The NFP Monday Hit List: Rising & Falling

Another Sunday, another NFL weekend filled with blowouts.

The Packers, Chargers, Colts, Patriots, Jets and Bengals put up monster fantasy numbers en route to outscoring, respectively, the Browns, Chiefs, Rams, Buccaneers, Raiders and Bears 228-33. As you no doubt have already assumed, Vegas took a beating thanks to those teams.

In addition, those six winning teams combined to outgain their opponents in total yardage 2,563-1,396. Is it any surprise that the six losing squads are a combined 7-34 on the season?

These numbers just go to show you that, when in doubt, drafting and starting fantasy players from reliable offenses is the best strategy. This sounds simple enough, but several owners used first-round draft picks on Rams running back Steven Jackson. S-Jax may be ranked third in the NFL in rushing (635 yards), but he has yet to find the end zone and is ranked outside the top-10 in scoring among fantasy running backs (standard scoring rules).

MBP Award (Most Beastly Performance)

Carson Palmer, Cedric Benson, Ricky Williams and Miles Austin are all very deserving, but this week’s MBP Award goes to San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis .

Davis has taken a lot of heat (especially from me) for being an underachiever since entering the league in 2006. Prior to this season, he had scored just nine touchdowns in 40 games. Man, how things have changed.

Thanks to new offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye, Davis is experiencing a breakout season like none other. Sunday’s performance (seven receptions for 93 yards and three touchdowns) brought the 49ers back from the dead in Houston and gave them a chance to win the game late.

Davis is currently ranked second among fantasy tight ends in scoring and is averaging an impressive 11.6 fantasy points per week. The good news is that even if quarterback Shaun Hill loses his job to former No. 1 overall pick Alex Smith, it’s nothing for owners to be concerned about. All three of Davis’ touchdown receptions Sunday came from Smith.

Players on the rise

Steve Slaton    Running Back    Houston Texans

For all the haters out there, do you feel better now?

Slaton opened up his sophomore season averaging just 6.3 fantasy points and scoring zero touchdowns through his first three games. This, of course, led to my email inbox being flooded with hate mail about how Slaton was a bust and we had him ranked too high.

Four games later, the shifty rusher is back in business. Slaton has five touchdowns in his last four outings and is averaging 17.0 fantasy points per game. It should come as no surprise that Slaton went from 15.6 touches per game the first three weeks of the season to 22.2 touches the last four.

We recommended him as a great buy-low option three weeks ago in the Total Access Pass. Hopefully, many of you made a move.

Lee Evans    Wide Receiver    Buffalo Bills

With Trent Edwards at quarterback: five games, 12 receptions, 159 yards, one touchdown

With Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback: two games, 9 receptions, 143 yards, two touchdowns

In addition, Evans has been targeted 20 times since Fitzpatrick stepped under center. In the five games prior to Fitzpatrick’s arrival, Evans saw just 28 total targets.

It’s not rocket science, Buffalo. Throw the ball to you studs and let them make plays.

Joseph Addai    Running Back    Indianapolis Colts

He’s averaging just 3.3 yards per carry, but Addai’s role in the Indianapolis offense could be increasing in the coming weeks.

Rookie running back Donald Brown exited Sunday’s 42-6 win over the St. Louis Rams early due to what’s currently being called a sprained shoulder. While no timetable has been set for his return, any missed time by Brown will result in an increase in touches for Addai.

Addai has found the end zone in five of six games and is currently ranked in the top 15 in scoring among fantasy running backs. Add in the fact that he has the pleasure of playing on the same offense as Peyton Manning and you’ve got a very reliable starting running back for the remainder of the season.

A few more who continue to climb…

Hakeem Nicks    New York Giants: Four touchdowns in his last four games.

Beanie Wells    Arizona Cardinals: Posted career-highs in carries (14), yards (67) and touchdowns (1) Sunday night against the Giants. Look for his role to increase in the coming weeks.

Alex Smith    San Francisco 49ers: After tossing three touchdown passes in relief of Shaun Hill on Sunday, Smith will likely be a hot waiver-wire pickup this week for owners in deeper leagues.