http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNVRT4oKiW4
MVP by Position
QB: Cam Newton: 290 yards, 3 PaTD – It was just the second game of his short career without a rushing touchdown, but he made up for it by throwing for three scores. Newton took advantage of a Vikings defense that was without a couple of important cornerbacks and he also ran for more than 50 yards (though with two fumbles). As usual his main target was veteran wide receiver Steve Smith, who is continuing to have an extraordinary year.
RB: Steven Jackson: 191 yards, 2 TD – Jackson has fought injuries and inconsistency all season, so it was nice to see him explode against the Saints this week. SJax hadn’t had more than 13 fantasy points in a single game yet this year, but he topped 30 even with A.J. Feeley as his starting quarterback. I would try to trade Jackson this week if you can sucker someone in your league to give up a great player in exchange – there’s no way he has another game like this in him.
WR: Calvin Johnson: 125 yards, TD – In a week that didn’t see a single wide receiver score more than 18 fantasy points, the MVP award goes to the guy who just doesn’t stop producing. Megatron nabbed his 11th touchdown catch after only eight games (a feat that has only been produced once before, by Randy Moss), and he remains a force to be reckoned with from both real-life and fantasy perspectives.
TE: Brent Celek: 94 yards, TD – This was a blast from the past, as Celek used to be among the fantasy elite at the thin tight end position. Quarterback Michael Vick targeted him nine times (for seven catches), and the receiving distribution in Philadelphia deserves to be monitored from here on out. If Celek can become one of Vick’s go-to guys, he will once again return to fantasy prominence.
Defense/Special Teams: Detroit Lions – 7 Sacks, INT, 2 Fumbles Recovered, 2 TD, 10 points allowed – They befuddled Broncos’ quarterback Tim Tebow all afternoon, giving up only a field goal before a touchdown late in the game. Tebow turnovers accounted for both of the defensive touchdowns as the Lions are now the top-scoring fantasy defense in the league.
Last Friday’s Predictions
I struck fantasy gold by putting the hobbled Matthew Stafford (267 yards, 3 PaTD) in the #ThumbsUp! section. Unfortunately, the other recommendations produced very mediocre days, led by Chris Johnson’s stinker against the Colts. I would hate to advise making a rash decision like cutting CJ entirely, but it’s gotten to the point where you probably have better options on your team every single week. Until he shows some of his old flash, stash him on your bench. Better yet, try to trade him to someone who will pay for his name value alone.
LeSean McCoy ruined the #ThumbsDown section from last week by obliterating the previously first-ranked Dallas Cowboys run defense on Monday night. The Cowboys helped stifle another one of my picks, as they held McCoy’s teammate DeSean Jackson to only 31 yards.
Waiver Wire Pickups
Chris Ogbonnaya (RB, Cleveland Browns) – With Peyton Hillis ruled out, it was expected that Montario Hardesty would follow up his 33-carry game in week seven with another heavy workload in week eight. But when Hardesty injured his hamstring after just two rushes for six yards, Ogbonnaya became fantasy relevant. I don’t know much about his talent, but Cleveland has showed that they like to take the ball out of Colt McCoy’s hands and give it to their running back. The situation is as good as it can be for Ogbonnaya, now let’s see if he can capitalize.
Eric Decker (WR, Denver Broncos) – Tebow seemingly iced Decker out in his first two games, but this week Decker caught six balls (on 12 targets) for 71 yards and a score. The two players came into the NFL in the same draft class and I expect heavy doses of both Decker and Demaryius Thomas if Tebow continues to start for Denver.
Victor Cruz (WR, New York Giants) – Hakeem Nicks can’t seem to stay healthy, so Cruz should be a startable fantasy receiver from here on out, even if Nicks is active. Cruz finished week eight with 99 yards and the game-winning score, which was good enough to be the fourth-best fantasy receiving performance of the week. He now has at least 98 yards in four of his last five games, with four touchdowns over that span. Definitely add him if he’s available in your league.