Not Black Enough

Byes: New York Giants, San Francisco

QB
Brian Hoyer (Cle vs. Oak)
Carson Palmer (Ari vs Phi)
Charlie Whitehurst (Ten vs Hou)
RB
Shane Vereen (NE vs Chi)
Lamar Miller (Mia @ Jac)
Pierre Thomas (NO vs GB)
WR
Jeremy Kerley (NYJ vs Buf)
Terrence Williams (Dal vs Was)
Brandon LaFell (NE vs Chi)
TE
Owen Daniels (Bal @ Cin)
Jeff Cumberland (NYJ vs Buf)
Brandon Pettigrew (Det @ Atl)
DEF 

Cleveland vs Chicago
Minnesota vs @ TB
NY Jets vs. Buf

QB
Matthew Stafford (Det @ Atl)
Jay Cutler (Chi @ NE)
RB
Steven Jackson (Atl vs Det)
Zac Stacy (StL @ KC)
WR
Calvin Johnson (Det @ Atl)
Brandon Marshall (Chi @ NE)
TE
Jimmy Graham (NO vs GB)
Zach Ertz (Phi @ Ari)
DEF
Seattle @ Car
Arizona vs Phi

Wacko?

Some things just weren't meant to happen. In week six, the Baltimore Ravens (4-2 quarterback Joe Flacco stole the spotlight from Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton and his 107 rushing yards with a 306 yard, five touchdown performance, defeating Tampa Bay (1-5) 48-17 on Sunday.

The 6' 6" Delaware graduate had actually thrown four touchdowns by halftime. The Ravens were flying high Sunday afternoon, but now it's time to move on to face the Falcons.

With that said, let's move on to sleepers for week 7, shall we?

Byes: Philadelphia, Tampa Bay

QB
Derek Carr (Oak vs Ari) Arizona's defense yields 309 passing yards per game, which is last in the NFL.
Brian Hoyer (Cle @ Jac) It's Jacksonville.
Teddy Bridgewater (Min @ Buf) The Bills pass defense ranks 26th (269.2 pass ypg) going against the dynamic rookie signal-caller. Bridgewater should fill in nicely for a QB on bye.
RB
Ahmad Bradshaw (Ind vs Cin) Bradshaw is squaring off against a defensive unit that is giving up over 140 rushing yards per game. Plus Bradshaw has more receptions than AJ Green, Larry Fitzgerald and Roddy White.
Ben Tate (Cle @ Jac)
Joique Bell (Det vs NO)
WR
James Jones (Oak vs Ari)
Andrew Hawkins (Cle @ Jac) Hawkins is clearly the Browns' best receiver playing against a horrible Jaguars defense.
Markus Wheaton (Pit vs Hou)
TE
Levine Toilolo (Atl @ Bal) The 6' 8" second-year Stanford product should get red zone targets on size alone in week seven.
Larry Donnell (NYG @ Dal)
Jordan Reed (Was vs Ten) The Titans secondary is vunerable, allowing 19 passing plays over twenty yards through six games.
DEF
New England vs NYJ
Pittsburgh vs Hou
Buffalo vs Min

QB
Andy Dalton (Cin @ Ind)
Alex Smith (KC @ SD)
RB
Chris Johnson (NYJ @ NE)
Steven Jackson (Atl @ Bal)
WR
Wes Welker (Den vs SF)
Keenan Allen (SD vs KC)
TE
Jordan Cameron (Cle @ Jac)
Coby Fleener (Ind vs Cin)
DEF
San Francisco @ Den
Detroit vs NO

Survival Mode

Only the elite of quarterbacks can read a defensive play pre-snap. It's similar to being able to tell the very near future based on personnel and body language.

Guess what's about to happen next....? Sleepers for week 5.

Before we employ bye week dilemmas, it's only fair that the top Fantasy player from week 4 be recognized.
Eli Manning and the 1-2 Giants went into Landover last Thursday night with apparent intentions of beating the Washington Redskins (1-3) by the score of 45-14 because that's exactly what they did. By the game's end Manning had thrown for 300 yards 4 touchdowns in victorious fashion. Eli looks forward to Atlanta in the Meadowlands on Sunday.

Byes: Miami, Oakland

QB
Mike Glennon (TB vs NO) 
Ryan Fitzpatrick (Hou @ Bal)
Shaun Hill (Det @ Phi)

RB
Matt Asiata (Min @ GB)
Bishop Sankey (Ten Vs Cle) The Browns possess a defensive unit that yields 153.7 yards per game. Plus the rookie is beginning to see an increased workload in total touches going forward.
Khiry Robinson (NO vs TB)


WR
Markus Wheaton (Pit @ Jac)
Golden Tate (Det vs Buf) Buffalo's defense ranks 25th (278.5 rec ypg) in the NFL against air attacks through four games. Tate should be a solid sleeper if your player is on bye.
Brandin Cooks (NO vs TB)

TE
Larry Donnell (NYG vs Atl) Donnell has been targeted thirty-one times which is 5th among tight ends in 2014.
Travis Kelce (KC @ SF)
Jordan Cameron (Cle @ Ten)

DEF

Philadelphia @ Jac
Indianapolis vs Bal
Tennessee vs Cle

QB
Kirk Cousins (Was vs Sea)
Tom Brady (NE vs Cin)

RB
Alfred Morris (Was vs Sea)
C.J. Spiller (Buf @  Det)

WR
A.J Green (Cin @ NE)
Calvin Johnson vs Buf)

TE
Jason Witten (Dal vs Hou)
Antonio Gates (SD vs NYJ)

DEF
Chicago @ NE
Arizona @ Den

Get To Work, Boys!!

Routine pick-up and landfill delivery typically occurs four days per week leaving one weekday to rest.

One must make a conscious effort to be the best  possible competitor. In some cases,
the absolute best output can end in a mediocre result. Just as long as the intangible is not garbage, there's always a chance for victory.

Fortunately, the garbage, or 'Gabbo' moniker can be shaken in 2014 with proper preparation and supreme confidence in self.

Success can obviously start with the draft.
Just don't get too down on yourself and maintain composure throughout the entire process. Even if week one of the regular season is a complete disaster, hold your head high. You can't win them all. History speaks for itself as follows:
2014 ???
2013   L, 148-79
2012  W, 146-96
2011  W, 149-85
2010  W,  80-74, L, 108-81
2009  W, 131-88
2008  W,  96-87

Snap out of the trance of such lopsided defeats.

The best example of proper maintenance of composure despite yet another horrible draft follows below:
Round 1: Doug Martin
Round 2 (via trade): Reggie Wayne
Round 5: Randall Cobb
Round 6: Danny Amendola
Round 9: Tavon Austin
Round 10: Michael Vick
Round 12: Justin Blackmon
Round 13: Joseph Randle

Once again, as expected, adjustments were made as well as a top fourth-place finish in the playoffs despite these laughable selections.

Whoever is matched up against such a competitor in week one will definitely have their hands full. Get to work boys, for work will be cut out for you. Best of luck in 2014's version of Fantasy football!

Catch Up

The 2014 Fantasy football season is here! Now is the perfect time to assemble the iron-clad battle plan for a championship-calibre roster.

Since wide receiver is the deepest position, what better place to start?

Rankings are based on a ppr (point per reception) format.


WR Rankings


1. Demaryius Thomas - Denver
Thomas finished 1st overall in Fantasy points at the wide receiver position in 2013. Since Eric Decker went to New York, the Georgia Tech product should prosper even more in 2014.





 2. Josh Gordon - Cleveland
 3. Julio Jones - Atlanta
 4. Antonio Brown - Pittsburgh
 5. AJ Green - Cincinnati
 6. Brandon Marshall - Chicago

7. Randall Cobb - Green Bay
Some may say he is the next Percy Harvin. Others may convey that he is the heir apparent to Greg Jennings. Perhaps he is just the first Randall Cobb.








8. Alshon Jefferey - Chicago
 9. Andre Johnson - Houston
10. Percy Harvin - Seattle
11. Dez Bryant - Dallas
12. Pierre Garcon - Washington
13. Vincent Jackson - Tampa Bay

14. Eric Decker - NY Jets
The Minnesota Gopher caught eight touchdowns in 2011 with Tim Tebow as his quarterback. Decker will be fine in the Big Apple.










15. DeSean Jackson - Washington

16. Keenan Allen - San Diego
It took the rookie from California only four games to record his first 100-yard game. Allen also led the Chargers in receiving with 1,046 yards in 2013.



17. Jordy Nelson - Green Bay
18. Larry Fitzgerald - Arizona
19. T.Y.Hilton - Indianapolis
20. Julian Edelman - New England
21. Justin Blackmon - Jacksonville
22. Torrey Smith - Baltimore
23. Roddy White - Atlanta
24. Calvin Johnson - Detroit
25. Michael Crabtree - San Francisco
26. Kendall Wright - Tennessee

27. Golden Tate - Detroit
Forget what he did last season. The mere thought of lining up opposite of Calvin Johnson will give Tate many looks from Matthew Stafford alone.










28. Victor Cruz - NY Giants
29. Marques Colston - New Orleans
30. Michael Floyd - Arizona

Who Wants it More?

What happens when the unstoppable force comes face to face with the immovable object? Hopefully not a blizzard.

MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey will be the site of Super Bowl XLVIII where the Denver Broncos (13-3) and the league's top offense will face off against the Seattle Seahawks (13-3) and the league's number one defense.

Denver quarterback Peyton Manning and his "Omaha, Omaha"-laden cadence average 457 .3 yards and nearly thirty-eight points per game. An accomplishment that earned him his fifth MVP trophy of his career.

Seattle's defensive unit, on the other hand, is superior at all three levels. Manning will have his hands full with corner backs Byron Maxwell and often-outspoken Richard Sherman who has led the league in interceptions the last two seasons. Collectively they've allowed only 273 .6 yards and a mere 14.4 points per game during the regular season.

Can Peyton win a low-scoring defensive slug fest? Will second-year quarterback Russell Wilson be able to match touchdowns with Manning in the event of a shootout?
This game will undoubtedly be predicated on special teams play and costly turnovers. So long as no one else tries Richard Sherman with any more sorry receivers.

As severe cold weather threats, it will not be a determining factor on who hoists the Lombardi Trophy as confetti falls.

Seattle 29
Denver 24  Final
Maybe.

Problems

Some perform at such a high level, that even the smallest recession will make the masses forget greatness.

Houston indeed has a problem. Perhaps more than one. With starting quarterback Matt Schaub and running back Arian Foster sidelined with injuries, the Texans (2-6) are on a six-game slide after winning their first two contests. Problems are plentiful in Houston after so much success over the last two seasons. All-Pro receiver Andre Johnson obviously is not one of them.

Johnson finished 2012 second in receiving yards behind Calvin Johnson, but was overlooked by stars like A.J. Green, Brandon Marshall and Dez Bryant, who all had lesser stats.

Fast forward to Sunday, the Miami (FL) alumnus finished the 27-24 loss to the Colts (6-2) with nine catches, 229 yards and three scores. Apparently, the epic explosion wasn't enough, but Andre is not the problem.

Byes: Cleveland, Kansas City, New England, NY Jets

QB 

Nick Foles (Phi @ GB)

E.J. Manuel (Buf @ Pit)

Eli Manning ( NYG vs Oak)

RB

Ben Tate (Hou @ Ari)

Rashad Jennings (Oak @ NYG)

Danny Woodhead (SD vs Den)

WR

Mike Brown (Jac @ Ten)

Tim Wright (TB vs Mia)

Emmanuel Sanders (Pit vs Buf)

TE

Andrew Quarless (GB vs Phi)

Brandon Myers (NYG vs Oak)

Julius Thomas (Den @ SD)

DEF

Indianapolis vs StL

Arizona vs Hou

Tennessee vs Jac

QB

Matt Ryan (Atl vs Sea)

Cam Newton (Car @ SF)

RB

Ray Rice (Bal vs Cin)

Trent Richardson (Ind vs StL)

WR 

Marques Colston (NO vs Dal)

Mike Wallace (Mia @ TB)

TE

Garrett Graham (Hou @ Ari)

Coby Fleener (Ind vs StL)

DEF

Dallas @ NO

Denver @ SD