Week 4 : Roster Moves : Julius Thomas

 Farewell to the Cardinal Connection.  Now that I'm the only winless team in the league, and not knowing if I can start the troubling Larry Fitzgerald, I didn't waste any time trading him for someone I felt would help me this week.  It's a horrible-looking trade.  It may come back to bite me.  But I simply didn't want to waste any time and not get any improvements made this week.  Going 0 - 4 would be certain doom.  If I manage to win, I'll just have to find a way to straighten out this mess.

Incidentally, I traded him to the team I'm playing this week, Rosenhaus Factor.  He's in first place in my division and did not waste any time inserting Fitz into his lineup. I'm crossing my fingers this could be a double-whammy for him -- me picking up points with my new tight end while Fitz continues to struggle with that hammy. I'm really rolling the dice on this one.  Who'd I get?  Welcome to the team, Julius Thomas...

courtesy Wikipedia

Julius Thomas

My other move may not look quite as ridiculous.  I dropped Carson Palmer and picked up Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer for free off waivers.  He's such a great story leading Cleveland to such an unlikely victory.  He's not afraid to air it out, either.  This one's a gunslinger -- I'll take a stab at him!

Part 3 of my radical game-plan did not come to fruition.  I pretty much offered 3-for-1 with the 2nd-place team in my division R35's.  I offered Cecil Shorts, Russell Wilson, and Jermaine Gresham for Stafford, Starks, and Broyles.  I believe it's a great deal for him in that all three of my players will probably have better stats than all 3 of his by year's end!  Additionally, with Stafford's matchup against the Bears (Wilson goes against the Texans), I feel I would have had a much better chance of winning this week's game versus Rosenhaus -- which is good for both of us.    It looks like Wilson's the man.  And after his big game last week, perhaps it's just as well that I stick with him.



QB  Hoyer (0 - 0 / 24.6)

TE  Thomas (0 - 0 / 19.1)
WR   Shorts (0 - 0 / 15.5)

 RB   Bernard (0 - 0 / 14.5)

 WR   Royal  (0 - 1 / 18.9) 

 QB   Wilson (0 - 1 / 18.7)

WR   Hartline (0 - 1 / 17.9) 

TE   Daniels (0 - 2 / 14.0)

 PK   Hartley (0 - 2 / 10.3)
WR   Bryant (0 - 3 / 16.4)

RB   Gore (0 - 3 / 10.3)

 RB   Tate    (0 - 0 / 9.5)
 TE   Gresham (0 - 0 / 9.3)
RB   Miller (0 - 0 / 8.3)
 WR   Hilton (0 - 1 / 8.9)

DS   Bengals (0 - 3 / 7.3)

Of course Frank Gore has a tremendous Thursday night on the week I don't start him -- 153 yards rushing and a touchdown.  Oh well.  After setting my lineup according to my worksheet in Week 3 and then making last-minute changes, it cost me the win-- and I'm not doing it 2 weeks in a row.  Now it's up to these guys...


Wilson, Russell    SEA QB (Texans)
Bernard, Giovani    CIN RB (Browns)
Bryant, Dez     DALWR (Chargers)
Hartline, Brian    MIA WR (Saints)
Shorts, Cecil    JAC WR (Colts)
Thomas, Julius    DEN TE (Eagles)
Hartley, Garrett       NOS PK (Dolphins)
Bengals, Cincinnati    CIN Def (Browns)


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WEEK 3 RESULTS

At the end of the 1st quarter I take a 26-21 lead with a Dez Bryant touchdown, some good Bengals defense, and 3 receptions by Owen Daniels.  At about halftime, Pork Chop Time would take a 44-35 lead behind Drew Brees's 2 touchdown tosses.  After 3 quarters I'd find myself down 62-39, my Cardinal Connection combining for about 9 points up to this point.

The late game would feature Team THUNDER's Frank Gore versus Turbin. But I'd never recover...

courtesy Wikipedia

Antonio Brown  40.6

As if it could really get any worse, my last-longer team, The Vikings, eliminated me from the pool by getting beat by a team at home that everyone had written off for the year -- The Browns.   Everyone, including me, was seemingly under the impression that after trading away their top running back that spirits weren't too high in Cleveland and the odds were stacked against them.  But backup QB Brian Hoyer would devastate yours truly with a last-minute drive to defeat Minnesota.

BIG THREE
QB	Wilson	25.5
WR	Cecil Shorts	22.3
RB	Gio Bernard	19.9

I've never begun the season 0 - 3. 

Can I recover from this? 





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Week 3 : Roster Moves : Eddie Royal

I had to demote two players from "stud" status.  I simply don't like the way the 49ers are utilizing their run game.  It seems very disorganized with the focus being on Kaepernick.  Gore will have to join my running back by committee program.  Same goes for Fitzgerald.  Until it's clear the hamstring is no longer an issue, he is subject to "the worksheet."  Dez Bryant gets the promotion.

I never would have dreamed during the pre-season, with all the terrific wide receivers that I drafted, that I'd be bidding on a veteran wide receiver with a less-than-spectaculor career.  But taking into consideration Fitzgerald's injury, being a bit weak at running back,  and everyone's flip-flop last week giving me no consistency to base decisions on -- picking up a receiver that's posted a 17, a 34 and 5 touchdowns in 2 weeks is a no-brainer.  Welcome to the team, Eddie Royal.

courtesy sportsillustrated.cnn.com

Eddie Royal

  WR   Royal  (0 - 0 / 25.0)

WR   Shorts (0 - 0 / 12.2)
 RB   Bernard (0 - 0 / 11.8)
 RB   Tate    (0 - 0 / 10.7)
 TE   Gresham (0 - 0 / 10.6) 
WR   Hartline (0 - 1 / 19.1) 

QB   Palmer (0 - 1 / 17.4)
TE   Daniels (0 - 1 / 17.1)

QB   Wilson (0 - 1 / 15.2)
 PK   Bartley (0 - 1 / 12.0)
WR   Hilton (0 - 1 / 11.7)

WR   Bryant (0 - 2 / 17.7)

WR   Fitzgerald (0 - 2 / 16.7)

RB   Gore (0 - 2 / 9.3)

RB   Miller (0 - 0 / 8.8)

DS   Bengals (0 - 2 / 4.0) 

I missed the bid on Phillip Rivers by 8 dollars.  I had only 48 dollars left after picking up Royal for 152.  I bid too low on the tight end Charles Clay and James Starks.  I'm not hearbroken about Starks but I really did feel Rivers and/or Clay could have helped me.  If someone can convince me Fitzgerald is near 100%, I'll certainly revisit this lineup, but for now:


Palmer, Carson    ARI QB
Bernard, Giovani    CIN RB
Bryant, Dez    DAL WR
Hartline, Brian    MIA WR
Royal, Eddie    SDC WR
Daniels, Owen    HOU TE
Hartley, Garrett    NOS PK
Bengals, Cincinnati    CIN Def

I think this a good week to pick a mediocre team in my last-longer.  After all, ya don't want to use up all your good teams early.  I'm taking Minnesota at home versus the Browns...

Minnesota Vikings (vs. Browns) 

Reports, though seemingly mixed, indicate that Fitzgerald is good to go.  Even though he could be a decoy, there's just too much upside over Hartline. 

Good news from 49ers camp:  They're going to focus on the run, again.  I hope to see Kap under center rather than in the shotgun all the time -- it seems to disrupt the timing of the run game.  I'll start him over Gio Bernard.

Both of them are upgraded back to "stud" for one more week.  They are on watch, however...

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WEEK 2 RESULTS

Early Games: I was pleased with Dez Bryant dominating early versus the Chiefs.  He'd put up 29 despite the Cowboys loss.  But after a late surge by Killa's Arian Foster, he would lead by 5 points going into the late games, even despite Lacy's injury. 

Late Games:  I'd have an injury, myself -- Larry Fitzgerald aggravated his hamstring again. Carson Palmer stunk it up as the Bronco duo of Manning/Decker put me behind a bit going into the Sunday Night Game.  Killa had the 49ers defense while I had Gore, who wasn't a factor.  Nor will he be for awhile.  

The 49ers seem to have this idea that Colin Kaepernick is the running back.  It's pretty transparent and I hope San Francisco goes back to the ground-and-pound-dink-and-dunk before it's too late.  For now, I have to demote Gore from "stud" status -- it's running back by committee now.  But, down by 11, I still had one more shot in Week 2 to pull this one out..

courtesy Wikipedia

Julio Jones  35.2

My horse?  The Cincinatti Bengals defense.  Oh boy, 12 points from a defense is a tall order.  It's so tough.  I wonder why leagues even bother with defenses if they don't get rewarded.  To me, if a defense holds a team to ten points or less -- that's easily a 10-point value.  But in all the ones I've played in the defense pretty much has to get a pick-6 and a punt return touchdown to make a defense worthwhile.  All the Bengals did was hold the Steelers to 10 points and dominate them the entire game -- 7 measly points.

 

Twelve players in double-figures, 7 on the bench.  Notable bench performances include Gio Bernard, T.Y. Hilton, and Cecil Shorts.

BIG THREE
WR	Dez Bryant	29.1
RB	Gio Bernard	19.5
WR	T.Y. Hilton	18.4

I need to make some changes. 

I have trade bait now...







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Week 2 : Roster Moves : Garrett Hartley

I still like Zach Sudfeld's upside potential.  But he had 1 target -- and tipped it for a pick.  He pulled a hamstring.  Gronk is coming back.  Plus it would be a 3-week wait-n-see.  He adds up to a drop right now. I'm going to have a hard time getting his terrific pre-season catches out of my head..

Goose outbid me for Edelman -- $105 (I bid 51).  Other notable pickups include Marlon Brown, Antonio Gates, and Kellen Winslow.  So, a couple tight ends off waivers.  I'm still eyeballing Dallas Clark, but with my Patriots tight end playing tonight (questionable), it appears I won't have to wait another week to see how he does.  If he whiffs again, I can go ahead and consider a drop before Sunday's games.

My team is pretty banged up:  Fitz, "OD", Sudfeld, Shorts, and Bryant all with minor injuries.

It's not the only thing I was wrong about.  All the tight ends got swiped!  I got on the waiver wire as soon as I realized Sudeld wasn't starting -- and someone had scooped up Dallas Clark for free

Larry Fitzgeral is now a game-time decision with his hamstring issue, after tweaking it in Wednesday's practice.  This puts me in a tough spot.  My only late players available are Giovani Bernard and Cecil Shorts.  The obvious choice is Shorts, with a fresh quarterback at the helm.

Literally, 2 minutes before kickoff.  Janikowski is playing through an injury and I sort of did this one on impule -- you know -- to shake things up a bit.  Why not.  It's only the 2nd move I've made all year.  Introducing, my new kicker...

courtesy Wikipedia

Garrett Hartley

was released by the broncos after coming on undrafted.

after setting record to begin career, his first miss was from 58 yards.  In 2010 first player in history to kick 3 field goals from 40+ in a super bowl.


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WEEK 1 RESULTS

I won't deny it.  I've been known to get too "cute" with my lineups in the past.  I've made it a point not do that that this season.  And so?  I start a rookie tight end named Zach Sudfeld.

Sudfeld tipped his only pass for an interception and then got banged up.  Owen Daniels, my veteran tight end, got 23 points.

courtesy of Wikipedia

 Peyton Manning     46.2 

 

Of course, there's no way to know to start Brian Hartline over Dez Bryant.  Team THUNDER gets stomped!  In fact R35 nearly doubles me up.

BIG THREE
WR	Fitzgerald	28.0
WR	Hartline	26.4
TE	Daniels	23.7

I begin the season 0 - 1.







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Week 1 : Rosters

THUNDER

QB : Russell Wilson, Carson Palmer
RB : Frank Gore, Ben Tate, Giovani Bernard, Lamar Miller
WR : Dez Bryant, Larry Fitzgerald, Cecil Shorts, TY Hilton, Brian Hartline
TE : Jermaine Gresham, Owen Daniels, Zach Sudfeld
K/D : Janikowski, Cincinatti Bengals

PORK CHOP TIME

QB : Dree Brees, Michael Vick
RB : Montee Ball, Jonathon Frankin, Kendall Hunter, MJD, Stephan Ridley
WR : Jon Baldwin, Calvin Johnson, James Jones, Lance Moore, Steve Smith (CAR)
TE : Jared Cook, Tyler Eiffert
K/D : Matt Bryant, Houston Texans

KILLA BIRDS

QB : Peyton Manning, Schaub
RB : Arian Foster, Mark Ingram, Eddy Lacy, Daryl Richardson
WR : Eric Decker, Andre Johnson, LaFell, Patterson, Sanu
TE : Jordan Cameron, Brent Celek
K/D : Gosttowsk, Miami Dolphins, San Francisco 49ers

BALLS DEEP

QB : Sam Bradford, Andrew Luck
RB : Vick Ballard, Reggie Bush, Ray Rice, Shane Vereen
WR : Tavon Austin, Colstin, Heyward-Bey, Jacoby Jones, Sydney Rice, Denarius Thomas
TE : Gronkowski, Pettigrew
K/D : David Akers, St. Louis Rams

GOOSE

QB : Roethlisberger, Matt Ryan
RB : Bryce Brown, Chris Johnson, L. McCoy
WR : Boldin, A. Brown, Randall Cobb, Stevie Johnson, Hakeem Nicks
TE : Fred Davis, Kyle Rudolph
K/D : Randy Bullock, Indianapolis Colts, Green Bay Packers, Baltimore Ravens

LOMBARDI

QB : EJ Manuel, Cam Newton
RB : L. Bell, Christine Michael, Moreno, Trent Richardson
WR : Michael Floyd, Julio Jones, Jordy Nelson, Golden Tate, Wallace, Mike Williams
TE : Robert Housler, Greg Olsen
K/D : Phil Dawson, New England Patriots

R35's

QB : Joe Flacco, Matt Stafford
RB : Fred Jackson, M. Lynch, Darren Sproles, Robert Turbin, Daniel Thomas
WR : Miles Austin, Kenny Britt, Victor Cruz, D. Jackson, Brandon Marshall
TE : Brandon Myers, Tony Gonzalez
K/D : Tucker, Arizona Cardinals

ROSENHAUS FACTOR

QB : Tony Romo
RB : Michael Bush, Matt Forte, Stephen Jackson, Doug Martin, Pead, J. Rodgers, P. Thomas, Woodhead
WR : Danny Amedola, Pierre Garcon, Sanders
TE : Julius Thomas, Jason Witten
K/D : Robbie Gould, New York Giants

LOOK NO HANDS

QB : Colin Kaepernick
RB : J. Bell, Bradshaw, Dunbar, Hillman, Felix Jones, Mathews, McFadden, Murray, Pierce, D. Williams
WR : AJ Green, Andre Roberts
TE : Jimmy Graham
K/D : Zeurelein, Detroit Lions

GOLDEN MONKEYS

QB : Tom Brady, Eli Manning
RB : Green-Ellis, Adrian Peterson, Isaac Redman
WR : Blackmon, V. Brown, Broyles, Harvin, Jennings, Thompkins, Welker, Roddy White
TE : Vernon Davis
K/D : Matt Prater, Pittsburgh Steelers

SUGAR MONKEY

QB : Jay Cutler, RG3
RB : Roy Helu, Chris Ivory, Alfred Morris, CJ Spiller
WR : Dwayne Bowe, D. Hopkins, Q. Patton, Kenny Stills, Reggie Wayne
TE : M. Bennett, Charles Clay
K/D : Forbath, Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns

PITTSBURGH POWER

QB : Andy Dalton, Aaron Rodgers
RB : Jamal Charles, Rashad Mendenhall, J. Randle, David Wilson
WR : Bryce Butler, Josh Gordon, V. Jackson, Jeffery, Torrey Smith
TE : Jermichael Finley, Fleener
K/D : Blair Walsh, Denver Broncos, Seattle Seahawks

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