LestersLegends.com

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The fantasy playoffs continued as the Chargers destroyed the 49ers last night.
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Having players go in the Thursday night games gives you a little bit of an advantage. If your players do well, you can perhaps be a little more cautious with your team. If your players failed to put up good numbers, perhaps you will want to take a bigger risk, hoping to make up some ground. You also get a feel for your matchup 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:  Philip Rivers (273 yards, three touchdowns) didn’t have Antonio Gates or Malcom Floyd in his arsenal, but it did not matter. He just reunited with an old flame in Vincent Jackson to put on a clinic. If you used Alex Smith (165 yards, INT), you’re in some serious trouble.
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Running Backs: There were four possible running back choices in this one. Mike Tolbert (46 yards, TD) was the top ranked of the quartet and he delivered the best score. Brian Westbrook (30 total yards, TD) did well enough for those of you who took a chance on him. Ryan Mathews (56 yards) was OK, while Anthony Dixon (35 total yards) was a letdown.
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Wide Receivers:  Vincent Jackson (112 yards, 3 TDs) was a beast. I bumped him into the top 15 when news broke of Floyd and Gates inactive status. I just wish I bumped him higher. Josh Morgan (106 yards) once again was the top wide receiver threat. He has becoming one of those unheralded players that make fantasy football playoffs legends. Michael Crabtree (17 yards) was a dud. Legedu Naanee was a major letdown.
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Tight Ends: Vernon Davis (4 yards) was nearly invisible. Tough break for his fantasy owners. You’ll have to make up those points. Randy McMichael (55 yards) did an admirable job filling in for Gates.
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Kickers:  Nate Kaeding kicked two field goals (25, 39) and had four PATs. Solid start. Jeff Reed was held to one lonely PAT.
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Defenses:  San Diego was a beast holding the Niners to seven points. They racked up six sacks and forced on turnover (INT). The Niners got blitzed allowing 34 points. They had just one sack and did not force a turnover.
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Also check out:

• Week 15 Get ‘em or Don’t Sweat ‘em Waiver Wire Advice
• Week 15 Fantasy QB Rankings
• Week 15 Fantasy RB Rankings
• Week 15 Fantasy WR Rankings
• Week 15 Fantasy TE Rankings
• Week 15 Fantasy K Rankings
• Week 15 Fantasy DEF Rankings
• Week 15 Fantasy IDP Rankings
• Week 15 Start/Sit Advice

Image courtesy of Icon SMI
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I was asked to participate in the FantasyPros.com Featured Pros segment this week. Click here to see the full article and the responses from from The Scores Report, Chet Gresham from Razzball.
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Question 1
Give us 2 or 3 players that might be available off of waivers that you would target to stash away now for the playoffs (weeks 14-16), and tell us why.
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My Response:
Beanie Wells’ knee concerns me. Even if he’s able to go this week, I’m not convinced he comes away Monday without swelling. If they lose as expected to Kansas City this week, they will be 3-7. With nothing to play for, Arizona’s front office could shut down Beanie Wells, meaning Tim Hightower could get some starts down the stretch. They have a favorable schedule ahead with St. Louis, Denver, Carolina, and Dallas looming in Weeks 13-16.
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Arrelious Benn has scored in consecutive weeks and is finally showing up on the fantasy radar. He too has a nice stretch of games in Weeks 13-16 as he faces Atlanta, Washington, Detroit, and Seattle. If you aren’t able to get his teammate Mike Williams, Benn may be a sneaky force down the stretch.

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ESPN is reporting that if Vincent Jackson is traded by the San Diego Chargers,  he will be able to play in Week 5. The settlement agreed to by the NFL and the NFLPA improves the chances that the 6’5″ WR will be dealt. Prior to the agreement he would have to miss the first six games. The most likely suitors are the Minnesota Vikings and the St. Louis Rams. His fantasy stock would clearly be better if he were receiving passes from Hall of Famer Brett Favre rather than rookie Sam Bradford. Stay tuned for further details.
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Image courtesy of Icon SMI

Image courtesy of Icon SMI

With each passing day the likelihood that Vincent Jackson will play a down for the Chargers this season worsens. Even with their new rookie RB Ryan Mathews figuring to provide more balance on offense, this is still Philip Rivers team, meaning they will be throwing the football early and often.

Antonio Gates will likely lead the Chargers in targets, but Floyd will be counted on to use his big frame (6’5″, 225 lbs) similar to the way Vincent Jackson did.

Floyd showed big play potential last year catching 45 passes for 776 yards (17.2 yards per catch). His career ypc is 16.5. He’ll have to improve on his one TD though. However, with Vincent Jackson (6’5″, 230) out of the mix, Floyd will be more likely to get them. Legedu Naanee (6/2″, 220) just doesn’t have the size Floyd does.

Assuming V-Jax doesn’t play for the Chargers Floyd could be a steal in fantasy drafts. His current Mock Draft Central ADP is 69th (25th WR). It’s a little bit of a risk going with a somewhat unknown commodity, but sometimes you need to take risks to win. In all likelihood you can get the number one WR on a pass-first team as a WR3. What’s not to like about that scenario?

What are your thoughts on Malcom Floyd? Would you want him as your WR3?

Ladies and gentlemen, it is time to adjust your wide receiver rankings. The equally talented and troubled WR Vincent Jackson was handed a three-game suspension  by Roger Goodell for violating the league’s personal conduct policy following his second DUI arrest.

He is also threatening to sit out the season in a contract dispute.  The longer he stays away from the Chargers, the harder it’s going to be to get on track. There has been some speculation that some NFL teams (Seattle, Washington, and Chicago) are interested in trading for V-Jax, but the suspension doesn’t help matters. When you consider one more slip up could lead to a much lengthier suspension, it’s hard to imagine teams would be willing to give the Chargers what they are asking for.

Thankfully we don’t draft in early July, but if you have to turn your keeper list anytime soon, I would strongly consider making alternative plans.

Image courtesy of Icon SMI