Cream Rises

The Cincinnati Bengals (6-2) celebrated on the Lions' field Sunday. Victory was the occasion. The backs of their collective minds were occupied, however. Calvin Johnson had a lot to do with it.

The seven-year veteran pulled down nine catches for 155 yards and two touchdowns during the Detroit Lions (5-3) heartbreaking 27-24 loss to Cincinnati, including a 50-yard touchdown reception over three Bengal defenders early in the fourth quarter.
A valiant effort for Megatron, which earns him the league's top Fantasy performance, but in losing fashion. So let's move on, shall we?

Down by ten in the fourth quarter, the Lions put together a 24-point exhibition before the home crowd with  help from Johnson in historic fashion. The Cowboys' (4-4) road trip was spoiled as Johnson corralled 14 catches for a mind-blowing 329 yards and a touchdown in a 31-30 thriller.

Weeks eight and nine will prove to be rather crucial with twelve teams on bye. This week can and will be a pivotal point for owners all across the gridiron of ones and zeroes. Proceed with meticulous caution....


Byes: Arizona, Denver, Detroit, Jacksonville, NY Giants, San Francisco

QB
Nick Foles (Phi @ Oak)
Josh McCown (Chi @ GB)
RB
Mike Tolbert (Car vs Atl)
Daryl Richardson (StL vs Ten)
WR
Timothy Wright (TB @ Sea)
Marvin Jones (Cin @ Mia)
TE
Dallas Clark (Bal @ Cle)
Jordan Reed (Was vs SD)
DEF

Baltimore @ Cle
St. Louis vs Ten

QB
Tom Brady (NE vs Pit)
Matt Ryan (Atl @ Car)
RB
Steven Jackson (Atl @ Car)
Trent Richardson (Ind @ Hou)
WR
Dwayne Bowe (KC @ Buf)
Vincent Jackson (TB @ Sea)
TE
Jermaine Gresham (Cin @ Mia)
Kyle Rudolph (Min @ Dal)
DEF
NY Jets vs NO
Pittsburgh @ NE

Excuses

Expect to be great. Instead of making an excuse and not trying, make an effort. The parking spot farthest away for the store's entrance isn't that bad. Consider it an opportunity for good exercise.

In 2003, a freshman stepped onto the University of Maryland campus. Standing 6' 3", he barely weighed 185 pounds and was recruited as a receiver. He proved he could play multiple positions, including special teams, recording a 4.38 in the 40-yard dash. Although he gained about seventy pounds by his junior season, Vernon Davis never lost any speed, possessing three percent body fat.

Fast forward to 2013, Davis stepped onto the field of Candlestick Park with questions on whether he should play, nursing a hamstring injury. He hauled in eight catches for 180 yards and two touchdowns by the game's end against the Arizona Cardinals (3-4) Sunday afternoon, in victorious fashion. Poor, poor hamstring. Titans, get ready!

No excuses, right? Right?

Byes: New Orleans, Oakland

QB

Sam Bradford (StL @ Car)

Ryan Tannehill (Mia vs Buf)

Andy Dalton (Cin @ Det)

RB

Joseph Randle (Dal @ Phi)

Jacquizz Rodgers (Atl vs TB)

Giovani Bernard (Cin @ Det)

WR

Brian Hartline (Mia vs Buf)

Harry Douglas (Atl vs TB)

Riley Cooper (Phi vs Dal)

TE

Jeff Cumberland (NYJ vs NE)

Dallas Clark (Bal @ Pit)

Delanie Walker (Ten vs SF)

DEF

Miami vs Buf

Pittsburgh vs Bal

Carolina vs StL

QB

Jake Locker (Ten vs SF)

Cam Newton (Car vs StL)

RB

Trent Richardson (Ind vs Den)

Chris Johnson (Ten vs SF)

WR

Dwayne Bowe (KC vs Hou)

Steve Smith (Car vs StL)

TE

Kyle Rudolph (Min @ NYG)

Jermaine Gresham (Cin @ Det)

DEF

Indianapolis vs Den

Baltimore @ Pit

His-story in the Making

Since 1970, only the Texans Matt Schaub and the Lions Matthew Stafford had thrown for 500 yards in a game before Sunday. With 506 yards and five touchdowns, Dallas Cowboys (2-3) quarterback Tony Romo joins them.

Most pessimists would rather focus on the interception he threw in overtime during the Cowboys 51-48 loss to Denver. Or the fact that he is the only quarterback in NFL history to have multiple games with at least five interceptions in the same season (2012). Others would harp on the fact that the 'Boys haven't experienced a winning season since 2009 under Romo's watch.

Surely, the undrafted signal-caller would rather attend to the $119.50 million contract he signed in the off-season. Nonetheless, he is definitely the QB to have on your roster - in Fantasy.
Week six,,,,

Byes: Atlanta, Miami

QB
Joe Flacco (Bal vs GB)
Alex Smith (KC vs Oak)
Colin Kaepernick (SF vs Ari)
RB
Knowshon Moreno (Den vs Jac)
Willis McGahee (Cle vs Det)
Bilal Powell (NYJ vs Pit)
WR
DeAndre Hopkins (Hou vs StL)
Donnie Avery (KC vs Oak)
Josh Gordon (Cle vs Det)
TE
Garrett Graham (Hou vs StL)
Brent Celek (Phi @ TB) 
Greg Olsen (Car @ Min)
DEF

Minnesota vs Car
Denver vs Jac
NY Jets vs Pit

QB
Carson Palmer (Ari @ SF)
Sam Bradford (StL @ Hou)
RB
Eddie Lacy (GB @ Bal)
Darren McFadden (Oak @ KC)
WR
Larry Fitzgerald (Ari @ SF)
Stevie Johnson (Buf vs Cin)
TE
Jermichael Finley (GB @ Bal)
Kyle Rudolph (Min vs Car)
DEF
New England vs NO
Baltimore vs GB

Numero Uno

If daybreak happens each morning when you awake, chances are that tonight when you close your eyes, you can count on one thing to happen when you open them. Absolute reliability.

When Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez retires, he will be a first-ballot and the greatest of all-time at his position. Whenever that is. The 6' 5" tight end is showing no signs of slowing as he dominates defenders nearly twenty years his junior.

Gonzalez was the top-performing player in Fantasy in week four as Atlanta suffered a 30-23 loss to the New England Patriots Sunday in the Georgia Dome.

The California Golden Bear never quit as he caught 12 passes of 14 targets for 149 receiving yards and two touchdowns on the Pats linebackers and safeties. His illumination was in a losing effort, but daybreak cometh.


Byes: Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, Washington

QB
Eli Manning (NYG vs Phi) The Eagles give up 325 passing yards per game, which is second-most in the NFL through four weeks.
Joe Flacco (Bal @ Mia) Although Miami has a solid defense, they yield nearly 300 passing ypg (21st in the NFL).
Terrelle Pryor (Oak vs SD) The Chargers' opposing quarterback rating is 108.9. This should be enough for start if your QB is on bye.
RB
Daryl Richardson (StL vs Jac) The Jaguars are giving up 165 ypg on the ground this season, the league's worst.
Willis McGahee (Cle vs Buf) Buffalo has given up six running plays of twenty yards or more this season. Cleveland should break a couple of big plays on the ground Thursday night.
David Wilson (NYG vs Phi) Wilson will get plenty of touches at home against an Eagles defensive unit that's 26th in the NFL (121.8 rush ypg) versus the run.
WR
Josh Gordon (Cle vs Buf) Gordon is clearly the best receiver on his team, taking on a bottom-ten defense against receivers.
James Jones (GB vs Det) With receivers Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson demanding double-team looks, Jones should get a few one-on-one opportunities.
Tavon Austin (StL vs Jac) During an early bye week, any wide out is worth a play against Jacksonville.
TE
Scott Chandler (Buf @ Cle) Cleveland's defense is strong, especially in the secondary. This should free up targets for Chandler, possibly in the red zone.
Kellen Winslow (NYJ @ Atl) Rookie QB Geno Smith has developed some chemistry with the veteran tight end from Miami.
Charles Clay (Mia vs Bal) Clay has twenty receptions and 245 yards, which is 4th in the league among TE's.
DEF

St. Louis vs Jac
Cleveland vs Buf
Houston @ SF

QB
Andy Dalton (Cin vs NE)
Alex Smith (KC @ Ten)
RB
C.J. Spiller (Buf @ Cle)
Chris Johnson (Ten vs KC)
WR
Stevie Johnson (Buf @ Cle)
Mike Wallace (Mia vs Bal)
TE
Owen Daniels (Hou @ SF)
Jermichael Finley (GB vs Det)
DEF
Chicago vs NO
Seattle @ Ind