Darren McFadden

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NFL Week #11-This week’s Five Best Bets

Posted by fantasyfurnace on November 17, 2012
Posted in: NFL. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , . 9 comments

Another 3-2 week has brought our season total to 32-18. The Bengals were out to prove that playing against the defending Super Bowl Champion Giants was not going to intimidate them. And it didn’t as they blew them away 31-13 in Cincinnati. The G-Men are in their typical November slide and are enjoying a late season bye week in which they will need to regroup and prepare for their week #12 matchup vs the Packers. Our other loss was by the Dolphins who never showed up to play on either side of the ball and coughed up their 2nd loss in as many weeks to the Titans in Miami. Let’s see if we can improve a bit with this week’s Five Best Bets…

*Home team in CAPS

REDSKINS over the Eagles-Michael Vick is still suffering from the effects of the concussion he sustained last week. He’s been dizzy and “foggy” all week and it wouldn’t be surprising if he sat out for the remainder of the season. Rookie Nick Foles takes over on Sunday vs the ‘Skins. His only NFL experience came last week when he went 22 for 32 for 219 yards with 1 touchdown, 1 interception, and 2 sacks. His biggest obstacle will be the Eagles offensive line who will allow the Redskins to add to their sack totals this week. Washington’s offensive line isn’t world class either but in RGIII they have an elusive QB who can run. The Eagles, much like the Jets, are 3-6 and have lost their last five games in a row, placing their season now on life support.

#10 RGIII will be the difference maker in this one. The Eagles’ lack of an effective offensive line will not make rookie QB Nick Foles job any easier. Photo: zimbio.com

Buccaneers over the PANTHERS- In their last five games the Bucs are 4-1. In that span they have averaged a healthy 35.6 points per game and have yet to run into a defensive  scheme that can contain them. Josh Freeman, Doug Martin, Vincent Jackson, and Mike williams represent far too much talent to lose to the 2-7 Panthers who have failed to score more than 14 points in 4 of their last 5 games. They have some nice players in Cam Newton, Jonathan Stewart, and Steve Smith but they have been far too inconsistent and won’t put up enough points to stay with the Bucs. They’ll lose this game by double digits.

Bengals over the CHIEFS- The Bengals defense which we suggested as a Must Add this week, has the fourth most sacks in the league and are not exactly going up against a pro bowl quarterback this week. They also are fifth in fumble recoveries and we would expect both of these categories to rise this week. This should also be a one-sided affair unless of course, the Bengals are caught in a ‘trap week’ after beating up on the Giants last Sunday. They had lost four in a row prior to last week’s win and we believe that they’ll start a new streak with back-to back games vs the Chiefs and Raiders; teams they should beat.

The Bengals defense is fourth in the league in sacks with 27. Photo: associated press

Saints over RAIDERS- These are two teams that are going in completely different directions. The Saints are 4-1 over their last five games while the Raiders are 2-4 over their last six. Oakland will be without their featured and oft injured running back Darren McFadden and Mike Goodson this week although Carson Palmer should have no problem reaching the 300 yard passing plateau for the ninth time as a Raider, against a very porous New Orleans defense ranked last in the league. Drew Brees holds a career 6-0 mark vs the silver and black to go along with 13 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. The Saints need this game because starting with week #12, they will face three very tough opponents in the 49ers, Falcons, and Giants.

COWBOYS over the Browns-Dallas has noticed how their divisional rival Giants have been slumping over the past three weeks and need to gain some ground on them before the G-Men turn things around. Only 2-3 over their last five games, the ‘Boys lost some tough ones by margins of 2, 5, and 6 points respectively. The 2-7 Browns, at this point of the season, are basically just playing for pride as they have eliminated all possibilities of making it to the post season. RB Trent Richardson has been the highlight of their offense while QB Brandon Weeden has failed to pass for 200 or more yards since October 21st. The ‘Boys will end the day by evening their record to 5-5 and increase their chances of being a Wild Card team at season’s end.

#3 Cleveland Browns QB Brandon Weeden has failed to pass for at least 200 yards since the third week of October. Photo: AP Photo/Mark Duncan

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NFL Week #6-The week’s Five Best Bets

Posted by fantasyfurnace on October 12, 2012
Posted in: NFL. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . 5 comments

Following the Titans win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night, a sixth sense is telling me that this could be a week of many upsets. We’ll pick a few underdogs but we won’t go overboard as common sense and statistics will always prevail over sixth sense feelings.

We finished week #5 going 4-1, bringing the last two week’s total to 9-1 and our season record to a more respectable 17-8. We’re hoping this little hot streak continues in Week#6. Here are this week’s five best bets:

*Home team in CAPS

Chiefs over BUCCANEERS: There are several reasons for us going with the Chiefs this week as a road dog. The first is that KC is one of only three teams to rank in the Top 10 in both offense and defense. This week, what makes that stat so overwhelming is that Tampa Bay is one of two teams to rank in the bottom five in both offense and defense. The Bucs have won only one game in their last 14 dating back to October 23 of last year. Their only victory was in week #1 this season; a 16-10 win over Carolina. Not very impressive and thus no reason why the Chiefs cannot pull off the upset in this one.

FALCONS over the Raiders- We simply cannot see the undefeated Falcons caving at home against an under-achieving Raider team that has to travel cross country for the second time in the last four weeks. Raider RB Darren McFadden has only rushed for more than 34 yards just once in Oakland’s four games this season. We don’t think the bye week will help turn this team around enough to beat Matt Ryan, Roddy White, Julio Jones, and co., especially when you take into account that they are 2-8 in their last 10 regular season games.

#20 RB Darren McFadden has had a rough time through 3 of the first 4 games this season failing to rush for more than 34 yards in those games. Photo: denverpost.com

CARDINALS over Bills- The Cards are decimated at the running back position due to injuries to Beanie Wells and Ryan Williams and will have to turn to LaRod Stephens-Howling to handle the starting duties this week, but since as a team they only rush for an average of 2.7 yards per carry and are still 4-1, it shouldn’t make too much of a difference. We like Stephens-Howling and think the Darren Sproles type running back could put up some decent numbers against a Bills team that became the first team to give up 300 yards rushing and 300 yards receiving in the same game!

Lions over the EAGLES- Another upset pick here as the Lions, coming off a bye and in need of a win, travel to a difficult and hostile environment in Philadelphia. The Eagles have been winning games with mirrors all season, winning three games by a total of 4 points and scoring more than 19 points just once in their five games. Michael Vick has been sacked 14 times, has fumbled 8 times, and has looked ‘shaky’ and uncomfortable in every game this season. We don’t think he will be able to match Detroit’s offense which is beyond overdue for a breakout game when all the Eagles were able to muster was 6 points against Arizona in week 3 and 14 points vs the Steelers last week.

#7 QB Michael Vick hasn’t been able to generate much offense due to his fumble issues and many sacks this season. Photo: associatedpress

TEXANS over the Packers- The 2-3 Packers have played some Un-Packer-like football through their first five games this season. They are currently 16th in the league in passing and 20th in rushing. We simply cannot see picking a team that’s lost to Seattle (scoring only 12 points) and Indianapolis, a game in which they were up 21-3 at halftime and lost by giving up 27 points in the final two quarters. You can’t expect them to eke out a win on the road and against the team with the league’s number one defense. Just not happening…

Running Back Backups You Should Roster…

Posted by fantasyfurnace on July 17, 2012
Posted in: NFL. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , . 1 comment

One need only look at the injury riddled year it was for running backs in 2011 to see how handcuffing a backup could save your season. Just look at the names of some of the backs that suffered an injury which in most cases required surgery:

#25 RB Jamaal Charles is carted off the field after blowing out his knee vs the Lions in Detroit on Sept. 18, 2011. Photographer: Dave Reginek/Getty Images

  1. Jamaal Charles-Chiefs- Torn left ACL
  2. Adrian Peterson-Vikings- Torn left ACL; Meniscus Damage
  3. Rashard Mendenhall-Steelers- Torn right ACL
  4. Jahvid Best-Lions- Multiple concussions (missed 10 games in 2011)
  5. Beanie Wells-Cardinals- Right knee surgery
  6. Knowshon Moreno-Broncos- Torn right ACL
  7. Mark Ingram-Saints- Turf toe; Knee injury (played in only 10 games in 2011)

Consider this; how many times does a QB get hit or sacked in a game? How many times does a wideout get tackled in a game? And then, how many times does a featured back get tackled in a game? Clearly the RB gets the most hits because he controls the ball longer and gets the most carries of anyone on the team. The QB, of course handles the ball on every play but he has protection from his linemen and does not hold  it for any length of time. So with this scenario it’s logical that the RB will suffer the most injuries of any player on the field.

What we’re recommending is that you handcuff a featured back with his backup at some point during the season if you see that they’re available on waivers. Or if your league offers a greater amount of bench players, then you would benefit greatly if you can stash one safely in case your back misses any time. Production lost when you lose a RB to injury can have a tremendous impact on your team.

  • We’ve put together eight backups to the top featured backs for you to consider and at least have with you when you draft. (We did not list RB Toby Gerhart, Adrian Peterson’s backup because he is coming off of a knee injury (sprained MCL) suffered in week 17 last season and although he’ll fill in for Peterson should he start the season on the PUP, we’re not that high on him)

#44 RB Ben Tate ran for just under 1,000 yards last season and scored 4 TD’s. He’s a proven backup to stud Arian Foster. Photo: zimbio.com

            Featured Back                    Backup

  • Arian Foster                            Ben Tate
  • LeSean McCoy                        Dion Lewis
  • Maurice Jones-Drew           Rashad Jennings
  • Chris Johnson                        Javon Ringer
  • Marshawn Lynch                  Robert Turbin
  • Darren McFadden                Taiwan Jones*
  • Ray Rice                               Bernard Pierce
  • Steven Jackson                      Isaiah Pead

*There have been some reports that Mike Goodson would be McFadden’s backup but Jones is more likely to get the nod.

Hopefully you won’t have the need to employ the services of these backups, but isn’t it nice to know that they’re there  in case you do? Consider them as an insurance policy…