Injury Riddled Celtics Finding a Way to Win

    One of the biggest stories recently in the NBA has been the injury to Celtics PG Rajon Rondo. Everyone questioned just how well the Celtics could play without one of their star players. People questioned the teams ability, along with their heart. Even some of the Celtic faithful had their doubts.

Rajon Rondo is a big loss for the Celtics, no matter how you slice it.

    Why? Rondo was the Celtics' third leading scorer. He also led the league in assists per game (11.1) and triple doubles (5). He actually still leads the league in these two categories, despite missing eight games. But more importantly, Rondo is the team's floor general - their leader. He's one of the smartest players in the game, and consistently finds ways to exploit defenses. Although some people aren't crazy about his style of play, whether it be his flashiness or what some people have called "the Rondo show," its hard to argue with his production on the court. So hard to argue that just about every single basketball analyst in America wrote the Celtics off after hearing the news of his injury.
    The Celtics have, however, proven that there is life after Rondo - winning seven of their last eight games in a row. They finally ran out of gas last night against the lowly Bobcats on the second night of a back-to-back stint. The previous night was a triple overtime victory over the Nuggets in which four players (Garnett, Bradley, Green, and Terry) played over 40 minutes, along with SF Paul Pierce playing a staggering 54 minutes. Overall, in the eight games since Rondo was injured in Atlanta, the Celtics have scored an average of 103 points per game and allowed 95 points per game. They have also shot 50% or better from the field in four of those eight games. The C's have shown a ton of heart, and have been playing
great team basketball. Every analyst is singing their praises.

    Despite the success that the team has had without Rondo, there have been two more nasty curve balls thrown their way. The first was the injury to rookie PF Jared Sullinger, just days after the injury to Rondo. He left the game against Sacramento with back spasms, and two days later had season ending back surgery. The negative here is that Sully led the Celtics in plus/minus (+42) and rebound rate. He actually ranked 21st overall in the league in rebound rate, over guys such as Al Jefferson and Roy Hibbert. That means the rest of the team has some big shoes to fill in the rebounding department, in which the Celtics rank 29th in the league. The positive side here is that although he will miss the rest of this season, Sully's chronic back issues will now be permanently fixed. That's a good sign for the future.
    The other curve ball came in last night's game in Charlotte. PG Leandro Barbosa left the game in the third quarter with a knee injury. While there will be no official word until after the MRI is done today, Kevin Garnett told reporters last night that Barbosa's injury was going to be season ending. If this proves to be true, this is a pretty big blow to the Celtics, as they will now have no true point guard on the roster. The aggressive style of play that Barbosa provided without Rondo will definitely be missed. The Celtics will likely explore the D-League and free agency to try and find an adequate replacement for the position. With only 10 healthy players on the roster now, there isn't much the team can afford to do trade-wise at this time. I wouldn't be surprised to hear Delonte West's name come up once again in the search.
     The good news for the Celtics is that tomorrow night's home game against Chicago is the last game before the All-Star break. This will give the team plenty of time to rest, the older guys especially need it right now, and it will also give the team some time to figure out what the next move will be in replacing some of these key parts. The Celtics currently sit as the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference playoff standings, and if they continue to play the way they have been recently they will be a big threat in the Eastern Conference playoffs - even to Miami. No matter how the season pans out for this team, you can count on one thing: the Celtics won't go down without a fight. This team has shown that they have the heart and the will to succeed through adversity. That, and they clearly have a ton of Celtic pride.

Week 15 Fantasy Rankings

My top 25 QBs, RBs, and WRs along with my top 15 TEs and D/ST.
Additional comments or questions can be sent to my twitter account: @brock__morris

*excludes any Bengals or Eagles players

Quarterbacks

1. Drew Brees
2. Cam Newton
3. Peyton Manning
4. Tom Brady
5. Aaron Rodgers
6. Matthew Stafford
7. Josh Freeman
8. Robert Griffin III
9. Eli Manning
10. Matt Ryan
11. Colin Kaepernick
12. Andrew Luck
13. Matt Schaub
14. Tony Romo
15. Russel Wilson
16. Carson Palmer
17. Ben Roethlisberger
18. Brandon Weeden
19. Ryan Tannehill
20. Philip Rivers
21. Joe Flacco
22. Sam Bradford
23. Chad Henne
24. Ryan Fitzpatrick
25. Brady Quinn

Running Backs

1. Adrian Peterson
2. Doug Martin
3. Arian Foster
4. Jamaal Charles
5. Marshawn Lynch
6. Ray Rice
7. Trent Richardson
8. Alfred Morris
9. C.J. Spiller
10. David Wilson
11. Matt Forte
12. Chris Johnson
13. Knowshon Moreno
14. Darren Sproles
15. Frank Gore
16. Darren McFadden
17. Steven Jackson
18. DeMarco Murray
19. Stevan Ridley
20. Shonn Greene
21. Reggie Bush
22. Michael Turner
23. Vick Ballard
24. Jonathan Dwyer
25. Mikel Leshoure

Wide Receivers

1. Calvin Johnson
2. Demaryius Thomas
3. Brandon Marshall
4. Andre Johnson
5. Vincent Jackson
6. Roddy White
7. Julio Jones
8. Victor Cruz
9. Marques Colston
10. Reggie Wayne
11. Hakeem Nicks
12. Wes Welker
13. Danario Alexander
14. Randall Cobb
15. Pierre Garcon
16. Lance Moore
17. Eric Decker
18. Mike Wallace
19. Dez Bryant
20. Steve Smith
21. Cecil Shorts
22. Mike Williams
23. Stevie Johnson
24. Miles Austin
25. Torrey Smith

Tight Ends

1. Jimmy Graham
2. Tony Gonzalez
3. Jason Witten
4. Aaron Hernandez
5. Owen Daniels
6. Brandon Myers
7. Greg Olsen
8. Martellus Bennett
9. Heath Miller
10. Dallas Clark
11. Dennis Pitta
12. Antonio Gates
13. Tony Scheffler
14. Jermichael Finley
15. Vernon Davis

D/ST

1. Seahawks
2. Lions
3. Broncos
4. Rams
5. Patriots
6. Texans
7. Jets
8. Dolphins
9. Steelers
10. Bears
11. Packers
12. 49ers
13. Ravens
14. Chargers
15. Browns

Guidelines to Playoff Success

Don't be this guy

    Week 14 of the football season is officially upon us. What's this mean? It's officially playoff time in most, if not all, fantasy leagues. If you fought your way in, congratulations. But now that you're in, you have to be mindful of what you do with your starting lineup. You want to do everything you can to try to win, so that you don't end up like the guy in the picture on the right. This means following a few guidelines, some that I would even call cardinal rules. Rolling the dice may have worked for you at one point in the regular season, but do you really want to stake your post-season life on a gamble? Usually the safest bet is what works, and more often than not you can be successful as long as you follow these guidelines.



Start your studs
This is a no brainer, but you'd be surprised how many people forget this rule. Always start your studs. Generally, these are guys you drafted in the first few rounds of your draft. Whether it be a quarterback, running back, wide receiver, or tight end - you drafted them that high for a reason. Unless you've traded them away, or they've been injured, there's no reason to bench one of your studs - no matter what the match-up is. For example, Adrian Peterson owners might cringe at his match-up against Chicago this week, but don't get cute. This is a guy you don't sit. Ever. I learned this the hard way myself when he shredded Seattle, on my bench (luckily that was during the regular season, and not the playoffs). That's the one time I've ever benched a stud, and I'll never do it again. Even if one of your stud players is coming off of a bad game, like Drew Brees for example, you need to clear that from your mind. Chances are he won't have two bad games in a row. He's Drew Brees. Start. Your. Studs.



Start players you can trust
Trust is something you have to have in your roster each and every week, especially in the playoffs. If you have doubts about anyone on your roster on a given week, then chances are you shouldn't start them. Trust your gut. Trust the players who have gotten you to where you are. If you're unsure on the amount of touches a player will get, or unsure on the match-up (UNLESS its one of your studs), then your best bet is to leave said player on the bench. Good example this week: Reggie Bush. He isn't a stud, and he's got a terrible match-up this week against the 49ers defense. This is definitely a week when you should bench Bush, unless you have NO other option. Another guy I want to mention here is Larry Fitzgerald. Usually, this guy is a stud, meaning you should follow the 'start your studs' rule. However, this is a rare rare rare example of a stud that you just can't trust. The quarterback situation in Arizona has been so bad that there's literally no way of predicting whether Larry will have a 7 catch game or a 1 catch game. This kind of unpredictability is exactly what you should be avoiding now that its playoff time.



Beware the "questionable" and "game-time decision" tags
This is where fantasy football gets extremely frustrating.  There's nothing worse than starting a questionable player and having him get re-injured before he can score any fantasy points. Just ask Jordy Nelson owners how they feel. The only thing that might be worse than that is waiting for a player who is a game-time decision, and then finding out that they are going to sit out the game, leaving you stuck with a zero in that slot. This is why I say, especially in the playoffs, to AVOID starting players who are questionable or who are a game-time decision. If you want to be stubborn and wait for a game-time decision, make sure you have a back-up plan. Sure, sometimes questionable players have monster games. But there's also always the risk that they will have a bad game, or not even finish the game. That risk, to me, isn't worth the potential upside. You're better off playing it safe.



    That's that folks. Those guidelines might seem like common sense, but you'd be surprised how many people go against them...and then end up cursing themselves for it. Sometimes you can roll the dice and get away with it, but that usually doesn't work in the playoffs. You didn't roll the dice every week in the regular season, did you? I didn't think so. Remember, you want to go with what you can trust. With that said, hopefully you follow these guidelines, and hopefully they work for you. Good luck everyone!

Week 14 Fantasy Rankings

My top 25 QBs, RBs, and WRs along with my top 15 TEs and D/ST.
Additional comments or questions can be sent to my twitter account: @brock__morris

Quarterbacks 

1. Peyton Manning
2. Aaron Rodgers
3. Robery Griffin III
4. Cam Newton
5. Andrew Luck
6. Drew Brees
7. Tom Brady
8. Josh Freeman
9. Matthew Stafford
10. Eli Manning
11. Matt Schaub
12. Matt Ryan
13. Colin Kaepernick
14. Andy Dalton
15. Tony Romo
16. Russell Wilson
17. Ben Roethlisberger
18. Carson Palmer
19. Jay Cutler
20. Jake Locker
21. Ryan Fitzpatrick
22. Joe Flacco
23. Philip Rivers
24. Sam Bradford
25. Chad Henne

Running Backs

1. Adrian Peterson
2. Doug Martin
3. Arian Foster
4. Trent Richardson
5. Marshawn Lynch
6. Alfred Morris
7. Ray Rice
8. Ahmad Bradshaw
9. Jamaal Charles
10. C.J. Spiller
11. Chris Johnson
12. Bryce Brown
13. BenJarvis Green-Ellis
14. Matt Forte
15. Steven Jackson
16. DeMarco Murray
17. Stevan Ridley
18. Vick Ballard
19. Frank Gore
20. Mikel Leshoure
21. Jonathan Dwyer
22. Knowshon Moreno
23. Michael Turner
24. Darren Sproles
25. Ryan Matthews

Wide Receivers

1. Calvin Johnson
2. A.J. Green
3. Demaryius Thomas
4. Andre Johnson
5. Vincent Jackson
6. Brandon Marshall
7. Reggie Wayne
8. Victor Cruz
9. Roddy White
10. Wes Welker
11. Dez Bryant
12. Julio Jones
13. Marques Colston
14. Randall Cobb
15. Pierre Garcon
16. Eric Decker
17. Torrey Smith
18. Greg Jennings
19. Lance Moore
20. T.Y. Hilton
21. Stevie Johnson
22. Hakeem Nicks
23. Steve Smith
24. Chris Givens
25. Mike Williams

Tight Ends

1. Jimmy Graham
2. Tony Gonzalez
3. Owen Daniels
4. Jason Witten
5. Kyle Rudolph
6. Aaron Hernandez
7. Heath Miller
8. Brandon Myers
9. Martellus Bennett
10. Jermaine Gresham
11. Brandon Pettigrew
12. Antonio Gates
13. Jacob Tamme
14. Vernon Davis
15. Brent Celek

D/ST

1. Seahawks
2. 49ers
3. Broncos
4. Bears
5. Steelers
6. Buccaneers
7. Browns
8. Jets
9. Bengals
10. Patriots
11. Rams
12. Giants
13. Falcons
14. Chargers
15. Texans


this article can also be found at:
http://www.cappershub.com/week-14-fantasy-rankings/

Studs/Duds Week 14

Sorry everyone, I've dropped the ball recently on this article. But on the bright side, if you're taking the time to read this you're most likely in your fantasy league's playoffs. Good job! If not, then thanks for being so interested in my writing to check it out still. I'm not going to do a recap here since...well, I didn't do a Studs/Duds/Locks last week. The major theme here now that it's playoff time is TRUST. Start the players that you can trust. These are the players that have gotten you where you are, and that are consistent. With that said, let's get down to business.

Week 14 Studs

Peyton looks better than ever this season.

Peyton Manning QB Denver Broncos
It almost goes without saying at this point - you're starting Peyton Manning every single week. He's a stud. I'm just putting him here to reiterate this. Oh, and I guess I could mention that he's going up against the Raiders tonight, who have given up 24 touchdowns through the air along with over 250 passing yards a game.

Andrew Luck QB Indianapolis Colts
This kid is coming off of a huge game against Detroit, and I expect the same type of performance against a weak Titans pass defense. They have given up the eighth most fantasy points to quarterbacks, and have given up the same number of passing touchdowns as the Raiders. Luck also averages over 300 passing yards a game inside of domes. That's a nice little stat nugget seeing as the Colts will be playing at home.

Josh Freeman QB Tampa Bay Buccaneers
In case you haven't been paying attention, the Eagles punched their time cards weeks ago to start their off-season early. The Eagles have given up over 25 fantasy points per week to opposing quarterbacks the last three weeks. Plug him in with confidence.

Ahmad Bradshaw RB New York Giants
With Andre Brown out for the season, Bradshaw has received an even bigger bulk of the backfield workload with the Giants. The Giants will likely run the ball a lot to try and control the clock and keep Drew Brees and the Saints offense off the field. Plus, if you didn't know guys, the Saints are still the 32nd ranked run defense. They give up 150 yards a game, and have surrendered 11 touchdowns on the ground.

Alfred Morris RB Washington Redskins
Man, is this kid good. He is coming off a 124 yard performance against the Giants (yes, I know he fumbled in that game...so what), and has a great match-up against the Ravens this weekend. Ray Lewis still won't be on the field, and T Sizzle might not be either. The Ravens are still giving up huge rushing numbers (125 yards per game), and will get smoked by this rookie. 

Chris Johnson RB Tennessee Titans
As bad and inconsistent as CJ2K has been this season, he did rush for 99 yards the last time he played the Colts, and he averages over 100 yards from scrimmage against them. Also, the Colts have allowed 12 rushing touchdowns this season. Hard to put your trust in him, I know, but it shouldn't backfire on you this time.

Eric Decker WR Denver Broncos
We all know Demaryius Thomas has been a stud, and that Decker's production has dropped off in recent weeks. BUT, I think Decker is due for a bounce back game, and what better time to bounce back than against the Raiders - whom he scored 13 fantasy points against in the previous match-up this season. Also, see: Peyton Manning.

Randall Cobb WR Green Bay Packers
If you haven't jumped on this bandwagon yet, where the hell have you been? With Jordy Nelson looking like he will miss Sunday night's game, and Greg Jennings only in his second game back from injury, Randall Cobb should see an abundance of targets. The Lions pass defense isn't so hot, either.

T.Y. Hilton WR Indianapolis Colts
Hilton has had double digit fantasy points in four of the last five games, and is a big play threat both on offense and on special teams. See: Andrew Luck.

Martellus Bennett TE New York Giants
Nice to see you again, Martellus! The Black Unicorn posted his first double digit fantasy point game since Week 3 last week against the Redskins. He also got in the end zone for the first time in that same span. He's got a good chance to get there again this Sunday, the Saints have allowed a tight end to score a touchdown in each of their last four games.

Kyle Rudolph TE Minnesota Vikings
I hate to do it, since I wrote this dude off a few weeks ago, but I have to put him in here. He's been on a hot streak the last three games, catching a touchdown and posting double digit fantasy points in each game. He has become Christian Ponder's favorite red zone target, and should be getting more targets elsewhere on the field in the absence of Percy Harvin. Don't make me regret putting you in here Kyle.

Buccaneers D/ST
This just in; the Eagles are terrible. Okay, maybe not just in...

Browns D/ST
Cleveland has averaged more than 10 fantasy points per game on their home field. Oh, and [insert defense playing Kansas City here].

Week 14 Duds

Joe Flacco QB Baltimore Ravens
I don't care that Fluke-o is going up against the Redskins secondary. This guy is too inconsistent to trust, and trust is what you must have in your fantasy team in the playoffs.

Philip Rivers QB San Diego Chargers
Here's another guy that has just proven he cannot be trusted this season. Not to mention, he plays the Steelers this week, who have given up the second fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks.

Ryan Matthews RB San Diego Chargers
It almost goes without saying at this point, you shouldn't be starting Matthews. Ever. No matter what the match-up is. I've had him in my Duds section in almost every article I've written this year. Things aren't changing any time soon.

Reggie Bush RB Miami Dolphins
He has scored six or fewer fantasy points three of his past four games, and is still losing carries to Daniel Thomas. I think he has a tough match-up this week, too. Those 49ers guys are kind of good at defending the run.

Larry Fitzgerald WR Arizona Cardinals
I feel so bad for this guy. His infinite talent is going to waste in Arizona. None of the quarterbacks on that roster can get him the ball, hell, none of them can get anyone the ball. John Skelton starting at quarterback and Seattle cornerback Brandon Browner being suspended aren't even enough to help this situation. What's the theme this week? You just can't trust that Fitzgerald can get you the points you need at this point.

Denarius Moore WR Oakland Raiders
Single digit fantasy points in his last three games, and he'll be matched up against Champ Bailey tonight. Don't expect anything crazy here.

Brian Hartline WR Miami Dolphins
Single digit points in his last FOUR games in a row now. Also, the 49ers. Can't trust it.

Vernon Davis owners have been crying much of this season.

Vernon Davis TE San Francisco 49ers
What a disappointment this guy has been. I wrote about him in one of my recent articles, can't remember which one. Anyway, there is absolutely ZERO trust here. He'll be lucky to get two receptions. If you're chasing a championship do not start him.

Texans D/ST
The Texans have proven they can be thrown on in recent weeks, and they're pretty banged up. Going up against Tom Brady and the Patriots offense? No thanks.

Eagles D/ST
You weren't seriously considering starting this defense, were you? I didn't think so. Literally ANY other defense will be a better play.



this article can also be found at:
http://www.cappershub.com/studs-duds-week-14/

Week 13 Fantasy Rankings

My top 25 QBs, RBs, and WRs along with my top 15 TEs and D/ST.
Additional comments or questions can be sent to my twitter account: @brock__morris

Quarterbacks

1. Aaron Rodgers
2. Peyton Manning
3. Tom Brady
4. Matt Ryan
5. Drew Brees
6. Tony Romo
7. Robert Griffin III
8. Eli Manning
9. Cam Newton
10. Andy Dalton
11. Matthew Stafford
12. Colin Kaepernick
13. Matt Schaub
14. Andrew Luck
15. Ryan Fitzpatrick
16. Ryan Tannehill
17. Carson Palmer
18. Chad Henne
19. Josh Freeman
20. Joe Flacco
21. Philip Rivers
22. Jay Cutler
23. Brandon Weeden
24. Jake Locker
25. Sam Bradford

Running Backs

1. Arian Foster
2. Adrian Peterson
3. Trent Richardson
4. Jamaal Charles
5. Ray Rice
6. Doug Martin
7. C.J. Spiller
8. Alfred Morris
9. Marshawn Lynch
10. Frank Gore
11. Bryce Brown
12. Ahmad Bradshaw
13. Stevan Ridley
14. Chris Johnson
15. BenJarvis Green-Ellis
16. Mikel Leshoure
17. Darren Sproles
18. Jaquizz Rodgers
19. Steven Jackson
20. Marcel Reece
21. Shonn Greene
22. Felix Jones
23. Reggie Bush
24. Michael Turner
25. Michael Bush/Matt Forte

Wide Receivers

1. A.J. Green
2. Calvin Johnson
3. Demaryius Thomas
4. Roddy White
5. Julio Jones
6. Eric Decker
7. Andre Johnson
8. Hakeem Nicks
9. Reggie Wayne
10. Victor Cruz
11. Wes Welker
12. Dez Bryant
13. Randall Cobb
14. Marques Colston
15. Jordy Nelson
16. Stevie Johnson
17. Cecil Shorts
18. Brandon Marshall
19. Steve Smith
20. Vincent Jackson
21. Lance Moore
22. Denarius Moore
23. Danario Alexander
24. Larry Fitzgerald
25. Justin Blackmon

Tight Ends

1. Jimmy Graham
2. Tony Gonzalez
3. Jason Witten
4. Aaron Hernandez
5. Owen Daniels
6. Jermaine Gresham
7. Brandon Pettigrew
8. Antonio Gates
9. Heath Miller
10. Martellus Bennett
11. Greg Olsen
12. Kyle Rudolph
13. Vernon Davis
14. Dallas Clark
15. Dennis Pitta

D/ST

1. Bears
2. Texans
3. 49ers
4. Broncos
5. Patriots
6. Ravens
7. Jets
8. Cowboys
9. Cardinals
10. Seahawks
11. Panthers
12. Bengals
13. Browns
14. Packers
15. Steelers 


this article can also be found at:
http://www.cappershub.com/week-13-fantasy-rankings/ 

Andy Reid Era Coming To An End

The Andy Reid chapter in Philly is in danger of ending.

      The Andy Reid era in Philadelphia will most likely come to an end after this season. Reid has been the head coach for the Eagles for almost as long as I can remember, and has had a lot of success.
     During his 13 years with the Eagles, Andy Reid has a 129-86-1 record, regular season and playoffs combined. He has the highest win total, best winning percentage, and most playoff victories as head coach in team history. He led the Eagles to five NFC championship games, and even a Super Bowl appearance in 2004.
     Despite all of this success, Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie put a lot of pressure on Reid coming into the current season. The Eagles finished last season with an 8-8 record, which was then deemed "unacceptable" by Lurie in a January press conference. The team also missed the post-season, for only the third time in Reid's tenure as head coach.

      But Lurie hasn't been the only person putting high expectations on this team. When the Eagles brought in all those big name free agents going into 2011 (Vince Young, Nnamdi Asomugha, Jason Babin, Cullen Jenkins, and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie), Vince Young said the Eagles were a "dream team." Quarterback Michael Vick then added fuel to the fire this off-season, saying the team had the potential to be a "dynasty."
     This Eagles team has failed to live up to the hype. Plain and simple. After a mediocre 8-8 finish to the 2011-2012 season, the team started the 2012-2013 season on a positive note at 3-1 (albeit a lucky 3-1). However, since then the Eagles have lost six straight, and have fallen to 3-7. The team is in free fall. Andy Reid's future with Philadelphia looks dismal at this point, given everything that has been said about the expectations placed on this squad.
      Reid definitely isn't solely to blame for the Eagles' struggles. Unfortunately for Andy, he basically tied his coaching fate to his faith in starting quarterback Michael Vick, who has been disappointing to say the least. Number one, Vick has health issues every season. It's hard to be a good, consistent quarterback in the NFL when you can't consistently be on the field. Number two, after nearly ten years in the league, Vick still doesn't possess the ability to read and decipher a defense pre-snap. He also isn't the same quarterback that he was in his days with Atlanta - he's aging. His legs can't bail him out like they used to. To top it all off, he's a turnover machine. In my opinion, Vick is no longer a starting caliber quarterback in this league. By the way, Nick Foles isn't yet either.
     There's a handful of other issues, too. The offensive line has been suspect, that's nothing new. LeSean 'Shady' McCoy has been grossly mishandled this season. Shady is too talented a running back to get less than twenty touches a game, but apparently offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg didn't get that memo.
     Another issue has been the Eagles' defense. Juan Castillo was in way over his head when they gave him the defensive coordinator job prior to the 2011 season. Can you really expect an offensive line coach to just snap his fingers and become a successful defensive coordinator? Castillo does have defensive coaching experience, but he hadn't been on the defensive side of the ball since 1989. Oh, and never on the NFL level. Anyway, the defense struggled from the get-go under Castillo, and never really got on its feet. This resulted in Reid having to fire his good friend in mid October of this season. Castillo was replaced by secondary coach Todd Bowles...and there still hasn't been really any improvement.
      At this point in the season, the team almost seems to have quit on Andy Reid. The last game they played against Washington was an embarrassment. Players forming cliques on the sidelines. Fighting with each other. Pointing fingers. Blowing assignments. They just seemed to play with no heart. Many people are saying he's lost the locker room. Reid doesn't have the control over this team that he normally wields.
     You have to wonder though if Andy's head is still, or if it ever was, completely in it this season. Just days before the Eagles' first pre-season game, Andy Reid's son Garrett was found dead in his room at Lehigh University. Personally, I couldn't imagine coaching a team after such a loss. Somehow, Andy mustered up the strength to come back and coach that first pre-season game. But you have to imagine at this point, maybe its weighing on him more than he let on in the early part of the season. It has to be. He seems to be lacking focus just like his players. Maybe he should've taken some time off. I've read a few articles suggesting he should have taken the entire year off. In any case, he didn't, and now on top of the tragedy that took place before the season, his job and lively hood will be in jeopardy come January.
     Some of you, such as myself, may feel bad for Andy Reid. On the other hand, some of you may say 'Well, too bad. You're contractually obligated to coach this team...and you chose not to take any time off.' Whatever side you're on, you still have to respect Reid's body of work at Philadelphia and the success he's had overall. Yeah, the end of his tenure isn't going to look pretty, but overall I'd say he had a damn good run. This coming from a Giants fan. That's gotta count for something.

Studs/Duds/Locks Week 11

Studs/Duds/Locks Week 10 recap:

Where I was right: Matt Ryan, Andrew Luck, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Stevan Ridley, Reggie Wayne, Roddy White & Julio Jones, Stevie Johnson, Brian Hartline, Tony Gonzalez, Steelers D/ST, Seahawks D/ST, Michael Vick, Daryl Richardson, Ryan Matthews, Jared Cook, Jacob Tamme, Falcons D/ST, and BOTH Lock picks.

Where I was wrong: Ben Roethlisberger, Reggie Bush, Willis McGahee, Vick Ballard, Heath Miller, Jason Witten, Carson Palmer, Christian Ponder, Steven Jackson, Felix Jones, Jeremy Maclin, Denarius Moore, Kyle Rudolph.

Didn't have as great a week as I did last week, but I still got more right than I did wrong. Hopefully I can hit a better percentage this week. Let's get down to business.

Week 11 Studs

Palmer should light up the Saints secondary.

Carson Palmer QB Oakland Raiders
Who would've thought Carson Palmer would be a good fantasy option at this point in the season? He's been on fire recently, scoring 18+ fantasy points in three of his last four games. To make things even better, his match-up this week against the Saints is mouth watering. The Saints have the 31st ranked pass defense, and give up an average of 26 fantasy points a game to opposing quarterbacks on the road.

Andrew Luck QB Indianapolis Colts
Luck is once again in the Studs section this week, and why wouldn't he be when his match-up is against a Patriots defense that is ranked 29th against the pass? The Pats give up nearly 300 yards a game through the air, and have given up a total of 19 passing touchdowns. Not to mention the Patriots give up an average of 18 fantasy points a game to quarterbacks that visit Gilette Stadium. 

Andy Dalton QB Cincinnati Bengals
Here's another guy who's been a surprisingly good fantasy option this season, and is coming off a 23 point game against the Giants. Dalton gets to face the Chiefs this week, who have allowed 18 touchdown passes and an average of just about 17 fantasy points a game to opposing quarterbacks.

Sleeper Alert: Ryan Tannehill QB Miami Dolphins
I know Tannehill had a completely miserable game against the Titans last week, but his match-up with the Bills tonight isn't all that bad. The Bills defense gives up almost 250 passing yards a game, has surrendered 18 passing touchdowns, and has only 6 interceptions on the year. Tannehill could be a good pick up and play guy if you're desperate.

Stevan Ridley RB New England Patriots
Ridley is also once again on the studs list, due to a great match-up against the Colts. Indi's defense gives up an average of 120 yards a game to running backs, and I'd like to assume that Ridley will get the bulk of the backfield carries. Hopefully, Ridley won't have any touchdowns vultured by Danny Woodhead or Shane Vereen this week.
  
Marcel Reece RB Oakland Raiders
With both Darren McFadden and Mike Goodson out once again this week, Marcel Reece turns into a solid starting option at home against the Saints. The Saints give up an average of over 160 yards a game on the ground, along with an average of 23 fantasy points a game to opposing running backs on the road this season.

C.J. Spiller RB Buffalo Bills
Don't be scared of Miami's 5th ranked rushing defense with this guy. With Fred Jackson missing the game tonight, Spiller will see a bigger workload than usual. So far this guy has been match-up proof, and should be able to do so again tonight due to the effectiveness he will have in the passing game as well as on the ground.

Sleeper Alert: LaRod Stephens-Howling RB Arizona Cardinals
This one is more for people who are either in deeper leagues, or have been decimated by injuries at the running back spot. Believe it or not, this guy has had rushing touchdowns in two of his last three games, and the Falcons give up the seventh most fantasy points to opposing running backs. Did anyone see what Chris Ivory did to them last week? Might be worth a roll of the dice.

Denarius Moore WR Oakland Raiders
In case you didn't know, the Saints give up an average of  over 300 passing yards a game and have given up 19 passing touchdowns. Also, hows this for a blistering stat? The Saints have given up an average of 37 fantasy points a game to wide receivers on the road. Holy cow.

Jeremy Maclin WR Philadelphia Eagles
Once Nick Foles took over last week, Maclin got 11 targets to DeSean Jackson's 5. If that trend continues, Maclin should have a field day against a Redskins defense that has allowed more than 300 yards a game in the air along with 20 touchdowns.

Eric Decker WR Denver Broncos
Yes, I know Decker only had 2 catches last week, but don't hit the panic button. The Chargers defense gives up the eighth most fantasy points to opposing wideouts. That, and the last time Decker went up against this defense he caught 6 passes for 98 yards and a touchdown. Start him with confidence.

Sleeper Alert: Brian Hartline WR Miami Dolphins
Despite the Dolphins getting absolutely crushed last week by the Titans, Hartline is coming off of a decent game - 8 catches for 79 yards. For more info, see: Ryan Tannehill.

Antonio Gates TE San Diego Chargers
Gates finally seems to be back on his game, scoring double-digit fantasy points in consecutive weeks. This trend is likely to continue against a Broncos defense that has given up the most fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season.

Greg Olsen TE Carolina Panthers
If you've been starting this guy recently, keep on rolling with it. Olsen has been the fourth highest scoring tight end the past month, and the Bucs defense has proven it can be thrown on.

Bengals D/ST
Which team is playing the Kansas City Chiefs this week? Oh, that's right...the Bengals are.

Rams D/ST
The Rams get the Jets at home this week. This was something I touched on in last weeks Studs/Duds/Locks when I had the Seahawks defense in the Studs section. Defenses playing at home against Sanchez and co. have scored the fourth most fantasy points.

Week 11 Duds

Cam Newton QB Carolina Panthers
Newton had an awful game earlier this season against the Bucs, and he hasn't quite fully regained my trust yet. Personally, I'm benching him.

Flacco has been a huge ball of inconsistency.

Joe Flacco QB Baltimore Ravens
Flacco has been wildly inconsistent this season, and the Steelers defense only allows about 11 fantasy points a game to quarterbacks on their home field. Don't start him unless you have absolutely NO other options.


Ryan Matthews RB San Diego Chargers
Here he is again folks. Not only has he not scored double-digit fantasy points since Week 5, but the Broncos have a top 10 rushing defense. Oh, and he has missed practice yet again today due to a neck injury. Don't expect much out of him come Sunday.

 
Rashad Jennings RB Jacksonville Jaguars
What a disappointment this guy has been. His match-up against the Texans is a rough one, too - they give up less than 100 rushing yards per game and haven't allowed a single touchdown on the ground this season.

Matt Forte RB Chicago Bears
That's right, I went there. After a disappointing game against the Texans, I can't expect much better against the 49ers. Sorry Matt.

Anquan Boldin WR Baltimore Ravens
For three games in a row now, Boldin has failed to score more than 5 fantasy points. Couple that with a tough match-up against the Steelers - who have given up the second fewest points to wideouts on their home turf - and there's no reason he should be in your starting lineup.

Malcolm Floyd WR San Diego Chargers
Champ Bailey and the Bronco's secondary held Floyd to 60 yards and no touchdowns last time these two teams met. I don't see a whole lot changing this time around.

Vernon Davis TE San Francisco 49ers
I am personally fed up with this guy. I had such high hopes for him after the first three weeks of the season. Since then, he has only scored double-digit fantasy points one time, and scored 3 or less points in the other four games. His match-up against the Bears on Monday night isn't good either. The Bears allow the fourth fewest fantasy points to opposing tight ends.

Lions D/ST
Do you think the Lions will be able to shut down Aaron Rodgers? I don't either.

Cardinals D/ST
This just isn't the same defense that it was earlier in the season. That, and they play a Falcon team that can put up points with the best of them.

Week 11 Locks

Packers giving 3 points to the Lions
Sorry, but the Lions don't stand a chance in this game. I don't have much to say about this one. Packers by 10.

Colts getting 9.5 points from the Patriots
The Patriots have struggled at home recently with mediocre teams, especially against the point spread. The Colts will be able to put up points on the suspect Patriots secondary. I don't look for the Colts to win this game, but I don't see them losing by more than the spread.



this article can also be found at:
http://www.cappershub.com/studsdudslocks-week-11/

Week 11 Fantasy Rankings

My top 25 QBs, RBs, and WRs along with my top 15 TEs and D/ST.
Additional comments or questions can be sent to my twitter account: @brock__morris

Teams on Bye this week: Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans

Quarterbacks

1. Aaron Rodgers
2. Drew Brees
3. Matt Ryan
4. Peyton Manning
5. Tom Brady
6. Andrew Luck
7. Carson Palmer
8. Matthew Stafford
9. Robert Griffin III
10. Ryan Fitzpatrick
11. Tony Romo
12. Andy Dalton
13. Josh Freeman
14. Matt Schaub
15. Ryan Tannehill
16. Joe Flacco
17. Philip Rivers
18. Cam Newton
19. Alex Smith
20. Sam Bradford
21. Nick Foles
22. Brandon Weeden
23. Mark Sanchez
24. Jason Campbell
25. John Skelton

Running Backs

1. Arian Foster
2. Doug Martin
3. Stevan Ridley
4. Ray Rice
5. Trent Richardson
6. LeSean McCoy
7. Alfred Morris
8. Reggie Bush
9. Willis McGahee
10. C.J. Spiller
11. Jamaal Charles
12. Marcel Reece
13. Matt Forte
14. Frank Gore
15. Steven Jackson
16. Mikel Leshoure
17. Benjarvis Green-Ellis
18. Shonn Greene
19. Michael Turner
20. Jonathan Dwyer
21. Ryan Matthews
22. Daniel Thomas
23. Felix Jones
24. Chris Ivory
25. Donald Brown

Wide Receivers

1. A.J. Green
2. Reggie Wayne
3. Calvin Johnson
4. Roddy White
5. Marques Colston
6. Denarius Moore
7. Wes Welker
8. Julio Jones
9. Demaryius Thomas
10. Brandon Marshall
11. Eric Decker
12. Larry Fitzgerald
13. Randall Cobb
14. Miles Austin
15. Stevie Johnson
16. Brian Hartline
17. Danny Amendola
18. Andre Johnson
19. Jordy Nelson
20. Steve Smith
21. Dez Bryant
22. Desean Jackson
23. Mike Wallace
24. James Jones
25. Torrey Smith

Tight Ends

1. Jimmy Graham
2. Rob Gronkowski
3. Tony Gonzalez
4. Jason Witten
5. Heath Miller
6. Greg Olsen
7. Antonio Gates
8. Owen Daniels
9. Jermaine Gresham
10. Scott Chandler
11. Aaron Hernandez
12. Brent Celek
13. Dustin Keller
14. Vernon Davis
15. Dwayne Allen

D/ST

1. Texans
2. 49ers
3. Bears
4. Bengals
5. Broncos
6. Ravens
7. Cowboys
8. Rams
9. Falcons
10. Steelers
11. Jets
12. Packers
13. Bucs
14. Patriots
15. Dolphins


this article can also be found at:
http://www.cappershub.com/week-11-fantasy-rankings/ 

Week 10 Fantasy Rankings

*This was written prior to the Thursday night game

My top 25 QBs, RBs, and WRs along with my top 15 TEs and D/ST.
Additional comments or questions can be sent to my twitter account: @brock__morris

Teams on Bye This Week: Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, Washington Redskins

Quarterbacks
                    
1. Tom Brady
2. Matt Ryan
3. Peyton Manning
4. Drew Brees
5. Ben Roethlisberger
6. Matthew Stafford  
7. Andrew Luck
8. Eli Manning
9. Josh Freeman
10. Cam Newton
11. Ryan Fitzpatrick
12. Joe Flacco
13. Andy Dalton
14. Ryan Tannehill
15. Matt Schaub
16. Tony Romo
17. Carson Palmer
18. Alex Smith
19. Philip Rivers
20. Jay Cutler
21. Michael Vick
22. Sam Bradford
23. Russell Wilson
24. Matt Hasselbeck
25. Christian Ponder

Running Backs


1. Ray Rice
2. Adrian Peterson
3. Arian Foster
4. Doug Martin
5. Stevan Ridley
6. Marshawn Lynch
7. Willis McGahee
8. LeSean McCoy
9. Reggie Bush
10. Frank Gore
11. Matt Forte
12. C.J. Spiller
13. Mikel Leshoure
14. Michael Turner
15. Ahmad Bradshaw
16. Fred Jackson
17. Vick Ballard
18. Rashad Jennings
19. Isaac Redman
20. Jamaal Charles
21. Chris Johnson
22. Benjarvis Green-Ellis
23. Shonn Greene
24. Pierre Thomas
25. Ryan Matthews

Wide Receivers

1. AJ Green
2. Roddy White
3. Julio Jones
4. Reggie Wayne
5. Victor Cruz
6. Brandon Marshall
7. Wes Welker
8. Calvin Johnson
9. Eric Decker
10. Stevie Johnson
11. Marques Colston
12. Andre Johnson
13. Brian Hartline
14. Brandon Lloyd
15. Vincent Jackson
16. Mike Wallace
17. Miles Austin
18. Demaryius Thomas
19. Steve Smith
20. Torrey Smith
21. Dwayne Bowe
22. Mike Williams
23. Emmanuel Sanders
24. Denarius Moore
25. Dez Bryant

Tight Ends

1. Rob Gronkowski
2. Jimmy Graham
3. Tony Gonzalez
4. Heath Miller
5. Aaron Hernandez
6. Jason Witten
7. Owen Daniels
8. Jermaine Gresham
9. Antonio Gates
10. Dustin Keller
11. Vernon Davis
12. Brandon Myers
13. Scott Chandler
14. Dwayne Allen
15. Brent Celek

D/ST

1. Steelers D/ST
2. Bears D/ST
3. 49ers D/ST
4. Seahawks D/ST
5. Texans D/ST
6. Dolphins D/ST
7. Giants D/ST
8. Broncos D/ST
9. Cowboys D/ST
10. Ravens D/ST
11. Patriots D/ST
12. Jets D/ST
13. Vikings D/ST
14. Lions D/ST
15. Buccaneers D/ST


this article can also be found at:
http://www.cappershub.com/week-10-fantasy-rankings/ 

Studs/Duds/Locks Week 10

Before I get started, I’m going to do something new here. I’m going to quickly recap last week’s Studs/Duds/Locks, pointing out where I was right and where I was wrong. This is something I’ll most likely incorporate into every article going forward. With that said, let’s get started.

My Studs/Duds/Locks Week 9 recap:

Where I was right: Cam Newton, Josh Freeman, Doug Martin, Trent Richardson, Steve Smith, DeSean Jackson, Packers D/ST, Chargers D/ST, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Christian Ponder, Fred Jackson, Percy Harvin, Kenny Britt, Jermichael Finley, Dennis Pitta, Eagles D/ST, and BOTH my Lock picks.

Where I was wrong: Matthew Stafford, Alfred Morris, Denarius Moore, Greg Olsen, Adrian Peterson.

Overall, I’d say I had a great week, other than being completely wrong about Adrian Peterson. That was a prime example of the “never bench your stud player(s), no matter what the match-up is” theory. That move actually almost cost me in one of my leagues. Woops. Let’s hope I’m not THAT wrong about someone again this week. Also, anytime I mention fantasy points in this article, its referring to leagues with standard scoring in place.

Week 10 Studs

Matt Ryan QB Atlanta Falcons

Matty Ice gets the New Orleans Saints this weekend. The Saints have given up 16 touchdowns and nearly 300 yards a game through the air this season, and an average of 21 fantasy points a game to opposing quarterbacks.

Luck has been a pleasant surprise for fantasy owners.

Andrew Luck QB Indianapolis Colts

Indi’s rookie sensation gets to pick on the 25th ranked Jacksonville pass defense on Thursday night. Luck scored 23 fantasy points the last time he and the Jags met. Look for similar numbers this time around.

Ben Roethlisberger QB Pittsburgh Steelers

Big Ben has been pretty consistent this year, averaging 17 fantasy points a game. The Chiefs have given up 17 touchdowns through the air this year, along with an average of 17 fantasy points a game to opposing quarterbacks. See the theme here?

Sleeper Alert: Ryan Fitzpatrick QB Buffalo Bills

Fitz is going up against a suspect New England secondary that has given up 17 touchdowns through the air, and the 6th most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season. He also scored 23 fantasy points last time these two teams met. It’s a good match-up play if you have a QB on a bye this week.

Reggie Bush RB Miami Dolphins

Although his touches seem to be diminishing, his Week 10 match-up is a great one against the Titans. They give up 141 yards a game, and have given up 9 touchdowns on the ground this season – the fourth most fantasy points to opposing running backs.

Willis McGahee RB Denver Broncos

Just like Alfred Morris last week, McGahee goes up against the Panthers run defense this week. Hopefully he’ll be able to take better advantage of the match-up than Morris did.

Stevan Ridley RB New England Patriots

The Patriots backfield is becoming almost as unpredictable as the Redskins backfield was last season. Assuming Ridley gets the majority of the touches, he should be able to have a solid game once again against the Bills (he ran for over 100 yards and 2 touchdowns in Week 4 against these boys). The Bills defense ranks 31st against the run – giving up the second most fantasy points to running backs, an average of 170 yards a game, and more rushing touchdowns than any other team (14).

Sleeper Alert: Vick Ballard RB Indianapolis Colts

Donald Brown is currently being hampered by injury and might not play this week. This should mean that Vick Ballard will get the bulk of the carries Thursday night against a Jacksonville defense that gives up over 130 yards a game, and has surrendered 12 touchdowns on the ground this season.

Reggie Wayne WR Indianapolis Colts

Wayne has been an absolute beast this season. He is Andrew Luck’s favorite weapon and leads the team in targets. See: Andrew Luck.

Roddy White & Julio Jones WRs Atlanta Falcons

Once again, the Saints have given up 16 touchdowns and nearly 300 yards a game through the air this season. No brainer.

Stevie Johnson WR Buffalo Bills

Unless he has a major setback with his thigh injury, Johnson is a great start this week against the Patriots defense. They give up the fifth most fantasy points to wide receivers. He didn’t have a great game last time these two teams met, but that can be blamed entirely on Fitzpatrick, who missed Johnson on two wide open plays that would’ve been touchdowns. Hopefully Fitz will hit Stevie this time around.

Sleeper Alert: Brian Hartline WR Miami Dolphins

Hartline finally had himself a bounce back week last week against the Colts, catching 8 passes for 107 yards. He should be able to keep the momentum going against a Titans defense that ranks 27th against the pass, and has given up 20 touchdowns through the air.

Heath Miller TE Pittsburgh Steelers 

Heeeeeeeeeeeath has been a pleasant surprise this year in fantasy land. Most of his success is touchdown reliant, but they’ve been there and should continue to be there against a Chiefs defense that has given up the fifth most touchdown receptions to opposing tight ends this season.

Tony Gonzalez TE Atlanta Falcons

See: Roddy White & Julio Jones, or Matt Ryan.

Jason Witten TE Dallas Cowboys

Boy, do I regret giving up on this guy early on in the season. Witten has come alive in a big way since the Chicago game, and after seeing what Jimmy Graham did to the struggling Eagles defense last Sunday night…this guy should be money in the bank this week. 

Steelers D/ST

You guys remember how I said last week that the Chiefs give up the most fantasy points out of any other team to the defenses they play? And how the Chargers defense put up 25 points against them last week?  The trend has become to play whatever defense is going against the Chiefs. Follow the trend again this week.

Seahawks D/ST

Gang green comes to Seattle this weekend. The Seahawks play awfully tough at home, and defenses who have gone up against Sanchez and co. have racked up the seventh most fantasy points this season.

Week 10 Duds

Carson Palmer QB Oakland Raiders

Palmer has been pretty good recently, but he still turns the ball over a little too much for my liking. The Ravens defense isn’t what it used to be, but they’ve only given up 6 scores through the air this season and the third fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks. Start him at your own risk.

Vick took a beating from the Saints.

Michael Vick QB Philadelphia Eagles

Vick could barely stand to deliver the ball against the Saints, nevermind against a Rob Ryan defense in Dallas. Expect the boys to bring the heat on Vick, which will most likely result in turnovers because lets face it…that’s what Vick does. Don’t be surprised if he comes out of Dallas with less than 12 fantasy points.

Christian Ponder QB Minnesota Vikings

Ponder has done nothing recently to warrant being a fantasy starter. With the possibility of not having his ONE play-maker, Percy Harvin, on the field Sunday I just don’t see anything great happening here.

Steven Jackson & Daryl Richardson RBs St. Louis Rams

[Insert RB(s) facing the 49ers defense here.]

Felix Jones RB Dallas Cowboys

Yeah, I know Felix will be getting the start again this Sunday with Murray still being out, but this guy has just been straight garbage since the Ravens game. Leave him on the bench.

Ryan Matthews RB San Diego Chargers

Once again Matthews was hyped up by every single fantasy football analyst before the season, and once again he’s been a pretty big disappointment. I was never too high on this guy, myself. His match-up this week against the Bucs isn’t a good one either – they give up the fewest yards per game to running backs. Couple that with the fact that Matthews has only found the end zone ONCE this season, and you have the reasons he is on my Duds list.

Jeremy Maclin WR Philadelphia Eagles

If this guy can’t produce against the Saints, what’s supposed to make me think he can produce against the Cowboys? The boys give up the fifth fewest fantasy points to wideouts. That, and Vick probably won’t even be able to stay upright long enough to feed Maclin the ball effectively.

Denarius Moore WR Oakland Raiders

Tampa Bay did a nice job limiting Moore last week, and I expect the Ravens to try and mock that strategy. Also, see: Carson Palmer.

Kyle Rudolph TE Minnesota Vikings

If you haven’t called it quits on this guy and dropped him yet…what are you waiting for?! I liked him earler in the season, but after getting a total of ONE point in the past three weeks (with two games having ZERO points), you can’t still possibly be using a roster spot on Rudolph. I’m done with him, and you should be too.

Jared Cook TE Tennessee Titans

Here’s another tight end that has been disappointing this season. He’s only scored double-digit fantasy points once, and that was only because of a touchdown. Don’t expect him to do it again against the Dolphins, either. They haven’t given up a single touchdown to a tight end this season.

Jacob Tamme TE Denver Broncos

Let’s see…what has Tamme done this season? He scored 10 fantasy points in Week 1, but since then hasn’t scored more than 5 in a single game. Another good example of a tight end who shouldn’t even be on your roster at this point.

Falcons D/ST

Are you really going to play the defense that is going up against Drew Brees and the potent Saints offense this week? I didn’t think so.

Week 10 Locks

Seahawks giving 6.5 points to the Jets

Seattle is no joke at home. This defense will limit the Jets offense big time. I can see Seattle winning by 10.

Saints getting 2.5 points from the Falcons

Gonna go a little bold here. The high and mighty undefeated Falcons aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. They’ve only beaten one team with a record over .500 and have struggled with poor teams in their own house. They’ve gotta play on the road in the New Orleans this week. The Saints will put up points on the Falcons defense, and this time I don’t think Matty Ice and the crew will be able to out-pace their opponent.

this article can also be found at:
http://www.cappershub.com/studsdudslocks-week-10/