|
|
| Published: Sep 24, 2009 9:33 PM EST |
|
NFL Week 2 in review |
|
|
Falcons 28, Panthers 20
FTW (For the win)
Carolina coach John Fox is one of the more respected defensive minds in the NFL. It didn't matter to Matt Ryan Sunday. Matty Ice was good for three touchdowns and 220 yards. He did have an INT as well, but his QB rating was still 122.2. Ryan is being efficient and productive at the same time. Many QBs in the NFL are one or the other. Few -- elite QBs like Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and Tom Brady -- are both efficient and productive. Am I calling Ryan elite? Not yet, but he's on the right path and just in his second season.
Fail!
Jerious Norwood is considered a nice emergency option at RB. Norwood is going to get more touches this season, but it's hard to do that if he's not on the field. Norwood left the game early with a head injury. He only touched the ball once for a 6-yard carry. This early in the season, it's doubtful many had Norwood in the starting lineup unless a lot has gone wrong with his or her lineup. This fact might make Jonathan Stewart an even bigger fail this week. It's not from a lack of quality with Stewart, but diminishing opportunities. Stewart picked up 65 yards rushing on nine carries, good enough for a 7.2 yards per carry average. With that type of average, one might think Steward would get a few more touches. It's just not happening right now. Carolina abandoned the run game early. Jake Delhomme passed the ball 41 times.
IDP
For a second consecutive week, Thomas Davis dominated from his OLB position. Davis had 12 tackles (10 solo). That gives him 28 (24 solo) for the season. If that production holds steady, Davis turns into an elite IDP option.
The Godsend
After last week, it's doubtful many had Jake Delhomme as a starter. Most were ready to eliminate Delhomme from their lists of potential backup QBs completely. Delhomme recovered from his putrid 4-INT game in Week 1 to post a solid 16-point performance (308 yards, a TD and an INT) in Week 2.
Notable
This game produced plenty of solid scorers. Anyone thinking Tony Gonzales wasn't going to get as many catches cause he'd be run blocking too much of the time was completely wrong. Gonzales score 13 points for a second consecutive week, managing to pick up more than 70 yards and a TD in each game. ... With the return of solid play by Delhomme, also comes a nice day by WR Steve Smith. Smith didn't find the end zone, but his 131 yards still gave fantasy owners good production. ... DeAngelo Williams isn't making it east for the Carolina coaches to give Stewart more carries. He touched the ball 19 times (16 carries, three receptions) and gained 110 yards (79 rushing, 31 receiving) along with a TD.
Vikings 27, Lions 13
FTW
Brett Favre isn't putting up gaudy numbers and that's not all bad. No the yardage and touchdown totals aren't outrageous, but neither are his interception numbers. Favre hasn't thrown a pick in his first two games and is instead opting for an efficient brand of playing. He was still the highest scoring player to come out of this game, passing for 155 yards and two TDs (18 points).
Fail!
Lions rookie QB Matt Stafford continues to struggle through some growing pains. It's not like we didn't expect this from him, but it's harder to take in when fellow rookie QB Mark Sanchez is off to a hot start to his career with the Jets. Stafford had his first touchdown pass -- an 8-yard throw to Calvin Johnson -- but also threw two more picks, giving him five INTs in two games this season.
IDP
Chad Greenway has turned into a playmaker and this game was perfect evidence of why that's a true statement. Greenway had two interceptions and a fumble recovery, meaning he involved in a three of Detroit's turnovers.
The Godsend
The hardest part of dealing with Vikings rookie WR Percy Harvin is finding ways to get the ball in his hands more often. Harvin had seven offensive touches (two carries, five catches) for 55 yards (41 receiving, 14 rushing) and a score. He also returned three kickoffs for 79 yards, if your league awards points for return yardage. In the first two games of his career, Harvin has delivered 11 points for his fantasy owners.
Notable
Adrian Peterson didn't get a lot of carries as the coaching staff decided to rest his legs most of this game. Peterson still managed 116 total yards (92 rushing, 24 receiving) on 19 touches (15 carries, four receptions) and a score for a 17-point performance. ... Johnson is going to always get his regardless of who the QB is. Stafford completed five balls to Johnson for 51 yards and an 8-yard TD. The playmaking WR remains a must play even with Stafford's struggles. One reason for this is the fact Johnson has never played with a great passing QB in his professional or collegiate career. Reggie Ball was his college QB at Georgia Tech and Johnson's numbers suffered because of it. In his first two seasons with the Lions, Johnson was stuck with Jon Kitna, Dan Orlovsky or Daunte Culpepper throwing him the ball. He still amassed more than 2,000 yards and 16 TDs. He's QB-proof.
Bengals 31, Packers 24
FTW
Carson Palmer is on his way back. I'd give Palmer credit for being completely into his old form (see 2007), but Cincy's QB still needs to eliminate the interceptions (four this season). Still, Palmer threw three TDs Sunday along with 185 yards and a rushing score, producing 27 points for his owners. He's still an iffy start because of the turnovers, but expect his consistency to get better as the season goes on.
Fail!
It's not just the run game that the Packers are struggling to get solid play out of their OL in. The passing game is suffering, too. Greg Jennings was completely shut out Sunday, despite being targeted five times by Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers was running for his life throughout the game.
IDP
There wasn't a defensive player worth more in the fantasy world Sunday than Charles Woodson. Not only was Woodson the Packers' leading tackler (10 total, nine solo), but he also had two INTs and returned one of them 37 yards for a touchdown.
The Godsend
No it's not a typo, Cedric Benson's stat line was actually that impressive. The much-maligned first-round pick finally put up the kind of game we've all been waiting for since he was taken fourth overall by the Chicago Bears in 2005. Benson rushed for 141 yards on 29 carries. He did that after suffering a slight ankle sprain in the first quarter. It's the second highest single-game rushing total of Benson's career. He picked up 171 late last season.
Noteable
Chad Johnson (I refuse to call him by that other name) is back to being Palmer's favorite target. Both players should continue to rise back into the upper-echelon of their respective positions. Johnson had 91 yards and a score on four receptions. ... While Jennings was struggling, veteran WR Donald Driver stepped up and was the recipient of many ball coming off hot reads made by Rodgers. Driver finished with 99 yards and a touchdown on six receptions.
Texans 34, Titans 31
FTW
It was a good day for anyone with the last name Johnson. Whether your flavor was Chris or Andre, big numbers were put up. Oh, and that Schaub guy had a pretty nice performance as well. Three of this week's biggest totals came from the Texans win over the Titans. Titans RB Chris Johnson had 284 total yards (197 rushing, 87 receiving) and three TDs (two rushing, one receiving). His shortest touchdown play was a 54-yard run as he also chalked up a second run of 91 yards and turned a Kerry Collins dump off into a 69-yard passing score. Texans WR Andre Johnson was good for 149 yards and two TDs on 10 receptions. However, that was less than half the production Houston QB Matt Schaub put forth. Schaub had four TDs and 357 yards against what is considered a good Tennessee secondary. The Schaub-to-Johnson combination has the potential to be the highest scoring hook up in the entire league.
Fail!
Get ready to see many owners start to bail on LenDale White. Anyone who remembers my breakdown of the Top 40 fantasy running backs before the season started should recall my prediction of the Tennessee RB's demise. White was getting fewer and fewer touches toward the end of last season. He got a few carries a game, but the coaching staff stopped relying on him for short yardage and goal line situations. White thought maybe it was his weight that was still the issue so he dropped 30 pounds in the offseason. This only upset the Tennessee coaching staff, who preferred the big body version of White for the extra power he provided. White owners should start keeping their eye on the waiver wire for better options. He's not going to score more than seven TDs this season. Don't be shocked if he gets in the end zone less than five times this year.
IDP
Rookie Brian Cushing was drafted in the first round out of USC as Houston tried to shore up its LB unit. While it's hard to say the LBs for Houston played great against the Titans based on Chris Johnson's epic performance, Cushing did put up good tackle numbers. The rookie LB had 10 tackles (seven solo) in just his second NFL start.
The Godsend
Anyone trying to wait until the mid-to-late rounds of the draft to pick up their tight end might have been targeting Houston's Owen Daniels. Daniels was good for 13 points Sunday, posting 72 yards and a score on six receptions.
Notable
A couple other receivers in this game put up nice numbers for owners, although it's doubtful many owned Houston's Jacoby Jones. Jones only had two catches, but made the most of them, tabbing 73 yards and a touchdown. A new face for the Titans also had nice production. Nate Washington, who Tennessee signed as a free agent from Pittsburgh, had 50 total yards (36 recieving, 14 rushing) and a TD. ... Houston's run game is yet to take off. RB Steve Slaton was a first-round pick in most leagues, but has just 51 yards and no TDs in two games. He's averaging a mere 2 yards per carry.
Jets 16, Patriots 9
FTW
Anyone else ready to hand Rex Ryan the Coach of the Year award yet? He's installing a more aggressive style of defense and a new offense with a rookie QB and yet Ryan has got the Jets to a 2-0 start. I don't think anyone, other than a few eccentric Jets fans, called this one. Interesting enough, it's Sanchez and not the Jets defense who gets MVP accolades for this game. While the Jets defense did a great job of keeping Tom Brady and Co. off balance with a relentless pass rush, the Jets didn't actually net a single sack in the game. The unit also forced just one turnover, making its fantasy score rather unimpressive. Sanchez's fantasy totals aren't out of this world, either. The Jets rookie QB was still the game's highest scorer, though, passing for 163 yards and a TD.
Fail!
After last week, many pundits, including this writer, were ready to name Brady the league MVP. Instead, a great defensive scheme forces Brady to complete less than 50 percent of his passes for just 216 yards and no TDs with one INT. That comes out to six points. I guess this isn't 2007 after all.
IDP
It's hard to find even an individual from the Jets defense to single out. That just tells you how great of a team effort Ryan and his charges put together Sunday. New England had a solid defensive game plan as well and DL Ty Warren ended up with eight tackles (six solo) along with a sack.
The Godsend
With WR Wes Welker out, the Pats filled the void with Kent State rookie Julian Edelman. Edelman, who plays with a similar style to Welker, was targeted 16 times by Brady, catching eight of those passes for 98 yards. He led the Pats in receiving Sunday. That doesn't mean go out and pick him up, though. He'll be a non-factor again once Welker returns.
Notable
In a game where fantasy points were hard to come by, Jets WR Jericho Cotchery was solid with his 4-catch, 87-yard performance. Had Cotchery found the end zone once, he might have garnered FTW honors. ... When Brady's not a factor, neither is Randy Moss. Jets CB Darrelle Revis is receiving loads of acclaim for his one-on-one matchup with Moss Sunday. Revis held Moss to a mere 24 yards on four catches. ... New England should have considered running the ball more in this game. With Brady struggling to complete even 50 percent of his passes, RB Fred Taylor averaged 5.8 yards per carry, racking up 46 yards on eight carries. Brady threw 47 passes. Maybe the Pats' biggest vulnerablilty is its obsession with and dependence on Brady's arm.
Saints 48, Eagles 22
FTW
I'm anxious to see the defensive scheme that is going to slow down Drew Brees and the Saints offense. Brees is going to be the top fantasy scorer this season and it might not even be a close race. After throwing six TDs a week ago, Brees added three more along with 311 yards. He completed 25 passes to nine different WRs. Anyone is a weapon, regardless of skill level, when on the field with Brees.
Fail!
Andy Reid and the Philly offense made the mistake of getting caught up in a shootout with the Saints. No team in the NFL can beat New Orleans when playing that style. The gun-slinging offense displayed by the Eagles took RB Brian Westbrook right out of the game. Westbrook had 66 total yards (52 rushing, 14 receiving) and no scores. He was never a focus in the game plan.
IDP
Safety Quintin Mikell was busy in the Philly secondary as Brees threw it all over the field. Mikell was forced to make several open field tackles and did so 11 times. All of his stops were of the solo variety.
The Godsend
While having three INTs makes for an alarming stat, Philly QB Kevin Kolb had some fantastic numbers from a fantasy standpoint in his first start filling in for injured Donovan McNabb. Kolb threw for 391 yards and two TDs aside from those picks. Making him a sleeper option at QB in the Eagles' next game against Kansas City.
Notable
Brent Celek is quickly becoming a good fantasy option at TE. Celek was the leading receiver for Philly Sunday, posting 104 yards and eight receptions. ... Brees' has a healthy Marques Colston to throw to and Colston is proving to remain Brees' favorite target when he's on the field. Colston had eight catches for 98 yards and two TDs. Colston should be a Top 5 WR this season.
Redskins 9, Rams 7
FTW
When two teams combine to score just 16 points and one TD, it's hard to find a fantasy standout. After providing modest production in Week 1 against Seattle, Steven Jackson gave the owners who took him in the first round reasons to believe he was worth the pick Sunday, racking up 104 yards rushing for a double-digit scoring performance.
Fail!
How about both offenses? The highest scorer on either team was a mere 11 points. Laurent Robinson, Jason Campbell, Marc Bulger and Jackson each produced that total. Both defenses played a bend, don't break style, although the Rams had a tougher time manifesting yards than did the Redskins, who got 242 yards passing from Campbell. The big question is why didn't Jackson get more than 17 carries? He averaged more than 6 yards a pop. The $100 million acquisition of DT Albert Haynesworth is yet to prove beneficial for the Skins.
IDP
Even on the defensive side, there wasn't a true standout. Both teams combined for just two sacks and two turnovers. This game was a case of inadequate offenses than it was ample defenses. Still, Will Witherspoon, linebacker for the Rams, was the biggest producer (10 tackles, six solo). Witherspoon has been the best player on the Rams defense for three seasons now. The emergence of rookie LB James Laurinaitis is only going to free up Witherspoon to make more plays this season.
The Godsend
The Rams acquired Laurent Robinson from the Falcons in the offseason. The third-year pro out of Illinois State had a strong season as a rookie, but was injury-plagued throughout his sophomore campaign. Robinson had 54 yards and a score on six catches. He's a sleeper at WR to watch this season. After all, somoene has to line up opposite Donnie Avery.
Notable
TE Chris Cooley is proving to be the Redskins most reliable receiving option after the first two games of the season. Cooley had a team-high 83 yards receiving Sunday after posting 68 with a score in Week 1. ... On the other hand, Santana Moss has been anything but effective for the Skins. Jason Campbell is targeting the speedy receiving, but the QB/WR tandem can't seem to connect. Moss was held to 35 yards on three catches Sunday. ... Speaking of struggling WRs, some pundits thought Donnie Avery might have a banner year as the Rams' No. 1 receiving option. Avery had one catch for four yards Sunday after posting 46 yards on six receptions in Week 1.
Cardinals 31, Jaguars 17
FTW
Kurt Warner's day was redonkulous. The 38-year-old QB set a record for completion percentage (92.3) in a single game. He only missed on two of his 26 passes. Warner tossed for 243 yards and two TDs. So much for being washed up.
Fail!
Seventeen touches for Maurice Jones-Drew isn't going to cut it. MJD should be touching the ball at least 25 times a game. No exceptions. He's too much of a playmaker to not give him the ball over and over and over again in the run and pass game alike. MJD averaged more than 5 yards a carry, but only had the ball handed to him 13 times for 66 yards. Yes, Jacksonville fell behind early. However, when you biggest plays come from your RB, then you keep giving him the ball.
IDP
For a second straight week, third-year pro out of Hampton Justin Durant emerged as a productive option at LB. Durant had a game-high nine tackles (8 solo).
The Godsend
Most see Mike Sims-Walker in the box score as the Jags' leading receiver in this game and think "Who?!" Sims-Walker was a highly regarded speed receiver coming out of Central Florida three season ago, but he was simply Mike Walker then. Like MJD, he added a prefix onto his name after being drafted. Walker had six catches for 106 yards and a TD. He went catchless in Week 1, though, making him a risky option at this point.
Notable
How vital was it for the Cards to get Steve Breaston back? As much as the Cards throw the ball, it was substantial. Breaston led the Cards with 83 yards, while Larry Fitzgerald had just 34 yards and a score and Anquan Boldin had 69. Breaston is perfect for the slot and teams struggle to man up on him, Fitz and Boldin if they're on the field together. At the same time, double teaming one makes it easier on the other two. Sounds futile.
Raiders 13, Chiefs 10
FTW
This was ugly football. The Chiefs outproduced the Raiders offensively 409-166 and still managed to lose the game. That's what two INTs and 70 yards of penalties will do to a team that otherwise played a pretty good game. The two INTs really mire QB Matt Cassel's day, but he was still the best fantasy producer with 241 passing yards, 34 rushing and a TD.
Fail!
It's hard to imagine a less efficient day for Oakland QB JaMarcus Russell. The Raiders didn't deserve to win this game and Russell definitely shouldn't have a win on his record. He completed just 7-of-24 passes for 109 yards. At least he didn't throw any INTs.
IDP
Kirk Morrison was all over the field. The Raiders' veteran LB registered 13 tackles (all solo).
Notable
Darren McFadden was clutch when Oakland needed him the most. McFadden scored from 5 yards out with a little over a minute to play, giving Oakland the 13-10 win. McFadden's late score also gave his fantasy owners a decent day from him (55 total yards and a score). McFadden is off to a slow start, though, with just 103 yards rushing and 45 receiving after two games. ... Larry Johnson's lack of production isn't from an absence of opportunities. Johnson managed just 78 rushing yards on 24 carries Sunday.
Bills 33, Buccaneers 20
FTW
The Bills are about to have a nice problem to deal with. Fred Jackson has established himself as a legitimate back in this league and he deserves as many touches as possible. While he didn't find the end zone Sunday, Jackson had 188 total yards on 34 touches (28-163 rushing, 6-25 receiving). Even when Marshawn Lynch comes off suspension in two weeks, the Bills have to consider inventing more ways to get Jackson the ball.
Fail!
The Bucs run game gave fantasy owners who drafted Derrick Ward and picked up Cadillac Williams after hefty production against the the Cowboys in Week 1 a major letdown. The Bucs rushed the ball just 19 times after getting down early. They didn't have much success either. Cadillac had just nine yards on seven carries, although he did have a great day catching the ball out of the backfield (7 receptions for 56 yards and a TD). Ward was good for just 32 yards on nine carries. Earnest Graham continues to be a non-factor with 16 yards on two carries.
IDP
A pair of safeties in this game proved to be viable fantasy IDP options. For the Bucs, Sabby Piscitelli had nine tackles (five solo), an INT and a fumble recovery. Meanwhile, Bills safety Donte Whitner had eight tackles (five solo) and an INT he took back 76 yards for six points.
The Godsend
Trent Edwards is supposed to be a good backup QB option in fantasy football, but after two weeks, he's starting to look like starter material. Edwards had 230 yards for two TDs and an INT Sunday, giving him 442 yards and four TDs with the lone INT for the year.
Notable
Terrell Owens had his first TD catch as a Bill -- a 43-yard strike from Edwards in the fourth quarter. That play made up a majority of T.O.'s 52 receiving yards. ... A drop off was expected for TE Kellen Winslow after a move to the Bucs from the Browns. Instead, Winslow appears to steal be an elite fantasy option at the position, posting 90 yards and a TD on seven catches Sunday. It helps when QB Byron Leftwich is being productive and looking Winslow's way more than any other receiver on the team. Leftwich threw two picks Sunday, but also had three TDs and 296 yards on 50 pass attempts.
49ers 23, Seahawks 10
FTW
Imagine if Frank Gore had touched the ball more than 21 times Sunday. As it was, Gore had 246 total yards (16-207 rushing, 5-39 receiving) and two rushing TDs. There's a word for those stats -- sick.
Fail!
Matt Hasselbeck is back on the injury list. With him goes the Seahawks best hopes of returning to the postseason and the fantasy value of just about every player on the roster.
IDP
Safety Jordan Babineaux is making his bid for IDP value. Babineaux was the top fantasy producer on the defensive side of the ball in this game, registering eight tackles (all solo).
Notable
T.J. Houshmandzadeh (Championship!) is still waiting for his breakout game with the Hawks. He was good for 62 yards on four receptions Sunday, but his value dips a bit if Hasselbeck can't make it back into the lineup healthy.
Ravens 31, Chargers 26
FTW
The Ravens are quickly developing one of the league's best RB tandems with Willis McGahee and Ray Rice. McGahee is the one getting the TDs right now, though. He had two in Week 1 and added two more Sunday along with 79 yards rushing and 10 yards receiving. For a game that was supposed to be a defensive battle, the offenses reigned supreme. Phillip Rivers passed for 436 yards and two TDs along with two picks. Rivers had to deliver that type of production as the Bolts' run game was ineffective without LT. Darren Sproles was held to 26 yards rushing on 10 carries, but topped the century mark receiving (124) thanks heavily to an 81-yard TD reception. Vincent Jackson went for 141 yards receiving and a score.
Fail!
The offensive numbers produced in this game were ridiculous, meaning epic fail from two defenses in the starting lineup for an owner in just about every league. Baltimore delivered a solid six points, but San Diego was worth a lousy two points. I don't know how much longer the Chargers can underachieve and Norv Turner continue to keep his job.
IDP
Ray Lewis is anything but washed up. Year after year, we all want to write him off. He won't let us. He was good for 12 tackles (10 solo), plus a game-ending smackdown laid on Sproles on a Chargers' 4th-and-2 play in the red zone. That stop should have been worth five points alone for Lewis.
The Godsend
Kelly Washington was Baltimore's leading receiver in the game, going for 58 yards and a score. It's hard to zero in on the value of any of the Ravens' receivers. This offense is built around the RB tandem of Rice and McGahee, so different wideouts will probably emerge on a weekly basis.
Notable
Joe Flacco continues to be a solid option as a starting QB. He had a 17-point performance Sunday after a big Week 1.
Bears 17, Steelers 14
FTW
Think Jay Cutler learned something from his Week 1 experience against an attacking 3-4 defense? It showed in Week 2 as Cutler shredded the Steelers highly-touted 3-4 for 236 yards and two TDs.
Fail!
Cutler's acquisition by Chicago was supposed to make Matt Forte better. It hasn't worked that way yet. Forte had 18 touches for just 62 yards (13-29 rushing, 5-33 receiving) and no scores.
IDP
Chicago's Lance Briggs and the Steelers' James Farrior are both solid LB options in the IDP slot. Both players had eight tackles (all solo).
The Godsend
Rookie WRs don't usually make a difference in their inaugural seasons. Particularly ones drafted in the fifth round out of a Division II college (Abilene Christian). However, Johnny Knox is bucking those trends. Knox was good for 70 yards and a touchdown Sunday.
Notable
Santonio Holmes is getting established as the unquestioned No. 1 WR in Pittsburgh. This is the first year that's an undisputed statement. Holmes had 83 yards on five receptions Sunday. Meanwhile, Hines Ward, who Holmes is taking the top receiver honors from, was good for 57 yards on six catches.
Broncos 27, Browns 6
FTW
Fact: The Broncos spread offense fits Kyle Orton beautifully. Orton is not going to be great week in and week out, but there are going to be games when he shines. Orton had a nice game against Cleveland, passing for 263 yards and a touchdown. A majority of his yards aren't going to the expected contributors, either. Instead of Brandon Marshall, Eddie Royal and Tony Scheffler catching a majority of Orton's throws, it's Jabar Gaffney and Brandon Stokley.
Fail!
Denver's run defense still isn't regarded as one of the league's best, but the Broncos dominated the trenches against Cleveland. Browns RB Jamal Lewis was held to 2.7 yards per carry, finishing with 38 yards on 14 carries.
IDP
Think Elvis Dumervil likes the 3-4 scheme? Dumervil was an undersized DE in the 4-3, but fits the bill as a 3-4 OLB. Evidence of this was shown by Dumervil's four sacks and seven solo tackles against a decent Cleveland OL.
The Godsend
Correll Buckhalter is eventually going to give way to rookie RB Knowshon Moreno, but Buckhalter is making the most of his opportunities. He had just 10 touches Sunday, but put up 106 total yards (9-76 rushing, 1-30 receiving) and a score.
Notable
Braylon Edwards is showing good hands early this season. He didn't have a drop Sunday, catching six of the seven balls Brady Quinn threw his way. Edwards finished with 92 yards. ... Moreno started getting more and more carries as the game wore on and ended up with 17 for the game. He provided solid production, too, rushing for 75 yards.
Giants 33, Cowboys 31
FTW
Arguably the Cowboys outplayed the Giant. However, four turnovers and the arm of Eli Manning trumped Dallas' effort. Manning threw two TDs along with 330 yards. Who needs Plaxico Burress, right? Manning found two reliable targets in Mario Manningham and Steve Smith. Manningham had 150 yards and a score on 10 catches. Smith also had 10 receptions for 134 yards and a score.
Fail!
Of Dallas' four turnovers, three were interceptions thrown by Tony Romo. Romo never looked comfortable. It was like he was waiting for the Giants' pass rush to get to him the entire game, but it never came. He wasn't under duress in this game at all and the Dallas run game was working to take pressure off of Romo as well. Last week, Romo was lights out. A week later, his inconsistency resurfaced.
IDP
Kenny Phillips was highly touted coming out of Miami and the second-year safety earned his paycheck Sunday. Phillips had seven tackles (five solo) along with two interceptions. Interesting enough, with the top two pass rush defenses from last season on the field, not a single sack was recorded by either team.
The Godsend
Fantasy owners were rushing to their computers during Sunday night's game in an effort to beat their competition to Mario Manningham and Steve Smith. The duo combined for 20 catches, 284 yards and two touchdowns.
Notable
The Dallas run game is working. Marion Barber had 18 totes for 124 yards and a touchdowns. Meanwhile, Felix Jones took his seven carries for 96 yards and a score. With Romo's inconsistency, the Cowboys need to be able to rely on their run game weekly.
Colts 27, Dolphins 23
FTW
It's not often a tight end produces as many fantasy points as his QB, but Dallas Clark did just that. Clark had 24 points with 183 yards receiving and a touchdown. Peyton Manning put up the same score, passing for 303 yards and two scores. With Anthony Gonzales out and Reggie Wayne receiving Miami's attention, Clark was able to break out and make the Dolphins pay for ignoring him. Clark's 80 yard touchdown pass from Manning just 12 seconds into regulation was just a sign of what was to come.
Fail!
Amazingly, the Dolphins held the ball for more than 45 minutes of this game. The Colts only ran 34 total plays to Miami's 82. The lack of possession took the biggest toll on Indy's run game. The Colts averaged 5.5 yards a carry, but only handed it off to Joseph Addai or Donald Brown 10 times. Addai had 32 yards on six carries, while Brown went for 26 and a score on four totes.
IDP
Antoine Bethea his starting to make such a big difference in the secondary that the Colts don't miss Bob Sanders nearly as much when he's out of the lineup, which is frequent. Bethea had eight tackles (all solo) and an interception.
The Godsend
Pierre Garcon. Remember that name and consider picking him up if you need some help at receiver. Garcon is going to get the most reps with Gonzales out for an undetermined amount of time. Garcon was targeted just three times Sunday, but caught one of them and immediately turned it into a 48-yard touchdown. He has the type of speed Manning will value on hot reads.
Notable
Ronnie Brown ripped through the Colts defense, rushing for 136 yards and two TDs. ... Ted Ginn Jr. couldn't come up with some big catches in this game, but he still caught 11 of the 16 balls thrown to him for 108 yards. |
|
| Published: Sep 24, 2009 9:33 PM EST |
|
|
| |
RECENT
ARTICLES BY JONATHAN HULL |
|
|
|
| |
RECENT
FANTASY FOOTBALL ARTICLES |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
WEEK 11 FANTASY
FOOTBALL INFORMATION |
|
|
|
|
| |
WEEK 10 FANTASY
FOOTBALL INFORMATION |
|
| |
|
| |
RECENT FANTASY FOOTBALL ARTICLES |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
