What do I know? Heading into Week 8 Oct 31, 2009 | More

Fresh Legs

The second half of the fantasy regular season is upon us. Many fantasy owners are looking for the edge that will help propel their team into the fantasy playoffs. I offer two fantasy situations that may provide that extra push fantasy owners need. The first is in Kansas City where Larry “what have you done for me lately” Johnson has slurred his way into a two-game suspension and possibly out of the organization altogether. That paves the way for either Jamaal Charles or Kolby Smith to take the running game reins and potentially never look back. Charles is a more well-rounded back and Smith is coming off reconstructive knee surgery. Either of these guys could play their way into fantasy lineups if they capitalize on this opportunity. The other situation is in Dallas where it is rumored that Marion Barber’s quad may not be sound until after this season. That leaves either Tashard Choice or Jerry Jones’ choice, Felix Jones, as the de facto starting running back. Choice is probably the more complete back of the two but Jerry usually gets what he wants. If Felix can stay healthy carrying the ball more than 10 times a game, I believe he will have the first opportunity to assume the lead back role in an improving Cowboy offense. Barber will have something to say about that, of course, but ownership seems to favor Jones. The fantasy implications for either of these situations are favorable simply because neither Jones nor Charles have gotten a lot of carries this season. They could be just what your fantasy team needs for a second-half playoff push.

And Then There Were Three

Three teams remain winless through seven Sundays of NFL action - the St. Louis Rams, Tennessee Titans and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I anticipate most of these teams will get off the schnide, so to speak, and post their first victory. Let’s start off by saying that the Titans will win a game. They have to. There is absolutely no excuse why a team that won 13 games and entered the playoffs as the top seed last year can not win a game the following season. None. In fact, now that they’ve had a week off to lick their wounds and prepare, I contend they have a great shot of beating the Jaguars at home in Week 8. If they fail that test, then they’ll get their first win in Week 10 at home against the Bills. The Rams do not have a lot of offensive weapons outside of Steven Jackson but I still think they’ll be fortunate to get a bounce here and there and win a game. That game will NOT come this week against the Lions who are much better than last year’s winless squad but will come at the expense of the overrated Seattle Seahawks at home in Week 12. Finally, the Buccaneers will go winless. Sorry Tampa Bay fans but I just don’t see any easy games from here on out. They will have to pull an upset to join the ranks of the victorious in 2009. Their best chance at an upset will be either Week 13 or 14 at the Panthers or home against the Jets but try as I might, I just don’t see it happening.

I Can See for Miles

This fourth year receiver out of Monmouth College (N.J.) went off the past two games to the tune of 16 receptions, 421 receiving yards and 4 TDs. Actually, that’s only about one fourth of a mile but in just two games! The obvious question is he a fantasy fluke or not? Other receivers have posted huge receiving totals for a single game; Willie “Flipper” Anderson holds the league record with 336 receiving yards in an overtime game and Stephone Paige had a 309-yard receiving day in regulation time, but Austin posted his receiving yardage totals in back-to-back games when the opposition had time to game plan against him. Chad formerly Johnson holds the league record with 450 receiving yards in a two-game span, accomplished in 2006. Miles fell short of that mark by a mere 29 yards. Terrell Owens was exiled to Buffalo this season and Roy Williams was being counted on to be the Cowboys top receiver but he has been a disappointment. That leaves the door wide open for Tony Romo’s new favorite target to assume the lead wide receiver duties on a potentially explosive passing attack. Romo had this to say about his new toy … “Miles has become a good receiver in the NFL.” Before that, the perception of him was a third, fourth, fifth receiver. I think you saw he has the ability to be a guy who can be a big-play receiver. “I feel very confident in him,” Romo said. As for Austin , he comes across as pretty humble. “I can never let myself get comfortable,” he said. “The pressure is always going to be there. If I play bad next week, you’ll say I’m a two-hit wonder.” As a fantasy owner who managed to snag him off the waiver wire, that is music to my ears. I am firmly coming down on the side that Miles belongs in Ochocinco’s company and all he really needed was a chance to prove it.