Category: NFL

Stock Rising- Locker

Jake Locker completed 23 of 37 passes for 299 yards and 1 passing touchdown Sunday afternoon against the San Diego Chargers.

Analysis: Locker also tacked on 68 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown. This is the second consecutive game that Locker has recorded a passer rating north of 90.0, he also has 4 combined touchdowns in that two game span. You have to love that Locker isn’t turning the ball over and he’s passing the ball about thirty times per game.

Keep in mind that Aaron Rodgers and Cam Newton both have bye weeks coming up so Locker is at the very least a possible fantasy option in week four. Over the past two weeks Locker has put up more fantasy points than Matt Ryan, Andrew Luck, Andy Dalton, Tony Romo and RG3. I’m not saying Locker can sustain his elevated level of play but he is worth serious roster consideration.

Up next for Locker is the Jets at home in week four. He is available in 85-99% of fantasy leagues and he matches up with the lowly Jags in weeks 10 and 16.

Passing On Ted Ginn

Ted Ginn recorded 71 receiving yards on 3 receptions with 1 touchdown on Sunday afternoon against the New York Giants.

Analysis: Ginn now has 133 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns over his last two contests. This all seems promising but he isn’t without fantasy concerns and the first of which is reliability. Ginn was only targeted 4 times against the Giants and only 13 times this year over three games. To put those targets in perspective Josh Gordon of the Browns was targeted 19 times today, he is available in about 10% of fantasy leagues.

Yes, Ted Ginn is a playmaker but 13 targets over three games won’t get it done week in, week out. He is worth roster consideration but cannot be trusted as a WR3/Flex option. He has a bye in week four so I doubt there will be a rush to pick him up. At the moment Ginn is available in 97-99% of fantasy leagues. A guy like Nate Burleson makes more sense here. Burleson has been targeted 23 times this year and has 19 receptions to Ginn’s 7. Burleson is available in 65-95% of fantasy leagues.

Streaming Defenses- Week 3

As we gear up for another fantasy week let’s take a look at the “team to stream” for week three- the Minnesota defense.

Analysis: Minnesota has a week three date at home against the lowly Cleveland Browns. The Browns may be without starting quarterback Brandon Weeden who has a throwing thumb injury. That may not be a bad thing considering Weeden only has one touchdown pass this year. Regardless, Jason Campbell will have to fill in and we all know he is the definition of pedestrian.

The Vikings have three interceptions and three fumble recoveries through two games this season. Those six takeaways rank second in the NFL. The Minnesota D still has its question marks but the Cleveland offense is 28th in the NFL in total yards. The Browns have allowed a league high eleven sacks and twenty-seven quarterback hits so far… this is all a recipe for streaming success. The Minnesota D/ST is available in 90% of fantasy leagues.

 

Not So Fast With EJ

Rookie EJ Manuel has more fantasy points than Tony Romo, Cam Newton and Russell Wilson through the first two weeks of the season.

Analysis: EJ has been impressive thus far but he’s not a QB1 yet. His first two starts have been at home and this week against a solid Jets defense in New York we will see if EJ can sustain his current 95.9 passer rating which is a top ten mark. EJ is available in 60-90% of fantasy leagues but the hype machine is out in full force. It does appear that the Bills have a franchise/oft-injured quarterback on their hands, but the “fantasy reality” is that he’s strictly a QB2.

Although Cam Newton has not played well thus far he will outrush Manuel by several hundred yards this year. Yes, EJ is athletic and has a similar body type but expect about 250 rushing yards from the rookie. The fact is Sam Bradford, Andy Dalton and Philip Rivers are all playing very well which hurts Manuel’s value. Aside from Rivers(who is a must own) and Dalton another widely available QB to watch is as always Mr. Carson Palmer. Palmer is on the road in New Orleans this week- expect a pass happy affair.

Stock Rising- Marlon Brown

Marlon Brown scored his second touchdown of the season Sunday afternoon against the Cleveland Browns.

Analysis: Marlon Brown has been on the fantasy radar since the departure of Anquan Boldin to the Niners and the injuries to tight end Dennis Pitta and wide out Jacoby Jones. Brown has put together two solid weeks for a rookie and although he isn’t the number one option in Baltimore that doesn’t mean he cannot consistently put up numbers. The 6’5″ 215 pound wide out caught 4 balls on 6 targets for 45 yards and a score in week two. He now has two touchdowns this year while all other Baltimore receivers and tight ends have combined for zero touchdowns. With his height and the injuries on the Baltimore offense he has a chance to be deadly in the red zone early on this season.

Marlon Brown projects as a WR3 until some weapons return to the B-more offense. He is available in 60-95% of fantasy leagues. Up next for the Georgia product is the Houston Texans in week three. The Ravens will need to score to keep up with the Texans and hopefully for fantasy owners Marlon Brown will deliver.