Lots and lots of fantasy football news and notes from Sunday. Let's get right to the 1:00 games.
-Nice day for Sam Bradford who rebounded from last Thursday's mess against San Francisco with a three-TD game against Jacksonville. He has a good thing going with WR Austin Pettis who caught two touchdowns among his 4 receptions. Pettis has graduated to a solid WR 3 as Bradford clearly trusts him the most right now. Jared Cook meanwhile went back to his up one week, down the next week mode with only 3 catches for 26 yards.
The biggest story in this game was the tremendous outing by forgotten WR Justin Blackmon of Jacksonville who caught 5 passes for 136 big yards and 1 TD. Remember that Blackmon was once a top draft pick who was expected to be the next Dez Bryant. Off the field stuff and horrid QB play have gotten in the way but with the more capable Chad Henne expected back in next week for the injured Blaine Gabbert, Blackmon joins Cecil Shorts (5 catches/74 yard and his own TD) as every week guys. Crazy saying that both starting Jaguars wide receivers are starting options.
-Zac Stacy did all right in his starting debut with 78 rushing yards on 14 carries. He did exit in the second half but he claimed afterward he just got the wind knocked out of him. Stacy is the starter going forward but this is strictly a standard league play since he is not a good receiver at all.
-Ryan Fitzpatrick tossed the only TD among him and Alex Smith in the Titans/Chiefs game. The bigger story were the running games as Jamaal Charles made it five for five in big time fantasy football performances this year by having his first game going over 100 yards this season with 108 and a TD. He did lose a fumble but made up for it by catching 5 passes for 37 yards. The numbers could be silly by the end of the season.
On the other side Chris Johnson did his damage in the receiving game with 4 grabs for 63 yard and a TD. However he continued his very shaky running with only 17 rushing yards on 10 carries. When you are outrushed by your QB, than we have problems. With Jackie Battle getting goal-line work for Tennessee, we could be getting dangerously close to the point where Johnson might be better off served on your bench until he gets it going again which you know he will eventually. We have been down this road before with Johnson including last season when he rushed for over 1,200 yards.
-Nick Foles could be worth a look in two-QB formats after taking over for an injured Michael Vick and throwing for 197 yards and 2 scores. Obviously anyone piloting the Chip Kelly juggernaut needs to be looked at closely. Vick meanwhile is going back down the injured road once again. He failed to throw or rush for a TD before he exited which he means he put a hurting on his fantasy football owners in addition to his own body.
DeSean Jackson was a bit quiet the last few weeks, at least his body of work and not his mouth. That is until he saw the New York Giants uniform staring back at him. Jackson has gone wild against the Giants in the past and he kept the trend going by catching 7 passes for 132 yard and a TD. The speedster has actually turned into a PPR guy for the first time in his career due to the Kelly offense.
-LeSean McCoy kept pace with Jamaal Charles in the battle for the top running back in fantasy football this season by rushing for 46 yards on 20 carries and a score while also ratcheting up the receiving numbers by catching 6 passes for 46 yards.
-Despite the Giants dropping to a horrendous 0-5, the passing game was in full gear Sunday which included the re-emergence of Hakeem Nicks. Nicks, who had been playing horrible prior to the game, caught 9 passes for 142 yards. The only thing missing was a score but this outing makes his outlook brighter to say the least. In addition, the emerging Reuben Randle caught 6 passes for 96 yards and two touchdowns. With the Giants now clearly out of it, Randle could be getting more of a look going forward to see if he can replace the free agent Nicks.
-I bought low on Ray Rice prior to the week amid questions he had lost a step due to his ugly early performances and hip injury. Rice made me look smart by rushing for two touchdowns among his 74 yards on 27 carries. He also chipped in 6 catches for 28 yards. John Harbaugh made it a point that he wanted to emphasize Rice in the offense again and he obviously meant it.
-Cut Lamar Miller. Cut Lamar Miller. Cut Lamar Miller. Only 15 rushing yards on 7 carries. Do it.
-Both Russell Wilson and Andrew Luck threw two touchdowns Sunday in their terrific duel. Luck has been the better fantasy football performer than the two but overall owners of both would admit to being a tad disappointed in the overall numbers.
-T.Y. Hilton is a big play waiting to happen as he showed in catching 5 passes for 140 yards and 2 scores. The Colts coaching staff has to get over their weird obsession with the inferior Darius Heyward-Bey and feed Hilton the ball as much as possible. A star in the making.
-So far Trent Richardson has not done much with his new team. Only rushed for 56 yards on 18 carries. Average per carry still not good. Maybe the Browns weren't so dumb after all.
-Aaron Rodgers owners sent me a few e-mails about being annoyed at another so-so performance. Yes he only threw one touchdown and the overall stats are down but stop being ridiculous.
-James Jones scored again. Sound like a broken record. Caught 4 balls for 127 yards overall. Every Packers receiver had a big day with Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, and Jermichael Finley all catching at least 5 passes.
-The earthquake you felt around 12 noon ET today was the news that Detroit Lions all-pro wide receiver Calvin Johnson was out with a knee injury. The ripple effects impacted QB Matthew Stafford who was bench-worthy just for Megatron's absence. Stafford would throw for only a garbage time score and 262 empty yards. Get back soon Calvin.
-No touchdowns for Tom Brady for the first time in 52 games. No the world is not coming to an end. Brady will be fine, especially with Danny Amendola back who caught 4 balls for 55 yards. The effect of Amendola returning though is that Julian Edelman will not figure as prominently. He caught only 3 passes for 35 bit did drop a potential TD pass late.
-A.J. Green continues to underachieve. Only 5 catches for 61 yards and again no scores. Let's do pal.
-Told you all to pay attention to Pierre Thomas again after Mark Ingram mercifully was demoted a few weeks ago. It took a few games but Thomas showed that he is still a very capable fantasy football back, especially in PPR formats. He rushed for only 36 yards on 19 carries but he scored two touchdowns by catching 9 huge passes for 55 yards. Pick him up. Especially with bye weeks in full force.
-Jimmy Graham is an absolute monster and is one guy you just don't want to see staring back at your from your opponent's roster. He added 10 more catches Sunday for 135 yards. I guess the biggest surprise was Graham not scoring.
-Alshon Jeffery. Wow. That's all I have to say after watching the second-year breakout man catch 10 passes for 218 yards and 1 touchdown. This after Jeffrey caught 7 and 5 passes during the two games prior to this past Sunday. Once again Jay Cutler looked first in the direction of Jeffrey near the goal-line which makes Brandon Marshall owners nervous. Marshall did catch his own touchdown but only 4 passes for 30 yards. Something that bears watching. Good luck getting Jeffrey on waivers this week if you didn't address this last week.
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