RotoBoys

Rotoboyz

2009-03-31T14:03:00.001-07:00

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Start 'Em/Sit 'Em

2007-04-23T15:51:00.000-07:00

You know what I can't stand? Those guys who just go nuts on your bench. It's just really a pain. Just like in the majors, when guys are hot, you need to find them a way into the lineup. Just the same, it maybe a smart move to sit some one for a bit until heats up again. So here are a few suggestions my loyal reader.

By the way keep the comments coming! We love to know what people think.

START THESE GUYS IMMEDIATELY

Mike Lowell
This fellow is on fire the last week. If you need any proof, check out his two homers against the Yankees Sunday night. Third base is a really deep position, but wherever you can get this guy in the lineup. He's raking like your dad after the leaves fall. Lowell looks like he's fully recovered from his injury and 2005, and fits in nicely in that stacked lineup.

Pat Burell
Pat the Bat catches a lot of flack from the public eye, but he's off to a fast start this season and now faces a four game stretch in which he'll play the Astros and Nats. Sometimes you may be scared to play Burrell, who his manager benched against Matt Belisle, but don't worry, he'll be fine this week.

Xavier Nady
The Pirates aren't as bad as you think, but they still aren't very good. One of the better and unheralded players on the team is Xavier Nady. The X-Man, who enjoyed success last year with the Mets before being traded, has come into his own with Pittsburgh. Once Adam LaRoche heats up, Nady will have a lot more RBI oppurtunities.

OK, THESE GUYS NEED TO SIT

Akinori Iwamura
No one was hotter or more suprising to start the season than the D-Rays main man Aki. However, major league pitchers may have begun to figure him out as he has experienced a bit of a cool off lately. It would be wise to keep the Ak-man on the bench till we know what kind of player he will be in this league.

Mike Cameron
The reliable Padres CF has a couple of tough matchups on slate this week as he's due to face Randy Johnson, Brandon Webb and Derek Lowe. This not bode well for the strikeout heavy Cameron. There are most likely better options on your bench, so please play them.

Mark Texiera
Sit, Texiera?! Are you crazy?? No I'm not. Tex is becoming the worst first half player of our generation. Last year, I had to sit him until the All-Star Break, and I advise you do the same till things change. Tex shows no signs of turning it around and don't let him kill your team until he does.

-David Cassilo
asuhouse@aol.com

Streaming Starters April 21-24

2007-04-20T08:15:00.000-07:00

Here's your list of pitchers to pick up for spot starts or potential spots on your permanent roster. While these may be good matchups, I never guarantee the success of these pitchers.

Saturday April 21
Paul Byrd Cleveland at Tampa Bay Jae Seo
Paul Byrd has been solid in his first 2 starts. Ok so the first one which was a 4 2/3 inning no hitter didn't count because of the snow, but he was solid again in his next start giving up no runs. This could be another solid start as he goes against the D-Rays and Jae Seo.

Sunday April 22
Ramon Ortiz Twins at Kansas City Jorge De La Drosa
Am I actually saying this? Well Ramon Ortiz may already be owned in your league because of his great start, but if he's not, there is a good chance he could keep it going against the Royals and De La Rosa. Of course this could also blow up in your face and Ortiz could get lit up

Monday April 23
I got nothin...

Tuesday April 24
This is a bad week for streaming starters....

~Brian Melnick aka Grande Mel
Contact at bigmel2k5@yahoo.com

FANTASY MD: The Doctor is In

2007-04-19T11:07:00.000-07:00

Why hello there loyal readers! Remember me? I'm back and if you enjoyed my Fantasy MD column from the football season, you'll be sure to love this. Busy night last night with the no-hitter and Felix injury, so if you're looking for your fantasy fix, I do not disappoint.

Felix Hernandez- I actually own Felix and lost a good amount of sleep last night due to the horrific possibilities of the injury. It's an elbow injury which is never good. Luckily, King Felix had the sense to pull himself from last night's contest really early. A DL stint seems inevitable, and let's just hope this isn't too serious. Losing Francisco Liriano and Felix Hernandez in back to back seasons would be devestatiting to baseball.

Ryan Howard- One of the noticeable problems for the struggling Phillies has been the lack of production from last year's MVP Ryan Howard. Last night, things almost went from bad to awful when Howard appeared to injure his leg. However, after an MRI today, it's been confirmed that Howard is merely day to day. It's likely he will see some action this weekend.

Howie Kendrick- Originally, Kendrick was thought to be just day-day after being hit in the head with a pitch on Tuesday. However, things have esacalted rather quickly, and he will now most likely miss between 4-6 weeks. Kendrick has been decent this season but it is time to start looking for other second basemen to fill the void. In a related story, in my draft this season I was forced to choose between Ian Kinsler and Kendrick to be my starting second baseman. I went with Kinsler and so far the rest is history.

Jason Schmidt- It has been a truly ugly start for Schmidt this season with his new team. The ex-Giant has been less than stellar in all of his outings so far this season and now finds himself on the DL with shoulder inflammation. Schmidt didn't believe health was an issue, but an MRI confirmed he was wrong. This is probably the best thing for Schmidt who could use a little time off to get his game back. Mark Hendrickson will fill in for the next few weeks.

-David Cassilo
asuhouse@aol.com

Streaming Starters April 17-20

2007-04-16T13:39:00.000-07:00

I know many of you fantasy baseball players draft hitters early and often and go with the "Streaming Starters" strategy. For those of you who don't know, this is the strategy of picking up decent pitchers on the waiver wire that have a good matchup, and then dropping them right after the game for a starter with a good matchup the next day. I won't 100% recomend this strategy, but I will tell you that I won my Head 2 Head league last year using this strategy, which caused a change in the rules this season to a 75 move limit. For those of you in Roto leagues, this may not be the best strategy, because even against the Nats, a below average pitcher could get hammered which would hurt your total stats. Anyway, if you are looking for starters to stream this week, here are the matchups you should look at from Tuesday to Friday.
*I do not gauarantee the success of any of the following pitchers*

Tuesday April 17

Mike Maroth Tigers home against Royals Jorge De La Rosa
Mike Maroth is having a decent start to the season with a 2-0 record so far. If he's available in your leage this is a great opportunity for a W. He is pitching at home against the improved, but still horendus KC Royals and a below average pitcher De La Rosa. If he has a quality start in this game he may be worth holding onto as he pitches for one of the best offensive teams in baseball.

Steve Trachsel Orioles @ Devil Rays Casey Fossum
If slow and steady wins the race, the Trachsel is on his way. Steve rarely pitches a shutout, but rarely gets lit up, so this game against the D-Rays and the inconsistent Casey Fossum would be a good game to stick Trachsel in your lineup.

Wednesday April 18

Claudio Vargas Brewers home against Pirates Paul Maholm
The Pirates and Paul Maholm are bad, and Vargas is at home pitching for a decent offense. Unless you are desperate, I wouldn't even use this as a spot start.

Thursday April 19

Darrel Rasner Yankees home against Indians Fausto Carmona
A yankee pitcher always has a chance to get a W even if he gives up some runs. Picking up Rasner for this game is not a bad idea, especially at home and against Fausto Carmona who is just plain bad.

Friday April 20

John Danks White Sox @ Tigers Chad Durbin
Even in Danks' 2 losses, he has pitched well posting a 3.97 ERA. He could put it all together at any time, and even if he doesn't on Friday against the Tigers, Thome and the gang should be able to crush the Tiger's 5th starter Durbin.

Randy Wolf Dodgers home against Pirates Tony Armas
Randy Wolf has started off strong with a 2-1 record and a 4.00 ERA. The Dodgers are a strong offensive team and should win at home against the perenial bottom dwelling Pirates.

~Brian Melnick aka Grande Mel
Contact at bigmel2k5@yahoo.com

2007 TEAM OUTLOOK: CHICAGO WHITE SOX

2007-02-13T10:54:00.000-08:00

OFFSEASON OVERVIEW: You could make a very compelling argument that the White Sox had the worst offseason of anyone in baseball. They would have been better off if they just did not make a move. Their offseason was highlighted by two puzzling trades they made. The first was when they traded starting pitcher Freddy Garcia to Philadelphia for Gavin Floyd. Alone this trade is not bad for Chicago. They not only saved some money, but also opened up a rotation spot for young arm Brandon McCarthy. However, just a few weeks later the White Sox dealt McCarthy to Texas for a few middle level prospects. Once blessed with a surplus of quality starting pitchers, the White Sox now have a shortage. These trades will almost surely come back to haunt them at some time during the season. The rest of their offseason did not make as many headlines. Chicago brought in former Angels' outfielder Darin Erstad to compete with Brian Anderson in center field. Erstad has had several injury problems over the last few years, and it would be a surprise to see him play close to a full season. The only loss that may be felt this season in free agency was David Riske. He was quality reliever, but should be easy to replace.

OFFENSE: The White Sox will go with almost the same group of guys in their lineup as they did last season. Speedster Scott Podsednik should see most of the leadoff duty to start the year, but if he struggles again he will most likely lose some playing time to Pablo Ozuna. Batting behind him will be Tadahito Iguchi. He has proven to be both reliable at second base and at the plate, and his job should not be in any question. The heart of the Chicago order could be one of the best in baseball. Jermaine Dye, Paul Konerko, and Jim Thome are all coming off monster seasons, and there is no evidence that they are close to slowing down. As long as these players stay at the level they have been playing at, the White Sox should be in the playoff race all season. Batting behind them will be third baseman Joe Crede, who took a major step towards reaching his potential last season. Another solid season could give the White Sox the best lineup in baseball. Towards the end of the lineup will be catcher AJ Pierzinski. He is a very good hitter for a catcher, and the White Sox are a lot better when he is playing. Darin Erstad and Brian Anderson will split time in center field. Any offensive production out of either would be an added bonus to Chicago. The only question mark in the order is shortstop Juan Uribe. He has been a solid contributor the last few season and would be a lock to play were it not for his legal issues. If he is forced to miss the season, Alex Cintron will be the starter and hit ninth.

PITCHING: The White Sox rotation consists of several talented pitchers who have been known to underachieve. The best case of this is number one starter Mark Buehrle. Going into last season, Buehrle was considered one of the few sure bets to give you a good start in the major leagues. A completely out of character 2006 season has people around baseball questioning if the year was a fluke or a sign of things to come. Both Jose Contreras and Javier Vasquez are blessed with great stuff, but they seem to never be able to go an entire start without imploding in one inning. The other familiar sight in the rotation is Jon Garland. Although Garland gives up a lot of runs for an 18 game winner, he seems to always find a way to win. Battling it out for the now vacant fifth spot will be Gavin Floyd, Heath Phillips, and Charlie Haeger. The bullpen has a bit more uncertainty than the starting rotation. One definite is that Bobby Jenks will be the closer. He has done a very effective job the last few years and has developed into one of the better young closers in baseball. Outside of Jenks and setup man Mike MacDougal, there is little consistency and experience within the White Sox bullpen. Matt Thornton, David Aardsma, and Andrew Sisco will all fight for spots within the pen.

X-FACTOR- After a dreadful 2006 season, the White Sox will be counting Mark Buerhle to bounce back. Last year his ERA rose by a run and a half while his strikeouts dropped by more than 50. The White Sox have a rotation full of second and third starters, but to go anywhere some one will need to step up and be the staff ace. Buehrle must be the pitcher to fill that role again for Chicago.

BEST CASE SCENARIO- All the White Sox starters pitch to their potential, Jermaine Dye continues to play at an MVP level, and people become more reliable in the middle of the bullpen. With all these things taking place, it would not be a surprise to see the White Sox return to the World Series.

WORST CASE SCENARIO- Buerhle is awful again, both trades come back to haunt Chicago, and Jim Thome begins to show his age. Once again the White Sox will be on the outside of the playoffs looking in if a season like this occurs.

-David Cassilo

2007 TEAM OUTLOOK: LOS ANGELES ANGELS OF ANAHEIM

2007-02-12T12:38:00.000-08:00

OFFSEASON OVERVIEW: It seems as though every season the Angels are always competing with the Athletics for the AL West crown. With the Athletics losing Barry Zito this offseason, the Angels looked to upgrade enough to regain their division title. The move that made headlines was giving Gary Matthews a five year 50 million dollar contract. A lot of people, including myself, consider this a bit of a risk considering Matthews Jr.'s 2006 season could very well have been a fluke that was overrated by one catch he made in center field. In addition to Matthews Jr., the Angels added controversial Shea Hillenbrand to the offense. Although he may make a stupid comment here and there, there is no question that Hillenbrand has a pretty solid bat. He will fill in at DH until Juan Rivera heals from his injury. The Angels spent the rest of their money on middle reliever Justin Speier and long reliever Darren Oliver. Both players did a very good job last season and should only improve an already strong Angels' bullpen. Anaheim did lose two mainstays on their team for years when Darin Erstad and Adam Kennedy opted to sign with other teams. The Angels should only miss them in the clubhouse because Erstad was injury prone and Kennedy's replacement is the young and talented Howie Kendrick. They had no problem in letting them leave this offseason. While the jury is still out on the Matthews signing, the Angels on a whole did a very good job addressing their needs and filling them this offseason.

OFFENSE: The Angels have one of the more balanced offenses in the American League but their problem could lie in the power department. The only big bat in their lineup is Vladimir Guerrero. Granted, Vlad has been known to carry a team by himself, however the Angels would like to have some serious protection behind him. The player that used to carry this tag was Garret Anderson, but he has been on the decline due to injury and age. The Angels will have plenty of men on base this season, starting with Chone Figgins and Orlando Cabrera. Both players did a terrific job setting the table and stealing bases so that Guererro would hit with runners in scoring position. Other veterans that should help this team score are the previously mentioned Gary Matthews Jr. and budding star Howie Kendrick. The young second baseman has shown the tools to be one the best everyday second basemen in the majors this season. At designated hitter, the Angels planned to go with Juan Rivera but the injury to his left tibia forced the them to sign Shea Hillenbrand. The biggest question marks in the lineup are at first base and catcher. Casey Kotchman is the front runner to play first base, but he is clearly a better fielder than hitter and may give way to Hillenbrand once Rivera returns to play DH. At catcher last season the Angels were disappointed with the way Jose Molina played. It would not be a surprise to see Mike Napoli get significant time there this year.

PITCHING: Like their lineup, the Angels pitching staff is very solid from top to bottom. Their staff ace may not be on every one's radar, but John Lackey has evolved into one of the best pitchers in the AL. Towards the middle of the rotation will be Ervin Santana and Kelvin Escobar. Both pitchers have their problems, but on a whole they are productive middle of the rotation guys. Santana stuggles mightily on the road, and if he was ever able to put those problems behind him he would be a very good number two starter. Escobar's struggles come from injuries but in 2006 he was able to have a pretty much injury free season, so those troubles may be behind him. The young Jered Weaver will also be on the staff, and if he can pitch anywhere as well as he did last season he should be a big boost to the Angels rotation. The fifth spot in the rotation will be held by Joe Saunders until Bartolo Colon comes back from his injury. The bullpen gives the Angels a lot of depth and flexibility with their pitching. Theri closer, Francisco Rodriguez, has established himself as one of the best in baseball, and the Angels are always confident that he will get the job done. Joining K-Rod are the durable and talented Scott Shields and Justin Speier who will do the set-up work. Hector Carrasco and Darren Oliver also should prove to be solid contributors to the bullpen before the season is over.

X-FACTOR: As mentioned earlier the Angels rely mainly on Vladimir Guerrero for most of their homers and RBIs. The player that did a good job helping out last season with these categories was Juan Rivera. The key for the Angels is to get back a healthy Rivera before they dig themselves a major whole. If he returns and shows some improvement on his 2006 numbers, he will be the reliable presence that should offer some protection to Vlad in the lineup.

BEST CASE SCENARIO: Kendrick evolves into one of the best second baseman in the league, Weaver continues to improve, Rivera returns and picks up where he left off last season, and Matthews Jr. proves that 2006 season was no fluke. If all this happens, we could be seeing the Angels return to the World Series

WORST CASE SCENARIO: Escobar gets hurt again, Anderson's production significantly drops off again, Hillenbrand is once again a clubhouse cancer, and no one steps up as a reliable cleanup hitter. If this is what the Angels will be facing this season, then it will be their first losing season since 2003.

-David Cassilo

2007 TEAM OUTLOOK: NEW YORK YANKEES

2007-02-11T09:02:00.000-08:00

OFFSEASON OVERVIEW: We're used to seeing the Yankees spend money like its their job, so considering the past, it was a relatively quiet offseason for the Boss. Rather than blow all their money on one player, the Yankees tried to both sign players to help them win in 2007, while also strengthening their farm system. Their two biggest moves were trading veterans Jaret Wright, Gary Sheffield and Randy Johnson. Both players had proven to be susceptible to injury, and the Yankees were lucky to unload them for quality prospects. The Yankees used the rest of their offseason to reassemble a pitching staff that was devastated by season's end in 2006. They re-signed Mike Mussina and brought back familiar face Andy Pettite to the team. Also, the Yankees took a risk on Kei Igawa, a Japanese starter that should fit somewhere in the middle of the Yankees rotation. The only other notable move of the Yankee offseason was the signing of Doug Mientkiewicz, who will play first base and gives the Yanks a lift defensively. The only losses to free agency that the Yankees suffered were that of hardly used middle relievers, but it should not be a hard to overcome because they replenished their bullpen with solid arms Luis Vizcaino and Chris Britton. On a whole it was very successful offseason for GM Brian Cashman and company.

OFFENSE: Like usual, the Yankees are stacked with possibly the best offense in baseball. The lineup will look very similar to last season with Johnny Damon and Derek Jeter hitting at the top of the order. Also, Bobby Abreu would be the logical choice to hit third considering his high OBP and decent power. Their ability to get on base should once again give plenty of RBI oppurtunities for Alex Rodriguez, Hideki Matsui, and Jason Giambi. Newly acquired Doug Doug Mientkiewicz should hit towards the bottom of the order with Jorge Posada and Robinson Cano. Despite having very solid numbers, the Yankees will most likely keep Cano ninth to act as their second leadoff hitter. Bench player Andy Phillips could see a decent amount of work as well if Mientkiewicz, struggles against lefties like has in the past.

PITCHING: Clearly the biggest question mark on this team is the pitching staff. Veterans Andy Pettite and Mike Mussina will headline the rotation. The third starter will be Chien-Ming Wang, who's tremendous sinker ball led him to a terrific 2006 season in which he led the AL in wins. He is quite possibly the most reliable pitcher on the staff. Japanese pitcher Kei Igawa will most likely start the season as fourth in the rotation, while Carl Pavano, the highly touted Phillip Hughes, and Jeff Karstens will all compete for a chance to start. The bullpen is as strong as ever and will once again be headed by the league's best closer Mariano Rivera. The fire ballers Scott Proctor and Jeff Farnsworth will be the main set-up guys, and Luis Vizcaino, Chris Britton, and Mike Myers should all see significant work this year.

X-FACTOR: In an odd scenario, the Yankees X-factor is not even a member of the team. The player I speak of is Roger Clemens. The Rocket clearly seems poised to pitch in 2007, and if he chooses the Yankees over the Red Sox and Astros, it will provide a huge lift to the rotation. While the Yankees have several solid starters, Clemens would give them the one ace that is both an ace and a big time postseason pitcher. With Clemens it may once again be the year of the Yankee.

BEST CASE SCENARIO: Clemens signs with the Yankees, Igawa is even better than Daisuke Matzusaka, and A-Rod sheds the label of baseball's biggest loser. If all this happens, it would be hard to find any reason why the Yankees would not be celebrating their 27th World Series title.

WORST CASE SCENARIO: No one steps up as the fourth and fifth starter, A-Rod continues his postseason struggles, and the team is once again plagued by injuries. A season like this could be the first one in over decade that will see the Yankees missing the playoffs.

-David Cassilo

Position Battles "The Rise of Rondo"

2007-02-09T21:25:00.000-08:00

With the all-star break coming up, lets see who might be taking over starting jobs for the rest of the year. I'm sure I can find some beef around the league.

Washington Wizards-C
Brendan Haywood vs Etan Thomas
I have to mention this because the two got in another fight during practice and Etan Thomas was suspended for 2 games. I have to assume Thomas won the fight in practice because he was suspended, but as for playing time, I think Haywood has the edge. I don't feel that either player has much fantasy value, but I guess Haywood could be a decent sourece of rebounds if thats what you need.

Boston Celtics-pg
Rajon Rondo vs Delonte West
It seems that for now there will be a peaceful end to this battle as for the past two games, both players have started. Rondo at pg and West at sg. Going forward, I see West as having more value as the inexperienced Rondo will struggle through the ups and downs of a young player.

San Antonio Spurs-sg
Brent Barry vs Manu Ginobli
For the time being, Barry is the starter. However, Ginobli's value shouldn't deminish much because he is still getting plenty of playing time. It does, however, look like Manu's play is not what it used to be. Maybe he has lost some confidence. Maybe he is playing with an injury. I guess that's why he lost the starting job. Hmmm it seems like I haven't really cleared anything up with what I've just written.....Oh well.....as long as Barry is starting, he should hit at least two 3's per game. As a matter of fact, I think I'll pick up Brent Barry right now....I'll be right back.

Where was I.........

Los Angeles Lakers-C
Andrew Bynum vs Ronny Turiof
Right now it seems like Turiof may get more minutes, but I think it's clear that Bynum has more value. Bynum is a nice source of rebounds, blocks, and FG% as long as Kwame Brown is injured.

Toronto Raptors-pg
T.J. Ford vs Jose Calderon
T.J. Ford has regained his rightful position in the starting lineup and from here on out he should gain more and more of the percentage of playing time and will ultimately have more value than the now-hot Calderon.

Portland Trailblazers-C
Joel Przybilla vs Jamal Magloire vs LaMarcus Aldridge
Who cares?

Golden State Warriors-sf
Pietrus vs Barnes
Pietrus had the starting job, but after leaving last night's game with an ankle injury, it makes sense to me for Barnes to take over that slot. Although I can't make any promises because Nellie, as always, may have other plans.

~Brian Melnick aka Big Mel
contact at bigmel2k5@yahoo.com

2007 TEAM OUTLOOK: MINNESOTA TWINS

2007-02-09T13:03:00.000-08:00

OFFSEASON OVERVIEW: We have come accustom to quiet offseasons in Minnesota and nothing changed this year. You know your team plays in a small market when the only two free agents you signed were Ramon Ortiz and Jeff Cirillo. Since there is really nothing else to speak of in this section, I'll take a few moments to speak about the minimal impact they will have for the team. Cirillo is the team's best bat off the bench, and he will get some time at third base if Nick Punto struggles this year. The veteran Ortiz will compete for a starting spot towards the back end of the rotation. The Twins did lose a big part of their recent success this year when pitcher Brad Radke decided to retire. His veteran leadership and steady production will be hard to replace. The Twins will be without Shannon Stewart and Phil Nevin this season, but both players are past their prime and should not be major losses in any sense.

OFFENSE: Once again the Twins will be playing with one of the better everyday lineups in the American League. The Twins have quite possibly the two best hitters in the AL in Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau. Both are perennial MVP candidates and tough outs for any pitcher. Both players would not be as much of a threat if it weren't for the excellent protection around them. While Torii Hunter may have lost a step, he still has 30 homer potential and cannot be taken lightly by any pitcher. While Hunter may be on the decline, it was Michael Cuddyer who has a breakout year for Minnesota last season. For the first time in his career he went over 100 RBIs. Cuddyer's ability to play several positions was also a huge help to Minnesota when they experienced their share of injuries. Outfielder Rondell White should also be able to add his share of home runs if he is able to stay healthy. Adding speed to the lineup will be second baseman Luis Castillo. His ability to get on base makes him a catalyst for the Twins offense. Rounding out the lineup are designated hitter Jason Kubel and shortstop Jason Bartlett. Both are light hitters and may be replaced before the season is over. Some positive contributors off the bench should be outfielder Lew Ford and infielder Jeff Cirillo.

PITCHING: The Twins' staff will again be lead by the league's best starter, Johan Santana. There is not a better pitcher in baseball who has proven to be better or more durable than last year's Cy Young. There is no reason to doubt that he won't be at this level for the upcoming season. The rest of the rotation is a giant question mark for Minnesota. Carlos Silva will start the season as their number two starter, but his inconsistency makes him too unreliable of an option. Young arms Boof Bonser and Matt Garza will be counted on to fill major spots in the rotation. They both have excelled in the minor leagues but have not shown that high level of pitching in their short major league stints. Glen Perkins, Sidney Ponson, Scott Baker, and Ramon Ortiz will all compete for the last spot in the rotation. Their bullpen is led by dominant closer Joe Nathan. He may not get the headlines that fellow closer Mariano Rivera gets, but he has been just as effective the past few years. Their set up men Juan Rincon and Jesse Crain have also bene very steady the past few years, and together they make one of the better late inning bullpens in baseball. As good as they are late in games, the Twins do have some trouble in middle relief. Several current minor leaguers will be counted on to fill roles in the sixth and seventh innings of games.

X-FACTOR: When the young superstar Francisco Liriano went down last year with arm trouble, the Twins learned that they would be without him for not only the end of 2006 but also all of 2007. Without him and Radke this season, the Twins are in search of some one who can step up and be the number two starter on the staff. That responsibility will fall on the shoulders of young pitcher Matt Garza. His impressive minor league numbers led to his rise to the top of many prospect lists. Garza struggled in his first major league action, and he must show this season that he can be as effective in the majors as he was in the minors. If this happens, he will be the number two starter they are looking for.

BEST CASE SCENARIO: Morneau and Mauer continue playing at their MVP level, Cuddyer shows that last season was the beginning of a good career, and Garza becomes this year's Liriano. If everything falls into place, the Twins will be making their first return to the World Series in over decade.

WORST CASE SCENARIO: Hunter's play experiences a major drop off, Santana is the only reliable starter in the rotation, and pitchers begin to figure out Justin Morneau. A year like this would almost certainly result in a failure to make a repeat appearance in the playoffs for the Twins.

-David Cassilo

Buy Low-Sell High "Captain Canada's Demise?"

2007-02-08T18:58:00.000-08:00

We have already passed the midway point in the season, but who knows what will happen after the all-star break?! There is still time to rise to the top of your fantasy league. There are some players that you need to sell now while they have high value and some that you need to buy low that are poised to explode in the 2nd half. Lets see who's stock is about to rise or fall.

Buy Low

Dwight Howard-f/c-Orlando Magic

Howard has slipped in the past month. His points are down, he turns the ball over like a mad man, and after leading the league in rebounding for most of the season, he has fallen behind Garnett and Camby. This guy just has too much talent to continue to fall and his value right now is the lowest it will be all season. The Magic don't have much else so Howard will have to pick up his scoring and we have seen from last year his rebounding domincance which he displayed earlier in the year. You may have to act fast if you still want to buy low on Howard because he has had two huge games in a row.

Steve Nash-pg-Phoenix Suns

Nash has a "frozen" shoulder and has missed the past 2.5 games. He says he is fine but there are speculators who think this injury could linger for the remainder of the season. Let me be the first to tell you that Nash is fine and he will be back on the court this weekend. So again, you better act quickly to pry this fantasy stud from an unsuspecting owner that is scared of his injury.

T.J. Ford-pg-Toronto Raptors
Ford has been hurt and it seems right now like he will be splitting time with Jose Calderon, who has been playing at a very high level with Ford sidelined. But I think once Ford is healthy, which shouldn't be a long time because he is already playing again, he will be get the bulk of the minutes at pg and has 20pt 10ast potential.

Lebron James-f-Cleveland Cavs
I know what you're thinking, how can you buy low on one of the best players in the league? Here's why...Lebron is having a down year and he has a badly sprained big toe. I think all he needs is a little rest(maybe he should skip the all-star game?) and a couple days in the gym working on his freethrows. His FT% is at a ridiculous .686 down from last year's 74%. You have to believe his FT shooting will improve in the 2nd half and if it does, his scoring average will rise 2-4 points. I honestly think you can get Lebron right now for a rather low price.

Luke Ridnour-pg-Seattle Supersonics
Ridnour will be recieving many more minutes with the return of Lewis on saturday, and Lewis' return should actually benefit Ridnour's points, 3's, and assists.

Allen Iverson-g-Denver Nuggets
Iverson is currently injured with a sprained ankle, but I think he's going to be fine going forward and maintain scoring about 25ppg the rest of the way. If his owner thinks he is seriously hurt and scared of him losing shots to Melo, then you might be able to steal one of the NBA's top scorers.

Buy Low/Sell High???

Luol Deng-g/f-Chicago Bulls
Deng is a buy low-sell high tweener. Although Deng is not a household name, he is quietly having an excellent season and even with his stellar play of late, I think owners will be quick to deal him as they don't recognise him as a top 40 fantasy player, but that's exactly what he is. He shoots a very high FG%, won't kill your FT%, is averaging 20-10 in his past 5 games, assists a little, steals a little, blocks a little, low turnovers. Deng is just a very efficient player and if you can get him cheap by all means go for it. By the same token, however, if you can use him to acquire a true stud then you gotta sell high on him.

Sell High

Smush Parker
Parker has been on fire lately going for at least 18 and averaging two 3's per game in 4 out of his last 6. Parker has also been an excellent source of steals with 2 games of 6 steals in his past 4 and averaging over 3 per game in that stretch. It's hard for me to believe that parker will continue this for the rest of the season. Especially when Kobe starts taking more and more shots down the stretch and with Odom getting healthier and healthier and Walton coming back soon, there just won't be enough shots to go around for parker to hold onto the value that he has right now.

Tracy McGrady-g/f-Houston Rockets
I'll give you two reasons to sell high on T-Mac. One: His back is gonna start spasming again or he is gonna go down with some kind of injury. Two: When Yao comes back, T-Mac will not score as much. So if you want, you can hold on to him til Yao comes back, but if T-Mac goes down again(which is very likely) you're gonna kick yourself for not dealing him. FYI: Luther Head's value will sky-rocket if McGrady goes down.

Marcus Camby-c-Denver Nuggets
I can't imagine Camby playing even 80% of the games left on the schedule.

Carlos Boozer-f/c-Utah Jazz
Obviously Boozer's value isn't high as he is injured, but do your best to deal him for basically anything because a hairline fracture is usually an injury that lingers until the offseason when a player has ample time to rest it.

Matt Carol, Jason Kapono, Luther Head
I group these guys together because I would've said the same thing about each of them anyway. Although Carol and Kapono start, with other scorers on their teams, they don't get many shot attempts and with Luther Head coming off the bench, he obviously doen't get enough shots per game. Either way, all three of these guys hit about two 3's per game, but thats about all they can offer you. So if you don't need 3's and you have the opportunity to sell them to an owner that does need 3's you may be able to get a player with much higher value. Luther Head could be considered a buy low candidate if you believe T-Mac will go down again, because if he does and Head starts, he will nail around 4 3's per game.

~Brian Melnick
contact at bigmel2k5@yahoo.com

2007 TEAM OUTLOOK: DETROIT TIGERS

2007-02-07T18:03:00.000-08:00

OFFSEASON OVERVIEW: Coming off a trip to the World Series, Detroit looked to keep the same core of guys that were on that team while adding a few players to make the team more complete. Their biggest move of the offseason was the trade that allowed them to acquire Gary Sheffield. Granted, Sheffield is past his prime, he still is the power threat that the Tigers lacked in the middle of their lineup last season. Giving up top pitching prospect Humberto Sanchez may prove to be costly down the line, but the Tigers now that their time is now. The team was very quiet outside of the Sheffield trade as shown by only making two other moves the rest of the winter. They retained first baseman Sean Casey who will continue to be their everyday guy. They also signed veteran Jose Mesa who will add some depth and experience to an already talented bullpen. The Tigers also did not lose many players from their American League Championship team. The one player who may be missed is reliever Jamie Walker, but he was only a middle man in the bullpen and will most likely not be too difficult to replace. The Tigers addressed their one need this offseason, power, and by still keeping most of their players, they have themselves in solid shape for next season.

OFFENSE: The balanced Detroit lineup that a took a trip to the World Series last season will look very similar in their defense of the American League crown. Possibly its biggest question lies at the top with lead off hitter Curtis Granderson. There is no question that the center fielder has the bat to hit there, but he has shown that he lacks patience and decision making skills at times. Also setting the table will be the reliable and underrated Placido Polanco who will also handle duties at second base. The heart of the lineup should be very dangerous with designated hitter Gary Sheffield, right fielder Magglio Ordonez, and first baseman Sean Casey most likely getting the majority of the RBI chances. What makes the Tigers lineup so productive is that their bottom of the lineup can at times be as strong as the top. Veteran leader and catcher Ivan Rodriguez will most likely hit at this part of the order, and despite his age, he is still the type of hitter that opposing pitchers fear. Also, the Tigers talented shortstop Carlos Guillen will be at the back end, and his perennial .300 average makes him one of the tougher outs at the end of the lineup in the league. Rounding out the order will be Craig Monroe, who can provide some extra pop, and the steady Brandon Inge. Reserve outfielder Marcus Thames should also see plenty of at bats this season off the Tigers bench.

PITCHING: One of the biggest surprises last season was how well the Tigers pitching staff performed. Their success was the main reason why they experienced such a drastic turnaround. Once again the veteran Kenny Rogers will head the staff. Rogers doesn't rely on striking people out, so the Tigers should not be concerned about him declining with age. The real staff ace is Jeremy Bonderman. He has gotten better every year in the majors and could take the final step this season to becoming a star. The young Justin Verlander will sit in the middle of the rotation, and his combination of 100 mph fastballs and off speed pitches should show that his Rookie of the Year was no fluke. At the bottom of the rotation are Nate Robertson and Mike Maroth. Usually both these guys are dependable and good enough to give their team a chance to win. Along with a solid rotation the Tigers also have a strong bullpen. Their closer once again will be Todd Jones. Rather than using speed, Jones is just a crafty pitcher who manages to get guys out. If he does however falter now that he is towards the end of his career, the flame throwing Joel Zumaya will be waiting in the wings as the team's closer of the future. Along with Zumaya, Fernando Rodney has a great young arm, and together they make up the best set up tandem in baseball. The newly acquired Jose Mesa and Wilfredo Ledezma will also eat up some innings for the Detroit bullpen.

X-FACTOR: In a lineup that has tremendous talent throughout, it is essential that men get on base to created RBI opportunities for the middle of the order. After last season, there have been some doubts whether Curtis Granderson can do that as a lead off hitter. Last season he struck out 174 times and had an on base percentage of .335. Numbers like those will not allow him to keep the top spot in the order in 2007. It's crucial that he can put up better numbers because a consistent Granderson that bats first would be part of the ideal lineup for Detroit.

BEST CASE SCENARIO: Sheffield regains his old form, both Bonderman and Verlander become elite starters, Granderson shows that he can be a lead off hitter, and the Tigers can recapture the magic from last season. This would not only result in a trip to the World Series but also with a win there.

WORST CASE SCENARIO: Age catches up with Rogers, Sheffield, and Jones, Verlander suffers the sophomore slump, Zumaya experience more arm trouble, and many Tigers show that 2006 was their career year. If this is what happens in Detroit, there would be a slip back into mediocrity for the Tigers.

-David Cassilo

2007 TEAM OUTLOOK: CINCINNATI REDS

2007-02-06T12:17:00.000-08:00

OFFSEASON OVERVIEW: Unlike their division rivals the Chicago Cubs, the Reds were hardly active for yet another offseason. Rather than even attempting to contend for big name players, the Reds once again hope that smaller moves like acquiring Brandon Phillips and David Ross will turn out as well this season. Cincinnati's biggest move this offseason was signing shortstop Alex Gonzalez to a three-year deal. Gonzalez is a light hitter but should help his pitchers with his stellar defense. GM Wayne Krivsky continued his plan of strengthening his bullpen and minimizing the offense by signing Mike Stanton, Dave Weathers, and Paul Wilson rather than going after steady hitters to help boost the lineup. The Reds also acquired Jeff Conine in a trade. His experience should be a welcome addition to the Reds' bench. A late trade for Kirk Saarloos from Oakland will help add some depth to a rotation that clearly has needed some over the years. The only significant loss to the team was infielder Rich Aurilla, who signed with San Fransisco. Aurilla was on the downside of his career, and the addition of Conine and Gonzalez should be good enough to replace him. The Reds like to improve their team with late deals for lesser players, so it is very likely that they may not even be done this offseason.

OFFENSE: Unlike Reds teams of years past, the 2007 version features a lineup with a lot less power and more small type players. It's a peculiar plan considering that their home ballpark is clearly a place where home runs fly out frequently. These new small ball type players are Ryan Freel, Brandon Phillips, Scott Hatteberg, and Alex Gonzalez. Both Freel and Phillips took major steps last season in their development, and they now appear to be solid everyday players. Hatteberg shows great plate discipline, and when he is not drawing walks, he is usually moving runners over. The Reds have not eliminated all of their power, and they should see home runs from returning regulars Adam Dunn and Ken Griffey Jr., assuming he stays healthy. It is very likely that Griffey will get hurt again, so if he does the Reds will most likely shift Freel to center field and play Conine in the outfield. The two wild cards in the lineup are catcher David Ross and third baseman Edwin Encarnacion. Ross is an interesting case because he hit 21 home runs in just 247 at bats, but all his other numbers fell off considerably post All-Star break. Encarnacion, showed a bit of pop in his bat as well, and his first year numbers suggest that he will be at least a solid regular in the majors.

PITCHING: While the Reds have always seemed to have the offense, it has been the pitching that has been the weak link for Cincinnati. This season they will return several familiar faces to an improving rotation. The staff is headed by Bronson Arroyo and Aaron Harang. Arroyo got off to a fast start last year in the National League, but once he went around the league the second time, batters began to catch up with him. It will be interesting to see which Arroyo will show up in 2007. Harang, with much less publicity, is clearly the better pitcher of the two. He has been a solid starter in the Reds rotation for the last two seasons while posting an impressive strikeout rate. The rest of the rotation will be comprised of some sort of combination of mediocre starters Eric Milton, Kyle Lohse, Paul Wilson, and Kirk Saarloos. Talented, young prospect Homer Bailey will most likely begin the season in the minors, but he clearly has the talent to eventually be the Reds' third starter this season. The bullpen, which was a mess this time last season, has been improved, but at the costly price of trades involving players like Austin Kearns and Felipe Lopez. The middle relief should be solid this season with veterans such as Gary Majewski, Mike Stanton, Rheal Cormier, and Todd Coffey. However, the bullpen will continue to be a problem if the Reds expect Dave Weathers to get the job done as their closer.

X-FACTOR: With a pitching staff that has been so inconsistent over the years, the emergence of Homer Bailey could do wonders for the Reds. It has been over a decade since Cincinnati has has a young pitcher come through their system like him. If he can join the team out of spring training and pitch up to his potential, the Reds may actually have a chance to win the Wild Card rather than choke it away like last season.

BEST CASE SCENARIO: Homer Bailey is this year's Justin Verlander, Griffey plays 140 games, and the Reds find some one who can be lights out in the ninth. A year like this could quite possibly end up with Cincinnati celebrating a Wild Card berth.

WORST CASE SCENARIO: Bronson Arroyo falls back into mediocrity, Griffey plays less than half a season, Bailey struggles in his first season, and David Ross shows that 2006 was a fluke. A season like this for Reds' fans would result in yet another losing record and a finish towards the bottom of the NL Central.

-David Cassilo

2007 TEAM OUTLOOK: CHICAGO CUBS

2007-02-05T11:34:00.000-08:00

OFFSEASON OVERVIEW: During this past year's free agency period, few teams were even half as active as the Chicago Cubs. Without question, their biggest move was the signing of outfielder Alfonso Soriano. The move sent ripples throughout the rest of MLB as his 8 year $136 million dollar contract went on to inflate every other deal that was made. Possibly the most underrated move of the entire offseason was the Cubs re-signing third baseman Aramis Ramirez to a five-year deal. The Cubs were also able to sign veteran free agents Mark DeRosa and Cliff Floyd to relatively reasonable contracts. Chicago tried to upgrade their rotation by signing Ted Lilly and throwing an unreasonable amount of money to Jason Marquis, who was was coming off a season with an ERA over six. While both pitchers most likely will not make too many headlines, the Cubs view them as reliable middle of the rotation starters that will usually keep their team in games. The only major free agent that Chicago lost this season was center fielder Juan Pierre. The speedy Pierre never really made an impact on Chicago, but replacing his defense in center field with Alfonso Soriano looks to certain to fail miserably. All things being considered though, the Cubs gave their roster a major upgrade and now new manager Lou Pinella has a lot of talent to work with.

OFFENSE: The Cubs spent their offseason looking to significantly upgrade their offense, and after a successful job they are left with one of the better lineups in the NL. Soriano should lead off for the Cubs, and he will most likely close in on the 40-40 numbers he posted last year with Washington. However, this season he should have even more runs and RBIs due to the amount of talent in the rest of the lineup. The heart of the order should feature Aramis Ramirez and Derrek Lee once again. Unlike years past, they will most likely have several more opportunities to hit with men on base. The other big bat, Cliff Floyd, will most likely platoon with Matt Murton. Floyd gives the Cubs a lefty hitter with 30 HR potential. What makes the rest of the Cubs lineup so difficult on opposing pitchers is that there is not one easy out among the group. Players such as Michael Barret, Mark DeRosa, and Jacque Jones are all threats to hit close to .300 this season. The weakest link in the lineup is shortstop Cesar Izturis, but all-world defense should make him worth having on the field.

PITCHING: Like last season, the picthing rotation is headed by ace Carlos Zambrano. The Big Z is a strikeout machine, and he could approach 20 wins this season with an improved offense supplying the run support. Newly acquired Ted Lilly and Jason Marquis should fill in the middle of the rotation spots, but the one player poised to take on the role of number two starter is young Rich Hill. Like Zambrano, Hill has an impressive strikeout rate and could evolve into one of the better pitchers in the NL this season. The often injured Wade Miller and Mark Prior should battle for the final rotation spot. The messiest picture on the Cubs is that one assembled by their bullpen. The closer role is up for grabs and should come from a group that includes former starter Kerry Wood, Bobby Howry, and Ryan Dempster. The rest of the Chicago bullpen is equally as unimpressive and if anything seems like a weak spot for Chicago it would be this. If they are lucky, a few younger arms will come up and help stabilize the pen.

X-FACTOR: After years of setbacks due to injury, the Cubs have finally learned not to expect anything from their starter Mark Prior. With no expectations for possibly the first time in his life, any sort of Prior production will only be a bonus for the Cubs. If Prior can stay healthy this season and regain his 2003 form, the Cubs will have one of the best rotations in the NL to go along with their top notch offense. A healthy Prior would make Chicago one of the most feared teams in the majors.

BEST CASE SCENARIO: Mark Prior stays healthy, Rich Hill becomes a dominant young ace, and Kerry Wood steps up and becomes a dominant closer. If all this happens, you can expect Chicago's fans to be on the edge of their seats as the Cubs play for their first World Series title in over 100 years.

WORST CASE SCENARIO: Derrek Lee once again gets injured, Alfonso Soriano plays without any desire now that there is no free agecny looming, no one becomes a reliable closer, and Rich Hill fails to develop into anything more than a middle of the rotation guy. A season like this will leave the Cubs with a losing record and a finish towards the bottom of the NL Central.

-David Cassilo

Waiver Wired "A World Full of Magic"

2007-02-05T06:27:00.000-08:00

This weeks edition of Waiver Wired looks mostly at players that have recently been recieving more playing time and therefore have begun to produce. This list is highlighted by a trio of Magic players and a young pg in Boston.

Grant Hill-g/f-Orlando Magic
Many owners have dropped Hill because of his recent injuries, but he should be back in less than 2 weeks and if you can offord to stash him on your bench for that week or two more that he's gonna be out, it could pay off for you in the long run. This season Hill has averaged 15 points, four rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game while shooting an excellent 53% from the field. Those look like solid fantasy numbers to me.

Rajon Rondo-pg-Boston Celtics
Rondo is a hot pickup right now after his first start of the season. He scored 23 points on 10-16 shooting including two 3's while adding 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals. Note that he shot very well and played 42 minutes. I'm assuming both of those things are not going to happen every night. If you need help at the pg spot I would recommend giving him a shot, but if you do pick him up, don't make one of those stupid posts on your leagues home page saying that you got the next hot guy and he's going to bring you a league championship.

Marcus Williams-g-New Jersy Nets
After about a week of confusion between Antoine Wright, Hassan Adams, Bostjan Nachbar, and Marcus Williams, it seems that it is now Williams who will be the most productive in Jefferson's absence, which will be about another month. I still wouldn't expect too much out of Williams. I project about 14 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal and 1 trey per game.

Luke Ridnour-pg-Seatlle Supersonics
We all know the story of Ridnour losing his starting job to Earl Watson, but Coach Bob Hill has said that he likes Ridnour more when Rashard Lewis and Ray Allen are also in the game. And it just so happens that Rashard lewis will be coming back to play the Kings on February 10th. This isn't a sure thing, but with the return of Lewis, it is possible that Ridnour could regain his starting job and his fantasy prowess.

Paul Millsap-f-Utah Jazz
Boozer is going to be out at least until the all star break and as long as he is out, it looks like Millsap will be the starter. If you need rebounds and blocks Millsap could be your man, but once Boozer comes back, you can dump him.

Jarvis Hayes-f-Washington Wizards
Now that Jamison is going to be out about six weeks, the Wiz have inserted Jarvis Hayes into their starting lineup. Needless to say Hayes is no Jamison, and in his first start he scored just 5 points in 25 minutes. I really don't have much confidence in Hayes but if you are in a really deep league where almost every starter is on a roster, I guess you should pick up Hayes.

Darko Milicic-f/c-Orlando Magic
Darko is still not starting, but half the season is still left and it can still happen. Even despite not starting, Milicic has scored 14, 14, and 19 in his past 3 games while averaging 2 blocks and 6 rebounds. Darko could be a viable fantasy option if he keeps up these numbers and if he becomes a starter, look for Darko to make an impact.

Hedo Turkoglu-f-Orlando Magic
It may only be while Grant Hill is out, but for now, Turkoglu has been a solid fantasy contributor especially from beyond the arc, so if you need 3's, this could be your guy. He has also been scoring a decent amount and could be considered for a full time job on your fantasy roster.

Smush Parker-pg-Los Angeles Lakers
Smush has been on fire lately even since the return of Lamar Odom. Smush has been a great source of 3's and steals in particular and I think he could keep it up for the rest of the year.

~Brian Melnick
contact at bigmel2k5@yahoo.com

New Schedule

2007-02-03T08:18:00.000-08:00

OK fans, I know this has been a rough time for you being that I haven't posted any columns in a few weeks. But my schedule has just been too greuling with college work, and cheerleading, and all the hot chicks I have to get with here in sunny Miami. The super bowl is tomorrow and that should be a good time, except that I'm going to be a little tired while I watch it since I have a little cheerleading competition Sunday at Donald Trump's mansion where I'll get to meet him. Maybe I'll mention my fantasy basketball blog? Ok anyway, what I'm saying, is that I'm gettin back on the wagon, but I will have a new schedule. Monday will be "Waiver Wired" Wednesday will be "Stock Watch" and Friday will be "Position Battles". All of these columns will be posted by 4:00 PM on those days. If anyone actually has any questions for me, then Saturday I will write a column answering your email questions. And Sunday will be "Fantasy MD". As always, you can email me with any questions OR SUGGESTIONS at bigmel2k5@yahoo.com I'm back baby!!!!

~Brian Melnick
contact at bigmel2k5@yahoo.com

Hardwood Recap "Another One Down"

2007-01-10T10:22:00.000-08:00

The Injury bug is decimating the NBA right now and fantasy hoops owners are furious. I saw one team in my league that had 8 of his starters on the bench because of injury. Thats just not right. The latest star to go down is Michael Redd, who strained a tendon in his knee. He is expected to miss 4-6 weeks and I'm expecting Ruben Patterson to score 20 ppg while Redd is out. Let's see what happened in the NBA last night.

Philidelphia 76ers

The 76ers continued their quest for Oden last night losing to the pistons. The 76ers have come to an agreement to buy out the contract of Chris Webber and rumor has it he may end up on the knicks. So with Webber gone, it seems the starting forwards will be Joe Smith and rookie Rodney Carney. I don't see Carney having much fantasy value, but Joe smith could be a solid player in the fantasy world. I would love to see Korver get into the starting 5 but thats only because I have him on my fantasy team.

Detroit Pistons

Prince was out of his dome going for 33 including 5 treys!

New Jersey Nets

Vince Carter was a man on a mission against his old team going for 32 on 12-23 shooting. This shows me that Carter can score 30 whenever he feels like it......however, he doesn't feel like it as often as he should. If he put some effort in every night, he could be so much better.

Toronto Raptors

T.J Ford had been hurt, but came back and scored 20. Last night however he was 0-8 and Calderon played very well. I think Ford is safe as the starter, but monitor this situation

Memphis Grizzlies

Rudy Gay is not producing like everyone thought he would after Barone said "he might die on the court" with all the minutes he'd be playing. Gasol, Miller, and Stoudamire, are all playing like all stars.

Seattle Super Sonics

Nick Collison set career highs with 29 points and 21 rebounds and coach Bob Hill says he is the teams starter but the way this season has been going who knows what the starting lineup will be next week. Earl Watson is also starting now and Luke Ridnour's value is dropping by the second.

Phoenix Suns

Nash and Marion had huge days going for 27 and 29 respectively. Marion added 15 rebounds while Nash chipped in with 11 assists and 5 treys.

Cleveland Caveliers

Drew Gooden has been putting up big numbers lately going for 73 points and 39 rebounds in his past 3 games.

Sacramento Kings

Bibby seems to finally be over his wrist injury and has been playing well. Kevin Martin and Brad Miller also had big games against the Cavs last night.

SUNDAY RECAP: AFC VARIETY

2007-01-02T15:21:00.000-08:00

Reche Caldwell- With the revolving door at WR in New England this season, there has yet to be some one to step up and assume the role as the number one wideout. The physically gifted Caldwell did his best to seize that role by having 134 yards and 1 TD on 4 catches in the season finale. With the dismissal of Doug Gabriel and inconsistency of Chad Jackson, Caldwell is the one of WR who played the best among the new crop that came into New England this year. Caldwell is only 27, and I see him becoming the next David Givens in that offense.

Cedric Houston/Leon Washington- Although Houston was coming back for the Jets, it figured to be a long day for their rushing game against a stout Raiders rush defense. Houston was a bit rusty and had trouble finding holes. He finished the day with just 44 yards on 16 carries. He's explosive backfield mate Leon Washington had 15 carries for 53 yards and a TD. Washington is as explosive as any RB in the NFL, but his size and injury history will prevent him from ever becoming an every down back. However, don't be surprised if the Jets rely more on Washington than they do on Houston against the Patriots Sunday.

Lee Evans- While there have been doubts about the Bills offense throughout the season, now that they are finished I would be lying if I did not say I was impressed with what I saw in Buffalo this season. Evans has become one of the best big play WRs in football. After 145 yards and a TD on Sunday, Evans finished the season with 1290 yards receiving and 8 TDs. Despite being a big play guy, Evans still managed to put up steady numbers next week. If Losman can take the final step towards me a solid NFL QB, the Bills are a team to watch in 2007.

Willie Parker- The third year back out of UNC finished his tremendous 2006 seasin with a bang. The only thing that was keeping Cincinnati from the playoff were the Steelers. The main reason why the Bengals now sit at home is that they could not stop the Steelers running game. Parker scampered for 134 yards and 2 TDs on 37 carries in their big win. There were a lot of questions around the NFL season about whether Parker could handle the load, but after a terrific 2006 season, Parker now has shown that he is one of the most reliable in RBs in football. with 1494 yards rushing and 16 total TDs, Parker had one of the best seasons running the ball in the NFL this season.

Santonio Holmes- The play that ended Cincinnati's season came in the form of a Ben Roethlisberger to Santonio Holmes TD pass. Holmes was able to elude all the defenders chasing him before diving past the pylon. It seems only fitting that the Bengals season would end in the hands of some one who also was arrested during one point of the year. Holmes has not only had a dramatic TD catch in week 17, but he also has put together a very impressive finish in his rookie year. He finished with 824 yards receiving and a TD even though he was used sparingly in the first month. Holmes has a very bright future ahead of him, and he should start opposite Hines Ward next season.

Chris Henry- From one WR with an arrest to another. The Bengals offense was not at the top of their game, which was rather surprising considering it was a must win game against an arch rival at home. The one player who did look impressive was troubled WR Chris Henry. The bottom line with Henry is that if that he is one of the most physically gifted WRs in the NFL despite all his off the field issues. He finished with 124 yards receiving and a TD including several catches at crucial times in the game. Henry only played 13 games this season, but he finished with 605 yards receiving and 9 TDs. The touchdowns are so high because his size makes him a great threat in the endzone. Henry would be at least a second WR on any other team in football, but for now he's just one of several talented WRs on the Bengals.

Charlie Frye- When this season began, I had the feeling that Frye would step up for the Browns and have a solid season showing that once again a MAC quarterback can get it done in this league. As I watched Frye perform weekly, I realized I may be wrong. He has an NFL arm, but his decision making is just not good enough to be an NFL starter. In his return from a wrist injury, Frye was 25 of 34 for 187 yards, 0 TDs, and 1 INT. Despite a very shaky season, Frye will most likely be given another chance next year. However, Brady Quinn has actually made the comment that he would like to play Cleveland, and there will also be the home town pressure to draft Troy Smith. I doubt Quinn will be there for their pick and that they will actually select Smith. The most likely scenario is that Cleveland will bring in a veteran to compete with Frye, and the name Drew Bledsoe makes a lot of sense to me.

Peyton Manning- A strong finish to another outstanding season for Peyton Manning. Against a tough Miami defense in the regular season finale, Peyton was 22 of 37 for 282 yards and 2 TDs. His final numbers were 4397 passing yards, 31 TDs, and only 9 INTs. He also had a very solid 65.0 completion percentage. We've become so accustomed to this that we sometimes forget just how remarkable a season like this would be for any other QB. Of all the Colts teams in recent memory, this one I would say has the smallest chance of winning the Super Bowl due to their rush defense. Peyton is now 30 years old, and he better hope that the Colts can finally upgrade their defense in 2007 or Manning may never win that one big game.

David Garrard- Are you happy now Jacksonville? I hope you have finally learned your lesson and will turn back to Byron Leftwich for the 2007 season. David Garrard, who was never actually good, was the starting QB in Jacksonville due to a phantom injury to Byron Leftwich who clearly capable of playing. In the midst of another horrible game on Sunday that cost them a playoff spot, Garrard was actually replaced with Quinn Gray. Garrard's backup played fairly well, but he's no long term option. If Garrard is the starter next year in Jacksonville, I will be shocked and immediately call for Coach Del Rio's head to be examined.

Vince Young- Amazingly enough if the Titans didn't lose on Sunday they would have been in the playoffs. However, the Patriots, who said they would rest their starters after a series, decided to help the Chiefs out and play their starters basically the whole game for no reason. Young struggled with his accuracy against a team that baffles rookie QBs, but he did still manage to finish with 227 yards passing. Young also ran in his 7 TD of the season. The finishing numbers on his surprising rookie numbers are a 51.7 completion percentage, 2199 yards passing, 12 TDs, 13 INTs, and 552 yards passing. If Young can make some progress over the offseason as a passer, he will become one of the best QBs in football in only his second season.

Chris Taylor- First, for those of you who may be asking who is Chris Taylor, I'll give you a little background on him. He's been on the practice squad for the Texans all season just until recent weeks, but Coach Kubiak has always been impressed by him so he decided to give him a shot in week 17. Coach Kubiak angered many fantasy owners because he did this by not giving Ron Dayne one carry all game. Taylor had 99 yards on 20 carries while also scoring a TD in his first shot carrying a full load. While Taylor looked decent, I doubt that he will be anything more than a backup in the NFL for his career.

Larry Johnson- At the time they didn't know it, but after the Chiefs won a tough test against Jacksonville they would learn juts four hours later that it was the win that got them to the playoffs. Johnson led the day once again for the Chiefs he had 138 yards rushing and 3 TDs on 33 carries. Johnson showed that last year's finish was just the beginning as he rushed for 1789 yards and 19 total TDs in his first full season as a starter. In 11 of his 16 games he went over the 100 yard mark on the ground. The Chiefs now will face the Colts in the first round, and all signs point to a field day for Johnson in his first playoff appearance.

Eddie Kennison- Since taking over as Kansas City's number one WR has put up decent numbers, but nothing too impressive. To be fair, the real number one WR is Tony Gonzalez, but he plays TE. His numbers were never too spectacular to begin with, but it's clear that Kennison's performance had fallen off a bit in 2006. He did manage to go out with a bang this regular season by racking up 144 yards and a TD in a huge win over Jacksonville. It seems like almost a given that Kansas City will try to bring in a top WR and shift Kennison to their second wideout.

Jay Cutler- The Broncos may have lost a game they clearly should have won to make the playoffs on Sunday, but in no way at all can you blame Jay Cutler. Stats wise he was 21 of 32 for 230 yards, 1 TD, and 1 INT, but they don;t even tell the story. Cutler was knocked in the first half and suffered a head injury. It may have been some form of a concussion, and it looked like he'd be out the rest of the game. However, Cutler returned and led his team on an 80 yard drive in the final minutes of regulation to send the game into overtime. Although the Broncos did not make the playoffs, I have to praise Coach Shanahan's decision to go to Cutler who is clearly better than Jake Plummer. He seems to have a very bright future ahead of him, and the Broncos are in safe hands for the next decade.

Tatum Bell/Mike Bell- What an utter mess the Broncos running game has been in 2006. Thanks again Mike Shanahan. Tatum Bell has lost all support after developing fumbling issues in the last few games of the year. He ran for 48 yards on 12 carries and fumbled on Sunday. His teammate Mike Bell had 66 yards on 11 carries. After 16 games, neither RB showed anything that would separate him from the other. The backfield picture is as hazy as it has ever been, and I could not even venture a guess who will start next season for Denver.

-David Cassilo

Contact at asuhouse@aol.com

SUNDAY RECAP: NFC STYLE

2007-01-01T11:23:00.001-08:00

Hank Baskett- With half the league not playing for anything, many young players got a shot to show what they could do on Sunday. Within Philadelphia, Hank Baskett has been a well kept secret. After a terrific training camp, the Eagles realized they had a very talented WR. However, with Donte' Stallworth and Reggie Brown at wideout, Baskett never really got a shot. On Sunday he was their number one WR, and he performed exceptionally well. He finished the day with 7 catches for 177 yards and a TD. In a pass first offense with an ninjury prone Stallworth ahead of him, Baskett could have an impact in 2007.

Tony Romo- In his final start of the regular season, Romo looked brilliant at some times and awful at others. The good on Sunday came in the form of a career high 321 passing yards and 2 TDs. He made spectacular play after spectacular play as he led Dallas up and down the field trying to create a comeback. However, the reason they were behind was partly because Romo threw an INT and lost two fumbles. Romo is not not the second coming of Johnny Unitas, but he is a decent QB in this league. He finished the year with 2903 yards, 19 TDs, and 13 INTs in just 12 games at QB. He'll be one of the top tier QBs next season in the league.

Terrell Owens- He's a weekly distraction, but no one can deny that he is one of the best WRs in the NFL. Owens racked up a season high 117 yards receiving in the final regular season game for the Cowboys. The game capped off a very controversial but successful season statistics wise for Owens and the Cowboys. He finished with 85 receptions, 1180 yards, and 13 TDs. The numbers are almost identical to his first season with Philadelphia. There has been a lot of speculation that this will be Owens only season in Dallas, but with production like this it would seem very unlikely that Jerry Jones would want to get rid of Owens.

Rex Grossman- Sunday night marked the lowest point of what has been an up and down season for Bears QB Rex Grossman. The following numbers are actually true as shocking as they may be. Grossman finished the day 2 for 12 with 33 yards, 3 INTs, and 1 fumble before being relieved in the second half. His backup, Brian Griese, was not much better as he was 5 for 15 with 2 INTs. Since it's clear that Griese was no improvement, Grossman will start the Bears first playoff game. Rex finished the season completing 55% of his passes with 3193 yards, 23 TDs and 20 INTs. His inconsistency is the weakest point for a very talented Bears team. His production in the playoffs will determine whether the Bears look for a change at QB next season.

Cedric Benson- The Bears looked awful while playing most of their starters on Sunday night. The one player who did show some promise was their second year RB Cedric Benson. He was able to run for 109 yards on just 13 carries. The Packers do have a poor rush defense, but nevertheless, it was an impressive day for Benson. He's seen an increased workload over the last month, but part of that is because Chicago has had the one seed in the NFC for weeks, and Thomas Jones needed his load lightened. Although Jones had a terrific season again, I would have to figure that the Bears will finally give Benson the starting job next season.

Brett Favre- After things didn't go their way with the Giants winning on Saturday night, the Packers now had a meaningless game to finish their season. The Packers won by having a tremendous defensive performance, but the story of the night was clearly Brett Favre. After a solid day with 285 yards passing, 1 TD, and an INT, Favre became very emotional in a post game interview. He hinted several times that this was most likely his final game of the season while fighting back tears. Knowing Favre, it is hard to believe him even after an interview like that. When he sits back weeks from now without this game fresh in his mind, he will realize that if he came back for one last year he will have a legitimate shot to go to the playoffs. His decision will be the biggest offseason story of 2007.

Tarvarias Jackson- In his final start of the season, Jackson looked shaky at best for the Vikings. He finished the day 20 for 34 with 213 yards, 1 TD, and 1 INT against a very weak Rams defense. Although he looked decent at times, Jackson never showed any drastic improvement during the season. The Vikings still believe that he has the tools to be a star in this league, and he will most likely go into next season as their starter. However, if he is going to have success, the Vikings will have to bring in some capable WRs to help him out.

Jon Kitna- It was a very strong finish for Jon Kitna who in the process had the first 4000 yard season of his career. Kitna led the Lions to a shocking win over the Cowboys in an offensive shootout. He finished the day with 306 yards passing, 4 TDs, and 1 INT. It was his best day of a strong season under offensive coordinator Mike Martz. Even if the Lions bring in a rookie QB, Kitna appears likely to at the very least begin the year as the Lions starting QB. The offense is clearly not the problem in Detroit, and they now may look to go defense with their second pick of the draft.

Roy Williams- The Lions did a great job screwing up the only bright spot of their season by winning their final game and thus losing the number one pick of the draft. Their big play WR Roy Williams had 104 yards receiving and 2 TDs in a thrilling win over Dallas. He finished the season with 1310 yards receiving and 8 TDs which is proof that even Matt Millen can draft a good WR now and then. Roy is one of the bright young stars in the NFL, and he will be a top WR for at least the next 5-6 years.

Jake Delhomme- After missing three games with a thumb injury, Delhomme returned for a meaningless game against the backups of the Saints. Delhomme looked sharp in what may have been his best day of the season. He completed 23 of his 27 passes for 207 yards and 2 TDs. Days like those are what was expected all season from Delhomme which makes it rather disappointing that he finished with numbers like he did. While there were some rumors he'd be done as the starter, it would be a total shock if he wasn't taking snaps for Carolina in 2007.

Steve Smith- He's one of the best WRs in football, and he finished that way on Sunday. A week ago I had questioned Smith's effort after not being able to catch one pass. Now I can see that the problem was mainly the QB not Smith's effort. With Delhomme back, Smith had 85 yards receiving and 2 TDs. The injuries and struggles QB led to a bit of a down year for Smith, but he was still able to finish with 1166 receiving yards and 8 TDs. His teammate Keyshawn Johnson is talking about retirement, but that would be a shock to me. Most likely the Panthers will return a similar offense and have a much stronger season.

Michael Vick/Matt Schaub- The final start of the year for Vick was a brief one as he left the game early with an injury. Before departing he had 81 yards passing and a TD. The injury isn't serious and would have been able to play next week if there was a game. Vick finished the season with career highs in both TDs and rushing yards. In his relief on Sunday, Matt Schaub, who is one of the best QBs in football not starting, was 15 for 21 with 175 yards passing, 1 TD, and 1 INT. Now that Coach Mora is gone, the next coach will have a huge impact on the QB situation. They will probably hire some one who is best for Vick's talents, but there has been some talk about possibly giving Schaub a chance to win the starting job in the preseason.

Joey Galloway- The lone bright spot on the Tampa Bay offense this season has been Galloway. He finished another strong season with 8 catches for 118 yards and a TD in a loss to Seattle. Galloway, who seems to never age, had his second straight 1000 yard season and finished with 1057 yards and 7 TDs. He still remains one of the better WRs in football, but at 35 years old it's clear that a drop off in production bound to come soon. His QB next season will be the biggest factor for his value.

Steven Jackson- What a great season it has been for Steven Jackson! He turned the corner in his third season for the Rams and is now not only a great runner, but also a great pass catcher. Jackson went out with a bang as he finished with 166 total yards and 4 TDs in his final game of the season. His week 17 numbers added to a fantastic season in which Jackson had 1528 yards rushing, 806 yards receiving on 90 receptions, and 16 TDs. The season was one of the best rushing and receiving for a RB in recent memory. He will be one of the first RBs off the board next season in your draft.

Frank Gore- In addition to Jackson, his division rival Frank Gore busted onto the season this season. In a thrilling victory for the San Francisco 49ers to keep Denver out of the playoffs, Gore rushed for 153 yards on 31 carries. He finished the season with an NFC best 1695 rushing yards to go along with 9 TDs. Gore had some fumbling issues early in his career, but he was able to correct them and now seems to have no holes in his game. In just his second season Gore has become one of the 5 best RBs in football.

Kurt Warner- He may have problems holding onto the ball and escaping from the pocket, but Kurt Warner has always been one of the best pure passers in the NFL throughout his career. With Matt Leinart out, Warner was able to start the last game of the season, and he had 356 yards passing and a TD. His starting days appear behind him, but he has said that he will most likely not retire following the season. If Warner does ever get another starting job in this league, he would be a solid veteran to have.

-David Cassilo

Contact at asuhouse@aol.com

A LITTLE RECAP AND COUNTDOWN TO GAMETIME

2006-12-31T08:24:00.000-08:00

A LITTLE RECAP AND COUNTDOWN TO GAMETIME

Tiki Barber- In the final regular season game of his career, Barber had what might be his most memorable performance of his career. After switching offensive coordinators early in the week, the Giants were committed to getting Tiki the ball. Every time the Giants needed a big play to respond to the Redskins, Tiki stepped up and delivered. He finished the day with 23 carries for 234 yards and 3 TDs. His fantasy owners may be a bit upset considering he saved his best for a week that doesn't matter in the fantasy world. Barber finished his final season with 1662 yards and 5 TDs rushing while also having 465 yards receiving. It was another hall of fame quality season for a running back that will look to extend his career next weke in the playoffs.

Jason Campbell- Washington appears like it is in very safe hands for the future. Their QB Jason Campbell has shown great progress as a starter, and he looks like he may be a star in this league. The Redskins have given him only about 20% of the offense, and he has excelled so far. He showed a lot of heart by almost leading the Redskins to a thrilling come from behind victory after once being down by 20 points. Campbell finished the day 21 for 31 with 220 yards, 2 TDs, and an INT. His success coupled with that of Phillip Rivers is another reason why it made be a better idea to sit a QB for a few years than to play him right away.

Now here is what I'm hearing leading up to kickoff......

After looking good in practice yesterday, it was believed that Charlie Frye would see a fee snaps for Cleveland on Sunday. However, he will actually get the start in the game. He has apparently showed a lot of progress this week, and now he will have potentially his last chance to show Cleveland what he can do. Ken Dorsey will no longer be starting and will be the backup.

The future of Jim Mora in Atlanta looks like it will be determined on Monday. Owner Arthur Blank was not happy with Mora's comments about coaching the University of Washington and his team's performance this season. The reason the decision is so difficult is that he would need to find a coach that's a better fit for Michael Vick than Mora, and that would be hard to find. Some possible replacements being considered are Louisville coach Bobby Petrino and former NFL coach Steve Mariucci.

Former Denver starting QB Jake Plummer may be brought back next season to remain the backup. He apparently has a good relationship with Jay Cutler and may consider the idea of staying around. Most likely though he will be gone and the starting job in Oakland is his most likely destination for 2007.

The Chargers can clinch home field for the playoffs today, and they have a plan to do it. San Diego would like to generate a big lead in the first half so they can rest all of their stars for the second half. They want to make sure no horrific things happen like when Drew Brees injured his shoulder last season. This may be the week we can see what Michael Turner can do with an increased workload.

Try to avoid playing any New England Patriots today. They are expected to play their starters for about one series, and then go to their backups for the rest of the game. They should roll over for Tennessee while they get every one healthy for tha playoffs. The Titans will have to make sure to remember the Patriots next Christmas if the this causes them to get in the playoffs.

Last week that "rumor monger" Adam Scheffter spread "lies" about Art Shell being fired at the end of this season. However, as expected there is some truth to the rumors of Shell possibly on his way out as coach of the Raiders. The latest from Oakland is that Shell would be stripped of his head coach duties, but remain with the Raiders as their general manager. This appears a bit crazy, but that's the one way to describe the situation in Oakland.

Chiefs QB Trent Green may be starting his last game for Kansas City on Sunday. There is some word that the Chiefs would like to get younger, and they may turn to Brodie Croyle to play QB next season. They figure to ask Trent Green to take a pay cut or they will release him. If Green does take that pay cut though, he most likely will start next season.

-David Cassilo
Contact at asuhouse@aol.com

NEWS & NOTES

2006-12-30T16:02:00.000-08:00

The Titans have had a very surprising year in 2006, and they have rewarded both their head coach Jeff Fisher and offensive coordinator Norm Chow by exercising their options for 2007. Both coaches have done a nice job getting the most out of an offense with very little talent on it. The Titans figure to be one of the sleeper picks to make some noise in the playoff picture next season, however I feel that they really need to improve on both sides of the ball in order to make that leap.

Charlie Frye has been throwing in Browns practice this week, and he apparently looks as though he is back to healthy. The Browns have said that they will be starting Ken Dorsey on Sunday, but Frye could see some work. Regardless, they will most likely bring in a veteran QB for next season.

In other Browns news, Cleveland is very disappointed with both the progress and attitude of WR Braylon Edwards. They would prefer not to start him on Sunday, but due to massive injuries to their receiving core, he will be forced into action. The numerous amount of problems with top pick WRs may affect the draft position of Georgia Tech wideout Calvin Johnson.

The final piece of news out of Cleveland is that despite rumors about his job status, Coach Romeo Crennel will most likely be back with the team. The one condition will be that he must revamp his entire coaching staff. The lone slight possibility that Crennel will be gone is if Bill Cowher leaves the Steelers to join the Browns. However, this looks very unlikely at this point.

Speaking of Cowher, he is planning on announcing his decision for next year in a press conference next week. All signs point to him retiring as coach of the Steelers. While he may be retiring, it will most likely be short lived, and we will see him soon enough with another team. Many names have come up for the Steelers job, the most interesting of which is Marvin Lewis who was once a coach with Pittsburgh. He would most likely cause a boost in wins and arrests in Pittsburgh if he does take the job. Most likely they will promote some one from within, with Russ Grimm as the leading candidate.

In case you haven't heard yet, Jeremy Shockey will miss Saturday night's must win game against the Redskins. It's a nagging anle injury that will keep him out for the first time all season. The injury must be pretty bad considering Shockey is one of the few players on the Giants who seems to want to be out there. Vishante Shiancoe will fill in for him, but he should be a non factor.

Mike Furrey will be getting a contract extension from Detroit after his most likely of all seasons. Furrey is another great story about a former Arena League player who got an opportunity and took advantage of it. The key to Furrey playing well is that Mike Martz is his offensive coordinator. As long as they are paired together, Furry should play well. In a related note, Mike Williams, who the Lions just hate for no reason, believes he'll be back next season, and they won't care how much he weighs. This is probably the biggest misconception I've heard all week.

The Houston Texans have made it known that they would be interested in trading for Clinton Portis. Gary Kubiak used to coach Portis in Detroit, and they have a good relationship. With the emergence of Ladell Betts, the Redskins would be more open to the idea of trading Portis. However, with his massive contract, any trade would be a long shot unless several obstacles could be overcome.

-David Cassilo

Contact at asuhouse@aol.com

Hardwood Recap "It's Gay time!"

2006-12-30T15:43:00.001-08:00

With the recent coaching change in Memphis, Rudy Gay's value is going to sky-rocket! Go pick him up right now! Just like I did this morning. With so many injuries lately I'm sure he will be a great replacement. Lets see what else is going on in the NBA.

Chicago Bulls
Deng hurt his wrist but he continues to play and I think he is fine going forward. Hinrich however could miss a game or two.

Toronto Raptors
TJ Ford sprained his ankle but stayed in the game and should be fine to keep in your lineup. He has been Toronto's leading scorer with Bosh out.

Orlando Magic
Turkoglu is back from his ankle sprain and back in the starting lineup. Last night he hit 5 treys and finished with 20 points.

Charlotte Bobcats
Brevin Knight is hurt and that Means Raymond Felton is going to put up huge numbers for a while. You might want to try to trade for him.

Miami Heat
Dorell Wright led the Heat in scoring last night going for 21 points. What was even more impressive were his 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 6 blocks! If you have lost Josh Smith to injury, you may want to pick up Wright as he may put up similar numbers while Smith is out.

Milwaukee Bucks
Mo Williams continues his stellar play. Villanueva is working his way back into form and can now be safely played in all leagues. Charlie Bell however, I would stop playing. I hate this guy as I picked him up and he proceeded to score 11 and 2 points in back to back games. Right now I think Ruben Patterson has more value than Bell.

Detroit Pistons
Billups is going to be out for at least a week and probably closer to 2 weeks. Flip Murray might benefit from this, but I wouldn't run and pick him up. Wait and see what he does before you pick him up.

New Orleans Hornets
With Paul out a month, Jenero Pargo should be very productive. Mason and Butler should also have decent value but will most likely be inconsistent.

Seattle Sonics
The starting center has changed again. Now it's Sene again......yawn...

Houston Rockets
McGrady is back and Luther Head is back to the pine. I wouldn't drop him yet, because McGrady will most likely get hurt again.

Los Angeles Clippers
I would trade for Maggette now because If he gets traded to the Kings he will start and score about 20 per game. However I wouldn't give up too much to get him because the trade might not happen.

Brian Melnick aka Big Mel
Contact at bigmel2k5@yahoo.com

FANTASY MD

2006-12-28T15:59:00.000-08:00

After missing last week’s games, Fred Taylor appears like he will be back in the lineup for Jacksonville on Sunday. It’s a huge game for the Jaguars, and they will be happy to have Taylor back. The only question now is how Jacksonville will divide up the carries between Taylor and the talented Maurice Jones-Drew.

All season long Jeremy Shockey has been dealing with an injured ankle. However, this week was the first time that the Giants have gone public with this injury. Shockey has missed a few practices this week, and his status for Saturday night is in jeopardy. If he can’t go, the inept Vishante Shiancoe will start. I’m a Giant fan, so trust me when I tell you this is about as bad as a downgrade as you could have.

For the first time in weeks Jake Delhomme has looked healthy. The thumb injury does not seem to be bothering him anymore. He was upgraded to probable, and it looks like he will start for the Panthers on Sunday. He has a decent matchup against New Orleans if the Saints rest everyone.

Randy Moss will not play Sunday against the Jets. The word out of Raiders’ practice is that Moss is completely healthy, but just does not feel like playing any more. His days in Oakland are clearly finished, and he will be traded this offseason. I still believe that Jacksonville is the best fit for him, although there is some word that Dallas may be a destination if Terrell Owens leaves.

Luckily for the Jets, they were able to beat the Dolphins last week without Cedric Houston. This week he will return for their pivotal game against Oakland. Despite missing last week’s game, he figures to get most of the carries on Sunday. It could be a long day for him though because Oakland’s defense is pretty tough against the run.

Cadillac Williams missed the first game of his career last Sunday, and unfortunately for him, his career missed starts will most likely double in week 17. Williams has not improved at all this week, and he will most likely be inactive for Sunday's game. Michael Pittman once again will start for Tampa Bay and should have a decent game against the Seahawks. One thing also to watch for this game is that it may be the last time we see Mike Alstott suit up in the NFL. He's had one of the better careers for a fullback in the last 10 years.

There was some speculation following Sunday's game as to whether or not Laveranues Coles would suit up for the Jets in week 17. The Jets' best WR took a couple of big hits in their game against Miami and was shaken up after the game. However, with a game of such importance, Coles will be out there on Sunday. He's one of the most durable WRs in football, and it would take a serious injury to keep him out.

No need to worry anymore, Aaron Brooks looks like he'll play on Sunday. With Brooks running the show, perhaps the Raiders can manage double digits in points. In all seriousness, I do feel that the Raiders will give the Jets a tough test on Sunday. If they do play well, it will have absolutely nothing to do with Aaron Brooks. The defense will need to score points on Sunday if they are going to have a shot.

Although this isn't injury news, many teams will be sitting their starters. Expect the Patriots, Saints, and Bears all to rest their better players. With nothing to play for, it was expected Seattle would also do this. However, Coach Holmgrem has said that everyone will play to build momentum. So you should feel safe to play Matt Hasselbeck and Shaun Alexander.

-David Cassilo

Contact at asuhouse@aol.com

DAUNTING DECISIONS

2006-12-27T16:30:00.000-08:00

I realize that some of you are still participating in one of those crazy 17 week leagues. The good news this year is that only Chicago, New Orleans, and Seattle may be resting their players this week. Those are all situations to avoid in week 17. The other 29 teams in the NFL will be playing their starters, and playing the wrong player could prove fatal for you. So here I am to help you with the most meaningless of weeks for fantasy. Don't say I never did anything for you.

Ronnie Brown- On Christmas night, Brown looked very impressive in his first game back from injury. In the season finale, Brown should get more carries than last week. Watching Ron Dayne shred up the Indy defense would make you want to start just about anyone at RB against the Colts these days. Brown should have a very similar day, and considering Cleo Lemon is starting at QB, Miami will feel compelled to run the ball. START.

Chester Taylor- One of the best free agent signings of last offseason was the Vikings getting Chester Taylor from the Ravens. He has proven to be one of the most reliable running backs in the leagues when healthy. The Rams rush defense is almost as awful as the Colts, so Taylor should have one of the better days rushing in week 17. He's a very similar runner to Ladell Betts who tore up the Rams last week. Taylor should finish strong in what has been a fantastic first season carrying the load. START.

Ron Dayne- The hottest new trend these days in fantasy is to start Ron Dayne. He's had one of the most unlikely career resurgences I've ever seen in my life. Coach Kubiak seems to love him, and as long as they are paired together, Dayne is going to see his share of carries. This week against Cleveland should be another solid performance for Dayne. The Browns have one of the worst rush defenses in football, and we all saw what Dayne could do against a bad rush defense last week. START.

Jay Cutler- While the Broncos will rely heavily on their backfield for this win and in game, Cutler should also have something to say about their chances before the day is over. I think Cutler will help the Broncos rather than hurt them on Sunday. He has progressed every week so far and looks like another great prospect for a class rich in talent. Expect him to have a good day as he goes up against a weak Arizona secondary. START.

Plaxico Burress- The recent struggles of the Giants may have some people questioning if Eli Manning will be able to find his biggest target. While Plaxico's numbers have slipped a little bit, but he's still one of the few steady fantasy WRs in 2006. He has a good matchup against a bad Redskins defense that is without Shawn Springs. Expect him to do a little more than the 1 catch for 55 yards that he had in week 16. START.

Willis McGahee- Some people are in love with McGahee, but I'm one of those guys who don't find his performances too impressive. To me he's just one of those RBs that beats up against bad defenses. This week he will face anything but a bad defense when he takes on the Ravens. Baltimore will be hungry with home field throughout the playoffs at stake. It looks like it'll be a struggle for McGahee and the whole Bills offense in the final week of the season. SIT.

Joseph Addai- The rookie looked great following his ankle injury the week before. He's an explosive player who has fit nicely in the Colts offense so far. This week should be one of his toughest tests of the season against Miami. They have done a fabulous job shutting down the run lately. Addai may not even get the bulk of the work considering that the Colts may be more concerned with his ankle still. Try to look elsewhere for the final week of the year. SIT.

Laveranues Coles- The Jets best WR struggled last week against Miami as he finished with only 9 yards. While Coles' matchup against Oakland may look good this week for the common fan, it is actually an awful situation for Coles. He will be going up against cornerback Nhadmi Asomugha, who deserved a Pro Bowl start, didn't get it, and now has taken it out on every one in the league. He's one of the best shut down corners in football, and he should hold Coles in check all day. SIT.

Chris Chambers- Clearly one of the most disappointing WRs this season has been Chris Chambers. The revolving door at QB for Miami has hurt Chambers' production. He's usually good for at least 1 or 2 big games every season, but this year has been a different story. With Cleo Lemon starting this week, Chambers will most likely struggle again. The Dolphins will look to run the ball, and the chances Chambers performs well are slim. SIT.

Devery Henderson- I've been on the Henderson bandwagon all season, but this week I don't like the situation that he has. The Saints have actually struggled throwing the ball deep lately which has made Henderson useless. This week with no chance of changing their playoff position, the Saints will most likely rest several starters for portions of the game. One of those guys will be Drew Brees which means that the chances of Henderson having a big day is worse than usual. SIT.

-David Cassilo

Contact at asuhouse@aol.com

SUNDAY RECAP: AFC VARIETY

2006-12-26T22:31:00.000-08:00

Corey Dillon/Laurence Maroney- Sunday marked Maroney's return, and the end to the run of great games that Dillon never had while Maroney sat on the sidelines. The rookie looked good in his return as he had 7 carries for 48 yards and a TD. His counterpart Dillon was also up to his old tricks running for a pedestrian 30 yards on 10 carries while stealing a TD. Maroney loosk to have a bright future ahead of him, but if the Patriots decide to keep Dillon around his value will be hurt because Dillon will get his goal line carries.

Leon Washington- If you were watching the Christmas night game between Miami and New York, you were able to see first hand what a special player Washington is. It was his dazzling 64 yard run on a screen pass late in the game that gave the Jets an opportunity to win the game. He finished the day with 134 total yards, the majority of which came through the air. Washington is too small to ever be an every down back in the NFL, but his speed and catching ability makes him a great compliment to any RB. He's another great player in what was a fantastic draft for the Jets.

Ronnie Brown- In his first game back from injury Brown looked fantastic against the Jets. He didn't enter the game till late in the first quarter, but once he did he could not be stopped by the Jets defense. He was able to run for 110 yards on just 18 carries. The performance showed that his broken hand is healed and has lingering effects on his performance. Brown's season in 2006 was a bit disappointing, and a better one in 2007 is expected. The only concern for him is if Ricky Williams will come back and take some of his carries.

Steve McNair- I personally have a grudge against Steve McNair because I started him in my week 15 semifinal, and he got hurt, stood on the sidelines seemingly healthy, and registered 0 points. I lost by six points. That being said it was a pretty solid day for the veteran McNair in his return from the fake injury to end my season. McNair completed 21 of his 31 passes for 256 yards, 3 TDs, and 2 INTs. He's one of the few QBs in football that you know exactly what you are going to get from week in and week out. He should finish strong next week against Buffalo as the Ravens try to gain home field throughout the AFC playoffs.

Rudi Johnson- If there was one work I could use to describe Rudi Johnson, it would be solid. His performance against Denver was nothing flashy, but just some good hard nosed down hill running. The workhorse finished the day with 30 carries for 129 yards and a TD. The TD was his 12th rushing TD of the season which matched his season total for both 2004 and 2005. He will most likely finish close to those seasons in yardage. Go ahead and draft Rudi for years to come. He's an almost absolute lock for 1400 yards and 12 TDs.

Derek Anderson- Well, that was fun for awhile, wasn't it? With likely no other shots at a starting job on the horizon the 6'6" Anderson may have ended his brief starting career with a horrible day and an injured shoulder. Before Anderson left the game with injury, he was very inaccurate and threw 4 INTs. The next Browns QB to be sacrificed to the opposing defense is our old friend Ken Dorsey. Dorsey, who seems to always randomly start once a year, will lead the Browns into their highly anticipated game against the Texans in week 17.

Peyton Manning- Derek Anderson and Peyton Manning. It's only suitable that two stars of their caliber should have blurbs written about them back to back. Unlike his colleague Anderson or his brother Eli for the matter, Peyton actually played well on Sunday. He finished the day 21 of 27 for 205 yards and 3 TDs. How the Colts did not win this game against the Texans with a performance like that is still beyond me. In the midst of the game, Peyton became the first player ever to throw for seven 4000 yard passing seasons. It has been another great season for Peyton, but every year he doesn't win the Super Bowl just seems like a waste for such a talented player.

Marvin Harrison- His equally as talented teammate, Marvin Harrison, helped Peyton boost those stats with another big day. Harrison hauled in 8 passes for 112 yards and 2 TDs. He came on real strong at the end of the season and scored 5 TDs in his last 2 games. He now also has his best season in terms of yardage since 2002. It has been another terrific season for Harrison, who shows absolutely no signs of slowing down. He's still the go to guy in Indy despite the presence of Reggie Wayne.

Joseph Addai- It was a great sign for all Colts fans to see how well Addai played coming off an ankle injury just the week before. At first it was feared that he would miss significant time, but Addai didn't miss a game. He finished the day with 100 yards on just 15 carries. It was the second time he topped 100 yards on the ground this season, and he now has exceeded 1000 yards rushing for the season. He looks like he will have a bright future ahead of him in this Colts offense.

Maurice Jones-Drew- Another rookie RB with a bright future ahead of him is Maurice Jones-Drew. The Jaguars RB saw an increase in carries due to the injury of Fred Taylor and performed exceptionally well. He finished with 131 yards and 2 TDs on 19 carries. The play of the day came when he actually fell down, got up, and then finished off a 74 yard TD run for the score. Even if Fred Taylor does stick around next seaon, Jones-Drew will be a very productive player for the Jaguars.

Vince Young- The rookie phenom had one of his best overall days of the season as he led the Titans to the win over Buffalo. Young finished 13 for 20 with 183 yards and 2 TD passing. He also had 8 carries for 61 yards and a TD rushing. The bulk of which came on a spectacular 36 yards TD run. Young became the first rookie QB to ever rush for 500 yards in a season. Even more amazing is that with 1 week left in the season, the Titans have a shot at the playoffs because of Young's play this season. He truly is a special player.

Travis Henry- Week in and week out I say it, but I'll repeat it again. Travis Henry is quietly having one of the best season's for a RB in 2006. Henry was as much a reason for the win on Sunday as Young. He ran the ball 25 times for 135 yards. It was the fifth time this season that Henry had topped 100 yards. Despite missing two games to injury, Henry has still been able to rack up over 1100 yards and 7 TDs this season. Henry got a raw deal in Buffalo due to the drafting of Willis McGahee, and I hope the same does not happen to him in Tennessee with LenDale White.

Ron Dayne- It still seems so odd to be talking about Ron Dayne in week 16 of the NFL season. Against the Colts, Dayne exploded for 153 yards and 2 TDs on 32 carries. This is either a sign that Dayne's resurgence is for real or the Colts truly do have the worst rush defense ever. Nevertheless, the Dayne bandwagon continues next week in a good matchup against Cleveland. He has been dominant lately, rushing for 429 yards and 5 TDs in his last 4 games. If Dayne can finish strong, he will be the odds on favorite from within to start at RB for the Texans next season.

LaDainian Tomlinson- You know you're a special player when you run for 122 yards and that's a disappointing day. Well, that is the kind of reaction Tomlinson will get if he doesn't run for a TD these days. Despite giving up 122 yards, Seattle did a nice job against LT as they prevented him from killing them. It ended at a streak of 8 straight games with a TD for LT. The game should have no ill effect on his impending MVP award. LT should finish very strong against Arizona next Sunday.

Jay Cutler- Once again Cutler looked pretty solid as he moved his team into prime position for a playoff berth. Cutler didn't try to do too much in the tough conditions of the snow, and he finished 12 for 23 with 179 yards, 2 TDs, and an INT. Cutler threw that interception on his first pass of the game, but then showed good composure to settle into a nice groove. It's kind of surprising that with Cutler at QB the Broncos have still been able to stay in the playoff hunt. Cutler will look to lead his Broncos in the playoffs with what should be a win against San Francisco.

Tatum Bell/Mike Bell- Well, well, well, the Bells are at it again. There's really no way to determine which Bell will have the better day for Denver these days. Mike Bell has been hot lately as was shown with his 16 carries for 69 yards and a TD on Sunday. The somewhat forgotten Bell, Tatum, in the Denver offense managed a respectable 50 yards on 12 carries. Combined these Bells now have over 1500 yards rushing and 10 TDs. This season is the prime example for why you should never draft a Denver running back.

-David Cassilo

Contact at asuhouse@aol.com

SUNDAY RECAP: NFC STYLE

2006-12-26T09:57:00.000-08:00

Brian Westbrook- While QB Jeff Garcia may be receiving all of the credit for the Philadelphia resurgence, it's the steadiness of Brian Westbrook that has been the key to their clinching of the playoffs. In the game Westbrook had one of his best games of the season rushing as he had 26 carries for 122 yards. He has shattered every previous career high he has had rushing the ball this season. He has twice as many 100 yard rushing games this season as he had in his whole career up to 2006. While he may not be getting all the accolades, Westbrook has put together one of the best seasons for a RB in 2006.

Tony Romo- The Romo show may have taken a horrible turn on Christmas during his game against Philadelphia. The Dallas QB had looked seemingly invincible in all of his November starts, but in three of his last four games he has thrown for multiple interceptions. Romo was very inaccurate all game long and finished 14 for 29 with 142 yards, 1 TD, and 2 INTs. He should finish strong with a game against Detroit, but his real test will be the playoffs. Unless Dallas can get some help, that test will come in Seattle against one of the most underachieving teams in football.

Eli Manning- Another struggling QB over the weekend was Giants QB Eli Manning. In a must win game, the Giants just did not show up. Eli was off his rhythm one game and attempted only 2 deep passes despite losing 30-7. He finished 9 for 25 with 74 yards, 1 TD, and 1 INT. This performance looks even worse considering Eli started the game 6 for 6 including a 55 yard touchdown. If Eli cannot come up big next weekend in a win and in game against Washington, it will be a very long off season for the former number one pick.

Ladell Betts- How good is this guy? With another huge performance on Sunday, Betts broke 1000 yards this season despite having limited work for half the year. Betts, who has shown he can handle a substantial amount of carries weekly, ran for 129 yards and 2 TDs on 29 carries. Since Clinton Portis has went down, it has just been monster week after monster week for Betts. He should finish strong with a game a home versus the Giants on Saturday night. With the way Betts has played this year, the Redskins are now faced with some tough decisions about their RB next season.

Rex Grossman- Going into this game, Grossman knew that he would be replaced at some time to get Brian Griese some work. While he did play, Grossman was overall very effective executing a game plan concentrating on short passes and reducing mistakes. He finished the day 20 for 36 withe 197 yards and a TD. In the short work that Griese got, he was 6 for 9 with 51 yards. Grossman would have to have a complete meltdown in week 17 or the playoffs the be replaced at this point. I also feel that the Bears are going to be comfortable having him at QB in 2007.

Jon Kitna- Recapping Lions games weekly has been an interesting experience this season. The one constant besides losing that I have seen in this team is that the Lions ownership just absolutely adores Jon Kitna. No matter how poorly he played they always said he was doing well and the clear starter for not only the remainder of 2006 but also 2007. Kitna finally made the team look smart as he completed 27 of 45 passes fr 283 and 3 TDs against the Bears. While this isn't the same Bears defense he faced earlier in the season, it is still an impressive performance. Kitna hasn't had a horrible season considering his team, and I assume he'll be the starter next season. However, the Lions will most likely replace him midway through the season with whoever they take as their QB of the future in the 2007 draft.

Reggie Bush- Against an uninspired Giants team, Bush had his best day of his career running the ball. Coach Payton was able to quickly realize that the Giants were not quick enough to handle Bush. He made the rookie the focal point of the offense all day long. Bush dazzled the New York crowd and finished with 126 yards and 1 TD on 20 carries. In three of his last four games, Bush has looked like one of the best players in the NFL. It was very promising to see him be able to pick up his yardage rushing rather than receiving on Sunday. He looks like a top 10 RB for next season.

Steve Smith- This would be a good time to point out how utterly pathetic Steve Smith has been since Jake Delhomme hurt his thumb. In my eyes, Smith gave up on the rest of this season following their loss on Monday night to Philadelphia. He's had five catches here and four catches there, but we're used to seeing Smith give 100% on every play and fight to get open. Yes, part of the blame can be given to having Chris Weinke at QB, but Smith has not been his dominant self either. No catches on week 16 was a fitting end to a very disappointing season for Smith and his fantasy owners.

Michael Vick- The only bright spot of this performance was that Vick became the first QB in NFL history to rush for 1000 yards in a single season. Other than that NFL first, Vick had another sub par performance on Sunday. In a must win game, Vick finished 9 for 20 with 109 yards and 2 INTs. With all the blame given to his WRs and coaches, the fact is that Vick cannot play like that and expect to win games in this league. The Falcons are virtually done, and if i were a betting man, I'd say Jim Mora Jr. was done too. Matt Schaub is a free agent next season, and the Falcons are going to have to make some decisions about whether Michael Vick can truly lead this franchise.

Shaun Alexander- One player who did show up in the fantasy finals was Shaun Alexander. He had arguably his best game of the season as he ran for 140 yards and 2 TDs on 31 carries. It looked like that would be enough to overcome the struggles of Matt Hasselbeck again, but some poor defense cost them the game. Alexander looks healthy which is a great sign for the Seahawks going into the playoffs. His value will be lower than it ever will be again going into 2007 which makes him somewhat of a sleeper for your draft.

Marc Bulger- It was an absolute monster performance of Marc Bulger against the Redskins on Sunday. He threw for a season highs as he finished with 388 yards and 4 TDs. It has been a career season for Bulger as he has broken 4000 yards for the first time in his career and also set a career high in TDs. His 23 TD to 8 INT ratio is one of the best in football. As long as Coach Linehan is still in St. Louis, Bulger's career is set to take off and flourish. Fantasy owners can pat themselves on the back if they took a risk on Bulger this season.

Steven Jackson- Another equally impressive season for a Rams player was had by Steven Jackson. The Rams RB, who is clearly no among the league's elite, had 150 yards rushing, 102 yards receiving, and 2 TDs which included the game winning score on Sunday. In the midst of all this, Jackson, who had just 43 receptions all last season, broke the team record with 88 this season. He almost had 1000 yards both rushing and receiving this year. The Rams still have a playoff shot, and Jackson will face his first test in weeks when he plays Minnesota on Sunday. Regardless of what happens, he is clearly one of the league's bright stars for the future.

Issac Bruce- He once was one of the best WRs in football, but these days Issac Bruce is just a solid number two WR in the NFL. However, on Sunday Bruce may have had the last great game of his career. Bruce, now 34 years old, racked up 9 catches, 148 yards, and a TD en route to a victory over Washington. It was great to see after only playing 11 games the year before that Bruce was able to play a whole season and top 1000 yards receiving in 2006. He's one of the most underrated WRs of his era, and he showed that he still had some skills on Sunday.

Frank Gore- The Niners only have themselves to blame for why they are not still in the playoff hunt in week 17. Gore, who has been one of the best RBs all season, received only 11 carries on Sunday. In his limited work he had 51 yards and 2 TDs. Part of his lack of work was because they got behind 20-3 early, but when the going gets tough, you must rely on your stars. The Niners are done this year, but considering Frank Gore is just starting a great career, they will be a force to be reckoned with for years to come.

Matt Leinart- Due to a shoulder injury, Matt Leinart was forced to leave his team's win early on Sunday. The injury will keep him out for next week, but should have no effect on his status for next season. Before leaving, Leinart was off to a good start with 162 yards and a TD. In his relief, Kurt Warner came in and played adequately enough to hold onto the lead. The Cardinals play San Diego next week, so their offense may suffer a tad with Warner behind center.

Edgerrin James- It was a season that started off horribly for the former Pro Bowl RB, but Edge did put together a nice finish for respectable numbers in 2006. On Sunday, James ran for 105 yards on 29 carries to put his season total over 1000 yards on the ground. Edge has now topped 100 yards in three of the last four weeks which gives hope for him next season. As unlikely as it seemed a month ago, I expect Dennis Green to be back as coach for what will be a team that may surprise in 2007.

-David Cassilo

Contact at asuhouse@aol.com

A LITTLE RECAP AND COUNTDOWN TO GAMETIME

2006-12-24T07:39:00.000-08:00

Larry Johnson- It was another great game for Johnson in week 16. In a must win game Johnson led the way by rushing for 135 yards and a TD on 31 carries. Although LJ may have started off slow, his performance yesterday marked the eighth time in ten weeks that he had at least 110 yards rushing. Johnson has proved this year that last season was no fluke. Next week he faces a tough Jacksonville defense, but that should only have a fantasy impact in 17 weeks leagues.

Ronald Curry- With no Randy Moss or Jerry Porter around, Ronald Curry has emerged as the number one WR for the Raiders. He had always showed promise before, but injuries were his downfall. On Saturday night, Curry was the go to guy and had one of his better games of the season. He finished with 11 catches for 106 yards. If the Raiders fail to add a star WR next season and Curry remains a starter, he will be a fantasy sleeper for 2007.

Here's a quick rundown of headlines which will only include the early ones because I'm off to the Giants-Saints game....

There's a good chance that the Bears may rest Rex Grossman in the second half. Since Chicago has clinched homefield and has nothing to play for they will most likely rest a lot of starters this week and next week. This is also a sign that it may not be a good idea to play Thomas Jones this week.

Despite finishing the week strong in practice, Joseph Addai's status is now up in the air again. No word will be had till the Sunday inactives are given. If Addai doesn't play, Dominic Rhodes has a terrific matchup against the Houston defense.

-David Cassilo

Contact at asuhouse@aol.com

NEWS & NOTES

2006-12-23T16:27:00.000-08:00

After starting 24 consecutive games for Tampa Bay, Cadillac Williams will miss the game on Sunday. He has been struggling all week with a foot injury, and it was finally decided today that he was too injured to play. Michael Pittman will take his place and has a decent matchup against Cleveland this week.

Those of you still pinning your fantasy hopes to Aaron Brooks are about to get very disappointed. Although I know none of you exist, I still feel like it's a story that Brooks has been benched for tonight's game. Andrew Walter will take his place in what may be his final opportunity to show the Raiders he could be the QB for the future.

Continuing with the Bucs-Raiders theme, next on the news agenda is that Chris Simms has signed a two-year contract extension to remain with Tampa Bay. It's a 10 million dollar contract which means even if he does not win the starting job, the Bucs will not be killed by the deal. However, right now I'd be shocked if Simms is not the starter next season.

Kevin Williams has signed a 7 year deal to remain with the Minnesota Vikings. What makes this fantasy worthy news is that Williams is an essential part of the Vikings' number one rush defense. With him around for awhile, the Vikings will remain a force against the run for years to come.

Although Ronnie Brown may play on Monday, he will backup RB Sammy Morris. Even though he's starting, Morris is not a very good start with Brown healthy. Right now, Brown will get a few carries, but if he's not healthy enough to start, he most likely will not get too many carries.

In sort of a surprising turn of events, Cedric Hosuton is too injured to play Monday for the Jets. He will be inactive and rookie Leon Washington will get most of the carries. While Washington has looked good at times this season, his matchup against the Miami defense is too difficult to justify starting him.

As projected all week, Fred Taylor will be forced to miss this Sunday's crucial game against the New England Patriots. Maurice Jones-Drew will start in his place. Although Jones-Drew has looked fantastic at times, I feel he will struggle going up against a tough defense without Taylor to share the load.

Joseph Addai's injury does not look as severe as it did when we first saw it, but that does not mean that Addai will be all systems go on Sunday. Word out of Indianapolis camp is that while Addai should play, he will most likely have a very reduced role on Sunday. It'd be wise to avoid Addai, however Dominic Rhodes' value gets a boast now against a weak Houston defense.

There was some question earlier in the week as to whether Todd Heap and Derek Mason would play for the Ravens on Sunday. Both players looked much better in practice on Friday, and they will suit up on Sunday. They both face tough matchups against Pittsburgh.

It's the biggest game in years for both the Buffalo Bills and the Tennessee Titans, and the Titans now look like they will have their RB healthy for Sunday. Travis Henry was struggling with injury earlier in the week, but not he appears much better and will play. He's a decent option against an inconsistent Buffalo defense.

Finally, the latest chapter in a a disappointing year for Antonio Bryant is a 4 game suspension handed down by the NFL. This is in connection to his DUI earlier in the season. Bryant was in the league's substance abuse program, and that is why he was suspended. Arnaz Battle and Vernon Davis should now have increased roles in the offense.

-David Cassilo
Contact at asuhouse@aol.com

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2006-12-22T17:18:00.001-08:00

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2006-12-22T17:01:00.000-08:00

Hardwood Recap "Shut Up Favre"

2006-12-22T15:39:00.000-08:00

What's with all of these stories of "Is this Favre's last game at home?" Favre is obviously coming back next year and after the drama he put us through last offseason, he doesn't deserve any publicity talking about retirement. So Favre, shut up with the whole "I'm not sure about my future" bit, it's played out, especially by you. The reporters in this photo are wasting their time. This won't be your last game at home so stop acting like it is. Moving on to basketball, there were only two games last night. One thing has been made clear to me. The Pistons still own Lebron and the Cavs even without Ben Wallace. In order to get over the hump in the Eastern Conference, Lebron is going to have to lead his team past the Pistons, at least in a regular season game. In the other game, Kevin Martin had a surprising 40 point game against the Wizards after missing just one game with an ankle injury.

Washington Wizards

Antawn Jamison is quietly having a great year for the Wizards as their second option to Gilbert Arenas. In last night's game against the Kings, Jamison outscored Arenas 33-30. Jamison also had 13 rebounds, 5 treys, 4 steals, and went 10-13 from the FT line.

Sacramento Kings

It looked as though Kevin Martin's season was getting more and more dissapointing, as not only had his scoring decreased, but he went down with an ankle injury. But after missing just one game, he exploded against the Wizards last night going for 40 points on 13-23 shooting including 5 treys and 10-11 from the charity stripe. He also chipped in with 4 rebounds, 4 assists, a steal and a block. It looks as though Kevin Martin can keep up his outstanding play. As I was looking at the box-score from last night I realized that John Salmons played 44 minutes and finished the game with 23 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. With Artest constantly injured, I looked through the rest of the Kings depth chart and I noticed that there are really no scorers on the team other than Martin. So I got to thinkin, why not John Salmons? As long as Artest is hurt, I think Salmons could go for about 20, 5, and 5 almost every night. If you have someone to drop, Salmons might be a valuable pickup.

~Brian Melnick aka Big Mel

Contact Brian at bigmel2k5@yahoo.com

QUICK RECAP AND Q&A

2006-12-22T09:17:00.000-08:00

Tarvarias Jackson- This was just an utterly terrible game for both offenses. Making his first start against Green Bay, Jackson struggled all night. He's still a project more than a player at this point in his career, and it was shown by his numbers on the night. Jackson finished 10 for 20 with 50 yards and 2 INTS. Against one of the worst defenses in football, Jackson and the entire Vikings offense was a major disappointment. The Vikings are out of the playoff race for this season, and right now Tarvarias Jackson will be the favorite to start at QB next year.

Chester Taylor- Since being injured, Taylor has struggled to produce like he had in rest of the season. Like Jackson, Chester Taylor was a huge disappointment, especially for fantasy owners. Taylor finished the day 15 carries for 49 yards and 3 receptions for 18 yards. Given what he did earlier in the season and the defense he was facing, Taylor should have had a much bigger day. With one week left, Taylor will look to better his career season. The Vikings signing Chester Taylor was one of the best moves of the off season.

Brett Favre- In his last game at Lambeau Field, Favre threw for 400 yards and 7 TDs. Ok, maybe that was just wishful thinking. In reality, Favre, who I hope has not played his last game at Lambeau, was awful on Thursday night. He finished 26 for 50 with 250 yards and 2 INTs. Remarkably, the Packers still were able to pull off the victory due to the equally inept Vikings offense. With a major overall improvement on last season, I expect Favre to be back next year for one last shot one what could be a playoff team in 2007. While they could make the playoffs this season, they have a real outside shot and would need a lot of help.

Donald Driver- One of the best seasons that nobody is talking about is the one Donald Driver is having for the Packers. After another solid 9 catch 99 yard performance, Driver now has established a career high in yards. He's going to the Pro Bowl this season because he has been one of the most reliable WRs week to week in all of football. As long as Brett Favre is still the QB, Driver is going to put up numbers similar to those of the best WRs in football.

Now time for your pressing questions........

Q: Hey man, I love your column. I'm in my league's final this week, and I was wondering if I should start Ron Dayne or Jamal Lewis?

A: As I said earlier in this week, I'm a big Ron Dayne fan this week and not a big Jamal Lewis fan. Dayne will be taking on the Colts this week, which is a matchup I like for two reasons. One is the obvious reason that the Colts have one of the worst rush defenses ever. The other is that they just came off an emotional high with a great performance against the Bengals. Their defense should be due for a letdown. Lewis on the other hand only seems to play well against poor defenses. Pittsburgh is far from that, and they should do a good job all day long. The only reason I may hesitate in starting Dayne over Lewis is the Kubiak has been as crazy with his RBs this season as Mike Shanahan, so there is a slight chance Dayne may not get the carries he should.

Q: My only two options this week at QB are Ben Roethlisberger and JP Losman. What should I do this week with so much at stake?

A: Well first of all, I'm very sorry that these are your only two options at QB for your fantasy championship. Now to address your question, I would give Losman the start over Big Ben. Losman may not be a better QB than Roethlisberger, but he does have a far better matchup. Big Ben will face a Ravnes defense which is always one of the toughest to go against in football. Even worse for him is the fact that Ray Lewis will take out all his Pro Bowl snub anger on the Steelers. On the other hand, while the Titans have been much improved lately, their defense still does not scare opponents. Losman will play well at home, in what is a pivotal game for the AFC Wild Card race.

-David Cassilo

Contact at asuhouse@aol.com

FANTASY MD

2006-12-21T15:41:00.000-08:00

After the game on Monday, it was feared that Joseph Addai may miss significant time with an ankle injury. However, as it turns out he won't miss any time at all. If he does indeed play, he has a great matchup against Houston which would be a fantasy matchup almost too enticing to pass up.

Rumors have circulated that Joe Horn may be held out for the rest of the season. For now though he is still being updated week to week by the Saints. He is listed as questionable for the game on Sunday, but it would shock me if he actually plays.

Ronnie Brown has missed three straight games this season due to his broken hand, but it appears like he will be all systems go on Monday night. Although he has been a disappointment this season, Brown has a great matchup against the Jets on Monday. He should play a huge role in fantasy championships considering he'll be the last significant offensive player to play.

On a team plagued by injuries, the latest to feel the pain is RB Brandon Jacobs. He hurt his ankle last week against Philadelphia, but Jacobs is extremely confident that he will play. If he does miss the game, Tiki Barber's value will rise because he'll receive the goal line work.

Patriots TE Ben Watson missed last week's game with an ankle injury, and it appears like he will once again be out for the Patriots on Sunday. It's likely that Watson won't be truly healthy till the playoffs so he's safe to drop.

I knew it was impossible. I knew I would never see it. What I speak of is Fred Taylor making it through an entire season without injury. After pulling up lame last weekend, it would be a shock if Taylor suits up on Sunday. Maurice Jones-Drew owners should feel safe to start him, but he does have a rather tough matchup against New England.

Both Derrick Mason and Todd Heap are questionable for the game this weekend. This is an every week occurrence for these two guys, but with a playoff spot secured there's a chance they could be rested. It's a situation to watch for the weekend.

The latest event in the horrible sophomore season of Cadillac Williams is his foot injury. He's missed two straight practices and looks like he will be out for Sunday's game as well. It's unlikely anyone was seriously considering starting Caddy, so this is not as big of an issue as it was a year ago.

Originally it was thought that Jake Delhomme would only miss one game due to his thumb injury. Now he looks like he will miss his third in a row. The thumb has not improved at all, and it looks like Delhomme may be shut down for the year. Chris Weinke will start again and bring down the entire Panthers offense.

Laurence Maroney has shown a lot of improvement in practice this week after missing the last two games with an injury to his ribs. He should be able to play this week, but nothing will be definite until Sunday morning. Regardless, he has a tough matchup in Jacksonville.

Just because he's a big name, I'll give you guys an update on Randy Moss. It's rather unlikely that he will be back for their game on Saturday night. While it also doesn't look like he'll play in week 17, I would consider starting him if he does because Moss played extremely well last year in the final game, and may want to show some potential suitors he still has something left. It appears his days are done in Oakland, and I would guess that Jacksonville would be a likely destination next season.

-David Cassilo

Contact at asuhouse@aol.com

Hardwood Recap "Smarting Sonics"

2006-12-20T21:44:00.000-08:00

When ESPN went from the end of the Nets Cavs game to the Mavs Sonics game, it was already about 5 minutes in and just as I was getting excited to see the stud of my fantasy season Rashard Lewis, I realized he was not on the court. Lewis left the game early in the first quarter with what is being called strained tendons in his hand. While x-rays came back negative, I am definitely worried about this injury. With Allen already out for the Sonics, they still put up a fight against the Mavs. Allen is expected to come back Saturday and I hope Lewis will be able to play alongside him again. Dirk Nowitzki also left the game with an ankle injury leaving the nationally televised game with no star power whatsoever(but the game was actually very entertaining). Dirk's injury appeared to be rather serious, but the x-rays did come back negative. I think he may miss a few games with a sprained ankle though. 24 teams were in action last night and to be honest with you, not enough people are reading this site yet for me to care about giving all the info I can. Therefore, with so many games, I will only report important information.

Philidelphia 76ers
It looks as though Willie Green will be the 76ers' starting SG going forward and I think he has the potential to score almost 20 points per game, so if you need a scorer, look into Willie Green.

Utah Jazz
Mehmet Okur scored 30 points on 11-17 shooting including 4 treys while snatching 10 rebounds. I thought Okur was slowing down, but he proved me wrong in this game. Okur is a legitimate fantasy stud.

Atlanta Hawks
Joe Johnson proved he is over his calf injury with 27 points. Josh Smith has been a monster after a slow start. He went for 23 and 12 last night while adding 4 blocks. Josh Smith has excelent value if you play him at SG. His rebounding and blocking numbers are much better than any other SG. I think Smith has a good chance of leading the league in blocks by the end of the season.

New Orleans Hornets
First I have to mention Chris Paul's dunk on Dwight Howard. Make sure you watch Sportscenter at some point and watch that play. Rasual Butler and Desmond Mason had 15 and 14 points respectively and I think those are reasonable averages for those guys while David West and Peja Stojakovic are out.

Orlando Magic
I have been preaching Darko Milicic for a while now, promising that he would soon be starting, but it is starting to seem like he may not start this season and if there are guys you want on your waiver wire, you can drop Darko. Grant Hill scored 21 and added 7 rebounds and I would just like to give him props for never giving up and coming back after such serious injuries. Even if this is his last season, Hill should be remembered for his courage.

Charlotte Bobcats
Gerald Wallace had another outstanding game. He went for 28 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 5 steals. It looks like Wallace is ready to have a big time fantasy impact.

New York Knicks
There is so much that can be said about the Knicks. 2 straight wins at home! Both coming in overtime or double overtime! Both coming on buzzerbeaters from Marbury and David Lee! It's been an exciting week to say the least at Madison Square Garden. An embarrassing brawl, and then back to back overtime wins. Marbury didn't play as well last night as he did against Utah. Marbury had just 10 points, 5 rebounds and 9 assists even though he played 52 minutes. Crawford had a big game going for 25 points, 6 rebounds and 9 assists, but missed two game winning shots in regulation and in the first overtime. David Lee is now everyones favorite white boy. Not only did he have 10 points and 19 rebounds, but with .1 seconds left on the clock in double OT, he tipped in the inbounds pass from marbury to give the Knicks one of the most stunning wins in franchise history. Channing Frye was huge for the Knicks going for 30 points and 6 rebounds. Fantasy owners have been waiting for Frye to come alive and this game could be the spark he needed. Eddy Curry also came up big with 29 points and 9 rebounds. But everyone knows if Curry didn't go 6-12 from the FT line, the Knicks would've won the game in regulation. It still baffles me that NBA players, Professional Basketball Players, they get paid to play basketball, their job is to make shots whether it be a three-pointer, a dunk, or a free throw, yet some players shoot under 50% from the FT line. Thats 15 feet from the basket with nobody in your face, nobody trying to block you. Just you, the ball, and the hoop, and you can't put it in from 15 feet away? Pathetic. Sure Eddy Curry has been great lately, but honestly, it wouldn't kill him to work on some free throws in practice.....pathetic.

New Jersey Nets
The Nets took on Lebron and the Cavs, and although Lebron did score 37, the Nets made him work for it with constant double teams and sometimes tripple teams. Anyway what I'm saying is, even though he put up 37, the Nets did a good job defensively and they came out with the win. The key player for the Nets was Vince Carter who came up big with 38 points after going 3 straight games with under 13 points. Kristic was also huge shooting 8-10 for 18 points. Jason Kidd didn't get the trip dub last night, but he came close with 9 points, 8 rebounds and 10 assists.

Milwaukee Bucks
Mo Williams dominated the Heat as he logged a tripple double with 19 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists. This guy is a solid PG and seems to be the Bucks 2nd scoring option behind Michael Redd who finished the game with 28.

Los Angeles Lakers
Kwame Brown started at center for the Lakers, but Andrew Bynum had a better game with 7 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 blocks, compared to Brown's 6 points, 5 rebounds and 0 blocks. There is talk of the Lakers putting both of their big men on the court at the same time but Zen Master Phil Jackson says they are not ready for that. I think the move could happen soon and if it does, look for both players to have increased value.

Minnesota Timberwolves
Despite being up 10 going into the 4th quarter, they were outscored 34-7 in the final period and lost 111-94 to the Lakers. This is yet another dissapointing season for Garnett and the T-Wolves and you have to think there is a chance Garnett will get traded before the deadline. Garnett was great as he always is going for 22, 11, and 8 assists, but nobody else on the team comes to play except sometimes Ricky Davis and every once in a while, Mike James will decide to score. But this team is pathetic right now and it could be time for Garnett to go, just as it was time for Iverson to leave Phili.

Toronto Raptors
T.J. Ford was questionable for the game last night be he ended up playing and had 14 points and 9 assists. His injury was not serious and you should feel comfortable keeping him in your starting lineup.

Seattle Supersonics
Rashard Lewis left with an injury in the first minute of the game. He is being called day-to-day, but if he and Allen miss much more time, Wilcox will flourish. With the 2 studs out, the only playable guys for the Sonics are Ridnour, Wilcox, and Earl Watson.

~Brian Melnick aka Big Mel
Contact Brian at bigmel2k5@yahoo.com

DAUNTING DECISIONS

2006-12-20T17:24:00.000-08:00

Here it is. The week you've been waiting all season for. If you have been lucky enough, you will play this week for your league's fantasy championship. It doesn't matter what LT has done all season, if he doesn't produce this week, you have once again failed and wasted another four months of your life. It's the week where phrases will be uttered from your mouth like, "Why didn't I start Chris Cooley?" and "I hate you Donald Driver" and even "Thank you, Josh Scobee. You just won me a fantasy title." In a week with such importance, I hope to give you the extra help that will cause months of celebration. However, I know from experience I look for people to blame when I lose my league. Don't blame me, blame Ben Utecht.

Ron Dayne- How funny it is that as I sit here on week 16 that I am actually speaking of Ron Dayne. Even more shocking is what a great start he is this week. Dayne has produced two consecutive solid performances as the main guy in Houston. He faces the Colts this week who despite their solid game on Monday still have the worst rush defense in football. My expectation is that after such a good game against the Bengals, the Colts rush defense will have a bit of a letdown, and Dayne will play well. The only possible reason to be hesitant is that Gary Kubiak comes from the Mike Shanahan school of RBs and is prone to play with fantasy owners' heads at any time by switching backs. Nevertheless, I would play him if you need a back. START.

Ladell Betts- Ok honestly, if you own Ladell Betts now and you are not playing him, you are an idiot. Betts has been unbelievable since he's been starting, however it wouldn't kill him to score a TD here and there. Betts against the Rams defense is a clear recipe for success this week. My only complaint with Betts is that he signed such a stupid contract. If he never signed this deal, he would be un the fringe of a huge pay day this offseason. If I was Betts' agent this would never have happened, but I'm not so just go ahead and play him this week. START.

Jay Cutler- Week after week Cutler, like all the rookie QBs, just seems to be getting better. Against the poor Arizona defense last Sunday, Cutler had his best game as a pro. He clearly has the tools to be a real success in this league, and I am confident that he can be very productive in his team's playoff run. The Broncos take on the worst pass defense in football on Sunday, which happens to belong to the Cincinnati Bengals. Expect a day similar to his last game against Arizona. START.

Brett Favre- He had such a great matchup last week against Detroit, and he killed so many fantasy seasons. If you survived the debacle last week, don't be shy to start Favre once again. Several factors point to success this week. First, Favre rarely has two poor games in a row. Second, he is facing an awful Vikings' pass defense. Finally, this could be the last game ever for Favre at Lambeau Field, and he seems to play well in emotional games. There you go. Three reasons why he will be great in what could be his last fantasy game ever. START.

Devery Henderson- With Joe Horn out of the lineup, Henderson has actually been relatively quite in recent weeks for the Saints. Fortunately for him, he faces a banged up and poor Giants secondary this week. Coming off disappointing weeks for both teams, I expect this to be an offensive shootout. It would be a letdown if Henderson did not have one of those huge games we saw this season. START.

Ahman Green- I was really surprised from what I saw by Green this season. Prior to the year I had written him off due to injuries an age, but he bounced back for a really strong season. He's still a productive RB and should be the team's starter next year. That being said, for God's sake do not play him this week! Unless you've been living under a rock, you probably realize that Minnesota's rush defense is one of the best ever. Starting Green against them would just be a horrendus idea. SIT.

Corey Dillon- Words cannot describe how frustrating Corey Dillon has been to me this season. When I owned Laurence Maroney, Dillon would steal all of his TDs. Then when I recommended starting Dillon when Maroney went down, he stunk up and Kevin Faulk stole all his TDs. It's pretty simple this week. The Jacksonville defense is dominant at home and against good teams, so I see Dillon having a very long day. This paragraph is bound to haunt me on Sunday. I know it. SIT.

Jamal Lewis- One player I have had a good read on all season is Jamal Lewis. He's a tremendous fantasy player if you know when to play him. This Sunday against Pittsburgh is not one of those weeks. Lewis likes to beat up on the Browns not the Steelers. Lewis should have a long day in what will be a classic battle of solid defenses. Under 90 yards and 0 TDs is a good expectation for Lewis. SIT.

Jerrico Cotchery- The Jets number two WR has had a solid year but has cooled off as of late. It was rather disappointing that Cotchery did not have a better game last week considering Chad Pennington had one of his best days of the season. This week Cotchery faces a tough Miami defense in a rivalry game on Christmas. I'd expect similiar numbers to last week when he had 56 yards receiving, and those types of days do not win fantasy championships. SIT.

Ben Roethlisberger- The only player who may have had more of an up and down season statistics wise than Rex Grossman is Big Ben. It was a very solid week last week with two TDs for Roethlisberger who has been throwing the ball a lot less lately. However, against Baltimore, he may not have the benefit of a productive running game so he will be relied on more heavily. I'd hate to have my fantasy season riding on an inconsistent QB against an elite defense and neither should you. SIT.

-David Cassilo
Contact at asuhouse@aol.com

Hardwood Recap "AI: The Denver Project"

2006-12-20T06:15:00.000-08:00

The big news of yesterday was the trade of Allen Iverson to the Denver Nuggets. I'm sure you have heard the trade already, but in case you haven't, the 76ers sent Iverson and a scrub to Denver for Andre Miller, Joe Smith, and two 2007 first round draft picks. At first glance, it seems that the 76ers got a good deal with the two first round picks, but take note, Denver's pick will be in the mid twenties, and the other pick they gave the 76ers was that of the Dallas Mavericks, which could end up being the last pick of the draft. Anyway, that's for a later discussion about the real NBA, but that's not what we talk about here. This is all about fantasy implications, so how does the trade affect fantasy hoops?

Let's start with the Denver Nuggets.
Everyone knows Carmelo Anthony and Iverson are #1 and #2 in scoring this season. And the obvious question is, how can they co-exist on the basketball court? The Nuggets are the 2nd highest scoring team in the NBA right now and they are currently averaging 85 shots per game. Melo and AI are each averaging 24 shots per game, so theoretically, both players could maintain their shot attempts and still leave over about 37 shots for other players(J.R. Smith, Marcus Camby, Earl Boykins). My guess, however, is that one or both of the players' shot attempts per game, and therefore points per game, will decrease. Besides scoring, I think Carmelo will be playing inside more often which could lead to more rebounding, and Iverson will most likely take over the point in Denver which should lead to more assists.

How about Philidelphia?
Phili gets Andre Miller, a solid PG and his value shouldn't change much. Andre Iguodala has been doing it all for the 76ers lately, but I assume his assists will drop. His scoring and rebounding should continue at the current rate.

In the two games last night we saw two winning streaks stay intact. The Suns continued their streak with a win against the Raptors for their 15th straight win, a franchise record. We also saw the Bulls beat the Lakers to win 12 of their last 13.

Toronto Raptors
T.J. Ford led the team in scoring with 19 points while adding 9 assists and 5 rebounds. He left the game with a lower back bruise but says he will play wednesday at the Clippers. Andrea Bargnani had 18 and 8 and he played 36 minutes. As long as Bosh is out, I think Bargnani is a good pick up and a good play.

Phoenix Suns
Amare Stoudamire had 28 and 10 on 11-14 shooting from the field and 6-6 from the line. He looks to be close to 100% now, but let's see if his knees can hold up for the rest of the season. Barbosa is not getting the minutes or the opportunities that he was at the beginning of the season, try to sell this guy before it's too late.

Chicago Bulls
Luol Deng finished the game with 23 and 12 and is really having an impressive season. Ben Gordon had another solid game off the bench with 22 points and is playing more consistently as of late. Ben Wallace was playing injured and only scored 4 points, but did grab 9 rebounds and dished out 7 assists.

MONDAY NIGHT RECAP: CAN DUO

2006-12-19T15:33:00.000-08:00

For the first time since Coach Dungy had taken over the Colts, doubt had crept in whether this truly was a Super Bowl contender. Back to back losses, including a trouncing by Jacksonville, had dropped them from AFC number one seed to battling for a bye. Could this historic offense carry such a historically poor defense? Every team has a weakness, but the Colts may be too large to overcome. With the red hot Bengals coming in to face the ice cold Colts, it was a must win for Indianapolis to prove that they were still among the league's elite. 34 points later and thanks to two NFL legends, the Colts are back where they belong.

Magic and Kareem. Montana and Rice. Hakeem and Drexler. There are some athletes who's name will always be associated with another. The latest and possibly the greatest is Manning and Harrison. They've set all kind of QB and WR records together, and one without the other would most likely be a great player but not a legend. When the team was on the ropes going into last night's game, the two of them stepped up and delivered like they had so many times before. Before you knew it, they had connected on 3 TD passes and had the Colts comfortably ahead in the third quarter. The game plan for every defense is to stop Manning and Harrison in order to win the game, but with such a dynamic duo, such an idea has become almost completely unrealistic. That's why no matter what the circumstances are, you can never truly count the Colts out.

Carson Palmer- In such an important game, it was clearly one of Palmer's worst performances of the year. While some of the blame must go to the QB himself, his offensive line must shoulder some of the responsibility. The Colts were able to get all sorts of pressure on Palmer, and once the Bengals lost tackle Willie Anderson, the night went from bad to worse for Palmer. Carson finished 14 for 28 with 176 yards and a lost fumble. It was the first time he hadn't thrown a TD pass since week 4, and he almost surely left several fantasy owners disappointed.

Rudi Johnson- The whole Bengals offense let their fantasy owners down, however the way Rudi Johnson started, it's almost shocking to see the numbers he finished with. In the first half Johnson had over 60 yards rushing, but he finished the day with only 79 yards and a TD. I was expecting much more from Johnson going up against such a weak defense, but the Colts were clearly out to show that they were better than they showed last week which is the reason for the improved play on defense. Next week against Denver should be a struggle for Rudi.

Chad Johnson- When Carson plays poorly, Chad is unhappy, and we saw that on Monday night. Johnson was only able to total 37 yards on 3 catches. It was his worst performance since week 9, and it came at the worst possible time for both the Bengals and fantasy owners. The entire offense was a huge disappointment on Monday, and it left many people across the country upset.

Peyton Manning- After two below average performances for Peyton' standards, Manning bounced back for by completing 29 of his 36 passes for 282 yards and 4 TD passes. Peyton was sharp all game, and his receivers helped him out by not dropping passes like they had recently. It was a huge game for Peyton who showed that if the Colts don't make the Super Bowl, it will be in no way his fault. With Houston and Miami the next two weeks, Peyton should finish strong and top 30 TDs for the third time in his career.

Joseph Addai/Dominic Rhodes- Addai was off to a hot start after running for 50 yards on 8 carries, but he was forced to leave the game with an ankle injury. Getting the bulk of the carries after that, Rhodes had 52 yards on 19 carries. Addai's ankle may force him to miss next week's game and even more time. With a matchup against the Texans next week, Rhodes could be a viable fantasy option.

Marvin Harrison- After a one catch day earlier in the season, Harrison had complained that he was not receiving his normal amount of targets in the offense. Since that game, Harrison has busted out and regained the form he had when he was at the top of his career. Monday night, Harrison had 8 catches for 86 yards and 3 TDs. The only concern is that Harrison hurt his hand late in the game. However, the injury does not appear to be too serious, and I'd be shocked if he didn't play next week.

-David Cassilo
Contact at asuhouse@aol.com

Mail Time "Can Monta Maintain?"

2006-12-19T13:53:00.001-08:00

David Cassilo and myself pride ourselves on answering every email we recieve. So don't be shy to shoot me an email about any personal fantasy hoops info and I will be sure to respond and your question may even end up in my "Mail Time" column. This week there are 2 specific emails that I will discuss.

J-Rod wrote,

Hey Brian, I just started checking out your site and I really like your style and information...this is a cool site...I just have a little question I hoped you could help me with...For my second utility spot in my league I am not sure who to start...It is between Ben Gordon, Jameer Nelson, or Danny Granger...what is your opinion on these players, and who would you start?

~Thanks for the support J-Rod! That is a good question as all 3 of those players have question marks. Gordon has been very inconsistent even losing his starting job this season. Nelson has been just a flat out dissapointment, and Granger has also been very inconsistent flirting with the starting lineup. If I had to pick one, I would probably go with Ben Gordon. He's a little inconsistent but when he plays well he usually plays very well, scoring around 20 usually including a few 3pm. You may want to slip Granger in there once in a while when the bulls matchup against solid defensive teams or if you are in need of rebounds. I wouldn't play Jameer Nelson at all right now, however, of those three players, I think Nelson has the most potential, so I wouldn't drop him yet either, just stash him away on your bench.

Dave wrote,

Hey Big Mel, Monta Ellis came out of nowhere this year and I was lucky enough to pick him up before anyone else in my league. But now I need to know, is he going to keep getting minutes and contributing to my fantasy team?

~Great question Dave. Monta has been a nice surprise this year and I have been a huge Monta Ellis fan even before he was drafted before last season. Unless Jason Richardson and Baron Davis are both completely healthy at the same time (which is very unlikely) Ellis will continue to recieve big minutes from Nellie and he will continue to score. However, it wouldn't be a bad idea to sell high on Ellis while there is still so much hype about him.
He's in the same category with guys like Luther Head and Leandro Barbosa who you might be able to package in order to acquire a true fantasy stud.

~Brian Melnick aka Big Mel
Contact Brian at bigmel2k5@yahoo.com

Hardwood Recap "Starbury Returns"

2006-12-19T13:14:00.000-08:00

Dallas Mavericks
Josh Howard continues his solid play since coming back from injury. A friend of mine calls Howard a “mini-Shawn Marion” and I think that fits. Like Marion, Howard contributes in every facet of the game. Last night he filled up the stat sheet again against the Kings going for 28 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 3pm, 3 steals, 2 blocks and 0 turnovers. If you can somehow still buy low on Howard, go for it, or you might be able to package guys like Barbosa or Luther Head to acquire Howard. Dampier seems to be going back to his old ways and if you are safe in rebounds and there are guys on the waiver wire that you want to pick up, I wouldn’t feel bad about dropping Dampier.

Sacramento Kings
Kevin Martin injured his ankle and was inactive for last night’s game. With his poor play lately I’d monitor a couple of his games when he comes back before sticking him back in your lineup. Brad Miller has been contributing lately but I still think he can improve as he may still be hampered by injury. He produced a solid fantasy line last night finishing with 19 points on 8-15 shooting and added 6 rebounds and 3 assists. Kenny Thomas seems to be the only legitimate rebounder for the Kings grabbing 15 last night to go with his 15 points.

Seattle Supersonics
Rashard Lewis had a huge game in the double OT loss after putting up a couple stinkers. He finished with 36 points on 10-22 shooting and 12-13 from the FT line. He also had 14 rebounds, 4 3pm and 4 assists. Fantasy owners have to love overtime games when their studs play 52 minutes! Wilkins played poorly and with Ray Allen eyeing a Saturday return Wilkins can be dropped. Wilcox has been decent but with Allen out of the lineup, Lewis and Ridnour seem to be the only legitimate fantasy players. The center position for the Sonics is a crapshoot right now and I’m not even going to pretend that I know what the coaching staff is going to do. Who is the starter? Petro? Collison? Sene? Or the guy that started last night, Glyniadakis. I asked myself the same question….Who is Glyniadakis?!?! Anyway, In my opinion, Collison should be the starter but he has been such a disappointment so far this season.

Memphis Grizzlies
Mike Miller was another player that benefited from double OT playing 52 minutes. He had a near triple double finishing with 29 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists, while also dropping 5 treys. Chucky Atkins had a huge game including a buzzer beater 3-pointer that sent the game to double overtime. Atkins didn’t start, but he finished with 28 points and 8 assists with 4 3pm. Damon Stoudamire started the game but played just 18 minutes and failed to record a single point. Atkins should be starting but even if he doesn’t, he clearly has more fantasy value right now.

Utah Jazz
The Jazz somehow managed to lose to the Knicks who had only 8 available players after the suspensions from the brawl the other night. The Jazz have been the best rebounding team in the NBA which is why they currently have the second best record in the NBA, but they allowed the Knicks to grab 23 offensive rebounds!!! Deron Williams played well and hit what could have been a game winning shot, but the rest of the team didn’t show up and the lost to the depleted Knicks in overtime. Williams finished with 23 points on 9-19 shooting with 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, and 3 treys.

New York Knicks
What a night at the most famous arena in the world. A thrilling overtime win against the #2 team in the NBA Utah Jazz. I usually spend my paragraph on the Knicks by ripping them and talking about the stupid moves they make and how bad they are. I do have to mention how stupid they are for getting into a brawl, however I have only good things to say about the Knicks today. The players that did play, played with hear and played with energy. The core players that I see staying with the Knicks for the future are as follows: Nate Robinson, Jamal Crawford, David Lee, Channing Frye, Eddy Curry, and yes Renaldo Balkman. All of these players (except Crawford at times) play with effort and for the all important “love of the game”. Marbury did have a huge game last night with 29 points, 8 assists, and 5 rebounds, but I’d be surprised if he keeps that up and goes the rest of the season with controversy. David Lee was the other Knick that came up big against the Jazz. Lee had a career high 20 rebounds including 7 offensive rebounds against the likes of Boozer, Okur, and Kirilenko.

New Orleans Hornets
With David West and Peja Stojakovic needing surgery, Desmond Mason and Rasual Butler look to have bigger roles for the Hornets. Desmond Mason did not live up to that last night but Rasual Butler answered the call. Butler finished with 21 points on 8-18 shooting with 8 rebounds and 4 3pm. He seems to be a solid play for the immediate future.

Miami Heat
Jason Williams played an encouraging 39 minutes and finished with 15 points on 6-14 shooting with 5 assists and 2 rebounds. If his knee can hold up, look into picking him up.

Golden State Warriors
Two Warriors looked impressive to me last night and I can tell you this from experience as some of my friends took me to this game for my birthday which was yesterday. Somehow we got lower level seats for just $23 each and managed to work our way down to the 7th row up from courtside straight across from the Warriors’ bench. Anyway, Baron Davis and Monta Ellis stood out. Davis finished with 25 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists, but did commit 8 turnovers. Monta Ellis scored 19 points on 50% shooting and added 6 assists and 3 steals. Richardson played but while he is still nursing injuries, you should keep him on your bench. Davis and Ellis seem to be the most consistent scoring options right now in Golden State

New Jersey Nets
Nenad Kristic or “Curly” as Net fans like to call him was a beast last night even going up against the tough defense of Andris Biedrins. Curly had 20 points in the first half alone but finished with 26 points on 10-15 shooting while pulling down 14 rebounds. Jefferson’s shot was off and there are talks of ankle surgery….not talks that fantasy owners want to hear. Kidd posted another triple-double and Carter put up another stinker managing just 11 points. In other news, Jason Collins didn’t start and played just 7 minutes. My fellow Nets fans and I were thrilled!

Washington Wizards
Brendan Heywood has his starting job back for now, but he isn’t showing much value anyway. I guess if you are desperate for rebounds you can pick him up.

Denver Nuggets
Andre Miller has been playing very well lately, and you can look for his strong play to continue with Melo out for the next 15 games. Last night Miller had 27 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists. Camby had a strong game matching up with Brendan Heywood as he dominated with 25 points, 17 rebounds, and 7 blocks. Earl Boykins looks to be another beneficiary to the Melo suspension. Boykins could be the scoring leader with Melo out. Last night, he didn’t start but he led the team in scoring with 29 points and added 7 rebounds and 6 assists.

~Brian Melnick aka Big Mel
Contact Brian at bigmel2k5@yahoo.com

SUNDAY RECAP: AFC VARIETY

2006-12-18T11:37:00.000-08:00

Laveranues Coles- Part of Chad Pennington's big 300 yard passing day is a direct result of well Coles played on Sunday. Coles hauled in season highs of 12 catches and 144 yards while also scoring a TD. After back to back sub par seasons, Coles has found his game again in the rejuvenated Jets offense. Late in the game on Sunday, Coles left with a back injury, but it does not appear serious. The Jets take on Miami on Christmad, and in their last meeting Coles had 106 yards and 2 TDs.

JP Losman- While I often laugh and kid about Losman as a QB, it is finally time for me to admit that he is actually a solid QB who is going to be a fine QB in this league. While he didn't need to throw too often on Sunday, Losman was till able to complete 13 of 19 passes for 200 yards and 3 TDs. Losman started off 2006 the way he finished 2005, but over the last 5 weeks he seems to have really turned the corner. While I wouldn't trust him with my fantasy season in the final weeks, he's definitely some one to keep an eye on for next season.

Joey Harrington- Well if it isn't the Joey Harrington that we all knew and loved in Detroit who suited up on Sunday for Miami. Harrington had obviously his worst game of the season as he completed 5 of 17 passes for only 20 yards and 2 INTs before being yanked in favor of Cleo Lemon. This should be a wakeup call to fantasy owners and the Dolphins that while Harrington does have some talent, he's not going to be very successful in the NFL. Harrington should finish out the season, and then battle Daunte Culpper for the job next year.

Steve McNair/Kyle Boller- With so many injuries at QB I trusted my fantasy season with Steve McNair against Cleveland and was not rewarded. McNair was 0 for 4 on passes before leaving with a hand injury. The injury did not appear to serious, and he was most likely kept out as a precaution. In relief, Kyle Boller had 238 yards passing, 2 TDs and 1 INT. When needed, Boller has shown that he is a very capable backup QB in the NFL. However, Ravens fans know better than to trust him, and they can all let out a sigh of relief because it looks like McNair will be healthy enough to play next week against Pittsburgh.

Jamal Lewis- The once star of the league had one of his better days of the season as the Ravens won the game. The Browns always tend to bring out the best in Lewis as he had a season high 5.0 yards per carry while running for 109 yards and a TD. While Lewis hasn't put up the numbers in yardage that you would hope for, his 8 TDs are a nice surprise coming off a season with only 4. With a game against Pittsburgh next week, it may be better to sit Lewis than roll the dice with him.

Willie Parker- One of the quietest monster seasons in ages is being put up this year by Willie Parker. Against Carolina on Sunday, Parker rushed for 132 yards and a TD on only 23 carries. It was the first time all season that he had topped 100 yards rushing on the road. As the feature back this season, Parker now has 14 TDs and 1331 yards rushing. He seems like almost a lock every week to break a 30 plus yard run. While his season has been stellar, he faces an extremely tough matchup against Baltimore next week who held him to only 22 yards in their previous encounter.

Derek Anderson- Facing the toughest defense he's seen in his young career, Anderson had a relatively impressive day considering the opponent. Anderson completed 23 of his 32 passes for 223 yards, 2 TDs, and 2 INTs. In a small sample, Anderson has looked better than Charlie Frye in every aspect of the game. While Frye may be healthy enough to return next week, if I was Romeo Crennell I would start Anderson for the final two games of the season to see what this kid has to offer. On a fantasy note, while it first looked like Braylon Edwards would suffer without Frye, he has actually performed quite well in recent weeks, and is definitely worth starting.

David Garrard- In previous assessments of Garrard, I had killed the Jaguars for not giving Byron Leftwich a chance to reclaim his starting job and naming Garrard the starter. His latest performance only continues my issues with the job that was done selecting a QB. He was the main reason why Jacksonville lost such an important game as he totalled 4 turnovers that all came at crucial moments in the game. The Jaguars play the Patriots next week, and coming off a game like this, you'd have to expect them to lose again. However, for some odd reason the Jaguars play as well as their opponent every week, so it could be a bounce back next week for the whole team.

Fred Taylor/Maurice Jones-Drew- After a hot start for Taylor (2 carries for 37 yards), he left with a hamstring injury and did not return. In his relief, Jones-Drew had 98 yards and a TD on 25 carries. It was a solid performance and showed the Jaguars that he could carry the load next year if Fred Taylor is no longer there. Jones-Drew could start next week against New England because Taylor may miss that game with his hamstring injury. Despite a tough matchup, it'd be hard to sit him with the roll he's on now.

Vince Young- Numbers wise it wasn't a great game for Young as he was only 8 for 15 for 83 yards and just 4 yards rushing. However, whatever the reason is, he just wins. As shocking as it is, the Titans have a real outside shot to still make the playoffs. I wouldn't start Young the rest of this season, but if they surround him with better weapons in 2007, both Vince Young and the Titans will be a force to be reckoned with.

David Carr- It was an ugly, ugly day for the former number one pick. No one expected the Texans to win, but maybe they could have put up a better effort. Carr was 16 for 28 with 127 yards and 4 INTs. Likely these next two weeks will be the last time we'll see Carr as the QB for the Texans. It's really unfortunate considering that the Texans never gave him an offensive line. Carr will most likely compete for a job somewhere next season with Cleveland and Tampa Bay making sense right now.

Ron Dayne- From one highly touted draft pick to another. Now let's turn our attention to Ron Dayne. He's now the main ball carrier in Houston, and he's taking full advantage of getting the opportunity. Dayne had 18 carries for 94 yards while scoring his third TD of the season. Dayne has shown some promise in recent weeks, and if you are desperate for a RB, Dayne has a very promising matchup next week against Indy. Dayne will most likely be paired with another RB to make up the backfield in Houston next year.

LaDainian Tomlinson- Another "wow" performance for LT who has broken more records this season than I can list. One of his worst performances of the season came in a previous matchup against Kansas City, but he followed that by rushing for 199 yards and 2 TDs. On his best play of the night, he ran for an 85 yard TD following a questionable call on a special teams play. LT is clearly the best player in football, but some credit should definitely be given to his offensive line. Often LT isn't even touched by a defender. LT should have another big day next week going against last year's MVP Shaun Alexander.

Jay Cutler- The rookie QB had his best day of the season playing the worst defense he's faced all year. Cutler finished 21 for 31 with 261 yards, 2 TDs and 1 INT. He showed a lot of progress as he led the Broncos to a win they needed to have. It appears that Young, Leinart, and Cutler will all be stars in this league in what could be one of the best draft classes ever. Cutler should have another nice game next week against the Bengals defense in what is another must win game.

Tatum Bell/Mike Bell- If you trusted Mike Shanahan and played Tatum Bell, you got burned. Tatum had 19 carries for only 28 yards and lost a fumble. It was a very disappointing day in what should have been one of Tatum's better games of the season. While one Bell struggled another Bell flourished. Mike Bell had 16 carries for 61 yards and 2 TDs. Most likely not many people started Mike Bell, so it was a frustrating day for all. This is just another reason why you should never trust Mike Shanahan coached RBs.

-David Cassilo
Contact at asuhouse@aol.com

SUNDAY RECAP: NFC STYLE

2006-12-18T11:32:00.000-08:00

Jeff Garcia- Filling in for the injured McNabb, Garcia once again looked like he was back in his days at San Francisco. He's been one of the hottest QBs in football right now, and despite throwing his first interception of the season, he once again posted good numbers. Garcia finished the day 19 for 28 with 237, 1 TD, and that first interception. What made the day even more impressive was that he was playing the entire game with an injury to his throwing hand. Garcia will face his toughest test so far this season when the Eagles take on the Cowboys on Thanksgiving.

Brian Westbrook- Since McNabb went down, the Eagles have made a greater effort to run the ball. Westbrook has greatly benefited as he now gets close to 20 carries a game. He finished with his first multi touchdown game since week 3 while running for 97 yards and posting 40 more in receiving. The Eagles didn't have many big plays, and Westbrook was clearly the focal point. The only thing to watch is that Correll Buckhalter is now receiving more carries and could steal some goal line work.

Jason Campbell- While other QBs starting for the first time are making headlines, Jason Campbell is quietly doing a very impressive job in Washington. Although his 13 for 28 was his least accurate performance of the year, he still threw for 204 yards and a TD. Campbell has the skills to be a very good QB in this league. He can throw the deep ball almost as well as anyone in the league now. With all of his weapons on offense, he'd be a nice sleeper pick for next season.

Ladell Betts- The one player making a Larry Johnson like impact down the stretch this season is Redskins RB Ladell Betts. Since Clinton Portis went down with injury, Betts has put together four consecutive 100 yard performances. On Sunday against the Saints, Betts had 22 carries for 119 yards and also had 43 yards in the passing game. The only complaint you could have with Betts is that he doesn't score TDs. While he's clearly capable to score inside the redzone, the problem has been that the Joe Gibbs has almost no idea how to call plays inside the 20. Expect a strong finish to the season against the Rams and Giants.

Rex Grossman- Just when you're about to stick a fork him he lingers around and makes a resurgence. Two weeks ago Grossman was playing for his job, and now he is the first Bears QB to top 300 yards passing in 4 years (which is shockingly easier to do when you play an extra defense against a poor defense). Grossman finished 29 for 44 with 339 yards and 2 TDs. Most likely anyone that had Grossman jumped ship or is out of the playoffs so this game may not have caused fantasy waves across the land. In what most likely be his last start of the regular season, Grossman takes on Detroit next week.

Thomas Jones/Cedric Benson- It was supposed to be a huge day for Benson with the Thomas Jones injury, but it turned out to be just a solid game for both backs. Jones, who was bothered by injury all week, had 17 carries for 68 yards and a score before giving way to Benson late. While Benson ran the ball he had 13 carries for 53 yards and a TD. If you started either one, you can't be upset with what they did. I'd expect Benson to get more carries next week considering Jones is a little banged up, and the Bears have now clinched home field.

Brett Favre- Quite an ugly day for our friend Mr. Favre. It was supposed to be a great day for him against the Lions, but it was quite the contrary. Favre finished an awful 20 for 37 with 174 yards and 3 INTs. He most likely killed several fantasy seasons with such a performance. The remarkable aspect of it all was that the Packers still won the game as a result of poor quarterback play on the other sideline. If you somehow survived this matchup with Favre, he will face an enticing matchup with Minnesota coming to Green Bay on Thursday. It could be Favre's last home game, so a bounce back will be in order. The Packers have shown some improvement this season, and with Dan Marino's TD record looking out of reach in these next two weeks, I expect Favre to be back next season.

Tarvarias Jackson- Every time I've seen Jackson play this season I've come away impressed. In relief of Brad Johnson, Jackson was 14 for 23 with 177 yards, 1 TD, and an INT. Jackson is an athletic beast, who could become a very good quarterback in this league. The Vikings would love to give Jackson a look over the last two games, but with the short week because of the Thursday game, I'd have to guess that Johnson will start again this week. Jackson is the best QB on the roster, but like he said earlier in the season, he may not be ready to start, especially with such little time to prepare.

Reggie Bush- The entire Saints offense looked out of synch as the backed their way into the division title with a loss to Washington. The Redskins were able to do what no team had done all season to the explosive players on offense for New Orlenas. Bush had a very subpar game with only 33 total yards. This is a clear reminder of how risky a play Bush truly is. While he will often have big days like the previous two weeks, a game like this will always be unpredictably sprinkled in there.

Chris Weinke- Coming off his monster 61 pass 423 yard performance, Weinke was asked to do a lot less as the Pantheres were absolutely embarrassed at home. He finished the day 18 for 28 with 170 yards passing and an INT. Clearly, the loss of Jake Delhomme has hurt the entire Carolina offense, specifically Steve Smith who only had 56 yards receiving. As long as Delhomme is not the QB, the non stars such as Keyshawn Johnson and DeShaun Foster become shaky fantasy starts.

Tim Rattay- Last week it was Artose Pinner, this week it's Tim Rattay. Who knows who I'll be writing about next week? The Bruce Gradkowski era came to an end in Tampa when he was puled early in the game. In his relief, Rattay led Tampa to an inspired comeback that almost ended with a win in Chicago. Rattay is clearly the better passer than Gradkowski as he had 268 yards, 3 TDs, and an INT. Rattay will start next week against Cleveland, and with him at QB it gives the entire offense a boost.

Steven Jackson- It was another huge day for one of the emerging young stars in the NFL. The Raiders did a very nice job against the Rams passing offense, but the Rams showed they could just rely on Jackson for the win as he had 31 carries for 127 yards and 2 TDs. Oddly enough, it was the first time all year he did not have a catch. Jackson has been on fire virtually all season long, and he should have another huge day next week against Washington.

-David Cassilo

Contact at ashuhouse@aol.com

A LITTLE RECAP AND COUNTDOWN TO GAMETIME

2006-12-17T09:42:00.000-08:00

Tony Romo- Well, apparently the league hasn't caught up to Tony Romo. It was to be expected that Romo would have a good day against one of the worst pass defenses in football, and that is just what happened. Romo connected on 22 of his 29 passes for 278 yards, 2 TDs, and an INT. A game like this is what I expect on a week to week expectation for Romo. While he is no Peyton Manning at this stage of his career, he is still one of the most reliable QBs you can have in fantasy.

Marion Barber III/Julius Jones- Following his 2 carry performance against the Saints last week, Barber got back on track for another big day. This time Barber had 11 carries which he took for 69 yards and 2 TDs. While he's a risky week to week play because of efforts like his two carry day, Barber is clearly the more desirable Dallas RB. His counterpart, Julius Jones, did have two more carries than Barber, but only 26 yards. The Dallas running game has a good matchup next week against Philadelphia next week.

Terrell Owens- It was probably the most complete game of the year for Owens. Not only did he have 69 yards and 2 TDs in the receiving game, but he also found the time to stir a bit of controversy by spitting in DeAngelo Hall's face. What I love about T.O. is that he and possibly Jerry Porter are the only players I can think of that would actually do something like this and then admit to it when there is absolutely no video evidence of such a thing taking place. On a football note, it was one of Owens' better games of the year, and he'll face a huge game for himself at Philadelphia next week.

Michael Vick- He did line up at RB for one play, but Vick showed the Falcons why his value is clearly at QB for the franchise. Vick finished with 16 completions on 24 attempts for 237 yards and an impressive 4 TDs compared to 1 INT. It's amazing how effective Vick can be when his receivers actually catch his passes when they are wide open. Vick also ran for 56 yards, which in the process set the single season record for rushing yards for a QB. It's games like these that make Vick one of the most enticing and enigmatic players in the NFL.

Now here are some of the headlines leading up to kickoff......

As expected, it appears unlikely that Laurence Maroney will play on Sunday. The Patriots offense suffered without him last week, but a game against the Texans should fix everything. Expect a slight increase in carries for Corey Dillon and more work for Kevin Faulk.

Despite having an incomplete week of practice, Travis Henry appears likely to play on Sunday. His ankle still is a concern, and he will most likely have a reduced number of carries. It wouldn't be a shock if Henry can't finish the game.

There was some speculation that Thomas Jones wouldn't play Sunday, but it appears like he will at least suit up for the Bears on Sunday. As I said earlier in the week, Jones is almost certain to have a reduced load on Sunday. Cedric Benson is clearly the more desirable RB for the Bears this week.

Along with Thomas Jones, Muhsin Muhammed is also active for the Bears. The hand injury was once a major concern, but it looks like it has healed enough for him to play. He's only a good start if he's your third WR considering his health and the play of Rex Grossman.

-David Cassilo
Contact at asuhouse@aol.com

NEWS & NOTES

2006-12-16T16:27:00.000-08:00

The biggest news leading up to tonight's game is that both Warrick Dunn and Jerious Norwood will be active. Although they are active, no one knows just how healthy they truly are. Also, as heard this week, Michael Vick will take a few snaps at RB. With a tough defense in Dallas as the opponent, the Falcons running game is a dicey situation to start.

It was predicted all week, but now it has been confirmed. Fresh off his 61 pass attempt performance, Chris Weinke will get another start on Sunday. The Panthers will look to stave off certain elimination against Pittsburgh. The only Panther offensive player that gets a boost is Drew Carter, because going off last week's performance him and Weinke have a Montana to Rice sort of relationship. Jake Delhomme should be back in week 16.

With the NFL season winding down, coaches are on the hot seat. While Dennis Green was almost certain to be fired, their recent good play may save his job. If they don't make the playoffs, Jim Mora Jr. seems almost certain to be gone following his controversial comments and poor season. The Tampa owners have also been rumored to be possibly considering parting ways with Jon Gruden. All other coaches seem to be fine for next season.

The injury that was once reported by Bill Bellicheck as simply having the wind knocked out has now transformed to torn cartilage in the rib cage. That's the injury progress of rookie RB Laurence Maroney. After missing last week's game, it'd be a surprise to see Maroney play against Houston. The Patriots may try to keep him healthy for the playoffs.

Although he hasn't practiced much all week, it looks like Travis Henry will play on Sunday. He'll wear an ankle brace and see how much he can do. Most likely, his backup RBs will see an increased load. With an injury plus a matchup against Jacksonville, Henry is a shaky start this week.

Both Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew were able to practice portions of the week. They both will suit up against the resurgent Titans on Sunday. With both seemingly healthy and facing a good matchup, the Jacksonville RB tandem remains a strong start this week.

While it looks like Thomas Jones will suit up on Sunday, my fears earlier in the week about starting him still are true. Jones is clearly not 100%, and with Cedric Benson breathing down his neck, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Benson get most of the carries. Try to look beyond Thomas Jones for a RB this week.

Lovie Smith gave everyone the shortest of notice by listing Mhusin Muhammed as questionable for the Bears game on Sunday. He suffered a hand injury either during Monday's game or during practice this week. With the late addition to the injury report, it wouldn't be a total shock to see Moose out of the lineup on Sunday. Make sure to check the inactives before the game.

After missing last week's game with a rib injury, Chester Taylor will be back as the starter on Sunday. He has a good matchup against the Jets, so you should feel safe to start him. This marks the end of the Artose Pinner era in Minnesota.

-David Cassilo
Contact at asuhouse@aol.com

QUICK RECAP AND Q&A

2006-12-15T13:06:00.000-08:00

Alex Smith- After much criticism following a very unsuccessful rookie season, Alex Smith has shown real progress this season. Not only are his statistics improved, but he also has the intensity and heart to make a great leader as a QB in the NFL. Smith sparked a second half comeback over Seattle on Thursday as he threw for two scores and ran for another. The former number one pick made one big play after another as he led his team down field numerous times in the second half. The 49ers have an outside shot to make the playoffs, but if they continue to play at this level, nothing is impossible.

Frank Gore- It was a slow start for Frank Gore on Thursday, but a stellar second half left him with another huge day. Gore finished with 29 carries for 144 yards and a receiving TD. He's closing in on 1500 yards for the season, and with his week to week consistency he's arguably the second best RB in the NFL. Gore and the 49ers clearly have a bright future, and they are one team clearly going in the right direction. Let's give Mike Nolan a hand.

Matt Hasselbeck- Coming off one of his best performances of the season, Hasselbeck clearly took a step backward against San Francisco. The entire offense has struggled due to the loss of guard Steve Hutchinson, and if Seattle had to do it all over again they would sign him. While Hasselbeck looked sharp early, a shaky second half, including a huge interception inside the red zone, led to his team's demise. With such a weak second half schedule, it's very disappointing to see Hasselbeck's numbers like these.

Shaun Alexander- Just like his QB, reigning MVP Shaun Alexander clearly is not at the top of his game. While he did score a touchdown, his 23 carries for 73 yards were very pedestrian. Alexander is not 100% because if he was, double the yardage would be expected. He's only broke 4 yards per carry in one contest all season. He's an average fantasy RB right now, and his reputation should not justify starting him against San Diego next week. Thanks a lot, Madden.

Now for some of your questions....

Q: Should I play Brett Favre against the weak Lions defense or Marc Bulger against Oakland? I know Favre has the better matchup, but Bulger was still able to tear apart the Bears defense, despite a poor matchip.

A: Bulger looked great last week against Chicago, and he should play well again next week. However, this time he's not in the comfortable dome atmosphere at home and will travel to Oakland. He still should finish somewhere around 200 yards and 1-2 TDs despite the change of scenery. Saying all that, I love Favre this week against Detroit. This should be a shootout considering both teams will check their defense at the door. I'd project close to 300 yards and multiple TDs for Favre.

Q: Maurice Jones-Drew has been on fire this season, and he has a great matchup against Tennessee on Sunday. Should I start him over Jamal Lewis?

A: You're correct, that Jones-Drew has been on fire lately. The issues with him though are that he is both a bit banged up and destined to share carries. He's still a good option this week, but I prefer Jamal Lewis. As shown by Willie Parker last week, the Browns rush defense stinks. Lewis always seems to tear up the Browns as well. The Ravens will look to pound the ball all game in what should be an easy victory.

-David Cassilo
Contact at asuhouse@aol.com

FANTASY MD

2006-12-14T16:22:00.000-08:00

With the game tonight the only injury concern is Darrel Jackson. He will not play tonight, so make sure to have him out of your lineup. Were it not a short week he most likely would have played, and therefore he's likely to play next week.

After a solid performance on Monday night, Thomas Jones has been hobbled by injury and looks unlikely to play this week. The Bears easing up on Jones' workload as they prepare for the playoffs will be a theme the rest of the way. Jones has lost most of his value for the rest of season, while Cedric Benson is a terrific start the rest of the way.

Following an ankle injury in the game on Sunday, there is speculation that Randy Moss may miss the remainder of the season. He will definitely be out this week, and with Moss' desire and the current state of the Raiders it wouldn't be a surprise to say that last week was Moss' last as a Raider.

Hines Ward has missed the Steelers' last two games with a knee injury. After fully recovering, he'll be back in the lineup against Carolina. As long as Ward is in the Steelers lineup, he should be in your lineup.

They share the carries so they might as well share injuries as well. Both Dominic Rhodes and Joseph Addai were questionable this week after getting banged up last Sunday. However, both players look like they'll be back in the lineup on Sunday. With Addai a little more banged up than Rhodes, he could lose a few carries to the healthier back.

Browns QB Charlie Frye is still recovering from injury, and he is listed as questionable for this week. It is pretty unlikely that he will play this week, and Derek Anderson will get another chance to see what he can do. Personally, I feel Anderson is as good if not better than Frye, but following this week Frye will most likely get his job back.

Jake Delhomme hasn't practiced since injuring his thumb so it would be highly unlikely that he'll be back for Carolina. Filling in once again is Chris Weinke who has lost 16 straight starts. As long as Weinke starts, the entire Carolina offense should suffer.

Chester Taylor missed last ween which in affect gave way to the miracle we call Artose Pinner. Despite being limited in practice this week, Taylor is determined to suit up on Sunday. Whoever gets the start will have a solid day against a Jets rush defense that often gets burned. This is a situation to watch that will most likely come down to how Taylor feels Sunday morning.

Like both Colts RBs, Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew are banged up for Jacksonville. Taylor is the healthier of the two RBs, but it appears like both will play. The Jaguars are taking on the Titans which means both guys should run free on Sunday.

In the midst of his resurgent season, Travis Henry has hit a bump in the road this week in the form of an ankle injury. Henry hasn't practiced so far this week, and it would be a real shock if he does play. It is still undetermined if either Lendale White or Chris Brown will start if Henry is hurt. Either way I don't recommend either against the elite Jacksonville rush defense.

While the Titans rushing game is a mess, the Falcons have even more problems. Yesterday, reports were that the crazy (and first contrived here) idea of Matt Schaub at QB and Michael Vick at RB may actually take place. However, that has taken a step back due to the recovery of Jerious Norwood. As of right now, Norwood would be the best bet to start because Warrick Dunn is looking like a game-time decision. Norwood would be a very solid start against a Cowboys defense that struggles against RBs just like him.

In midst of the debacle that took place for the Patriots on Sunday, New England lost TE Ben Watson to a leg injury. The leg appears like it will cause Watson to miss at least a week. So far this year he has been one of the steadier TEs in football so he will be missed. Daniel Graham will replace him in the lineup and should put up comparable stats.

Reports out of New Orleans are that Joe Horn will miss the rest of the season with his groin injury in order to assure that he will be healthy for the postseason. While this may not be what fantasy owners that have been holding onto Horn want to hear, it is the right move. Devery Henderson is now a weekly option in the explosive Saints offense. The injury to Horn caps a second consecutive disappointing fantasy season.

After sitting out last week due to a back injury, Maroney is struggling to practice again this week. Right now, I'd call him a game-time decision because he has practiced lightly so far this week. If he can play, he's a decent option against the weak Houston defense.

While Derek Mason, Donald Driver, and Chris Chambers have all been listed as questionable at sometime during this week, they are all certain to play on Sunday. All three WRs have good matchups this week.

DAUNTING DECISIONS

2006-12-13T11:47:00.000-08:00

If you listened to me and sat Marc Bulger last week, you are probably not even reading this right now because you are out of the playoffs. However, in all fairness, if you went against my advice and felt that Marc Bukger was a good decision against the Bears, you are either a psychic or an individual who needs his head examined. This is most likely the biggest week of the season for you because a win in most leagues means a share of the money. Go with the best matchups and ride what got you here.

Jamal Lewis- The Browns have been absoluetely chewed up on the ground lately, and if you don't believe me, ask Willie Parker owners. Anyone who is an NFL fan knows that the Browns bring out the best in Jamal Lewis who has just shred their rush defense apart the last few years. With a Baltimore offense playing better than it has all year, Lewis should have a very nice day as the Ravens try to lock up the division. START.

Fred Taylor- Some owners may fear that because of his hamstring injury Taylor will either miss the game or get a lightened work load with Maurice Jones-Drew breathing down his neck. However, it looks like Taylor will not only start but also get his normal workload. Therefore, Taylor's a terrific start against the weak rush defense of the Titans. Expect around 15 carries, 80 yards, and a TD. Those are definately numbers worth starting. START.

Tony Romo- After a couple average games at QB, some overreacting TV networks are starting to question if Romo is going downhill. Like the players do, it'd almost be best to not play attention to the media during playoff time. Romo has played well, but has had issues with his receivers holding onto the ball and issues from playing 30 points behind. Atlanta has the second worst pass defense in all of football so a bounce back game is very likely. He's a must start this week. START.

Mike Furrey- With virtually no running game, the chances of Detroit throwing almost every play against the awful Packers pass defense is highly likely. Most of the attention will be paid to Roy Williams, which means WR Mike Furrey should have a decent day facing a lot of single coverage by bad corners. A day with 80 yards receiving and a TD is not unreasonable at all to expect. START.

Jerrico Cotchery- Another WR that should have a good day is the surprising player from the Jets, Jerrico Cotchery. He's quitely had a very solid season as he has amassed 802 yards and 5 TDs. At this point in his career, he's one of the better #2 WRs in all of football. The Jets take on the Vikings, and it is a well known fact that the Vikings shut down running backs and force teams to throw all day. Cotchery should get plenty of looks in a must win for both teams. START.

Travis Henry- Lost in the Titans ascension back to football relevance fueled by Vince Young has been the stellar play of Travis Henry. He is giving the Titans every reason to hold off on making LenDale White the starter next season. Despite his great season, Henry faces a Jaguars defense that has been stout against the run all season. Also, Henry is recovering from an ankle injury so his productivity may be limited. It'd be wise to hold off on using him this week. SIT.

DeShaun Foster- Last week against the Giants the Panthers seemed disinterested in using the run at all as they thre 61 times with Chris Weinke. While they will probably make a greater effort to get Foster involved early, the Steelers tough rush defense may force the Panthers to once again go back to the air. If Foster isn't productive early, it will most likely be a long day again. There are much better options this week. SIT.

Lee Evans- The biggest hit and miss player in the NFL right now may just be Lee Evans. All of his yards seems to come on bombs down field from JP Losman. A typical day for him could be 2 catches for 120 yards and a TD. This week it will be harder for him to get open as he takes on a Miami defense that has completely taken away the pass of late, just ask Tom Brady. It would be hard to see Evans eluding the defense this week for one his classic deep routes. SIT.

Santana Moss- The best WR on the Redskins has had two big days all year and both have come at home. This week the Redskins travel to New Orleans where they will face a physical ball hawking defense. The Saints have been able to harass QBs and get in WRs faces, so the chances that both Jason Campbell will have time to throw and that Santana Moss can get open are not good. Expect another down day in a disappointing year for Moss. SIT.

Trent Green- After coming back from a gruesome injury, Green has played pretty well despite his team's struggles. The Chiefs face a must win this week, but that gives the Chargers even more motivation to finish their rival off. They have been doing a great job getting pressure on QBs and shutting down WRs lately. The passing game for the Chiefs will struggle, and the only way they may be able to survive is by a monster performance from Larry Johnson. SIT.

-David Cassilo

Contact at asuhouse@aol.com

MONDAY NIGHT RECAP: A NEW X-FACTOR

2006-12-12T11:39:00.001-08:00

Saying that it has been a star studded rookie class would be somewhat of an understatement at this point. The hardest question of the season may be who deserves rookie of the year? On one end of the spectrum we’ve had Reggie Bush, the next Barry Sanders. He’s one of the few players in all of football that can score every time he touches the ball. Bush is a great player and all, but he’s only had a few good games this season. No, we can’t give it to him. Then there’s his teammate Marques Colston. He’s the true underdog story. Colston went from the third to last pick of the draft to one of the best WRs in football, but no he falls a bit short this season. He’s been injured lately and his stats have started to take a hit. Well, what about Vince Young? He’s single handedly turned the Titans franchise around and made them winners again. Well, Young is a great talent, but he doesn’t really have the passing stats to win the award as a QB. Then who deserves it then? Who is the only player that has a chance to score every time he touches the ball, has become one of the best players at his position, and made his team a winner? The answer is easy. It’s the new X-factor.

A cornerback who can barely cover in the second round to a team that is already stacked on defense! What are the Bears thinking? While it seemed a bit puzzling at the time for why the Bears would take a kick returner in the second round, all of the doubters have now disappeared. Devin Hester has become one of the most explosive return men in the history of football in just 13 games. His 6 TDs coming from returns are an NFL record in one season. He’s guaranteed to touch the ball every game, and when the other team sees him deep, fear goes through their body. It would hard to fault opposing teams from kicking it out of bounds at this point in this season. One play last night showed just how special Hester is. After scoring a TD, the Rams looked as though they were going to attempt an onside kick. The Bears put their hands team on the field for the recovery and sent Hester deep. The Rams then bluffed the onside kick and kicked it to Hester. With absolutely no wedge to help him out on the kick return, Hester proceeded to take it 96 yards for his second TD of the game. It is plays like those that you may only picture in a video game, but the human joystick did it. So move aside Dante Hall, there’s a new X-factor around. This one deserves rookie of the year.

Rex Grossman- With his job on the line, Grossman stepped up and delivered on his better performances in weeks. He finished 13 for 23 with 200 yards and 2 TDs. It was his first multi touchdown performance since week 10 against the Giants. It seems very unlikely now that Brian Griese will take over as the team’s starting QB, but get Grossman rest, Griese will most likely start the last game if the Bears clinch home field. Grossman takes on Tampa Bay next week, and with his week to week unpredictably it’d be hard to start him.

Thomas Jones- The Bears’ RB faired much better in his second Monday night game of the year than he did against Arizona. Jones, who started off slow, was able to finish with 11 carries for 76 yards and a TD. In the process, Jones topped 1000 yards rushing for the second straight year. With 12 and 11 carries in the last two weeks, the Bears are clearly trying to lighten his load before the playoffs. This situation makes Jones a risky start the rest of the way.

Cedric Benson- One of the reasons for Jones receiving less carries recently has been the emergence of Cedric Benson. Benson has gotten at least 9 carries in the pats four weeks, and he has taken advantage of the opportunity by posting at least 4 yards per carry in each game. Last night, Benson carried it a season high 16 times for 64 yards. This should be his standard workload for the rest of the season. Benson appears to be poised to take over as the starter next season.

Marc Bulger- In one of the biggest surprises of the game on Monday, Bulger was barely affected by the strong defense of the Bears. The Rams’ QB had one of his best games of the season as he completed 34 of 55 passes for 356 yards, 3 TDs, and 1 INT. Bulger has been one of the best QBs in the NFC this season, and he should be headed to the Pro Bowl in February. He faces another tough defense next week as the Rams take on Oakland.

Steven Jackson- One of the subplots of the game was how would the Bears be able to stop the run without their start defensive tackle Tommie Harris. The answer was not well because Jackson was able to have a strong performance as he ran 18 times for 81 yards and a TD. He also had 10 catches for 58 yards and a TD. Throughout the year, Jackson has been one of the best RBs in football this season. His ability to catch the ball has made him truly difficult to defend. He should have a decent day next week against Oakland.

Torry Holt- After cooling off toward the middle of the season, Holt picked the right time to heat up for his fantasy owners as he has scored 3 TDs in his last 2 games. Against the Bears last night, Holt had 6 catches for 75 yards and 2 TDs. Despite having a down year in yardage, Holt has still been able to put up the TDs for the Rams. He could benefit next week against Oakland because their top CB and rising star Nnamdi Asomugha may miss the game.

-David Cassilo
Contact at asuhouse@aol.com

SUNDAY RECAP: AFC VARIETY

2006-12-11T19:28:00.000-08:00

Tom Brady- In one of the biggest disappointments of the week in fantasy, Tom Brady was held to only 78 yards passing while also losing a fumble. He was swarmed by the Miami defense all day long thus having almost no time to throw. Unless the rest of your team stepped up, Brady may have cost you your fantasy season. However, any Brady survivors should benefit from a game against Houston in week 15.

Cedric Houston/Leon Washington- Coming of his big performance a week ago, Houston looked to show some consistency against the weak Bills rush defense. Buffalo did a nice job on him all day long as they held Houston to 18 carries for only 50 yards. Washington, who helps him carry the load, was far more productive with 7 carries for 55 yards. Despite having a better game, it’s likely that Washington will remain second on the depth chart for the rest of the season.

Willis McGahee- It was an eventful day to say the least for Willis McGahee. First there was the speculation all week that he may not play. Then after busting a TD run, McGahee was seen vomiting on the sidelines. He appeared to have a bit of a stomach virus, which came from perhaps a trip to Taco Bell while he was in the New Jersey area. After sitting out a quarter and a half of the game, McGahee finished strong and sealed the win for Buffalo. His final numbers were 16 carries for 125 yards and a TD. Next week Big Willis will take on a much tougher Miami defense.

JP Losman- He’s still not a fantasy option, but with his recent productive play, he has tricked the Bills into letting him start next year. It was another solid game for JP as he led the Bills to victory while going 10 for 15 for 157 yards and a TD. Losman has been very accurate all season as shown by his completion percentage that is around 65%. He also has established a strong chemistry with WR Lee Evans. If he can finish the rest of the season without taking a step back, he may be poised for a very solid 2007.

Sammy Morris- Following Losman I’ll keep the theme of generally irrelevant fantasy players with a few words on Sammy Morris. Filling in for Ronnie Brown, Morris had one of the best games of his career with 25 catches for 123 yards and a TD. His production on the ground was one of the main reasons why the Dolphins were able to pull off the upset. The good times figure to come to an end for Morris, as Brown is projected back for their game against the Bills next Sunday.

Steve McNair- The Ravens are the most boring offense on a good team since, well, the Ravens that won the Super Bowl. They typically just do enough to win games. McNair gets the mention here because he completed 21 of 27 passes for 283 yards and a TD. He’s had a very solid season taking over for Kyle Boller as the team’s new number one QB. With Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Buffalo the rest of the way, McNair will have one of the more favorable schedules for a QB the rest of the way.

Rudi Johnson- Mr. Consistency is amassing numbers that are almost identical to his past two seasons. The Bengals pounded the rock for most of the game as Johnson finished with 30 carries for 119 yards and 2 TDs. The only blemish on his day was one lost fumble. Next week Johnson looks poised for big numbers as he goes up against an Indy rush defense that was torn apart by Jacksonville this week.

Peyton Manning- Not much to say positively about the performance by the Colts on Sunday. Peyton had one of his worse days of the year as he completed only half his passes. Part of the problem was that his receivers had a case of the drops. Peyton gave his owners some decent numbers as he finished strong to total 313 yards in the air, but his INT and only 1 TD may leave some of his owners with a lot more free time next Sunday.

Joseph Addai/Dominic Rhodes- The Colts running game was basically non-existent as they fell behind early against the stout Jaguars defense. The young stud Addai had only 22 yards on 11 carries. His counterpart Rhodes had the better day stats wise due to the TD he scored to go along with his 11 yards. Both RBs should bounce back next Monday night against the Bengals.

Fred Taylor- The relentless rushing attack of the Jacksonville Jaguars buried the Colts on Sunday. Starting RB Fred Taylor had one of the most impressive rushing performances of the year as he gained 131 yards and a TD on just 9 carries in one half. The reason he played one half is the troubling part for Taylor owners. After staying healthy for the first time in years, Taylor had to leave due to an injury to his hamstring. It’s the same injury that plagued him for most of his injuries during his career. The injury doesn’t appear to be too, but he definitely has become a question mark for next Sunday.

Maurice Jones-Drew- If Jones-Drew has established himself as one thing this season, it is a Colt killer. On Sunday he ran for 166 yards on 15 carries and 2 TDs. He also had 109 yards in the kick return game with a TD. In two games versus Indy this season, Jones-Drew has 532 all-purpose yards and 3 TDs. He’s been one of the few reliable backup RBs that can start in fantasy this season. If Taylor is forced to miss time due to his hamstring injury, Jones-Drew would become an elite option against Tennessee on Sunday.

Vince Young- If Houston doesn’t regret passing on Vince Young now, they never will. The Texas native singe handedly led the Titans to a win over the struggling Titans. The QB of the suddenly hottest team in football was 19 for 29 with 219 yards in the air and 86 on the ground. However, it was Young’s legs that turned in one of the more electrifying plays of the season. Tied in overtime, Young ran for 39 yards for the win. The run brought back memories of Michael Vick’s scamper to beat the Vikings early in his career. While Young isn’t much of a fantasy option at this point in his career, he is showing that he is a truly special player in this league.

Ron Dayne/Wali Lundy- On Heisman weekend, it was the former winner’s turn to take over as the Texans main RB. Coming off a 95 yard performance, Dayne han for 87 yards on 21 carries and also scored twice. It’s likely that Dayne will continue to carry the load for the rest of the season. His teammate, Wali Lundy, rushed only 5 times for 14 yards. It seems safe to once again drop Lundy in fantasy leagues.

LaDainian Tomlinson- There’s a new record holder in the NFL, and he plays for San Diego. Tomlinson scored three times to become the NFL’s new holder of the single season TD record with 29. Tomlinson is likely to score somewhere around 35 this season which will also break the record for most points by any player in a season. His 103 yards on the ground give him over 1400 for the second straight year. LT will most likely have the greatest season for a fantasy RB ever.

Antonio Gates- The best TE in football saved a treat for his fantasy owners by having his best game of the season in the first round of the fantasy playoffs. Gates finished with 7 catches for 104 yards and 2 TDs. Gates has come on strong the last three weeks with at least 80 yards and a TD in each game. It has been Gates worst season of his three as a main target, but as Rivers matured, he regained his old form.

Larry Johnson- Facing the best defense he’ll see all year, LJ was still able to rush for 120 yards. After some early season struggles, Johnson has really turned it on lately with over 100 yards in 7 of his last 8 games. While he did not achieve the 2000 yards that some people projected prior to the season, LJ has turned in another very productive season and has shown he’s the second best RB in football. With San Diego, Oakland, and Jacksonville the rest of the way, LJ faces a tough stretch, but there is no reason to bench him.

Jay Cutler- In his second career start, Cutler looks dramatically better than he did last Sunday night. Cutler finished 17 for 30 with 188 yards, 2 TDs, and a lost fumble. He performed far better in the second half, where he almost sparked a rally for the Broncos. It appears like Denver is going nowhere fast, and this will just be a learning process for Cutler. With what he’s shown so far, in a few years he should be one of the NFL’s better QBs.

Randy Moss- He once was one of the best WRs in football, but with his lack of production recently, he has become a non story in the NFL. He only makes the recap due to an ankle injury he suffered on Sunday. There’s some question whether he will be able to play next Sunday. If he’s not already on your bench, you are probably done, but this is just another reason why Moss is not a fantasy option the rest of the year.

-David Cassilo
Contact at asuhouse@aol.com

SUNDAY RECAP: NFC STYLE

2006-12-11T19:24:00.000-08:00

Julius Jones/Marion Barber III- Just when it looked like Barber had become the RB in Dallas that would handle the load down the stretch, a complete reversal of fortune was seen on Sunday night. Against the Saints, Barber was sparingly used as he finished with 2 carries for -1 yards. Jones emerged once again in an effort to demand more of the carries. He busted an early 77 yard run for the score and finished with 116 yards and a TD on 10 carries. Dallas couldn’t really run the ball after falling behind early. They should do a better job next week against Atlanta.

Tony Romo- For the second straight week, Romo finished with more interceptions than TDs. After a really hot start, Romo has come somewhat back down to earth. He completed less than 50% of his passes against the Saints for 249 yards passing, 1 TD, and 2 INTs. The key to affecting Romo seems to be getting pressure on him. With Atlanta and Philadelphia the next two weeks, he should bounce back and finish strong.

Eli Manning- While Eli was not nearly as accurate as he was against the Cowboys the previous week, he had a very strong performance in the Giants’ win over Carolina. Manning completed 17 of his 33 passes for 172 yards and 3 TDs. It’s good to see that after being called out by the media, Manning is playing well lately. Last year Eli completely fell apart in December, and that doesn’t seem to be happening this year. With Philadelphia and New Orleans up next, he should have a terrific finish.

Jeff Garcia- Another fairly strong performance for Garcia as his Eagles survived a late charge by the Redskins. He played terrific in the first half as he had 117 yards and 2 TDs, but a weak second half had him finish with only 164 yards. He has shown that he is still very accurate as shown by his high completion percentage and no interceptions. The hot streak may come to end for Garcia though because he travels to New York and Dallas in the upcoming weeks.

Ladell Betts- Since filling in for the injured Clinton Portis, Betts has topped 100 yards in his last three starts. Against Philadelphia on Sunday, Betts rumbled for 171 yards on 33 carries. The Redskins are leaning on Betts heavily as they get Jason Campbell accustomed to the NFL, and with no fear of wearing down and games against the Saints and Rams, there’s no reason to sit Betts the rest of the way. My only complaint with Betts is the 5 year 11 million dollar contract he just signed. With the way he’s playing right now, Betts surely could have gotten a starting job somewhere else and most likely more money.

Artose Pinner- The latest resurrected RB in the NFL is Minnesota’s Pinner. With Taylor out, the Vikes figured to turn to Ciatrick Fason and Mewelde Moore to carry the ball, but that was not the case as they gave it 29 times to Pinner. He finished with 125 yards and 3 TDs in the Vikings’ win. If Taylor remains out, Pinner is a decent fantasy option due to matchups with Jets and Packers looming. However, consistency may be hard to find considering Pinner could never develop much throughout his career.

Brett Favre- With virtually nothing to play for, Favre had one of his better games of the year as he threw for 293 yards and 2 TDs. He relied heavily on Donald Driver who had 160 of those yards and 1 of the TDs. In what has been somewhat of a comeback season, Favre now has 17 TDs to 12 INTs. He should finish strong the next two weeks against Detroit and Minnesota which makes him a solid fantasy play during that time.

Kevin Jones- It was a truly dreadful day for the Detroit running game. It was bad enough they ran for a historically horrible -3 yards, but they also may have lost Kevin Jones for the rest of the season. Jones, who had 9 carries for -3 yards, apparently suffered a broken foot. He is pretty much finished for the rest of the season, and there is some speculation that he may have some trouble preparing for the 2007 season. In his absence, Arlen Harris will get the majority of the carries, but there are much better options out there.

Drew Brees- In what has been a truly memorable season for a QB in the NFL, Brees had one of the best QB days you’ll see all season. While tearing apart the Dallas secondary, Brees completed 26 of 38 passes for 384 yards and 5 TDs. If he averages a little more than 350 yards passing per game the rest of the way, Brees will break Dan Marino’s record for yards passing in a season. With the yards and 25 TDs compared to only 10 INTs, Brees would be the NFL’s MVP were it not for his former teammate LT.

Mike Karney- In what has been a season full of heart warming stories for the Saints, add another to the list in the form of Mike Karney. Coming into Sunday night’s game, Karney was barely used for his first two seasons, but against the Cowboys he scored 3 TDs which were the first of his career. While he has absolutely no fantasy relevance, it will be a night he remembers for the rest of his life. On a side not, how did NBC go about choosing Pink to sign their opening song every night? Did the first 500 people turn them down, or did some one say, nobody symbolizes the NFL more than Pink? Just a random thought, but answers would be nice.

Reggie Bush- As you probably read earlier in the year, I was skeptical whether Bush would ever adapt to the NFL and become a productive RB. After what I’ve witnessed the last few weeks, I’m willing to totally eat my words on this one. Bush is not only accustomed to the NFL, but he is already developing into one of its most explosive players. On Sunday, Bush finished with 162 total yards and 1 electrifying TD. While I’d still consider him a risky week to week fantasy play, he has very enticing matchups with Washington and the Giants next on the schedule. In other news, following the performances of Young and Bush, the Texans have been asked to leave the NFL.

Warrick Dunn- The Falcons lost RB Warrick Dunn in their game against Tampa Bay due to a calf injury. He was only able to manage 45 yards on the ground before exiting. His backup Jerious Norwood also left with an injury. Both players are questionable for next weeks critical game against the Cowboys. If they both can’t go, Justin Griffith and Taurean Henderson will split the load, and Michael Vick would obviously do some more running.

Chris Weinke- With virtually no running game to help him out, Weinke threw 61 times filling in for the injured Delhomme. Despite having 423 yards passing, he managed only 1 TD and 3 INTs. Weinke relied heavily on Drew Carter of all people as he finished with 144 yards receiving and a TD. The performance of Weinke confirms that both Steve Smith and Keyshawn Johnson will take a hit with him at QB. Delhomme is questionable for next week.

Bruce Gradkowski- Once again Gradkowski showed nothing special as he was 13 for 24 with 121 yards in the air. Despite the performance, Coach Gruden says he likes what he sees in Gradkowski, and he’ll start next week. Perhaps he likes losing or wants to get fired, but for whatever reason it now looks like Gradkowski will likely finish the year. With a macthup against the Bears next week, it’s another reason why it’s a bad idea to start any Tampa Bay offensive player.

Matt Hasselbeck- Going up against a very weak Arizona secondary, Matt Hasselbeck had his best game since returning from injury. Hasselbeck, who looked sharp, finished 20 for 28 with 243 yards and 3 TDs. It looks like Hasselbeck is back to his old form which makes him a very reliable QB the rest of the way. The entire Seahawks offense should benefit from a game on Thursday against San Francisco.

Darrell Jackson- One of the more reliable fantasy WRs this season turned in a solid 60 yard and 1 TD performance against Arizona. However, the reason he is of note is that he left late in the game with a turf toe injury. As a result of the short week, it’s unlikely that Jackson will play on Thursay. DJ Hackett should have an increased role if fantasy owners are looking for a replacement on the waiver wire.

Frank Gore- After his worst performance of the year last week, Gore got back on track against Green Bay with 130 yards rushing and a TD, but did lost his sixth fumble of the season. Gore has arguably been the best back in the NFC this season, and he has now topped 1300 yards for the year. With Seattle and Arizona the next two weeks, he should be one of the better fantasy RBs the rest of the way.

Matt Leinart- It appears like Leinart may be finished with the rookie QB learning curve following his second consecutive solid outing. Leinart completed 21 of his 34 passes for 232 yards, 2 TDs, and an INT. While Vince Young may be getting the headlines, Leinart has been better statistics wise, but he has just not gotten as many wins. It’d wouldn’t be wise to start him against Denver next week, but a matchup against the 49ers the week after is very enticing.

Edgerrin James- In a statistical oddity, Edge had 26 carries for 115 yards for the second consecutive week. However, he was more valuable this week because of his fourth TD of the season. While overall Edge’s season has been very disappointing, he has come on strong in recent weeks. The offensive line is improving, and Leinart is getting better. I’d consider him a fantasy sleeper for 2007.

-David Cassilo
Contact at asuhouse@aol.com

COUNTDOWN TO GAMETIME

2006-12-10T08:31:00.001-08:00

This is going to be a quick summary of injuries and events leading up to kickoff because I have to leave very early today. Sorry I can't get you all the information, but make sure to check the inactives on nfl.com to get the latest updates.

As speculated earlier in the week, DeShaun Foster is healthy and will start for the Panthers. He is likely to loss more carries than ever to DeAngelo Williams.

ESPN reported that Joe Horn will mis Sunday Night's game against Dallas. FOX reported that Marques Colston will miss the game as well, however ESPN said that he might play. It looks like they will both be out. Devery Henderson is a good start in their absencse.

It was confirmed prior to the game that Jake Delhomme will be the Panther's third QB on Sunday. Chris Weinke will get the start which means Steve Smith and Keyshawn Johnson probably will not be as productive.

Chester Taylor may start, if he decides to take a painkiller before kickoff. Even if he does play, he may not finish the game, and he will surely lose carries to his backups. He's not a very good play, and his availabilty is something to watch as kickoff approaches.

-David Cassilo
Contact at asuhouse@aol.com

Hardwood Recap "Curry is hot and I'm not talkin about the food"

2006-12-09T20:16:00.000-08:00

Iverson has played his last game with the 76ers, but where is he going? He's obviously not going to Minnesota. I honestly have no idea. I'll tell you one thing, I would want him on my team. He scores almost 30 a night and brings thousands of fans to the arena. In the games last night, Paul Pierce had some late game heroics and Al Jefferson proved he can play center in this league.

New York Knicks
I remember watching the 2001 NBA draft, there was hype about a high school player whose nickname was Baby Shaq. That was Eddy Curry. For the past 5 years, Curry has been one of the biggest jokes in the NBA, constantly being criticized about his weight, stamina, skills, passion, and inability to live up to his potential. The bulls pulled off a miracle when the Knicks took Curry off their hands in exchange for 2 first round picks. But……it seems like Baby Shaq is starting to live up to that nickname. He has been a monster, scoring at least 20 in his last 9 games including 36 on 17-24 shooting last night. He also emphatically stuffed Andrew Bogut on a dunk attempt and If Curry keeps playing with passion, he could be dominant. In this 9 game span, Curry has also averaged 9 reb. Marbury was terrible scoring only 2 points, and Nate Robinson continues to make a case for the starting PG job. He scored 22 on 8-14 shooting last night including two 3’s. David Lee has been a nice surprise for the Knicks and for fantasy owners as he averages basically a double double.

Milwaukee Bucks
Villanueva proved that he has gotten past his injury going for 24 and 8 in just 25 minutes off the bench. Mo Williams went off for 33 points and he has become an integral part of this team’s game plan. Williams is contributing in all facets of the game averaging 16 pts, 5 reb, and 6 ast. Last night was no different as Mo chipped in with 6 reb and 9 ast, as he also hit 4 3’s. Redd had a low scoring game for his standards putting up just 22.

New Jersey Nets
The Nets started off the game 18-0 and somehow allowed the Celtics to come back and eventually win the game on a Paul Pierce buzzer beater. Jason Kidd shot just 1-11 but had 9 reb and 6 ast. Vince Carter has been showing that he can rebound as well as just score pulling down 9 boards. Kristic has returned from an injury and showed he can be a serviceable center in the NBA scoring 20 and grabbing 8 reb while blocking 2 shots.

Boston Celtics
The Celtics gave the nets their 2nd tough loss in a short amount of time. After losing a double OT game to the Suns, the Nets blew an 18-0 lead to the Celtics and allowed Paul Pierce to win the game on a buzzer beater at the end of regulation. Other than that shot, Pierce did not shoot well going just 4-18 from the field. The real story of this game was Al Jefferson does not want to lose his job at starting C and he will keep it for at least 3 weeks until Kendrick Perkins comes back from injury. Against the Nets, Jefferson put up 29 points and 14 rebounds. Jefferson should no longer be available in your league but if you are playing with a bunch of special ed students, then make sure you go pick him up.

Washington Wizards
Gilbert Arenas has taken over as the #1 ranked player in Yahoo! Leagues. Last night, Arenas scored 41 including 7 3’s and dished out 7 ast, but it was not enough to defeat Yao and the Rockets. The 7 3pm brings Arenas’ total to 17 in his past 3 games. Jamison also played well scoring 27 and snatching 11 reb.

Houston Rockets
Tracy McGrady scored 28 points but left with back spasms, and owners should be very worried. With McGrady’s history of not only injuries but especially back problems, I wouldn’t be surprised if he will need surgery on his back even as soon as this season. Yao put the team on his back scoring 38 points on 13-19 shooting. He also had 11 reb, 6 blks, and shot 12-14 from the charity stripe. The reason I think Yao is so valuable in fantasy hoops is because he is one of the rare Centers that maintains a high FT%. A guy like Ben Wallace or even Dwight Howard can really drag down your team with their FT shooting. Yao, however, probably shoots a better % than you PG.

Philadelphia 76ers
Well Kevin Ollie is back in the starting lineup now that Iverson is gone but I cant say that I’m sure why. He scored 4 points in 38 minutes. The Rookie Rodney Carney started again but had his worst start yet logging just 2 points in 19 minutes. What I don’t understand is….why don’t the 76ers start Korver over either Ollie or Carney. Anywho, Webber has been healthy lately and he has been productive. Last night he scored 19 with 11 reb and 8 ast.

Orlando Magic
Grant Hill scored 23 and added 7 reb, but Dwight Howard continues to be the leader of this team. Howard should be an allstar this year and (Write this down) I guarantee that he will lead the league in rebounding barring injury.

Indiana Pacers
Danny Granger has been very inconsistent this season. Last night he had one of his good games going for 12 and 9. Foster only had 4 points but did chip in with 10 reb. The rest of the Pacers played poorly with Jermaine O’Neal out of the lineup. Their leading scorer, Darrel Armstrong, had just 13 pts.

Cleveland Cavaliers
Labron didn’t surprise anyone with 27, 7 reb, and 6 ast. Damon Jones did what he does hitting three 3’s. Larry Hughes got some action but I’d wait a few more games before inserting him back into your lineup. Donyell Marshall had an outstanding game finishing with 11 points and 17 rebounds.

Los Angeles Clippers
Elton Brand has found his shooting touch going for 26 last night, but only managed to pull down 5 reb. Sam Cassel played well and now that he’s healthy, he could take the starting job back from Shaun Livingston.

Memphis Grizzlies
Damon Stoudamire got a surprise start over Chucky Atkins, so monitor this situation. Mike Miller played well hitting a pair of 3’s as usual, but he also pulled down 13 rebounds and went 7-7 from the free-throw line.

Minnesota Timberwolves
Mike James had an off night shooting, but he is clearly out of his slump and I’d say he’s safe to throw into your starting lineup.

Dallas Mavericks
Diop played as many minutes as Dampier but that’s only because Damp was in foul trouble. Don’t worry; he is still the clear starter. Josh Howard has been on a tear since returning from his injury and if you were able to buy low on him while he was injured then I congratulate you. Last night Howard had 30 points with 11 rebounds and 2 blocks……and you can play this guy at SG!!!

NEWS & NOTES

2006-12-09T16:14:00.000-08:00

It appears as though the Bears are preparing Brian Griese in the event that they decide to make a quarterback change. Griese has taken reps with the first team all week. This means that Grossman could get the early hook on Monday night.

The Vikings have decided to let Chester Taylor test out injured ribs before kickoff on Sunday. If Taylor feels like he can carry the load, he will play. Even if he does play, there's no telling how long he can go. I'd avoid him this week.

There had been some question in the middle of the week whether Willis McGahee would play due to an ankle injury. However, as the gametime approaches it looks like he'll play. The banged up McGahee has a pretty decent matchup against the Jets tomorrow, and he should be in the lineup.

Despite rumors of a possible replacement at QB, Coach Gruden continues to support Bruce Gradkowski as the team's QB. However, if he plays like he does last week, I assume that Gruden may change his mind. Luke McCown may get a look at some time.

Jay Feely has a sore foot, and the Giants have brought in other kicker in case he can't go. He is listed as probable and should play, but just to be safe it'd be smart to look elsewhere.

While one kicker ails another one heals. Jason Elam, who got hurt on the dumbest of plays on Sunday night, has made a quick recovery, and it looks like he'll be able to play Sunday. If you have him, start him.

Both Joe Horn and Marques Colston did participate in a full workout on Friday. They will both be game-time decisions for Sunday Night. I doubt either will play and since they have the late game, it's not a good idea to take the wait and see approach.

DeShaun Foster will be all systems go on Sunday for the Panthers. Despite being back to full strength, the emergence of DeAngelo Williams couple with the injury to Jake Delhomme should hurt his stats. He's not that great of a start on Sunday.

While Foster will play, Delhomme is on the verge of being inactive. His injured thumb never healed enough to allow him to practice fully. Chris Weinke will take over as QB, and the entire Panthers offense should suffer fantasy wise.

-David Cassilo
Contact at asuhouse@aol.com

QUICK RECAP AND Q&A

2006-12-08T09:13:00.000-08:00

Another Thursday night goes by with the inability of the majority of America to watch the NFL. Luckily it was the second straight week that the NFL Network through a real clunker at us. However next Saturday a Cowboys-Falcons game is on the NFL Network schedule in what should be a game with playoff implications. Luckily I'll be at my house since I get the NFL Network. Oh wait, Patriot Cable is too cheap to carry the game even though I pay for the channel, but I digress.

Willie Parker- Thursday night was all about Fast Willie Parker. The Steelers RB started off strong, and finished the night with a franchise record 223 rushing yards. In the midst of the record performance, Parker also scored his 13th TD of the season. It was the second time all year that Parker topped 200 yards rushing in what is turning into one of the best seasons for a RB in 2006. If you owned Parker in fantasy, you have to be liking your chances of advancing right now. Next up for Parker is a trip to Carolina. He has been dreadful on the road this season with a season high of only 83 years away from Heinz Field. Don't be surprised if next week is a letdown game.

Ben Roethlisberger- For the second straight week the Steelers went back to their 2005 style football by limiting their reliance on the passing game. Big Ben threw the ball only 21 times, but still managed to have 201 yards passing and 2 total TDs. If he can limit the turnovers, he's a terrific fantasy QB. With matchups against Carolina and Baltimore in the next two weeks, this is more of a time to see what Roethlisberger can do going forth to next year rather than foolishly starting him with your season on the line.

Derek Anderson- Filling in for the injured Frye yet again, Anderson looked pretty solid going up against the Steelers defense without any resemblance of a running game. His final numbers were 21 for 37 with 276 yards and a TD and INT. Anderson would have had a much better day were it not for his receivers inability to actually catch balls thrown to their hands. Anderson is as good if not better than Frye in what he has shown in two starts. The Browns will likely give both QBs a look to assess the future going forward.

Now time for your urgent questions.....

Q. I have Ahman Green and Corey Dillon and I need to choose one to start this week. I figure Dillon will get more carries, but Green has the much better matchup. What do you think I should do?

A. Yes, Dillon will get more carries, but that doesn't necessarily mean he'll be more productive this week. Dillon has benefited from splitting carries this season with Laurence Maroney because he no longer has to take that abuse a running back gets with a full load. If Maroney misses the game, the Patriots will try to work in Kevin Faulk more. Dillon's matchup in the first place is not too favorable. Miami does a great job against the run so it could be a tough day for Dillon.
On the other hand there is nothing not to like about Ahman Green this week. San Francisco has looked awful at times trying to defend the run. Green should be able to total around 100 yards and score at least once. Therefore, Green looks like the better option this week.

Q. What do you think about Jeff Garcia for the rest of the season?

A. What's different about Garcia's third job since leaving his Pro Bowl status in San Francisco is that this time around Garcia has capable weapons around him. Originally, there was some question whether Garcia could throw the deep ball to such explosive threats as Donte' Stallworth and Reggie Brown. The only question mark is how he will react to facing three division rivals in the next three weeks on the road. He's still a great start this week against Washington, but going forward he's a real question mark.

-David Cassilo
Contact at asuhouse@aol.com

FANTASY MD

2006-12-07T10:08:00.000-08:00

After leaving the Patriots game early last Sunday with a back injury, Laurence Maroney is listed as questionable for his upcoming game. So far this week Maroney has been nowhere near full speed at practice. It looks very doubtful that he was be able to play on Sunday.

For the third week in a row, Marques Colston is at the exact same stage he typically is on Wednesdays. He's doing individual drills and the walk through once again, but is still listed as questionable. This will most likely be another game time decision. Given that he is the Sunday night game in the fantasy playoffs, you may not be able to afford to wait.

The Dolphins confirmed today that Ronnie Brown would once again miss their game on Sunday. Brown is recovering from a broken hand, and it appears likely that his return date will be week 15. If you can survive without him, he'll offer a treat in is return against the Bills.

Rarely do kickers make the injury report, but after a horrifically dumb play call on Sunday night by Mike Shanahan, Jason Elam is questionable for their game on Sunday. All kicker s are virtually made equal, so it'd be wise to just drop Elam and find another rather than risking it with his injury.

After much debate throughout the week, it appears that the Browns have decided to rest Charlie Frye and his injured wrist for tonight's game on short rest. If the Browns played on Sunday, Frye most likely could have played. Derek Anderson will be the starter tonight, and if he can lead the Browns to another win, expect him to finish the year at QB.

After yet another disappointing season following a strong rookie year, WR Michael Clayton has been placed on IR thus ending his season. His replacement the rest of the way will be Ike Hilliard who has little if any fantasy value. The Bucs have most likely lost their patience with Clayton and will look to replace him next season.

Though it was not reported during the game on Monday night, Jake Delhomme apparently injured his thumb in the Panthers defeat. Tests revealed that he had torn some ligaments, and he is now listed as questionable for their game on Sunday. Several reporters have said that backup Chris Weinke has a much better chance to start on Sunday. This is a huge blow for Delhomme fantasy owners who now most likely search frantically for a QB. Weinke is not an option on Sunday.

The other Saints WR struggling with injury this season has been Joe Horn. The groin injury that he re-injured in last Sunday's game has him a likely game time decision. Horn has a lot worse chance of playing than Colston this week. There's a good chance that the Saints could rest both WRs for the stretch run. Get the Devery Henderson bandwagon going again.

The Vikings will be without RB Chester Taylor for this week's must win game against Detroit. His rib injury should keep him out for at least one week. Taking his place will be Ciatrick Fason and Mewelde Moore. While they both face a weak Lions defense, they are both poor starts due to the unpredictable nature of carry distribution.

Despite practicing all last week, DeShaun Foster was inactive due to his inability to block in the passing game. This week he should be active, as he has now had several weeks to recover from his elbow injury. Due to the return of Foster and the uncertainty at QB, neither Foster or DeAngelo Williams are good starts.

-David Cassilo
Contact at asuhouse@aol.com

Stock Watch "The Fall of a King"

2006-12-06T22:38:00.000-08:00

In my Stock Watch Column, I will advise you on what players are going to start heating up, and what players are going to start cooling down. In trading, it's all about timing. Recently in my Yahoo! fantasy hoops league I was able to deal Kevin Martin, Okur, and Iguodala, for Rashard Lewis, Josh Smith, and TJ Ford. Some might argue that Rashard Lewis is a sell high candidate, but I think he is going to play like this all year.

Buy Low

Guards

Josh Smith

Josh Smith is the definition of buy low right now. But after a few solid games, owners might not want to part ways with him. This guy is ready to explode. His percentages are steadily improving and his blocks are going to be very beneficial to any owner, especially if you play him at SG.

Gerald Wallace

You should be able to acquire Wallace for a small price and considering Wallace owners are very frustrated right now, I'm sure they are looking to deal him. He is already starting to improve so if you want him you better offer up some trades before its too late.

Forwards

Richard Jefferson

After missing much of the season so far, his stats don't look great and his ranking is obviously not high (in the 200's in yahoo! rankings), but he has played well since returning and could end up averaging around 18, 6, and 3.

Centers

Ben Wallace

It may be too late to buy low as he has been producing in blk and stl but if a Big Ben owner is frustrated with his decreased rebounding and his atrocious FT% you might be able to steal this guy away.

Andrew Bogut

He hasn't been playing very badly, but I think he will improve his scoring, rebounding, and assists as the season goes on.

Sell High

Guards

Monta Ellis

I love Monta Ellis. He has really helped out my fantasy team this year, and I have been a Monta fan since he was drafted before last season. I think he will continue to produce, unless Baron Davis and Jason Richardson are both healthy at the same time. Who knows if that will ever happen, but if it does, Monta could be in trouble. I'm not necissarily telling you to sell this guy yet, but if someone makes a good offer, or if you can deal him for a legitamate stud, go for it.

Kevin Martin

You had to have known that he wasn't going to be so good all season long. With teams now starting to respect his game and plan against him, Martin has scored under 20 in 4 of his last 5 games. You must dump this guy imidiately before his value drops too low. Maybe wait for him to have one more good game and then trade him for a legitamite player.

Forwards

Andre Iguodala
Iguodala has had a very productive year so far. Mostly because Chris Webber was hurt. With Webber back, Iguodala's rebounding will decrease dramatically. He has also begun playing PG which will reduce his scoring. He will start all year, but his production will not continue as it has so far. Deal this guy while he still has such high value.

Zach Randolph

Randolph has been one of the biggest surprises in the NBA this year and I'm not telling you that his value is going to drop. But with his injury history, it is possible. What I'm telling you here is that if you can use Randolph to trade for a Garnett or Brand type, you would be better off in the long run.

Centers

Andris Biedrins

Biedrins has logged two consecutive stinkers. If he is no longer producing in reb and blk, then his 50% FT shooting is not worth keeping on your team.

Hardwood Recap "3 pt Wizards"

2006-12-06T22:37:00.000-08:00

OK guys, I know you were getting worried because I didn't post my columns yesterday. My bad. I had to concentrate on my edumication for a minute by studying for two final exams that I had today. They went very well if you were wondering. But lets get back to the NBA. I am actually mad at myself for not writing articles the past couple days because I really have some important advice for you all, especially in my "Stock Watch" column, "The Fall of a King" (I highly recommend it). Wednesday was a big day with 20 teams playing so lets get to it!

Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks had an impressive performance handing the Nuggets just their second loss in 10 games. Joe Johnson has been a mad man scoring and although he couldn't keep his streak of 6 stright 30 point games alive, he finished with 27 including two 3's, 7 reb, and 4 ast. Josh Smith showed why he is going to dominate for the rest of the season. He shot a much better percentage(4-7) with two 3's and snatched 11 reb while blocking 4 shots. I just traded for this guy and I suggest you do the same as you will read in "Stock Watch". Salim Stoudamire has been getting some PT and we all know from his college days that he is an assasin from 3pt range. He nailed another trio of treys last night and is now shooting 11-18 from distance in his last 4 games! If you need 3's this guy could be your answer. Wow the Hawks are a hot topic right now! Marvin Williams has be cleared to play and he could be returning to action soon. I'm assuming he will take Shelden Williams' starting job almost immidiately. Coming off the wrist injury I'm not sure how consistent he will be but if he is on your waiver wire, you definitely want to pick this guy up. Once he starts playing, I see him averaging about 12 and 8 with 1 stl and 1 ast per game.

Boston Celtics
Al Jefferson did a good job filling in for Kendrick Perkins who is out for the next 3 weeks. Jefferson had 9 points and 12 reb. I think he will continue to average about 10 reb and I would suggest picking him up in all leagues. Gerald Green had a breakout game but I don't see him having much value going ahead.

Charlotte Bobcats
The Spurs totally shut down the Bobcats, but there was one bright spot for Charlotte. Gerald Wallace seems like hes pretty much at full strength and I think he's ready to start playing like the guy we thought he would be. Last night he had 15 pts, 7 reb, 1 blk and 1 stl.

Chicago Bulls
This team looks like it's really starting to gel. They exploded with 39 pts in the first quarter including 17 from Ben Gordon. Luol Deng had a double double with 21 and 10 and he has probably been the Bulls most consistent player. Ben Gordon, although he scored 31 last night, has been so inconsistent that it's hard to trust him in your lineup.

Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavs had an average game. Lebron was god as usual and Damon Jones hit a few 3's. Two things stood out to me though. Drew Gooden finished with a big squadoosh in the scoring column. Gooden has been inconsistent as of late, but owners should not give up on him. The other thing that stood out was Daniel Gibson getting his first start of the season. You may ask yourself, as I did, "Who the heck is Daniel Gibson?" Well aparently he is a rookie and plays for the Cavs and in his first start of the season he played 36 minutes and scored 18 pts on 6-12 shooting with 5 reb, 2 ast, and 3 treys. I still have no idea who this guy is but if he continues to start, keep an eye on him.

Denver Nuggets
The Nugs have been on fire as of late, but lost 98-96 to the Atlanta Hawks. Camby filled up the stat sheet with 11 pts, 15 reb, 8 ast, 3 stl and 2 blk. It is a miracle that he hasn't gotten hurt yet, but now that I say that, he will probably go down tomorrow. Melo went for 24 and 7 but only made 11-27 and continued his giving ways, dishing out 5 turnovers.

Houston Rockets
Yao and T-Mac had off nights and the Rockets lost to the T-Wolves. McGrady shot just 5-21 from the field and had 5 TO, but he did help out with 10 reb and 7 ast. Yao shot 5-19 and had only 8 reb while adding to his aweful TO total with 7 on the night.

Indiana Pacers
Jeff Foster had 8 pts and 18 reb for the second time in three nights and deserves to be picked up in all leagues. Tinsley didn't score much but he had 8 ast in the game and has stayed healthy so far this season. Stephen Jackson went off with 26 points but I don't see him doing that often.

Los Angeles Lakers
Kobe had 24 and 7. Odom had 20 and 7 but also had 7 TO

Memphis Grizzlies
Chucky Atkins is the clear-cut starting PG. Mike Miller can shoot 3's. Thats all you need to know about the pathetic Grizzlies right now.

Milwaukee Bucks
Michael Redd and Ruben Patterson had big games going for 33 and 26 respectively and they both added 7 reb. Charlie Bell fell back to earth going 1-8 from the field and scoring just 6 points.

Minnesota Timberwolves
Garnett did what he always does, 24 and 12. Mike James may have broken out of a slump with a second straight solid performance. I've had him on my bench for a while, but it may be time to get him back in there.

New Orleans Hornets
Chris Paul: 26 pts, 11 ast, 6 reb
Tyson Chandler: 10 pts, 13 reb

New York Knicks
The Knicks suck. This is obvious. However, Eddy Curry has become a fairly dependable fantasy player.

Orlando Magic
Dwight Howard is my man!!! 20 and 8

Philidelphia 76ers
The 76ers got trounced by the Bulls and Iverson got hurt.

Portland Trailblazers
Other than Zach Randolph and Jarett Jack, the rest of the jointblazers look stoned. Randolph was at it again last night with 20 and 14. Jarett Jack scored a career high 30 and added 10 assists.

San Antonio Spurs
Duncan had 25 but only 4 reb.

Toronto Raptors
TJ Ford had 8 pts and 10 ast and remains a solid source of ast. Bosh went for 18 and 12. Barnani put up 14 and it may be time to pick this guy up if he is still available in your league.

Washington Wizards
I would be really excited about the game that the Wizards played last night.......but it was against the Knicks. Gilbert Arenas and Antoine Jamison were dualing Wizards each working their magic from the 3 pt line. Each hit 6 3's and they finished 12-17 combined from deep. Arenas finished the game with 38 and Jamison with 33.

DAUNTING DECISIONS

2006-12-06T06:56:00.000-08:00

In fantasy leagues across the country members everywhere begin to rejoice over two of the most exciting words in a sports fan’s language: PLAYOFF TIME. Well, I guess “time” isn’t that exciting of a word, but “playoff” in any context gets the juices going. In fantasy football can cause a lot of pain, so before you’re arrested for hunting down Rex Grossman, be kind and put him on your bench. Before I say who’s a good option, here is one word of advice. If you’re stuck between two even players, go with the one who plays Sunday or Monday night. You’ll always feel more confident with that ace in the hole. Plus, it’ll give you a good reason to watch that awful Bears vs. Rams game.

Fred Taylor- What a peculiar thing it is to actually have a healthy Fred Taylor in week 14 of the NFL season. The emergence of Maurice Jones-Drew has kept Taylor in the best shape of his career due to a reduced workload. Taking the risk on Taylor will play dividends in the first round of the playoffs because the Jags take on the Indy’s worst rush defense in the NFL. Expect close to 100 yards and a score. START.

Cedric Houston- Last week was a tremendous performance for Houston as he scored twice in his first career start at RB. As long as he continues to get the same amount of carries, he’s another terrific play this week against Buffalo. The Bills, who already had a thin rush defense, just lost one of their top defenders Angelo Crowell. The Jets should look to pound the rock, and Houston should have a very solid day. I’m not calling to bench a proven guy and start Houston this week, but if you don’t have many good options, Houston is your man. START.

Antonio Bryant- After a hot start Antonio Bryant had cooled off this fantasy season. Last week was his best performance since week two as he had 79 yards receiving and a TD. Bryant is a streaky WR, so typically once he plays well, that rolls on for a few weeks. The 49ers go up against a weak Packers defense which means that it is likely that Bryant will have another good day. START.

Jeff Garcia- It was pretty clear on Monday night that Jeff Garcia is still capable of running an offense. For the first time since his days in San Francisco, he is actually surrounded by explosive weapons. Philadelphia heads to Washington next week which has the least number of defensive interceptions in all of football. Garcia should be able to feel comfortable enough to have another good day. START.

Michael Vick- The greatest enigma in all of sports is trying to get his team in position to get into the playoffs and make some noise. Vick had a decent game last week as he led Atlanta to a huge win. This week he takes on Tampa Bay. In the past Tampa had been Vick’s kryptonite, but in their first meeting this season Vick ran for over 120 yards and had 2 TDs. It’s another must win game for the Falcons, and Vick should be able to lead them to victory. START.

Kevin Jones- In recent weeks the best way to determine which RB to sit is to find out whoever Minnesota is playing, make sure their opponent’s RB isn’t named Tomlinson, and then bench the guy. In particular, the way that Kevin Jones runs the ball is not the way that you would beat this Minnesota run defense. It should be a long day of struggles for Jones. SIT.

Chris Chambers- Last year around this time, the Patriots went into Miami and we’re stunned as the Dolphins pulled out the victory. With virtually no running game, don’t expect this to happen again. The Patriots are one of the smartest teams in football, and they will have Joey Harrington confused all day. They should be able to lock down on Chris Chambers, which would take away virtually any threat of the deep pass. The whole Miami offense should struggle on Sunday. SIT.

Joseph Addai- As we have seen so far this season, the Jaguars typically play up or down to their level of competition. With a must win game against the Colts at home coming up, the Jaguars should play one of their better games of the year. So far at home this season, Jacksonville has completely shut down the running game. It figures to be a long afternoon for Joseph Addai and the running game. SIT.

Marc Bulger- A QB with virtually no offensive line facing the Bears is not a recipe for success. Therefore, Bulger is a horrendous option this week. There’s a good chance that he will have virtually no time all game, which means the deep ball could be basically eliminated. If he doesn’t wind up injured, he’ll spend most of the day just dumping it off to Steven Jackson. SIT.

Trent Green- The Chiefs QB showed he was finally healthy last Sunday as he threw for 4 TDs. Against Baltimore this week, he may wish he was still on the sidelines. The Ravens do a tremendous job forcing turnovers, so although Green is very careful with ball he should be closer to a 1 TD and 2 INT day than to another 4 TD performance. This figures to be one of those games that the Chiefs can only win if Larry Johnson busts out for a huge day. SIT.

-David Cassilo
Contact at asuhouse@aol.com

MONDAY NIGHT RECAP: WE'LL GARCIA LATER, CAROLINA

2006-12-05T09:37:00.001-08:00

The game looked so good back in August. Two Super Bowl favorites facing off in a possibly playoff preview. However, four months later and reality and injuries set in. This game was far from a showdown between the NFC's best, but instead it was a battle between two teams desperate for a win in the mediocre NFC. These two teams had become as inconsistent as the Denver Broncos running game. Carolina was dealing with the decline of their once star QB Jake Delhomme, while Philadelphia was trying to recover after the team was left in shambles following the Donovan McNabb season ending injury. This game wasn't going to be decided by Brian Westbrook or Julius Peppers. No, instead some one needed to step up and emerge as a leader. Some one saw his opportunity and seized it. That some one was Jeff Garcia.

It's been steep downfall from stardom since those days in San Francisco for Jeff Garcia. He was once a three time Pro Bowler, who was poised to be next in succession in the Joe Montana and Steve Young 49er QB pantheon. However, trouble arose in San Francisco and Garcia bounced around from Cleveland to Detroit and finally landed in Philadelphia where he would no longer be a starter. Then as the city of Philadelphia went from roaring to dead in the time it took for an ACL to tear, Garcia was thrusted into the center of one of the most unforgiving cities in the world. Midway through the game on Monday Night, after the offense sputtered on every possession, the fans called for third string QB AJ Feely. Maybe Garcia was washed up. It has been four years since he put up those Pro Bowl numbers. However, as quickly the doubters came, they were even quicker pushed away. 312 yards, 3 TDs, and 1 win later something had returned to Philadelphia that had been gone for weeks. Hope.

Jake Delhomme- If Delhomme was looking to silence his critics, he did. Well until the last play he did. Delhomme seemed to be on his game for the first time in week as he threw for 269 yards and 3 TDs. However, with Carolina down 3 he led them all the way down to the 5 yard with 30 seconds remaining. It was then that Delhomme threw his second INT of the game, which ended all hope if a win. It was the right play call, but Delhomme made an awful throw over the head of Keyshawn Johnson and into the hands of Lito Sheppard. It looks very doubtful right now that Delhomme will be consistent enough to lead the Panthers or a fantasy team to the promised land.

DeAngelo Williams- Lost in the misery of another defeat was the breakout game by rookie DeAngelo Williams. Filling in once again for the injured DeShaun Foster, Williams finished with 175 total yards of offense and a score. He was a huge threat in the passing game as he topped 100 yards, and made some dazzling moves after the catch. If Foster remains out, Williams is a terrific option, but Foster should be back next week which means that Williams will have a reduced role from what he currently has. Either way he is one of the more promising players for the future.

Steve Smith- For the second straight week, Smith was not as explosive in the passing game as earlier in the season. He finished with only 4 catches for 54 yards and a TD. The Eagles were able to get a lot of pressure on Delhomme which prevented him from finding Smith. It's likely that Smith will bounce back next week against the Giants, who he tore up in the playoffs last season.

Jeff Garcia- As mentioned above, Garcia had a terrific day as he led the Eagles to a come from behind victory. The 312 yards passing and 3 TDs made him the top QB this week in fantasy. He's looked very accurate so far as shown by his 0 interceptions thus far. The Eagles face Washington, New York, and Dallas next all on the road. Look for Garcia to play well next week and then be average the rest of the way.

Brian Westbrook- The Eagles RB actually had his lowest total yardage since week 8, but he still was an obvious threat the entire game. The Panthers paid attention to him more than any other player which accounted for his somewhat weak day. He did manage to score a TD against Carolina. Westbrook has a pretty decent schedule ahead, and he will continue to be the focal point of the Eagles offense. He should set career highs in all major offensive categories this season.

Donte' Stallworth- When Garcia initially took over, it appeared like the deep passing game was going to suffer. This was the case in his first start, but against Carolina that trend reversed. Stalloworth was a huge weapon as he has 4 catches for 111 yards and a TD. His value the rest of the way hinges on if Garcia can keep this up. He's going to be a solid WR the rest of the way.

-David Cassilo
Contact at asuhouse@aol.com

SUNDAY RECAP: AFC VARIETY

2006-12-04T17:34:00.000-08:00

Corey Dillon/Laurence Maroney- After only four carries against Detroit on Sunday, Maroney left following a helmet to helmet. It clearly affected Maroney who could not return to the game. In his absence, the Patriots only gave Corey Dillon nine carries, but he did score 3 times on those 9 carries. Dillon will get an increased workload without Maroney, but don’t be fooled by his 3 TD today because that will probably not happen again. If Maroney is out next week, Dillon will get a tough matchup facing Miami.

Cedric Houston/Leon Washington- Getting a starter’s amount of carries, Cedric Houston performed terrifically while leading the Jets to victory, Houston finished with 22 carries for 105 yards and 2 TDs, while his backup Leon Washington also had a productive 7 carries for 40 yards and a TD. This performance has to be taken with a grain off salt considering the Jets were facing Green Bay and their horrendous rush defense. Next week should be another good performance for Houston against Buffalo, so if you need a RB for the playoffs, he’s a solid addition.

Sammy Morris/Travis Minor- Last week when Ronnie Brown went down, Sammy Morris did a terrific job filling in with 91 yards on 12 carries. This week Morris had the starting role, but rather than going against the weak Detroit defense, he was facing the stout Jags defense. This time Morris only had 47 yards on the ground. His backup Minor had 22 yards. The Miami running game is a situation to avoid until Brown returns.

Derek Anderson- Before Sunday if I mentioned Derek Anderson, you would probably assume I was talking about the University of Kentucky guard who played several years with the Portland Trailblazers. By now you know that the Derek Anderson I speak of is the 6’6” backup QB for the Cleveland Browns who took over for the injured Charlie Frye and led his team to a thrilling come from behind victory to upset the Chiefs. In the come back, Anderson threw for 2 TDs and had one spectacular run to get the Browns in field goal range for the win. Frye has a wrist injury and is questionable right now for the game against Pittsburgh. Since the game is on Thursday, Anderson is probably going to get the start. With the organization souring on Frye, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Anderson start the rest of the year. Either way, it wouldn’t be a good idea to start a Cleveland QB in your fantasy playoffs.

Ben Roethlisberger- It was a very typical day for Big Ben if it was last season, but we haven’t seen days like these too often for the Steelers in 2006. Roethlisberger threw the ball only 25 times as he led the Steelers to a very efficient 24-7 victory. Perhaps if the Steelers played like this all season, they would have a better chance of making the playoffs.

Joseph Addai/Dominic Rhodes- Coming off his huge breakout performance, Addai had a lackluster 56 yards on the ground. His backfield mate Dominic Rhodes managed only 39 rushing yards. The Tennessee defense is much improved, which is one of the reasons for the Colts ground game troubles. Both Indianapolis RBs should have another tough time next week against Jacksonville.

Marvin Harrison- Following his one catch performance the previous week, Harrison was visibly frustrated by the lack of passes going his way. Seeing his longtime teammate and friend behave this way caused Peyton Manning to look for him early and often against the Titans on Sunday. Harrison finished with his best day of the year totaling 7 catches for 172 yards and a TD. It’s clear that Reggie Wayne is the best WR right now in that offense, but Harrison should finish strong.

Matt Jones- It was a week that featured several career days, and Matt Jones was among those players who had them. He finished with 6 catches for 123 yards and a TD. He’s a tremendous big play threat due to his size and speed. While this year may be a lost cause for Matt Jones, he could emerge as the number one wideout for Jacksonville in 2007.

Wali Lundy/Ron Dayne/Samkon Gado- Let’s get the easy part out of the way first. Gado did not receive a carry, so feel free to drop him in all leagues. Dayne shouldered the load on Sunday and had 95 yards on 18 carries. Lundy still got in a decent amount of work as he finished with 33 yards and a TD on 9 carries. Following the game, Coach Kubiak said that Lundy would remain the starter, with Dayne and practice squad RB Chris Taylor getting some looks. The Texans running game is a situation to avoid at all costs.

Vince Young- If there’s one aspect of the game that Vince Young has down, it’s winning. In surely the biggest upset all season, Young led the Titans to a victory over the Colts on a last second 60 yard FG by Rob Bironas. Young finished 15 for 25 with 163 yards, 2 TDs and 2 INTs. He also rushed for a career high 78 yards. Young has shown that he is as capable a runner as he is a passer. If the Titans can surround him with more weapons next season, he should have a tremendous year.

LaDainian Tomlinson- The league’s MVP (he could sit out the rest of the year and win it) had another big day leading the Chargers to their win over the Bills. He rushed it 28 times for 178 yards and 2 TDs to bring himself only two shy of the single-season record. LT hasn’t had a bad game since week 7 when he played Kansas City. The schedule for the fantasy playoffs shows Denver, Kansas City, and Seattle. With those opponents he should just as well as he’s doing right now.

Trent Green- In his third game back from injury, Trent Green looked his best against the Browns. Green was able to complete 24 of his 32 passes for 297 yards and 4 TDs. It was the kind of game we’re used to see Green have when he’s on. Unfortunately for the Chiefs, his efforts proved fruitless as they blew a 28-14 4th quarter lead to some no name QB who wears a size 17 shoe. Green isn’t a great option the rest of the way because Kansas City faces four of the toughest defenses in football to close out the season.

Jay Cutler- It was a rocky debut for rookie Jay Cutler on Sunday night. Cutler looked like a rookie and nothing more as he finished 10 for 21 with 143 yards, 2 TDs, and 2 INTs. Cutler had a few classic Jake Plummer type “What are you thinking?” plays. The move of putting him is going to hurt the Broncos this year as they will probably miss the playoffs, but Cutler should be in a lot better shape for next season.

Tatum Bell/Mike Bell- Finally it looks as though there is a number one healthy RB in Denver. Tatum’s toe did not seem to be bothering him at all as he rushed for 133 yards on 23 carries. The other Bell (Mike that is) had only four carries for 12 yards. The Broncos face San Diego then Arizona, Cincinnati, and San Francisco so if Tatum is in deed the starter, he should do well. I’d say there’s about a 50/50 chance that everything just completely reverses next week, and I’m writing about Damien Nash.

-David Cassilo
Contact at asuhouse@aol.com

SUNDAY RECAP: NFC STYLE

2006-12-04T11:19:00.000-08:00

Tony Romo- In his second game against the Giants this season, Romo did not have his strongest performance. The Giants seem to be the only team with a good game plan on him all season. He barely completed any deep passes and picked up most of his yardage of screens and slants. Despite his low completion percentage and two INTs, he was still able to throw for 257 yards and 2 TDs. If this is a bad game from Romo, we’ll take it.

Marion Barber III- All along, Parcells has favored Barber to starting RB Julius Jones. After twelve games this season, Jones is the starter by name only. The last two weeks Barber has had the same or more carries as Jones, and he is out produced him on both occasions. He also has 13 total TDs this season. It is clear that the desirable Cowboys RB to own is now Barber.

Eli Manning- With the critics and media swirling around him and his team all week, Eli stepped up the challenge and had one of his best games all year while almost leading the Giants to the victory. Eli fished 24 for 36 with 270 yards and 2 TDs. It was the most accurate he looked in some time now, and he looked poised the entire game. The Giants are in must-win basis the rest of the season, and in order to do that, Eli must play like this every week. However, next week against Carolina will most likely be his toughest matchup of the year.

Ladell Betts- It was another huge day on the ground for Betts as he topped 100 yards for the second consecutive week. He finished with 28 carries for 155 yards and a TD. Betts is a free agent next week, and these performances are giving him a great chance to find a starting job next week. With Philadelphia, New Orleans, and St. Louis left on the schedule, he’s a great start the reason of the season.

Rex Grossman- One of the most painful things to watch all season was Rex Grossman’s games against Minnesota yesterday. He was a pathetic 6 for 19 with 34 yards and 3 INTs. Luckily, the Bears defense came up huge and won them the game. Coach Smith says that Grossman’s job is currently not in jeopardy, but if he continues to have games like this, the Bears will feel a lot safer with veteran Brian Griese behind center for the playoffs.

Thomas Jones/Cedric Benson- The emergence of Cedric Benson may have resulted in some lost carries the rest of the way for Thomas Jones. Against the number one rush defense in football, Jones had just 12 carries for 32 yards while Benson had 9 carries for 60 yards and a TD. Although Benson did play well, Jones should still get a decent amount of carries next week against St. Louis. It’s a tough play though because there is no telling what type of impact Benson will have.

Brad Johnson- Last week Johnson was mentioned for the good, but this week he’ll be discussed for the ugly. Johnson looked like a rookie rather than a veteran against the Bears defense on Sunday. He finished with only 73 yards passing and 4 INTs before being replaced. His replacement, Brooks Bollinger, got hurt and was then replaced by Tavarias Jackson. Following the game, Jackson said he did not think he was ready to start an NFL game, so it appears like Johnson will be back as the team’s QB next week.

Chester Taylor- Late in their game against Chicago, the Vikings lost RB Chester Taylor to an apparent rib injury. The Vikings feared that he had broken his ribs, but the injury appears much less severe. It does look though that Taylor may miss next week’s game against Detroit. In his place, Ciatrick Fason and Mewelde Moore will share the load.

Mike Furrey- Despite the emergence of Mike Willaims, the Lions second WR Mike Furrey had his best game of the season on Sunday. Furrey totaled 9 catches for 123 yards and a TD. The former Arena League WR has been one of the better stories in football this season. With four games left in the season, Furrey has an outside chance of breaking 1000 yards.

Reggie Bush- Against the 49ers on Sunday, Bush had the best game of his pro career. He finished with 168 totals yards, which contained 131 receiving, and had an impressive 4 TDs. Once Joe Horn went down with an injury, Bush became the go to guy for the Saints. If Horn and Colston remain out, Bush should see a rise in value, especially in the passing game. This will almost certainly be his best game all season, and there are probably more consistent week to week options out there the rest of the way.

Joe Horn- Early in the Saints game on Sunday, Horn re-aggravated his groin injury that has hampered him for most of the season. He finished with only 1 catch before being pulled for the rest of the day. The Saints may give him a few weeks off to make sure his groin will be ready for the playoffs. If Colston returns next week, he should have a good day in Horn’s absence.

Bruce Gradkowski- After another poor performance with 3 INTs and 0 TDs, Bruce Gradkowski’s job has come into question. It’s likely that Tim Rattay or Luke McCown will get a look before the season is over. In this nine week sampling so far from Gradkowski, he looks more like a solid backup than a starter in this league. If the Bucs don’t resign Chris Simms, look for them to add a veteran in the offseason.

Matt Hasselbeck- In his second start back since injury, Hasselbeck was just an ineffective for the Seahawks. He was 16 for 28 for only 168 yards and an INT. John Madden commented during the game that there just appears to be something wrong with Hasselbeck and I agree. Nevertheless, the Seahawks take on Arizona next week in what should be Hasselbeck’s best matchup the rest of the way, so it would be difficult to bench him.

Marc Bulger- It was a must win game for the Rams against Arizona, but St. Louis put up a real clunker of a performance. Bulger had a decent day with 314 yards and 2 TDs, but he also had 3 INTs. The story regarding Bulger is that after the game he called out some unnamed teammates. This probably referred to his inept offensive line. If they do not respond, Bulger will have a struggle the rest of the way.

Frank Gore- Coming off three straight monster performances, Gore looked poised to have another big day against the weak Saints rush defense. However, he was held to only 40 yards rushing, which is his lowest output of the season. For an unknown reason the 49ers were not as committed to the run as they gave him only 13 carries. He should bounce back nicely next week against Green Bay.

Edgerrin James/Marcel Shipp- Just when you thought nothing else could hurt Edge’s value, along comes Marcel Shipp. The backup Cards RB came out of nowhere for 3 TDs on Sunday. Going into the game he only had 3 carries all season, but now he has emerged as a TD vulture for Edge. Despite having 3 TDs he should have scored given to some bum who hasn’t played all year, Edge still topped 100 yards on the ground for the first time all year as he finished with 115. James has only one really great matchup the rest of the way, so he probably ceases to be an option after yesterday’s game.

-David Cassilo
Contact at asuhouse@aol.com

Hardwood Recap "Brand New"

2006-12-04T09:19:00.000-08:00

This blogger is getting on my nerves right now because it won't let me put up pictures or use bold typing, but life goes on, and so does fantasy hoops. Even with just four games last night, there were some interesting developments in the NBA. Lets check it out shall we?

Atlanta Hawks
Joe Johnson dropped 33 on the Blazers for his fourth consecutive 30 pt game. He also chipped in with 6 boards and 6 assists. This guy is having an incredible season shooting over 50% for the season, 40 3's, 28 ppg. He is the #10 in Yahoo! rankings right now, and although it looks like he could do this all season, if you have the chance to trade him for a real stud(Kobe, Dirk, Arenas, Brand) don't think twice. In other news, Speedy Claxton is still starting and its really starting to get on my nerves. He put up a measley 7 pts while Tyronn Lue scored 19. Josh Smith is clearly improving, even after injuring his eye a couple days ago, he was able to play last night and scored 13 with 12 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 block. If you can still buy low on this guy, do it!

Charlotte Bobcats
Rookie phenom Adam Morrison was only able to score 2 points against the Pistons, one of the few teams in the NBA that actually plays defense. Gerald Wallace snatched a team high 10 rebounds to go with his 8 points. I'm sure most owners still are frustrated with Wallace but 10 rebounds is encouraging, although he did shoot 0-4 from the charity stripe.

Detroit Pistons
The Pistons are boring. Basically all of their starter put up around 15-20 ppg and they play the same 6 guys every night. Sometimes Ronald "Flip" Murray gets in the game.....how can you not root for a guy named "Flip"

Los Angeles Clippers
Elton Brand exploded for 31 points on 12-14 shooting. Lets hope he keeps this up and returns to last seasons form. Tim Thomas got a start and showed up ready going for 20 points on 7-11 shooting including 5-7 from distance.

Minnesota Timberwolves
Mike James may have broken out of his slump last night, putting up 20 points on 8-14 shooting with 6 assists, 3 treys and a steal. This is good news for me considering I used a pretty high draft pick on him and he has just been wasting away on my bench while I have inserted Monta Ellis. Let's hope for my sake that Mike James has more games like this one.

Orlando Magic
Dwight Howard was held to under 10 rebounds for the first time since november 15th, but still had a solid game with 16 points and 2 blocks. Darko had a third consecutive game of over 10 pts, and is a good source of blocks, but until he gets his rebounding up, I wouldn't feel confident with him in my lineup. But if he is somehow on your free agent list, stash him away on your bench.

Philadelphia 76ers
It turns out I was right about Kevin Ollie losing his starting job, but I didn't think Andre Iguodala was going to take over at PG. I still say sell high on him as his rebounding and scoring is sure to drop playing PG and with Webber back in the lineup. The rookie Rodney Carney is now starting. Nobody knows how long this will last, but if he continues starting, keep an eye on him, although I can't see him having much value with Iverson, Iguodala, Webber, Dalembert, and Korver on the team. Now that I know Iggy can play PG, the lineup I would like to see is Iggy, AI, Korver, Webber, Dalembert. Maybe this will be the lineup when Korver's ankle heals.

Portland Trailblazers
Zach Randolph had another 30 pt game and with basically no other options on the team, don't look for that to change much. If Randolph stays healthy, he is going to have a monster year. On a side note, Martell Webster drained 4 treys and finished with 18 points.

Hardwood Recap "I have no idea whats going on"

2006-12-03T10:37:00.000-08:00

I haven't told you guys this yet, but I am a cheerleader for the University of Miami. Well anyway, last night was our christmas party. Needless to say, I was a little too busy last night to follow the 10 games last night and all of the news in the NBA. I also didn't wake up until 1:00 today and I have a basketball game against Georgia Tech that I have to cheer at. Since I just started this website and not many people are reading it anyway, I can't say I'm sorry for not writing today. Anywho, I'll get back on track tomorrow with a column of Hardwood Recap and a column of Fantasy MD. With December starting, and my christmas party last night, I guess it's not too early to say have a happy holiday season.

~Brian Melnick aka Big Mel email bigmel2k5@yahoo.com

COUNTDOWN TO GAMETIME

2006-12-03T09:40:00.001-08:00

Due to some issues with Blogger, I can't do my usual style with pictures, bold lettering, and different letter sizes. Here's the simple version:

Keenan McCardell is active for the Chargers today. While he no longer has a fantasy impact, he should be another solid option for the Chargers potent offense.

Colts WR Brandon Stokley is active for the first time since week 5. He's also lost all value as a fantasy player, but if anything he should boost Peyton Manning's value a bit, and take a bit of coverage off the other WRs.

Rex Grossman's job is coming into question, and with a poor performance at home this week against Minnesota, we could see Brian Griese take his place. The Bears aren't shy about doing something like this. Just look back to last year with Kyle Orton.

Saints wideout Joe Horn will play Sunday. It never looked as though he would not, and now that he offically is, make sure he's in your lineup today. He should have a very good day against the Niners.

While Horn is playing, star rookie WR Marques Colston is not. This will most likely be his last week out of the lineup. This is only good news for Devery Henderson owners who can now feel safe to play him.

There has been some talk that if the Giants don't win today, Tom Coughlin will be fired. This is highly unlikely and probably the result of talk radio. Either way this is a huge game that if the Giants lose, could cause the team to possibly quit the rest of the way due to all the conflict between players and coaches.

-David Cassilo
Contact at asuhouse@aol.com

NFL NEWS & NOTES

2006-12-02T12:38:00.000-08:00

Sinorice Moss will most likely be in the lineup for the Giants on Sunday. With no other WR stepping up to take the place of the injured Amani Toomer, Moss could get a shot right away to have an impact. Watch him Sunday as he could be a good pickup for the rest of the way if he does assume that #2 WR role.

Following his ankle surgery, Byron Leftwich will be facing a six week recovery process. He could have had this done earlier and been back for the playoffs, but he most likely would have filled a backup role when he came back anyway. Expect him to be the QB for another team next year with Cleveland, Oakland, and Minnesota as leading candidates.

Coach Mangini has named Cedric Houston as the team’s starting RB this week. He’s the team’s third starting RB this season. While Houston has a great matchup this week against Green Bay, there’s no guarantee how many carries he will actually receive with Leon Washington still in the picture. Kevan Barlow is the only Jets RB out of the rotation at this point. Houston should be the starter the rest of the way, and this week should be a great way to see how productive he can be.

In a complete turn of events, it appears that Lions WR Mike Williams is not only out of the doghouse, but also a favorite with coaches these days. He’s going to see substantial playing time for the rest of the season. This could be a way of the Lions getting his value up for a potential trade, but either way it should hurt Mike Furrey’s value. Roy Williams will face less double teams if Mike is productive, so his value could actually rise as well.

After missing last week’s game with an elbow injury, it’s a pretty safe bet that DeShaun Foster will be the starter for the Panthers on Monday night against the Eagles. The Eagles have really struggles against the run lately, so Foster is likely to have a good game in his return. However, DeAngelo Williams will steal more carries than usual because of Foster’s injury.

Both Marques Colston and Joe Horn are game-time decisions for the Saints game against the 49ers on Sunday. Horn is much more likely to play, while the chances of Colston suiting up are more 50/50. If one of both cannot go, one my favorite players right now Devery Henderson should have another big day.

For the first time since Week 10, it appears like Tatum Bell will play for the Broncos. He’s listed as probable, but in the past that has meant absolutely coming from the mouth of Mike Shanahan. If he does play, the most educated guess I could make is that he’ll split carries with Mike Bell, but Shanahan could play Jake Plummer at RB for all we know. Try to avoid Denver RBs for at least this week.

After being listed as questionable earlier in the week, Chester Taylor was upgraded to probable for the team’s game against Chicago. Last time these two teams faced off, Taylor had 20 carries for 74 yards. A similar day is very likely, which would mean that there are several other better options at RB out there.

The plot thickens for the Houston RB game. Coach Kubiak is upset that he hasn’t been running the ball lately, so to solve this problem, he has decided that either Wali Lundy or Samkon Gado will be inactive on Sunday. Ron Dayne should return to the lineup on Sunday, and there’s a good chance that practice squad RB Chris Taylor will get a look as well. Coach Kubiak’s goal is to assess who the best option is going further. Apparently Domanick Davis and Reggie Bush weren’t very good options.

-David Cassilo
Contact at asuhouse@aol.com

Hardwood Recap "Big Bust"

2006-12-02T10:11:00.000-08:00

With 10 games on the schedule last night, there was a surprisingly minimal amount of fantasy news, but I'll do my best to get you informed.

Atlanta Hawks
Tyronn Lue is compiling a strong case for why he should be starting at PG scoring 17 and 5 ast while claxton had just 5 point and 4 ast.
Josh Smith finally brought his FT% above 70 for the year.....i guess that could be considered encouraging, except that he left the game in the 3rd quarter after getting his eye scratched.

Boston Celtics
Al Jefferson seems to be regaining confidence and PT coming back from his injury. He could take his starting job back from Ryan Gomes sometime in the next month. Jefferson could be a good source of rebounds.

Charlotte Bobcats
Sean May had an off night, thouroughly annoying all of the owners that picked him up and promptly inserted him into their lineups. Maybe monitor a couple more games before you depend on him. Gerald Wallace showed signs of life logging 36 minutes

Chicago Bulls
Big Ben was a "Big Bust" again managing just one point and 4 rbs

Cleveland Cavaliers
Lebron was up to his old tricks scoring 31 and adding 8 ast and 7 rbs.

Dallas Mavericks
Eric Dampier has established himself as a true rebounding threat. Dirk's injusry did not seem to hamper him, but he shot just 4-15 from the field. However he was 10-10 from the line which can always give your team a boost.

Detroit Pistons
Tayshaun Prince scored 31, but it was against the Knicks so who cares. Rasheed wallace had just 6 points but tallied 15 boards. Billups had an amazing night going 8-9 from the field for 22 points while dropping 16 ast. Again, it was against the Knicks.

Indiana Pacers
Al Harrington hit 5-7 3's last night giving him 11 in his past 2 games and 14 in his past 3. He only has 24 treys on the season, but playing small forward, many more could be coming.

Milwaukee Bucks
Redd continued his scoring binge dropping 37 but the story of the game was Mo Williams putting up 31 on 15-22 shooting with 10 boards and 5 assists. This guy is a solid PG and has improved his scoring, however beware of his scoring numbers once Villanueva returns.

Minnesota Timberwolves
Mike James showed signs of life after basically falling off of the fantasy map. He went for 17 points and shot 3-4 from 3 pt land. Garnett did what he always does scoring 21 with 11 rbs and 2 blks but had a sloppy game with 7 TO.

New Orleans Hornets
Chris Paul turned out the 3rd tripple-double of his young career with 25 points, 11 rbs, and 18 ast. Tyson Chandler has his second straight 17 rb game, but unfortunately, thats the only way he can contribute to your fantasy team other than dropping your FT%.

New York Knicks
Eddy Curry is actually having a consistent streak of solid performances. But the Knicks lost and gave up 31 points to Tayshaun Prince. Pathetic.

Orlando Magic
Dwight Howard is a flat out beast. 18 pts 16 boards and 4 blocks. Can anyone say all-star? How about defensive player of the year? Just throwin that out there.

Philadelphia 76ers
Chris Webber is returning to action tonight and if he can stay healthy look for Iggy's numbers especially in rebounding to decline. Sell High!!!

Phoenix Suns
Raja Bell had another 5 3's last night and it is officially too late to buy low on him. However it is definitely time to sell high on Barbosa. Nash also had a phenominal game scoring 27 on 8-11 shooting with 11 ast and connecting on all four of his 3 pt attempts.

Portland Trail Blazers
Zach Randolph is one of the best stories of this season. He went off again last night finishing with 28 and 13. If this continues, he could have been the steal of your draft.

Sacramento Kings
Kevin Martin seems to be slowing down. He scored just 13 last night although it was on 5-6 shooting. Look for him in my buy low/sell high column this week.

Seattle SuperSonics
Nick Collison has arrived going for 21 and 8 in his first start of the season. It's about time. Ridnour hit a last second 3 pointer for the win, redeeming himself after missing 2 critical FT down the stretch that could have tied the game. I dont know what is wrong with his FT shooting right now, but Ridnour continues to be a dependable PG in terms of scoring, ast, and even in 3's and FG%.

Toronto Raptors
A lot of news with the Raptors as they one of the nice surprises in fantasy hoops this season. Bosh had a strong game with 25-11 and 3 blk on 9-15 shooting. Ford dished out 13 dimes to go along with his 10 pts. Garbajosa and #1 draft pick Bargnani continue to get PT and are interesting pickups right now.

Washington Wizards
Caron Butler is molding into a Lamar Odom type player with tripple-double tallent and excellent FT shooting and steals. Arenas is a stud and Jamison is turning out to be a nice pick if you grabbed him up in the middle rounds.

Waiver Wire "You gotta get Head"

2006-12-02T08:40:00.000-08:00

While teams start to really get a feel for who is getting the playing time, it becomes harder to find guys on your waiver wire that can be useful on your team as many of them have been snatched up by now. However, Big Mel will not let you down. Here are some diamonds in the rough that may pan out this season.

Atlanta Hawks
Tyronn Lue
If this guy is on your free agent list and you need a PG go pick him up. He could be and should soon be the Hawks starting PG.

Boston Celtics
Al Jefferson
Seems to be regaining confidence and PT coming back from his injury. Could take his starting job back from Ryan Gomes sometime in the next month. Jefferson could be a good source of rebounds.

Charlotte Bobcats
Sean May
May probably isn't on your free agent list, but if he is, grab him.

Cleveland Cavaliers
Damon Jones
Again, this guy shouldn't be available, but if he is snatch him up if you need 3's

Dallas Mavericks
Eric Dampier
He has established himself as a true rebounding threat.

Golden State Warriors
Matt Barnes
This guy is a popular pickup right now, but with so many options in GS I don't really see any value in Barnes.

Houston Rockets
Luther Head
This guy has been unconscious from 3 averaging 2.3 per game. I picked him up in my league yesterday and I suggest you do the same if you are in need of threes. The only bad news is he can't contribute in many other categories.

Indiana Pacers
Jeff Foster
Foster is the starting C now so he should be good for about 9-10 boards a night, so act accordingly if you need that.

Memphis Grizzlies
Rudy Gay
Gay was named western conference rookie of the month. With continued playing time he will only get better, but Gasol should be back around Dec 23rd and we'll see how that affects Gay's PT.

Milwaukee Bucks
Charlie Bell
He could have value in leagues with 12 teams or more, but remember Villanueva will be back in a week or two.

New Jersey Nets
Marcus Williams
Marcus Williams could be a serviceable player in deep leagues. He could also be considered as a handcuff to J Kidd even in shallow leagues. This guy is gonna be a special player for the Nets in the future.

New York Knicks
Renaldo Balkman has been getting some playing time......whatever.

Orlando Magic
Darko Milicic
Pick him up if you need blocks.

San Antonio Spurs
Brent Barry is that guy that you always want to pick up, but you're never sure if he's gonna get consistent playing time. Right now he is a great source of 3's and FT%, but I'm still not sure about his PT.

Seattle SuperSonics
Nick Collison
Now the starter in Seattle and showed why going for 21 and 8 in his first start of the season. Run to your league site and pick this guy up!!!

QUICK RECAP AND Q&A

2006-12-01T08:23:00.000-08:00

This may come as a major shock to you, but there was actually an NFL game last night between the Bengals and Ravens. Why this may come as a surprise is that unless you own the NFL Network and your cable network isn't a bunch of cheap old men, you weren't able to watch the game. Here's a quick rundown of some impact players in the game.

Derek Mason- If you played Mason, it was a great decision because he had one of his best days of the season with 90 yards receiving and a TD. It was one of those unnecessary late TDs that are meaningless in the game and only make fantasy owners happy. Mason has been largely disappointing all season and is probably the second best WR on his team behind Mark Clayton these days. Mason faces Kansas City, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh the rest of the way so if you played him as a 3rd WR, it wouldn't be a bad idea.

Jamal Lewis- It's rare that some one peaks at age 24, but that's exactly what Jamal Lewis did in his career. In one of the more puzzling mysteries in sports, Lewis has gotten worse and worse every year since his 2000 yard season. He may crack 1000 yards this season with a strong finish, but regardless it was another disappointment for Lewis. It wouldn't be a shock to see him somewhere else next season.

T.J. Houshmandzadeh- After being quiet for most of Chad Johnson's re-emergence as an elite WR, Hoshmandzadeh had his best game of the year with 10 catches for 106 yards and a TD. Despite missing the first two games of the season, Houshmnadzadeh needs just 224 yards in his final four games to have his first 1000 yard season. He has already tied a career high in TDs and become the best #2 WR in football not named Reggie Wayne.

Carson Palmer- Typically the Ravens do a good job against Palmer, but last night Carson did enough to win the game and limited his mistakes. He finished 21 for 32 with 234 yards a TD. In the process, Palmer topped 3000 yards passing for the second straight season. Since Palmer was coming off major knee surgery, he probably won't be 100% and comfortable till next season, but he has done a very nice job this season despite certain restrictions.

Now for some Q&A

Q: Should I start Tony Romo or Rex Grossman on Sunday?

A: As I said earlier in the week, I feel that Grossman will have a pretty solid bounce back game against Minnesota because that seems to be his pattern so far in his NFL career. However, Tony Romo is a much safer bet against the Giants defense. The only concern here is that the Giants were the only team this season that was able to get pressure on Romo and rattle him. Either way, Romo is much more likely to throw a few scores and have a better day than Grossman.

Q: I'm desperate at QB, and my best option this week is Jason Campbell. Should I play him against Atlanta?

A: If Campbell truly is your best option behind center, he will most likely do a solid job against the Falcons. Atlanta has had a lot of difficulty defending the deep ball which means Washington should look to throw deep. The addition of a healthy Santana Moss should also help his cause. Expect about 200 yards passing with 1-2 TDs this week.

-David Cassilo
Fantasy Contributor
Contact at asuhouse@aol.com

Position Battles "Head's up"

2006-12-01T07:49:00.000-08:00

Atlanta Hawks
Speedy Claxton vs Tyronn Lue
Claxton continues to start but Lue continues to log more minutes and has clearly been the better fantasy player to this point and this situation figures to stay that way until Claxton stays healthy and finds his shot.

Boston Celtics
Ryan Gomes vs Al Jefferson
Gomes is still getting most of the playing time as Jefferson recovers from injuries, but I see Jefferson as the more valuable player towards the end of the year. Keep an eye on this one.

Charlotte Bobcats
Gerald Wallace vs Sean May
May has been on fire as of late and with Wallace injuring his hip on Wednesday, May could take over in the starting lineup. With the way May has been playing, he may not let go of the starting job so soon either.

Chicago Bulls
Chris Duhon vs Ben Gordon
Gordon continues to play well coming off the bench, but I think Chicago likes the idea of bringing him off the pine for instant offense. So don't look for Gordon to regain the starting job, but both are getting sufficient playing time to be effective so feel free to play both of them.

Detroit Pistons
Nazr Mohammed vs Antonio McDyess
Mohammed's starting job is safe but they average about the same playing time. Mohammed is averaging 2 more ppg than McDyess but that is the only difference right now.

Golden State Warriors
Golden State is a crapshoot right now. With Nellie running the show, Richardson and Davis being perpetually banged up, and the emergence of Monta Ellis, Pietrus, and Barnes, there is almost no way to predict who is going to get more PT. The only sure thing going forward is Andris Biedrins at C. Good luck!

Houston Rockets
There aren't really any battles here but just a heads up. Luther Head is playing about 26 minutes a game and is shooting 48% from distance, averaging 2.3 treys per game. He is tied for 8th in the league in 3's made. If you need 3's, run to your free agent list and pick this guy up!

Indiana Pacers
Jeff Foster vs Danny Granger
Foster has been a solid rebounder as of late and Danny Granger has lost his starting job, but will continue to receive ample PT. Keep an eye on this situation as the starting five may depend on match-ups with the opposition.

Los Angelas Lakers
Kwame Brown vs Andrew Bynum
With Kwame Brown now starting for the Lakers, Bynum's value has dropped considerably. If there's someone you want on your free agent list, you can afford to drop Bynum for them.

Millwaukee Bucks
Charlie Bell vs Ersan Ilyasova
Let me start by saying Micheal Redd is an absolute monster offensively. Moving on. I think Charlie bell will continue to start and have more fantasy value than Ilyasova. However, neither are valuable even if starting and once Villanueva returns, Bell and Ilyasova will lose their starting job and their fantasy value.

New York Knicks
The Knicks are terrible, but humorous. Lets look back on some of their recent transactions and have a good laugh. I can't remember all of them off of the top of my head but if I miss any, email me and let me know.
Signed Jared Jeffries to a five-year contract (hasn't played yet)
Drafted Balkman over Marcus Williams when they could've still drafted Balkman in the 2nd rd
Paid Larry Brown $20 million to go home, and made Thomas the coach
Signed Jerome James to a huge contract (9 mpg in 44 games last season and 5 mpg in 7 appearances this season)
Traded two first round picks for Eddy Curry

Orlando Magic
Tony Battie vs Darko Milicic
Battie will continue to start for the foreseeable future, but I see Darko stealing the job by January. Darko has much more fantasy potential and more value even as a backup. Darko is currently averaging 8 pts, 5 rbs, and 2.2 blocks!!! good for 4th in the league.

Philidelphia 76ers
Kevin Ollie vs Willie Green
I don't truly see a switch coming here, but we have seen Iverson as a solid PG in the past and Green clearly better than Kevin Ollie in my mind. In 2 starts when Iverson was hurt, Green scored 24 in each game.

Phoenix Suns
Borris Diaw vs Leandro Barbosa
I wasn't sure how serious Barbosa's injured ankle was, but in his first game back, he had 14 pts, 5 rbs, and 6 ast. If Barbosa continues to stay healthy and continue his extraordinary play this season, and Diaw continues to disappoint, Barbosa could steal the starting job back.

Seatle SuperSonics
Johan Petro vs Nick Collison
Nick Collison will start tonight's game against the Pacers, and I picked him up in my fantasy league. Many fantasy owners have been waiting for this change and I for one am excited to see what Collison can do as a starter.

Washington Wizards
Etan Thomas vs Brendan Heywood
Thomas continues to start, but they get very similar PT. Neither have much fantasy value, but they did each have 3 blocks in their last game. Thomas should be the better fantasy player as he continues to start.

~Brian Melnick aka Big Mel email bigmel2k5@yahoo.com

Hardwood Recap "Don't Call it a Comeback"

2006-12-01T05:34:00.000-08:00

Even with only two games on tap for last night, the NBA did not let us down.

Heat vs Pistons
Dwayne Wade had a chance to be the hero with a last second shot with the Heat down 85-86 but fell short in an exciting game against the Pistons which could have been a preview of the Eastern Conference Finals. Wade had a poor shooting night(5-23) but did chip in with 5 boards and 8 assists. Udonis Haslem's numbers have been steadily increasing. He is averaging about 18 and 10 on 65% shooting in his last 4 games and with Shaq out for a while, Haslem will continue to have solid fantasy value.

Lakers vs Jazz
In the second game of the night, the Lakers crushed the #1 team in the league 132-102. Okur had is second consecutive stinker putting up just 11 points and 3 rebounds. This was mostly due to foul trouble as Okur was limited to just 23 minutes, so owners of the big man with 3 point range should not be discouraged. Rookie Ronnie Brewer continues to start for the Jazz but I don't see him as having any fantasy value right now as he is averaging under 20 minutes in his 10 starts. Boozer continued his dominance on the inside and showed some versatility with 5 assists to go along with his 26 points and 7 boards. With Kwame Brown now starting for the Lakers, Bynum's value has dropped considerably. If there's someone you want on your waiver wire, Bynum can be dropped for them. Lamar Odom showcases his tripple double talent, filling up the stat sheet with 14 points, 11 boards, and 8 assists. The Utah Jazz looked out of sync all night. Maybe they were disoriented by the bright lights of LA, or maybe they were disoriented by Kobe Bryant who drained shot after shot right over one of the best defenders in the league in Kirilenko. Kobe was just unconscious finishing with 52 points on 19-26 shooting, two 3's, 12-15 from the line, 3 assists, 4 rebounds, a block, and only one turnover. If you were planning on buying low on Kobe after his scoring average dropped 10 points from last season, that window of opportunity has passed. Kobe has regained his rhythm and is poised to dominate the league again for the rest of the season.

~Brian Melnick aka Big Mel email bigmel2k5@yahoo.com

SUNDAY RECAP: AFC VARIETY

2006-11-27T19:04:00.000-08:00

Chad Pennington- With the critics calling for a change at QB, Pennington needed a big game, and he delivered just that on Sunday. Pennington completed 24 of 31 passes for 286 yards and a TD in the Jets win over the Texans. Questions were raised about how healthy his arm was, but it appeared like it was back in its form similar to the beginning of the season. While it’s hard to start Chad anymore in fantasy, he has a very good matchup in Green Bay next week.

Leon Washington/Kevan Barlow/Cedric Houston- In what should have been a very strong performance for the Jets running game instead turned into a total flop as they totaled only 27 yards on the ground all game long. After looking like the most promising RB on the team in previous weeks, Washington received the least carries against the Texans on Sunday. There is no longer a clear cut number one back on the team which spells disaster for Leon Washington fantasy owners.

Corey Dillon/Laurence Maroney- As expected, neither Patriot RB was too productive against the stout Bears defense. Maroney had 13 carries for 33 yards while Dillon had 11 carries for 40 yards with a costly late fumble. Considering that Maroney is actually getting more carries than Dillon, he’s a great play against Detroit next week.

Willis McGahee- After returning from injury McGahee had a very productive game in limited work. It was a 12 carry 63 yard 2 TD performance that led Buffalo to victory. It was about half of McGahee’s normal workload, but if you played him in fantasy you were surely grateful for his two scores. Next week should be a tougher matchup against the swarming Chargers defense.

Carson Palmer- The Bengals QB had a very rough middle of the season, but he seems to have rebounded nicely for a strong second half of the year. For the third straight week Palmer had a three touchdown day. Despite a season that has been filled with several off the field problems in the organization, Palmer has put up a solid 21 TD 8 INT year. There’s a pretty good chance that Palmer could match last year’s numbers if he continues to play this way.

Ben Roethlisberger- Although Roethlisberger has thrown more than ever this season, that is not necessarily a good thing. The Steelers seem to have forgot that they won a Super Bowl by running the football. Big Ben has become extremely prone to the interception with 5 of his 19 coming in the last two games. If you’re looking for yards, Big Ben is your guy, but he throws way too many interceptions to be any sort of a fantasy QB.

Charlie Frye- Despite flashes of brilliance the last two season, Sunday’s 4 INT performance against the Bengals confirms that Charlie Frye is just not going to be the guy in Cleveland for the future. Frye is a very capable backup in this league, but he is too turnover prone to start. His sideline argument with Braylon Edwards doesn’t help his case either. Expect a veteran QB to be brought in next season.

Fred Taylor/Maurice Jones-Drew- Despite huge performances on the ground from their RB tandem, the Jags were unable to get the win in Buffalo. Jacksonville has been an up and down team all season, but their running game has been consistent every game. Taylor had 101 yards on the ground, while Jones-Drew had 145 total yards and a TD. Jacksonville is one of the few teams in football with two productive RBs each week which makes both guys decent options in fantasy.

Joseph Addai- The rookie RB for Indy was quietly putting together nice efforts week in and week out. Sunday night was the coming out party for Addai as he exploded for 171 yards rushing and 4 TDs. Addai appears like he will get the majority of carries for the rest of the year which makes him a very good fantasy option. The Indy system is great for RBs because they put up numbers there that they wouldn’t anywhere else. Just ask Edgerrin James.

Vince Young- In one of the most thrilling comebacks of the season, Vince Young had his best game as a pro. Young was able to lead his team back from a 21-0 deficit against a banged up Giants defense. Young was helped greatly by several dumb mistakes for the Giants, and he finished with a career high 249 yards passing and 3 total TDs. The rookie QB has shown a lot more consistency than other young running QBs, and he seems to get better from week to week.

Wali Lundy/Samkon Gado- As bad as the Jets running game was on Sunday, the Texans was worse. Lundy and Gado combined for 15 yards on the ground in a very pathetic effort from the entire Houston offense. Lundy did have 68 yards receiving which makes his day a bit more bearable, but if the Texans can’t run against the Jets who can they run on.

LaDainian Tomlinson- Well it was the first time since week 7 that Tomlinson did not run for more than one TD. So what does he do? He throws for his second TD of the season to go with his one rushing. Tomlinson single handedly beat the Raiders while Philip Rivers struggled. It was another example of how Tomlinson is both the MVP and the best fantasy player in the league.

-David Cassilo
Fantasy Contributor

SUNDAY RECAP: NFC STYLE

2006-11-27T08:43:00.000-08:00

Jason Campbell- While Campbell wasn’t as effective a passer as he was the previous week, he did manage to lead his team to victory over the favored Panthers. Campbell completed only 11 of 23 passes for 118 yards, but he did manage to throw two scores for the second consecutive week. It’s clear that Campbell will one day be a good quarterback in this league. He has given the Redskin offense some life, and makes them more competitive than they were with Mark Brunell.

Ladell Betts- The new Redskins starting RB faired much better in his second start than his first. Betts finished with 24 carries for 104 yards. He did leave the game briefly after taking a big hit, but he was able to return with no ill effects. Betts remains a solid fantasy option with Washington facing a weak schedule against the run the rest of the way.

Eli Manning- The toughest QB to judge this side of Rex Grossman and Michael Vick has become Eli Manning. The first half Manning looked brilliant and completed almost all of his passes leading the Giants up and down the field. However, in the second half the Giants completely fell apart. Eli once again started to force passes and was largely inaccurate. The whole Giants offense is out of synch, and it could be a situation that explodes if things don’t get turned around. Don’t start Eli until he shows he’s out of this slump.

Jeff Garcia- The new Eagles starting QB did a very fine job Sunday night. Garcia completed 19 of his 23 passes for 140 yards and 2 TDs. The Eagles defense was the part of the team that let them down. With Garcia at QB it appeared like the value of Donte’ Stallworth and Reggie Brown will take a hit because Garcia relies more on TE LJ Smith. Although Garcia played well, his schedule is too difficult to seriously consider him every week.

Brian Westbrook- It’s clear that with McNabb out, Westbrook has become the focal point of the entire offense. He ran for a season high 124 yards and a TD. However, part of this success was due to the Colts worst rush defense in the NFL. Regardless, with McNabb out Westbrook will get more touches than ever so expect him to be more valuable now than any other part of the season.

Brad Johnson- It may have been a last stand for Brad Johnson on Sunday. With his critics all over him following four straight losses, Johnson had his best game of the season with 271 yards passing and 3 TDs. He wishes he could play Arizona last week, but after the team’s next game with Chicago, Minnesota has a very favorable schedule the rest of the way. You could do worse than Johnson for the rest of the year, but you could certainly do better as well.

Rex Grossman- The Bears QB continued his week to week up and down season with another down on Sunday. He only completed 15 of 34 passes and turned the ball over four times. It was his fourth multi turnover game of the season. Typically after a poor performance Grossman bounces back, and against Minnesota last week the Bears will try to throw as successfully as the Cardinals did on Sunday.

Michael Vick- Things are really starting to get ugly in Atlanta. Following the game Vick made a few obscene gestures towards the Atlanta crowd. If the Falcons cannot break the losing streak and beat Washington next week, word will begin to circulate about possibly both Vick and Coach Mora being replaced at some point. In midst of Sunday’s mess, Vick did rush for 166 yards on the ground. However, his 9 for 24 passing performance will not cut it.

DeAngelo Williams- After last week’s performance, big things were expected out of Williams in his first start. However, Williams disappointed with only 63 yards on the ground against one of the weaker rush defenses in football. If Foster does not return next week, Williams has another good matchup against a Philadelphia defense that was just torn up by fellow rookie Joesph Addai.

Drew Brees- There’s a new run and gun team in the NFL, and they play in New Orleans. Brees is basically a passing yardage machine as he topped 300 yards for the 5th straight week. He also tossed in two TDs to give him 19 for the year. The amazing part of this has been that the last few weeks he hasn’t even done it with healthy receivers as both Marques Colston and Joe Horn missing games during this stretch. Expect Brees to put up big numbers the rest of the year.

Devery Henderson- It’s clear why the Saints opted to trade Donte’ Stallworth before the season as they are one of the deepest teams at WR in football. Henderson stepped in for the injured Colston and had 158 yards receiving and a TD. It was the second straight week that Henderson topped 150 yards receiving. As long as Colston is out, Henderson is a very good option in fantasy.

Steven Jackson- After only 7 carries last week, Jackson had his best game of the season in the Rams win against San Francisco. He carried the ball 23 times for 121 yards and a score while also totaling 9 catches for 71 yards. He’s the focal point in the offense, and has become one of the best receiving RBs in football. Next week against Arizona should be another huge day.

Frank Gore- It was another huge day for Gore who had over 6 yards per carry for the third straight week. He finished with 134 yards rushing and a TD. Outside of Tomlinson and Larry Johnson, he has been the best fantasy RB this season and his good roll should continue as he faces four poor rush defenses in the upcoming weeks.

Matt Leinart- The Cards knew that they would be unable to run the ball against the Vikings so they dropped back and passed on virtually every play. Leinart threw the ball 51 times while completing 31 for 405 yards. The only disappointing aspect of his game was only 1 TD to 2 INT. The Cards will never throw like this because it eliminates virtually any chance of winning, but they will rely heavily on Leinart who has only been under 200 yards passing in one start this season for Arizona.

Larry Fitzgerald/Anquan Boldin- I’d separate these two players, but I’d write basically the same thing about both players. The only difference in their performances on Sunday was that Boldin caught a TD and Fitzgerald didn’t. Boldin finished with 140 yards to go along with his TD while Fitz had 172 yards. They are both in the top 10 WRs in football, and they will continue to put up huge numbers considering the Arizona running game has been virtually non-existent for the second straight season.

-David Cassilo
Fantasy Contributor

Fantasy Hoops!

2006-11-22T14:52:00.000-08:00

Welcome all to my first post on Rotoboys.com. I hope you can use my information and advice to improve your fantasy basketball teams. Since my main fantasy league is an 9 category roto league (the 8 normal categories and turnovers), I will gear my advice towards rotisserie scoring leagues. I will update you on all of the hot waver wire pickups, recent injuries, position battles, and buy low/sell high. I will also update you on everyday happenings around the league. Feel free to email me at bigmel2k5@yahoo.com with any questions about your own teams, I will be glad to assist you. I will post my first column on friday november 24th. So watch out for it and for a new column every day from here on out! Good luck to all and to all a happy thanksgiving!
~Brian Melnick aka Big Mel

2006-11-18T17:01:00.000-08:00

NEWS & NOTES

Ronnie Brown couldn't do much in practice on Friday, but it still looks like he may start on Sunday. The Dolphins will most likely try to get Sammy Morris some extra carries to keep Brown fresh. The play the Vikings who have the number one rush defense in football, so starting Brown is a poor option.

Bears WR Bernard Berrian will be a game-time decision for their game against the Jets. The Bears want to be sure that Berrian can take a shot to the ribs. If they plan to determine this by actually by actually giving him one is still to be decided, but we won't know more till Sunday.

There are conflicting reports to whether Reuben Droughns actually practiced on Friday, but either way it appears like he will not play. Jason Wright will fill in for him and make his first NFL start.

Greg Jennings has been dealing with his ankle injury for close to a month now, but once it again it won't keep him out of the lineup on Sunday. Jennings won't start, but he will be the team's 3rd WR.

The 49ers are eager to get TE Vernon Davis back on the field, but his status still remains in question for this week. Nothing will be determined until most likely Sunday. Since the 49ers have a late afternoon game, you may not have the option of waiting for inactives.

Regarding the injury situation in Seattle, it appears that the Seahawks will have Shaun Alexander or Matt Hasselbeck in the lineup on Sunday but not both. Alexander is far more capable of playing right now, so it will probably be him, but nothing will be decided until before the game.

Fantasy WR bum Santana Moss will again miss the Redskins' game on Sunday. He had a bad week in practice and felt worse than the week before. This appears like it may be a situation that won't go away all season.

49ers RB Frank Gore was upgraded to probable after suffering a concussion in the 49ers last game. San Francisco faces a huge game against Seattle, and Gore will have a big day if he is truly healthy.

After missing the last two games, Joe Horn will be back in the lineup for the Saints on Sunday. Horn has a nice matchup against a weak Bengals pass defense, but this also means that Marques Colston's chances of double digit catches every week take a huge hit.

David Carr has had a pretty solid season so far, and he will look to continue his fine stats after being upgraded to probable this week. While he's not a very good fantasy option, it's good to see that he's getting a chance to finally show what he can do this season.

-David Cassilo
Fantasy Contributor