Giants Daily Blitz Blog

Fantasy Football Primer: Week 8

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

Start

Cam Newton QB Panthers

Last Week: 233 passing yards, 2 turnovers, TD

Newton’s second year has been a disappointment to say the least in both fantasy and in the National Football League standards.  Though most of the Panthers’ problems have been linked to Newton, the lack of playmakers hasn’t helped his production in the least bit.  With one of the best defenses in the league coming up on the schedule, I’m going to say Superman comes through as he did last year when he faced one of the most highly touted defenses in the league, rushing for 2 touchdowns, while throwing for another and passing  for 374 yards.  Risk=reward.

Robert Meachem WR Chargers

Last Game: 3 catches, 30 yards

Excluding Meachem’s Week 5 homecoming in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome (3 catches, 67 yards, 2 touchdowns), the former Tennessee Volunteer has yet to have another start that justifies him as a top 3 wideout for your team, that is until this week.  Meachem will be facing a Browns secondary who has given up an average of 277 yards passing per game, ranking 26th in the league.  With Joe Haden covering the likes of Malcolm Floyd, this should exploit the secondary just enough for Meachem to be something he has yet to show all year.

Alex Green RB Packers

Last Week: 35 rushing yards

Green has seen plenty of carries since Cedric Benson has been sidelined, totaling 53 carries in the past 3 weeks.  Though his average in these games have been anything but noteworthy (3.1) on the year and
(1.8) last week, Green will try to improve on that when he has the task of playing the 29th ranked rush defense in Jacksonville, giving up an average of 147 yards per game.  Add in the fact that the Packers should be ahead plenty into the 4th and running out the clock, Green could very well be the sleeper of the week.

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 Kyle Rudolph, Vikings

Last Week: 0 catches

After posting five touchdown catches in the past six games, Rudolph produced absolutely nothing last week vs. the Arizona Cardinals.  The Vikings tight end will be going up against the 31st ranked pass defense in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and should be able to pick off where he left off from Weeks 2-6 and continue to have a great sophomore year.

RB Doug Martin, Buccaneers

Last Week: 16 carries, 85 yards, TD

Martin has been somewhat of a pleasant surprise thus far throughout the
2012 season.  Averaging more than four yards per carry and 408 yards rushing in six games, the rookie running back out of Boise State looks to be among this year’s first-year running back steals, along the likes of Alfred Morris.  The only criticism that could be warranted would be only having two touchdowns on the year, but that should change in no time.

Week 7 Fantasy Football Grades

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

Andrew Luck: 198 total yards, 2 Touchdowns, fumble

Luck’s performance on Sunday was not his best of the year. But he did manage to rush for two of his touchdowns, which was huge and made up for an otherwise average passing day.  The rookie quarterback has shown the threat of running as well as throwing.

(Arrow Up)

Felix Jones: 74 total yards

Jones wasn’t anything spectacular as most anticipated because he had to leave the game before the half was even over. Still he didn’t by any means have a bad week with five catches for 30 yards and 44 yard rushing before being diagnosed with bruised knee and not returning to action.

(Arrow Up)

Stephen Hill: 4 catches, 55 yards, 7 targets

Hill had a productive day with the most targets he has received all season.  Though he only had 55 yards, Sanchez looked his way seven times, which was good enough for second behind Kerley’s 11. It is clear that Hill has the talent. Now we just need to see the productivity when the game is on the line, where he was unable to do vs. New England.

(Arrow Neutral)

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.

Read more »

Fantasy Football Primer: Week 7

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

Start

QB Andrew Luck, Colts

Last Week: 280 passing yards, 3 turnovers

Luck arguably had his worst performance of the year this past Sunday as the New York Jets dominated the Colts offense all game long.  Forcing Luck to throw 2 interceptions and fumble once.  With the Cleveland Browns and their 30th ranked pass defense coming to Indianapolis and one that has been allowing 294 passing yards per game, doesn’t seem like there’s a better time to start Luck in front of whomever you may have this particular week.

TE Mercedes Lewis, Jaguars

Last Week: 5 catches, 24 yards

Lewis was once considered one of the top tight ends in football. Plagued with injuries over the past few years, that has changed.  He has two touchdown receptions on the year and only 14 catches with just 116 receiving yards in five games.  These numbers aren’t terrible but average at best.  The Raiders pass defense is currently allowing 275 passing yards per game (20th), which never hurts a starting tight ends chance of finding open space and that end-zone.

WR Kenny Britt, Titans

Last Week: 4 catches 62 yards, TD

Britt showed last week that he still is one catch away from making a game changing play.  That doesn’t mean Britt hasn’t showed some rust, as he eases his way back into football mode.  Hasselbeck and Britt look to be the go to connection again in Tennessee, now that Jake Locker (missed the past few weeks with shoulder injury) and Nate Washington, previously held that rank.  Coming off his biggest week yet, the Titans flanker will look to continue his success and carry it over vs. 20th ranked pass defense (256 passing yards allowed per game) in the Buffalo Bills.

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.

WR Mario Manningham, 49ers

Last Week: 5 catches, 72 yards, 10 targets

Manningham has been an average fantasy receiver throughout the first six weeks of the regular season, gathering 258 yards, 24 receptions and one touchdown.  Still looking for that signature breakout game, the new San Francisco 49ers wideout will try to do it against the 13th ranked Seattle Seahawks pass defense, that gave up 395 yards last week with an average of 224 passing yards per game.

WR Braylon Edwards, Seahawks

Last Week: 2 catches, 21 yards, TD

Though Edwards has only caught eight passes for 74 yards and has just 13 targets on the entire year, he proved in Week 6 that he still is very much a threat in the red zone.  With a former team on the schedule in the San Francisco 49ers, Edwards could get some revenge as the Seahawks will be facing the second-ranked rush defense, possibly forcing and putting much emphasis on Russell Wilson and the Seattle offense to go into more of an aerial attack mode.

Week 6 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

Nate Burleson WR Lions

Last Week: 4 catches, 24 yards, TD

Burleson, like most of the Detroit football team, didn’t seem to come alive until the fourth quarter, where he caught a 17-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford.  Being targeted nine times, only second to Megatron’s 13, Burleson put together an impressive performance that also included 22 rushing yards on two carries.

Arrow: Up

Sam Bradford QB Rams

Last Week: 349 Total Yards, TD

Bradford threw all over the struggling Miami secondary with ease, passing for a season high 315 yards through the air. Though Miami stopped Steven Jackson in the run game, they forgot about Bradford’s ability, and he managed to gain 34 yards on four carries and score a one-yard touchdown.

Arrow: Up

DeMarco Murray RB Cowboys

Last Week: 97 total yards

Murray was finding plenty of room to run against the Baltimore Ravens defense. The only thing that stopped him was an injury in the third quarter. Murray was limited from then on and possibly may be out for a few weeks, though that didn’t stop him from having one of his best outings of the year.

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: Week 6

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

Start

Sam Bradford QB Rams

Last Week: 141 yards, 2 TD’s, INT

Bradford has shown plenty of signs that he has that big arm and all the attributes to make any throw in the league.  With a big win last week over the heavily favored Cardinals demonstrating that, Bradford will look to air it out as they face a Dolphins secondary ranking 27th vs. the pass and a rush defense that ranks the best in the business.

DeMarco Murray RB Cowboys

Last game played: 11 carries, 24 yards

Murray’s Week 1 in where he rushed for 131 yards seems like seasons ago, as he has only gained a combined 106 yards rushing in three games since.  Even though Baltimore’s reputation is known for stopping the run, Murray’s style is one that could create plenty of problems when trying to tackle an elusive runner such as himself.

Nate Burleson WR Lions

Last game played: 5 catches, 51 yards

Burleson has had a better year than most anticipated in what thought to be Titus Young’s year to take over the slot. The veteran wideout hasn’t let him take his position just yet and doesn’t seem likely at all anymore.  With much emphasis going to be focusing on how the Eagles defense can stop Calvin Johnson, Burleson will be reaping the rewards with short slants in zone coverage.

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.

Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Steelers

Last Week: 209 yards, TD

Roethlisberger should have a big game against the Titans’ 25th ranked pass defense after his worst performance of the season at Lincoln Financial Field.  Mike Wallace, who only had two catches for 17 yards in week 5, and Antonio Brown, who only has one touchdown on the year, will try to exploit one of the thinnest secondaries in the league.  Throwing in the factor of a few days rest, Pittsburgh’s speedy receivers should have a productive night in Nashville.

Kendall Wright, WR, Titans

Last Week: 9 catches, 66 yards

Wright seems to be getting more involved in the Titans’ offensive game plan each week after coming off both season and career highs with nine receptions and 66 yards.  The question that remains to be answered is if Chris Johnson can start breaking tackles and getting the run game going against the 11th ranked run defense in Pittsburgh.  Polamalu will more than likely miss yet another game, forcing the Steelers secondary to play without one of the best to ever do it. It only gives Wright a better probability of catching a deep score.

Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Steelers

Last Week: 101 yards total, TD

Mendenhall proved last week in Philadelphia that there looks to be no signs of any setbacks as he rushed for 81 yards on only 14 carries.  With the Titans’ rush defense being ranked towards the bottom of the league at 28th, the Steelers running back should be back to his normal production after missing the first four games of the year due to an injured knee.