The Scoop

By Dalton Del Don

Only one team in NFL history has scored two touchdowns or fewer in every game during a season. Carolina will attempt to match that feat in Week 17…Atrocious quarterback play is far more to blame than himself, but Steve Smith is on pace to finish this season with fewer than 600 receiving yards and just two touchdowns while playing in 15 games. He’s dropped a whopping 10 passes and has caught just 52.9 percent of his targets. Maybe Andrew Luck will help resurrect Smith’s career, but at age 31, he’s clearly no longer an elite fantasy option…I still don’t understand why Pittsburgh’s over/under entering the year was just 8.5.

Despite a plus matchup, Jon Kitna got only 5.8 YPA and somehow managed to throw two pick-sixes against the Cardinals in Week 16. He later left with a hip injury, after which an unknown Stephen McGee came in and played better. Kitna actually played reasonably well after Tony Romo was lost for the season this year, but he killed a lot of fantasy owners relying on him during the championship week, and he’ll be 39 years old next season, so his run even as a backup may be finished…The Cardinals’ upset was even more surprising considering Larry Fitzgerald was held to just one catch for 26 yards. I admit, I had never heard of Andre Roberts before Saturday…My friend Joey lost a teaser because of David Buehler missing an extra point. That’s rough.

The world’s craziest free throw attempt.

Matt Cassel finished Sunday’s win with a 70.6 completion percentage, a 9.2 YPA mark and a 3:0 TD:INT ratio. After throwing just 16 touchdowns with 16 picks last season, he’s currently sporting a 27:5 TD:INT ratio over 14 games in 2010. He’s also cut his sack percentage in half and fumbled 11 fewer times this year compared to last. Cassel has had the benefit of a terrific rushing attack on his side and an easy schedule, but he might be the most improved player in the NFL…Kerry Collins was absolutely brutal Sunday…I’ve heard multiple people claim Chris Johnson as a bust, but while he’s disappointed, he’s on pace to finish the year with 1,620 yards and 12 touchdowns. If you drafted Johnson and didn’t win your fantasy league, it wasn’t because of him…Jamaal Charles enters Week 17 second in the NFL with 1,380 rushing yards, just 56 yards behind leader Arian Foster, despite seeing 80 fewer carries.

Peyton Hillis has been possibly the biggest fantasy surprise of 2010, carrying teams who added him off the waiver wire for most of the year. However, he fizzled at the worst possible time, gaining just 94 rushing yards over Weeks 15 and 16. After scoring 13 touchdowns over the first 11 games, he hasn’t recorded one over the past four contests. Opposing defenses have focused on stopping him more of late, but Hillis has also worn down, as he’s already accrued 324 touches this season after entering the year with just 81 career rushing attempts. Fantasy owners can hardly complain about Hillis’ season, but they will be left with a bad taste in their mouths…Everyone applauds the surprise onside kick, but it can also backfire. After Cleveland failed to recover theirs to open the second half, Baltimore easily drove down the short field to score a touchdown…The Browns’ time management at the end of the first half was as bad as you’ll ever see. It’s now unclear if Eric Mangini believes timeouts carry over to the second half.

Most know by now Tom Brady set an NFL record when he threw his 309th consecutive pass without getting intercepted, and while he’s been a bit lucky with some drops by defenders, the streak is even crazier when you consider his last pick came on the last play of regulation on a hail mary attempt against the Ravens in Week 6…Thanks to a modest 209 rushing attempts (16 running backs have more), BenJarvus Green-Ellis has yet to reach 1,000 yards on the ground this season, but his 12 touchdowns are tied for the second most in the NFL. He doesn’t offer much as a receiver, and he’s been given 20 carries in just two games all year (season-high is 21 rushing attempts), so he’ll present an interesting dilemma at draft tables in 2011. Assuming the Pats don’t bring in a new back, Green-Ellis has as much scoring potential as any RB in the league playing for New England. Remember, those 12 scores came after not being involved much in the first two games of the season, and Green-Ellis still hasn’t fumbled once during his career. I would love to see his numbers if the Patriots made him a true workhorse…Ryan Fitzpatrick proved to be an upgrade over Trent Edwards and impressed throwing 11 touchdowns over his first four starts this year, but he’s since thrown multiple scores in just two of nine games. After his hot stretch, I strongly recommended him in fantasy leagues, but I’ll freely admit that was ultimately wrong and take solace in the fact I personally lost a lot of FAAB as a result. Fitzpatrick plays in a tough division and often in poor weather conditions, but he’s committed 20 turnovers over 13 games, and both his 57.8 completion percentage and 6.8 YPA mark are pedestrian. New England’s defense has played better of late, but they still deploy a beatable secondary, so Fitzpatrick’s performance Sunday (48.6 completion percentage, 0:3 TD:INT ratio) made it clear Buffalo needs to aim higher at the quarterback position…The fewest turnovers in a given season in NFL history is 13. The Patriots currently have committed just nine.

Good riddance, Mike Singletary. The guy literally had zero to do with the Xs and Os, so other than locker room speeches, the one thing he couldn’t get wrong was a decision like starting Troy Smith over Alex Smith, and then getting into a near physical confrontation with the former on the sidelines during the team’s biggest game of the season was the final straw. I’m not an Alex Smith apologist, but he’s a better quarterback than Troy Smith…Alex Smith lost a crucial fumble, but it came on a play in which Chris Long abused Anthony Davis, who has been one of the five worst tackles in the NFL this season. What a bust…Just because Vernon Davis tried to catch a ball whizzing above his head at high speed does not necessarily mean the TD toss to Michael Crabtree was actually intended to the tight end…Steven Jackson had 24 carries for 48 yards. Wow…Although Danario Alexander ended up stepping out of bounds by a half inch afterward, that still doesn’t excuse the fact Shawntae Spencer didn’t even bother trying to touch him while on the ground after getting beat for a 46-yard gain. Truly pathetic. Only health can prevent Alexander from becoming a major fantasy factor in the future.

The Lions went 26 games (that’s a lot of days, but I’m too lazy to do the math) before winning on the road in Week 15, and then won again away from home seven days later in Week 16. The Dolphins are somehow 6-1 on the road and 1-7 at home this season…Miami allowed 17 points over a two minute and 26 second span late in the fourth quarter Sunday…Chad Henne is terrible.

First Toledo goes for a two-point conversion down 31-30, then FIU gains 17 yards and one inch on a hook-and-lateral on 4th-and 17 afterward, leading to a game-winning field goal. I’m not a big college football fan, but I run a confidence pool every year, so I definitely get into all the bowl games. Sounds like I picked the wrong time to go to the movies Sunday night (only because the NFL game was canceled). That said, “Black Swan” was pretty awesome. I make end of the year lists, and Darren Aronofsky has now directed three I’ll put at No. 1 in their given year. I also really liked this tweet by Michael Ian Black: “Black Swan spoiler alter: Natalie Portman is hot.” Seriously, if she doesn’t win an Oscar, it’s a crime against humanity.

I pegged Rashad Jennings for 125 yards and a score in my Game Capsules column last week and easily considered him a top-10 RB start. I even started him over Peyton Hillis in a crucial championship game in one of my leagues. An apology is probably in order, but it’s not like I would do anything differently in hindsight. He entered averaging 6.8 YPC on the year, and the Redskins have allowed an NFL-high 4.8 YPC, even after shutting down Jacksonville last week. What are you going to do? I’d have no problem using him in Week 17. On a side note, Maurice Jones-Drew’s season becomes all that more impressive after considering he’s been playing on an injured knee all year…Chris Cooley had four drops before it was even halftime Sunday, including one of the worst of the 2010 season. With 72 catches and 796 receiving yards, Cooley has been anything but a fantasy bust, especially since so many tight ends either got injured or disappointed this year. But his 100 targets are the second most among all tight ends (Jason Witten has 114), making Cooley’s three touchdowns really disappointing.

After throwing an egregious pick-six, Jay Cutler picked apart a strong Jets’ secondary Sunday, getting 8.6 YPA with three touchdowns despite completing just 13 passes. His deep ball was impressive, and he’s now totaled seven touchdowns over the past two games, helping fantasy owners when it matters most (although many probably had him benched against the Jets). Cutler hasn’t put up the gaudy yardage totals we all expected under Mike Martz, but his 7.9 YPA mark and 90.6 QB rating are both career-highs, and he’s done so with a middling wide receiver corps in a Chicago environment not conducive for passing. Cutler’s performance against the Jets was highly impressive. And he’s also dating Kristin Cavallari, who isn’t exactly unattractive…Mark Sanchez has 13 dropped interceptions this season. The next highest in the NFL is seven (Carson Palmer and Peyton Manning). That’s pretty incredible luck…You’ve got to admit, Rex Ryan’s wife’s feet are pretty hot.

Andre Johnson owners have to be livid that Houston’s game in Week 16 just happened to be scheduled for late afternoon…It can’t be understated just how bad this Houston secondary is (they are the only team in the NFL to allow a QB rating above 100.0 and their YPA and TD passes yielded are both league-highs), and many of his passes were screens, but I’m intrigued by Tim Tebow. The guy just exudes a star like quality. And nobody tries harder! In all seriousness, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Brett Favre and Drew Brees all didn’t have a single 300-yard passing game during their rookie season, something Tebow accomplished during his second start.

There’s nothing wrong with liking a catchy one immediately, but truly great songs typically take multiple listens before fully appreciating them.

Other than Reggie Wayne, only six other receivers in the history of the league have recorded three 100-catch seasons in their career…Donald Brown had six carries in Week 16. Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes combined for 29 rushing attempts…Since the Chiefs have only the No. 3 or No. 4 seed to play for Sunday, the Raiders have an even greater chance to become the first team in NFL history to finish with an undefeated record in their division and not make the playoffs.

Despite his teammates struggles, Ryan Mathews totaled 83 yards with a touchdown on just 15 touches in Week 16. It was obviously too little, too late for his fantasy owners, but the key here is Mathews passed the eye test, and if you squint, he resembles a young LaDainian Tomlinson. Of course, Tomlinson has been one of the most durable backs in league history, whereas Mathews has been anything but during his rookie campaign. But it’s been the nagging ankle injury that has plagued him mostly, not a plethora of ailments, and because the problem was clearly more serious than originally reported, his final YPC mark should be taken with a grain a salt. Mike Tolbert could remain a factor next season, even if it’s only at the goal line, but San Diego traded up to take Mathews at the No. 12 pick, so if he can remain healthy in 2011, he’ll likely be the team’s workhorse. He’ll be the very definition of buy low next year, and you probably won’t have to fight anyone who was burnt by him in 2010…Jerome Simpson hauled in six catches for 124 yards and two touchdowns during the Bengals’ win Sunday, as the third-year wideout benefited from Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco both being inactive. Simpson came in with just three catches during his career, as he entered the league extremely raw coming out of Coastal Carolina as a second round pick. The production was against a San Diego secondary that entered ranked among the best in the NFL (although it was somewhat skewed thanks to an easy schedule), and the Chargers were in must-win mode, so Cincinnati’s big game through the air was surprising. Let’s not overreact to one game, and it’s clear Simpson has a long way to go, but he was a highlight reel machine in college, and with Owens and Ochocinco both unlikely to be in Cincinnati in 2011, he’s a terrific chip to own in dynasty leagues…Maybe it was just happenstance, but it’s entirely possible Carson Palmer’s best game of the season wasn’t despite of Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco’s absence. It could have been because of it. Maybe their route running really was the cause of all those interceptions, and he obviously no longer felt the need to force feed a big name.

LeGarrette Blount gained 164 yards on just 18 carries Sunday, and his hurdle was simply one of the best highlights of the 2010 season. He has a ton of work to do as a receiver and blocker, and while his three fumbles on the year aren’t a dramatically high amount, the Bucs have been critical of the way he carries the ball, and his role as the team’s goal-line back has been tenuous. But the negatives end there, as Blount has been one of the most impressive running backs in the league as a rookie who went undrafted. During his six starts this season, he’s averaged 97.0 rushing yards per game. The NFL’s leading rusher is Arian Foster, who has averaged 95.7 yards per game on the ground. This despite Pro Football Focus rating Tampa Bay’s run blocking as the worst in the NFC. Blount leads all of football by getting 3.8 YPC after contact in 2010. If he was more active in the passing game, he’d be a surefire first round pick in fantasy leagues next year, but as is, he’s still unlikely to last much past the middle of the second round…The Seahawks had literally zero at stake when they started their game in Week 16. It all came down to a win or loss versus the Rams in Week 17 regardless of their outcome against the Bucs. While I’m not going to kill Pete Carroll for leaving in his starters, it was pretty crazy to see Matt Hasselbeck leave the game with an injury during a touchdown run when he was untouched. And while I understand how ridiculous it is if a 7-9 Seattle team makes the playoffs while the Giants and Chargers don’t, I’d be absolutely shocked if Roger Goodell changes the rules because of it. It won’t happen.

Mario Manningham is the rare receiver who appears to be much more productive as his team’s No. 2 WR opposed to No. 1…Colleague and friend Scott Pianowski said it best: “Stupid Aaron Rodgers. You’ll never get that “can’t win close games” monkey off your back by throwing 45 on the Giants.”…I could actually see Hakeem Nicks being ranked as the No. 1 wide receiver in fantasy drafts next year, but he’s clearly an injury risk…The Giants have allowed 73 points over the past five quarters…Before last week, I placed a $50 bet on the Packers to win the Super Bowl at 30-1 odds. Wish me luck! The fact they are now staring at a round one matchup in Philadelphia (assuming they even win in Week 17, which is far from a sure thing) is probably my worst-case scenario. Andy Reid is unbeatable after a bye, which is essentially what’s now in place for the Eagles.

I like NBA Hangtime for Nintendo 64 better, but the new NBA Jam released for PS3 is definitely worth buying. Speaking of which, an insane ending to an NBA game.

The Falcons are one of the weaker No. 1 seeds in recent memory. If this team wins the Super Bowl, I’ll be shocked…Two interesting prop bets two friends of mine took advantage of during the Monday night game – Michael Turner under 99.5 rushing yards, and Pierre Thomas over 38.5 rushing yards…With Brett Favre all but retired (and by that I mean there’s at least a 35 percent chance he’s finished playing), there needs to be a new gunslinger in the league, and apparently Drew Brees is willing to take the mantle. Seriously, how many risks is he willing to take these days?…Remember when analysts said the Saints would be much easier to defend with Reggie Bush injured. Good times. I have no idea how they managed to still make the playoffs with him missing eight games. He’s clearly so integral to their success (he has negative four rushing yards over the past two games)…Atlanta needed a stop either way, so please explain to me why they punted down three points near midfield on 4th-and-6 with 2:44 left. What a ridiculously embarrassing decision by Mike Smith. Frankly, it was a fireable offense.

He dealt with a ton of pressure, but Michael Vick was not good Tuesday. He had at least two or three potential interceptions dropped…Even during a pedestrian performance, Joe Webb proved why he was so valuable in fantasy leagues he was eligible at wide receiver…Down 10 points at the 50-yard line with 4:23 left in Sunday’s game, Andy Reid chose to punt. You can’t make this stuff up.