Top Targets 2009 Week 3 (Free agents Dummy!)

I hope you guys have started paying attention, for your sake! I know that anyone could have called Willis McGahee and Eli Manning, that is why they are called head smackers! But Seneca Wallace, not as easy, Donald Driver (still not impressed?) JOHNNY KNOX, come on, you have to give me props for that call! I liked him so much I listed him twice. (it was a mistake but I will take all the love I can get). So, who will it be this week?
 

Head Smackers:
QBs:
Chad Henne, Miami- With Pennington looking down the barrel of his third shoulder surgery, Henne just went from the quarterback of the future to the quarterback of the present. Henne has had very little experience in the NFL but he has a big arm and played in a pro style offense at Michigan. Maybe Miami will even go vertical once in a while improving the value of Ted Ginn a little bit.

Carson Palmer, Cinncinati- I am sure he is not available in your league but just in case, he is back and the Bengals are for real.

RBs:
Glen Coffee, San Francisco- Reports have Gore with a high ankle sprain, that is usually good for a couple of weeks on the bench. Coffee looked like a monster in preseason, running straight up dude’s chests. This may be his shot to steal a little playing time from Frank Gore permanently. Even if he doesn’t take any full time reps from Gore, most of the SF offense goes through the running backs, so he will still be a good start for a couple weeks.

Pierre Thomas, New Orleans- If anyone in your league was stupid enough to drop Thomas because they thought Mike Bell was “The Guy”, grab him NOW!! He was always “The Guy” he is still “The Guy”.

WRs:
Pierre Garcon, Indianapolis- Garcon means boy, but this guy plays like a man among boys. Pierre is being described as a younger, stronger, faster Reggie Wayne. Sounds like he might see the field a little even when Gonzalez gets back…ya think?

Devin Hester, Chicago- He should have been drafted but just in case you forgot, he is a playmaker. He is probably only a spot starter but he is good for that in a pinch.

Not So Obvious:
RBs:
Jerome Harrison, Cleveland- Contrary to all the preseason hype, James Davis was not the heir apparent to the aged Jamal Lewis in Cleveland. Harrison had 19 touches in a game that was out of hand quickly for the Browns. If Lewis is going to be an ongoing scratch, Harrison should be owned in all leagues.

Correll Buckhalter, Denver- The only reason this is not a head smacker is because he is still not the starter…I am not sure why. He keeps producing week in and week out.

LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia- McCoy seems to have impressed the eagles coaching staff enough that they are talking about taking some carries away from Westbrook, even when Westbrook is healthy. Since Westbrook is rarely fully healthy, this could be a bunch of work.

WRs:
Kevin Walter, Houston- The Texan’s offense seems to be awake for good (week one worried me, I have Schaub as my starter) but it seems that everyone forgot about Kevin Walter. He is healthy again and appears to have not lost any of the timing he developed with Schaub last year.

Andre Caldwell, Cinncinati- The younger Caldwell appears to be one of the resurgent Carson Palmer’s favorite targets. If the Bengals continue to produce, look for Andre to be one of the biggest beneficiaries.

Hail Marys:
QBs:
Bruce Gradkowski, Oakland- JaMarcus Russel is a stiff, I am not saying that just because I like him either. He is terrible. I admit, I was a little enamored by his last couple of games last season, but I am over that now. There is a good chance that Russel will be benched as some point soon, making Gradkowski the starter. He probably will still not be a great start, because the Raiders are not that good, but there are a few weapons on the team and he should be able to dump the ball off to McFadden shouldn’t he?

WRs:
Mike Wallace, Pittsburgh- Fresh off his multiple emmy wins for his work on 60 minutes, Wallace seems to have taken Limas Sweed’s job in the ‘burgh. Sweed has dropped every ball possible to ensure that he will not see the field again any time soon. Wallace has good hands and is not afraid to go across the middle. With Santonio Holmes dropping a few lately as well and Hines Ward losing a step or two, Wallace might be worth a look.

Pretzel’s Picks Week 3

Houston Texans by 3.5 over the Jacksonville Jaguars

After a scary week one the Texans found their stride on offence in week 2.  Houston continues their strong offensive play against Jacksonville’s 24^th ranked defence.  Houston takes this one by 10 over the Jaguars.

New Orleans Saints by 6 at the Buffalo Bills

The Saints are number one on offence and the Bills are ranked 28^th on defence, is there really more that needs to be said on this one?  New Orleans will take this one over Buffalo by two touchdowns.

Arizona Cardinals by 2.5 over the Indianapolis Colts

Arizona looked good last week against the Jaguars but as I mentioned above the Jags defence is not that great.  The Colts are #1 against the pass.  The Cardinals should have a harder time this week.  The Colts take this one by a touchdown.

Dallas Cowboys by 8.5 over the Carolina Panthers

The Cowboys home opener in their new stadium was spoiled last week by the Giants.  They should be able to win their second game there but not by 8.5.  The Cowboys take this one by a field goal.

Eliminator

For my eliminator take the Packers over the Rams.

Top Targets 2009 Week 2 (Free agents Dummy!)

Week 2 is behind us, but not without some injuries to some key players. But before I go into that let me just gloat for a moment, Laurent Robinson?!?! What did I say? Ced Benson? and Cadillac found the end zone again…I am just saying. Okay here we go.

Head Smackers:
Quarterbacks:Eli Manning, New York Giants- Although the junior Manning is a super bowl winner, first overall pick and starting QB for a dominant team, he has never really been looked at as a premier fantasy performer, but he might be out to change that this season. (We all know that NFL players care greatly about their fantasy stock)

Running Backs:
Felix Jones, Dallas Cowboys- Breaking News has Marion Barber out for several weeks. The only surprise here is how soon it happened. There are varying reports as to the length of time Barber will miss but Jones looks like a safe pickup against a weak Panthers run defense this week.

Willis McGahee, Baltimore Ravens- I guess we can all agree that contrary to the preseason speculation, McGahee is going to be very involved in the offense. By any measuring stick 4 touchdowns in 2 games is involved.

Darren Sproles, San Diego Chargers- I said on Jan. 25th of this year that L.T. is no longer a first round fantasy pick, now you know why. If you are unlucky enough to have him on your team and you did not handcuff your studs, and Sproles is still out there…….pick him up!! If you are in a league where he is still available, pick him up. He is too small to be every down back for too long but he is the best option while LT is sidelined which looks to be often, again.

Wide Receivers:
Mario Manningham, New York Giants- 3 for 58 TD week one. 10 for 150 and a TD in week 2. It appears that the former Michigan stand out has finally arrived in the NFL. Manningham had some problems with drops in college and if you saw his TD on Sunday it looked like he might re-live the good old days but his early childhood training with Barnum and Bailey’s came in quite handy.

Not So Obvious:
Quarterbacks:
Seneca Wallace, Seattle Seahawks- Wallace might not be Matt Hasselbeck in fact I am sure he is not Matt Hasselbeck, but he does have John Carleson, T.J. Houshmanzedah, Nate Burleson and Julius Jones to throw to. He is not a long term solution for your QB woes but he will be a good spot start against some of the weaker pass defenses.

Running Backs:
Correll Buckhalter, Denver Broncos- Buckhalter has broken off big yards per carry and is looking like the most effective RB on the team right now. Moreno does appear to be their first option with 17 carries but Buckhalter continues to impress in a limited role.

Tashard Choice, Dallas Cowboys- With the injury history of both Barber and Jones, Tashard is always one play from being a starter and he as performed well when given the opportunity.

Wide Receivers:
Donald Driver, Green Bay- Every year people seem to forget how consistent this guy is in fact, the seem to forget about him all together. I can see why, all he does is catch 80 balls for 1000 yards and 8 TDs every season. With Jennings getting banged up, he should see more action and when Jennings gets back, Driver will get single coverage all day.
Johnny Knox, Chicago Bears- Knox was one of Cutler’s favorite targets against the Steelers going for 70 yards and a TD. If he keeps it up, he will knock the disappointing Earl Bennett off the field.

Hail Mary:
Quarterbacks:
Mike Vick, Philadelphia Eagles- Kevin Kolb looked adequate backing up the injured McNabb last weekend but you can bet that contrary to what the Eagles brass is saying today, if McNabb misses any length of time Vick is going to see the field at some point.

Wide Receivers:
Johnny Knox, Chicago Bears- Knox was one of Cutler’s favorite targets against the Steelers going for 70 yards and a TD. If he keeps it up, he will knock the disappointing Earl Bennett off the field.

Pretzel’s Picks Week 2

New Orleans Saints by 1 at the Philadelphia Eagles

The Saints looked awesome against the awful Lions but… it was the Lions.  I think New Orleans will beat up on the Eagles this week simply because McNabb won’t be there to get the Eagles offense moving, giving Drew Brees and Co. plenty of opportunity to put up a load of points again.

Pittsburgh Steelers by 3 at the Chicago Bears

Chicago lost the heart of their team when Urlacher went out for the season.  Add that to Jay Cutler looking more like Kyle Orton then himself and Pittsburgh should take this one by quite a bit more then a field goal.

Indianapolis Colts by 3 at the Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins could barely put point on the board last week against the Falcons.  I look for that to change this week but don’t expect them to keep pace with the Colts on Monday Night Football.  Colts by 10.

Dallas Cowboys by 3 over the N.Y. Giants

The Cowboys gave up 450 yards of offense last week against Tampa Bay.  However they were able to counter with 462 yards of their own.  The Giants won’t let that happen.  Giants take this one in a close divisional game for my upset pick of the week.

Eliminator Pick

For my eliminator pick this week I am going to go with the Washington Redskins over the St. Louis Rams.  The Rams looked brutal last week and I look for more of the same this week.  The Redskins will pound the Rams at home this week.