Giants Daily Blitz Blog

Fantasy Primer: Week 5

The views expressed in this article are not of the New York Football Giants but those of an independent Fantasy Expert.

Start ‘em

Willis McGahee Den RB

Last Week: 19 carries, 112 yards, TD

McGahee takes on a New England Patriots defense that has been solid against the run all year averaging 85.3 yards against, 8th overall. But the Patriots have yet to face a quarterback of the caliber of Peyton Manning, who will attempt to open up the offense off of play action pass and a plethora of half-back draws, that should reward McGahee nicely this weekend in Foxboro.

Jeremy Kerley NYJ WR

Last Week : 2 catches, 12 yards

Excluding last week, Kerley has 8 catches, 185 yards and two touchdowns.  WIth the loss of Santonio Holmes out for the season, Sanchez will depend on the second year man from TCU in a big way come this Monday, as his role in the Jets offense more than likely has expanded    .

Matt Hasselbeck Ten QB

Last Week: 193 passing yards, 2 TD’s, 3 turnovers

It’s always a tough spot coming off the bench against possibly the
best defense in the league (Houston Texans) and try to perform at a high level.  This week Hasselbeck has the ability to show Tennessee what they passed on in the beginning of the season, when they decided to go with 2nd year Quarterback Jake Locker as their starter and not the 14 year vet. Time will tell.

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Giants Fantasy Challenge

The gauntlet has been thrown down.

The Giants broadcast and print crew has finally decided to engage in the ultimate contest of football knowledge (and good fortune): Fantasy Football!

Each week Bob Papa, Howard Cross, Roman Oben, Paul Dottino, Jeff Feagles, Anita Marks, John Schmeelk, Lance Medow, Dan Salomone and the man crunching all the numbers, Dave Melroy, will go head to head to prove who is the best (and luckiest) fantasy football player around.

Dollar values are assigned to each player based up on their ranking on NFL.com – and our players choose their team while maintaining a $40 budget.

Tune into Big Blue Kickoff Live every weekday morning from 9:30-10:30 to talk Giants Football and track this year’s New York Giants fantasy football league.

Fantasy Preview: Thursday Night Football

The views expressed in this article are not of the New York Football Giants but those of an independent Fantasy Expert.

Andre Roberts, WR, Cardinals

Last Week: 6 catches, 118 yards, 2 TD’s, 9 targets

Roberts and Kolb seem to have some chemistry early in the 2012 season.  The Cardinals’ second-year receiver from The Citadel already has four touchdowns through the first 4 weeks of the season, which is tied for best in the league with Vernon Davis, Scott Chandler and Heath Miller. Though the Rams secondary ranks 11^th against the pass, expect Roberts to produce at a respectable level in a tough match-up.

Brandon Gibson, WR, Rams

Last Week: 2 catches, 28 yards, 4 targets

Gibson got off to a hot start in the first two weeks of the season, putting back to back 50-plus receiving games, with a touchdown grab in each.  In the past two weeks, Gibson has a combined 4 catches, 47 yards and no scores.  With the Rams suffering injuries at the running back position, Gibson’s role should be well expanded come game time.

Ryan Williams, RB, Cardinals

Last Week: 13 carries, 26 yards

After a rough last game, Ryan Williams will have something to prove and showcase on Thursday Night Football against the rival Rams.  Williams had a great week three, rushing for 83 yards off 13 carries against an impressive run stuffing defense in the Philadelphia  Eagles.  Hoping to erase memories of week four, Williams has the opportunity to do just that, when he faces the 26th ranked rush defense in the National Football League.

Week 4 Fantasy Football Grades

The views expressed in this article are not of the New York Football Giants but those of an independent Fantasy Expert.

Starters

Scott Chandler, TE, Bills

Last week: 4 catches, 62 yards, 2 Touchdowns

Chandler had a monster game vs. New England Patriots, scoring twice on passes from respectively twenty-four and twenty yards out.  He lead all tight ends in scoring and is tied (H.Miller and V.Davis) for the league in touchdown passes for tight ends with four.  Some other players you may have heard of with less scores than Chandler, Rob Gronkowski (3), Jimmy Graham (3), Witten (1) and Antonio Gates (0).

Arrow: Up

Mikel Leshoure, RB, Lions

Last week: 13 carries, 26 yards; 4 catches, 37 yards

Leshoure did not have the best of his young fantasy days this past week vs. Minnesota Vikings defense that ranks 7th in the league against the run.  Leading up till the weekend hit, Leshoure appeared as if he was going to play well, after a stellar break out game last week (26 carries, 100 yards, TD).  Once the weekend hit, his status was of major concern.  He did make up for his sub par performance by hauling in four grabs for thirty-seven yards. With Leshoure barely being able to move out there, a much needed bye week is upcoming for a banged up (1-3) Detroit Lions team.

Arrow: Neutral

Tashard Choice, RB, Bills

Last week: 2 carries, 14 yards, 1 catch

Choice didn’t get the opportunity to start, that was thought he would get earlier in the week. Bills starting running backs Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller made miraculous comebacks to start the game, from what was once anticipated to be more severe injuries, leading them to sit out at least another week or two.  Now that both Spiller and Jackson are back healthy, Choice seems to be irrelevant yet once again in his short lived career in the realm that is fantasy football.

Arrow: Neutral

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Fantasy Primer: Week 4

The views expressed in this article are not of the New York Football Giants but those of an independent Fantasy Expert.

Start

Mikel Leshoure, RB, Lions

Last Week: 26 carries, 100 yards, TD

Leshoure got the opportunity to carry the rushing load last week and he didn’t disappoint.  This week he will face a Vikings defense that ranks12th vs. run, but with Matthew Stafford possibly sidelined for the week, back-up quarterback Shaun Hill will depend on Leshoure to help open up the passing game.  Anywhere from 17-20 carries will be plenty enough for the Lions running back to make a significant impact this weekend.

Tashard Choice, RB, Bills

Last Week: Browns: 20 carries, 91 yards

Choice is expected to get the majority of the carries in Buffalo this week with both C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson recovering from injuries. Choice is a 5th year back-up running back who is trying to prove something.  He finally gets his opportunity this week at home vs. rival New England Patriots.  With a potential job on the line, Choice is a must start.

Devery Henderson, WR, Saints

Last Week: 4 catches, 53 Yards

After missing a week from injury, Henderson was installed back in the Saints line-up last weekend and looked sharp.  The only problem that Henderson faces is his teammates, as Drew Brees is renown for spreading the wealth around.  Last year in Green Bay, Henderson caught 6 passes for 100 yards, including 29-yard touchdown in the 42-34 shootout. With the potential of the Saints being 0-4 or the Packers starting 1-3, both Brees and Rodgers should be at their very best.

Robert Meachem, WR, Chargers

Last Week: 4 catches, 43 yards

Meachem has had an abysmal start to his career in San Diego. Having caught 2 passes for 49 yards in the opener and then laying a goose egg in week 2.  The newly acquainted Charger has been struggling to find his role in the offense so far.  Rivers and Meachem ought to discover the chemistry vs. Chiefs secondary that ranks 22nd vs. opposing wide receivers.

Scott Chandler, TE, Bills

Last Week: 2 catches, 22 yards

Chandler started the season off by scoring two touchdowns in the first two weeks of the season.  He has established himself as the second red-zone target in the passing game behind Steve Johnson.  With a lousy week 3 showing, Chandler has the chance to find the goal line yet again as he did a year ago ( 2 catches, 10 yards, TD) vs. Patriots (24th ranked vs. pass) in Buffalo.

Top Defense: Cardinals Defense

Last Week vs. Eagles: 5 sacks, 3 FF, 1 TD

Cardinals defense has been a surprise thus far in the 2012 season, as well as being one of just three teams remaining that are undefeated. This success can most be attributed to the Cardinals defense presenting havoc on opposing quarterbacks. With twelve sacks and five forced fumbles in three games played, Arizona will go as far as their defense will take them.

Bench

Chris Johnson, RB, Titans

Last Week: 14 carries, 24 yards

Needless to say Chris Johnson is not the same CJ2K we all use to know. With only 45 yards rushing on the entire season from 33 rushes is beyond miserable.  Facing what most believe to be the very best defense in the league, Johnson should struggle yet again continuing his streak for being one of the biggest two year busts in fantasy history.

Jay Cutler, QB, Bears

Last Week: 183 passing yards, INT

Cutler’s been a fantasy nightmare as of late.  In his past two games combined he has a total of five interceptions, no touchdowns and 309 passing yards.  In week 1, 333 passing yards and 2 touchdowns, interception vs. Colts.  Which Cutler will show up Monday when the Bears face the 2nd ranked defense vs. pass in Dallas is the looming question that remains.

Packers Defense

Last Week vs. Seahawks: 14 points allowed, 1 sack

Packers defense had a strong outing in arguably one of if not the most controversial games called of all-time.  Green Bay faces a tough task this week as they will play the 0-3 New Orleans Saints.  Brees will be eager to win as he ever has in a regular season game, when they take on the 1-2 Green Bay Packers Sunday.  This has shoot-out potential written all over it.

Santonio Holmes, WR, Jets

Last Week: 9 catches, 147 yards

Holmes has been productive all year as of late.  In week 1, four catches and  68 yards.  In week 2, three catches for 28 yards and a touchdown.  This week Holmes faces one of the toughest secondaries in the game, San Francisco.  8th against the run and 13th vs. pass, the Niners defense is bound to cause problems for any number one receiver they face, week in and week out.

Greg Olsen, TE, Panthers

Last Week: 7 catches, 98 yards vs. Giants

Most of Olsen’s seven grabs he had from last Thursday nights game was in garbage time, as the Giants dominated from start to finish.  The Falcons linebacking core has done a tremendous job of stopping the opponents starting tight end each week ( Falcons rank 7th vs. pass).  Their most recent victim, holding stud tight-end Antonio Gates to three receptions for twenty-two yards last week.  This game will be a lot closer than the last one the Panthers played.  Carolina will be forced to run a lot more in order to slow down one of the most balanced offensive attacks in football.

Giants Fantasy Challenge

The gauntlet has been thrown down.

The Giants broadcast and print crew has finally decided to engage in the ultimate contest of football knowledge (and good fortune): Fantasy Football!

Each week Bob Papa, Howard Cross, Roman Oben, Paul Dottino, Jeff Feagles, Anita Marks, John Schmeelk, Lance Medow, Dan Salomone and the man crunching all the numbers, Dave Melroy, will go head to head to prove who is the best (and luckiest) fantasy football player around.

Dollar values are assigned to each player based up on their ranking on NFL.com – and our players choose their team while maintaining a $40 budget.

Tune into Big Blue Kickoff Live every weekday morning from 9:30-10:30 to talk Giants Football and track this year’s New York Giants fantasy football league.

Fantasy Preview: Thursday Night Football

The views expressed in this article are not of the New York Football Giants but those of an independent Fantasy Expert.

Jacoby Jones, WR, BAL

Last Week: 3 catches, 86 yards vs. Patriots

In the past three games, Jones has seven catches for 157 yards, including twenty-one yard touchdown reception and is averaging 21.8 yards per catch.  He has proved to be one of the top viable deep threats for the Baltimore Ravens’ offense, behind Torrey Smith. Thursday, Jones will try to take advantage of a Browns secondary (ranked 30th vs. wide receivers) that will need to find a way to fill the void of suspended starting cornerback Joe Haden.

Trent Richardson, RB, CLE

Last Week: 12 carries, 27 yards, TD vs. Bills

Richardson had his second tough outing of the season last week. His six receptions for twenty-four yards in week three was encouraging though, as he is emerging in the Browns passing game.  In week two, Richardson also had a 32-yard touchdown catch vs. Bengals.  The Ravens defense is a scary one to face.  Especially at home.  But that won’t stop the rookie running back from finding the end zone at least once, in a very tough match-up.

Dennis Pitta, TE, BAL

Last Week: 5 catches, 50 yards, TD vs. Patriots

Pitta has been a legitimate starting tight-end the past three weeks. In week one, five catches for seventy-three yards and a score.  In week two, eight catches for 65 yards. After another solid start from this past week, five receptions for 50 yards and a touchdown, expect more of the same success tonight.

Week 3 Fantasy Grades

The views expressed in this article are not of the New York Football Giants but those of an independent Fantasy Expert.

Start

Lance Moore (Week 3: 4 catches, 70 yards, TD vs, Chiefs)

Moore had a fast start to the day, scoring on a 9-yard touchdown pass from Drew Brees, with 12:18 remaining in the first quarter.  Moore and Brees connected on 4 out of 7 targets throughout the game. The Saints’ wide-out also would have had an 18-yard reception in the 3rd quarter, until it was taken away from a reversed call.

Arrow: Up

Michael Bush (Week 3: 18 carries 55 yards, TD vs. Rams)

The Bears’ off-season signing of veteran running back, Michael Bush seems to be working out just fine in Chicago.  In 3 games, bush has 3 td and looks to be the premier goal- line back whether or not Matt Forte is starting.

Arrow: Up

Brian Hartline (Week 3: 1 catch, 41 yards, 9 targets vs. Jets)

Hartline was targeted 9 times and yet only had one catch.  Revis Island was in full effect in Miami and Hartline felt the wrath of arguably the best cornerback in football.  Though it was only 41 yards, Hartline and Tannehill seem to be the primary link for the Miami Dolphins passing game.

Arrow: Neutral

Randy Moss (Week 3: 3 catches, 27 yards, 6 Targets vs. Vikings)

Moss saw plenty of action in Sunday’s shocking 24-9 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.  Alex Smith was throwing Moss’ way most of the time in the red zone but the two never had the touchdown catch some predicted.  Better luck next week vs. injured New York Jets secondary.

Arrow: Down

Ben Tate (Week 3: 8 carries, 26 yards, fumble lost vs. Broncos)

Tate struggled Sunday.  A disappointing performance for the usually consistent running back, Tate couldn’t seem to find his rhythm vs. a tough front 7 of the Denver Broncos.  An ambitious start and a bad one in that.  The good news is the Texans seem to look at Tate for about 8-13 carries a week.  The bad news, Tate’s game this past weekend.

Arrow: Down

Best Defense

49ers (Week 3: 24 points allowed, 4 fumbles caused, 2 recovered vs. Vikings)

344 yards against and allowing 24 points is unusual in its own right for the Niners to give up, but to the Vikings is uncanny.  Every year a dominant defense has a few average weeks, it’s the National Football League, it happens.  Plain and simple, this was one of those weeks for San Francisco.  New York Jets’ struggling offense could be a viable opponent, to get back on track with.

Arrow: Neutral

Bench

Vincent Jackson WR TB (Week 3: 1 catch, 29 Yards vs. Cowboys)

Jackson was targeted seven times and limited to one catch, after coming off 5 catches for 128 yards and a score the week before.  The young defensive backs for the Dallas Cowboys prove yet again there a solid secondary and capable of covering some of the most dependable wide receivers in the game.

Arrow: Up

Raiders Defense (Week 3: 31 points allowed, 2 fumbles recoveries, 1 sack vs. Steelers)

Ben Roethlisberger threw 4 touchdowns and had 384 yards passing.
Giving up 433 total yards is never a positive day for the defensive side of the ball.  The Raiders defense look at yet another tough match-up in Denver, facing a struggling yet determined 1-2 Broncos team, who is coming off another tough nail biting 31-25 loss last week vs. Texans.

Arrow: Up

Jacob Tamme TE DEN (Week 3: 3 catches, 31 yards vs. Texans)

Tamme was contained all afternoon by possibly one of the quickest linebacking cores in the league in the Houston Texans.  Manning almost connected with Tamme towards the end of regulation but was unsuccessful.  Denver’s starting tight-end should have a better outing in week 4 vs. Raider defense, who let Pittsburgh tight end Heath Miller, score two touchdowns last week.

Arrow: Up

Shonn Greene RB NYJ (Week 3: 19 carries, 40 yards vs. Dolphins)

Greene had a rough first half and picked it up a bit in the second half.  Either way you look at it, it definitely didn’t hurt or help you by playing him.

Arrow: Neutral

Matt Schaub, QB HOU (Week 3: 290 passing yards, 4 TD’s vs. Broncos)

Schaub shut me up pretty quick before the 1st half was even complete, throwing three touchdowns.  Arguably even outplaying the great Peyton Manning (316 passing yards, 2 TD’s), who played outstanding in his own right.  The Texans QB managed to keep the Houston offense rolling all afternoon and start the season with best record (3-0) in the AFC.

Arrow: Down

Free Agent Pick-Ups

Tashard Choice RB BUF (Week 3: 20 carries, 91 yards vs. Browns)

With both Buffalo’s no.1 and no.2 running backs on the depth chart significantly injured, Choice is the next man up.  The Bills latest running back to take over as the starter will face a New England defense in week 4, which is much improved from last year.  The 5th year man out of Georgia Tech has been somewhat of a journey man as of late and has been waiting for an opportunity such as this one to present itself.

Armon Binns WR CIN (Week 3: 3 catches, 63 yards, TD vs. Redskins)

Binns has improving each week thus far in the 2012 season.  Posting 4 catches in week 1, 5 receptions for 66 yards in week 2 and this past week he had 63 yards receiving, which included a 48 yard touchdown catch that left defenders in his dust.  Binns will try and continue his early-success vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars in week 4.

Heath Miller TE PIT (Week 3: 8 catches 60 yards 2 TD’s vs. Raiders)

Heath Miller now has a total of 4 touchdown receptions on the year in just 3 weeks played. Miller had only two touchdowns all of last year, when he started in all 16 games.  Roethlisberger has found his favorite target in the red-zone this year.  Known primarily for his blocking, Miller has re-invented his niche in the Pittsburgh passing game.

Jeremy Kerley WR NYJ (Week 3: 2 catches, 73 yards, Touchdown vs. Dolphins)

Kerley has put in an impressive last 3 weeks of football.  Week 1 vs. Buffalo: 4 catches for 45 yards and Touchdown.  Week 2: 2 catches, 67 yards and in week 3: 2 catches for 73 yards and his 2nd score of the year.  Sanchez has drawn a liking to Kerley, who was targeted only 3 times, capitalizing on almost all of the opportunities that were thrown his way.

Cecil Shorts WR JAC (Week 3: 1 catch, 80 yards, TD vs. Colts)

Though Shorts had no catches in week 2 and only one catch in week 1 ( 74-yard touchdown reception), the speedster out of Mount Union, shows he can make plays down the stretch.  His shown play-making ability alone gives Shorts worthy of a wire pick-up.

Giants Broadcasters Fantasy Challenge

The gauntlet has been thrown down.

The Giants broadcast and print crew has finally decided to engage in the ultimate contest of football knowledge (and good fortune): Fantasy Football!

Each week Bob Papa, Howard Cross, Roman Oben, Paul Dottino, Jeff Feagles, Anita Marks, John Schmeelk, Lance Medow, Dan Salomone and the man crunching all the numbers, Dave Melroy, will go head to head to prove who is the best (and luckiest) fantasy football player around.

Every week dollar values are assigned to each player based up on their ranking on NFL.com – and our players choose their team while maintaining a $40 budget.

Tune into Big Blue Kickoff Live every weekday morning from 9:30-10:30 to talk Giants Football and track this year’s New York Giants fantasy football league.

Fantasy Primer: Week 3

The views expressed in this article are not of the New York Football Giants but those of an independent Fantasy Expert.

Start

Michael Bush

Week 2: 14 carries , 54 yards vs. GB

Bush had a decent last week.  With Forte’s health in question for the next few weeks, Bush will be a great fill in and a legitimate starter for weeks to come.  As long as he’s starting for the Bears, he should be starting for your team.

Brian Hartline

Week 2: 9 catches, 111 yards vs. OAK

Hartline and Tannehill look to have found something to build off of after an impressive 35-13 win vs. Oakland Raiders.  An abundance of Hartline’s catches came off of back shoulder throws from Ryan Tannehill, which shows signs of confidence between the two.  Facing a banged up Jets secondary, expect more of the same in the first meeting of the two AFC East meetings.

Lance Moore

2012 season : Eight catches, 150, TD

Moore had a solid Week 1 and then slipped into fantasy oblivion once again, shortly after only having two catches for 30 yards in the Saints’ 35-27 loss to the Panthers last Sunday.  The Chiefs have the 22nd ranked defense vs. Wide outs this season and the Saints have Drew Brees, Winner= Lance Moore.

Ben Tate

Week 2: 12 carries, 74 yards, two TD’s vs. JAC

After only having five carries for six yards in Week 1, Tate went off scoring two touchdowns and added on 74 yards from 12 carries.  Arian Foster’s 110 yards and TD .  One of most explosive and best running back duo’s in the league, watch for Tate to see more action.

Randy Moss

2012 Season: Four catches, 61 yards, TD

Moss contributed with a lonely one catch for 14 yards, in last week’s 27-19 win over the Detroit Lions.  Moss will visit Minnesota for the first time since his playing days there, when he was un-coverable. I see Smith finding Moss in the back corner of the end-zone for one last rendezvous at the place where it all started.

Best Defense: 49ers Defense

After holding the Packers to just 22 points in Week 1, they held the Lions to 19 in Week 2.  Now the Vikings enter the picture in Week 3 and though they do have Adrian Peterson on their side, he’s not all the way back healthy as his snap count would best indicate that. Vikings Quarterback, Christian Ponder, throughout  these past two seasons has shown some nice poise and pocket presence when being held under duress, don’t count on this being one of those times.

Bench

Vincent Jackson WR TB

Jackson had an impressive Week 2 with five catches for 128 yards and a score.  However, in Week 1 he had a measly four catches for 47 yards.  The Cowboys haven’t had too much consistency thus far this season.  The one thing they have shown is that they have a secondary (fourth vs. opposing wide-outs) who can play with the best of them. With the additions of veteran corner, Brandon Carr and highly touted rookie, Morris Clairborne, the Bucs’ flankers may be in for a rough afternoon.

Shonn Greene NYJ RB

Greene’s Week 1 match-up vs. Buffalo, had a productive  27 carries for 94 yards and a rushing touchdown.  This last weekend, when the Jets took on the Pittsburgh Steelers, he had 11 carries for 23 yards. Greene is hit or miss type of running back, this week feels like a miss.

Raiders D

Not only did the Raiders defense give up 35 points to a very average and inexperienced Miami Dolphins offense but Reggie Bush rushed for 177 yards (Mia 249 total rushing yards), two TD’s and Tannehill had two scores of his own.  Oakland has had some tough injuries all over the defensive side of the ball including defensive studs, Rolando McClain and Richard Seymour, but nothing worse than their secondary problems (Spencer, Francies).  Big Ben, Antonio Brown and the sixty-second man  Mike Wallace) may have another pass happy game, as they prepare to attack the young and vulnerable Oakland Raiders defensive-backs.

Jacob Tamme Den TE

Tamme had a nice start to the season with five catches, 43 yards and a touchdown.  Last week vs. Falcons he had only two catches for 13 yards. Peyton looked his way a few times last week with drops that quickly followed.  The Denver tight end now faces the Houston Texans defense, who are currently ranked first vs. Tight ends in the 2012 season.

Matt Schaub QB HOU

Schaub’s first two games are tough to grade.  In both contests, the Texans were up in dominant fashion and continued to show the rest of the league their ground and pound offensive mentality with Foster and Tate at the helm.  Week 1, 266 yards passing, TD and Week 2, 195 yards passing and zero Touchdowns.  Denver is known for their shut down corners, in future first-ballet hall of famer, Champ Bailey and underrated, under-appreciated, Tracy Porter.  Conclusion, this doesn’t look like the game for Schaub to have a break out game.  Week 4 vs. Titans looks good.