By Dalton Del Don
Seriously, how do you blow a 27-3 lead in the third quarter with the ball? With the way Dallas’ defense was playing, it’s safe to say having the offense kneel every play would have resulted in a win, but that’s obviously in hindsight. Tony Romo was unlucky two of his picks were returned for touchdowns, but some of those turnovers in that situation were simply inexcusable, and this coming from a full-blown Romo apologist. As someone who picked the Cowboys as my “best bet” of the week, I had to record a video to vent my frustrations…Calvin Johnson is beyond ridiculous. You know how they say some receivers are still open when covered? Well, he’s still open when double-covered…Detroit has now won eight straight games (they were 5-47 over their previous 52 contests). The Lions also tied the NFL record Sunday for biggest comeback ever on the road…I especially liked how on the final play of the game for Dallas they dumped it off to Felix Jones on 4th-and-20 and then he promptly ran out of bounds after breaking a tackle to gain seven yards…Four teams have already won after trailing by 20+ points this season – tied for most ever in NFL history…At this point, nothing short of a death on the field could get Joe Buck to raise his voice and act excited announcing.
Remi Gaillard is back, this time as The Spider.
After rushing for 205 yards on 25 carries Sunday, Matt Forte is now on pace to finish the season with 2,536 yards from scrimmage and eight touchdowns. He’s up to a career-high 5.4 YPC on the year, which is remarkable considering Chicago’s offensive line. Marion Barber stole a goal-line TD in Week 4, which could continue to be a problem moving forward now that he’s healthy, but it’s hard to argue with Forte’s yardage output. It’s becoming increasingly difficult not to consider him a special back…The Bears had somehow scored 24 points while throwing just one pass midway through the second quarter…Steve Smith was badly underthrown on his 53-yard catch, so it should have resulted in a touchdown. Remarkably, at age 32 and despite posting just 15 receiving yards in one game (thanks in part to a monsoon), Smith is on pace to finish with 2,120 receiving yards, which would be 272 more yards than Jerry Rice’s record-setting 1995 season.
Meet “SuperVaclav” – A budding superhero who fights crime against leaving dog poop and public smoking, although he’s also not a big fan of staying around for confrontations afterward.
Adrian Peterson is without question the safest fantasy asset, but it’s clear with his surroundings, Arian Foster, Darren McFadden, Ray Rice and LeSean McCoy possess more upside…I’m beginning to think Thomas Jones may have lost some explosion at this stage of his career.
World’s scariest perp poses for yet another nightmare-inducing mug shot.
Badass teacher stops fight with verbal smackdown.
After rushing for 155 yards and a touchdown against the Steelers, it’s safe to say Arian Foster is back. In fact, thanks in part to Ben Tate leaving with a groin injury, Foster racked up 19 rushing attempts before the two-minute warning of halftime Sunday. Tate’s status remains up in the air, and Foster isn’t even listed on this week’s injury-report, and with no Andre Johnson, expect another heavy workload in Week 5. With possibly the NFL’s best run-blocking unit on his side, Foster, who might be the best cutback runner in all of football, should be treated as a top-three fantasy player moving forward…Although he scored, Rashard Mendenhall managed just 25 yards on nine carries before exiting Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury. He isn’t expected to practice much this week and is highly questionable to play in Week 5, making Isaac Redman an intriguing guy to stash even with a difficult upcoming matchup against the Titans. Even before the injury, Mendenhall was off to an extremely discouraging start to the season, getting a paltry 3.0 YPC while offering next to nothing as a receiver. The offensive line has been a big problem, and while I’m not a believer in the “curse of 370,” it’s possible Mendenhall is feeling the effects of his NFL-high 385 rushing attempts last season. He’s become a legitimate concern…The Steelers didn’t touch the ball until there was 4:05 left in the first quarter Sunday…Even fantasy players who don’t own Andre Johnson had to cringe watching him go down without contact like a sniper shot him Sunday, although a tentative prognosis of him missing three weeks actually sounds like good news compared to how bad it could have been. In the meantime, Owen Daniels gets the obvious bump in fantasy value, while Kevin Walter becomes a viable option in deep leagues now dealing with bye weeks. It’s safer to take a wait-and-see approach with the enigmatic Jacoby Jones.
What were the Bills thinking entering halftime up 17-3? They clearly perform best down at least 20 at that juncture…The Bengals have allowed just 6.3 YPA and four passing scores while yielding an NFL-low 3.1 YPC this season. The schedule has been relatively easy, but with upcoming matchups in Jacksonville and at home against Indy, they are a sneaky fantasy option in the short-term.
I’m pumped for the announcement of the return of “Arrested Development,” and apparently so are Ben & Jerry.
Speaking of underrated defenses, the same could be said about Tennessee, who has allowed a league-low 5.7 YPA with a 4:5 TD:INT ratio and just 3.2 YPC with one rushing score on the year. And to think, the Titans are a Week 1 loss (by two points) to the lowly Jags from being the only undefeated team in the AFC…Nate Washington was shadowed by emerging shutdown corner Joe Haden last week (in fact, his 52-yard catch came when Haden left with a knee injury), gets a stout Pittsburgh secondary in Week 5 (tied for NFL-low 5.7 YPA, although strangely the Steelers are the only team in football yet to record an interception) and then a bye in Week 6, so the new No. 1 WR in Tennessee could soon present a buy-low opportunity. Things really ease up afterward…Colt McCoy had never attempted more than 41 passes in a game before throwing the ball 61 times Sunday.
Ryan Torain didn’t receive his first touch of the season until the middle of the second quarter in Week 4, but he made the most of his opportunity, rushing for 135 yards and a touchdown on just 19 carries. The Rams have been poor defending the run this season, but this was an eye-opening performance regardless of opponent, as coach Mike Shanahan described it perfectly when he called a now fully healthy Torain a man “possessed.” He’s without question a major injury risk, but Torain totaled 751 yards with five touchdowns over eight starts last season, so he’s clearly talented. Tim Hightower’s absence may have had something to do with a shoulder injury that went unreported (although there were rumblings late last week that Shanahan was considering giving Torain an extended opportunity), but it’s worth noting he’s forced the same amount of missed tackles (five) this year while playing 187 snaps as Torain did over 2.5 quarters Sunday. Hightower should remain the passing down back, and while rookie Roy Helu looks promising, he’s most trusted in a change-of-pace role now, so there’s going to be a major opportunity for Torain coming out of the team’s bye, when they are lined up to face PHI, @CAR and @BUF – three teams that rank in the bottom-six in the NFL in YPC allowed…Sam Bradford completed just 46.5 percent of his passes while getting 3.8 YPA and taking seven sacks in Week 4, as he continues to take a major step back during his sophomore campaign. There’s plenty to blame other than Bradford of course, highlighted by a WR corps that not only struggles to separate but also easily “leads” the league with 17 dropped passes (and has apparently lost Danny Amendola for the season). The offensive line has also been a problem, and it’s taken longer than hoped to learn Josh McDaniels’ new offensive system. Still, Bradford’s rookie season was a bit overrated to begin with (6.0 YPA while playing 11 games in a dome), so there’s some reason to worry. He’s not a top-20 fantasy QB.
I was really happy to see Amanda Knox freed, and while I in no way can begin to feel the pain of the Kercher family and can understand why they would be upset being overshadowed, I still don’t get why they acted bothered about Knox being released, claiming they need closure. The admitted (and convicted) killer is currently in prison! How much more closure can you get?! Speaking of, you stay classy TMZ.
Ronnie Brown’s fumble/pass was easily one of the weirdest plays I’ve ever seen in the NFL…Good thing I benched Frank Gore in Y! Friends & Family. Ugh…Failing to protect a big lead and struggling in short-yardage, what a classic Andy Reid game…What a ridiculously impressive forced fumble by Justin Smith on Jeremy Maclin to win the game. I must say, I didn’t foresee the 49ers being up two games in the NFC West one month into the season.
Watch a high school kicker nail a 64-yard field goal with room to spare.
Jimmy Graham recorded 10 catches for 132 yards and a touchdown Sunday, and there’s no question he’s a top-three fantasy tight end. He got a whopping 14 targets, while no other New Orleans wide receiver saw more than seven. Graham’s 147 yards after contact this year lead all tight ends, and he has room for improvement just now in the second year of his career. Kellen Winslow Sr. holds the record for most receiving yards in a season by a tight end in the modern era with 1,290 in 1980. At the quarter pole, Graham is on pace to finish with 1,468 yards. So glad I turned him down straight up for Ben Tate when Brad Evans made that offer a few weeks back…How does Maurice Jones-Drew have just five carries over the first three quarters? Might want to give him a few more touches moving forward…Darren Sproles surprisingly leads the NFL (by a wide margin) with 4.6 YPC after contact.
Man who plotted fake bear attack on ex-girlfriend jailed.
Julio Jones racked up another 11 catches for 127 yards Sunday, giving him 24 and 342 for the year, respectively. He’s still searching for his first touchdown of the season, but it’s hard not to be impressed by the rookie’s fast start. The worries about him being slow to pick up the playbook have certainly been quieted. On the flip side, Jones looks likely to have a negative impact on Roddy White’s fantasy value…It took just 17 game minutes for the Seahawks to cut a 27-7 deficit to 30-28, but ultimately, the valiant comeback fell short. Still, it’s clear last year’s No. 1 seed in the NFC is quite vulnerable this season.
Worshipper rips out both eyes in Mass with his bare hands.
Beanie Wells was a gametime decision Sunday with a hamstring injury, and because of the matchup and late afternoon start, he might have been on some fantasy benches, which would have been frustrating for those owners who watched him run for 138 yards and three touchdowns. The 5.1 YPC at less than full strength is even more impressive when you consider his scores came from one, one and two yards out – all powerful runs he finished strong. Wells still struggles in pass protection and as a receiver, and whether he can stay healthy remains to be seen, but it’s clear last season’s struggles can be directly attributed to a knee injury that lingered all year long, as he’s an explosive, highly talented back when right. He’s a top-12 fantasy RB…Mario Manningham returned Sunday after missing a game with a concussion, and he immediately had a drop and ran a wrong route while having miscommunication with Eli Manning. As a result, he found himself on the bench behind Victor Cruz in two wide receiver sets, as he finished the game with just one catch for 10 yards. Manningham is too talented not to break out of his early season slump, and he makes for a buy-low target in fantasy leagues, but the safe play is to keep him benched for now…Even as someone who bet on the Giants “over” and the Cardinals “under” before the season and also have Hakeem Nicks on numerous teams (who scored a TD on the next play), I fully admit that non-fumble call on Victor Cruz was pretty bogus. I would have been infuriated if I were an Arizona fan.
It’s probably best not to rob a gas station if there’s a cop standing right behind you.
Thanks partly to a Danny Woodhead ankle injury, Stevan Ridley got an extended look Sunday, and he made the most of it, rushing for 97 yards on just 10 carries. His 33-yard TD run revealed explosion BenJarvus Green-Ellis simply doesn’t possess. This follows an impressive preseason by the rookie, who’s already a superior receiver to BGE as well. Woodhead remains week-to-week, and Green-Ellis remains the favorite for goal-line work, but Ridley has a ton of upside if he were ever given a chance as a feature back on such a high-powered offense, even if it’s a pass-first one…Jason Campbell’s interception in the end zone with no Raider within 10 yards was one of the more inexplicable throws I’ve seen in a while. Amazingly, it was Oakland’s first turnover inside the red zone since 2009…As crazy as it sounds, Darrius Heyward-Bey is on the radar in deep fantasy leagues…I like (and by “like” I mean can’t stand) how Hue Jackson elected to punt down 18 points on 4th-and-3 at their own 27-yard line with 6:38 left. Down 18 points on 4th-and-3 at their own 27-yard line with 3:43 left, he then decided to go for it. Huh?
Well, this isn’t your average burglary.
Kyle Orton isn’t one of the worst quarterbacks in the league, and he ended up getting 8.5 YPA in Week 4, but to be blunt, some of his throws were truly awful Sunday…Fifteen carries, 103 yards rushing in Green Bay – where did that come from Willis McGahee?…It looks like Eric Decker can maintain fantasy value even with Brandon Lloyd back in the lineup, although all bets are off when it becomes Tim Tebow time…While he eclipsed 100 total yards, it was disappointing James Starks couldn’t do more in a game in which Ryan Grant was inactive, and the Packers scored 49 points…Aaron Rodgers became the first QB ever to throw for four touchdowns and run for two scores in the same game.
These Yahoo “recommendations” appear a bit spiteful.
I’m still a Brandon Marshall believer, and while shaky QB play is partly to be blamed for his mediocre start, he’s had some seriously crushing drops that have cost him at least two touchdowns so far this season. After a bye and then a matchup with Revis Island, he’ll be an excellent buy-low target…Vincent Jackson owners can hardly complain with 108 receiving yards and a touchdown, but considering he didn’t record a catch after 12:01 left in the second quarter, it could have been so much more. His constant battle with injuries has become a problem…Ryan Mathews may have lost a goal-line score to Mike Tolbert, but he totaled 149 yards while finally revealing the ability to be productive while playing through an injury. It was also important to see Norv Turner give him 21 touches after he missed practice most of the week, a rare occurrence by the coach. Tolbert once again struggled rushing, getting just 2.8 YPC, and remember Mathews scored twice from inside the five just one week prior. Even if they split work from in close, San Diego could easily produce twice the amount of goal-line carries than a team like Minnesota. Sunday marked yet another encouraging development for Mathews owners.
This pizza vending machine also happens to have a 37-inch flat screen TV as well.
What a bizarre and ugly game Sunday night. The five return touchdowns by the Jets and Ravens set an NFL record, while Joe Flacco didn’t complete a single pass in the second and third quarters…Exhibit A why I don’t mess with single game over/unders. An expected defensive battle (the o/u was 37) that featured both quarterbacks combining for a 31.8 completion percentage while getting 4.3 YPA and producing zero touchdowns as well as two teams that combined to get 2.5 YPC with just one rushing score somehow managed to total 51 points…Shonn Greene’s YPC is all the way down to 3.1 this season, and while his 60 receiving yards is already half the total he managed all of last year, it’s hardly enough to make up for such poor running. The team plans on returning to the “ground-and-pound,” but that sounds better in theory than what may become reality, as the offensive line has really struggled, and Greene looks like a bust. In fact, Pro Football Focus has given him the worst “running” grade (-4.2) in all of the NFL over the first four games this season (followed by Reggie Bush, Rashard Mendenhall and Thomas Jones).
This NASCAR fan likes drinking, being naked and rescuing raccoons.
Curtis Painter completed just 13-of-30 passes while making his first NFL start in primetime on the road Monday night, and his numbers were boosted by a somewhat fluky play that went for 87 yards to Pierre Garcon, but it would be tough to argue he’s not an immediate upgrade over Kerry Collins. He actually made a couple of really nice throws, suffered from some drops and didn’t commit a turnover…Garcon only had two catches Monday, and you’d like to see a higher volume combined with that production, but he was Painter’s clear favorite receiver after the QB took over in Week 3, so he’s definitely back on the fantasy radar. It wouldn’t shock if he were more productive than Reggie Wayne from here on out…LeGarrette Blount is an absolute beast – call him the anti-Shonn Greene. It’s too bad he’s so terrible as a receiver, because few backs in football are as good between the tackles.
Leave a Reply