LestersLegends.com

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When Kenny Britt caught four passes for 62 yards and a touchdown against the Steelers in Week 6 it looked like Britt was ready to return to form.
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While his reception total was low, his 11 targets were encouraging.
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He has disappointed in the four games since, averaging 41.8 yards. He had just 14 receptions during the stretch, but was targeted 25 times.
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Britt did not have training camp and has been trying to get up to speed while simultaneously trying to get back to full strength. He has also had the misfortune of Jake Locker being out of action.
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Britt will use the bye week as a crash course training camp. He will look to get on the same page as Jake Locker and the Titans will look for ways to get Britt more involved in the offense.
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Britt may not pay immediate dividends as the Titans face the Jaguars and Texans coming out of the bye. They’ll probably lean heavily on Chris Johnson against the Jags and have difficulty moving the ball against Houston.
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When the fantasy playoffs roll around things should look up. The Titans first take on the Colts, and the way Luck is playing they may have to air it out. Then they take on the mediocre Jets, followed by Green Bay. You know the Packers are going to hang points on the board so Britt will likely see a ton of looks.
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I still wouldn’t consider him a reliable WR3 at this point, but he is definitely a WR4 with a lot of upside.
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Also check out:

• 2012 Week 11 Fantasy QB Rankings
• 2012 Week 11 Fantasy RB Rankings
• 2012 Week 11 Fantasy WR Rankings
• 2012 Week 11 Fantasy TE Rankings
• 2012 Week 11 Fantasy K Rankings
• 2012 Week 11 Fantasy DEF Rankings
• 2012 Week 11 Fantasy Football Start/Sit Options
• 2012 Week 11 Fantasy Football Sleepers
• 2012 Week 11 Fantasy Football Get ‘em or Don’t Sweat ‘em
• 2012 Week 11 NFL Picks
• Should You Sell High on Randall Cobb?
• Should You Drop Justin Blackmon?
• Is It Time to Put the New York Giants’ Passing Game on Ice?

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Kenny Britt’s box score looked good. Four catches for 62 yards and a touchdown. While fantasy owners have to be pleased with that performance, there could have been more.
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Britt was targeted eleven times and had some drops that would have led to an even better game on Thursday night. He also struggled in his route running. While he left yardage and fantasy points on the field, he should start paying some pretty big dividends for his owners.
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For starters, Britt escaped from the victory healthy.  Not only that, by playing on Thursday he has extra time to rest up for his next game. He will also have extra time to get more up to speed with what the Titans are doing. He has only played in seven games since the start of the 2011 season so he’s still adjusting both mentally and physically.
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The Titans have struggled defensively and have subsequently had to throw the ball on average 39.0 times per game. Kendall Wright, with 52, has been dominating the targets, but it won’t take long until Britt gets the lion’s share of looks. In fact, on Thursday he led the way with those eleven looks.
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Next week Britt could be in store for a nice game. Tennessee is taking on the Bills. He also has the Dolphins coming up and a favorable fantasy playoff schedule of the Colts, Jets, and Packers.
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Good things could be in store for Britt. Given his injury history, you’ll need insurance, but since you didn’t know what to expect from him, you probably already have that covered.
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Also check out:

• 2012 Week 7 Fantasy QB Rankings
• 2012 Week 7 Fantasy RB Rankings
• 2012 Week 7 Fantasy WR Rankings
• 2012 Week 7 Fantasy Football Get ‘em or Don’t Sweat ‘em
• Should Mark Ingram Owners Cut Bait?
• What to Expect From Jahvid Best?

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Though it was described as minor surgery, it is still a small setback in Kenny Britt’s recovery from his knee injury that shortened his 2011 season after just three games.
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Britt had 14 catches for 271 yards and three touchdowns in the first two games before tearing his ACL and MCL in Week 3 against the Broncos.
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Britt is expected to be ready Week 1, but it is a little troublesome that he is still having issues over seven months after the surgery.
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Britt has WR1 potential, but his health will play a major factor. He has combined to play 15 games over the past two seasons and has totaled 59 catches for 1064 yards and 12 TDs.
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There is definitely a risk/reward factor at play for those that draft (keep) Britt.
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Also check out:

• 2012 Early Fantasy Football QB Rankings
• 2012 Early Fantasy Football RB Rankings
• 2012 Early Fantasy Football WR Rankings
• 2012 Early Fantasy Football TE Rankings
• 2012 Top Five Rookie Fantasy Football Quarterbacks
• 2012 Top Five Rookie Fantasy Football Running Backs
• 2012 Top Five Rookie Fantasy Football Wide Receivers
• 2012 NFL Draft First Round Skill Players: A Fantasy Perspective

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This week’s topic:
Do you prefer Dez Bryant or Kenny Britt this year? Why?

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My response:
This is a tough one. Both receivers are extremely capable. Both come with some baggage. Things had been quiet in Britt’s camp though, while Dez Bryant just can’t seem to make a right decision. Britt seems to have Dez trumped in the maturity department. That was until he got arrested after trying to elude police. Bryant’s incidents aren’t nearly on the level as this one.
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So that makes Bryant a slam dunk? It certainly helps. Plus, Britt has major quarterback concerns heading into this year. We know Vince Young won’t be throwing him the football, but who will? While that is an uncertainty, we know that Dez will be catching passes from Tony Romo. Even if Tennessee walks away from the 2011 NFL Draft with Blaine Gabbert or Cam Newton, which is unlikely, or adds a veteran quarterback via a trade or free agency, Bryant will still be operating with a superior quarterback.
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So now Bryant is the obvious choice? Not so fast. Dez has to share with Jason Witten, Miles Austin, the running game, and possibly Roy WIlliams. Britt has to share with Chris Johnson and average-at-best receivers. Of course, that allows Britt to be double-teamed.
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Is your head spinning? Mine is too. Britt pretty much scored in every game he played, but only topped 50 yards in five games. Bryant topped 50 yards seven times, but four of those totals were 50 or better.
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Britt is in his third season and Bryant is in his second. It’s close, but I’ll give Bryant the slight edge based on Britt’s recent arrest, though both are high risk/high reward options.

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The fantasy playoffs are underway in the majority of leagues as the Colts and Titans kicked off the action last night.
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Having players go in the Thursday night games gives you a little bit of advantage. If your players do good, you can perhaps be a little more cautions with your team. If your players failed to put up good numbers, perhaps you will want to take a bigger risk, hoping for a bigger reward to make up for it. You also get a feel for your match-up depending on how your opponents players did. Let’s take a look at how fantasy owners will be feeling about their players.
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Quarterbacks:   If you started Peyton Manning (319 yards, two TDs), which is roughly 99.9 percent of his owners, you are off to a great start. You can’t ask for much more than 300+ and a pair of scores without a pick. If you went with Kerry Collins (244 yards, three TDs) I want proof. Seriously though, heck of a call. You can’t be happier with your results.
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Running Backs: If you went with Chris Johnson (179 total yards, TD), which also is virtually everybody who owns him, you are off and running (pun intended). He came in with a juicy match-up, and he shrugged off his recent slump and delivered when you needed it the most. It does help to have a competent QB. If you rode the Javarris James (49 yards, TD) train, kudos to you. Donald Brown (62 total yards) had just enough total yardage to keep him from being a bust if he was in your lineup.

You can’t truly evaluate the Titans until you know what is going to happen with Chris Johnson. That said, like the Titans the show must go on with or without him.

Fantasy Playoffs Schedule:  Moderate
The Titans tackle the Colts and Texans at home in Weeks 14 and 15, followed by a road match-up against Kansas City. You have to love the fantasy championship match-up (assuming Chris Johnson plays).

Five Star Fantasy Options
Chris Johnson – I actually assume that he’s going to miss some camp at the very least with the holdout, which will have a negative impact on the season. I can’t, in good faith, give him anything short of a five star rating as long as there is the possibility that he’ll play. That’s how good he is.

Four Star Fantasy Options
None

Three Star Fantasy Options
Vince Young – As long as he doesn’t make any more dumb decisions off the field, I think he should have a solid season on the field. I expect him to contribute more in the rushing game than last year, particularly around the goal line. If he can limit the mistakes in the passing game, he could be a decent spot starter and backup fantasy QB.

Titans Defense/Secondary – To say the Titans were ravaged by injuries on defesnse last year would be putting it mildly. If they can stay healthy, along with the addition of Derrick Morgan, the Titans should be much-improved on defense.

Two Star Fantasy Options
Javon Ringer – If Chris Johnson does sit out, Ringer could move up a star. It would be a RBBC though to replace the premier RB in the league. If Johnson plays, you can push Ringer down to a one star. I expect he’ll get less touches than last year, but I don’t see anyone taking significant carries from Johnson.

Kenny Britt, Justin Gage & Nate Washington – This is a run first team with a QB with questionable accuracy so it’s hard to bank on the WRs. Britt is the one with the most potential. He has good size and speed, and had flashes last year. Washington is the best deep threat and Gage will likely play the slot position.

One Star Fantasy Options
LeGarrette Blount – Blount only has value if Johnson holds out.

Damian Williams – He’s probably a year or two from being relevant for fantasy teams, but is someone to mention in case of injury to one of the top three WRs.

Bo Scaife and Jared Cook – Scaife is the Titan TE to own, but he is limited by Cook’s presence and his inability to score TDs.

Click here for additional 2010 NFL Team Previews.