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NFL Week #8-The Week’s Five Best Bets

Posted by fantasyfurnace on October 25, 2012
Posted in: NFL. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . 6 Comments

We’ve already reached the midway point in the season. After this week’s games you should be able to seperate the contenders from the pretenders as enough of a sampling will be available and you will have a better idea of who will make it to the post-season.

We had 2 losses last week going 3-2. The Bills lost by one which hurt, and the Bengals lost by a touchdown, as Dalton to A.J. was just not working against the rigid Steelers defense even without Troy P. Our season record now stands at a decent 22- 13; better than most pundits but still room to improve. Here’s our top five picks for this week:

*Home team in CAPS

Giants over the COWBOYS-   We picked the Giants over the ‘Skins last week and see no reason why they shouldn’t repeat this week vs the ‘Boys in Dallas. After all, since the $1.2 billion stadium was built in Dallas in 2009, the Giants have had ‘home field advantage’, going 3-0 in their building! Injuries will have a greater impact on the Cowboys this week as RB DeMarco Murray will sit out for another game and RB Felix Jones is questionable. Dallas will also be without their starting center and their leading tackler Sean Lee who’s out for the remainder of the season (toe). The Giants will have Chris Canty, Prince Amukamara, and a healthy Hakeem Nicks, all of whom were missing in the season opening loss to the Cowboys.

#10 Eli Manning goes up vs #9 Tony Romo this Sunday in East Rutherford for the 2nd in their two-game season series. Photo: popscreen.com

JETS over the Dolphins- The 3-3 Jets beat the Dolphins in Miami 23-20 in week #3 and we think history will repeat itself at Met Life Stadium this Sunday. Although Miami boasts the receiver who came into last weeks games leading the NFL in receiving yardage, Brian Hartline, he was held to just one reception for 41 yards when these two teams last met. Could be because at the end of last week, the Jets have  given up the least amount of fantasy points to wide receivers in the league. That will mean a lot of Reggie Bush, something that the Jets are well aware of. Kerley, Hill, & Keller should all have a decent day against a Dolphins team that yields the 8th most fantasy points to wide receivers- if Sanchez gets the time. A victory gets the Jets another divisional win and evens their record at 4-4 going into their bye week. They’ll take it…

BRONCOS over the Saints-Coming off of their bye, the Broncos take on a Saints team that clearly is under achieving this season. They lost their first four games before defeating the Chargers and Bucs. Their defense is almost non-existent yielding the second most fantasy points to running backs in the league, making Willis McGahee a great play this week in what should be a high scoring affair. Peyton Manning will be throwing against a Saints team that gives up the 4th most FP to WRs in the league. The Broncos secondary can be scored upon as well but have a better overall defense and should pick up their 4th win in this one.

#18 Peyton Manning should put up some good numbers vs the Saints this weekend. RB Willis McGahee is a good play as well.

PACKERS over the Jags- The 4-3 Packers have been coming on since their stunning loss to the Indianapolis Colts in week #5. They beat the Texans and the Rams in their last two and hopefully will not have a let down in this potential ‘Trap’ game against the lowly Jags. The Jags have a fairly good defense but with Maurice Jones-Drew out this week their offense will take a huge hit. Aaron Rodgers completed 81% of his passes last week vs a pretty good Rams secondary and will be challenged a bit as Greg Jennings will sit this one out and Jordy Nelson (hamstring-hurt in practice) is questionable at this point until the extent of this latest setback is known. Expect a lot of Jermichael Finley in this one.

49ers over the CARDINALS- This is a tough game to call as these two teams are so evenly matched. Both have excellent defenses and they play in the same division. They split the season series last year with Arizona winning their game at home by 2 points. The Niners held Larry Fitzpatrick to just 41 yards and a score at S.F. but then he burned them for 149 yards and a touchdown in ‘Arizona. This season however, S.F. is 31st in FP to opposing WRs, just behind the Jets so Fitz might be in for more for a fight defensively this weekend. On the other side, Alex Smith will not be a great play this week as the Cards have given up the least fantasy points to QBs this season. We’re going with the Niners in another close one.

#11 WR Larry Fitzgerald will have to be slowed down if the 49ers are to win this contest vs the Cards. He torched them for 149 yards and 1 TD in Dec. ’11. Photo: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

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Fantasy Football: Week #7 Waiver Wire Pickups

Posted by fantasyfurnace on October 17, 2012
Posted in: NFL. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , . 8 Comments

With a plethora of injuries following week #6, and in addition to another in a series of bye weeks, there are some nice additions that you can make to your roster listed here. The key is to act quickly before you find yourself scraping the bottom of the proverbial barrel. Here are our best five waiver wire pickups for week #7:

Josh Gordon-WR-Browns- There certainly appears to be some decent chemistry between QB Brandon Weeden and WR Josh Gordon. Targeted the second most times in last week’s contest, Gordon had a 71 yard touchdown pass vs the Bengals and totaled 99 yards on the day. This week he’ll go up against the Indianapolis Colts who have given up the 7th most fantasy points to wide receivers this season. Owned in less than 20% of leagues, Gordon makes for a decent flex play and serviceable WR2 in week #7.

Felix Jones-RB-Cowboys- With usual starting RB DeMarco Murray (foot) already ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers, Felix Jones become a Must Add in all formats this week. Jones ran for just under the century mark (92 yards) and a touchdown against Baltimore last week and should have an easier time of it vs a Panther’s team that’s yielded the 2nd most fantasy points to running backs. Plus, Jones can catch a ball or two as well and will be an asset in PPR leagues this week as well. As of Tuesday, Jones was owned in only 26% of leagues; a figure that’s sure to triple before the week is over.

#28 RB Felix Jones is getting a chance to start now that injured DeMarco Murray is sidelined. He’s a must add for week #7. Photo: Associated Press

Kendall Wright-WR-Titans- How this rookie isn’t more widely owned is beyond belief, especially in PPR formats. He has 33 receptions on the season to go along with 285 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns. He caught 6 passes for 71 yards last week vs the Steelers and dropped a very catchable pass which would have been a touchdown. He’ll face Buffalo this week, a team that allows the 5th most fantasy points to wide receivers. Available in over 60% of leagues, you would be wrong not to grab Wright this week!

Phil Dawson-K-Browns- ‘Old reliable’ has been on a role of sorts and not just for this season. He has connected on all of his 12 field goal  attempts this year and 18 in a row dating back to last season! Last week he nailed a 41 and 38 yarder in a windy stadium in Cleveland and will go up against the Colts in week #7 which should afford him more opportunities to keep his perfect record alive. He makes a great replacement for Falcons K Matt Bryant (on a bye this week) and is available in 75% of most leagues.

LeGarrette Blount-RB-Buccaneers- Before you start to roll your eyes with our last pickup, RB starter Doug Martin is still exactly that; the starting RB for the Buccaneers. However, for managers in deeper leagues in search of a flex play option, Blount is well worth a grab. He has scored a touchdown in each of  his last two games and last week had just six less carries than Martin. We like him this week because the Bucs take on the Saints who just happen to give up the most fantasy points to running backs in the league. As of Tuesday, Blount was available in 80% of leagues.

#27 RB LeGarrette Blount has scored a touchdown in two consecutive games and is going up vs the running back friendly N.O. Saints. AP Photo/John Raoux

THE FURNACE’S WEEK #15 PICKUPS

Posted by fantasyfurnace on December 14, 2011
Posted in: NFL. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

FIVE PICKUPS-WEEK #15

1. FELIX JONES-RB-COWBOYS- DeMarco Murray came in to replace Jones after he suffered a high ankle sprain back in week 6. Now Jones finds himself replacing Murray after his severe ankle injury last week against the Giants. We touted Jones before the season started back on August 21st. Here’s what we said back then in a post called:

 6 Sleeper candidates to consider:

6) Felix Jones-RB-Cowboys- Now that Marion Barber is on the Bear’s roster, Jones is poised to have an amazing year as witnessed by his performance in the pre-season gamevs the Broncos; 18 yard run and a 16 yard reception. All he needs now is for the offensive line to do a much better job than last year. A newly bulked up Jones is surely ‘sleeper worthy’.

Cowboy RB Felix Jones makes for a Must Add this week. Photo: zimbio.com

2. DARRIUS HEYWARD-BEY- RAIDERS- The Lions give up the ninth most fantasy points to WR’s and Bey has been on a roll the last three weeks while filling in for the injured Denarius Moore. Carson Palmer has made Heyward-Bey his most targeted wideout throwing passes his way 29 times since week 12. His line over that time is 12-141-1. We’re not saying he could replace a stud like Greg Jennings but he will make a decent WR3. The rookie is available in 75% of Yahoo! leagues.

Darrius Heyward-Bey goes up for a pass vs the Kansas City Chiefs. Photo: articles.sfgate.com

3. BEN TATE-RB-TEXANS- In leagues of 10 or less, Tate could be a sneaky sleeper pickup this week  as the Texans go up against the team who gives up the most fantasy points to running backs in the league-the Carolina Panthers. He just missed the century mark last week running for 97 yards against the Cincinnati Bengals and should eclipse that total this week. He is available in about a third of all Yahoo! leagues and will make a formidable RB 2 if you’re lucky enough to snag him.

#44 RB Ben Tate just comes up a bit short on a run vs the Bengals last week. Photo: Chron.com:

4. DEMARYIUS THOMAS-WR-BRONCOS- That this wide receiver is only owned in just 16% of Yahoo! leagues is beyond comprehension. In the last two weeks Thomas has 11 receptions for 222 yards and 3 touchdowns! If that isn’t enough reason to grab this former 1st round pick of the Broncos last year, then how about this; he’ll be facing the unbelievably generous secondary of the N.E. Patriots this week. Thomas makes a very desirable add for those that had to say goodbye to Greg Jennings and now have a hole to fill. If Denver’s front line can give Tebow time like he’s had in the last two weeks where he’s thrown for almost 400 yards, then Thomas should pay dividends.

Broncos WR Demaryius Thomas scores a touchdown on a 10 yard pass from Tim Tebow last week vs the Bears. Photo: mediagallery.usatoday.com

5. DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS:

*SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: They’re facing the Chicago Bears who, although stout on defense, they have only scored 13 points in the last two weeks. Seattle by contrast, has scored 61 points and given up 27 in their last two games. Available in 57% of Yahoo! leagues.

*TENNESSEE TITANS: They are playing the 0-13 Indianapolis Colts. Enough said. They’re available in 70% of Yahoo! leagues so no excuse.

*ARIZONA CARDINALS: Going up against the hapless Cleveland Browns who could be without their QB Colt (unlucky 1st name) McCoy who sustained a concussion last week. The Browns have averaged 13.5 points a game on the season but have just averaged 6.5 in their last two. They are available in 83% of Yahoo! leagues.

Good luck to all the teams coming off their 1st round byes this week! And to all those still alive and scratching for a decent finish in your leagues.