Fantasy Football Recap: The All-Value Team Through Week 6

The All-Value Team represents fantasy football players we sure wish we knew were going to ball outta control during draft time in August.  Right now, the following players have outshined their draft position so tremendously, that if you look up at your league standings you'll likely see a lot these players mixed in with consistent fantasy stalwarts. There's a lot of football left, but it seems now that many of these guys are on pace to be MVP's for your league and in contention for Pro Bowls in the real NFL.  Either way, they represent the value that wins leagues and puts racks on racks on racks in your hand.

Quarterback

Real Leadership in D.C

Robert Griffin III, Washington Redskins: RGIII, or Sir Robert III of Paydirt (that's mine by the way) would probably be drafted ahead of where Cam Newton was back before the season began, and its quite possible that he will greatly outperform Cam's magical 2011 season.  Asking him, he would probably focus on doing better than 6-10 (2011 Panthers record) because he is as team-oriented as advertised coming out of Baylor.  What we didn't expect from RGIII is his ability to produce Pro Bowl-caliber passing and rushing statistics and oh yeah, did we mention he's completing 70% of his passes? That's simply unheard of; coming in and completing 60% in your first year is typically considered great.   Robert Griffin III is the second quarterback since 1970  (besides Michael Vick) to rush for a buck thirty and score two touchdowns in a game.  Sir Robert has already had two 300-yard passing games this year, which in context, Vick hadn't thrown for 300 yards twice until his 52nd game.  RGIII is on pace to rush for 1,011 yards and 16 TDs as well.  I wouldn't expect the 16 TDs as teams continue to get more tape on him (See Cam 2012) but 3,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing with the potential for 30 combined touchdowns is attainable.  All this from a guy typically picked in the seventh or eight rounds at the earliest is the definition of value.

Honorable Mentions: Matt Ryan, Falcons;  Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers

Running Back 

Ridley: Believe It or Not

Stevan Ridley, New England Patriots:  A precarious position many fantasy owners were in, when by the fifth or sixth rounds of this year's fantasy drafts, if they hadn't at least drafted two running backs by that point.  If like many, you opted for guys like Peyton Hillis, James Starks, Beanie Wells and Toby Gerhart or heck, even Donald Brown because you were wary of the New England backfield situation.  Those players you picked probably have "bust" screaming at you when you look at your roster today.  But if you somehow lucked out and scooped up Stevan Ridley, you probably are entertaining trade offers for guys that would have been unthinkable in August.  Mr. Ridley's believe-it-or-not campaign has weathered Belichick's machinations on running back carries, a 100-yard outburst from off-the-radar Brandon Bolden, and New England's general apathy toward running the ball anyway.  Ridley has been a running threat not seen in Foxboro since Corey Dillon, to the tune of 524 yards rushing (5th in the NFL) along with 4 TDs in six games.  Ridley has pounded opponents into submission his first year as a starter and is projected for 315 carries, which delights his fantasy owners.  The last Patriots back to get 300 carries was Dillon with 345 in 2004.  If Ridley, who is probably less talented than Dillon was, can earn goalline carries away from competitors, he may become even more valuable.

Honorable Mentions: Alfred Morris, Redskins; C.J Spiller, Bills

Wide Receiver 

Reggie Wayne? Has Luck On His Side

Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis Colts:  Reggie Wayne was supposed to be a solid WR2, probably a WR if Andrew Luck progressed according to schedule; he was routinely thought of as a 6th round fantasy pick at best, with smarty pant owners (like myself) typically valuing guys like Torrey Smith, Pierre Garcon (ironic) , Darius Heyward-Bey, and hell, even Titus Young over the former U standout who is pretty near HOF consideration.  What folly. Turns out 2011 Reggie Wayne had some really mediocre quarterbacks throwing him the ball.  All Wayne has done is lead the entire league in targets (70), with 41 catches (4th) and 593 yards (3rd).   It has definitely been a rebirth and he is part of an offense who may be just scratching the surface of their potential, as Andrew Luck, has shown the same trademark accuracy and decision-making he did while at Stanford.  Wayne will continue to get plenty of looks his way as defenses still have to account for some speedy guys (Donnie Avery, T.Y Hilton) on the other side.

Honorable Mention: James Jones, Packers

Tight End

Tony, Tony, Tony: Still "Feels Good" at 36

Tony Gonzalez, Atlanta Falcons: Tony G. is typically an undervalued commodity at the position anyway, but let this be a lesson to all of us tight end lovers in August.  In one of my standard leagues there is a Top 50 ranking of all fantasy position players and not a single tight end is on the list.  You have to go all the way to #59, to find the first TE and its not Gronkowski or Jimmy Graham (guys drafted as early as the second round) it's Tony Gonzalez the 86-year old wunderkind from the Falcons.  So far, defenses have attention focused on Threat #1 and Threat #2 (Jones and White) that Gonzalez has found room and is on pace for well over 100 catches.  He still knows how to get open and I distinctly remembering looking at him in the eight in one draft and thinking, well Olsen, Gresham, and Cook will all be there later....right.

Fantasy Football NFL Week 4: Players to Adore/ Players to Avoid

New York Giants at Philadelphia

New Eagles Offensive Line Shows Umeniyora Up?

Two bitter NFC East rivals square off Sunday night in what could be dubbed the “Ballerina Bowl” due to LeSean McCoy and Osi Umeniyora’s consistent jawing over the social media airwaves.  These two teams are talented and familiar with each other; meaning this will not likely be a low-scoring game.  The Eagles were drubbed by the Cardinals last week 24-6, with ball security a major issue, stemming from their inability to protect quarterback Michael Vick.  It is hard to see how the Giants defensive line does not offer a clear threat to Vick even finishing the game.  The Giants are coming an extra three days of rest and the Eagles are still banged up at receiver. Luckily Giants corner Corey Webster and safety Antrel Rolle are both banged up as well.  DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin present a good fantasy plays as WR2’s in this game.  Celek could exploit some mismatches with Giants linebackers. The Eagles will still need to run Shady McCoy to keep the Giants from pinning their ears back.

On the Giants side, they are in midseason form on offense-- they put up 36 at Carolina with backups at WR1 and RB1; now Bradshaw and Hakeem Nicks are back.  I would be wary of starting any Giants running back in this one but Victor Cruz is getting his salsa steps ready; he’s a must-start in any format.  Martellus Bennett has shown flashes of being a TE1, so if he’s available off the wire do yourself a favor and snag him.

Adore: Eli Manning, Victor Cruz, Jeremy Maclin, LeSean McCoy

Meh:  Ahmad Bradshaw, Michael Vick, DeSean Jackson, Andre Brown; Hakeem Nicks, Brent Celek, Martellus Bennett; Giants D

Avoid: Eagles D

New Orleans at Green Bay

Laid A Heck of a Foundation

Two pissed-off teams, that are fading from the ranks of NFC contenders square off at Lambeau Field on Sunday.  The Packers couldn’t hold off the Seahawks pass rush and Drew Brees couldn’t complete a pass in the final quarter as both teams fell last week to Seattle and Kansas City, respectively.  The Saints are allowing a laughable 215 yards rushing a game which negates the good things they’ve done on offense.  Last week they got shredded by Jamaal Charles and Cedric Benson comes into town.  Granted, the Saints have played three teams that have dynamic rushing attacks in the Redskins, Panthers and Chiefs.  By comparison, the Packers don’t put that type of emphasis on running which will probably benefit New Orleans.  For your fantasy team this has the look of a shootout even though the Packers have allowed only 125 yards through the air.  Drew Brees will probably come close to tripling that average; look for the Saints go with plenty of passes to Jimmy Graham and Darren Sproles and look to get Pierre Thomas (19 carries for 138 yards) and Mark Ingram  (27 carries for 79 yards) going in the running game.   Lance Moore may be the most productive wideout for the Saints, who have an atypical passing food chain. Devery Henderson typically catches a long pass in these types of contests, but they miss Robert freakin’ Meachem.  He was an efficient blend of Colston and Henderson whose production their other young receivers haven’t been able to reproduce.

The Packers are out-of-sync on offense and fantasy owners everywhere will want a signature Green Bay game with 400 yards from Rodgers and Nelson and Greg Jennings, and even Finley redeeming themselves fantasy-wise.  This version of the Saints defense offers the opportunity.  They’ll be plenty of Green Bay yards in this one.  The Packers have got to get Greg Jennings and Jordy Nelson going—it’s been a lot of dink and dunk.  If Jennings doesn’t turn it up in this game, then I’m starting to regard him as more of a WR2, with his most productive days behind him. Cedric Benson is a decent fantasy play as a RB2, the Saints can’t contain anyone on the ground at this point.  I mean he’s not going to be Ahman Green in his prime, but if he’s a RB2, you can probably squeeze ten points out of him in this matchup—he’s been decent catching the ball.

Adore: Drew Brees, Jimmy Graham, Cedric Benson, Aaron Rodgers, Darren Sproles

Meh: Jordy Nelson, Jermichael Finley, Marques Colston, Greg Jennings, Pierre Thomas, Lance Moore

Avoid: Packers D, Randall Cobb, Mark Ingram, Saints D (of course)

Carolina at Atlanta

Can't Keep Up With the Joneses

Cam Newton is defending himself against critics questioning his mental toughness this week.  He’s rumored to be undergoing therapy.  Hey, it’s not tricking if you got it.  He’ll need all the help he can get leading up to this Sunday’s matchup against the undefeated Atlanta Falcons.  The Falcons offense has been impressive through Week 3, with fantasy QB1 leader Matt Ryan leading the attack.  However, Carolina and Atlanta both give up well over 100 yards a game rushing, so expect RB2-type fantasy contributions from Michael Turner and Jonathan Stewart (if healthy).  Turner could really benefit from the Panthers rushing defense to rejuvenate his season--in the last four games against Carolina he’s rushed for 394 yards and six touchdowns.  Jacquizz Rodgers may eat into Turner's touches and I suspect Julio Jones will remind us all he’s very much a WR1-fantasy-must-start in this game.  In 2012 venerable Tony Gonzalez has caught more passes than any other Falcon, or tight end in the NFL for that matter, so start him at TE without hesitation.  Roddy White at home is always a good play.  Monitor J-Stew’s health,  and if he can't go, then jump all over DeAngelo Williams as a RB2.

Forget Therapy Cam, This Is What the Doctor Ordered

Cam Newton threw three picks with zero scores his last time at the Georgia Dome and doesn’t appear to mentally be in sync at this point of the season.  However, I would start Newton in this game and give him another opportunity to redeem himself.  It’s a homecoming for Newton, a divisional game, he’s had vocal haters even in Charlotte, and veteran WR Steve Smith was able hopefully to get the quarterback’s mind right during the Giants debacle.  It’s not like he is missing passes—his 63.7% completion rate so far is higher than 2011.  The Panthers tend to start slow, historically. If Newton can pull things together in this game passing, than some fantasy contributions from Brandon LaFell and conversely, Jacquizz Rodgers, would not be outrageous.  Turner is definitely a RB2 now anyway and LaFell is a decent WR3/Flex play.   Newton is almost guaranteed to get you 5-8 points just by running the ball in this game.

Adore: Julio Jones, Roddy White, Matt Ryan, Steve Smith, Cam Newton

Meh: Tony Gonzalez, Michael Turner, Brandon LaFell, Greg Olsen, Jonathan Stewart, Jacquizz Rodgers,DeAngelo Williams

Avoid: Mike Tolbert, 

Washington at Tampa Bay

Tampa Will Need to Cover Some Skin(s) For a Change

This is an under-the-radar game with shootout potential mainly because of the two statistically, most generous secondaries in the NFL.  Although the Buccaneers are dead last in offense in the NFL (258 yards per contest) they’ll be going up against a suspect Washington Redskins defense that the Cincinnati Bengals torched last week.  No one has noticed the Bucs ranked 1^st in the league in rushing defense, which is pretty significant considering they were operating such a bush-league run defense last year.   They have shut down the Panthers, Giants, and Cowboys so they’ll be able to contain Alfred Morris; but they’ll have their hands full with Robert Griffin III, however, who has rushed for over 200 yards by himself so far.  Robert Griffin III, because of his dual-threat ability, is a QB1 in this game.  Fred Davis caught 7 for 90 against Cincinnati and is starting to heat up. He’s still a shade under a must-start, but encouraging that his and RG3’s chemistry is building.  The Redskins wideouts, a fast bunch, are tricky fantasy-wise behind Garcon.

On the Bucs side, Freeman and Martin are “meh” but I like Vincent Jackson to carve up the Washington secondary and the Redskins to counter with some deep bombs of their own.  The Bucs have to get their running game on track to set up the aforementioned bombs.  The Redskins best fantasy play will probably be Robert Griffin III. Pierre Garcon coming back (foot) is still questionable which gives him a “Meh” rating. If he plays, be aware he torched the Bucs in Ray Jay last year as a Colt. There may also be a LeGarrette Blount sighting but I wouldn’t play him in any format just yet.  Stay tuned, word is coach Greg Schiano wants more a 1-2 punch at running back (3.6 yards a carry from Martin will do that for ya).

Adore: Vincent Jackson, Robert Griffin

Meh: Josh Freeman, Fred Davis, Buccaneers D/ST, Pierre Garcon, Santana Moss, Doug Martin

Avoid:  Alfred Morris, Redskins D/ST