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Quarterbacks

Russell Wilson-

I for one have been a big non supporter of Wilson. But over the last three games he has risen above game manager status. The Seahawks still aren’t basing their offense around a passing attack, but when they do let him throw he is making good decisions. The Bears defense had plays available for the Vikings last week, but Christian Ponder just couldn’t deliver accurate footballs. Wilson will outdo his fantasy ranking this week by at least ten spots, and put up fantasy worthy numbers.

Colin Kapernick-

After Kapernick’s back to back strong performances and key wins over the Bears and Saints his confidence will be boosted even more after this Sunday. The Rams came out the gates of this season as a formidable defense. Since the first month though they’ve been one of the leagues bottom ten defenses. With the way the 49ers defense is suddenly creating turnovers (Alex Smith’s wondering where that came from), Kapernick should get two to three drives of favorable field position. The shotgun quarterback plunge will likely be called a few times. Just one Kapernick rushing touchdown is significant enough to consider him as a fantasy starter this week.

Chad Henne-

Buffalo’s season is on the edge of one of those head turning time to fire type of games. Last week against the Colts the play calling was awful. Shotgun after shotgun throws with absolutely no balance of a rushing attack, against the Colts who rank near the bottom of the league in rush defense. It made no sense, and now Chad Henne steps in with confidence and familiarity. He has faced this Buffalo team numerous times as a Dolphin, and wants to keep playing well to go into 2013 with a chance to win the starting job.

Running Backs

Jacquizz Rodgers-

The Falcons challenged their team and offensive line to get the ground game going early against Tampa Bay a week ago. It worked and they did it by giving more carries to Rodgers. Rodgers showed the shiftiness and elusiveness to be a better overall threat than Michael Turner. Expect Rodgers to continue to see his carries elevated.

Beanie Wells-

This could be a very low scoring ugly game between the Cardinals and Jets. I do believe though that both teams will find success running the football. Both teams are reeling from extended losses. At this point of the year when losses pile up, tackling starts to become worse. Playoff expectations are long gone for both of these teams. Wells has the fresh legs and we should see that pay dividends Sunday.

Wide Receivers

Reuben Randle

Sorry Hakeem Nicks owners but the injury bug may hit Nicks once again. Cris Collinsworth stated on NBC Sunday Night football that Nicks took quite awhile to warm up before he was able to run routes at game day speed last week. There is obviously limitations to Nicks capabilities right now, but he is managing to perform on Sundays. If the Giants can get a couple more quality wins, I wouldn’t be shocked to see Nicks sit out to try and regain his health at 100 percent. Before that would happen the Giants would seek to develop Randle more on pass plays to be prepared. He got in the action Sunday with a nice back of the end zone touchdown catch, and should see his on the field playing time rise.

TY Hilton-

Hilton is becoming a main factor in the Colts offense, and becoming a regular weekly big play threat. Last week against Buffalo he did it with a special teams touchdown and a short touchdown catch. Unlike other special teams elite players, Hilton is a natural receiver first. His upside to finish the rest of the season on a high note is worthy of fulfilling the third wide receiver starting spot, or flex on a weekly basis.

Miles Austin-

Austin has had a semi-quiet season since the first month and one game against the Giants. On Thanksgiving he was held without a catch. Timing is everything when facing division opponents two times a season. Austin and Romo are the longest tenured dynamic combination in their division from a quarterback to wide receiver standpoint. Dez Bryant and Jason Witten should get extra attention by the Eagles, and that’ll open it up for a big game from Austin.

By Zack Cimini

notjustagame23@gmail.com

Attacking the free agency market for suitable quarterbacks was a hot pursuit by many teams. As soon as the lockout was declared over, it seemed as if teams knew what they were going to do. Front offices began strategizing long before, and teams on the other side of the fence seemed to be prepared to wheel and deal.

Adam Schefter was live on ESPN as frequent as the tv guide channel scrolling back around a minute later. Reporting on rumors is what he has been use to in the past. That wasn’t the case when the lockout was lifted. Deals were getting done immediately. We will discount Matt Hasselbeck. He was never that impressive in Seattle. Even though he got ahold of a decent contract, it won’t be too long before Jake Locker is handed the keys.

The same could be said for Donovan McNabb, but it’s all in his hands. McNabb could have a solid two to three years left to truly end his career on a good note. Will the clowning antics that were seen in the playoffs with the Eagles in 2009 pop up, or the carefree lackadaisical routine snaps in Washington? For watchers of McNabb, you’ve seen it his whole career. His demeanor is never too serious, but he gets the job done.

Being on his third team in three seasons, he knows that opportunities are closing for himself. Starting in the NFL takes a week to week approach. For some reason or other, Mike Shanahan did not see that in many Redskins, including McNabb. It was better to see them part ways, then for McNabb to waste another year in Washington.

Talent wise, McNabb will have much better tools on his side. Adrian Peterson in the backfield automatically bumps up McNabb’s fantasy stock and likelihood of staying healthy a full season. We hate to do comparisons, but we will in this case with McNabb and Brett Favre. Similar to McNabb, Favre’s hands were tied on a team he had been with his whole career. They didn’t want him to start for the Packers anymore, but the team still owned his rights.

The Packers shipped Favre to the New York Jets, where he had a few solid games but it ended poorly. A deep end of the season slide, that made many believe he was done. Free agency changed all of that, and he landed on the Vikings. A team he would likely have went to had he been a free agent a year earlier. McNabb got dealt last season to a Washington franchise that has been the model of incorrect front office management. The same tailspin to end the season happened for McNabb.

This is the same quarterback that just a few years ago, led a Philadelphia Eagles team with his arm alone, a drive away from the Super Bowl. Down three scores, he threw rocket bombs to DeSean Jackson. The deep ball is still there for McNabb, as was apparent last year when he was able to hit Anthony Armstrong frequently. Armstong had a whopping 19.8 yards per catch a year ago.

You’d think the Vikings will make one more move at wide receiver. If not, at least McNabb has one great threat in Percy Harvin and a cross target in tight end Visanthe Shiancoe.

With Moss announcing his retirement, it brings a perplexed icky feel to Vikings and NFL fans. Moss was back home halfway through last years season as a Viking. A coach that was on his way out, bumped Moss off the team without front office approval. If Moss would of finished the season as a Viking, you’d assume a deal would have been worked out with Moss after McNabb signed.

Doubting McNabb for one more push, don’t. He did it at Syracuse, and he did it numerous times as an Eagle for eleven seasons. We’d rank McNabb as a tier two quarterback at this point of his career. A tier two quarterback that could start six to seven fantasy games for you and put up top ten fantasy production for those weeks.

By Zack Cimini

notjustagame23@gmail.com

How many waiver wire moves have you made in your fantasy basketball leagues? With injuries, players getting benched, and poor production overall, it’s a must to keep tabs daily on available players. We have a roster full of talent mentioned in this weeks pickups. More than likely they are probably available in your leagues.

Donte Greene- Part of the change over in Paul Westphal’s starting lineup has Greene back in it. The former Cuse player was buried on the Kings bench, not mustering a minute for a handful of games. Westphal disliked his uninspired play and work ethic. That seemed to have triggered Greene to regain his focus. At 6’9, Greene can be a fantasy rotisserie league gem. He shoots the three, can block shots, steals, and go off on any given night. He just needs to stay on the floor.

Luther Head- The Kings have reshuffled the lineup in hopes of finding a spark. One move has put Beno Udrih on the bench and Head in the starting lineup. This may not last but Head is getting over thirty minutes a game. He has struggled from three so far, but has proven in the past to be solid from there. If you’re struggling for three pointers made you may want to snag Head.

Kris Humphries- Apparently Avery Johnson has Troy Murphy in his dog house. Murphy has battled a plethora of injuries and barely made it on the court this season. After searching for a player to fill that spot, Johnson seems to have found it in Humphries. Humphries does the dirty work that Brook Lopez tends to refrain from. By that we mean rebounding. Humphries seems to be a waiver wire gem, tracking double doubles consistently lately.

Eric Dampier- How much Dampier can provide is up in the air. What is a fact is that the Heat have no true big man that can play 25 minutes a game. Ilgauskus is good for around the fifteen to seventeen minute mark. With Haslem out, Dampier can come in and try to fill those double double stats of Haslems.

Jeff Teague- His preseason injury derailed him from challenging Mike Bibby as starter. Many analysts had Teague on their watchful player tracker. He hasn’t done anything dazzling yet, but it’s only a matter of time. We believe the Hawks will lean more on Teague in the latter parts of December and flirt with the switch before All-Star break.

CJ Miles- Miles has found a perfect sixth man role for himself. He is igniting the Jazz offensively and putting up starters numbers off the bench. Will see how long this lasts. Miles has had peaks in stretches before. Problem in the past was his minutes, which were shared at times with Ronnie Brewer and others. Now that the bench is full of youth, Miles is the primary weapon.

Jose Calderon- With Jarret Jack being traded, Calderon’s minutes will increase back to the past few years. In prior seasons he was notching near eight to nine assists a game. A crucial category for rotisserie league owners. Worried about Jerryd Bayless grabbing minutes, don’t be. Bayless is young and has had a hard time adjusting to the rigorous grind of the NBA. He’ll need more time to mature.

By Zack Cimini

notjustagame23@gmail.com

Your heavyweights do most of the damage in fantasy leagues. You expect that. Where wins of the blowout variety come from are the starters under the radar. The depth building guys you drafted in mid rounds with upside. Deciding your matchups on a week to week basis with your number two’s and three’s at running back and wide receiver is a tough struggle for fantasy owners. Here’s some guys we think should do well this weekend.

Quarterback

Kyle Orton- Were not sure how Orton’s settled himself down being a Bronco. Last year he managed drives which translated to a 6-0 start. When Marshall was traded he was discounted by everyone. After a strong preseason and a solid debut, Orton looks as if he is a true veteran quarterback. He is becoming a sneaky start based upon matchups and this week figures to be one. Alex Smith made Seattle’s pass defense look a lot better than it is.

Mike Vick-  He gets the start and with Vick it’ll be boom or bust. Detroit’s young defense is quick but not disciplined enough yet. Vick should continue to excel and add on to last weeks solid performance. Andy Reid hardly ran the football week one and is notoriously known for abandoning the run game. Rolling Vick out to the left or right and letting him high tail it is sort of a running game, right? Expect LeSean McCoy to have a breakout game, and Vick to get enough rushing yards to offset a mediocre passing day.

Josh Freeman- Carolina has a lot of holes on both sides of the football. One glaring is their secondary which gave up big play after big play last week. Part of that had to do with Matt Moore’s mistakes forcing them back onto the field. Well, whether it’s Moore or Clausen the defense will be getting use to that pattern. Freeman doesn’t have the running game you’d like to support a young quarterback. Yet he has some solid young receivers that he should find for a nice fantasy day this week.

Running Backs

Brandon Jacobs- If there’s a guy that needs that big game to work out of a rut, it’s Jacobs. Last years case of blaming injuries and play call selection won’t work two years in a row. Jacobs needs to realize he is a big back that can’t wait for where he is going to go with the football. Attack the line of scrimmage and pick your lane to plow through. That’s the old Jacobs. This week against the Colts he might get away with his subtle moves in the backfield, after the Colts just were torched last weekend.

Shonne Greene- It was not a debut a running back would of liked. Greene had two fumbles and lost his grasp of the split shared carries with LT. He’ll get his chance to shine again as Rex Ryan will do everything in his power to ensure his offense does better. Greene and LT should see heavier dosages of the football as more and more eyes are beginning to distrust Sanchez. New England looked great last week but were not buying into the defense turning it around suddenly with younger legs.

Tim Hightower- Derek Anderson’s still trying to get acclimated with the offense with a non healthy Larry Fitzgerald. Beanie Wells is iffy at being available for this game against Atlanta. Even if he plays it’ll likely be a minimum amount of touches. Hightower will be the main threat, and if he can control his fumbling issues he should have a breakout game. He gets into the end zone at a fairly high rate. Rushing the football he may not get near 100 yards, but yards combined out of the backfield should equate to a decent all around game.

Wide Receivers

Lee Evans- A blowout should occur as the Bills can’t keep up with the Packers. Evans should benefit from that by getting a lot of garbage yards. He is one of the top big play receivers in the league. Unfortunately being in Buffalo he has been hindered. Four or five games a year he is a good start and this week is one of them.

Eddie Royal- Will see how heavy the Broncos look to split carries with Moreno and Maroney. Orton is most comfortable with Eddie Royal and will look for him often. Expect six to eight catches from the Broncos number one receiver. Yardage shouldn’t be a problem. Dividends will be rewarded even more if Royal can make it into the end zone.

Mike Williams (Tampa Bay)- Williams had a phenomenal catch on a tipped ball in the end zone last week. One thing fantasy fans will begin to learn about Williams is he has a knack for catching touchdowns. While at Syracuse he broke the school record by scoring a touchdown in nine straight games. He’ll quickly become Freeman’s favorite option.

Louis Murphy- Campbell played with Santana Moss for years. An inconsistent pattern for Campbell was his erratic play behind center. Raiders fans already saw a glimpse of that last week. Campbell gets a nice matchup to settle himself back down, and restart forward. One thing Campbell is good at doing is mixing up with his tight ends over the middle. By doing that and continuing to pound the ball with McFadden, we think Murphy could slip free for an “I’m back in the NFL” throw from Campbell.