Roto Arcade - Fantasy

Roto Arcade

Sat Oct 31, 2009 8:14 am EDT

Shocker Special: James Jones, prime Lambeau Leap material

By Brad Evans


Each week the Noise will guide desperate, deep-thinking owners into the dark corners of the waiver wire to mine a last-minute diamond. Turn on your helmet light and pack a pickaxe. We're digging for drop-jaw surprises owned in less than 10 percent or started in five percent or less of Yahoo! Plus leagues.

Lurking in the dark recesses of your league’s waiver wire is a green and yellow monster who could slaughter the competition in Week 8.

The points-racking creature’s name: James Jones(notes).

After headline grabbers Donald Driver(notes), Greg Jennings(notes) and the aforementioned Jones, wide receiver depth in Green Bay is virtually nonexistent. The injury imp has feasted on the Pack. With electric tight end Jermichael Finley(notes) also a “long shot” to suit up in the Brett Bowl, the former San Jose St. standout, Aaron Rodgers’(notes) third option, is expected to see a targets spike.

Over the past two weeks in a more limited role, the preeminent deep threat has quietly posted admirable totals. Though targeted only four times, he reeled in three catches for 60 yards and two touchdowns against Detroit and Cleveland. The previous competition may seem meeker compared to Minnesota, but in reality Jones’ opponent this week is substantially more attractive.

Sans starting corner Antoine Winfield(notes), the Vikings have been extremely vulnerable to explosive pass plays. Even when at full strength they’ve generally underperformed. No team this season has allowed more 20-yard air strikes than the Norseman. Similar to Mike Wallace(notes) a week ago, the Packers’ No. 3, who is averaging 19.7 yards per catch, is in a prime position to excel.

Naysayers will contend the Pack’s Swiss cheese offensive line will never give Rodgers enough time to connect with Jones downfield. Their evaluation isn’t farfetched. Jared Allen(notes) chases down quarterbacks with Jack-Nicholson-in-The-Shining aggressiveness – fire axe and all. Sacked eight times in their previous meeting, 4.5 by Allen, Brett Favre’s(notes) replacement was harassed incessantly. But despite the numerous hurries and thwarted attempts he still managed to complete eights passes of 15-plus yards, including a 34-yard strike to Jones.

So before you partake in the drunken, lascivious-costumed revelry of Halloween, follow that mysterious cheddar smell to the waiver wire. In a bye-heavy week, the six percent-owned Cheesehead could be more treat than trick.

Week 8 Fearless Forecast: 4 receptions, 76 yards, 1 touchdown, 13 fantasy points

Who is your Week 8 Shocker Special? Post your pick with prediction below.

--

SILENCE THE NOISE CHALLENGE

Each week one lucky aspiring fantasy prognosticator is chosen to go toe-to-toe against the Noise. If you want to be a guest "expert" submit your Week 8 flames, lames (1 QB, 3 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE for each, 16 total) and shocker special (one player at any position) along with a valid email address and your location here no later than 7 PM central time on Thursday. Oh, and please, no long dissertations to justify your picks. All that's required are your player selections and projections. Winners earn a league spot to compete against yours truly next season. Good luck!

Week 8 contestant: Matt from Gales Ferry, CT

Flames:
QB: David Garrard(notes), Jac, 20-31, 275 yards, 28 rush yards, 2:1 TD:INT
RB: Kevin Smith(notes), Det, 20 rushes, 92 yards, 33 receiving yards, 1 TD
RB: Jamal Lewis(notes), Cle, 23 rushes, 85 yards, 1 TD
RB: Fred Jackson(notes), Buf, 8 rushes, 40 yards, 4 catches, 52 receiving yards, 1 TD
WR: Michael Crabtree(notes), SF, 4 catches, 77 yards, 0 TDs
WR: Mike Sims-Walker(notes), Jac, 6 catches, 107 yards, 1 TD
WR: Kevin Walter(notes), Hou, 5 catches, 93 yards, 1 TD
TE: Tony Scheffler(notes), Den, 4 catches, 56 yards, 1 TD

Lames:
QB: Donovan McNabb(notes), Phi, 19-38, 204 yards, 12 rush yards, 1:2 TD:INT
RB: DeAngelo Williams(notes), Car, 15 rushes, 67 yards, 22 receiving yards, 0 TDs
RB: Ryan Grant(notes), GB, 12 rushes, 49 yards, 37 receiving yards, 0 TDs
RB: Thomas Jones(notes), NYJ, 16 rushes, 60 yards, 0 TDs
WR: Vincent Jackson(notes), 3 catches, 57 yards, 0 TDs
WR: Steve Smith, NYG, 4 catches, 53 yards, 0 TDs
WR: T.J. Houshmandzadeh(notes), Sea, 3 catches, 35 yards, 0 TDs
TE: Jeremy Shockey(notes), NO, 2 catches 27 yards, 0 TDs

Shocker Special: Justin Fargas(notes), Oak, 12 rushes, 72 yards, 26 receiving yards, 1 TD

Week 7 results: Tom from Holtsville, NY

Flames (2-7): W – (Mark Sanchez(notes), Ryan Grant); L – (Leon Washington(notes), Kevin Faulk(notes), Steve Smith (NYG), Chris Chambers(notes), Michael Jenkins(notes), Brent Celek(notes), Marc Bulger(notes) (Shocker))

Lames (3-5): W - (Brett Favre, Carnell Williams(notes), Bernard Berrian(notes)); L - (Michael Turner(notes), Cedric Benson(notes), Vincent Jackson, Steve Smith (Car), Owen Daniels(notes))

Noisers Season: Flames (17-38, 30.9%), Lames (24-23, 51.1%)

Winners: Matthew in Colden, NY, Micah in Shelbyville, TN

--

Image couresty of Getty

Related: Fantasy Football, Noise

digg delicious
more

63 Comments

Post a Comment
  1. BigNoise
    1. Posted by BigNoise Sat Oct 31, 2009 8:18 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    For the brain dead zombies in attendance, the Silence the Noise portion of the entry above feature picks from a GUEST expert, Matt from UConn territory. On a side note, Malcom Floyd was a close second for Shocker Special o' the week. Happy Halloween!
  2. Draftalicious
    2. Posted by Draftalicious Sat Oct 31, 2009 8:37 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    I'm takin Alex Smith. 27/38 for 285 and 3 TDs. Gonna have to keep up with Indy somehow.
  3. Partyack
    3. Posted by Partyack Sat Oct 31, 2009 8:56 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    mike Hart. 60 yards one TD
  4. Eric
    4. Posted by Eric Sat Oct 31, 2009 8:57 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    Shootout at the not quite frozen yet tundra. Pew pew!
  5. jimmyHump
    5. Posted by jimmyHump Sat Oct 31, 2009 9:02 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    Noise, your record from last week is abyssmal AND included Brent Celek who dropped a big, fat, steaming goose egg on my team last week. I watched that game, and I don't ever want to watch McNabb (or Campbell) again. My favorite quote from a fellow disgruntled fan was "Would someone please tell McNabb that the turf is not an eligible receiver." I think it's arguable the Celek is only a "good" option when Kolb is throwing the ball. Sure, it's possible that Celek could have a good game with McNabb, but as we've now seen, DM is so schyzophrenic, you can only guarantee that a couple of his screen passes and 50 yard bombs will connect. That's something that you guys don't seem to take into account with your ratings or specials - consistency. Personally, I think it's an extremely important factor in determining who you want to start. I typically don't want a guy who has a decent chance of scoring 0-3 points; I want a guy who never does that. Right now much of the analysis is focusing on the mean or expected average for the production of these players. It's about time someone looked at the variance of these players - even if in a rough way - like how many times they've lamed out (0-3 points), flamed out (15-25), gone supernova (25+), or brought their lunchbox (4-15). You know, something like that. Just a suggestion :)
  6. Wammer Jammer
    6. Posted by Wammer Jammer Sat Oct 31, 2009 9:15 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    I can start only three WR out of Larry Fitzgerald (Car), Roddy White (@NO), Mike Sims-Walker (@TENN) and Sidney Rice (@GB). Any thoughts?
  7. richard g
    7. Posted by richard g Sat Oct 31, 2009 9:32 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    Leave walker on the bench!!!!!
  8. Gringo honeymoon
    8. Posted by Gringo honeymoon Sat Oct 31, 2009 9:37 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    Come on Brad- no Illini propaganda to slim us with on Hallowd Saints day? K Walter FINALLY mans up..Gentleman ....Gringo Honeymoon has spoken
  9. Crono
    9. Posted by Crono Sat Oct 31, 2009 10:13 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    Crono's Lightning Special: Davone Bess (MIA) - 5 receptions, 68 yards, 1 TD
  10. ttttwwwweeeetttt
    10. Posted by ttttwwwweeeetttt Sat Oct 31, 2009 10:22 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    Ryan Grant 75 ypc, 30 ypr, 2 rushing TDs.
  11. Crono
    11. Posted by Crono Sat Oct 31, 2009 10:48 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    Ryan Grant isn't much of a shocker, considering he's 95% owned and facing Cleveland.
    And 75 yards per carry is impressive, lol. Forget football, the Army should hire him to be their "Hulk" at that point.
  12. Crono
    12. Posted by Crono Sat Oct 31, 2009 10:51 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    @Gringo honeymoon (ha ha, nice name): I agree, Kevin Walter will impress come Sunday, but he's not a shocker. I certainly hope he gets a TD or two and 100 yards receiving (my opponent is crazy this week in one league).
  13. Shawn
    13. Posted by Shawn Sat Oct 31, 2009 10:51 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    Hey everyone, let's keep putting Vincent Jackson on the lames list. Yeah! What a great idea! LT's goal-line rushing is ON POINT right now and Chris Chambers is totally taking over the passing game. Vince doesn't stand a chance!
  14. Dr Zaius
    14. Posted by Dr Zaius Sat Oct 31, 2009 10:59 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    When can we expect this 1st round production from Pierre Thomas you went on and on about? I'm assuming never...
  15. IMAN
    15. Posted by IMAN Sat Oct 31, 2009 11:00 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    Watch hartline of miami.......j. charles and kolby smith are ones to watch in the near future.......anthony gonzalez will emerge next week and be good the rest of the season, go pick him up now!!!
  16. Bigdaddy
    16. Posted by Bigdaddy Sat Oct 31, 2009 11:00 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    Austin, Rice, Sims-Walker or jennings, which 2??? trying to deal austin with lynch for rb....what is fair value?
  17. BPuRC22
    17. Posted by BPuRC22 Sat Oct 31, 2009 11:22 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    so grant is a lame this week youre saying...should i start Nicks/Shonn Greene/Manningham over him at the flex?
  18. Brad S
    18. Posted by Brad S Sat Oct 31, 2009 11:28 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    Bradshaw or Nicks in Flex spot this week against the eagles????
  19. Tommy Boy
    19. Posted by Tommy Boy Sat Oct 31, 2009 11:54 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    which 2 should i start? mike bell, justin fargas, nate burleson, james jones, bryant johnson? (i also have jonathon stewart, not sure if hes playing but i have Deangelo williams starting - good idea to start both?)
  20. Bigdaddy
    20. Posted by Bigdaddy Sat Oct 31, 2009 12:05 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    19...Bell and Fargas... fargas has sandiego, bell gets goal line touches
  21. Tommy Boy
    21. Posted by Tommy Boy Sat Oct 31, 2009 12:50 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    20...oops, i guess i shoulda stated that i need 1 WR and the other position is a flex
  22. NgSprints
    22. Posted by NgSprints Sat Oct 31, 2009 1:00 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Is Brad Evans ever right about anything?
  23. Evan K
    23. Posted by Evan K Sat Oct 31, 2009 1:11 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Matt Stafford, 22-30 297 yrds, 3 tds
  24. John N
    24. Posted by John N Sat Oct 31, 2009 1:14 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    19 and 20: I would definitely start Nate Burleson over Fargas. I don't remember the last time Fargas scored a rushing TD, and I am sure that San Diego is going to dare Jamarcus to beat them through the air. Though their run D is porous, you'll still be seeing 8 in the box early and often. Burleson has been Hasselbeck's favorite target and has consistently produced aside from the debacle against Arizona. I'd go with Nate, especially in PPR.
  25. Larry R
    25. Posted by Larry R Sat Oct 31, 2009 1:33 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Malcom Floyd 75yrd 1td

Roto Arcade

Add to My Yahoo! RSS

Andy Behrens

Roto Arcade is a fantasy sports blog edited by Andy Behrens. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

Contributors:
Scott Pianowski, Brad Evans, Matt Buser, Brandon Funston,

Y! Sports Blogs

Roto Arcade Recent Readers

(provided by MyBlogLog)