Player News – Page 91 – FantasySP Blog

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.

Nikita Filatov Fantasy Value

After fitting in with the Columbus Blue Jackets as well as Jamarcus Russell does with cheeseburgers, Nikita Filatov is ready to make an impact on the NHL with the Ottawa Senators.

Analysis: Nikita Filatov will be getting top six forward minutes this year and if he’s lucky he just may wind up on the first line with Jason Spezza and Daniel Alfredsson at some point. Filatov wasted the past three seasons with the Blue Jackets but still at age twenty-one Filatov is primed for his break-out campaign. He’s a pure goal scorer and with top six minutes he’s good for 25 goals and at least 25 assists this year. If Ottawa can stay healthy they just may make a playoff run in the east.

The shots on goal, ice time and points should all be there for you in deep leagues but the big question will be his plus/minus. I wouldn’t expect anything worse than a minus seven to ten but he and the Senators just may surprise us all this year. Filatov is certainly worth taking a chance on deep into drafts over some of the rookies that may not see enough ice time to make an impact in the fantasy world.