Let's begin:
Quarterback:
Ben Roethlisberger (35.6%/99.9%)
18/29, 275 yards passing and 3 TD's; 3 Rushes for 55 Yards and 1 TD
34 Fantasy Points (projected: 14 fantasy pts)
What a blowout in the Ketchup Bottle (Heinz Field). Big Ben led the attack with four total touchdowns in what seemed to be a big day for quarterbacks, fantasy-wise (Rodgers, Kitna, Brees, Peyton and Fitzpatrick all had above 25 fantasy points for the day). His big game was due in part that the Raiders were without their top-notch cornerback in Nnamdi Asomugha. Next week, the Steelers are facing the Bills, so Big Ben should have a field day against the 26th-ranked pass defense.
Running Back:
Maurice Jones-Drew (96.4/100)
23 Carries, 133 rushing yards and 1 TD; 1 fumble; 3 catches for 87 yards
23 Fantasy Points (projected: 17 fantasy pts)
I guess people listened to the easy matchup against the Browns, since he was NOT starting in only 3.4 percent of leagues, up from the 10.2 percent not staring him last week. Once again, he is the top running back this week, following his 75-yard catch-and-run that resulted in the GW one-yard touchdown run by the Pinball Machine. The Jags face the sixth-ranked run defense of the Giants, but MJD is still a MUST-START in ALL leagues.
Running Back:
Fred Jackson (39.8/93.8)
21 Carries, 116 rushing yards and 2 TD's; 3 Catches for 13 Yards; 0 Fumbles
24 Fantasy Points (projected: 16 fantasy pts)
For the second-straight week, the top running backs are MJD and Fred Jackson. I should rephrase about what I said last week, that he is a start in deeper leagues. I should say that he should be starting as a flex play in ANY league. (NOT next week, though, since the Bills are facing off against the Steelers and their #2 run defense.
Wide Receiver/Running Back (Flex):
Santonio Holmes (30.3/94.1)
7 Catches for 126 Yards and 2 TD's
24 Fantasy Points (projected: 7 fantasy pts)
I have NO idea why ESPN had it's projected ranking for Holmes with ONLY 7 fantasy points. Did they not see that the Jets were facing a juicy matchup with the Houston Texans and their 31st-ranked pass defense, and that Holmes was coming off back-to-back games of 70+ receiving yards? Anyway, coming back from the suspension, Holmes has had an outstanding three consecutive games - with quarterback Mark Sanchez looking for his number more and more often as the season progresses. He also had the GW TD catch with 10 seconds remaining to give the Jets another remarkable win. I see no reason why he should NOT be starting as a #2 WR against the Bengals, who allowed the Bills out of all teams to pass for over 300 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Wide Receiver:
Greg Jennings (88.7/100)
7 Catches for 152 receiving yards and 3 TD's
33 Fantasy Points (projected: 21 fantasy pts)
After his four-game hiatus in which he averaged 5 fantasy points per game (week 2 to week 5), he has now averaged 17.4 fantasy points per game in the last five games - that's about 110 yards and 1 TD per game. Jennings is having a monster season with Rodgers at the helm - exposing the Vikings' defense yesterday in a game in which the entire team gave up on their head coach - Brad Childress - who was also fired today. Why should you bench him for the remainder of the season?
Wide Receiver:
Steve Johnson (46.7/87.9)
8 Catches for 137 receiving yards and 3 TD's
31 Fantasy Points (projected: 12 fantasy pts)
After trailing 31-17 at halftime, the Bills, led by Steve Johnson and quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, went on a tear and scored the last 22 points for their second victory of the season. Johnson this season is no longer a sleeper, since he now LEADS ALL wide receivers in fantasy points this season. Knowing that the Bills will be trailing against the likes of Pittsburgh next week, there is no question that he should be starting as a flex play or #2 wide receiver.
Tight End
Joel Dreessen (0.6/1.1)
4 Catches for 106 yards and 1 TD
16 Fantasy Points (projected: 1 fantasy pt)
Dreessen continues the theme of little-used tight ends that have big games once a year. Because starting TE Owen Daniels was out for yet another game, and Andre Johnson was blanketed by Darrelle Revis and his 'Island', quarterback Matt Schaub looked to Dreessen early and often against the Jets' defense. He shouldn't be owned, though, since there are dozens of better tight ends, and Antonio Gates is getting healthier week-by-week.
Kicker
Olindo Mare (7.3/11.2)
4 for 4 on Field Goals; 1 for 1 on Extra-Points
15 Fantasy Points (projected: 2 fantasy pts)
Maybe I should NOT have said this last week: "Ho, hum. Another good performance by a seldom-used fantasy kicker." It was the second-straight week Mare led the NFL in fantasy points for kickers, making all four of his field goals (two 20-yard and two 43-yard FG's). Unless your kicker got injured, he still should not be added to your team.
Defense/Special Teams
Baltimore Ravens (81.2/94.5)
2 Ints for 66 yards and 2 TD's; 3 Sacks; 2 Fumble Recoveries
23 Fantasy Points (projected: 11 fantasy pts)
The Ravens and their tenacious defense did what was expected for them - and put icing on the cake with an Ed Reed-to-Dawan Landry interception for a TD and a Ray Lewis pick-six. They have tough plays the next two weeks (@ home against TB and Pitt), but a gimme game against the Texans during week 14 of the NFL season. Don't start them the next two weeks - there are better fantasy D/ST's with better matchups during this span.
TOTAL Fantasy Points: 223 (Predicted:101)
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