Fantasy Football: Tight End Kind of Week

By Gabriella Rusk

(Getty Images/Chris Graythen)

Week 10 proved to be a week for the tight ends.  In particular, the Superdome in New Orleans was the place to be for two terrific tight ends: Tony Gonzalez and Jimmy Graham. With with two touchdowns and over 100 receiving yards each, these high-scoring fantasy players were in their own offensive matchup. Although Graham receives passes from Drew Brees pretty consistently, in this game he was targeted eight times, just one less than wide receiver Lance Moore.

However, it was Tony Gonzalez that celebrated his 100^th career touchdown reception.

“It was great. Of course I’d rather have it come in a victory,” Gonzalez told NFL.com.

While it wasn’t enough for the Falcons to continue with an undefeated season, Gonzalez definitely stepped up for the Atlanta offense that was missing wide receiver Julio Jones for part of the game.

Still, it wasn’t just this matchup where tight ends shined. Against the impressive defensive performance by the Denver Broncos, Greg Olsen was able to score the only points for the Panthers. He had 9 receptions for 102-yards, in which he scored the two touchdowns for Carolina. He was also targeted 10 times by Cam Newton. This was definitely a break-out showing for Olsen who has only scored just one other touchdown so far this season.

While nine other tight ends also found the end zone this week, including Kyle Rudolph (MIN), Dennis Pitta (BAL), and Rob Gronkowski (NE) who leads the league in touchdown receptions, it is Vernon Davis who hasn’t scored since week 3 against the Vikings. The 49ers seem to be using Davis more and more in the offensive line than to make offensive plays. Focusing his strengths on helping San Francisco win, Davis is playing for the sake of his team and not for anyone’s fantasy team.

On his role he tells CBSSports.com, “My main focus is just making sure I’m a team guy and just accepting the simple fact that coaches are giving me a certain role to play.”

Still, with seven games left in the regular season there are plenty more opportunities for not only Davis to capitalize on making offensive plays, but for all NFL tight ends to put up numbers. It’s is a passing league now after all.

Fantasy Football: Da Bears

The Bears defense puts up 20+ fantasy points...again

By Gabriella Rusk

The Monsters of the Midway have returned and have perhaps topped its 1985 counterparts. This 2012 Chicago Bears’ defense is one of the best in the NFL and has arguably led the team to its 7-1 record.

(Chicago Tribune/Brian Cassella)

Despite hesitation in the beginning of the season with talk of injuries, the Chicago Bears have proven to be a completely healthy unit and a defiant defense. Its safe to say there is nothing worse than playing against this Chicago defense in fantasy football. And here’s why.

In last weekend’s game against the Tennessee Titans, Chicago won 51-20. Veteran Brian Urlacher returned a 46-yard 'pick six,' leading the Bears to an early first quarter rout of the Titans. Meanwhile, cornerback Charles Tillman had one of the best games of his career, forcing four fumbles and outside linebacker Lance Briggs recorded four tackles giving him 48 tackles on the season.

Compare this with the 1985 Super Bowl winning Chicago Bears defense:

In the first eight games, this year’s team has five more defensive touchdowns. This year’s team has allowed 15 points per game (only 0.7 points more than the 1985 team). As far as takeaways go, the current team trails by one with 28 takeaways to the 1985 Bears with 29.

Granted, Chicago still has to face much more challenging teams in their upcoming games, including Houston this Sunday. It will be interesting to see how quarterback Matt Schaub handles the Bears’ defense vicious pass rush that has 25 sacks on the year.

Quarterback Jay Cutler told the Chicago Sun-Times that he believes the defense “is really a thing of beauty.”

Unfortunately, Cutler and the Bears offense is everything but beautiful. Ranked as the 23^rd quarterback in the NFL, Cutler is infamous for getting sacked and throwing interceptions. But at the end of the day he has a great defense on his team. And isn’t the best offense said to be a great defense? 

Fantasy Football: The Real Deal Doug Martin

One of only three running backs taken in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft, Doug Martin is proving he belongs amongst the rookie elites

By Gabriella Rusk

(AP Photo/Jim Mone)

Midway through the NFL season, fantasy owners have held their breath waiting for which rookie will be a breakout star in the league.

The answer has come Doug Martin.

Tampa Bay drafted Martin No. 31 overall out of Boise State. After moving up back into the first round to get him, the Bucs saw Ray Rice potential in Martin. Now, he is making Tampa Bay look good for drafting him.

In Thursday night’s game in Week 8 against Minnesota, Martin totaled 214 yards (135 rushing, 79 receiving) and two touchdowns to help Tampa win. Martin become the first rookie in 25 years with 135 rushing yards and over 75 receiving yards in a single game.

In an interview after the game with NFL.com, Martin spoke about the transition from the college to pro level.

“The speed of the game is definitely increased, and this is a feel thing. You're looking for that rhythm, as a running back, getting comfortable in the offense and having that game-time experience. I'm definitely there, right where I need to be," Martin said.

But will he continue to “be” there? That is the question for fantasy owners.

We believe he will. Currently, Martin is the only player in the NFC with 500 plus rushing yards and 200 plus receiving yards, as of Week 8. 

With 767 total offensive yards Martin has become a consistently strong fantasy player and a definite RB1.

Even better, Tampa Bay’s upcoming schedule doesn’t have too many challenging defenses. Oakland, San Diego, and Carolina all have defenses that give up over 100 yards per game.

With running back Legarrette Blount far in his wake, Martin has commanded Greg Schiano’s backfield. Also, he is creating a dynamic relationship with the young quarterback Josh Freeman. If this pair can keep up the chemistry on the field, the Tampa Bay offense will continue to have a promising season.

Martin, was slow out of the gate, but has come on nicely. With a salivating matchup against Oakland this week, Martin should be started with confidence.

Week 7: Top Fantasy Performances

By Gabriella Rusk

(AP Photo)

With ten regular season games left, some NFL players are beginning major comebacks and are inspiring fantasy owners everywhere.

Chris Johnson is a prime example. 

Despite a sluggish start, this week Johnson finally picked up the pace and proved why he was a top five fantasy draft pick.  Johnson broke off a touchdown run of 16 yards in the first quarter only to top that eight minutes later with a 83 yard touchdown run.  Scoring for the first time in eleven games, Johnson finished the game with 195 rushing yards on 18 carries and two scores, rewarding his faithful fantasy owners.  The 10.8 yards per carry, was the second-best mark of his career.

Another running back returned to the good graces last week and that guy is Matt Forte. On Monday night, Forte showed he has finally overcome his ankle injury by collecting 96 rushing yards on 22 carries for Da Bears. Although he has only scored one touchdown this season, as long as Forte can stay healthy, he will remain an integral part to the Bears’ offense.

Rob Gronkowski, finally found the end zone in Sunday’s game against the Jets for the first time in two weeks. Catching six passes for 78 yards and two touchdowns, Gronkowski notched up the team’s only offensive scores in their 29-26-overtime victory over New York. Gronk came into the season as the No. 1 fantasy tight end and owners can expect the Gronk TD spikes to keep on coming.

Lastly, wide receiver Jordy Nelson appears to have no intention of letting up. Greg Jennings’s groin injury has given Nelson the opportunity to be the Packers’ No. 1 receiver and he’s taken full advantage of it. Nelson has gone for over 100 yards in each of the past two games, including a 9 catch, 121 yards and 3-touchdown performance on October 14 at Houston.

All of these four players are quickly emerging as key members to their respective NFL teams and solid starters for their fantasy owners. With the fantasy trade deadline looming, you might want to make a move to snag one of these guys, just saying.

Quarterbacks Shine in Week 6

Aaron Rodger's historic day proves that star-studded quarterback play is still essential in fantasy football

(AP Photo/Dave Einsel)

By Gabriella Rusk 

At this point in the season, the fantasy breakout stars have, well, broken out. While everyone hopes to find one on the waiver wire such as the tall terrific tight end, the wonderfully wise wide receiver, the reckless yard returning running back, the truth is there isn’t too many star sleepers left to be awoken. All that’s left are spectacular performances from the players more or less expected to have great seasons. Guys that are picked early in the fantasy league’s draft finally are proving themselves worthy of that coveted roster position. And those guys are the quarterbacks.

Good ol’ Aaron Rodgers is a prime example. The first round fantasy quarterback threw for six touchdowns and 338 yards against the Texans on Sunday night, tying a team record. The 2011 NFL MVP remains a primer fantasy quarterback after a slow start in 2012.

Then there’s Peyton Manning who proved on Monday night that he is still a quarterback to be reckoned with. He threw for 3 touchdowns and 309 yards, leading the Broncos back from a 24-0 halftime deficit to win the game 35-24. It was the fourth-greatest regular-season comeback in NFL history, according to CBSsports.com.

Despite losing to the Titans, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger threw for 363 yards to become the franchise’s all-time passing leader. In his career, Big Ben has thrown for 28,066 yards, making him an elite quarterback in both the NFL and fantasy football.

To cap it off, Redskins rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III, who suffered a concussion last week, had a 76 yard rushing touchdown, breaking the NFL record for the longest touchdown run by a quarterback.  RG3 cashed in once again for his fantasy owners this week as he continues to dominate NFL defenses.

But fantasy football leagues remain wide open with eight weeks left to go before Week 14 playoffs. With NFL records still waiting to be broken, fantasy owners hope they are one up’d by players on their roster.