Fred Davis

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2013: Week #1-The Furnace’s Five Best Bets

Posted by fantasyfurnace on September 6, 2013
Posted in: NFL. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . 3 Comments

Here we are in our third year of posting our Five Best Bets; one of two of our most popular regular features during the football season. We’re glad to be back and wish all of you good luck!!

*Home team in CAPS

1. SAINTS over the Falcons- Saints head coach Sean Payton returns for his first game back following his year long suspension as of a result of the ‘Bountygate’ issues.  Lifetime, Payton is 10-2 against the Falcons and we see no reason why that shouldn’t turn into 11-2 come Sunday. Drew Brees and company have all the manpower they’ll need plus the added emotional lift they will garner from Payon’s return.

Head coach Sean Payton returns to the Saints' sidelines after a year away from the Ronald Martinez/Getty Images North America. Photo:

Head coach Sean Payton returns to the Saints’ sidelines after a year away from the club. Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images North America.

2. Chiefs over the JAGUARS- This will mark veteran head coach Andy Reid’s debut for Kansas City who were smitten with the turnover bug last season. This was a team that last year sent six players to the Pro-Bowl and we see no reason why the Chiefs won’t have the biggest turn around of any other NFL team this year.  Dwaye Bowe who is destined to make this a breakout season catching the rock from new Chief’s QB Alex Smith, along with Jamaal Charles, are just too much for the offensively challenged Jags and so a double-digit win should be in the offing for the Chiefs.

3. Bengals over the BEARS- We just don’t trust Jay Cutler especially this weekend as he’ll go up against arguably a team with a top ten defense in the league. This season there is no excuse why the ‘Dalton gang’ should not post double-digit wins. They have the offensive weapons including two sleepers in WR Mohammed Sanu and RB Giaovanni Bernard and a top five receiver in A.J. Green. The Bears defense which is always their cornerstone should keep this game close but the Bengals will win their first game of the season.

4. REDSKINS over the Eagles- Although we really don’t know what to expect from second year stud RGIII, just his presence and throwing arm should be more than enough to stifle the Maclin-less Eagles. If Michael Vick can stay upright it might make the score closer but with Vick, an injury is just one play away.  We’ll get a first-hand look at Chip Kelley’s new offense but with Alfred Morris, Fred Davis, Pierre Garcon and the rest of the ‘Skins offense, the birds will be flying south after this Monday-Nighter.

#10 QB RGIII will be back but might alter his game somewhat to stay away from further injury, however he still has a lethal, accurate arm. Look for him to be sliding following runs this season

#10 QB RGIII will be back but might alter his game somewhat to stay away from further injury, however he still has a lethal, accurate arm. Look for him to be sliding more following runs this season. Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

5. Texans over the CHARGERS- Even with San Diego’s additions of Manti Te’o, Danny Woodhead, and an aging Dwight Freeny, the Texans, on the road in their first game of the season will win this one going away. WR DeAndre Hopkins was a smart pick up for Houston as he will distract some of the attention and double teams that seem to be always going the way of Andre Johnson, and will make a decent compliment to Johnson, someone the Texans have been looking for over the past few seasons.  Would not be surprised if RB Ryan Matthews sustains some sort of injury in this one.

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Fantasy Football- These TE’s are the best of the rest…

Posted by fantasyfurnace on August 2, 2012
Posted in: NFL. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . 7 Comments

Okay, so the ‘sexy six’ Tight Ends are all off the board; Graham, Gronkowski, Davis, Hernandez, Pettigrew, and Witten. Now what do you do?

First don’t panic and settle for the two ‘old’ standbys, Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates. Gonzo will probably revert back to his 2010 numbers, especially if the Falcoms can’t get any sort of running game going as was the case last season, and as for Gates, he’s had foot injuries the last two seasons so he becomes a risk.

Instead, here are six Tight Ends to consider after the big guns have been snatched up:

1. Jermichael Finley- Packers- He’s healthy and has played in all 16 regular season games last year and had 55 receptions for 767 yards and 8 TDs. When Aaron Rodgers is your QB there is no reason to believe that the passing will diminish anytime soon.

#88 Jermichael Finley will have no problem continuing to prosper in Green Bay’s prolific offense. Photo: jerseyal.com

2. Jermaine Gresham- Bengals- Although not ranked as high as Finley, the two TE’s are very similar. Gresham had 1 less reception than Finley but had the same amount of targets (92). Bengal’s coordinator Jay Gruden will be utilizing Gresham in deeper routes which will help his production (and fantasy numbers).

3. Fred Davis- Redskins- Just like Roy Helu, Davis will become RGIII’s best friend as the neophyte QB will rely on Davis often until he gets his feet wet and his confidence elevated. If it wasn’t for that 4-game suspension (marijuana use), Davis was well on his way to a 1,000 yard season last year. I have him ranked higher than Gonzalez or Dressen…

4. Jared Cook-Titans- Cook is one of our sleepers this season so of course he has made his way to our TE list. Just check out his numbers over the last three games of the season last year when he averaged just under 112 yards a game! He has only missed 2 games over his 3 seasons in the league so he’s very durable. Another indicator of just how good he can be is to look at his 15.5 YPC last season; higher than any other TE in the league, including Gronk (14.7).

#89 TE Jared Cook, one of our sleeper picks, should build off of his 15.5 YPC from last season and become an elite TE by season’s end. Photo: juanelway.com

5a. Brent Celek- Eagles- He played through a sports hernia and torn labrum last year and never missed a game. In fact he hasn’t missed a game in his 3 years in the league. If he is fully recovered there’s no reason why Celek could not return to the numbers he put up in his rookie season 76-971-8. (With multiple injuries last year he still put up 62-811-5). He was one of our sleepers last year and we still have him as a top 10 TE by the end of this season.

5b. Joel Dreesen- Broncos- I selected two TEs for our 5 hole in case Celek suffers any setbacks in pre-season. After playing on the Texans last year Dreesen will be receiving passes from Peyton Manning this Fall. Though his number will rise over last season’s 28-353-6, Manning will also have his old TE from his Colts days Jacob Tamme to chuck the rock to so draft with confidence but temper your expectations. 

TE Joel Dreessen, formerly of the Jets and Texans will now take over the Dallas Clark role with Peyton under center in Denver, but will have competition. Photo: AP

OUR PICKS-The Next Day…

Posted by fantasyfurnace on November 29, 2011
Posted in: NFL. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . 2 Comments

Texans win the game- but lose another QB… 

Another winning week for the furnace! We went 4-1 for the second week in a row and are now officially on a ‘hot’ streak! Our first win of the day was Houston. The Texans beat the Jaguars 20-13  but it came with a price- another quarterback injury. The Texans are now all out of ‘Matts’, having lost Schaub and Leinart. It was their defense, however that enabled the Texans to win their fifth straight game, allowing only 255 total yards of  offense to the Jags. Question is, how many more injuries can Houston sustain on their road to the AFC south title? (Don’t be surprised if Brett Farve’s name comes up as a QB option by coach Gary Kubiak)…

3rd string Texans QB T.J. Yates hopes his #13 will be lucky...Photo: Matt Stamey/US Presswire

Jets didn’t win-The Bills lost…

In the ugliest game of our five picks, the N.Y. Jets miraculously pulled out a 28-24 win over the free-falling Buffalo Bills at Met Life Stadium. The Bills had several chances to pull off the upset but blew it each time. First on a pass to WR Brad Smith and then on a drop by WR Stevie Johnson. Mark Sanchez had four touchdown passes and at one point during the game, they actually put the following tidbit of information across the screen, “Mark Sanchez has just become the first Jets quarterback since Brett Favre to throw four touchdown passes in one game.” Really? Last time we checked, Sanchez is the ONLY qurterback to play on the Jets since Brett Favre!!

Bills WR Stevie Johnson mocks Plaxico Burress after scoring a TD. He received a 15 yard penalty and along with his dropped pass, hurt his team's chances of winning. Photo: Bill Kostroun

Colts shoulda, woulda, coulda beat the Panthers-but didn’t…

This was probably the Colts’ best chance to get their first win of the season. Even QB Curtis Painter threw for 18 more yards than QB Cam Newton, but the difference and the game, was lost because Painter had 2 interceptions and Cam had none. In fact Painter’s last pick came with the Colts on on the Panther’s 3 yard line with an excellent opportunity to force the game into overtime. But it wasn’t to be…Now the Colts have to deal with New England and Baltimore in their next two games. As Al Michaels would say, ” Do you believe in miracles?”

Colts QB Curtis Painter has that empty feeling following one of his two interceptions vs the Panthers. Photo: Brian Spurlock/US Presswire

Tim Tebow & the Broncos win in ‘Tebovertime’…

In this our fourth win of the day, we predicted that Tebow would be 5-1 as a starter this year after this game, and now he is. It wasn’t easy, as always, but he continues to amaze all the most ardent of non-believers with every game. We mentioned that RB Willis McGahee had run for 125 yards in the Broncos last meeting with the Chargers and he almost matched that with his 117 yards yesterday. Rivers and the Bolts continue their fall from grace with their sixth consecutive loss in a row and thus have virtually taken themselves out of any post season action.

Chargers QB Phillip Rivers had another mediocre day throwing for only 188 yards vs the Broncos. Photo: Christopher Hanewinckel/US Presswire

Redskins end slide at six-23-17 over Seahawks…

Our only loss this week saw the usually strong defensive minded Seahawks lose on a Redskin interception by DeAngelo Hall on a Tavaris Jackson pass intended for Golden Tate (sounds like crispy potato..) with just under a minute to go in the fourth quarter. The two players we said to watch in this one did not disappoint; TE Fred Davis had 4 receptions for 58 yards and a score and on the ‘Hawks, RB Marshawn Lynch had 131 all purpose yards and a TD. The Seahawks will stay in Seattle and take on the 4-7 Eagles this week followed by the 2-9 Rams, both winable games making the loss to the ‘Skins a huge missed opportunity.

RB Marshawn Lynch had a great day vs the Redskins but it wasn't enough. Photo: Otto Greule Jr./Getty Images

*Last week    4-1

**Season      34-21