Seriously, you could do worse than Leonard Weaver
While I’m suggesting you pick up Leonard Weaver, and a bunch of the guys I discussed in yesterday’s 2010 auditions post, I’d like to start this update with a little thanksgiving.
Thank you Aaron Rodgers, thank you. Your proficient arm propelled the Packers to what seems like a playoff-clinching victory and kept Mason Crosby off the field enough to ensure victory for two of my most important fantasy teams.
Oh, yes, all of my fantasy teams are important, but guaranteeing a playoff spot in the one league I’ve played in since 1996? That’s big. The other big win, in another pay league, locked down the No. 1 seed for the playoffs.
As for Rodgers, we’ve been touting him over and over and over here at Chinstrap Ninjas. He now has 3,399 yards and 25 TDs to only 7 picks. Dare I say it? Those numbers are 2009-Favre-esque, and by that I mean MVP-worthy.
Just saying, don’t be surprised if he joins that Manning-Brees-Favre-Chris Johnson discussion by the end of the year.
But enough of the general football talk – and massive linkbacks! – you want to know about Weaver and Davone Bess and Cadillac Williams, right?
Leonard Weaver – He’s not Chris Johnson or Thomas Jones, but with Westbrook’s injury and DeSean Jackson’s injury, the birds didn’t turn to Jeremy Maclin and LeSean McCoy, they turned to their bowling ball of a fullback. He had five carries for 37 yards, two catches for 63 yards and a TD, and he enticed many a “Hell yeah!” from fat guys like me watching football around the country on Sunday.
Kenny Britt – Had a TD and 46 yards on three catches. That’s not that exciting, but he’s had a touchdown in each of his last three games. Wanna bet Vince Young realized that the team now has a legitimate receiving target, and that he keeps finding him for the rest of the year?
Davone Bess – I touted Bess back when Ronnie Brown blew his tire, he hasn’t been that exciting until Sunday. Chad Henne targeted him 14 times and he caught 10 for 117 and a TD against the Patriots. Sans Ronnie, the Dolphins are realizing Wildcatless is the way to play. That’s good news for Bess owners, or Bess owners-to-be. In case you haven’t figured it out, that would be you.
Antonio Bryant – Hasn’t been the portrait of health this year, but he had five catches for 116 yards and was targeted 11 times. He got streaky last year and it led to a great season, maybe Bryant’s a nice waiver pickup to help your playoff run? I found him on waivers last week.
Brady Quinn – Threw three TDs and 271 yards against the Broncos. I’m not ready to anoint him yet, but he may very well be one of those sneaky fantasy sleeper QBs you can wait a few rounds to pick in 2010.
Sam Aiken – He only had one catch, but it was an awesome catch and went 81 yards for a score. I wish I could recommend Aiken, but there’s too much competition in that cupboard and he’s not going to break an 80+-yarder every week.
Correll Buckhalter – I’ve been a Buckhalter fan all season, ran him out there in several leagues until Knowshon Moreno really started coming on. With his per-touch averages as high as they are, I’m not that surprised that Buckhalter had 113 yards on 12 carries against the Chiefs. I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets enough carries to be a postseason fantasy factor in a game or two for some injury-depleted squads.
Chad Henne – So, the Henne-meter’s been all over the place this year, but his 335 yards and two TDs with one INT against the Patriots really impresses me. Sans Wildcat – see Bess, Davone, above – Henne could toss out some good performances throughout your postseason weeks.
Cadillac Williams – He had an impressive 17-carry, 92-yard performance. Not sure you can rely on him as a start in the playoffs, but he shouldn’t be on the waiver wire either.
Josh Morgan – Vernon Davis, Frank Gore and Michael Crabtree are the top options in San Fran, but Morgan had six catches for 56 yards and a TD and ran once for 20 yards on Sunday. He garnered a lot of preseason sleeper talk, hasn’t woken up and probably won’t this year.
JerMichael Finley – A Chinstrap Ninja favorite, Finley caught two of Rodgers TD passes and had a 7-for-79 line overall. That’s really good for a tight end on the same team with Donald Driver, Greg Jennings and James Jones.
Ahman Green – He had 23 yards on just five carries. A nice average. Ryan Grant? It took him 13 more carries to get 18 more yards. It’s your place to decide if this note is a recommendation for Green or a rip on Grant, but I’m guessing it’s not hard to figure out.
Who else do we need to discuss going into Week 1 of the fantasy football playoffs? Let us know in the comments.
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