(Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)
It’s hard to believe, but the conclusion of Week Four will put us one-quarter of the way through the 2009 NFL season.
Four weeks of fantasy football games are generally a pretty good indicator of what type of team you’re working with. While certain players and teams may be under- or over-performing due to a favorable September schedule, for the most part, the stats don’t lie.
With three games of hardcore statistics in the books, I’m introducing a new Friday feature today at the National Football Post called “Enter the Red Zone.”
What better way to kill off the work week than 20 quick hits of statistical breakdowns, start/sit recommendations, game predictions, and more.
You are now entering the Red Zone…
From the 20: Watch out for the blitz in the Jets-Saints game
Sunday’s showdown in New Orleans features the NFL’s No. 1-ranked quarterback against the blitz, Drew Brees, against the No. 1-ranked blitzing defense, the New York Jets.
Brees has completed 9-of-11 passes against the blitz this season for 177 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions. For the math impaired, the Pro Bowl quarterback is completing 81.8 percent of his passes and is posting a QB rating of 158.3 when opposing defenses bring the heat.
Meanwhile, when the Jets blitz, opposing quarterbacks do not respond well. The three QBs the Jets have blitzed this year have combined for a QB rating of 45.2 (worst in the NFL), been sacked twice, and have thrown two interceptions with no touchdowns. Clearly, Rex Ryan’s blitzing defense knows how to disrupt a quarterback’s rhythm.
So what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object? We’ll find out Sunday in the Big Easy. Look for Brees to try and counter the heavy pressure with pre-snap reads and three-step drops.
From the 19: Notes from the Week Three Target Report
It’s no surprise that the Patriots’ Randy Moss (40) and the Panthers’ Steve Smith (35) are the two most targeted receivers in the NFL. But did you expect to see these names in the top ten: Nate Burleson (33, third), Brent Celek and Ted Ginn (27 each, tied for ninth)?
Keep in mind that the Seahawks have three different players who rank in the top 15 in targets (tight end John Carlson is 14th, with 26 targets).
And before you go snatching up Ginn, be advised: The Dolphins wideout may rank ninth in targets, but he ranks just 38th in receptions, with 13.
From the 18: Big-play quarterbacks
Peyton Manning and Philip Rivers lead the league in completions of 25 or more yards, with nine. But Denver Broncos signal-caller Kyle Orton is currently sitting fourth, with seven.
What’s even more surprising? The high-powered offense known as the Arizona Cardinals may not be as explosive as we think. Quarterback Kurt Warner ranks 22nd in completions of 25-plus yards, with three.
He’s just one spot ahead of Marc Bulger (2).
From the 17: Pick ‘em No. 1
NEW YORK GIANTS (-9) at Kansas City Chiefs
My motto? Go against bad football teams.
The Chiefs are giving up 28.3 points per game in 2009, rank 19th against the rush (119.3 yards/game) and welcome a very sound and physical New York Giants team to Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday.
Expect a big day from Brandon Jacobs.
From the 16: Did you know…
That “stuffs” is an official stat for running backs? A stuff occurs when a RB is stopped for a loss in the backfield by the opposing defense.
Tennessee Titans dynamo Chris Johnson leads the league in stuffs, with 13 on just 53 total attempts.
Despite having 24.5 percent of his carries result in no gain, Johnson still ranks second among running backs in fantasy scoring, with 60 points (standard scoring format).
On the flip side, New York Jets running back Leon Washington has only been stuffed twice in 41 rushing attempts.
From the 15: Speaking of running backs…
Donald Brown of the Indianapolis Colts and Knowshon Moreno of the Denver Broncos are currently tied for the lead in fantasy points among rookie running backs, with 25.
Arizona Cardinals rookie rusher Chris “Beanie” Wells has only seven fantasy points and has carried the ball just one time in the fourth quarter this season.
From the 14: That was quick
The San Francisco 49ers lead the league in three-and-out drives in 2009.
The 49ers have had the ball 39 times in three games and have gone three-and-out 18 times (46.2 percent).
Meanwhile, the Dallas Cowboys have gone three-and-out just four times in
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