Geeks of the Week: Week 3

Well, week two of fantasy football action is in the books for the 2006 season and fantasy owners are beginning to brag about that sleeper they drafted who is paying off big time or they are scratching their heads wondering why they drafted that big time bust. With two weeks in the books you can begin to see some trends with your players. You can begin to make the decision if your players will keep up the pace if they are surprises or if they can turn it around if they are off to a slow start.

Every year we have players that surprise the fantasy world and this year is no exception. We doubt too many people would have Chad Pennington scoring more fantasy points then Tom Brady, but Pennington is currently outscoring Brady 47 to 29. How about the fact that Michael Turner is outscoring Edgerrin James? Can these guys keep up the pace or is this just a two week hot start? Only time will tell. However, some players look like they are here to stay. Players like Frank Gore, Chester Taylor and Donte Stallworth have all taken advantage of the opportunities given to them and have excelled.

Here are a few players that you might want to take a look at plugging into your starting lineup this week to either turn around your luck or keep your success going! They may not be the top names in fantasy football, but most are the ‘in between’ guys that you might have to make a tough decision on. The good fantasy owner is able to pick these players out from a crowd and stick them in their lineup for fantasy success!


QB - Michael Vick – Vick has been able to get out of the pocket and create his own space this year. This has allowed him to take off and run if there isn’t an open receiver. He’s got 175 yards and a score on the ground to go along with 3 passing touchdowns. The Falcons travel to New Orleans for a big Monday night game and we think that he’ll have a special game in front of the national audience.

RB - Kevin Jones – Jones has gone up against two of the better defenses in the league and he hasn’t found the endzone yet. This week he goes up against the Packers who have the 30th ranked defense in the league. Look for Jones to continue to catch the ball out of the backfield; he’s already caught 11 passes in two games. We think this is the week that we see Jones find the endzone and combine for over 100 yards.

RB - Ronnie Brown – This is a must-win game for the Dolphins and they welcome in the hapless Titans into Miami. The Titans have given up the second most fantasy points on defense which should mean that we see a healthy dose of Ronnie Brown. Brown scored 2 touchdowns in week 1 but not too many yards. In week two he increased his yards per carry to 4.7 but didn’t get you any touchdowns. Against the Titans he should be able to do both.

WR - Donte Stallworth – We knew that Donte was eventually going to be the number one receiver in Philly, but he’s exploded on the scene. He has 222 yards and 2 touchdowns in just two games. Can he keep it up, should you sit him this week? Philly is going against an improved Niners defense but they have still given up the second most passing touchdowns in the league and the McNabb to Stallworth combo keeps it going for another week. Keep him in your lineup.

WR - Derrick Mason – Cleveland’s defense is ailing. They have suffered several key injuries in their secondary and they’ve had teams passing on them at will. This should allow Mason to exploit a depleted secondary. Mason has had 17 targets in two games so the McNair to Mason hookup is building. Baltimore has had its way with the Browns and we expect that to continue.

TE - Chris Cooley – Cooley hasn’t done much this season and has been a real headache for fantasy owners this year, but the Redskins play the fantasy equivalent of an aspirin this week; the Texans. The Texans rank dead last in fantasy points allowed and they’ve given up the most passing touchdowns in the league with six. The Redskins desperately don’t want to start out 0-3 and they need to get Cooley more involved. Look for a red zone score from Cooley.

Carolina D – The Panthers face an elimination game against Tampa Bay this week. The Bucs offense hasn’t scored a touchdown yet this year and their quarterback already has thrown 6 interceptions and been sacked 4 times. The Panthers have six sacks but only have one turnover this year but that was against better competition. Look for the Panthers to keep pressure on Tampa Bay and don’t be surprised if they force several turnovers.

Huddlegeeks Fantasy Analysis - Week 2

Listen to the Geeks take of Week 2 Fantasy Football Action!

Week 2 Analysis

Geeks of the Week: Week 2

Well, one week of fantasy football action is in the books for the 2006 season and fantasy owners are doing either one of two things: Boasting about how their supreme draft strategy has paid off or scrambling to find new players that will save them from another loss. We suggest you don’t react too positively or negatively, depending on what your results were in week one. The fantasy owner that takes the steady, sensible approach to managing their team is usually the one that you find in the playoffs each and every season.

We also had some surprising performances in week one that may have many fantasy owners searching the waiver wire to improve their teams. The passing clinic that Jet quarterback Chad Pennington put on in Tennessee was an unexpected treat that had to make fantasy owners sit up and take notice. Is this former fantasy stud back on top of his game? Or is this just the case of the Jets facing a poor pass defense in the Titans? Only time will tell. Before last week, not many people had heard of Marques Colston, but after his week one performance against the Browns, many fantasy owners may be looking to pick up this dynamic rookie wide receiver to add depth to their wider receivers.

Here are a few players that you might want to take a look at plugging into your starting lineup this week to either turn around your luck or keep your success going! They may not be the top names in fantasy football, but most are the ‘in between’ guys that you might have to make a tough decision on. The good fantasy owner is able to pick these players out from a crowd and stick them in their lineup for fantasy success!


QB - Drew Bledsoe – Bledsoe had a rough week one in which he threw three interceptions against a tough Jacksonville defense. We are expecting Bledsoe and the Cowboys to bounce back this week against their rival, the Washington Redskins. The Redskins secondary will be missing both Shawn Springs and Pierson Prioleau from their secondary a week after being repeatedly torched deep by Brad Johnson and the Vikings. Look for Bledsoe to reaffirm his hold on the starting QB job in Dallas.

RB - Jamal Lewis – We liked Jamal Lewis heading into this season and he proved why last week against a tough Tampa Bay defense. Look for Lewis to continue is success against a Raiders team that gave up nearly 200 yards and 2 TDs on the ground to the Chargers last week. Expect the Ravens to force a few turnovers and leave their offense and Lewis in prime position for some red-zone scoring opportunities.

RB - Steven Jackson – We had Jackson ranked as a top five fantasy back coming into this season and he showed why last week, while rushing for over 120 yards against a tough Broncos defense. Jackson should be licking his chops this week as the Rams will face the Niners young defense. Look for the Rams to give the Niners a steady dose of Jackson all day long, leading to a big game, by the big back.


WR - Chris Chambers – Chambers had a quiet game last week vs. the Steelers, but we expect him to make a statement this week vs. the Bills. In two games against the Bills last season, Chambers totaled 19 receptions for 298 yards and 1 TD. We expect Chambers to continue that success this season with Daunte Culpepper as his quarterback, so you better make sure you have him in your lineup!


WR - Joe Horn – We expected Joe Horn to have a big game last week vs. the Browns, but Marques Colston wound up stealing the show. Don’t expect Horn to have two poor outings in a row. Look for quarterback Drew Brees to establish some chemistry with the veteran wideout against a Green Bay secondary that gives up 100 yard receiving games about as often as the sun comes up on Sundays. If the Packers can make Rex Grossman look like a star, we think Brees and Horn should do just fine.

TE - Dallas Clark – Clark didn’t have a ton of catches last week, but did find the end zone once against the Giants. Look for Clark to get more action if Brandon Stokley suits up this week like we expect him to. Stokley’s return to the lineup means less coverage shifted Clark’s way. He should be a favorite target of Peyton Manning’s this week as they face the struggling pass defense of the Texans.

DEF - Bengals – The Bengals will be facing the Browns in their home opener. The Browns looked totally confused on offense last week at home vs. the Saints. It’s frightening to think what the Bengals defense will do to Charlie Frye after seeing Trent Green being carted off of the field last week. Expect the Bengals to shut down the Browns, non-existent running game, and then pin their ears back and come after the Browns young signal caller. The Bengals totaled seven sacks last week vs. the Chiefs, so it could be a very long day for Browns fans and Charlie Frye.

Geeks of the Week: Week One

Well, Fantasy Football fans, the moment we have all waited for has arrived! The start of the 2006 NFL season kicks off this week as the hated Pittsburgh Steelers will face the resurgent Miami Dolphins. The start of the NFL season means only one thing to die-hard fantasy football fans and that’s stat watching!

Be it by scrolling news on the bottom of your T.V., cell phones or a check on your home computer at half time, the most ardent fantasy fans will find some way to keep pace on their team(s) at all times during the weekend.

Yes, this is also the time of the year when you actually might pay attention to the Jets - Titans game, just because you might have your hopes pinned on a good performance by Chad Pennington. That’s what makes fantasy football such a great pastime. It makes the most miserable match-ups of the week somewhat interesting, since bragging rights are on the line for you and your fantasy opponent. There’s nothing like seeing a backup running back score a touchdown that vaults you ahead of your opponent! It’s simply fantasy bliss.

Here are a few players that you might want to take a look at plugging into your starting lineup this week. They may not be the top names in fantasy football, but they are the ‘under the radar’ guys that you might have to make a tough decision on. The good fantasy player is able to pick these players out from a crowd and stick them in their lineup for fantasy success!

QB - Kurt Warner - Warner may not last the entire NFL season, so you'll want to use him early. Look for him to have a big day against a Niners defense that finished dead last in the league last year in pass defense and didn't make many improvements in the off-season. Warner has many weapons at his disposal with Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and now Edgerrin James in the backfield, so expect him to make full use of them as the Cardinals open up their new stadium in Arizona.

RB Thomas Jones - Jones has been named the starting RB in the Chicago offense, since Cedric Benson was slowed during training camp due to a shoulder injury. Look for Jones to get the bulk of the carries against a Packers defense that finished in the bottom quarter of the league in rushing defense and has looked awful during the preseason. The Packers may have added former Buckeye A.J. Hawk to their defense, but Hawk is only a band-aid on defense that has trouble stopping anyone.

RB Reuben Droughns - Droughns is the clear No. 1 RB in Cleveland this season and will open the season at home against a rebuilding Saints defense that ranked 27th in the NFL last season stopping the run. Look for him to get started on surpassing his 2005 TD total of two in this opening day matchup. Rookie, James Harrison may spell Droughns on third downs, but look for Ramblin Reuben to get the ball when it really matter; in the red-zone!

WR Nate Burleson - Burleson is the new bird in Seattle and has shown good chemistry with Matt Hasselbeck in the preseason since Darrell Jackson was out. While Jackson is expected to play against the Lions, expect his contribution to be minimal. Look for Burleson to be the Seahawks leading receiver and a consistent target for Hasselbeck throughout the season.

TE Ben Watson - We figure on Watson being a breakout player in fantasy football this season. Expect Watson to be one of Tom Brady's main targets as they face the Bills in New England. The Patriots have lost a lot of talent at the wide receiver position and figure to use Watson liberally in the passing game. Don’t be surprised if this big tight end surpasses the 100 yard mark in the first game of the season.

DEF Patriots - The Pats veteran defense will be squaring off against the Buffalo Bills and fantasy killer, J.P. Losman. Expect the Pats to shut down the Bills running game and force Losman into some stupid turnovers in the second half. A defensive TD would not be out of the question.

PodCast: Week 1 Fantasy Analysis

Listen to the Huddlgeeks break down some of the fantasy matchup for week one of the NFL season.

Week One Analysis