December 5th Weekly Release Notes

This weeks release notes is jam packed full of features and updates.  Every couple of months I like to give FantasySP some design tweaks, and I felt that the site is due for another round of refreshment. Not all of my changes have been implemented quite yet, but they are planned and some of them can already be seen this week.  There are significant changes coming in terms of the design, usability, and upgrade process to the site.

This weeks biggest changes can be seen on Mobile FantasySP, which has not had many visual tweaks done to it in some time.  My goal is to further increase readability and make the design feel fresher with more color contrast.  My changes were inspired by BleacherReport’s latest mobile design.  Along with the mobile design changes you’ll notice that the main site has a lot of visual changes as well.

Another major change is the addition of Fantasy Ratings based on starting lineups and full rosters.  Almost a week’s worth of ratings have already been collected and this should give you guys another spin on the best teams in your synced league.

Here is the full list of changes this week:

  • Mobile Site Refresh, increasing readability and adding a bit of color.
  • Fantasy Transaction notifications have been added. You’ll notice a red box next to “Trans” in your User Panel indicating new transactions have been collected since you last looked.
  • Player alert settings panel has an updated description.
  • Starting Lineup Fantasy Ratings have been added.  Included in this update is a revamped design with a better Fantasy Rating league page. You can now switch between full roster and starting lineup.  For example check out my league.  (Possibly more to come with this).
  • Fixed league ratings not updating sometimes.
  • Major fix for “empty query” bug.  This was annoying me for quite awhile and I finally squashed it. Wahoo!
  • Redesign of the Sync/Import fantasy league table.  Looks a lot cleaner now.
  • Quite a few background tweaks/additions to fix various problems.

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.

Blake Wheeler Is Heating Up

Winnipeg right winger Blake Wheeler has been a top fifty fantasy player over the last two weeks.

Analysis: Blake Wheeler has been huge for the Jets over the past few weeks and a few fantasy owners are taking notice. Wheeler has amassed five assists, two goals and a plus six rating in his last seven games. Throw in sixteen shots in that seven game span and you have yourself one hot forward. Despite his recent hot streak he is still available in about seventy percent of fantasy hockey leagues and not many people are giving him much attention.

It feels like Wheeler has been around forever but he is just twenty-five years old. He had an excellent rookie season with twenty- one goals but he has yet to play up to his top five pick potential until recently. Since he is so widely available it cannot hurt to add Wheeler and see how long it lasts. He has been getting some serious minutes as of late and he has always been a solid plus/minus guy. It just may be his break out year and now is the time to pick him up.

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.