Category: NFL

Selling High- Darrius Heyward-Bey

Darrius Heyward-Bey will be a hot commodity in fantasy leagues this week but intelligent owners will capitalize on his inflated value.

Analysis: Heyward-Bey has caught eleven passes for 214 yards the last two weeks but he is as inconsistent of a wide out as you will find in fantasy football. He has all the physical tools to succeed, however, he just isn’t in a position to right now. The Raiders have four other wide outs that are nearly as serviceable as DHB. Also, Jason Campbell isn’t exactly Mr. Consistent either.

Picking DHB up off the wire is a decent move but the smart move here is to flip him while his value is still high. DHB is one “two receptions for twenty yards” game away from being useless in the fantasy world again. DHB may still have a bright career ahead of him but the depth at wide out in Oakland coupled with Jason Campbell’s ability to become invisible every third week prevents DHB from truly making an impact this year. Look at Campbell’s stats on Sunday if you are still not convinced- 15 for 35 and 190 passing yards. Do you trust DHB to keep putting up numbers with Campbell at quarterback?

When DHB does get a quarterback he has WR2 potential but until then keep selling high.

Last Call On Eric Decker

Now with four touchdowns on the year it has become apparent that Eric Decker cannot be ignored by anyone in the fantasy world.

Analysis: Eric Decker already has twenty receptions on the year with four scores. Even when the Denver receiving corps gets healthy, Decker isn’t going away. He does indeed benefit from the poor Denver defense and a lack of a running game… but this is fantasy football so who cares? Decker does have thirty-seven targets on the year so his reception total is not a fluke. He’s being targeted early and often by Kyle Orton and with games with San Diego, Detroit and Oakland over the next five weeks the Broncos will be slinging the rock a ton. Keep in mind that Decker’s bye is in week six after this coming week at home against the Chargers. Decker has reached fifty receiving yards and five receptions in three of his four games this year, he’s not just a one game stud. It’s a safe bet he won’t keep racking up the touchdowns but he will be a reliable source of targets/receptions going forward.

Tight End Depth- Ben Watson

Ben Watson recorded six receptions for forty-eight yards and a score Sunday against the Titans.

Analysis: Ben Watson now has two touchdowns in four games this year and his stock is on the rise. Watson was targeted nine times Sunday on his way to his third forty-five plus yard day of the 2011 season. Watson now has a staggering nineteen targets over his last two weeks for a total of eleven receptions. He’s going into a bye this week and now is the perfect time to pick up this underrated stud.

Watson is only owned in eight percent of ESPN leagues and with the bye week you should be able to add him to your fantasy stable with relative ease. Watson’s recent performance on the field should come as no surprise as Watson amassed 763 receiving yards last year and sixty-eight receptions. If the ground game continues to struggle in Cleveland, Ben Watson may become more than servicable depth at tight end in fantasy leagues.

Start Vincent Jackson in week 4

There has not been much news as far as Chargers wide receiver Vincent Jackson’s status for playing today.  I do not have any insider information, aisde from the fact that when a player practices fully on Friday then he has a very good chance on playing Sunday.  According to San Diego Union-Tribune writer Kevin Acee he did in fact practice on Friday.

My advice?  Start him.

Gates is not a recommended start for week 4

Many fantasy owners are trying to figure out whether to start Antonio Gates right now.  I too, am a Gates owner.  He is officially listed as doubtful, but if you’ve been keeping track of his news here on FantasySP then you’ll know it doesn’t sound promising.  This morning Chris Mortensen’s tweet didn’t seem to make the decision any better merely saying that he is “listed as doubtful”.

Do not start him because he is a huge risk right now.  Philip Rivers is not playing well and Gates is already hobbled in the first week of October.  Even if Gates does play, he may end up just being a decoy to free up Vincent Jackson (who has a much better chance of playing).  Sorry to say it owners, but you NEED to find a long-term starting solution for the tight-end position.