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Fantasy Football Stockwatch: Giants, Titans, Cardinals Fantasy News, Week 13

Submitted by Joseph Buccellato on December 1, 2009 � 11:34 pmOne Comment

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Manning says his feet are fine. Remember when Jacobs was a first round fantasy draft pick? Can Warner play in week 13? CJ is playing like Keanu Reeves in the Matrix. These are stories from some of the hotter teams in fantasy-land. KLGM is digging deep around the internet for news, stats, trends, schemes, and quotes that will help you set your fantasy lineup for the upcoming week.

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l<< rewind	New York Giants		fast forward >>l
NYG 6, DEN 26			DAL at NYG
l<< nytimes.com: Manning said Monday that continuing discomfort in his right foot would not prevent him from practicing regularly or playing Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys.		>>l Manning has the most famous feet in New York. The Cowboys are ranked 21st in passing yards allowed (224.9 yds per game), and give up approximately the 15th most points to QBs.
l<< nydalynews.com: Running backs coach Jerald Ingram says the problem with the Giants’ rushing game is that they’ve been using Brandon Jacobs all wrong. He said the 6-4, 264-pounder should be used like a battering ram, not like a finesse back told to dance to the outside. So what’s happened since? Jacobs has rushed 23 times in two games, mostly to the outside and often in stretch plays he’s ill-suited for running. Like in the third quarter Thursday night, after a big catch by Mario Manningham got the Giants to the Denver 24. On first down, Jacobs took the handoff, immediately turned left toward the sideline, never turned up field and lost three yards. The Giants ended up settling for a field goal. No wonder Jacobs, who’s still looking for his first 100-yard game of the season, has just 66 yards on 2.9 yards per carry the last two weeks. Plus there’s no commitment to the run. The Giants ran just 15 times in 59 plays (25.4 percent) against the Broncos. They played like they were down by four touchdowns, despite being in the game until the fourth quarter. Since the bye, they’ve only run on 42 of 125 plays – or 33.6 percent.		>>l As much as we consider ourselves geniuses, the coaches see the whole picture. There is a reason why Coughlin doesn’t run the ball like it’s 2008 – he can’t! Maybe Jacobs is hurt (as usual); maybe the O-line has hidden problems we don’t see on tv; maybe defenses are playing them differently in 2009. Whatever the case, it’s time to expect this for the rest of the season. Jacobs’ fantasy owners got ripped off. Ware is concussed. Bradshaw is still hobbled. The running game is a mess.
l<< nydailynews.com: The Giants sacked Kyle Orton once on Thursday night, when linebacker Danny Clark stopped him on the first play of the game. That was the Giants’ 23rd sack of the season, tying them with the Packers at 15th in the league – a number that would be bad enough if 11 of those hadn’t come against the Raiders and the Chiefs.		>>l Great defense starts with the pass rush, and everyone but Tuck has been invisible.
l<< nydailynews.com: How have they gone from NFC favorites to a game against the Dallas Cowboys next Sunday that, if they lose, they’ll have little hope of winning the NFC East? The answers are hard to pinpoint because too many things have unraveled, from the Giants’ once-powerful rushing attack to their once-sack-happy defense. They’ve stopped playing physical defense. Their offense has become run-and-shoot seemingly overnight. The play-calling has been suspect. The special teams, at times have been bad. In a season where the lack of a No. 1 receiver was supposed to be their only weakness, that position has become one of their few strengths. And with just five games left, it might already be too late to fix all the things that have gone wrong. nypost.com: When Steve Spagnuolo left his post as Giants defensive coordinator after last season, Coughlin obviously felt secondary coach Peter Giunta, defensive coordinator for the Super Bowl-winning Rams in 1999, was not the better replacement than Sheridan, but perhaps Coughlin thought wrong. Osi Umenyiora — who walked out on a Sheridan-run meeting during the preseason, only to return with full apologies — is not performing like he is totally sorry. It might be the fault of Umenyiora, routinely getting run over, or it might be Sheridan’s. Regardless, when your best player is not playing like it, his direct supervisor ultimately cannot survive. Of course, it’s not Sheridan to blame for Phillips being lost for the season, Antonio Pierce getting old, Justin Tuck playing with a bum shoulder, Chase Blackburn being essentially a backup, and Barry Cofield and Fred Robbins being not fully recovered from offseason surgeries. Michael Boley has been hurt, Chris Canty so far mostly a dud, and the offseason is starting to look as bad as the season.		>>l Amazing how things become clear when the ship is sinking and you spell it out like that on paper.
l<< nytimes.com: Pierce will miss the rest of the season, the Giants announced, because the bulging disk in his neck has not improved enough to get him back for the last five games of the regular season. The Giants have put Pierce on the injured reserve list. In a statement released by the Giants, Pierce said the doctors told him “the risk of playing is too great, regardless of how I feel physically.” He added,” That is the most disappointing part of this, because I feel great and have no pain.”		>>l nydailynews.com: He has one year left on the six-year, $26 million contract he signed in 2005, and is due a $4.75 million salary in 2010. The Giants have rebuffed several of his efforts to get a contract extension, and a team source said they have not changed their minds. Given his age, his health and the lingering ill will from his involvement in the Plaxico Burress shooting last November, it’s unlikely they will. In fact, Pierce could be in danger of becoming an offseason cut. nj.com: Chase Blackburn has started the past two games and has had a mix of solid plays and a missed tackles. Coach Tom Coughlin has hinted second-year linebacker Jonathan Goff, who has taken snaps with the starters in practice, could be in line for more playing time in the near future.

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l<< rewind	Tennessee Titans		fast forward >>l
AZ 17, TEN 20			TEN at IND
l<< tennessean.com: Running back Chris Johnson didn’t touch the ball during Sunday’s game-winning drive against the Cardinals. The Titans opted for Vince Young’s arm during the 18-play, 99-yard march. As for Johnson, Coach Jeff Fisher said: “His presence, I think, had a lot to do with the success of the drive. We were able to complete passes, get the ball out of bounds and stop the clock. I think a lot of that had to do with the deployment of their defense and that fact that he was on the field.” Johnson carried the ball for the last time during the second-to-last drive of the fourth quarter. He finished with 154 yards on 18 carries, including an 85-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. He also caught three passes for 32 yards.		>>l The Coltss are ranked 15th in rushing yards allowed (108.9 yds per game), and give up approximately the 16th most points to RBs. It doesn’t matter though, as you start CJ vs the ’85 Bears.
l<< tennessean.com: Against the Cardinals, Britt enjoyed his best game as a pro, catching seven passes for 128 yards and the game-winning touchdown. Britt has 13 receptions for 225 yards and two touchdowns since Gage was sidelined. Expect to see more from Britt on special teams, Fisher said. In his first duty as kickoff-return man, the rookie averaged 29 yards on two returns against the Cardinals. “He was explosive and covered a lot of ground quickly,” Fisher said. “He’s been working at it the last few weeks and he’s excited about the opportunity.” Kevin Kaesviharn handled punt returns.		>>l It’s anyone’s guess as to Britt’s production once Justin Gage returns. But one thing is certain… he’s on fire with the additional snaps. Pick him up in all leagues. The Colts are ranked 20th in passing yards allowed (223.3 yds per game), and give up approximately the 6th most points to WRs.
l<< tennessean.com: Vince Young was spectacular when it mattered most, directing the game-winning drive. He finished with 387 yards, making clutch throws and tough throws. Rookie Kenny Britt played like a veteran, bouncing back after his critical fumble to make the game-winning catch. Nate Washington got behind the defense a few times; tight end Bo Scaife was a reliable target; and youngsters Lavelle Hawkins and Jared Cook made key receptions.		>>l The Titans have lots of young prospects, but prospects don’t win games. Don’t get fooled into drafting the receivers ahead of their 2010 projections. For every one guy you hit on, you’ll miss on 9.
l<< tennessean.com: Titans running back LenDale White was deactivated for Sunday’s game against the Cardinals after being late for the walk-through on Saturday, according to sources familiar with the situation.		>>l Not a great way to wind down your Titan’s career.
l<< tennessean.com: Nick Harper collected nine tackles while doing a lot of work against Cardinals wideouts Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. The duo combined for nine catches, but none longer than 24 yards.		>>l He belongs on all IDP rosters. He’s had no less than 4 solos in every game.
l<< nashvillecitypaper.com: In three consecutive games, the Titans have held their opponent to 17 points – no small accomplishment when you consider their victories of late over high-powered offenses like Houston and Arizona. Tennessee still ranks 31st against the pass and 25th overall, numbers that aren’t likely to improve much in the rankings because the start was so poor. But in the bottom line, the Titans have been considerably improved. In their current five-game run, the Titans have allowed 91 points.		>>l That’s 18.2 pts/game in the last 5 weeks. You absolutely need to take this into account when you look at the Titans’ opponents.

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l<< rewind	Arizona Cardinals		fast forward >>l
AZ 17, TEN 20			MIN at AZ
l<< azcentral.com: The truth is painfully clear. This team goes nowhere special without a healthy Kurt Warner, and he’s still experiencing some unnerving symptoms from a hit he suffered last week against the Rams. “It feels like a light sensitivity (in his eyes) or my eyes aren’t quite adjusted right,” Warner said. “I had tightness in my neck all week, so I think we were trying to gauge whether what I was feeling was coming from issues in my neck or whether it was an issue with my head. Ultimately, we couldn’t make that determination, and that’s what led us to the decision that we came to.” Caution is prudent in this case, and yet one game has been chipped off the division lead. The powerful Vikings are coming to town. Warner isn’t sure what’s next and, as a result, neither do Cardinals fans. At the moment, both have a hard time seeing straight.		>>l I’ve been asked a few times what to expect in Week 13 from Warner (and Big Ben and DeSean Jax). Truth is, it’s impossible to know. Have a backup plan, and make sure you are near a computer from 11am – 1pm on Sunday. If Warner plays, the Vikings are ranked 19th in passing yards allowed (221.9 yds per game), and give up approximately the 13th most points to QBs.
l<< azcentral.com: In his first start since 2007, Leinart was efficient, completing 21 of 31 passes for 220 yards. He didn’t have a touchdown pass, but he wasn’t intercepted, either. And he completed four of five passes for 61 yards on a touchdown drive that gave the Cardinals a 17-13 lead with 12:20 remaining. eastvalleytribune.com: Matt Leinart proved he has what it takes to be a quality NFL quarterback. Leinart wasn’t great, and the Cardinals played it conservative in the first half, but he didn’t throw an interception and he was on target with most of his throws. That, after getting few repetitions during the week because the Cardinals thought Kurt Warner would play.		>>l How cute, Leinhart isn’t a bust. I need more than one workman-like game to see he can be a legit starter.
l<< azcentral.com: Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald caught his 500th career pass Sunday, reaching that milestone in the second-fewest games (87) in history. Teammate Anquan Boldin caught his 500th pass in his 80th game.		>>l You can’t do Cardinals news without mentioning the receivers. The Vikings give up approximately the 18th most points to WRs.
l<< azcentral.com: Some of the offensive play calling was imaginative. The pass out of the end zone was a surprise. Leinart said Whisenhunt originally called a run, then changed his mind. The Cardinals were in their heavy package, with only one receiver. Patrick released and caught them by surprise. The club also used Beanie Wells and Tim Hightower in the same backfield. Wells motioned out to receiver and caught a pass that led to a touchdown.		>>l Beanie and Hightower on the field together is great for Fantasy and Madden, but I doubt it can be consistent. The Vikings are ranked 2nd in rushing yards allowed (81.6 yds per game), and give up approximately the fewest points to RBs. Not a good week to start either guy.
l<< azcentral.com: Wells dropped his second pitchout in as many weeks. It looked like he took his eyes off of it at the last moment. Ball security remains a big issue with him.		>>l Fumbling is the only thing holding the kid back.
l<< azcentral.com: Arizona thought it had an answer for the Titans, specifically on Young and the league’s leading running back, Chris Johnson. Outside of an 85-yard touchdown run by the latter, the Cardinals held both in check on the ground. “What happened is we changed up our defensive plan in order to counter what that team does well,” Whisenhunt said. “When you install some of those things, you put yourself at risk of making some mistakes, and that’s what happened to us.” With his receivers mostly facing single coverage, Young passed for a career-high 387 yards. It didn’t help the Cardinals that they lost inside linebacker Karlos Dansby to a shoulder injury earlier in the fourth quarter.		>>l This is the first I’ve heard about Dansby. It would be a significant blow to IDP rosters if he misses time. As for the 85-yard scamper, it’s like this: I only tongue-kissed a goat once, but I kissed human-women the rest of the time… it doesn’t make up for the goat.
l<< azcentral.com: Cardinals rookie running back LaRod Stephens-Howling has been named this week’s NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance in last Sunday’s game at Tennessee. Stephens-Howling returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown. He also collected his team high 18th special teams tackle this season. Stephens-Howling finished the game with four kickoff returns for a career-high 167 yards (41.8-yard average).		>>l Pick up LSH in deep leagues that reward points for return yards. In the last 5 weeks he’s produced 497 kickoff yards, 1 TD, 3 receptions, 36 yards, and 1 receiving TD.
l<< azcentral.com: Defensive end Darnell Dockett had three of the Cardinals’ four sacks, which came against a team that had yielded just seven all season. eastvalleytribune.com: Other than Darnell Dockett, who had three sacks, Arizona doesn’t have anyone who can consistently put pressure on the quarterback. Defensive coordinator Bill Davis had to resort to blitzes to get some heat on Young, and when he did, Young burned the Cardinals by completing shallow crossing routes over the middle.		>>l I noted on my IDP radio show a few weeks back that Dockett’s stock would be on the rise. He’s hot, and he has a great schedule. Use him with confidence.

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