Category: NFL

Buying Low- Jermaine Gresham

After a three reception, thirty-seven yard game Sunday against the Steelers, Jermaine Gresham’s fantasy value continues to take a hit.

Analysis: There are still tons of positives when it comes to Jermaine Gresham’s fantasy value. Gresham was still targeted seven times Sunday and keep in mind that the Steelers don’t give up many fantasy points to opposing tight ends. For the year Gresham has five receiving touchdowns in just ten games which is tied for sixth most in the NFL among tight ends. His downfall is his yardage total of 407 which puts him twentieth among tight ends. Still, these numbers warrant a roster spot in most leagues but he is widely available in both ESPN and CBS leagues.

Gresham is a TE2 in every sense of the word but his touchdown potential makes him a fantasy threat every week you start him. Considering that Owen Daniels has not scored a touchdown since week four and the quarterback situation in Houston is suspect- why is Daniels owned in ninety percent of leagues but Gresham only in twenty-four percent of ESPN and sixty-seven percent of CBS leagues? Either way, it’s the perfect time to buy Gresham on the cheap.

Forte Out, Barber In

Chicago running back Matt Forte sprained his right MCL Sunday in a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Forte is expected to miss two to four weeks which will leave fantasy owners scrambling for a replacement.

Analysis: Marion Barber carried the rock thirteen times Sunday against the Chiefs. Although he only managed forty-four rushing yards, his fantasy outlook going forward looks solid. He now has double digit carries in back to back weeks and four in nine games this year. He also has a surprising five touchdowns in those nine games and expect more over the next few weeks. He definitely isn’t a threat to catch the ball but he should have even more of a monopoly on the rock in goal line situations.

Other possible replacements don’t make as much sense nor do they have the touchdown potential of Marion Barber. Kansas City’s Thomas Jones has carried the ball twenty-nine times in his past two contests but he only has seventy-three yards to show for it. Donald Brown is still widely available and he has at least fourteen carries in four consecutive games.

Williams, Ingram, Branch Available

Tampa’s Mike Williams along with Mark Ingram and Deion Branch are still available in a small percentage of fantasy leagues. These three guys are all must owns in all formats.

Analysis: Tampa’s Mike Williams has not been the touchdown machine he was last year, but as of late he has been special. Williams now has back to back eighty plus yard games and he has scored in both contests. Tack on twenty-two targets in those two games and you have yourself a WR2(again) available in ten percent of ESPN and ten percent of CBS leagues.

Mark Ingram is coming off of a thirteen carry, eighty yard performance against the Giants in week twelve. Ingram now has four touchdowns in nine games played this year, that’s pretty good. Ingram is available in seven percent of ESPN and ten percent of CBS leagues. Whether he is a RB3/Flex option or just another depth back… he should be owned.

Deion Branch is another interesting case. I find it hard to believe that a wide out with four touchdowns and 628 receiving yards(22nd among NFL wide outs) is still available in eighteen percent of ESPN leagues and six percent of CBS leagues. There is plenty of talent available on the wire regardless of league format. These three playmakers are just a small sample of what is out there for you.

Donald Brown Is Available

With another fine rushing performance against the Panthers Sunday, Donald Brown is quietly putting together a solid four weeks of fantasy numbers.

Analysis: Although the Colts are awful, Donald Brown has been relatively impressive recently. Brown rushed for eighty yards on fourteen carries with a score Sunday. Brown now has double digit carries in his last four games with two scores. On the other side of the coin, Joseph Addai only managed seven carries for twenty-three yards against Carolina in his first game back from a hamstring injury.

As of Sunday, Brown is only owned in about ten percent of fantasy leagues. Backs who are this fresh this deep into a season who are getting double digit carries need to be seriously considered. He may be a fringe RB3/FLEX play but he is certainly worth owning at the moment. Meanwhile, Joseph Addai looked old and slow in the first quarter on Sunday. Donald Brown is the hot hand in Indy and in standard leagues we may not have seen his peak in terms of numbers this year.

Keep expecting double digit carries going forward from Donald Brown while Joseph Addai continues to look fifty-six years old in running back years. Brown is widely available and the touches are there.

Pick Up Toby Gerhart

Adrian Peterson is most likely out for Minnesota’s week twelve matchup with Atlanta as the fantasy world turns its attention to Toby Gerhart .

Analysis: While the injury to Adrian Peterson is not as severe as once thought, high ankle sprains do tend to linger. Even if Peterson was somehow able to go next Sunday, why risk it? At 2-8, the Vikes are going nowhere this year and there is no point to putting the top back in the league out there.

Toby Gerhart who is available in well over ninety-seven percent of fantasy leagues is the logical fantasy replacement for Peterson. He should be in line for a solid chunk of carries in week twelve. He’s physical enough to be playing in goal line situations and he is one fresh back at this point in the season.

It isn’t all good when it comes to Gerhart’s potential this week and beyond. Atlanta is second in the NFL is rushing yards allowed and seventh in yards per carry against. Atlanta is at home and if they can put the Vikes in a hole early- it will not be a good fantasy day for Gerhart. Either way, he is an absolute must pick up this week. Start him at your own discretion.