Trade Steve Smith?

Through three games, Steve Smith has 15 receptions for 190 yards and the key piece 0, zip, no touchdowns. He is on an 0-3 Panthers team who can’t seem to get the running game back to last years form, and Delhomme hasn’t made good decisions. Until the running game gets back to form, or Mushin Muhammed or Dwayne Jarrett (tore college apart) learn how to get open and make plays.  Look for Steve Smith’s numbers to stay down, because teams will continue to double team him and force Delhomme (ranked 32^nd among active QB’s stat wise), to make plays.  This season Delhomme hasn’t been able to make plays. We would hang on to Smith to see how he does week five (they have a bye this week), if things in Carolina don’t seem like they are improving try trading him for as much talent as possible.  It is hard to do good being double covered, especially when it is every play of the game.  If no progress is made during week 5 trade him before other owners realize how much he is struggling this season.

 

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J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets.

The New York Jets are off to a great start this season.  A lot of things have changed since last season.  Defensive guru Rex Ryan is in his first season as head coach in the NFL. After losing future hall of famer Brett Favre in the offseason, the Jets took Mark Sanchez out of USC in the first round.  Sanchez has made big plays at times and has thrown for 606 yards and 4 touchdowns through 3 games.  Not outstanding stats, but Sanchez has done a great job of managing the game for the Jets who are now 3-0. Coach Ryan (defensive coordinator at Baltimore last year) watched Joe Flacco go through ups and downs last season.  It seemed like from day one, the Jets were going to start Sanchez, even though there was a so-called position battle at QB.  Sanchez doesn’t need to go out and be Peyton Manning in order for the Jets to win ball games.  The Jets have been tremendous on the defensive side of the ball this season. Rex Ryan has brought a flair into the Jets locker room, something that seemed to me missing last season.

 

The D is allowing only 11.0 points per game (2^nd best in league), 256.0 yards of total offense per game (3^rd best in league) and only 82.7 yards a game (9^th best in league).  They have brought heat to the quarterback this season. Using a variety of blitzing schemes against the Texans, Patriots, and Titans has been very successful thus far. The defense has been led by impressive play from the gritty LB Bart Scott and shut down CB Darrelle Revis. The Jets seem to have regained popularity in New York and Mark Sanchez is looking like could be the next coming of Joe Namath. At some point this season, the Jets are going to rely on Sanchez making big plays in order for the team to win.  It will be interesting to see how the rest of this season goes.  Last year the Jets started the season strong, going 8-3 in the first eleven games.  They ended up missing the playoffs going 1-4 in their last five games. Rex Ryan has talked smack all season, and the Jets have been backing it up.  We see the Jets making the playoffs, and being a team capable of making it to the Super Bowl, as long as the team doesn’t lose their spark once they lose a game.

 

As far as a fantasy perspective we like the Defense but this weekend they have a very explosive opposing offense.  The Jets have showed they can shut down top offenses this season so, start them at your own risk against the Saints this weekend.  Drew Brees looks like he is out there playing a video game, throwing for ridiculous stats nearly every game.   We also like Thomas Jones even after the rough day he had on Sunday. The Saints are only allowing 67 yards rushing a game, which is 5^th best in the NFL.  Play Jones this week at your own risk.  Someone has to take pressure off of Sanchez, so he will get plenty of chances to make plays.  The game is in The Big easy so the Jets need to bring their A game in order to come out with W.  Our prediction, Jets win by three.

 

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Cedric Benson, a Beast this weekend?

Cedric Benson is starting develop into the player that the Chicago Bears thought they were getting after selecting him with the 4^th overall pick in the 2005 draft.  After having a very disappointing career in the windy city, Cedric Benson is starting to blossom with the Cincinnati Bengals.  Benson is a must-start in all fantasy formats this weekend.  The Browns have looked like one of the worst teams in the NFL this season.  Are the Browns the 09-10 version of last years Lions?  We won’t start making bold predictions about the Browns going 0-16, but you get the point, they are awful. The Browns are allowing 184.3 yards a game rushing, which is ranked 30th in the league. Benson has rushed for 293 yards this season, which is good for 97.7 yards per game.  He will get plenty of touches this week, and could be a top fantasy performer, if you are lucky enough to have him, start him.

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Cowboys In A World Of Hurt?

The Dallas Cowboys  could be in a world of hurt.  Marian Barber missed Monday night's game; to make matters worse Felix Jones suffered a knee injury during the Cowboys' Monday night win against the Panthers. Both Barber and Jones can be very productive fantasy backs.  We think Barber has a 75% chance of playing in Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos.  Felix Jones on the other hand, could see an extended period of time on the sidelines.  Cowboys' owner, Jerry Jones is very concerned about the severity of Jones' knee injury.  It is uncertain right now ow long Felix Jones will be out for, but Jerry thinks Felix will need an MRI.  The injury was initially labeled as a knee strain, but it is likely the injury is more severe.  Ignore Felix during week 4, and continue to track the progress of Marian Barber.  If Tashard Choice receives a fair amount of touches he could have a good week.  Don't rely on him though, the Denver Broncos' are only allowing 78.3 yards per game on the ground, and are second in the league in total yards given up.  These defensive stats may be a little tainted considering the fairly "weak" schedule the Broncos' have had thus far.  Regardless of the schedule we feel the Broncos' will shut down Dallas' running game.  Marian Barber is the only Dallas RB that should be considered week 4, but only if he is guaranteed healthy on Sunday.

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Digging Deep - Who is Sims-Walker?

Mike Sims-Walker may have become David Garrard’s go to guy, while making multiple clutch catches in their victory Sunday. He currently has 12 receptions for 187 yards and 1 touchdown, and is averaging 15.6 yards a catch. With the 2009-2010 season being only Sims-Walker’s second year playing in the NFL, we feel his stats could improve every game.  MSW is listed as the number two receiver on the depth chart right now. Although the Jags are a run first team with Maurice Jones-Drew (AKA the Freight Train) in the backfield, Sims-Walker will start catching people’s attention, and might even become worthy of being a starting WR in deeper fantasy leagues. He available in 93% of fantasy leagues on ESPN. Scoop him up fast, by season’s end he could very well be owned in the most fantasy leagues. The Jaguars face the Titans (allowing 274.4 yards passing a game) week four. If Sims-Walker has another good game, this might be the last week you have to pick him up. Missing out on Sims-Walker could end up like being left out in the cold, and who wants to be cold?

Digging Deep - Start Glen Coffee?

Frank Gore is out for three weeks with a right ankle strain, which is a huge loss for run heavy 49ers and many fantasy owners. San Francisco is averaging 26.7 rushes per game, which means Glen Coffee will be getting plenty of touches.  Coffee is a very underrated running back and showed some upside against the Vikings week 3.  The 49ers play the Rams on Sunday.  The Rams are allowing 148 yards per game rushing, which ranks sixth worse in the league.  Coffee is available in 70% of ESPN leagues (pick him up ASAP).  If you lost Frank Gore or just are looking for a spark in your fantasy lineup take a shot on Coffee.  We think he will have a good weekend and will be the focal point in San Fran’s offense.

What Has Happened To The Steel Curtain?

They came out gunning in game one Titans (can't find a way to win), passing for 363 yards. Since then they choked against da Bears with Jeff Reed missing two, fourth quarter field goals.  Then, on Sunday they let an underrated Bengals squad drive 71 yards on 14 plays.  The last drive heroics were led by a rejuvenated Carson Palmer and a second effort on a fourth down by Brian Leonard, handing Roethlisberger his first loss to of his career in Cincinnati. If the Steelers want to turn it around they need to get the running game going, they currently rank 27th in the league in rushing yards averaging only 81.0 yards a game and at a very poor, 3.3 yards per carry. It seems like Willie Parker has lost a step or two over the offseason, and Rashard Mendenhall (didn't see a lot of carries week 3). They are relying on big Ben to carry the load, averaging 7.9 yards per completion. Opposing defenses have concentrated primarily on the pass. The offensive line has allowed 7 sacks through 3 games.  

The receiving core is led by Hines Ward (18 receptions for 242 yards) and Santonio Holmes (15 receptions for 232 yards and 1 touchdown) who is the most productive WR on the Steelers as a fantasy player. Limas Sweed, who was a stud at the University of Texas has yet to develop and had a key drop which would have been a key touchdown in the Steelers week 3 loss.  However, Mike Wallace (2009 3rd round pick) has 12 receptions for 147 yards and one touchdown. This kid can flat out fly, we believe this kid will emerge as the deep threat and put up solid #-two or #-three fantasy wide out numbers.  Consider picking up Wallace in deeper fantasy leagues, assuming the Steelers will continue to rely on throwing the ball. Once Troy Polamalu comes back from his current injury, we think the Steelers will turn things around. When Polamalu gets back will it be too late? The Steelers have a soft schedule coming up against the Chargers, the Lions, then hapless Browns. We think the Steelers could go 3-0 in their next 3 games. Like we said earlier, consider picking up Wallace, and try to make a trade for Willie Parker, it is sensible (cont. reading). You should be able to get Parker on the cheap. We think he is going to explode in the next three weeks, considering he plays the Chargers (allowing 142.3 yds. rushing/game),  Lions (allowing 113.3 yds. rushing/game), and Browns (allowing 184.3 yds. rushing/game) . We think Parker will be a solid fantasy start the next three weeks, and that the Steelers will turn around their season.