Category: Featured

Streaming Defenses- Week Four- Washington

The Washington Redskins’ defense has a great match up in St. Louis in week four.

Analysis: The Skins are fifth in the league in points allowed at 17.7 and are first in the NFL in fumbles forced with ten. Although the Skins have only recovered two of the fumbles, ten fumbles forced in three games is a telling stat. Throw in eight sacks and three picks and you have yourself a defense that should give the Rams fits. Washington has played some solid offenses this year which include the Giants, Cards and Cowboys. The Washington defense is widely available and should be used if you feel somewhat confident in Rex Grossman’s ability to not turn the ball over too much.

Sam Bradford is responsible for five turnovers thus far this season while completing just 50.9% of his passes. The return of a fully healthy Steven Jackson may be a possibility, however, the Rams just don’t have the weapons to out muscle the Skins this week. The only way streaming the Washington defense fails this week will be if Rex Grossman turns the ball over two times or more. Stream at your own risk.

Streaming Defenses- Week Three- Titans

The Tennessee Titans’ defense has been stellar thus far this year. They held a game Jacksonville team on the road to sixteen points and followed that up with a dominating performance against the Ravens. The Titans only allowed thirteen points to a Ravens squad that lit up the Steelers the previous week. Tennessee have forced four turnovers and have five sacks on the year and are only giving up 14.5 points per game. Also, the Titans’ defense is only allowing 276 yards per game this year, good for third best in the NFL.

The Titans are at home this week against a weak Denver team. The Tennessee game plan should be pretty simple- make the Broncos who are only averaging 84 rushing yards per game and 3.4 a carry beat them on the ground. Kyle Orton still isn’t playing well and the athletic Titan defensive line should be able to rattle the mediocre quarterback. The Titans’ defense is available is just about every fantasy league and now is the time to pick up the unit if you are unsure of your defense this week. The Saints’ defense is a shaky pick against the Texans as well as the Bears’ defense against Green Bay.

Keep An Eye On Zach Britton

Baltimore lefty Zach Britton has been pitching extremely well as of late and it might be time to put this guy on your radar.

Analysis: Zach Britton is 3-0 in his last three starts with fifteen strikeouts while only allowing three earned runs and fourteen hits. Britton has been a streaky pitcher this year but he has been great over the last two weeks against the Twins, Yanks and Rays. His next start is another game against the Yanks and if he pitches well in that contest- he is a must add. Even if he only pitches average against New York you have to keep in mind that their offense is top notch. Britton is still young and developing and must be more consistent to become a legit lower tier SP but he has all the tools to do so. Pitching in the AL East is no small task especially with the little run support the O’s provide but he has three solid pitches. His low 90s fastball is above average, his change is major league caliber and his slider is certainly a plus pitch. Time will tell with this lefty but you have to keep an eye on him for the time being.

Strasburg Joins Nationals

Stephen Strasburg is set to make his first start of the season September 7th against the Dodgers. There has been much speculation on whether Strasburg would start on the sixth, however, what really matters here is picking this guy up off the waiver wire.

Analysis: Strasburg is still available in about twenty percent of leagues nationwide and in two days time it will be virtually impossible to own this guy. Strasburg’s average fastball velocity last year was a shade over 97 MPH and this year he’s averaging about 95-96 in his minor leagues appearances. He has command, break and velocity on all his other pitches and he looks the part of an ace once again. He’s a great addition for any fantasy squad and he will provide ERA, WHIP and strikeout help but he won’t be going deep into games to get as many wins as you would like.

As for next year, you have to consider Strasburg a second tier SP1. He does have all the tools to be the best pitcher in the game but we need to see him eat some innings like a Halladay or a Verlander to be considered a first tier SP1.

Tight End Hype and ADP

Greg Olsen is the tenth tight end being taken off the board in ESPN drafts while Lions’ tight end Brandon Pettigrew is the thirteenth tight end.

Analysis: Despite the injury issues at quarterback last year Brandon Pettigrew still managed 71 receptions for 722 yards. Here’s a fact for you fantasy football players out there- Greg Olsen has NEVER caught 62 balls EVER nor amassed over 650 receiving yards EVER yet he’s being taken well before Brandon Pettigrew. If any of you out there think that Cam Newton in his rookie year will help Greg Olsen put up career high numbers across the board… you are out of your mind. But this is what happens when the “experts” at ESPN get together and rank Greg Olsen at number ten in their rankings. Pettigrew is on the rise and should at the very least put up what he did last year with maybe a few more touchdowns. He’s a high end TE2 with the potential for much more and you don’t have to pay for it with his draft position either. Olsen offers little upside with a rookie quarterback and a guy named Jeremy Shockey at his position as well. Many think that Newton will check down every other play and dump it off to Olsen for nine yards… maybe….but he has to complete it to him first. Newton has a completion percentage of 40.4 in the preseason and don’t expect that to change much when the Saints, Bucs and Falcons unleash their defenses against Cam six times this year.