Wow what a day. At least there weren't a ton of injuries. Let's get to all the latest fantasy football action worth discussing coming out of the 1:00 games.
-Of course we have to start with the Lions-Cowboys game. At least when it came to the Lions, it was like watching a Madden Experts play on the EASY level. My goodness the numbers were mind-boggling. Obviously we have to start with the ridiculous 14-catch/329 yard/1 TD smackdown Calvin Johnson laid down on Dez Bryant and the Cowboys. I mean this guy truly defies explanation due to his absurd level of dominance. This is why I suggested drafting Johnson first overall if you got the number 1 pick this past summer. There is no one even in the guy's area code as a player.....that means you to Bryant who popped off last week saying he was the better player.
Going in tandem with Johnson was yet another monster game from QB Matthew Stafford who took it upon himself to fake a spike and dive into the end zone with 15 seconds left on the clock to cap an amazing comeback win. It was all part of a 488-yard performance with 1 passing TD and 2 fluky picks that were deflected. What was a bit frustrating as a Stafford owner is that twice he either ran or threw a pass that ended up at the one which were than subsequently run in by Reggie Bush and Joique Bell. Cost us two potential scores. Be that as it may Stafford has been as hot as Drew Brees and Andy Dalton the last month. And of course he was the guy along with Tony Romo who I told you to focus on as value plays instead of using a first round pick on a QB. Good times all around.
-By the way Kris Durham looks like he could be of help now that both Nate Burleson and now Ryan Broyles are injured. Take advantage of the passing offense.
-Lost in Stafford's big game was the nice outing by Romo who tossed three touchdown passes and 206 yards. Than again it always seems like Romo gets lost in the shuffle due to the untimely turnovers. Can't blame this one on him. He only hooked up with Bryant three times though, with two going for spectacular touchdowns on each. Bryant however lost his mind on two occasions in the game, berating Romo and than getting into a verbal blowout with Jason Witten. Clearly he got too amped up and caught up in the battle against Johnson which he lost badly and in embarrassing fashion. Hence the frustration. They will ass kiss and make up.
-Speaking of Witten, there is no doubt the guy has been below his numbers the last month or so. In shootout like this, Witten should have had more than 2 catches for 15 yards. I have gotten some e-mails asking what is up here with Witten but my answer is nothing other than Romo perhaps focusing in a bit too much on Bryant (who can blame him) and finding a new toy in rookie Terrance Williams. Williams made up for a slow start to save his day with a 60-yard TD. Saved the day because he had only two receptions which was strange. Still Williams has been a real find and hopefully we don't see any more of Miles Austin.
-With DeMarco Murray coming back next week, drop Joseph Randle who didn't do much anyway with 26 yards on 14 carries. Reggie Bush meanwhile scored a rushing touchdown and ran for 92 yards on 21 carries. Was a monster in the receiving game with 8 grabs for 30 yards. I absolutely love Bush in this offense and said it right after he came over in free agency.
-Jason Campbell was actually pretty good against the top defense in the NFL with 293 yards and 2 TD's. Boy the Browns have got to be kicking themselves for giving Brandon Weeden all those starts. Don't pick up Campbell though. At least not yet. Need to see more.
-Alex Smith is always seemingly on the verge of single league use but he helped himself with 225 yards and 2 touchdowns against a tough Browns defense. The big beneficiary was Dexter McCluster who caught 7 passes for 67 yards and both touchdowns from Smith. McCluster has a ton of ability and reminds me of a poor man's Percy Havin but consistency is not part of his game. You can make a speculative add but McCluster is not the every week answer for you if you have a WR need.
-Jamaal Charles ran for only 74 yards on 18 carries as the Browns defensive front is a firm test. Did make up for it by catching 5 balls for 46 yards but he failed to score.
-Dwayne Bowe is such a mess. Only one catch for 7 yards as he was hobbled with injury. Nice he gutted it out but Bowe has not helped at all this season and should be on your bench. Shocking since he now has the capable Smith throwing to him.
-Josh Gordon has to be the happiest guy in the world that Campbell is under center. Well Gordon's fantasy football owners have to be the happiest. Their big-play guy went for 5 catches and 132 yards and 1 score. Gordon seems to be taking some of the pop out of Jordan Cameron who caught 4 balls for 81 yards.
-Boy things are getting very sketchy with Tom Brady. Threw for only 116 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT in an almost no-show performance. Brady has now thrown for only 2 TD's the last four games amid concerns he is playing hurt. What is really disturbing is the fact that Brady had his full complement of receivers as Danny Amendola came back (only 3 catches for 15 yards) to join Rob Gronkowski (only 2 catches for 27 yards). Basically if you owned any Patriots receiver not named Aaron Dobson (4 catches for 60 yards and a score), you were screwed. Speaking of Dobson, he was the one I profiled first as the main fantasy football sleeper receiver on the Patriots and not Kenbrell Thompkins. Well it took some time but Dobson now looks like he has surpassed Thompkins as the latter was shut out. Pick up Dobson if someone dropped him.
As far as Brady is concerned, this is a tough one. Again he has his full array of pass-catchers back but things just aren't going well. Remember I said this could happen back in the summer when I dropped Brady down below Cam Newton and Matt Ryan in the QB rankings. Both guys have vastly outplayed Brady this season Just saying.
-Finally a Lamar Miller sighting. The forgotten one rushed for 89 yards on 18 carries and caught 3 passes for 23. Still Daniel Thomas was in on short-yardage and goal-line work so don't go crazy.
-Charles Clay is yet another pass-catching tight end out of nowhere who is helping. Grabbed 5 more passes for 37 yards Sunday. Decent PPR play this week if you need someone.
-The Giants-Eagles game set back offense for years. It is now safe to drop Michael Vick who re-injured his hamstring. Same story, different season. The biggest storyline continues to be the underwhelming numbers being put up by LeSean McCoy. Even before the team was down to Matt Barkley Sunday, McCoy has been pretty shaky all October. Rushed for only 48 yards on 15 carries. Not good. Again it comes back to the very heavy usage McCoy undertook in September when he was the best back in football. His slight build is not meant for the amount of carries he took on and we could be seeing the fallout now. I wouldn't totally panic yet but as a McCoy owner I am very worried, especially if Barkley has to play again since opposing teams will stack the box with 8 men as they should do.
-Told those in PPR who were desperate to take a look at Peyton Hillis who actually played all right with 70 rushing yards and 3 catches for 15 yards.
-If only Hakeem Nicks could play the Eagles every week. Nicks continued his pattern of big games against the Eagles with 7 receptions for 51 yards. Victor Cruz matched him with 7 catches of his own but went for 86 yards. Cruz survived a scare in the third quarter when he was slammed to the turf and went for X-rays on his neck which came back negative.
-Those who own Colin Kaepernick no doubt have been let down every since Week 1 finished. My mantra has always remained one where I need to see a second season of the same kind of level of performance during the breakout year before I get fully committed. Didn't happen this season with Kaepernick but he did put up three scores (1 passing/2 rushing) Sunday which was great. Of course it came against the Jaguars and Kaepernick only threw for 164 yards. Truth be told it really wasn't as good an outing as the touchdowns suggested. I remain in the corner of saying Kaepernick is a matchup play and strictly that for now.
-Two more touchdowns from the ageless one Frank Gore among his 71 yards. Only 1 catch though. Damn.
-Cecil Shorts is really becoming a huge PPR guy after he broke through as a standard league asset last season. Now with Justin Blackmon stretching the field (4 catches for 41 yards), Shorts is now operating underneath with great efficiency. Caught 7 balls for 74 yards. So basically what we have no is Shorts trading touchdowns for catches. If you play in PPR you take that. As for Blackmon that is now two off games in a row after his smashing two game debut.
-For the first time this season Maurice Jones-Drew turned back the clock and possibly just in time for the trade deadline. Jones-Drew rushed for 75 yards and caught 6 balls for 47 yards. It is all ended terribly for MJD in Jacksonville and hopefully someone will bring him on for the rest of the season.
-Yeah life is swell if you own Drew Brees. Has been for years. How's about FIVE touchdown passes Sunday against the Buffalo Bills. 332 passing yards. At 35-years-old. Jealous.
-Told you a few weeks ago to pick up Kenny Stills who looked like he was making a claim for the starting receiver spot opposite Marques Colston. Still has big-play ability which he put to good use Sunday in catching 3 passes for 129 yards and two touchdowns. Stills looks like a prime standard league play.
One thing to take note of. Marques Colston all of a sudden looks old. Caught only 3 passes for 18 yards and looks like he is having trouble getting separation. This is a guy who has been beat up over the years and could finally be slowing down. Which makes picking up Stills all the more enticing.
-What foot injury? After learning that Jimmy Graham had a torn plantar fascia in his foot, the quick assumption would be that he would see a drop in numbers playing with such a rough injury. Well this apparently is Superman we are talking about as Graham caught 3 passes for 37 yards and two scores. While he may be limited at times, start Graham like normal.
-Another rushing touchdown for Fred Jackson but he gained only 45 yards as the Bills were playing catch up.
-Stevie Johnson caught 7 balls for 72 yards and a score. Some volatility to this numbers every week but Thaddeus Lewis has given the team a spark.
There you have it. As always let us hear your questions and thoughts. Also if you haven't already reserved your copy, use the BUY NOW tab on the homepage to do so. Will ship sometime in the beginning of November.
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