Sleeper Plays & Statistical Breakdown Nov 19, 2004 | More

Last week was awful.  No joking about it. The pairing of Jonnie Morton and Eddie Kennison especially Kennison came through huge.   But Boo Williams was a disappointment after his big week against the Chargers.     

2 big time Sleepers

Ashley Lelie is beginning to come into his own and this week against the Saints presents a very nice matchup as the Saints have surpassed Indianapolis as the last ranked pass defense in the National Football League.  Lelie is Denver’s only real deep threat and Jake Plummer who has been on a role is finding Lelie deep on regular occurrences.  Lelie is average 17.7 yards a catch this year which is in the top echelon of the league.  He also has 5 touchdowns which is tied for 4^th in the AFC.  The downside is he often disappears for an extended period of time before Plummer connects with him for a 50 yard touchdown.  He won’t go out their and get you 7 receptions for 80 yards. He will either pull a Reggie Wayne type 2 catch day or pull in 100 plus with a td.  The matchup is too good to expect anything less than a 15 plus point fantasy day.

3 stars.

Joey Harrington has a great matchup this week against the Vikings.  Harrington has been up and down all year but with Roy Williams almost 100% look for Harrington to have a solid week and rank in the top 10 of fantasy quarterbacks.  Chances are this game will be pretty high scoring.  Randy Moss won’t play so Minnesota shouldn’t run away with it but in the dome a 30-24 type game is very promising.  If that’s the case and I believe it is Detroit who doesn’t run for many touchdowns only 7 this year will look to Harrington for points who is averaging almost 1.5 touchdowns per game.  Also keep in mind Minnesota ranks 29^th against the pass and they have allowed 15 passing touchdowns.  Harrington will put up at worst a decent day but he has the potential of lighting it up on Sunday.  Play him with full confidence. 

4 stars.

Quality Sleeper Plays:

Emmitt Smith has been rejuvenated.  (Preface – make sure he practices on Friday as Smith injured his ankle last week) This week he goes against the Carolina Panthers who are just desimated in ever facet of the game.  Smith is coming off of a 2 touchdown game and must be licking his chops as the Panthers have allowed a league leading 15 rushing touchdowns.  The also allow 138 yards a game on the ground which ranks 28^th.  They were dominant last year but this year has been awful to say the least.  Emmitt will continue he solid year as the Cardinals will continue to run the ball especially since Carolina is in the top 10 vs. the pass and have allowed only 5 passing touchdowns all year.  This combinations looks great for rushing touchdowns as the Cardinals and Josh McCown haven’t thrown for many touchdowns this year but Smith has run for 8 himself. McCown has only thrown for 6.  Expect an 60-80 yard day and a touchdown.

3 stars.

Donald “Minnie” Driver is probably taken in most leagues but not played very often.  If you own or can pick “Minnie” up this week consider starting him as the matcup against the Texans looks as promising as any matchup this year.  Not only is Favre rolling but Houston ranks 28^th against the pass and they have allowed a league leading 23 passing touchdowns.  There should be plenty to go around and Javon Walker should get most of the attention from the Houston secondary allowing the likes of Driver and Robert Ferguson to find seems and holes.

Driver 2 stars. 

Notables

Jerome Bettis otherwise known as “Fatboy” will start again this week as Duce Staley is still hindered by that hamstring.  The Bus has been dynamite and goes up against the Bengal’s who allow 142 yards a game on the ground.  Amazingly another big day is in store.

Keenan McCardell has been all that San Diego thought when they traded for him a few weeks back.  With Drew Brees rolling and going to Oakland which has allowed 19 passing touchdowns expect Brees to continue his MVP type pace and connect with McCardell regularly on Sunday?

Top Passing Defenses:                              Top Rushing Defenses:

1.      Miami    (Darrell Jackson)                1. San Diego   

2.      Denver  (Joe Horn)                         2. Pittsburgh (Rudi Johnson)

3.      Tampa Bay                                     3. Washington (Brian Westbrook)

4.      Buffalo    (Torry Holt)                      4. Atlanta

5.      Pittsburgh                                      5. New York Jets

9.   Carolina   (Larry Fitzgerald)           7. Jacksonville (Chris Brown)

Bottom Passing Defenses:                        Bottom Rushing                             

      32.  New Orleans                                  32. New Orleans

      31.  Indianapolis                                   31. Miami

      30.  Atlanta                                           30. Cincinnati

      29.  Minnesota                                      29. St Louis

      28.  Houston ( 23 td’s)                          28. Carolina (15 td’s)

Best of luck as always.

Adam