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| Published: Oct 14, 2009 6:30 PM EST |
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Week 5 in review |
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Browns 6, Bills 3
FTW (For the win)
Umm.... yeah. Not much to report here. Give the nod to Browns RB Jamal Lewis. Lewis' status was uncertain right up until game time. He played and rushed for 117 yards. Not to be outdone, Bills RB Marshawn Lynch posted 125 yards of total offense (17-61 rushing, 6-56 receiving). It's the first time Lynch has posted a solid performance after missing the first three games of the season on suspension.
Fail!
There has been a great debate in Cleveland as to who the starting QB should be. Do the Browns go with Brady Quinn and let him finally develop on the field or do they stick with Derek Anderson? Coach Eric Mangini made the wrong choice. Mangini went with Anderson even after he threw three INTs in relief in Week 4. Anderson completed 2-of-17 passes for 23 yards. Maybe Mangini just misses New York too much. Every decision the man has made with the Browns has turned out wrong. The Browns are not responding to him. They shipped off Braylon Edwards, hoping that would eliminate some of the issues. Guess again, Mangini. You can't fine grown men for trivial things. I don't know why he doesn't just plug in Brett Ratliff at QB since he liked the kid so much in New York. Instead, he's allowing his team to suffer through an ongoing quarterback controversy and all it's doing is tearing apart the team's chemistry.
IDP (Independent defensive player)
Kameron Wimbley hadn't been the type of pass rusher the Browns had hoped he would be when they took him early in the first round out of Florida State four seasons ago. He had just 20 sacks in three seasons entering 2009. He's already posted four this year, registering one in four of the Browns' five games. Wimbley had 11 tackles (five solo) and a sack Sunday.
The Godsend
The Browns' defense is owned in 6 percent of Yahoo! leagues, but it was the top scorer in this matchup. Cleveland forced three turnovers (two fumbles, one INT) and recorded two sacks. That's 8 points in a standard scoring league. Throw in the 7 points the Browns picked up for holding Buffalo to 3 points on the scoreboard and Cleveland gave its few owners 15 points. Not bad from a team defense.
Notable
Fred Jackson had his worst game of the season runing the ball for Buffalo Sunday. Jackson got 15 touches, but managed just 47 total yards (13-30 rushing, 2-17 receiving). ... With Lewis healthy again, the Browns relied heavily on the veteran RB, basically removing Jerome Harrison from the game plan. Harrison had just eight carries, compared to 31 for Lewis, managing a mere 21 yards. ... Anderson was looking heavily in the direction of rookie Mohammad Massaquoi, who had a career game a week ago. Massaquoi caught one of Anderson's two completions for 16 yards, but was targeted six times -- at least four more times than any other Cleveland receiver.
Steelers 28, Lions 20
FTW
Statistically speaking, 2008 was a bit of a disappointment for Ben Roethlisberger. Big Ben threw almost as many INTs as TDs and didn't look sharp until the postseason, when the Steelers won its second Super Bowl during Ben's tenure as the team's QB. Roethlisberger is back in a big way in 2009, throwing three TD passes and 277 yards Sunday with one INT. For the season, Roethlisberger already had 1,470 yards and eight TDs. He's on pace to pass for more than 4,500 yards this season.
Fail!
The only thing that's going to ever stoop Calvin Johnson is an injury and that's what happened Sunday. Johnson left the game with a right knee injury, leaving him with one catch for two yards after the Steelers. Johnson is listed as day-to-day.
IDP
James Harrison is jetisoning his name back to the top of the Defensive MVP balot with his performance in the pat three weeks. Sunday, Harrison doubled his yearly sack total to six, recording three against Detroit. He also had eight tackles (seven solo).
The Godsend
Seven percent of Yahoo! leagues doesn't have Steelers WR Mike Wallace as a free agent. Wallace is the No. 3 receiver in a pass-happy offense and should be considered in 12-team leagues as a bye week option. The rookie from Ole Miss had 52 yards and a TD on two catches. He does have a 100-yard game under his belt this season, too. Any injury to Hines Ward or Santonio Holmes immediately brings a major upgrade to Wallace's value.
Notable
Ward had his second straight double digit fantasy effort Sunday, catching seven balls for 85 yards and a TD. Also, Heath Miller is looking like a legit fantasy TE with all the looks he's getting in the red zone. Miller was good for 54 yards and a TD. He has three TDs in the past two weeks. ... Rashard Mendenhall started his second consecutive game at RB for the Steelers and had another productful effort. The job is close to being his as Willie Parker's status remains uncertain. Mendenhall rushed for 77 yards and a score. ... Daunte Culpepper got the start for the injured Matthew Stafford and had his highs and lows. Culpepper passed for 282 yards and a TD with one INT, while also rushing for 44 yards. He also fumbled the ball three times, but was fortunate to not lose any of them. There still isn't a QB in the league more careless with the ball.
Cowboys 26, Chiefs 20, OT
FTW
Miles Austin was making his first start of his career Sunday and it's one he'll never forget. Austin torched the Chiefs for 250 yards and two TDs on 10 catches, including 60-yard TD in OT. The scary part is Austin had a chance at three other TDs in the game, unable to pull in a catch in the end zone on three different Dallas red zone trips. Roy who? Terrell who? It's hard to expect anything consistently from the Dallas offense right now or else those two phrases would be uttered constantly by Cowboys fans.
Fail!
It's time to give up on Larry Johnson. Most fantasy owners have made that decision, but the KC coaching staff needs to do the same. Johnson rushed for 37 yards on 21 carries Sunday, averaging less than 2 yards a pop. He has just 226 yards in five games this season. Give the ball to Jamaal Charles, who is quicker and is more of a threat catching out of the backfield. Charles had 54 yards on five catches Sunday.
IDP
Want a key player to helping change Dallas' mindset on the field and in the locker room? Keith Brooking. Brooking has been a nice addition for the Cowboys, fitting Wade Phillips' 3-4 scheme perfectly. Fortunately, Brooking doesn't act like the coach on the field. Instead, he approaches the game with intensity. Brooking had a game-high 11 tackles (eight solo) and a sack.
The Godsend
Tashard Choice is still owned in just 45 percent of Yahoo! leagues, but due to injuries, Dallas' No. 3 tailback has emerged as a solid RB2, when either Marion Barber or Felix Jones, or both, are out with injury. Choice had 92 yards and a TD on eight carries. It's the second time in the past three weeks Choice has posted a double-digit performance.
Notable
Tony Romo threw his first touchdown passes in three weeks, but owes Austin greatly for those throws going for scores. Both TD throws were thrown on short routes to Austin, who then broke away from the initial tackle for gains of 59 and 60 yards, respectively. Romo did finish with 351 yards passing. He didn't throw a pick, either, but was tabbed for a fumble that was more center Andre Gurode's fault than his own. ... Dallas' defense continues to struggle to put the nail in the coffin during close games. Dallas had leads late against the Giants and Broncos earlier this season, but gave up late TDs, handing it two losses. Matt Cassel was able to torch the Cowboys secondary on a late drive to tie the game, forcing OT and Austin's heroics. Cassell finished with 253 yards and two TDs.
Vikings 38, Rams 10
FTW
Matchups against the Rams have been treated like preseason games by most of their opponents. The Vikes were able to do the same thing, allowing many backups to find some playing time and experience. Because of the nature of this blowout, Adrian Peterson found some time to rest, but not until he gained 69 yards on 15 carries, scoring two TDs in the process.
Fail!
Can we just agree to call the dance after Donnie Avery finally scored his first TD of the season an epic fail? The Rams were down 38-9 when he decided to break out his new electric groove. It wasn't exactly Dancing with the Stars, either. Avery did score 14 points for his owners, which there aren't near as many of after he failed to put up even close to a decent performance for four weeks.
IDP
Defensive MVP thus far this season? Vikings DE Jared Allen. How is it not? There isn't a player disrupting opposing backfields more. Allen only had two tackles (both solo) Sunday, but also recovered two fumbles and returned one 52 yards for a TD.
The Godsend
Chester Taylor doesn't get many opportunities to produce, playing backup to Peterson, but he always manages to make the most of his opportunities. Taylor is owned in just 32 percent of Yahoo! leagues, but gave those managers 12 points Sunday with 69 total yards (9-20 rushing, 3-49 receiving) and a TD.
Notable
Minnesota is known for its inpenetrable run defense, but Rams RB Steven Jackson managed to average 4 yards a carry against it. Jackson finished with 84 yards on 21 carries. Add his 25 yards receiving and Jackson had a double-digit performance. It's sad he's on such a bad team or else he'd be capable of producing among the elite backs in fantasy football still. ... Brett Favre completed 18 passes for 232 yards and a TD with one INT. However, it remains difficult to find Favre's top target because the living legend is spreading the ball out so much. He didn't target any receiver more than six times and no one caught more than four balls. Eight different players had a catch, including Favre himself. His went for -2 yards.
Giants 44, Raiders 7
FTW
Heading into this game, Ahmad Bradshaw had outproduced Brandon Jacobs in rushing yards in three of the four games played by the Giants despite getting significantly fewer carries. That trend continued Sunday as Bradshaw gained 110 yards and scored two TDs on just 11 totes. Bradshaw also had one catch that he turned into a 55-yard gain. Jacobs managed just 67 yards on 21 carries. It's time for Bradshaw to get more looks, although it's hard to argue with the Giants when they're winning like they are.
Fail!
Can I just jot down JaMarcus Russell permanently in this position? Is there a worse starting QB in the NFL? Not hardly. Russell threw for a mere 100 yards on 8-of-13 passes with no TDs and no INTs. He did, however, lose three fumbles.
IDP
It's not going to seem like it because of all their offensive woes, but Oakland actually has a decent defense. The unit is put into bad situation after bad situation by its offense. It's not fair really. Kirk Morrison ranks in the top 10 in tackles and records the highest percentage of solo tackles in the league. Morrison had 16 takedowns (13 solo). Worth mentioning, Giants DE Justin Tuck had his first sack since the first week of the season. Tuck ended up with two sacks, six tackles (all solo) and a fumble recovery.
Notable
Eli Manning continued his hot start, despite playing for just two quarters. Manning had 173 yards and two TDs on 8-of-10 passing. ... Steve Smith caught just three balls for 70 yards, but it was enough to keep him as the league leader in catches and receiving yards.
Eagles 33, Buccaneers 14
FTW
Welcome back, Donovan McNabb. Tampa Bay served as a good warmup for McNabb who returned from injury to throw for 264 yards and three TDs, while also leading the Eagles with 30 yards rushing. Of course, the question now is how long will McNabb stay on the field this time?
Fail!
DeSean Jackson was a top five fantasy WR entering this game, but failed to register a single point Sunday. Jackson had just one catch for one yard to go with no yards on one carry in the run game. There won't be many games where the speedy receiver is that much of a non-factor, though.
IDP
Maybe the only highlight of the this game for the Bucs was DE Jimmy Wilkerson. Wilkerson had just six sacks in his six-year career entering this season, but has his 2009 total up to five after recording three Sunday. He also had six tackles (all solo).
The Godsend
Rookie WR Jeremy Maclin was known for his top notch speed in college at Missouri. Maclin -- owned in just 25 percent of Yahoo! leagues -- flashed his elusiveness and quickness Sunday with a career day. He ended up with six catches for 142 yards and two TDs of 51 and 40 yards, respectively.
Notable
Kellen Winslow has been Tampa Bay's only consistent fantasy scorer this season. Winslow is the No. 2 TE after five weeks of play, racking up 102 yards and two TDs on nine catches Sunday. ... Michael Vick posted his first fantasy point of the season. The embattled QB got some playing time Sunday, passing for one yard on 1-of-3 passing. He also rushed for 10 yards on four attempts.
Panthers 20, Redskins 17
FTW
As it generally is in games involving the Redskins, this matchup turned out to be an ugly affair. Washington is inept on offense, but its defense is good enough to slow down its opponent. Not that Carolina has been an offensive juggarnaut this season. Yards were hard to come by for Clinton Portis, but he found paydirt twice for Washington in a losing effort. Portis had 57 yards rushing with a TD and another score receiving along with 17 more yards.
Fail!
DeAngelo Williams was a first-round pick in most leagues, but has failed to give his owners just compensation. Sometimes it's been due to a lack of opportunities. Sunday Williams was just stymied by the Redskins' defense. Williams was held to 59 total yards (18-40 rushing, 2-19 receiving) and no scores.
IDP
A year ago, Jon Beason was one of the best playmaking LBs in the league. In 2009, he's been outperformed by teammate Thomas Davis. Well, that was until Sunday. Beason had a game-high 10 tackles (eight solo) and a sack.
The Godsend
So who owns Jeff King? Really? No hands? Not surprising, but the Carolina TE would have produced solid points for any potential owners Sunday with 30 yards and a TD. I don't expect his own percentage to go up, though. Carolina can't get its receivers involved in the passing game consistently, let alone its TEs.
Notable
Carolina's Steve Smith is starting to become the other Steve Smith with the way the Giants WR sharing the same name is producing. It's not really the Carolina Smith's fault, given the struggles of the entire Panthers offense. Carolina Smith was held to 65 yards on five catches Sunday, but has yet to score a TD this season.
Bengals 17, Ravens 14
FTW
So how many of us had Cedric Benson charted as one of the top five RBs in fantasy football this season? If any, then not many.Benson appears to be legit. He's got a bounce in his step I haven't seen him have since I witnessed him run the ball for the Midland Lee Rebels during some Texas high school playoff games. He never showed the type of acceleration he has this season in college or during his previous NFL stop with the Bears. Benson has become a must-start fantasy player. He was the first player to rush for more than 100 yards against the Ravens in 39 games, racking up 120 yards and a TD.
Fail!
Willis McGahee went from fantasy stud to fantasy dud in a hurry. McGahee was a top five option at RB after four weeks, but he had only two touches in Week 5, netting a total of 5 yards. Ray Rice got the bulk of the work and did well with it, gaining 143 total yards (14-69 rushing, 7-74 receiving) and a TD.
IDP
Ed Reed isn't always going to give great points as an IDP. However, on a given week, Reed also has the ability to be the best fantasy option around. That's because he's a playmaker in the secondary and any ball he gets his hands on has the chance to be returned for a TD. Such was the case again Cincy as Reed picked off Carson Palmer on the Bengals first drive of the game and took it back 52 yards for a score. Reed also had six tackles (all solo), which is a high mark for him.
The Godsend
The Bengals aren't as pass-happy this season as they have been in the past, but Andre Caldwell is becoming an interesting sleeper pick for fantasy owners in desperate need of a WR. Caldwell is owned in just 17 percent of Yahoo! leagues, but has been Cincy's No. 2 WR this season. He had the game-winning touchdown catch against the Ravens, which was just his second reception of the day. He ended up with 33 yards. He's only had two catches in three out of five games, but has six in the others. If he continues to be consistent, Caldwell is going to get more and more looks from Palmer.
Notable
Carson Palmer continues to put up big yardage totals this season. Palmer had 271 yards Sunday along with a TD and an INT. ... Meanwhile, Ravens QB Joe Flacco had his worst outing of 2009, passing for 186 yards, a TD and two INTs. ... Latching onto Palmer's comeback year is Chad Johnson, who continues to be the QBs favorite target. Johnson had seven catches for 94 yards, but no scores. He also lost a fumble.
Falcons 45, 49ers 10
FTW
In a week of blowouts, this one might be the most surprising one, given how well the Niners had been playing. The Falcons had three of the top 10 scorers from Week 5. Roddy White was the second-best WR -- behind only Dallas' Miles Austin -- with 210 yards and two TDs. Michael Turner had his best game of 2009 and was the second-best RB -- behind the Giants' Ahmad Bradshaw -- with 97 yards and three TDs. Finally, Matt Ryan was the third-highest scoring QB -- behind Philly's Donovan McNabb and Seattle's Matt Hasselbeck -- with 329 yards, two passing TDs, one rushing score and an INT.
Fail!
San Fran QB Shaun Hill had picked up his fair share of suitors after having solid games in Weeks 3 and 4. Hill was a major disappointment Sunday. The Niners fell behind quickly, not helping Hill's situation, but the veteran QB lost his first game as a starter at home for San Francisco. He had been 7-0 heading into the game. Hill finished with 198 passing yards and an INT, while also leading the Niners in rushing with 53 yards. Also worth mentioning here were the antics of CB Dre Bly. Bly picked off a pass with the game already out of reach and started acting like Deion Sanders despite the end zone being 75 yards away. Bly was tackled from behind, fumbled the ball and Atlanta recovered. I'd love to see the conversation between him and coach Mike Singletary, who has no time for showboating on his team.
IDP
The Falcons ran the ball 40 times Sunday, which means Pat Willis had 40 opportunities to register tackles. Willis is the best middle linebacker in the game and a must-play as an IDP. He had 12 tackles (six solo).
The Godsend
Many Frank Gore owners picked up Glen Coffee is hopes the rookie back out of Alabama could post numbers similar to what he put up during preseason. For the most part, Coffee was a disappointment. However, he was good for a solid 12 points Sunday, rushing for 45 yards and a TD, while going for another 21 yards receiving. Gore is slated to return to the lineup after San Fran's bye, which means Coffee is not going to have many opportunities beginning in Week 7. However, owners should consider keeping him given Gore's injury history. Coffee is owned in 50 percent of Yahoo! leagues.
Notable
Atlanta RB Jerious Norwood got the most action he's seen this season, but didn't do much with the opportunity. Norwood had 44 yards on 12 carries and was dropped for negative yards on his lone reception. He also lost one fumble, giving him just two points for the day. ... The biggest news out of San Fran in the past two weeks was the signing of Michael Crabtree. While Crabtree wasn't on the field Sunday, many are wondering about what type of impact the rookie might have. That's hard to gauge. I have no doubt Crabtree is in shape and ready to hit the field, but he has had no time with the offense. Rookie WRs struggle to make impacts, although several have done so this season, bucking that trend. If you've got room for him, then Crabtree could be worth picking up and holding onto until he gets into the flow of things. Maybe he contributes down the stretch. However, if you're thin at WR, it's better to go with someone with less risk as far as giving production.
Seahawks 41, Jaguars 0
FTW
This is the type of game that costs a coach his job. Everything that could have gone wrong for the Jags went awry. As for the Seahawks, I think everyone in that organization is happy to see Matt Hasselbeck back on the field. Hasselbeck was Week 5's best fantasy QB with 241 yards and four touchdowns. He also added 23 yards rushing and was guilty of no turnovers. Hasselbeck had great chemistry with his WRs in the game as both T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Nate Burleson had monster days. Housh went for 77 yards and two TDs on five catches, while Burleson outproduced his teammate with six receptions for 98 yards and two scores.
Fail!
When an offense doesn't score, then it delivers an entire unit worth of failures for a week. Jacksonville fell so far behind so quickly that Maurice Jones-Drew became an afterthought in the game plan, registering just 5 points with 34 yards rushing and 23 receving. No one had a worse game than QB David Garrard, who lost two fumbles and threw for a mere 188 yards.
IDP
Seattle got big-time games from a pair of rookies -- one highly touted, the other basically an unknown. Aaron Curry was the No. 4 pick overall for Seattle, and while Curry had been solid in the Hawks first four games, it was Week 5 that put all his skills on display. Curry was all over the field and in the backfield as he racked up a team-high 10 tackles (nine solo). He also had his second sack of the season. Not bad for a player whose pass rushing skills were called into serious question during the evaluation process. Curry's efforts might have been overshadowed by the work done by defensive end Nick Reed, who is a seventh-round pick out of Oregon. Reed is an undersized player with a motor that never quits. That showed as he returned a fumble 79 yards for a TD in the fourth quarter. He also had three tackles (two solo) and a sack.
The Godsend
Seattle's defense is owned in just 12 percent of Yahoo! leagues, but it put up fantastic fantasy numbers Sunday. Seattle got 10 points for the shut out, 5 points for five sacks, 4 points for two fumble recoveries and 6 for Reed's touchdown. Add that up and you've got 25 points. Seattle's defense has a knack for doing this in the fantasy world. The Seahawks always seem to be a better fantasy defense than it actually is in the real world.
Notable
The one highlight for the Jags offensively was veteran WR Torry Holt, who had 95 yards receiving. Holt leads the Jags in catches and yards, but is yet to find the end zone this season. ... No one carried the ball more for Seattle Sunday than Edgerrin James, but he wasn't exactly productive. James averaged less than 3 yards a carry, finishing with 46 yards on 16 totes. Seattle's most productive runner was Justin Forsett who had 43 yards on six carries.
Cardinals 28, Texans 21
FTW
This game turned out to be a showcase of elite QB/WR connections, but was determined by a big defensive play.Houston's Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson were stellar as always. Schaub passed for 371 yards, a TD and an INT with 101 of those yards and both scores going to Johnson. Larry Fitzgerald caught both TD passes from Cards QB Kurt Warner, who threw for 302 yards. Fitz finished the day with 79 yards.
Fail!
Neither team had any semblance of a ground game as both averaged less than 3 yards a carry as a team. Steve Slaton continues to be in a sophomore slump for Houston, racking up 39 yards on 13 carries. Slaton made up for it somewhat in the passing game, catching six balls for 59 yards. Beanie Wells was Arizona's top ground producer with 24 yards on seven carries. Tim Hightower had just 17 yards on six totes, but managed to get into the end zone once. Of course, the biggest failure for Houston came on a fourth-and-goal from the 1 late in the game, when Chris Brown wasn't able to eek out a couple more inches and cross the goal line, sealing the win for Arizona.
IDP
Speaking of great defensive plays, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie gave the Cards the lead with 2:10 to play after picking off Matt Schaub and returning it for a 49-yard TD. DRC also had three tackles (all solo).
Notable
Anquan Boldin has had more than 80 yards receiving for the Cards in their past two games. However, he's still not getting the looks Fitz is getting, particularly in the red zone. Boldin has only one TD this season. Boldin is being used more like a possession receiver, while Fitz is the big-play guy. That will make for lower TD and yardage totals for Boldin. ... Owen Daniels is the best TE no one has heard of. Although, he is quickly making a name for himself among fantasy owners. Daniels had 94 yards on eight catches Sunday.
Broncos 20, Patriots 17
FTW
So is everyone buying the Broncos by now? There are still critics out there, but Denver has a legitimate top-flight defense with an efficient QB and a developing ground game. Kyle Orton fits the offensive scheme run by Denver perfectly. The Broncos lean toward the spread offense more than most teams and Orton was one of the first QBs in the college game to exclusively run the offense at Purdue. He put the ball in the air 48 times against the Pats, completing 35 of those passes for 330 yards and TDs with one INT. Most importantly, Orton has developed some chemistry with embattled WR Brandon Marshall, who had two TDs and 64 yards on eight receptions from Orton. Marshall now had three TDs in the past two games.
Fail!
Has Randy Moss truly become a completely good citizen? We're getting close to finding out. Moss has been an afterthought in the offense at times and defenitely was for a majority of the game Sunday. Moss was targeted four times by Tom Brady, catching one ball for 36 yards. Fantasy owners who took a chance on Moss in the first or second round have to be getting frustrated by his lack of production. Still, his potential keeps him as a must-play.
IDP
Sometimes when a defensive back is picked on enough, he becomes a good IDP player. This was the case Sunday for New England CB Leigh Bodden. Bodden had ball after ball thrown his way by Orton and most were completed. The good news is Bodden is a solid tackler for a CB, registering a game-high 11 tackles (10 solo).
The Godsend
Eddie Royal hasn't been a main cog in Denver's offense like many thought he would be before the season started. Royal had his best game of the season against the Pats, catching 10 balls for 90 yards. He was used much like New England uses Wes Welker with quick short routes that simply moves the chains. Royal is owned in 55 percent of Yahoo! leagues, but should be considered by owners as the season wears on. Denver's offense is only going to get better from here.
Notable
Speaking of Welker, it'd be interesting to see if any receiver is being targeted more often than him. Brady loves finding the small, quick receiver on a quick slant for a solid 8-10 yard gain. Welker was targeted 15 times Sunday, catching eight balls for 86 yards and a TD. ... Brady has seemed apprehensive to take shots down the field this year, which is a polar opposite of the way he played in 2007. He had 215 yards and two TDs against the Broncos. ... Denver's rookie RB Knowshon Moreno has quietly put together a solid first quarter of the season. Moreno is averaging 4.2 yards per carry and has 337 yards on 81 totes through five games. He racked up 88 yards on 21 carries Sunday. The only reason he's not catching more attention for his accomplishments is his lack of TDs. He's got only one this season. He's an interesting play next week. San Diego has allowed the most fantasy points per game to running backs this season.
Colts 31, Titans 9
FTW
Talks of the Manning Bowl is really starting to heat up after five weeks of play. Peyton Manning, who is the top-rated QB in the league with his little brother Eli chomping at his heels, is nothing short of stellar. Manning threw for three TDs and 309 yards with one INT against a depleted Titans secondary.
Fail!
The Titans got so far behind early that Chris Johnson, who I consider one of the league's most complete RBs, fell out of the game plan. Johnson finished with 34 yards rushing on a mere nine carries. He also failed to generate any points in the passing game, catching two balls for just nine yards.
IDP
Tennessee's top scorer Sunday? LB Keith Bullock. Too bad most leagues don't use IDPs. Bullock had a game-high 11 tackles (nine solo) and also picked off one pass.
The Godsend
Great QBs make great WRs. Austin Collie is benefitting from Manning's experience and has caught three TDs in the past two games. The rookie out of BYU is owned in just 33 percent of Yahoo! leagues. This is a kid who should be picked up. Even if and when Anthony Gonzales comes back, Collie is going to figure into the Colts' game plan. He had eight catches for 97 yards and TDs Sunday.
Notable
Kerry Collins' struggles continued Sunday as he passed for just 164 yards and one INT with no scores. This seems typical of Collins, who hasn't had back-to-back successful seasons many times in his career. The Titans might be putting a wrap on their season soon and then it's time to bring in Vince Young and figure out exactly what they've got there. Young did throw three passes during garbage time, failing to complete any of them. ... There was a LenDale White sighting in the game, but it also came during garbage time. Still, White ended up with more carries and yards (10-51) than Johnson. All that tells us is what the Titans think about White now. He's not going to be a factor this season. ... Dallas Clark continues to lead all TEs in yards and receptions, catching nine balls for 77 yards Sunday.
Dolphins 31, Jets 27
FTW
Ronnie Brown's late touchdown might have spelt out the loss or victory for many fantasy owners this week. Brown crossed the goal line from 2 yards out with six seconds to play for his second touchdown of the night, giving Miami the win. To go with his two scores, Brown had 74 yards rushing, 21 yards passing and 14 yards receiving. From a yardage standpoint, he was outdone by backfield mate Ricky Williams, who had 138 total yards (11-68 rushing, 3-70 receiving).
Fail!
Maybe Braylon Edwards' presence for the Jets does spell doom for the value of Jericho Cotchery. Mark Sanchez and Edwards appeared to have a natural chemistry and Sanchez really focused in on the recently acquired receiver, targeting him nine times. Meanwhile, Sanchez looked Cotchery's way a mere two times. Cotchery caught one ball for four yards, leaving him shut out from a fantasy standpoint. Edwards caught five balls for 64 yards and a TD.
IDP
Gibril Wilson led all DBs in tackles a season ago. Wilson led all players Monday night with 12 (11 solo).
The Godsend
Ted Ginn Jr. finally put his gamebreaking speed on display Monday night, catching a 53-yard touchdown bomb from QB Chad Henne is stride. The rare Michigan to Ohio State alum connection gave the Dolphins the lead temporarily in the early fourth quarter. Ginn, who is owned in just 39 percent of Yahoo! leagues, had two catches for 59 yards.
Notable
Henne had few issues completing passes against Rex Ryan's vaunted defense, connecting on 20-of-26 throws for 241 yards and two TDs. Miami has to be starting to feel pretty good about its apparent QB of the future. ... Thomas Jones struggled to find yards on the ground for the Jets, but was able to pick them up when it counted most. Jones had just 42 yards on 13 carries, but managed to cross the goal line twice from 1 and 3 yards out, respectively. |
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| Published: Oct 14, 2009 6:30 PM EST |
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