Week 4 : Roster Moves : Carson Palmer

Running backs are so scarce.  I'm hanging onto Smith and Hillis as  long as I can. 

An injury right now wouldn't be good.

I'm dropping Alex Smith, Owen Daniels, and Russell Wilson.

I'm picking up Carson Palmer, Kyle Rudolph, and Ahman Binns.

Carson Palmer, though sometimes inconsistent over the years, does have a pretty impressive stat sheet. He's the only Bengal to pass for over 4000 yards in a season -- twice.  He had the highest completion percentage with them, 63%.  He holds all the passer rating records in Cincinatti : 86.9 for his career, 101.1 for a season, and 9 consecutive games with a rating over 100.

In 2005-2006, Carson Palmer combined for 60 touchdowns versus only 25 interceptions.  In 2007 he set the Bengals record for 373 completions and had five games of 300+ yards.

Not bad.

And while his first campaign with the Raiders was mediocre, I simply believe he's a better fantasy option than Russell Wilson, at the moment.  (It seems they're keeping a tight leash on the rookie quarterback for awhile).

courtesy Wikipedia

Carson Palmer

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WEEK 3 RESULTS

The Lineup : 

I'm clearly confused at the quarterback position.  I simply don't know who to start.

Player of the Week:

courtesy Wikipedia

Jamal Charles  40.8

Week 3 Recap : Kevin Smith didn't get a single carry.  How's that for  gratitude!  After scoring 2 touchdowns in Week 1 and maintaining better than 4 yards a carry even after playing San Francisco -- he gets stiffed!  His replacement?  Mike LeShoure with a whopping 3.8 ypc.  Terrible coaching.  The Lions deserve to lose.

BIG THREE
QB	P.Manning	21.2
RB	C. Benson	16.4
QB	R. Wilson	15.0

My record falls to 1 - 2 after a miserable 68-point performance.  If I'd known to start Benson and Manning I could have won.  





 Kyle Rudolph, the rookie tight end for the Vikings just posted 11, 12, and 20 point games and made a spectacular catch Sunday.  Dare I drop JERMICHAEL FINLEY?  I think I'm going to bid 25 on him.  He's still under the radar and, if anyone does try to snag him, I doubt they'll bid much.

I'm still pretty much in the air at quarterback.  None of them have been brilliant -- at least not in fantasy-land. Wilson may be allowed to open things up a bit after his hail-mary win, though.

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Week 3 : Roster Moves : Donnie Avery

I dropped Randy Moss and Donald Jones to pick up Donnie Avery for $55 and Brian Hartline, who seems to be emerging as the Dolphins # 1.  Here is my latest roster:

QB : Alex Smith, Peyton Manning, Russell Wilson

RB : Frank Gore, K. Smith, Adrian Peterson, Peyton Hillis, Cedric Benson

WR : Victor Cruz, Dez Bryant, Donnie Avery, Brian Hartline

TE : Jermichael Finley, Owen Daniels

K/D : Mason Crosby, Buffalo Bills

 courtesy Wikipedia
Donnie Avery


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WEEK 2 : RESULTS

The Lineup:  

Of course I had no trouble getting MANNING and PETERSON into the lineup.  Would KEVIN SMITH have another big game and make me look like a genius?

Player of the Week:

courtesy Wikipedia

Danny Amendola  37.0

Week 2 Recap : I didn't think I'd have to sweat it at all.  But after Detroit's tight end Brandon Pettigrew made a big touchdown catch in the last two minutes of the game, I was dependent on Peyton Manning to pull it out for me on Monday Night.  He had a miserable game, but just enough to even my record at 1 - 1 .

BIG THREE
WR	Victor Cruz	34.9
RB	Frank Gore	18.5
QB	Alex Smith	17.7

Who is my quarterback?  I want to hang on to all 3 until I figure out who my best two is.  So far, between 2 weeks and 3 quarterbacks -- only one score over 20.




Both Benson (15.6) and Hillis (11.1) improved this week.  I may need them, as no other receiver has stepped up and Kevin Smith is getting no love in Detroit.

I'm looking at possibly picking up Donnie Avery (9 catches, 20.8 pts) and Brian Hartline of the Dolphins.  I think I'll wait one week, however, because I simply don't see how I can start either one just yet. 


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Week 2 : Roster Moves : Donald Jones

With David Nelson out for the season, I pick up his teammate, Donald Jones.

courtesy Wikipedia

Donald Jones

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WEEK 1 RESULTS

The Lineup:

I'm going to start the rookie sensation, RUSSELL WILSON, at quarterback!  He was 40-63 with 5 touchdowns and 1 interception in the pre-season.

At running back I like PEYTON HILLIS (versus Falcons) and KEVIN SMITH (versus Rams).  Adrian Peterson is a game-time decision and doesn't figure to get much playing time versus a tough Jacksonville defense.  Gore had a weak pre-season and got off to a sluggish start last year.  Benson is playing a tough 49er defense.

I like DEZ BRYANT and VICTOR CRUZ at wide receiver.  

Despite JERMICHAEL FINLEY'S aloofness and pre-season concussion, I like him as a red zone target versus the 49ers.

Player of the Week:

courtesy Wikipedia

 Matt Ryan 32.4

Week 1 Recap:  Victor Cruz led things off Thursday night with 3 dropped passes as Luck-of-the-Irish took a 10-point lead with his two running backs.  Peyton Hillis didn't show up and Russell Wilson looked nervous in his first start.  Kevin Smith did.  He led the Lions with 2 touchdowns and 25 points!  It wouldn't be enough.

BIG THREE
RB	Kevin Smith	25.3
RB	A. Peterson	21.7
QB	P. Manning	20.4

My bench scored more than my starters!  This gave me a league-worst 72% efficiency rating.

The good news, of course, is that my two comeback players are off to a fantastic start.



David Nelson suffered a season-ending knee injury. I'll bid on Kevin Ogletree and Stephen Hill at wide receiver for 20 or 25 dollars.  If unsuccessful, I'll pick up Braylon Edwards for free, most likely.

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Roster Moves : Russell Wilson

I dropped MARIO MANNINGHAM for Seattle rookie quarterback RUSSELL WILSON.  I really like this guy.  And, despite the fact the 49ers will play him twice a year, I think he's quickly becoming my favorite player in the league.

courtesy Wikipedia

Russell Wilson

Here's some fun college stats.  His rookie year at North Carolina State, he had a 17-1 touchdown ratio. During his senior campaign at Wisconsin his touchdown ratio was 33-4 while completing 72% of his passes. These stats, in combination with the fact he's looked like an absolute genius in the pre-season so far, leads me to believe Russell Wilson is a very intelligent quarterback.

He also played baseball in the Colorado Rockies farm system.  But after 2 years of hitting only .230, he probably made the right choice playing in the NFL.

Russell Wilson is "too short" to play quarterback at the professional level.  I really never understood that. If a quarterback excels at the college level, why then, is he not tall enough to be successful in the NFL?  Do all the defensive players suddenly have a growth spurt?  

He's one inch shorter than Drew Brees.  

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The Mysterious Mr. Finley : Opponents Rosters

PEYTON MANNING is having difficulty throwing to his right.  KEVIN SMITH has a minor ankle sprain.  Perhaps the strangest story in my camp is the mysterious JERMICHAEL FINLEY.  There are seemingly no definitive reports on why he rarely practices and hasn't played a pre-season game.  What's going on with this guy?  The vague news clips almost read like he doesn't want to play.

And while many are predicting a breakout year from Jermichael Finley, it would be difficult to drop either of my tight ends right now for Russell Wilson or Alfred Morris.

 courtesy Wikipedia

Jermichael Finley

Here are my opponents' rosters:

WARMONGER:
QB:  Matt Ryan
RB:  Reggie Bush, Ryan Mathews, Darren Sproles, Mike Tolbert, Turbin
WR:  Jeremy Maclin, Brandon Marshall, Reuben Randle, Torrey Smith, Randle Wright, T. Young
TE:  Jermaine Gresham, Taylor Thompson
K:  Matt Prater
D:  New England Patriots

SHATPAPER:
QB:  Joe Flacco, Mike Vick
RB:  Jim Dwyer, Mike LeShoure, Darren McFadden, Mike Mendenhall, Matt Forte
WR:  Miles Austin, Anquan Boldin, Kenny Britt, Michael Crabtree, DeShaun Jackson, Santana Moss
TE:  Brandon Pettigrew
K:   Gostowski
D:   Baltimore Ravens

NJ DRAGONS:
QB:  Phillip Rivers, Fitzgerald
RB:  Toby Gerhart, Green-Ellis, J. Rodgers, Pierre Thomas
WR:  Jason Bess, Larry Fitzgerald, Devery Henderson, D. Moore, Jordy Nelson, Hakeem Nicks, Smith (S)
TE:  Gronkowski
K:    Bailey
D:    New York Giants

SAM MILLS:
QB:  Tom Brady, RG3, Tim Tebow
RB:  Fred Jackson, Colt McCoy, Stephan Ridley, Michael Turner
WR:  Blackmon, Austin Collie, Pierre Garcon, Steve Smith (C)
TE:  Toby Fleener, Greg Olsen
K:    Neil Rackers
D:    San Francisco 49ers, Pittsburgh Steelers

MASKED MARAUDER:
QB:  Drew Brees
RB:  D. Brown, Arian Foster, Hillman, TJ Spiller
WR:  Mike Floyd, J. Gordon, Jean, A. Jeffrey, Stevie Johnson, Julio Jones, Brandon Lloyd, Rod Streeter
TE:  Aaron Hernandez
K:    David Akers
D:    New York Jets

LUCK-O-IRISH:
QB:  Aaron Rodgers
RB:  Ahmad Bradshaw, Goodsen, DeMarco Murray, James Starks, Stewart, Thomas
WR:  Greg Jennings, David Amendola, Derrick Bowe, AJ Green, Reggie Wayne
TE:  Antonio Gates, Tony Gonzalez
K:    Henry
D:    Seattle Seahawks

DEVIL'S ROBOT:
QB:  Ben Roethlisberger
RB:  Jahvid Best, Ronnie Brown, A. Greene, S. Green, Doug Martin, I. Redmon, Royster, R. Williams (AZ)
WR:  Randall Cobb, Vince Jackson, Andre Johnson, Mike Wallace, Wes Welker
TE:  Jared Cook, Dustin Keller
no kicker or defense drafted

JUDGE, JURY, AND EXECUTIONER:
QB:  Andrew Luck, Cam Newton
RB:  LaJared Blount, Jamal Charles, Ray Rice, Shane Vereen, Beanie Wells
WR:  J. Baldwin,  Marquis Colsten, Malcom Floyd, Darius Heyward-Bey, L. Robinson, J. Simpson
TE:  Jason Witten
K:  Janikowski
D:  Houston Texans

DEADMAN'S HAND:
QB:  Andy Dalton, Matt Stafford
RB:  Kendall Hunter, Mark Ingram, Chris Johnson, Ben Tate
WR:  A. Brown, Eric Decker, Hankershon, Brian Quick, D. Thomas, Mike Williams
TE:  Allen, Jimmy Graham
K:    Bryant
D:    Detroit Lions

R35s:
QB:  Eli Manning, Matt Schaub
RB:  Stephen Jackson, MJD, Marshaun Lynch, Trent Richardson, DeAngelo Williams
WR:  Percy Harvin, Derrick LaFell, Robert Meacham, Nate Washington
TE:  Davis, Tamme
K:    Hartley
D:    Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears

WILDFIRE:
QB:  Jay Cutler, Tony Romo
RB:  Michael Bush, Roy Helu, Hightower, Willis McGahee, David Wilson
WR:  Santonio Holmes, Jennings, Chad Johnson, Moore, White
TE:  Vernon Davis, Kellen Winslow
K:    Bullock
D:    Green Bay Packers

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