Week 9 Bank/Tank

By: Christian Hardy

Now we're here. The officially halfway point of the 2011 NFL season. Week nine is packed full of some great games, so let's get right to it.


I'd like to run over what this article is all about. "Bank" is players I love this week and "Tank" are the players that are going to, well, tank this week. The numbers next to the players are, first, my ranking, followed by ESPN's consensus ranking. Let's get started, shall we?

Quarterbacks
Bank
Matt Ryan @ Indianapolis (7th, 8th) - What a turn around Indy has had without Peyton Manning has had his neck surgery. They are now 0-8 and their team as a whole looks worse than ever. Look, Matt Ryan hasn't been great this year (16th ranked fantasy quarterback), but he hasn't been terrible either. If it wasn't for his eight point performance against Chicago and six point game against the undefeated Packers, then he is tied with Ben Roethlisberger as the ninth best fantasy quarterback (15.6 points per game). Against the weak Indy pass defense that is 29th in fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks, you bet I am starting him this week.

Matt Cassel vs Miami (8th, 13th) - Interesting stat for you here: Matt Cassel's best month in terms of passer rating is November. Throughout his career, Cassel has a 83.0 passer rating; in November, Cassel has thrown for a passer rating of 93.1 (his second best month is October with 82.2). That, along with the 31st ranked fantasy pass defense of the Dolphins is starting to look like a real juicy matchup for Matt Cassel.

Tony Romo vs Seattle (4th, 6th) - Romo has a 110.8 passer rating in two games against Seattle, despite the botched snap on a 19 yard chip shot, that, in return, lost the game for the Cowboys in the 2007 playoffs (2006 season). But this year, Romo is at home against the Seahawks for the first time since 2008. In that particular game, Romo threw for over 300 yards and three touchdowns. Pretty impressive, right? Definitely start Romo this week, considering the very vulnerable pass defense of the Seahawks.

Extra: Mark Sanchez @ Buffalo (10th, 15th)

Tank

The story of Tebow as a starter

Tim Tebow @ Oakland (15th, 12th) - Well, I have completely lost the love for this guy. After two (and a half) weeks his stat line is...horrific.A 46.1 completion percentage 412 yards, and a 75.1 passer rating. Just like I said: Horrific.Oakland might have a bad pass defense, but so did Miami. Stay away from Tebow if you can this week. (Warning: This could easily blow up in your face and my face.)

Joe Flacco vs Pittsburgh (24th, 18th) - Flacco has turned the ball over eight times in seven games against the Steelers. Along with that, he has only scored nine touchdowns and 215 yards per game. And, wait, there's more. The Steelers allow just 11.5 fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this year, which is seventh in the league. There is no way I am putting Flacco in my lineup this week, despite a great game from him in week one of this season against the Steelers.

Running Backs
Bank
Shonn Greene @ Buffalo (10th, 13th) - Greene has twenty carries or more in three straight games and in every game this season he has 10 carries or more. Lead back? I think so. With those type of carries, Greene is an every week start, and it only makes it better when he has a great matchup. Greene plays the Bills who allow 16.7 points per game to opposing running backs this season (including the whopping three points that they allowed to the Redskins last week). To go along with all of this, in the past five games against the Jets, the Bills have given up over 200 rushing yards. Plus, the Bills will be without Kyle Williams which is a great run stopper for this defense. I expect a 15-20 point game for Greene here, and maybe even the game where he finally breaks out.

Steven Jackson blew up for three touchdowns last week

Steven Jackson vs Arizona (6th, 9th) - What are the Rams going on Bradford's first game back from that ankle sprain? I'm pretty sure that they are going to give the ball to their top playmaker who goes by the name of Steven Jackson. Jackson led the Rams to their first win of the season over the red-hot Saints, and so why can't he do it against this defense? The Cardinals allow just over 17 points per game to opposing running backs, and no one by Steven Jackson is going to be touching the rock out of the backfield for this team. Get Steven Jackson in your lineup this week, just like I suggested last week.

Extra: Jackie Battle vs Miami (12th, 20th) - Miami has a decent fantasy rush defense (10th), but with the type of carries he is getting, it is hard not to like him.

Tank
Ryan Torain vs San Francisco (41st, 30th) - I loved this guy for two weeks, with two great matchups. Now he takes on the 49ers, who have the best fantasy defense against opposing running backs. Torain has just three points combined in his last three games against Philadelphia, Carolina, and Buffalo; three of the worst fantasy run defenses. At this point, you can drop Torain, but I am definitely keeping him on my bench.


Chris Johnson vs Cincinnati (32nd, 21st) - What a terrible season for CJ (The "2K" part of it has been revoked, by me). Javon Ringer is now stealing his carries, and Johnson can't even bust through an open hole. He is one of the biggest draft busts that I have seen without injury outside of Randy Moss last year. To go along with that, the Bengals, Johnson's week nine opponent, has only allowed 14 points per game to opposing running backs, which is the tenth best in the league. Keep Johnson on your bench until he can put some points up.


Extra: BenJarvus Green-Ellis vs New York Giants (28th, 17th, also is questionable with a toe injury), Rashard Mendenhall vs Baltimore (24th, 12th)

Wide Receivers
Bank
Miles Austin vs Seattle (3, 13) - The Cowboys looked terrible against the Eagles last week, so you might think that I am crazy for thinking he will have a big game, but hear me out. Last game against the Seahawks, Austin had 12 fantasy points in a standard league, not bad. Austin only has 16 fantasy points in his last three games combined, but the Seahawks allow 22.1 points per game to opposing wide receivers, tenth worst in the league. I expect a huge bounce back from Romo in this one, and I'm feeling so Austin coming along as well.

You know, it puzzles me why he would wear a mouthpiece that big.

Jeremy Maclin vs Chicago (7th, 14th) - I don't think Maclin gets the credit for what he has been doing. For the first time in his career, he has put up consistent numbers on a week to week basis, including great fantasy numbers. After week one, Maclin has not dropped under five points and he now has three straight games of ten points or more, while Desean Jackson has just seven points in his last two games. I think you can call this one more of a hunch that any thing; that, and the rankers at ESPN are a little too low on him. Matthew Berry noted in his week nine Love/Hate that the Bears have been dropping back into deep coverage more often than not, so they will be defending the big play from Desean Jackson while Maclin keeps getting underneath. (I just read the complete excerpt from Berry, and this has a lot of the same content in it, but I did not mean to copy at all, just a heads up.)


Extra: Santonio Holmes @ Buffalo (14th, 24th) - You can call this one a hunch. It only helps that Burress has a back injury.

Tank
Steve Johnson vs New York Jets (35th, 21st) - Destination: Revis Island. Darrelle Revis has had a tremendous bounce back from 2010, and our friends over at ProFootballFocus.com did an entire story on it. I suggest you check it out. It really is remarkable what Revis has done this year, and if he shadows Johnson all day, then I would go with the under on three catches.

John Skelton es no bueno.

Larry Fitzgerald vs St.Louis (14th, 5th)  - I'm not jumping on the Fitzgerald train just because he is playing the Rams, who are the fourth worst fantasy defense against opposing wide receivers. John Skelton will likely be the starter for the Cardinals with Kolb listed as questionable this week, and Skelton never really hooked up with Fitzgerald. Last year, in the three games that Skelton started and finished, Fitzgerald never caught a touchdown pass, and he only averaged 77.3 yards per game. Even against this St.Louis team who has struggled against the pass, I still don't like Fitzgerald as anymore than a number two.

Extra: Vincent Jackson vs Green Bay (23rd, 11th), Brandon Marshall @ Kansas City (26th, 15th)


Tight Ends
Bank

My second Eagles' pass catcher I love this week.

Brent Celek vs Chicago (7th, 16th) - Now remember, Celek is listed as questionable, but I fully expect him to play. If he does play, I am completely buying in on this guy. He now has a touchdown in each of his last two games, including eleven receptions in those two games. The Bears are the worst team against opposing tight ends, allowing 11.4 points per game in that category. Celek is a great start right now, especially if a guy like Jermichael Finley is letting you down.

Extra: Jake Ballard @ New England (10th, 15th)


Tank
Jermichael Finley @ San Diego (11th, 7th) - This guy has fallen off tremendously since week three with only about four points per game since that 26 point performance (with three touchdowns). The Chargers have an average defense against opposing tight ends (7.1 points per game), but nothing to get exciting about. If you drafted this guy in the first four rounds, well, I'm sorry, because that means you probably don't have a replacement for him.


Thanks for reading. I'll be back tomorrow with my game analysis from every game in the NFL. Until then, as always, you can check out my fantasy rankings that have completely updated according to injury, and you can also check out the injury report which sums up all of the injury news from every day. For any fantasy questions, feel free to hit up my twitter or my email. See you all on Saturday!


 

Bank/Tank Week 6

 By: Christian Hardy

Although you might not realize it yet, this week is the most important week in the season. You can not falter, you must despise your opponent, and most importantly, you can not lose. Wait...isn't every week in your fantasy football season like this? Oh yeah, that's right: Football season is intense. Speaking of intense, I'd like to introduce to you the three I's of fantasy football: Identification (you must learn your opponents identity, including what beer they like, their favorite player, how to feed them lineup advice, etc.), Intensification (make this matchup count. Even if it isn't close, make it seem close; or intense.), Impact (change your season, and your opponent's season. Make this matchup miserable for him and successful for you.). Now that we have gone over (actually, I just made that up, but we'll go with gone over) the three I's, we can move on to what this article is really about: my Bank and Tank, or in other words: my Start and Sit. This week, I've got a guy that people are really overlooking, and another one who is going to have a staggering game coming off of his bye.

A thing about the article: These are not always the people I would literally start and sit, but rather guys that I like a lot this week. Keep that in mind. Also, remember that you can always ask me a question or make a comment about this, or any other article, on my Twitter. I love getting questions from my readers, and I love it even more when you guys appreciate my writing. I will give advice all throughout the week, answering every single question I get to the best of my ability. I also wanted to include what I ranked each guy next to what ESPN analysts ranked him. The first number next to the players name is my ranking, the second one is the ESPN consensus rankings

Quarterbacks

Bank

Tony Romo @ New England (3rd, Tied-4th) - How can you not love a quarterback that is going to be playing against the worst pass defense in the league. Not only are they getting torched in real life football, but in fantasy football the Patriots are getting smacked; they have allowed 19.6 points per game to opposing quarterbacks. That is tied for the third worst in the league, and they haven't even played great quarterbacks. And to make this even more scrumptious, Tony Romo has two wide receivers better than Calvin Johnson on his team! How awesome is that!

Mark Sanchez vs Miami (10th, 15th) - Speaking of delectable matchups, how about Mark Sanchez.I know "the Sanchise" has been playing, well, like Mark Sanchez, but with this kind of matchup, how could you not like him? Miami is 31st in passing yards allowed, and they have allowed nine touchdowns through the air in just four games (Dolphins have already had their bye). And even though Sanchez has been playing very mediocre, he has played good against the Dolphins: In four games against them, he has six touchdowns to go along with 909 yards, and that was before the Dolphins' defense looked this bad. Look for Sanchez to have around 250 yards and two touchdowns on ESPN for Monday Night Football.

Extra: Colt McCoy (15th, 18th)

Tank

Matt Schaub @ Baltimore (20th, 13th) - Alright, so the hate didn't payoff in week five, but that was only because I completely overlooked the defense of the Raiders. But against the Ravens, well, it's a little bit hard to over look them. They have allowed just one touchdown when their defense has been on the field at home. So, fear the beak? Yes, yes you should.

Josh Freeman vs New Orleans (17th, 14th) - Here's the scoop, Freeman is bad. That's my insight. He is playing bad right now and he has a 71.4 passer rating to show for it. This isn't a terrible matchup, but I'm just trying to make the point that until Freeman shows you something, you have to sit him. Right now, he isn't impressing anyone.

Extra: Joe Flacco (20th, 13th) - Texans allowing just 13 fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks.

Running Backs

Bank

Michael Turner vs Carolina (4th, 8th) - It's obvious that you start Michael Turner, but I think this matchup is more favorable than people are making it out to be. The Panthers have allowed the second most fantasy points to opposing running backs this season (24.6 ppg). Granted, lots of those points have game through the air to running backs, which Turner does very little of, but you get where I'm headed here.

Darren Sproles @ Tampa Bay (13th, 18th) - Correct me if I am wrong, but is this the third consecutive time that Sproles has been on my "bank" list one way or another? I know that last week was his worst week yet even though he had the most touches he has gotten all year, he still did not succeed with those carries. This week he takes on the Bucs who allow 17 point per game to opposing running backs. I guess I just want to make this clear as can be: Start Sproles and start him every week because consistency is everything in the regular season.

Extra: Cedric Benson (10th, 13th), Shonn Greene (17th, 20th)

Tank

BenJarvus Green-Ellis vs Dallas (25th, 19th) - It's as simple as this: Don't play your running back who is playing the number one rushing defense in the league. The Cowboys have allowed only 10.8 points per week to opposing running backs (nearly half of that that through the air). They have allowed just one touchdown on the ground in four games and you think BenJarvus Green-Ellis is going to be able to do anything? Temper you're expectations.

Steven Jackson @ Green Bay (26th, 14th) - The Rams are a very lousy football team, and do you actually think that the Rams will be able to run the ball in this game. Not only are the Rams going to be playing from behind, but they are also playing from behind. I really do not like Steven Jackson's chances this week. With the name "SJax" you probably won't be able to sit him, but I highly recommend that you do.

Extra: Jahvid Best @ San Francisco (18th, 15th) - Playing the best fantasy rush defense

Wide Receivers

Bank

Torrey Smith vs Houston (25th, NR) - I'm trying to ponder why no one at ESPN ranked Smith. Johnathan Joesph, playing the best he ever has right now, is going to be on Anquan Boldin and that is going to put Kareem Jackson in a mismatch with Torrey Smith. Flacco should be finding Smith all day long and I expect him to have an above-par game.

Victor Cruz vs Buffalo (9th, 21st) - The job is his! Matthew Berry, Eric Karabell, whoever else that is still rankings Manningham above Cruz, listen up! All jokes set aside, Cruz is a physical specimen and Manningham can not compete with him. This job is Cruz's (just like I predicted it would be two weeks ago) until the stat line at the end of a game shows other wise. Cruz is a great play this week and he has huge upside and with the time he is getting on the field, he has very little downside.

Extra: Michael Crabtree (19th, 32nd), Jabar Gaffney (27th, 36th)

Tank 

Percy Harvin @ Chicago (29th, 24th) - The reason I don't like Harvin? The Bears' fierce pass defense? Nope. The Bears don't allow touchdowns through the air (Harvin has zero this year)? Nope. It's Donovan McNabb: He has been absolutely terrible and he can not (seriously, can not) toss the ball into the endzone with only four this year (two in one game). I don't like Harvin much this week, as well as the rest of the year.

Brandon Marshall @ New York Jets (24th, 18th) - Revis Island is coming to Brandon Marshall, and who is throwing the party? None other but Matt Moore. The situation for Marshall couldn't get much worse for this week, and I really would not be surprised if he drops a goose egg. The Jets have only allowed 15.6 points per game to wide receivers this year and they haven't played Matt Moore yet.

Extra: Santana Moss (23rd, 20th)

Tight Ends

Bank

Greg Olsen @ Atlanta (5th, 9th) - Olsen has consistently put up honorable numbers in three straight games, and I don't think it ends here. The Falcons haven't been playing particularly bad this season against opposing tight ends, but why can' that change against a guy that Cam Newton has been depending on? Don't look for Greg Olsen to have a huge game, but don't listen to these other guys' rankings.

Extra: Jake Ballard v Buffalo (13th, 22nd)

Tank

Jason Witten @ New England - Okay now, don't go and plopping Witten on the bench, that's not what I mean when I say he is going to tank. I know that Witten is a huge part against of this offense, but with Austin and Bryant in such favorable matchups (worst defense against wide receivers in the league) I expect a lot less looks from Romo.

Extra: Scott Chandler @ New York Giants (25, 20)

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Thanks for reading, you fantasy football nuts. I will be back on Saturday with my week 6 game analysis and don't forget to check out the injury report and my fantasy rankings that I refer to multiple times in all of my articles. Like I mentioned earlier, you have any questions (don't be shy), comments, or suggestions then you can hit me up on Twitter or you can shoot me an email. See you tomorrow!