Fri Nov 20, 2009 9:09 am EST
This week we're varying our cadence. We'll focus on situations where two Yahoo! experts strongly disagree on a player's Week 11 value. Let's play the feud…
Greg Jennings - Funston's rank 5, Pianowski's rank 23
Brandon says: Sunday’s matchup with San Francisco sets up particularly well for Jennings. The 49ers have limited opponents to just 3.3 yards per carry, the best mark in the league. The odds are against the Packers being able to pound away successfully on the ground, which means QB Aaron Rodgers should have to throw it often – it’s not surprising that the 49ers have witnessed the third-most passes attempted against them. And key for the Rodgers and Jennings connection is that San Francisco doesn’t get to the QB with much success – the Niners have the 7th-fewest sacks in the league. That goes a long ways towards explaining why they've allowed the 7th-most pass plays of 20-plus yards.
With the likelihood that Rodgers, the most sacked QB in the league, will actually be afforded some time in the pocket, expect Jennings, 6th in the league with three receptions of 40-plus yards, to be on the receiving end of some big gainers.
Sun Nov 15, 2009 8:48 am EST
Please tune in to the Brad Evans Hyperbole Machine, beginning at noon ET. We'll discuss the Week 10 matchups and answer your start/sit questions. (OK, we might answer yours, but we'll definitely answer Deena's). If you don't watch, Larry Beil will be a broken man. He's a crier. Doesn't handle rejection well.
Click here to submit questions. Tune in. We'll fix everything…
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Fri Nov 13, 2009 12:14 pm EST

Every Friday during the NFL season we'll review the Yahoo! weekly position ranks. If an expert breaks from the herd, they'll be asked to show their work. We try to focus on names near the start/sit line in public leagues. Let's play the feud…
Darren Sproles - Funston rank 25, composite rank 32
There’s a reason the Eagles have allowed the second-most fantasy PPG to tight ends and the 12th-most receiving yards to running backs: those are effective ways to counter a blitz-heavy defense. The Chargers offense is the not-so-proud owner of the worst yards-per-carry mark in the league (3.1) and the Eagles’ hole-plugging, blitz-happy approach has limited their opponents’ running game to just 3.6 YPC. Put those hands together and you have a pretty bleak outlook for LaDainian Tomlinson on Sunday. But the Chargers could opt to use the dump pass heavily like it did in Week 2 against Baltimore, when they threw to RBs 12 times, including nine times to Sproles (who has the third-best fantasy receiving production among RBs this season). I like Sproles’ prospects this week as that quick outlet option for QB Philip Rivers, but we may also see Sproles pick up a half dozen carries or so as Tomlinson is dealing with a bruised hip that, although not serious, would give head coach Norv Turner a nice excuse to mitigate the workload of a 30-year-old back who's averaged exactly 3.0 YPC in his past 78 carries. -Funston
Sun Nov 08, 2009 10:08 am EST
If you're looking for last minute advice, please stop by Fantasy Football Live, beginning at noon ET.
If we're lucky, someone will ask Evans why he thinks Michael Crabtree(notes) is a better start this week than Wes Welker(notes), Roddy White(notes), Hines Ward(notes), Miles Austin(notes), Dwayne Bowe(notes), Donald Driver(notes), Calvin Johnson(notes), both Seahawks and both Steve Smiths.
Submit your questions now. We'll fix everything.
Watch live, right now…
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Fri Nov 06, 2009 3:27 pm EST
Every Friday during the NFL season we'll review the Yahoo! weekly position ranks. If an expert breaks from the herd, they'll be asked to show their work. We try to focus on names near the start/sit line in public leagues, or on complete acts of lunacy. Let's play the feud…
Michael Crabtree - Evans rank 12, composite rank 22
I'm heavily invested in the gold market this week, despite the improvement of the Titans secondary. The return of corner Cortland Finnegan and safety Vincent Fuller in Week 8 was exactly what the doctor ordered for Tennessee’s battered D. The added help crippled the Jags' passing attack, limiting standout receiver Mike Sims-Walker to his worst performance since becoming a starter (2 catches for 9 yards). But David Garrard has struggled on the road and when the Titans were at full-strength earlier this season, they were slapped around routinely.
Though he’s played in just six quarters, Alex Smith has made tremendous advancements in his development. More poised and aware, he’s turned to Crabtree early and often in back-to-back games. The first-round wideout, who’s unbelievably transitioned seamlessly despite an extensive holdout, has attracted 7.5 targets totaling 11 catches for 137 yards in two games. This week, I'm confident he snags his first career TD reception. Tennessee has surrendered 15 scores to WRs on the year, the most in the NFL. -Noise
Sun Nov 01, 2009 9:11 am EST
Please join us on Sunday for last minute advice on Fantasy Football Live, beginning at noon ET. We wear jackets and ties, so you know we're serious analysts. Submit your questions now. We'll fix everything.
Watch live, right here…
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Fri Oct 30, 2009 4:38 pm EDT
Every Friday during the NFL season we'll review the Yahoo! weekly position ranks. If an expert breaks from the herd, they'll be asked to show their work. We try to focus on names near the start/sit line in public leagues, or on complete acts of lunacy. Let's play the feud…
Kyle Orton - Funston's rank 9, composite rank 14
Denver faces a tough Baltimore run defense that, although victimized by Cedric Benson and Adrian Peterson the past two weeks, still has allowed just 3.5 YPC, the fifth-best mark in the league. To make matters worse, Baltimore is at home and coming off a bye after losing three straight hard-fought games against good teams. I expect the Ravens to be extremely surly and focused, looking to snuff out the fifth-heaviest rush offense in the NFL.
Orton has gained head coach Josh McDaniels’ confidence with three straight two-touchdown games, and he has but one turnover through six contests. I expect McDaniels will go with a much more pass-heavy approach against the league’s 10th-worst pass defense (241.5 passing YPG allowed). Denver has pass-protected well, adding further confidence here. Orton should be able to lean heavily on WR Brandon Marshall; Baltimore struggles with big, physical wideouts. And TE Tony Scheffler is re-emerging as a usable weapon for the Broncos. I expect Orton to throw it 35-40 times, and he should be good for at least the average yardage that Baltimore allows through the air, along with a couple scores. (Funston)
Fri Oct 23, 2009 6:39 pm EDT
Every Friday during the NFL season we'll review the Yahoo! weekly position ranks. If an expert breaks from the herd, they'll be asked to show their work. We try to focus on names near the start/sit line in public leagues, or on complete acts of lunacy. Let's play the feud…
Pierre Thomas - Behrens rank 15, composite 19
Yes, Pierre Thomas and Mike Bell each received 15 carries in the Week 6 win over New York. And yes, Bell is a clear threat to take short-yardage carries. But before you start thinking that those two are now on equal footing, consider these facts:
1. Nine of Bell's carries occurred in the fourth quarter of a three-TD blowout, after Thomas checked out;
2. PT outgained Bell by a healthy margin, 72 yards to 34;
3. Thomas still received six red zone touches against the Giants. He was not automatically lifted near the goal line.
Thomas is still the New Orleans back you'll want to own and start. The Dolphins are a rough matchup in Week 7, since they're coming off a bye and allowing just 76.4 rushing yards per game. But if Miami is focused on stopping the run, then they've already lost. (Not sure if you've heard, but the Saints present a few problems via the air). Thomas will remain a strong play all year. It's not as if Bell has been appointed the Saints' designated touchdown-scorer. PT will have plenty of opportunities to break the plane, too.
This actually feels a bit like the Ray Rice vs. Willis McGahee argument, which Evans called in favor of McGahee back in Week 3. (Ahem. Just sayin'). - Behrens
Fri Oct 16, 2009 5:32 pm EDT

Every Friday during the NFL season we'll review the Yahoo! weekly position ranks. If an expert breaks from the herd, they'll be asked to show their work. We try to focus on names near the start/sit line in public leagues, or on complete acts of lunacy. Let's play the feud…
Philip Rivers – Behrens rank 10, composite 5
First of all, this is not a reflection of my opinion of Rivers going forward. If we were redrafting an '09 league today, I'd absolutely rank Rivers among my top five quarterbacks. (Four? Three?) He's great. His offense is loaded with play-makers and San Diego's defense can't stop anyone, so every game has shootout potential. It's the Matt Schaub story, basically.
But my Week 6 rank on Rivers is really a nod of respect to the Denver Broncos. That defense has limited opponents to 252.8 yards and a ridiculous 8.6 points per game. While those averages may not be sustainable, we can't really mock the Broncos' strength-of-schedule any longer. They've held the Cowboys and Patriots to just 27 combined points over the past two weeks. I've still ranked Rivers as a fantasy starter, but if given the choice in Week 6, I'd play the match-ups with Matt Hasselbeck (vs. ARI) or Ben Roethlisberger (vs. CLE). (Behrens)
Ahmad Bradshaw – Evans rank 28, composite 21
After ripping the Raiders for 165 total yards and a pair of touchdowns last week, the Bride of Frankenstein is destined to return to earth. Gregg Williams' run blitz-happy defense has been very effective in the trenches this season limiting plowshares to a mere 3.5 yards per carry, 105 total yards per game and two scores equal to the fourth-fewest fantasy points surrendered. Though Bradshaw is running harder than Brandon Jacobs, he is still clearly cemented in a Derrick Ward-like role. In other words, with roughly 10-15 touches he will likely stumble, as many patrons typically do, down Bourbon Street. He's still flex worthy in 12-team and deeper formats, but in shallower leagues, similar skilled assets such as Darren Sproles (vs. Den) and LeSean McCoy (at Oak) are safer options. (Noise)
Fri Oct 09, 2009 4:13 pm EDT

Every Friday during the NFL season we'll review the Yahoo! weekly position ranks.If an expert breaks from the herd, they'll be asked to show their work. We try to focus on names near the start/sit line in public leagues, or on complete acts of lunacy. Let's play the feud…
Marshawn Lynch - Evans rank 13, composite 20
In this week's Battle of AFC Futility, "Beast Mode" will show his "Predator" side against the Chihuahuas. Considering Cleveland's gross inadequacies plugging the run and the Bills' constant vertical missteps, Alex Van Pelt will likely institute a ground-pounding gameplan to take pressure off the pocket and move the chains. This season, the Browns have yielded 5.3 yards per carry, 199.8 total yards per game and eight scores to rushers equal to the most fantasy points allowed. Even though he's locked in a near 50-50 timeshare with Fred Jackson, Lynch should be able to inflict severe damage with roughly 14-17 touches. A final tally around 70-90 total yards with a score is certainly possible. (Evans)
Santana Moss - Pianowski rank 14, composite 25
I realize people don’t want to get tied to the Washington offense and on the surface I can’t blame them for that. But we’re flush in the middle of bye season, a lot of good passing teams don’t play in Week 5, and we can’t ignore that Moss has been getting it done of late. He burned the Bucs for a long touchdown last Sunday, he had his way with the Lions in Week 3 (10-178, TD) and he should have had an easy score in Week 2 but Jason Campbell just missed him.
OK, almost touchdowns don’t count in fantasy, I get it. But what’s so special about this Carolina pass defense? The Panthers have allowed five TD tosses in three games and they’re yielding 67.4 percent completions. You can throw on these guys. Keep starting Moss until you have a strong reason not to; there are too many things in his favor here. (Pianow)
Roto Arcade is a fantasy sports blog edited by Andy Behrens. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.
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