Giants Daily Blitz Blog

Fantasy Football Primer

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

START

QB Sam Bradford, Rams

Last Week: 377 passing yards, 3 TDs

Bradford has had a rollercoaster-type season thus far in 2012. He has thrown only 11 interceptions all year (and one fumble lost) to go along with his 18 passing touchdowns. However, he has four games in which he didn’t throw a touchdown and only three in which he threw for more
than 300 yards. But whichever quarterback is playing Tampa Bay’s seems to have one of their best games statistically of the year.  Tampa Bay ranks last in pass defense, allowing an average of 310 passing yards per game.

RB Vick Ballard, Colts

Last Week: 105 rushing yards

Ballard has been a pleasant surprise for owners who have been facing injuries at the running back position.  In the past three weeks alone, he’s totaled 271 yards and a touchdown.  With Kansas City’s rush defense ranking 27th in the league, giving up 136 yards per week on the ground, look for Ballard to continue his success this upcoming Sunday.

WR Justin Blackmon, Jaguars

Last Week: 93 yards receiving

Blackmon’s rookie season has produced just three touchdowns up to this point. He’s had his highs (Week 11, 236 receiving yards, 7 catches and one touchdown) and lows, having four games combined for just
23 yards and three catches.  Whenever going up against New England (29th in league in pass defense, 270 ypg allowed), it could be a shootout, meaning more balls are going to be thrown his way, regardless of the score of the game.

Read more »

Week 15 Fantasy Football Grades

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

Fantasy Week 16 Grades/Waiver Adds

Jonathan Dwyer: 22 yards, TD

Dwyer didn’t have the stellar performance we were all hoping for, but he did score a touchdown. In a must win game for the Steelers against the rival Bengals, Dwyer could have a big impact on whether or not they will advance to the playoffs this season.

Arrow: Up

Lions defense: 38 points allowed, Interception, sack

The Lions defense was pretty atrocious to say the very least, but it didn’t totally kill your chances of winning this week with one turnover and a sack. However, they didn’t help you win.

Arrow: Neutral

Danario Alexander: 0 yards

Alexander put up zeros in every category last week.  After looking like he was going to be one of the top wideouts in fantasy for playoffs, he laid a giant goose egg in the most important matchup for fantasy leagues to date this season.  Though you can never make up for a miserable performance like that, you can try and learn from it.

Arrow: Down

Read more »

Week 15 Fantasy Football Primer

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

Josh Freeman QB Buccaneers, last week: 189 passing yards, 2 touchdowns

Freeman will be going against a New Orleans Saints defense that ranks 30th in the NFL (284 ypg) against the pass.  In their first meeting, Freeman had his best game of the year, throwing for 420 yards and three touchdowns, back in Week 7.  More of the same should come this Sunday.

Jonathan Dwyer RB, Steelers, last week: 32 yards rushing

Dwyer gets the nod this week for the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have a pivotal matchup vs. Dallas that will affect both teams’ playoff hopes.  Expect plenty of carries for Dwyer because of the simple fact that the Dallas secondary, which ranks eight against the pass, will be trying to shut down the passing game first, as they usually tend to do.

Danario Alexander WR Chargers, last week: 88 yards receiving, 2 touchdowns

Since Week 9, Alexander has combined for 555 yards, 33 receptions and five touchdowns in just six games played in 2012. The Chargers’ new stud wideout will be looking to continue that success in Week 15, when he will be playing a Panthers defense that is pretty solid against pass (13^th) but gives up too many big plays. Alexander should be a part of at least one.

Read more »

Week 14 Fantasy Football Grades

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

Jason Avant WR Eagles, last week: 7 receptions, 133 yards

Avant had arguably his best day as a professional stat-wise last weekend, hauling in seven catches for 133 yards. Avant also had 12 targets, which was second to Jeremy Maclin’s 13.  Look for more of the same production this weekend.

Arrow: Up

Joe Flacco QB Ravens, last week: 3 TD’s, 182 passing yards

Flacco got off to a hot start throwing three touchdowns in the first half vs. Washington’s last-ranked pass defense. However, Flacco wasn’t perfect in the second half, turning the ball over twice with a fumble and an interception.  He didn’t have break the 300-yard marker but the three touchdowns make up for anything and everything.

Arrow: Up

DeMarco Murray RB Cowboys, last week: 75 total yards, TD

Murray carried the ball 21 times Sunday vs. Cincinnati, recording 53 yards on the ground and 22 more in the receiving game.  He’s definitely not back to 100 percent, but who is at this point in the season?  A tough rushing touchdown showed enough to give him another start next week as well.

Arrow: Up

Read more »

Fantasy Football Primer

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

Joe Flacco QB Ravens, last week: 188 passing yards, TD, 2 turnovers

Flacco has been up and down this year, throwing 350 yards in Week 12 and then having 188 this past week.  He started off the season passing for 299, 232, 382, and 356 yards before dipping to 187, 234,147, and 153 in Weeks 5-8. This week, he’ll be up against the 31st ranked pass defense (299 passing yards per game), and the gunslinger out of Delaware should reach that 300-yard passing mark once again.

DeMarco Murray RB Cowboys, last week: 83 yards rushing, TD

Murray looked healthy last week, carrying the ball 23 times for 83 yards and a rushing touchdown. Facing the Cincinnati Bengals this week (11th rush defense in the league), it’s a good thing the Cowboys tend to only use one primary back.  Murray should be back to normal come Sunday.

Tony Moeaki TE Chiefs, last week: 54 yards, TD

Moeaki once was sought out to be a nice replacement for the greatest tight end of all time in Tony Gonzalez until nagging injuries hurt his production in a major way the past few years. However, you can’t deny his skill set and has proven he can make some ridiculous catches when the ball is thrown his way. With Brady Quinn coming off his best game of his NFL career, Moeaki will benefit. Expect plenty of targets for Moeaki, especially this week against Cleveland.
Read more »

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.

TE Jacob Tamme, Broncos

Last Week: 89 yards

Tamme had his best game of the season last week with nine receptions for 89 yards.  Meanwhile, the Oakland Raiders rank 25th against the pass, allowing more than 250 yards per game.  Coming off arguably one of the most productive games of his career, look for Tamme to come up big again and possibly find the end zone for third third time this season.

WR Denarius Moore, Raiders

Last Week: 31 yards

Moore caught two passes for 31 yards in last Sunday’s 20-17 loss to the Cleveland Browns.  The hot start for Moore passed quickly, and in his last three games combined, he has four receptions for 60 yards and a touchdown. Compare that to Weeks 6-10, when Moore had four touchdowns, 22 catches and 389 yards.  Case and point: he’s due.

Week 13 Fantasy Football Grades

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

Steve Johnson WR Bills

Last Week: 2 catches, 18 yards, TD

Johnson caught his fifth touchdown of the year against New England on Sunday, but shortly after was taken out of the game with a hamstring injury.  At the very least he got you a touchdown before exiting the game and will more than likely play this week vs. St. Louis Rams.

Arrow: Up

Aaron Hernandez TE Patriots

Last Week: 97 yards

Hernadez caught eight passes for 97 yards (both season highs) in Sunday’s 23-16 win over Miami.  Now a primetime matchup against the Houston Texans (19th ranked pass defense) is up next on Sunday night. With Rob Gronkowski still sidelined, Hernandez’s production will continue to be high, especially when they start to enter that red zone.

Arrow: Up

Jets Defense

Last Week: 6 points allowed, interception, 2 sacks

The Jets defense gave up the least amount of points to an opponent all week, holding Arizona to an impressive six points.  Although the defense didn’t score any touchdowns or have multiple turnovers, it did manage to have two sacks and held the Cardinals to just two field goals all game. That should be enough for any starting defense, any week.

Arrow: Up

Read more »

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 Football Primer

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

Knowshown Moreno RB Broncos, last week: 85 rushing yards

Moreno looked like a former first round pick last week at Arrow Stadium, running the ball 20 times for 85 yards while adding four receptions for 26 yards. Although the Broncos face the best rush defense in the league this week, Tampa Bay also ranks 32nd in the league defending the pass, which will make for an interesting matchup with Peyton Manning at quarterback.  The Broncos offense should be able to get the play-action going early and open up plenty of opportunities for Moreno and the entire Denver offense.

Andy Dalton QB Bengals, last week: 210 passing yards, 3 TDs

Dalton has nine touchdowns in his past three games played.  Through that three-game span, the red rifle hasn’t turned the ball over once and has yet to throw an interception in over a month (since Week 9 vs Denver).  With the San Diego Chargers pass defense ranking 20th in the NFL  (243 yards up per game) and his new favorite red zone target, Mohamed Sanu  4 Td’s in last 3 games), the Bengals should have no trouble putting up points against an average Chargers defense.

Aaron Hernandez TE Patriots, last week: 36 receiving yards

Though Hernandez has had a disappointing year due to lingering injuries, this week against the Dolphins could be one where the starting tight end could have his breakout performance of the year. The last game he played in Miami last season was a memorable one, catching seven passes for 103 yards and a touchdown.  Tom Brady had 517 passing yards and four touchdowns.  No Rob Gronkowski this week only betters a good situation to begin with at the tight end position for Hernandez owners. Read more »

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.

RB Jacquizz Rodgers, Falcons

Last Week: 79 total yards, TD

Rodgers continues to show that he is steadily moving into the starting running back role for the Atlanta Falcons.  With a season-high 10 carries in Week 12, Rodgers managed 4.9 yards per carry average, along with two catches for 30 yards as well.  Michael Turner may be the one who gets those goal line touches every now and then with his seven total touchdowns on the year (six rushing, one receiving), but Rodgers (two total touchdowns in 2012) looks to be that big play type of back and the x-factor for the Falcons running game. Whether it’s catching a screen pass for a long gain or breaking off a big run, his development as an overall back looks to be promising and will only help with experience for the second-year player out of Oregon State.

RB Chris Ivory, Saints

Last Week: 34 rush yards

Ivory is an explosive player who is either going to score on a 56-yard touchdown run (like he did in week 10 against the Falcons) for your team, or have 16 carries for 71 yards (which was produced in his past two contests he has played in).  The Atlanta Falcons rush defense ranks 22nd in the league, giving up an average of 123 rushing yards.  With the Saints’ three-headed running attack that is Mark Ingram, Pierre Thomas and now Chris Ivory, it is always in question who will be the break out back of the game.  Evidence based upon the teams’ last meeting just a few weeks ago, history would say go with Ivory (seven carries for 72 yards and a touchdown).  Ivory it is.