FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 3
BENCH/START WRAP-UP
September 25, 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. Week 3 had
some big performances and some big injuries that will be felt for weeks. 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:
Donovan McNabb, QB, PHI – McNabb had been struggling in his first two games of the 2007 season and his Monday night performance (that the whole nation saw) was so bad that many owners were getting a sinking feeling in their stomachs. We told you to hang in there with McNabb and start him in week 3. If he didn’t “get well” against the Lions, THEN we would start to get worried. McNabb looked like the old McNabb that was the #1 QB in the land after 8 games in 2006. McNabb threw for 381 yards, 0 INTs, and 4 TDs while only having one fumble. McNabb probably helped more than a few owners win their games in week 3. We just hope you had him in there.
Adrian Peterson, RB, MIN – We told you to stick with the hot rookie and he didn’t disappoint. Peterson was a workhorse that rushed the ball 25 times for 102 yards and a TD. Peterson is also showing his ability to produce in the passing game by collecting 3 passes for 48 yards. Peterson did have a costly fumble, but he is still a rising stud.
Thomas Jones, RB, NYJ – Thomas Jones had two terrible games to start the season. This week he finally broke out as we predicted. Jones rushed for 110 yards and caught 2 passes for 1 yard. Jones should become a solid producer the rest of the season.
Ronald Curry, WR, OAK – After predicting Curry’s down week 2, we told you to hop back on the Curry bandwagon in week 3. Curry didn’t disappoint with 62 yards and a TD. Curry has been a nice steal for any teams out there that were smart enough to pick him up.
Matt Hasselbeck, QB, SEA – Hasselbeck had his best game of the game of the season by passing for 3 TDs and 248 yards. While he did have 2 INTs, one of his TD passes was over 40 yards. Hasselbeck has been a very serviceable starter so far in 2007.
LaMont Jordan, RB, OAK – We know you probably didn’t pay a high draft pick for Jordan, but you had better be getting this guy in your lineup. Jordan has 121 yards rushing on 29 carries and a TD. Jordan also continues to show his skills as a receiver by ctaching 2 passes for 32 yards. Jordan has been out of this world so far in 2007. He is playing like the player he was supposed to be when he was a high draft pick in 2006. Jordan has the hot hand for now.
Bernard Berrian, WR, CHI – Berrian didn’t break 100 yards and that was almost a good reason to keep him out of the good starts in week 3. However, Berrian had an impressive 6 receptions. Those receptions numbers are the kind you love in a point per reception league. If Rex Grossman was a better QB, Berrian might have had an even better day. --- If Rex Grossman was a better QB, the Bears might be a contender.
Clinton Portis, RB, WAS – Portis only had 14 carries, but he did have 6 receptions and he did make the most of those carries. Portis ended up with 60 yards rushing, 37 yards receiving, and a TD run. Portis has been solid so far this year and there isn’t much chance of Betts taking his job unless injury jumps into the picture. And injury is always a possibility with Portis.
Vince Young, QB, TEN – Young had a great game in his first Monday Night Football win. He threw for 2 TD passes and rushed for 21 yards. His yardage was just a little short of what we hoped he would have, but the 2 TDs make us very happy.
Bench:
Ernest Wilford, WR, JAX – Wilford had a pretty sad day against the Broncos despite the fact that his team won. Wilford only managed 10 yards on 2 receptions. We hope you didn’t have to rely on Wilford this week.
Jamal Lewis, RB, CLE – Lewis blew up last week with his best game in years. We told you that we didn’t believe that performance and that Lewis would take a step back in week 3. Lewis did just that with only 78 yards of offense.
Andre Johnson, WR, HOU – When we made this recommendation there was still a chance that he might play this weekend. We just wanted to make sure you didn’t start him either way because he didn’t look ready for action after that hit he received in week 2.
Matt Jones, WR, JAX – Jones was BENCHED in week 3!!! If you didn’t see that one coming you got stuck with a zero. Jones is now asking for a trade according to reports. All we have to say about that is that he can’t be much worse than he has been on Jacksonville. Maybe a change of scenery will do him good. We are all for it.
Farmer's Almanac (a.k.a. not so bad/not so good)
Start:
Oakland Raiders Defense – Last week the Browns cause the opposing defense to post a negative score in most leagues. This week the Raiders pulled off a solid performance. They blocked a field goal, allowed only 18 points (6 more by the offense on a turn over), had 2 INTs, and 1 sack. This was a solid start by the Raiders, but it just missed being a great bench call.
Raiders Starting QB, OAK – The Raiders QBs combined for a pretty solid day, but the starter, Josh McCown, only had 108 yards passing, 15 yards rushing, and a fumble. However, his long TD kept him from being a bust. As it stands, he was a so-so start call in week 3.
Travis Henry, RB, DEN – Henry only had 11 carries and that is one of the reasons the Broncos lost their game on Sunday. Henry did manage 35 yards and a TD to keep from being a bust. That TD is the only thing that saved Henry from an otherwise bust-worthy day.
Jason Campbell, QB, WAS – Campbell almost broke 200 yards passing and he did have 12 yards rushing and a TD pass. However, his fumble did sting a little bit. We are still shocked that Campbell didn’t have much better game against the Giants. It looks like the “if it looks too good to be true” rule is in full effect in early 2007.
Bench:
Jay Cutler, QB, DEN – Cutler tried to help out our bench call with barely over 200 yards and an INT. However, his 1 yard TD pass makes him a so-so bench call in week 3.
Tatum Bell, RB, DET – Bell ended up being a so-so bench cal thanks to a modest number of receiving and rushing yards. If you are a Bell owner, you could be in some trouble until Kevin Jones gets injured again. Until that point and time, you should probably just leave Bell on your bench.
Reggie Williams, WR, JAX – Williams did sneak a TD in on us and that is usually enough to warrant a busted bench call. However, Williams only had 2 receptions for 11 yards. The end result is about as low of a score as you can get while scoring a TD. All in all, Williams was a so-so bench call.
Edgerrin James, RB, ARI – James only had one reception, but he managed 67 total yards of offense. As a result, he was a so-so bench call.
Weather Forecast (a.k.a. oops better luck next time)
Start:
Lee Evans, WR, BUF – You should probably just leave Evans on your bench until you see something that lets you know the Bills have figured out how to get him the ball. J.P. Losman getting knocked out of this one early didn’t help things, but we are concerned about the ineffective play calling in Buffalo. We have little doubt that Evans will end up with nice stats, but if might take a few weeks for him to get going.
Antawaan Randle El, WR, WAS – Randle El (and the whole Redskins passing attack for that matter) let us down in a big way against the Giants pass defense. Randle El only managed 32 yards on an very unimpressive day.
Bench:
Brett Favre, QB, GB – Favre was facing the team formerly known as the Chargers. Apparently, when Marty Schottenheimer left San Diego, he took the defense and the offense with him. Favre and the Pack looked like a much better team on Sunday than the Chargers. This tells you how bad things have gotten for the Chargers. The Pack looks to be back so far and Favre had another great game with 0 INTs, 3 TDs, AND 369 yards passing.
Brandon Marshall, WR, DEN – Marshall had a surprisingly big day (133 yards) despite the tough competition. Marshall has been one of the big WR sleeper stories so far in 2007. He busted our bust call upside the head. OUCH.
Alex Smith, QB, SF – Smith wasn’t really that impressive, but he did just enough to bust up our bench call. His 32 yards rushing are what put him over the top.
Derek Anderson, QB, CLE – Anderson ran one in and that will kill your QB bench call almost every time without fail. Anderson had decent yardage, but he cancelled out his TD pass with a couple of interceptions.
