Week 10 has come and gone. The Lions couldn’t pick up a win for the tenth straight week. We saw the return of Thursday Night Football with a primetime slugfest between the arms of Cutler and Quinn and the verbal diarrhea exhibited by Cutler, Brandon Marshall, and Cleveland’s Kellen Winslow.

Then, in another exciting rendition of NFL action on Sunday, Green Bay vs. Minnesota went down to the wire, two second-tier backs found paydirt thrice, and a one Tyler Thigpen played like he actually belonged in the NFL. Jake Delhomme did not however. Read more »

As we near the half-way mark of the ‘08 season, NFL action continues to startle and excite each and every Sunday. This week, the Titans steamrolled the Chiefs with a versatile ground attack, and two quarterbacks in the Big Apple found their way onto our list for disappointing performances.

Mewelde Moore makes Steelers fans think “Willie Who?” and an MVP day for what seemed to be an ‘08 bust in Steven Jackson as his Rams put a hurtin’ on America’s Team. Willis McGahee and Ryan Grant also show up big in Week 7, as this could be deemed the week of redemption for guys struggling to get on track.

Be sure to check out this week’s Bonus Hardware after the Highlight Reel. Some performances were so bad they didn’t fit into our standard list of awards. Read more »

Mike Shanahan, head coach of the Denver Broncos brought a new style of offense to the rocky-mountain region when he signed with the team in 1995. Along with a very effective zone-blocking scheme, Shanahan implemented a new NFL strategy where the star of the offense isn’t playing running back. For years, NFL teams scouted, drafted, traded, and signed for players who were sincerely skilled at reading defenses, making swift cuts, and hitting holes quickly (not to mention breaking tackles).

In Shanahan’s offense, though, it doesn’t matter who carries the ball. Since Terrell Davis’ run as champion Bronco back ended after the 1998 season, six different guys have led the Broncos in rushing yards. In the last nine seasons, only Mike Anderson in 2000 and Clinton Portis in ‘02 and ‘03 have led Denver in rushing yards AND accounted for at least 60 percent of the team’s rushing touchdowns. Read more »

Last week we told you to start regular bench players Felix Jones (96 yards, TD) and Steve Breaston (seven catches, 77 yards) and they both performed like starters in the flex spot. However, the biggest piece of advice we gave you was telling you to start DeAngelo Williams, who broke out against KC for 148 total yards and three TDs. As a rule, players that have good matchups, are hot, getting a chance because of injury, or at least assured touches are always useful for the flex spot and as bye-week or injury replacements.

Every week owners are put to the test with the critical decisions in the flex spot that can determine the outcome of your game. If you have guys like RB Willis McGahee facing the awful Colts run defense or WRs Bobby Engram and Reggie Brown who are starting to hit their strides after coming back from injury, feel comfortable putting them, among the eight others below, into the flex slot in Week 6.
Read more »

As the season progresses and players begin to feel the wear and tear of a 16-game schedule, fantasy owners face a problem they didn’t face in the first few weeks. The NFL injury report lengthens each week, which forces owners to make hair-pulling decisions in their lineups. Problems cannot be solved on the waiver wire, so roster depth and viable bench options become the key to victory.

As Week 5 approaches, many guys may see little to no action due to lingering injuries that limited their practice time. Philadelphia’s Brian Westbrook is nursing a sprained ankle from two weeks ago. Cincinnati’s Carson Palmer has a sore throwing elbow. Baltimore’s Willis McGahee has rib problems, and Big Ben has a whole slew of battle wounds in Pittsburgh. Read more »

Last week we told you to expect big days from players like RB Julius Jones, RB Fred Taylor, RB Frank Gore and TE Jeremy Shockey and they all rewarded their owners. We also told you to lessen your expectations or sit players like RB Earnest Graham, RB Ryan Grant, RB Jonathan Stewart, WR DeSean Jackson and the Packers defense and all these players had below average games. How did we know this you ask? Playing the matchups.

Here is a look at some of the most intriguing Week 3 matchups. It’s all about starting quality players when they have favorable matchups, and the most savvy owners know when it’s time to take a chance on lesser players facing softer defenses. Take the first step here – in the third edition of The Good, Bad and Ugly.
Read more »

After Week 1 was complete, many NFL teams saw big-name guys go down. Some are gone for the season, altering the 2008 landscape permanently. Others are harboring smaller bumps and bruises affecting their status for only a week or two.
 
Below are the 10 injuries to guys not named Brady or Colston that will have the greatest impact on the fantasy world in Week 2. Obviously a lost season from the NFL’s poster boy and 4-6 weeks without Drew Brees’ No. 1 wideout have clear and lasting impacts. However, there are quite a few more that can affect fantasy owners’ decision-making for Week 2. Read more »