FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 14
BENCH/START WRAP-UP
December 11, 2007
Welcome to our weekly look back at our Bench / Start calls. Each week
we hold ourselves accountable for our good and bad recommendations. It
is easy to make predictions, but it is tough to stand behind them. Let's
not beat around the bush. Week 14 was a pretty solid week all around for both bench and start calls. We hope
some of these calls helped you win a game or two this weekend. Without
further ado, let’s get to the weekly fantasy football Bench / Start Wrap-up.
Nostradamus (a.k.a. psychic)
Start:
Ryan Grant, RB, GB – We said that we would get Grant a 30 carry day against the Raiders if we were given the chance. Well, Grant ended up with 29 carries and 2 receptions. Grant’s total damage to the Raiders and opposing fantasy teams was 162 yards and a TD. This was a huge day from a clutch late season pickup. Grant looked very good.
Roddy White, WR, ATL – White continued his hot streak and delivered on a big performance. With 3 receptions for 75 yards and a TD, White helped many fantasy teams get the extra points they needed to advance in the playoffs. Roddy White was a much needed start call for many fantasy owners in week 14.
Clinton Portis, RB, WAS – Portis went well over 100 yards of total offense, but he didn’t score. 122 yard of total offense is almost always welcome in a fantasy lineup, so Portis was a good start once again. This was a really nice game for Portis considering that he had some sort of food poisoning from eating shrimp.
Indianapolis Colts Defense – The Colts had a huge week against the Ravens. The team only allowed 20 points and 243 yards of offense. Where this defense really excelled was in all of their peripheral stats with 3 INTs, 4 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 safety, and a blocked punt. They didn’t score any TDs, but you can’t ask for much more than this. The Colts were a great start call.
Kellen Clemens, QB, NYJ – We would have been much happier had Clemens not had 2 INTs. However, he did throw a TD pass and he threw for 286 yards. This wasn’t what we expected, but it was still a solid effort from Clemens.
Travis Henry, RB, DEN – Henry was out-rushed by Selvin Young, but Henry got the all important TD to go along with his yardage. We did expect more from Henry, but he was serviceable. Just ask Adrian “All Day” Peterson owners.
Jamal Lewis, RB, CLE – Lewis continues to deliver. Granted, he has been facing some poor run defenses, but all that really matters is his ability to deliver fantasy points.
Arnaz Battle, WR, SF – Battle scored the 49ers only TD. More yards would have been nice, but a TD is a TD.
Bench:
Laurence Maroney, RB, NE – Only 18 yards rushing was a great chance to bench the member of the Patriots that has been a bust. All Partiots RBs should be considered unreliable until further notice.
Roydell Williams, WR, TEN – Last week Williams had 74 and a TD. This week we told you to bench Williams. Williams delivered on our bench call with only 30 yards. Most teams could certainly do without that performance.
Derrick Mason, WR, BAL – Mason was a great bench call in week 14. The Ravens tried to get him the ball, but the Colts just swarmed and overwhelmed the exhausted and outmatched Ravens. Mason only had 30 yards on Sunday night.
Anthony Fasano, TE, DAL – Fasano had a huge week 13, but he scored no fantasy points in week 14. We hope you didn’t try to start him.
Devery Henderson, WR, NO – only 1 catch and 47 total yards is not enough to warrant a start in most scoring formats. Henderson was a good bench in a game where his QB threw for well over 300 yards and had 3 TDs. Hopefully, you left Henderson on the bench.
Rex Grossman, QB, CHI – 14 passing yards for Grossman before he got hurt. You couldn’t do much worse than trying to start Grossman in week 14. He was a great bench call.
Farmer's Almanac (a.k.a. not so bad/not so good)
Start:
Bryant Johnson, WR, ARI – We are splitting hair here, but since Johnson only had 1 catch and only 5 yards we can’t put him in the good calls even if he did score a TD. TDs are always nice, but he needs to give us more than that.
Bench:
None this week.
Weather Forecast (a.k.a. oops better luck next time)
Start:
Patrick Crayton, WR, DAL – Only 46 yards is an ugly week. We expected more from Dallas’ WRs, but Jason Witten caught almost every pass from Romo on Sunday.
Alge Crumpler, TE, ATL – Despite the fact that Chris Redman threw for nearly 300 yards on Monday, Crumpler only had 16 yards. This fact was mostly due to Crumpler not catching several early passes that went his way. Had Crumpler hung onto these balls the outcome could have been different.
Bench:
Sage Rosenfels, QB, HOU– Rosenfels did have 2 fumbles, but his 200+ yards and 3 TDs are more than enough to slam our bench call. We really thought that Tampa Bay would play much better than this.
Any Buffalo Bills QB – All hail the rookie Trent Edwards as he had a huge game with 165 yards passing with no turnovers and 4 TDs. Wow. This game came from nowhere! What a busted call by us.
