Eric Decker anyone? Yup I own him and needless to say it was a very nice day in fantasy football for yours truly. Decker was the clear highlight of the 4:00 games and later so let's take a look at all the latest news and notes coming out of those contests.
-Really there is no other place to start than what Decker was able to accomplish with the help of Peyton Manning Sunday in torching the Kansas City secondary. The Chiefs had no answers against Decker going deep and Manning made sure to exploit this all game. Overall Decker caught 8 balls for 174 yards and an insane 4 touchdowns. If there is a Decker owner out there who lost Sunday please explain how that is possible. As far as Decker is concerned, you know I have rightfully complained about his lack of production lately. Demaryuis Thomas and Wes Welker were clearly above Decker along with even Julius Thomas when he was healthy with regards to Manning's hierarchy of throwing options. Decker has proven himself to be a big time TD guy going back to last season though and here is hoping this is not a one-game deal. It could be though.
-Believe me we are not forgetting about Manning who threw for five touchdowns and 403 yards. What ankle injury? I swear this guy is a robot. The Manning owner in the Experts League finished the regular season with a 12-1 mark and the number 1 seed. It is likely that Manning will be on the majority of winning fantasy football teams this season which is something I said right after Week 1.
-Knowshon Moreno didn't have it Sunday as he rushed for only 18 yards on 15 carries (although he chipped in a receiving touchdown). Moreno was surely hampered by the bone bruise in his leg but gutted through it. Montee Ball saved the day for the Denver running game by going off for 117 yards on 13 carries. Ball has big time ability but Moreno will be back next season again which means another time-share at best.
-Colin Kaepernick threw for only 1 TD among his 275 yards but he now has old friend Michael Crabtree back which will thrust him back into a QB 1. Crabtree caught 2 balls for 68 yards as he played about half the snaps but he once again showed his big play ability. Get him back in there. Meanwhile Anquan Boldin, perhaps sensing the arrival of Crabtree could impact his looks from Kaepernick, caught 9 balls for 98 yards.
-Zac Stacy did as good as one could expect against the surging 49ers defense as he rushed for 72 yards on 19 carries while catching 1 ball for -1 yards. The concussion is a thing of the past. Start him with confidence.
-Matt Ryan re-discovered his love for Roddy White as the two hooked up 10 times for 143 yards. Thataboy Roddy. Where he hell was that all season when your owners were actually in contention? Ryan threw for only one score which went to Tony Gonzalez (4 catches for 42 yards). Also White's big game didn't come at the expense of Harry Douglas who grabbed 6 balls for 73 yards.
-Speaking of late surges, Steven Jackson has found his groove the last two games, with Sunday showing him run for 84 yards on 23 carries and 2 touchdowns. Jackson will be threat to score but is rushing numbers are likely going to continue to take a hit as he ages. There is a whole lot of mileage on these tires and so Jackson can't be trusted as anything more than a low end RB 2.
-C.J. Spiller rushed for 149 yards on 15 carries while scoring a touchdown. Yeah the classic to little too late. What Spiller is doing now is putting up big games in garbage time so that fantasy football owners will be seduced next season into thinking THIS will be the monster year. Fat chance. Guy has horrible work habits according to reports, is always hurt, and still has a very capable Fred Jackson around.
-As an owner of an inactive Julius Thomas and a gimpy Antonio Gates, I rolled the dice and went with Ladarius Webb. Well Webb caught only two balls for 45 yards but one went for a touchdown. Don't you love those days when all the moves you make go right for a change? Webb reminds me so much of Thomas but as long as Gates is healthy than he can't achieve optimum value.
-Both Andy Dalton and Philip Rivers threw for a score and a TD. Both guys make you want to rip your hair out with their inconsistency.
-I tell you what. One guy I am going hard after next season is Giovani Bernard. Hopefully the continued presence of BenJarvus Green-Ellis has kept Bernard's 2014 draft price down enough as the former North Carolina Tar Heel has immense ceiling. I really think Bernard can be the next LeSean McCoy, Matt Forte, Jamaal Charles kind of do-everything monster runner. Bernard rushed for 57 yards on 14 carries Sunday while also catching 1 ball for 9 yards Sunday which doesn't scream out STAR but believe me the kid is special.
-A.J. Green has annoyed me at times with his up and down numbers and I wasn't blown away by his 5-catch day for 83 yards. However he did score which helps make the mood brighter.
-Keenan Allen has simply been amazing as the best rookie receiver in football. Allen caught 8 more balls Sunday for 106 yards. Rivers looks in his direction before anyone else almost every time he goes back to pass and the results have been terrific.
-Andre Brown made the most of his 35 yards by scoring twice. His running has been a bit up and down but Tom Coughlin has used Brown as his clear top runner and the results have been RB 2-ish in fantasy football terms.
-Victor Cruz finally figured out the season wasn't over as he caught 6 balls for 80 yards. Cruz has been maddening lately with his up and down numbers and he surely hasn't been helped by the truly awful year being put up by Hakeem Nicks.
There you have it. As always let us hear your thoughts.
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