Fantasy News of the Week-11/8 Nov 8, 2008 | More

Rodgers aims to conquer the Metrodome.
Vikings horns will be roaring, the crowd will be loud, and the field will be enclosed.   It’s the Vikings 12^th man, and according to JSOnline.com it’s something that Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers wants to conquer this Sunday; something that old number four struggle with early in his green and gold career.   "I think it definitely is an issue," Rodgers said Wednesday about the environment that awaits him and the Packers. "They definitely throw you. It definitely acts like a 12th man because it's just another element that you've got to deal with.   But an offense that's communicating well can thrive in that environment."   While the Packers offense did move the ball well in last week’s loss to the undefeated Tennessee Titans, there were times of miss-communication between the quarterback and his receivers, and bad throws resulted because of it.   It’s something that will need to be fixed before Sunday’s showdown with the purple and gold, but wide receiver Donald Driver doesn’t think it’s a matter of Rodgers himself pressing too much.   "I don't think he's panicking," Driver said. "I think that's the key word because with Aaron he knows the mistakes. I don't think anyone needs to tell him the mistakes he made. He sees it on film and I think the biggest thing he felt this week was to come out and not make those same mistakes. But we need to help him out also. We've had way too many drops."   Overall, Rodgers has been playing very well this season and has the Packers right in the hunt for the NFC North title.   As for this game--- the Packers quarterback must find a way to defeat the 12^th man, and limit the mistakes.   The good news for Rodgers is that the Vikings defense is notorious for allowing big plays; something that number 12 should be able to expose with his big arm, and a number 85 running down the field.   

Bradley is in a good spot, for now.  
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mark Bradley gained the attention of NFL and fantasy owners alike last weekend when he threw a touchdown pass to quarterback Tyler Thigpen.   But according to the Kansas City Star that’s not all that Bradley is thinking about.   After being released in late September from a Bears team that could really use a solid receiving option, Bradley found a new home in Kansas City and has shown the NFL world that he is worthy of being an impact player at his position.   “People still ask me to this day what happened in Chicago,” he said, “but it doesn’t matter what happened in Chicago. The fact is, I was there, I’m gone, and now I’m a Kansas City Chief.   I look at it this way: When you’re out there on the field, you’re not just playing for your club. If that team is not having you in their plans for the future, you’re playing for 31 other teams. Kansas City was one of those teams.”   Bradley has received a second opportunity to prove himself as a receiver, and he’s delivered for his new team.   “Their second opportunity, sometimes, is the one where the light comes on,” coach Herm Edwards said. “And it’s come on so far.”   Bradley remains a viable fill-in back-up for any fantasy roster from here on out, and should not be considered a starter unless the match-up is right.   Oh, and did I mention the Chiefs face the 32^nd ranked pass defense this week--- the San Diego Chargers?      

Benson could be a mainstay in Cincinnati .
The Cincinnati Bengals have sputtered from the start on offense, thus leading them to a 0-8 start to the 2008 season.   The principle problem: the lack of a solid running game to complement their “supposed-to-be” potent passing attack.   Opposing teams lit up Carson Palmer and harassed Ryan Fitzgpatrick, well….. up until last week of course.   Yeah, the Bengals caught a reeling Jaguars team at the right time, but they also caught a 100-yard rusher as well.   And while most around the league thought former Bears running back Cedric Benson wasn’t worth the money or headaches, the Bengals took a chance on him, and it’s paid off in a big way.   In fact, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer Benson may have solidified himself not only in the starting lineup, but on the team as a whole moving forward.   "He is very quick and generally very deliberate in where he goes with the football," coach Marvin Lewis said. "He has great vision, and he has the speed and quickness when he does get to the next level - better than the guys we've had in there before him this year."   Benson has overthrown Chris Perry, who the Bengals had high hopes for, and is starting to show signs of why he was a first round pick in 2005.   "He's been great," quarterback Carson Palmer said. "He's exactly what you expect out of a No. 4 (overall) pick in the draft. When you're picked that high at that position, there are a lot of expectations.”   The Bengals new starter is a great back-up option in any league, and will be a key ingredient for the Bengals finishing strong down the stretch.   

Jets’ good chemistry has been the difference.
The New York Jets received a surprise visitor at the beginning of the 2008.   As the whole NFL world already knows Brett Favre arrived in New York after un-retiring and demanding a trade from the Green Bay Packers.   And most already know the kind of impact he is or isn’t making on the field.   But what most may not know is that, according to the New York Post, Favre has injected some chemistry in the locker room.   In fact, some, like Damien Woody, are even comparing him and his demeanor to Tom Brady.   "The one thing about both of those guys is the chemistry they have in the locker room, the way they interact with teammates," Woody said. "The joking around (with Favre) never stops. With both Brady and Brett, it's the same thing: The guys love football; they love the atmosphere. You've got to appreciate that. You want to play with guys like that.   Every championship team that I've ever been on, the one constant was that the chemistry was there," he said. "You've got to have the right chemistry in the locker room. I've been on teams that have been talented but we didn't have the chemistry and it just didn't come together.   That's one thing I love about this locker room. We've got really good chemistry and it's only going to get better and I think that's going to carry us a long way this season."  As for Favre himself; he’s also a firm believer in chemistry.   "Chemistry, to me, is the most important aspect of being a winning football team," Favre said. "It's not the most talented teams. It's chemistry. I think this team has a lot of potential as far as chemistry is concerned. I see that getting better each and every day."   While Favre has had his struggles this season, he’s been a huge part of the Jets successful 5-3 start to the ’08 season.   Yeah, he’s going to have his bad games, but as a whole should keep the Jets in the playoff and division title race until the very end.  

Shark Attack: Quick Bites
According to the Detroit Free Press the Lions haven’t made a clear decision on who will start, Drew Stanton or Daunte Culpepper, in Sunday’s game against the Jaguars.  "They both made a nice step, each of them," coach Rod Marinelli said. "I thought today was pretty good, but this is not game speed. We try to make it as fast as we can go, but we'll evaluate it again and see it today, this afternoon, have a walk through tomorrow, talk through it and then make a decision." 

According to the St Louis Post-Dispatch running back Kenneth Darby will make his first NFL start in place of injured star Steven Jackson on Sunday.  "It's a blessing," said Darby, who was signed off Atlanta 's practice squad Oct. 14. "This is an opportunity I've been waiting on, and I'm just going to take full advantage of it and do my best."

According to the Cleveland Plain-Dealer Browns running back Jamal Lewis claims that some of his teammates quit before the Thursday night game was even over.  "This is the NFL, you can't call it quits until the game is over," the running back said. "But it looks to me like some people called it quits before that. Denver was down, but they didn't call it quits. They kept their heads up and they finished. We didn't do that two weeks in a row -- at home."

-

<< prev | 1 | 2 | next >>