Week 10 Fire and Ice Fantasy Football Forum | Tim Hightower, Titans RBs, more
Week 9 has come and gone, with only the Monday nighter left to play, and now we will focus on Week 10 of this 2008 NFL campaign. I have a lot to cover, so lets get to it.
(And remember to check back this Thursday for the Week 10 Fantasy Football Sleeper Focus for that late playoff push.)
On with the show:
ON FIRE…. Any team Defense that is playing the Oakland Raiders. You can count on that Defense, unless of course it is the Cleveland Browns D, who plays to the level, or lack thereof, of their opponent. Oakland is pathetic at best, and most high school teams could play them and chalk up a “W”.
Tim Hightower, RB-Cardinals ON FIRE. He was my sleeper when I started my posts this year, and has done nothing but continue to gain confidence and carries each week. Remember, Tim Hightower is a rookie, was a 5th round draft pick, and just stole Edgerrin James’ starting job. No, better yet, he ran away with it, literally. Hightower posted a 1 Touchdown, 109-yard day on 22 carries yesterday. Remember, Edgerrin James only had 3 100+ yard games in all of 2007 and it doesn’t look like he will get any in 2008.
Kurt Warner, QB-Cardinals ON FIRE. Everyone had written this guy off years ago. The 37-year old landed in Arizona to serve in the back up role for Matt Leinart. It has not quite gone that way. Kurt Warner again beat out the former first round pick in the pre-season and has not looked back. Warner has a 104.2 QB rating with 2,431 yards and 16 touchdowns. Warner is having an MVP-like season. The Cardinals offense looks fantastic and Kurt Warner is the biggest reason why.
Chris Johnson, RB-Titans ON FIRE. As of late, I had advised everyone to start both Titans running backs, even if you have them both on your team. I still stand by that, as Tennessee stands by being committed to the run. This past week however, Chris Johnson took a step out in front of his partner in crime, LenDale White. Johnson had 24 carries to White’s 8. This 3:1 ratio of carries continued even though White broke off a 54 yard scamper. Both are quality starts, and I still recommend having both on my team, but I was asked before by one of my readers which one I would rather have, and my answer was then and still is Chris Johnson.
Bill Cowher, Former HC now Football Analyst. ON FIRE. Ok, this is a pipe dream for me, but I can hardly stomach another horribly coached Browns game where they give up an enormous lead to a pitiful offense.
Romeo is a nice guy and all, but I want FIRE on the Cleveland Browns sideline. Who better to get the Browns over the landslide of losses to the Steelers then the Chin. Remember, the Chin has Cleveland ties, and I don’t remember EVER seeing Pittsburgh blow two touchdown leads. This Browns team is a playoff-caliber team, just like last year; and just like last year, the Browns will not make the playoffs again. I will make this prediction though: this team will win against the Titans if they are still undefeated when they play them. I say this just because the Browns play to the level of their opponents. Oh yeah, it would be an added bonus if Kellen Winslow didn’t play that game. Remember, Browns are 2-0 without Winslow with wins over the at-that-time undefeated Giants, and the Jaguars.
ON ICE… Any player on the following teams, including team defenses, due to their poor offensive play. The Cowboys, Raiders, Seahawks, Rams, and if no Orton, the Bears as well. You can remove a few teams from this list when Steven Jackson and Tony Romo return. The rest appear to be screwed for the duration.
I am not ready to give the Bengals any classification yet, but you have to admit that Cedric Benson looked impressive against the Jags, and Ryan Fitzpatrick is starting to look more like the Fitzpatrick who produced in St. Louis. With Benson’s performance on Sunday, this shows you how horrible the Bears offense will become if Rex Grossman has to continue to take snaps.
Please check back in on Thursday for this week’s fantasy football focus.
By the way, props to ESPN and it’s fantasy “guru” Eric Karabell (right) for his advice on starting Justin Fargas over Matt Ryan at the offensive flex position. It was in a live chat, so I can’t link out to it to properly take him to task. But I am definitely glad I didn’t listen.
Kurt Fraschetti
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[tags]fantasy football, nfl, sports forum[/tags]
Tags: cedric benson, chris johnson, Cleveland Browns, Fantasy Football, Fire and Ice, justin fargas, kurt warner, Matt Ryan, rex grossman, ryan fitzpatrick, Steven Jackson, Tim Hightower
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I can’t believe how bad Oakland was yesterday. An offense that seemingly has so much talent, and so many high draft picks, just can’t possibly be that bad. I feel bad for JaMarcus Russell. I think that guy could be really good if we was in a better situation.
Chris Johnson is the man. He is absolutely engulfed in flames.
To hell with Cedric Benson. I wasted a 5th round pick on him last year (I know…my fault, not his). I don’t care if he starts popping for 200 yards a game, I’d rather leave a spot open than ever trust him as a starter.
How about Anthony Gonzalez on fire? 2 TDs last night and you have to think that as the Colts offense gets healthy and starts getting more consistent that he can put up pretty good numbers that you might be able to get on the cheap.
Bill Cowher with the Browns? The thought of bringing in an ex-Steeler is somewhat revolting, but you can’t argue with his coaching ability. At this point, I think I’d take Bill Clinton, Bill Conlin, Bill Mallory…anyone. That game yesterday was just sad.
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Kurt,
Are your winning your fantasy league? Whats your record?
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Ryan,
In the one I run, care about the most, and have by far the most money invested, I am 4-4, after a 1-3 start, praying for a big game out of Portis tonight to go 5-4, placing me in second place in the league. This league is a 12 owner full keeper league, and I was 12-1 last year with this same team. My downfall this year has been Tom Brady going down in the first quarter of the first game for the year.
I am in 7 other leagues of different sizes and assortments, all with over a .500 record. I also am in three weekly fantasy pick em’s, which I am in the top 20% of all three. I think that next year, all of us writers for MidwestSportsFans should get a team together for bragging rights. Let me know who is interested, I will run it and we can do a live draft in a chat room. Just say when. Jerod, are you in?
Kurt
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JRod Reply:
November 3rd, 2008 at 12:42 pm
@fraschetti,
Damn straight I am in. I think it would be great. I tried to crap one together at the start of the season with as many people as we had already, but we should definitely get a real serious one going for next year.
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JRod Reply:
November 3rd, 2008 at 12:44 pm
And for the record, Gerlach and Russell are leading that league. I’m in 4th.
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Count me in.
…and Jerod, I hope that when you say, “real serious,” you mean “play for money”.
I hate winning these things for nothing, and you cant buy Mozzarella Sticks with bragging rights.
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JRod Reply:
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:34 pm
@Ryan Russell,
When I said real serious, I meant actually play for mozzarella sticks. What else is there to play for?
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Lets plan now, full keeper league or clean slate every year, auction style draft or ladder style. I recommend keeper since we are all over the US, and this will make the following years drafts alot easier. Lets pound this out.
League: MidwestSportsFans Writers
Commish: Kurt Fraschetti
Asst: Commish: please let me know who goes here
send me your name and email address and I will get it set this year for next…..
Jerod, I think promo prizes can be figured out before next year, no? I don’t know if we are at 12 writers, but we will cap it at 12.
Team D’s or Defensive players….. Lets figure it out….
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We can definitely figure out some cool prizes. Some ideas…
Midwest Sports Fans mouse pads?
The starting QB gig for the Cleveland Browns?
Mozzarella sticks?
Okay fine, so all of those suck. Let’s see what kind of sponsorship opportunities crop up over the next few months. But we’ll definitely have some prizes.
One idea though: We could use the current MSF weekly NFL pick ‘em to decide the draft order for next year. Winner picks 1st and so on. Thoughts?
I have always been a proponent of using both a defense and 3 IDPs. There is definitely some strategy involved with IDPs and they can make a huge difference in close matchups.
Personally, I would like to not be involved in any of the actual commish duties for the league. I will, however, help to quarterback the posting of results, facilitating of trash talk, etc here on the site.
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I’m going to add a new one to the list:
Derek Anderson – Ice
Brady Quinn – Fire
That was easy.
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