Top Targets for 2011 week 5

Cam Newton is doing everything he can to make me look stupid, but I am not biting! Man those 2 rushing TDs are making him look good though. He is not available in your league at this point so I am not going to talk about him again unless he really burns me and it gets funny!

Quarterbacks

Head Smacker

Matt Hasselbeck, Tennessee Titans – I mentioned Hasselbeck earlier in the season as a “not so obvious”, but he has since become glaringly obviously a good pick up. Hasselbeck is averaging almost 300 yards per game and it is not powered by a 500 yarder. In addition he is averaging 2 TDs and less than 1 interception per game. Hasselbeck is a wile veteran who has never been prone to big gaffs injury yes, mistakes no. (unless you count engaging his sister-in-law in a political discussion) If you are looking for help with the upcoming bye weeks, or you just need a better QB, Matt might still be available.

Not So Obvious:

Jason Campbell, Oakland Raiders – Campbell was one of our hail marys a couple of weeks ago and after another 300+ yard game we have to upgrade him even though he plays for the silver and black. If history repeats itself, he looks to be a great play every other week! Too bad it is not that easy to predict which games he is going to step up. Campbell is nowhere near an every week start but he could help through the tough spots.

Running Backs

Head Smacker:

Isaac Redman, Pittsburgh Steelers –If you have been watching the Steelers at all this season, you could see the Redman was going to start carving out carries whether Mendenhall got hurt or not. He had been averaging over 4 yards per carry all season compared to Mendenhall’s sub 3 and when given the opportunity he was running downhill with purpose which the Steelers love. Whether Rashard misses time or not, Redman will continue to take work away from him.

Stevan Ridley, New England Patriots – Ridley was the preseason darling after a couple of huge games but was widely forgotten after that. But, he has very quietly started to take more and more carries away from the man of many names, BenJarvus Green-Ellis. He has gone from no carries in game one to 2 in game 2 and in the last two weeks his workload has increased steadily 6 last week andand 10 yesterday for 97 yards and a TD. If he is available in your league and you need support in the backfield, scoop him.

Hail Mary:

Ryan Torain, Washington Redskins – Torain is a good running back who has a history of success with Shanahan. He is a hail mary because if he stays healthy, Shanahan will use him the question as always with Mike is how much and when. This is the beginning of a very frustrating year for people who reached for Tim Hightower.

Wide Receivers:

Head Smacker

Kevin Walter/ Jacoby Jones, Houston Texans – If Johnson misses time, which he has and could again, Walter and Jones will be WR1 and WR2. The problem is that it is a crap shoot as to which one holds the most value. Walter has been the guy who has always stepped up in Johnson’s absence but he was non-existent this week even with Andre out of the game and he will be facing the Raiders’ Stanford Routt next week if Johnson can’t go. This makes Jones the guy most likely to be open. Both have value but Jones is more likely to be available.

No So Obvious:

Laurent Robinson, Dallas Cowboys – Robinson was a player that was mentioned a few times last season in this column. He has good skills and given an opportunity he could become a very consistent WR2. With Miles Austin and Dez Bryant trading stints on the trainer’s table, Robinson might be getting that opportunity.

Victor Cruz, New York Giants – Cruz caught 2 touchdowns last week, but I was far more impressed by his 6 grabs for 98 yards this week. There have been many wide receivers who have had big weeks and then disappeared for the rest of the season, remember Snoop Minnis? Didn’t think so. Back to back weeks with 95+ in yardage and more looks each week are the sign of growing trust by your quarterback and as we have seen with Eli in the past, he gets very attached to guys he trusts (see Steve Smith and Plaxico Burress). My only real concern with Cruz is that he has to compete with both Nicks and Manningham for looks, but Eli does play favorites and look for Manningham to be the odd man out.

Pretzel’s Picks Week 4

Buffalo Bills by 3 at the Cincinnati Bengals

The 3-0 Bills have shown they can stay with anyone including the taking out the Patriots last week.  They should continue to roll this week.  Bills by 6.

Atlanta Falcons by 4.5 at the Seattle Seahawks

Sidney Rice’s return gave the Seahawks a jolt but they will comeback down this week when the Falcons come to town.  Falcons by 7.

New York Giants by 1 at the Arizona Cardinals

After losing their first game they gave one the last 2 by more than 10.  The should continue to roll against a Cardinals
team that are going in the opposite direction.  Giants by a touchdown.

Minnesota Vikings by 3 at the Kansas City Chiefs

For my upset pick of the week I will take the Chiefs at home over the Vikings.  The Vikings can’t close.  The Chiefs showed they may have some gas in the
tank losing a close one to the Chargers.  Chiefs just pull this out on the leg of Ryan Succop.  Chiefs by 3.

Eliminator

For my Eliminator pick I will take the Bucs at home over the Colts.

Top Targets for 2011 Week 4

Not a lot of new faces on a slow week 3 but here are your best options….no Cam Newton is still not on the list

Quarterbacks

Not So Obvious/ Hail Mary:

Rex Grossman, Washington Redskins I have talked about Grossman as a Hail Mary previously, but he is continuing to be productive. I would still hope that you have a better option but in a pinch, he should get you a double digit positive score at the QB position

Chad Henne, Miami Dolphins – Henne has not yet and most likely will not grab big headlines for throwing 4 or 5 touchdowns in a game but he is a solid performer. With the exception of a tough game against a very good Houston Texans defense, Henne has averaged over 300yds a game and has more TDs than interceptions. The others I have mentioned in previous weeks are better options, but if you are desperate, Henne is probably available and won’t bury you. Plus he averages almost 40 yards per game on the ground and that always helps.

Running Backs

Head Smacker:

Darren Sproles, New Orleans Saints – Sproles has been upgraded to a head smacker since last week because the guys just flat produces. 3rd down, kick returns, punt returns, whatever you want him to do he does it and smokes at it.

Daniel Thomas, Miami Dolphins – Thomas has emerged as the unquestioned feature back in Miami, He is getting the lion’s share of the carries and producing while Reggie Bush does the same thing for your fantasy team in Miami that he did in New Orleans….nothing

Hail Mary:

John Kuhn, Green Bay – Kuhn is not going to get you big yardage but his stat line this year is 3 carries for 2 touchdowns. That my friend is a goal line vulture. If you put all your eggs in the Jamal Charles basket and are in a 16 man league, Kuhn might have some value.

Wide Receivers:

Head Smacker

Nate Washington, Tennessee Titans – Washington was approaching “the man” status in Tennessee before week three but with Kenny Britt having health issues, his status is unquestioned. Since Hasselbeck has arrived in Tennessee, he has had immediate chemistry with Washington and Nate has always been one of those receiver you expect big things from and he never delivered…until now (think Brandon Lloyd until recently)

David Nelson, Buffalo BillsAnother upgrade from last week. Nelson continues to take advantage of the attention being paid to Steve Johnson. He added 6 catches and another 80+ yards to his stats this week. The best part is that he is STILL available in almost every league.

No So Obvious:

Torrey Smith, Baltimore Ravens Smith may seem like a headsmacker after a 3 td game, but don’t get too grabby with him. He was playing the Rams and he was facing their softest coverage because they were not expecting him to explode. (who was) Add to that, there are a lot of mouths to feed in Baltimore. He is worth a grab if you have room or need help, but the 2 WRs mentioned earlier are better picks. Remember, not all that glitters is gold.

Pretzel’s Picks Week 3