The Sporting Guy dishes out last minute performance and injury advice heading into Week 8 across the National Football League. There are HUGE BYE-WEEK and injury concerns surrounding several key players.
Month: October 2013
Game Time Decision Facing Jimmy Graham Owners
Saints tight end Jimmy Graham returned to practice Friday for the first time this week. He’s been dealing with a foot injury he sustained during a Week 6 match-up with the New England Patriots and he is expected to be a game-time decision for Sunday.
Graham had an extended period to rest due to the Week 7 bye week, but it may not be enough to get him back on the field for Sunday’s contest with the Buffalo Bills. Graham was very limited Friday, but was able to participate in team drills. It seems like the Saints will sit Graham, or limit his involvement during Week 8.
If the Saints decide to sit Graham on Sunday, Darren Sproles and Marques Colston could see a boost in productivity as Brees will be searching for other options.
Though the Saints are still the easy favorite to win, Graham’s absence would be felt by quarterback Drew Brees. Graham has managed to break 100 yards in 4 straight games from weeks 2-5, scoring 5 touchdowns in that span. He’s been a dominant force and the go-to guy for the Saints offense.
Benjamin Watson would be Graham’s replacement if he were to sit this game out, but isn’t a strong fantasy option.
If a replacement is needed, it may be wise to look toward Seahawks tight end Zach Miller as a fill-in. Seattle is facing a weak Rams defense and Zach Miller should get decent production in the contest.
It seems very likely that the Saints let Graham rest, or limit his participation on Sunday. If he does suit up, consider Graham a borderline TE1.
Cardinals Running Back Andre Ellington in Line for Week 8 Start
The list of running backs that have struggled or gone down with an injury this year seems to go on for days. Doug Martin, Trent Richardson, Chris Johnson, CJ Spiller, Alfred Morris, Steven Jackson, Maurice Jones-Drew, Ray Rice, David Wilson and the list goes on. This has left owners scrambling to find replacements. If you are one of those guys, Andre Ellington is certainly a viable option.
Cardinals running back Andre Ellington is line to make his first start as the Atlanta Falcons roll into town. Ellington has been outplaying Rashard Mendenhall all season long and this is his first shot in the limelight.
The Cardinals have limited his carries all season long and that will continue during Week 8 when he draws the start.
Ellington was an explosive presence during his 4 years at Clemson and has been rock solid for the Cardinals all season long. Since Week 2, he’s had at least 50 total yards in every game and has shown a knack for the big play.
Ellington is high-risk, high-reward guy who is definitely worth a look as a strong RB2.
NFL Week 8 Wide Receiver Sleeper Report
Fantasy owners are being forced to roll the dice with some sleepers in Week 8. Six teams (Baltimore, Chicago, Houston, Indy, San Diego and Tennessee) have bye weeks and injuries are plaguing the entire NFL.
With the horrible numbers running backs are putting up this year, it’s probably a good idea to test the wide receiver waters for a sleeper in Week 8. Luckily, there are a few sleepers out there that are putting up decent numbers and are ready to produce for your fantasy team.
Jeremy Kerley (WR – NYJ)
Jeremy Kerley caught eight passes for 97 yards and a touchdown in Week 7 against the Patriots. Kerley appears to be Geno Smith’s favorite target and could end up being a nice WR3 or Flex option in Week 8 considering the injury and bye week situations.
Kerley has a tough match-up as the Jets take on the Bengals, but if the Jets have a hard time getting things going on the ground, there will be more targets for Kerley in the air. The Bengals are dealing with some injuries in the secondary and Kerley seems be getting better each week. Given the Week 8 circumstances, Kerley is not a bad play coming off a 20-plus point performance.
Emmanuel Sanders (WR – PITT)
Emmanuel Sanders was quiet in Week 7 against the Ravens but could bounce back in Week 8 against the Raiders. Before Sanders’ dud performance in Week 7, he was averaging 60.2 yards yards from scrimmage in his previous five games.
Sanders has a great match-up against the Raiders and has reached or flirted with double-digit fantasy points every week this season besides Week 7. No owner will feel great starting Sanders week in and week out, but he’s not going to post a goose egg and is a quality receiver with a quality quarterback. Sanders is averaging 9.5 points a game in PPR formats and is a good bet to eclipse that mark this week.
Kris Durham (WR – DET)
Kris Durham has produced good fantasy numbers two of the last three weeks and is averaging 12.3 points per game over that stretch. He is the clear-cut number two wide receiver behind Calvin Johnson until Nate Burleson returns. With two or three defenders keying on Calvin Johnson, Durham gets single coverage all game long in a pass-happy offense.
While Durham only had five catches for 49 yards in Week 7, he did get eight targets which was second on the team. Detroit could easily find themselves in a shoot-out as they take on the Cowboys in Week 8 and if that turns out to be the case, Durham could have a nice day.
NFL Week 8 Running Back Sleeper Report
The name of the game in the NFL right now is simple: injuries. Injuries across the league have decimated team rosters and fantasy lineups alike. Last week seemed even more brutal. Reggie Wayne and Sam Bradford are out for the year, Jermichael Finley might be out for the year and Doug Martin and Jay Cutler are out for an extended period of time – all because of injuries suffered during Week 7. There are numerous major injuries each year that put teams and fantasy owners in a bind, but the big names in 2013 are glaring.
As much in fantasy as in real-life play on the field, serious injuries can have a sort of domino effect, or at the very least secondary repercussions. That is to say you may not have had Reggie Wayne on your roster, but if you have Andrew Luck without his number one wide receiver, it may hinder his value going forward.
On the other hand, perhaps a player going down for a period of time will allow another player to step up. However, be optimistic only to a certain extent; a combination of other teammates’ trust, game plans, and willingness to now take on a larger role will determine whether someone has the capacity to score more points in fantasy.
If you had Doug Martin or another player whose injury has opened a spot on your roster, you’ll be looking to pick someone up that can provide immediate value (or at least value in the near future.) There are players that can be had in many leagues, and here are a couple that sound intriguing this week and going forward.
Jacquizz Rodgers (ATL)
Rodgers may be owned in many leagues; after all, he is the Falcons number one rusher. However, in those leagues where he is not owned, he needs to be picked up as soon as possible. And in leagues where he is owned, now is a possible time to buy low in a trade. Why? The passing game. Even though Rodgers does lead the Falcons in rushing statistically, he hasn’t been that impressive at 3.2 yards per carry. Furthermore, Steven Jackson is set to come back as early as Sunday.
However, even with Jackson coming back, Matt Ryan clearly trusts Rodgers as an outlet and a playmaker when he drops back to throw. Think about it: Julio Jones is out for the year, Roddy White has been banged up all season and Tony Gonzalez consistently sees double and triple coverage when the Falcons are in the red zone. Matty Ice needs someone to throw to, and in the first game without Jones and White, Rodgers caught two scores. It’s very possible this becomes a trend as Atlanta tries to claw their way back into playoff contention.
So, if you can convince a Rodgers owner to take on an asset you feel comfortable parting with, definitely look into it.
Roy Helu (WSH)
Helu’s three touchdown performance last week was an anomaly. Anyone who started him either on a whim or out of desperation got lucky. With that being said, this week’s matchup against Denver means the Redskins have to put on a premium on controlling the ball and keeping it out of Peyton Manning’s hands.
While Denver’s run defense, which ranks first in yards per game, has been far superior to their pass defense, which ranks last in yards per game. Getting into a shootout with the Broncos hasn’t worked out well for other opponents. Dallas scored 48 points against them in week 5 and lost.
If Helu can somehow sneak in a score, he’s likely to get enough carries to justify starting him as a flex option in some leagues. Plus, no one knows more about ball control and needing to use multiple options at running back than Mike Shanahan. Shannie probably wants to win his Denver homecoming more than anyone on his own roster, and if he trusts Helu with the ball in his hands, he’ll give him touches.
Alfred Morris hasn’t been supplanted as the number one back in Washington, but Helu has provided a decent number two with a respectable 4.2 yards per carry.
Falcons Steven Jackson Ready for Week 8 Action
Atlanta Falcons running back, Steven Jackson, was back on the practice field this week for the first time since Week 2. The 30-year-old veteran has missed the last 4 games with a hamstring injury, but said he is feeling good and is ready to “give it a go.” When asked about Jackson’s return to practice, Falcons head coach, Mike Smith, said:
“This is all based on what the doctor will say in terms of how much he’ll participate in practice as we go through the week, but when we left out of here on Friday, everything was very good in terms of (Jackson’s) testing and the opportunity to return to play. We are anticipating to get him in and see how he handles it. You’ve got to go in and take it one day at a time when you’re coming back from an injury.”
Jackson certainly has been taking it one day at a time, but says he feels good enough to be effective in the Week 8 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. However, Week 8 may not be the most ideal time for fantasy owners to put their faith back in Jackson, as the Cardinals offer a pretty hard-hitting ‘Welcome Back’ to the NFL.
The Cardinals are giving up about 13.7 fantasy points per game against opposing running backs, which ranks 10th in the NFL. They haven’t been scored on by a running back yet and are giving up less than 50 yards per game on the ground. Jackson hasn’t played since Week 2, and is going up against a notoriously pesky hamstring issue. To complicate matters further, Jacquizz Rodgers has performed at a high level in Jackson’s absence and has definitely earned some snaps, even if the starter returns.
In his only full game of the season, Jackson rushed for 77 yards on 11 carries; he did not find the end zone before sustaining his injury early in Week 2. Rodgers is averaging 27.5 yards per game, and has reached the end zone twice. Whether it’s Jackson or Jacquizz on the field for the most part on Sunday, the Falcons have their work cut out for them running against the Cardinals. However, fantasy owners should definitely keep an eye on S-Jax and see how he plays on Sunday.
The Downward Spiral of Hakeem Nicks
After dragging themselves through what felt like a lifeless Pop Warner football game, the New York Giants recorded their first win of the season Monday night with a 23-7 victory over the equally dismal Minnesota Vikings. Highlights were few and far between for either team. Tons of question marks still surround the Giants despite the win, but wide receiver Hakeem Nicks has rapidly become the biggest one.
Among other in-game atrocities, Nicks’ poor performance stuck out like a sore thumb. He had only 2 catches for 28 yards after being targeted 10 times. His most noticeable misstep were 3 dropped passes, 2 of which were extremely catchable and routine. Supposedly fully healthy, Nicks has yet to score a touchdown this season.
As a 5-year veteran, Nicks has never been off to this slow a start. New York never knows which Hakeem they’ll get on any given night. He can have 142 receiving yards like he did against the Eagles in Week 5, or play like he did Monday. As one of the more athletic wide receivers in the league, it’s hard to believe this is anything more than a slump for Nicks.
Another factor that could be contributing to Nicks’ lack of success this season is interception-frenzied quarterback Eli Manning. Manning has been unsettled throwing the ball with what little protection he’s gotten from his offensive line, which has resulted in inaccurate passes and missed opportunities. With a better throw Monday night, Nicks would have had his 1st touchdown from Manning in the 1st quarter.
It’s difficult to ignore the trade rumors for Nicks, which could be weighing on his mind. As he slips further and further from the image of his old self, the Giants are considering all their options. Is it worth trading someone who has meant so much to their success? If he continues to play inconsistently, it might just be.
Peyton Manning Goes Full Speed on Friday
Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning was at full speed on Friday despite dealing with an ankle injury that kept him from throwing the football at practice on Wednesday.
Manning took a few more hits than he is used to on his return to Indianapolis, the Colts were able to bring him down 4 times, a feat that no one has been able to achieve on Manning since 2007. Manning is hard to take down in the pocket because of his ability to read the defense and get rid of the ball quickly.
This season, most hits on Manning are coming from his blind side. The Broncos lost their all-pro left tackle Ryan Clady for the season and this is already proving to be troublesome for the franchise quarterback.
Injury concerns have crept up on Manning late in his career. After missing the entire 2011 season with a neck injury, it seems teams are hungry to get the 4-time MVP on the ground. Still, Manning’s ankle injury should not cause him to miss any time. He’s 2nd all-time in consecutive starts with 208 and knows how to treat smaller injuries like the one that kept him from practicing Wednesday.
The prolific 12 time pro-bowler out of Tennessee is a fantasy juggernaut. Owners should not go trading him away because of an ankle injury. Expect Manning to light up Washington during Week 8.
Panthers Stuff Tampa Running Back Mike James
Tampa running back Mike James got stuffed Thursday night by the Carolina Panthers and things won’t get any easier for the backup running back or his counter part Brian Leonard.
To put things in a nutshell, the entire Tampa backfield has been a disaster since Week 1 of the regular season and there is no light at the end of the tunnel. The Bucs have had a terrible time running the ball as they rank 20th in the league in rushing yards.
Pile this on top of the fact that they have a long and hard schedule coming up against some of the toughest run defenses in the league. With upcoming games against Seattle, Miami and Carolina again, neither one of these running backs is worth a start.
If you are a Doug Martin fantasy owner, you already know that he is a bust and have likely already made plans to fill the gap for this subpar player and won’t need to bother with a bottom-dweller like James.
NFL Week 8: Fantasy Football Sit and Start Report
Week 8 is upon us and with so many injuries to star players during Week 7, fantasy owners have their work cut out for them. There are many favorable matchups out there this week, so make sure you can take advantage of them. Here are some of the players you should sit and start in Week 8.
Sit:
Denarius Moore- The Oakland Raiders will host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. Unfortunately for Denarius Moore, that means the fourth best pass defense in the NFL is coming to town. Moore has enjoyed a good season so far, recording 25 receptions for 399 yards and four touchdowns. Quarterback Terrelle Pryor is still very young and the Pittsburgh secondary is allowing an average of just 194.7 yards per game through the air. Sit Denarius Moore.
Giovani Bernard- Cincinnati Bengals rookie Giovani Bernard has had quite the season so far. He’s recorded 264 rushing yards and 2 rushing touchdowns, to go along with 25 receptions for 233 yards and another pair of touchdowns. However, his Week 8 matchup is less than favorable as the Bengals host the stifling New York Jets rush defense. Gang Green is allowing an average of just 77.7 yards per game on the ground. Keep Gio Bernard on the bench if you can afford to.
Start:
Frank Gore- The Jacksonville Jaguars rush defense is bad, very bad. They are currently allowing an average of 153.3 yards per game on the ground. That is 26 more yards per game than the next worst rush defense, New England Patriots. Frank Gore and the San Francisco 49ers will take on this porous Jags rush defense in London this week. Fantasy owners should expect a big day out of Gore.
Jarrett Boykin- The Green Bay Packers wide receivers are dropping like flies as of late which is allowing for many of their backups to receive the honor of catching passes from quarterback Aaron Rogers on Sunday. Jarrett Boykin is one of those players. With James Jones questionable and both Jermichael Finley and Randall Cobb out for Sunday’s game against the weak Minnesota Vikings pass defense, Boykin will be the benefactor of many more targets. If you picked him up off the waiver wire this week, definitely get him into your starting lineup.
Touring the Capitol 