adrian Peterson. Regardless of what the depth chart says, Gerhart is the best runner after Peterson on the Vikings roster, and if an injury were to ever occur, Gerhart is must-own fantasy option. In fact, it’s fairly surprising that he’s owned in such a small amount of leagues, considering Peterson is owned in 100% of leagues, and it’d be a wise choice to also have Gerhart if you own Peterson.
Gerhart is a tough, physical runner who could steal short-yardage and/or goal-line opportunities down the stretch, while carrying the possibility at a value explosion if Peterson ever goes down. He’s not a dynamo performer as he stands, but he is oozing with potential if the starting gig falls into his lap, while he could still produce RB3 or RB4 numbers if he gets the chance to spell Peterson enough.
Rashad Jennings, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars (95%)
Much like Gerhart, it was a shock to see a handcuff of such an important fantasy running back (this time Maurice Jones-Drew), is owned is just 5% of standard fantasy football leagues.
Jennings has proven his worth over the course of his brief career, and put up over 300 total yards in 2009 in limited duty. The Jaguars are reportedly going to give Jennings more run in 2010 to help preserve MJD for the entire season, while an injury to MJD for any amount of time could immediately make Jennings a fantasy star.
The best part is, Jennings could have a decent enough role to be a solid RB3 or RB4 even without MJD going down. That can’t be guaranteed, but if you own MJD, having Jennings is a good decision.
Javon Ringer, RB, Tennessee Titans (96%)
Another super handcuff that is being talked about quietly behind closed doors. What happens if Chris Johnson takes less carries in 2009 and/or is lost for any amount of time due to injury? You just missed out on some serious fantasy production if you didn’t have Ringer on your roster, that’s what.
Ringer is a tiny back with great speed and vision, and with Lendale White gone to Denver, he’s taking his skills to the top back-up role behind the best back in the game. Even if CJ stays healthy all season, Ringer stands to make a decent impact in deep leagues with a role that could grow throughout the season.
Peyton Hillis, RB, Cleveland Browns (99%)
Can Hillis carve out a big role in 2010?
Jerome Harrison was supposed to be the unquestioned starter heading into the 2010 season, but with Montario Hardesty drafted back in April, all of that certainty was shaken to it’s core.
Fast forward about four months, and Hardesty can’t get on the field due to nagging injuries, and Harrison is fumbling away his chance at the starting job (literally) in preseason. Harrison’s mediocre performances and three fumbles have given way to Peyton Hillis, who has done nothing but run hard, prove his worth as a short-yardage runner, and display his versatility in the passing game.
We’re not saying Hillis beats out Harrison for the starting job, that he’d even keep it if he did, or that he’ll even be the third or fourth back on the depth chart when the season starts. What we are saying, however, is that this is one of the most talented players we’ve ever seen available in 99% of fantasy football leagues.
Hillis ran for 50+ yards in Cleveland’s second preseason game, and then totaled 66 yards and a touchdown in game three. Those numbers aren’t eye-popping, but Hillis has been by far the most impressive back recently, which could lead to an expanded role quickly, if not the starting role.
Other deep league candidates: Marshawn Lynch (80%), Tashard Choice (86%), Fred Taylor (91%)
Nate Burleson, WR, Detroit Lions (77%)
Why is Burleson being tossed aside like a piece of trash? All he did in 2009 was put up 800+ receiving yards and three scores in a pathetic Seahawks offense, while beign weighed down by the ineffective offensive line.
Burleson proved in stretches last season that he still has the speed and talent to make plays, and now he moves to Detroit to work along side one of the best big-play receivers in the game in Calvin Johnson. Just imagine what working along side such a talented receiver will do for Burleson, who also inherits the second-year Matthew Stafford, who will take the chances down the field necessary to make a decent fantasy option into an elite fantasy option.
We’re not saying Burleson re-invents himself or puts up insane numbers, but he arguably has the talent and role to be a decent WR3 in any fantasy league, but especially so in deep leagues. Being available in 77% of leagues isn’t quite like the 90% or more like we’ve discussed, but Burleson is still beign disrespected in too many leagues.
Find out if that’s the case in your league, and take action.
Louis Murphy, WR, Oakland Raiders (9%)
We get the feeling that bothh Murphy and starter Darrius Heyward-Bey will take their level of play up a notch or two, but judging by overall talent and 2009′s production, we’re rolling with Murphy out of the two.
Murphy put up 500+ yards with JaMarcus Russell and Bruce Gradkowski last season, and like Heyward-Bey, struggled with consistency and erratic hands. However, he clearly had the leg up in 2009, and we’re voting for it to be the same in 2010.
Murphy has just as much speed and deep-threat ability, while probably having slightly better hands and an overall better ability to get open and make plays in the open field. Again, we do like Heyward-Bey to improve on his horrendous nine receptions from last season, but Murphy is the guy in Oakland with the most to gain.
Greg Camarillo, WR, Minnesota Vikings (91%)
Camarillo is new to the Vikes, but in his first preseason game, the former Miami Dolphin caught four passes for 47 yards. He did that in just nine snaps. That’s disgusting production. And more importantly, that’s some quick adaptation between him and the guy you should be thinking of most in regards to Minnesota receivers; Brett Favre.
Sidney Rice is gone for the first six weeks of the season at least in 2010 after being placed on the early season PUP list, which means Camarillo’s great route-running and reliable hands will be forced into extensive action.
Don’t be the sucker that falls into the Bernard Berrian trap. Berrian’s awful pop-up drop that was returned 86 yards as a pick-six said everything we wanted to say: the guy has bad hands, and he’s always been over rated.
Camarillo is talented enough and has a great quarterback throwing him passes. He is way too under valued, and could easily put up WR3 numbers if the situation is right. And guess what; it is!
Mike Williams, WR, Seattle Seahawks (97%)
If there is one guy that is primed to come out of nowhere to blow the league away, it’s Mike Williams. Yes, this is the same guy that the Detroit Lions once drafted 10th overall, only to see him never live up to expectations, and to drown in his own terrible eating habits and poor work ethic.
After bouncing around to Tennessee and Oakland, Williams has been reunited with former USC head coach Pete Carroll, and has begun creating a slowly growing highlight reel since.
Deion Branch and T.J. Houshmandzadeh still reside as starters in Seattle, so we know it’s no lock to happen over night, but Williams is as “asleep” as they come when talking about fantasy sleepers.
Other deep league candidates: James Jones (94%), Mike Thomas (93%), Danny Amendola (92%), Jordan Shipley 96%)
Tony Scheffler, TE, Detroit Lions (94%)
Okay, so we already touched on 10 top sleepers, but we hadn’t reached our tight end sleepers yet, so we beg you to forgive us for the extra advice. Something tells us you’ll let it slide.
While Scheffler’s teammate Brandon Pettigrew is equally valuable (and available in 77% of leagues), we like Scheffler’s talent, game, and overall potential much better. That, and Pettigrew isn’t a play-maker, doesn’t have great speed, and is coming back from a serious knee injury.
Scheffler was held back in Denver due to offenses that never really targeted the tight end, and could benefit immensely from more two-tight end sets in Detroit. He’s no lock to put up better numbers than he has in the past, but all the resources are there for it to happen. Even in a shallow league, Scheffler could pose as a decent TE2. but to be owned in just 6% of leagues, well, that’s just not okay with us.
Zach Miller, TE, Jacksonville Jaguars (99%)
No, not that Zach Miller, but close enough. This Miller is also very talented, but has a minor road-block in his way, going by the name of Marcedes Lewis. However, the nice fact here is that Miller still was able to put up over 200 yards receiving in 2009, despite playing as the back-up tight end. That, and he did it as a rookie.
Miller may have an uphill battle with Lewis also having great size and athleticism, but Miller has excellent hands and is a huge target in the red-zone. Even if Lewis holds onto the job, we should start seeing more of a split, with an outside chance of the more reliable Miller taking over down the stretch.
Other deep league candidates: Rob Gronkowski (94%), Benjamin Watson (89%), Michael Hoomanawanui (98%)
S Jordan Babineaux is unlikely to be released from the team because of his starting experience and versatility to play both safety positions.
FB Owen Schmitt is the team’s only true fullback, but RB Quinton Ganther is capable of playing the role, reports Danny O’Neil, of The Seattle Times.
WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh led the team in receiving last season, but former NFL QB Brock Huard speculated on ESPN 710 AM that Houshmandzadeh might no longer fit. Houshmandzadeh is ideally a slot receiver and if he doesn’t buy into that role, the team could consider moving on. Houshmandzadeh is targeted more frequently now in the passing game, but he is not as productive after the catch as a result.
Today is the strange day when NFL rosters have to be trimmed from 80 to 75 guys, despite the fact that in just four more days they go from 75 to 53. Usually, this means that five guys get cut; placing Malcolm Kellyon IR means that the Redskins only need to cut four.
That list has been released, and it contains one unquestioned blog favorite. (HINT: he’s the guy in the picture above.) Here’s the four guys:
From : http://blog.redskins.com/2010/08/31/redskins-release-four/
