Bleacher Report - Brandon Jacobs

Fantasy Football Pitfalls: Week 13

Ryan Lester — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 09:12:41 -0500

Before we get started, check out my Week 13 NFL picks .

I’m going to look at the matchups each week and pick five fantasy starters that could be in for a tough week. Here’s a look at players who could struggle this week.

Kurt Warner, QB, Arizona Cardinals
Warner makes the list again this week, but it’s more a reflection on who he’s facing than anything. I’m confident he’ll be able to play this week, but he could have a hard time finishing the game against Minnesota’s front four. The Vikings lead the league with 40 sacks, and it’s hard to have faith in a QB coming off a concussion against a defense that brings so much pressure.

I’m also iffy on Ben Roethlisberger coming off his concussion and facing the Raiders, who are tied for fourth with just ten passing TDs allowed.

Ryan Grant, RB, Green Bay Packers
This is not a good week to use Ryan Grant. He faces Baltimore’s sixth ranked rushing defense (97.6 yards/gm). They are also tenth with just seven rushing TDs allowed. Grant plays at home, where he has actually been less productive.

Home: 87.5 total yards per game (72.5 rushing, 15.0 receiving)
Away: 111.0 total yards per games (91.0 rushing, 20.0 receiving)

Brandon Jacobs, RB, New York Giants
Jacobs faces Dallas’ ninth ranked rushing defense (102.7 yards/gm). They've allowed just five rushing TDs on the season. In Jacobs' last four games against Dallas he has scored just one TD with an average of 84 total yards. Not exactly numbers you can bank on in this crucial juncture of the season.

Terrell Owens, WR, Buffalo Bills
TO is on fire, but squares up against Darrelle Revis. The Jets are No. 2 against the pass with 175.7 yards allowed per game, and tops with just seven passing TDs allowed. When the Bills faced the Jets in Week 6, TO was held to 13 yards on three catches.

Chris Chambers, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
Chambers has been a godsend for the Chiefs, especially with Dwayne Bowe serving his four-game suspension. This week though, he faces Champ Bailey and Denver’s fifth ranked passing defense (185 yards/gm). They are also tied for fourth with ten passing TDs allowed.

Originally published at LestersLegends.com .

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New York Giants: What We Really Know About Their Collapse

Craig Santucci — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 01:18:33 -0500

Giants fans had hoped that the offensive spark displayed last week versus Atlanta would ignite this team to a return to dominance in the second half of the season. Instead, every mistake and miscue that was made over the four game loosing streak was displayed for the entire nation to see on Thanksgiving.

The Giants have collapsed and the fan base was given a dose of reality tonight. The four game loosing streak was no fluke, you can stop blaming injuries. This team is just not that good. So what went wrong from 2008 to 2009?

This is what we do know.

1. The Defensive Coordinator

Bill Sheridan has ruined this defense. Sheridan has taken Steve Spagnuolo's league leading sack machine to the WORST RANKED red zone defense in the league. All in one year.

Did anyone see Chris Canty in pass coverage against the Broncos? Has anyone seen Osi Umenyiora or Justin Tuck in pass coverage this season? Yes, our passing rushing specialists are now required to cover tight ends instead of rushing the quarterbacks.

The under-sized Broncos defense executed misdirection stunts all night with success; however one of the "best defensive lines" in football was nowhere to be found.

The Giants defensive front should be taking control of any football game. Bill Sheridan must be dismissed.

2. Offensive Coordinator

Kevin Gilbride has taken away any swagger this offense once had and all but dissolved the "identity" of this Giants football team. Where is the smash mouth football that this team is known for?

The in-your-face running attack of the New York Giants is nonexistent.

Brandon Jacobs is not getting enough carries and Gilbride MUST stop calling the draw play. Wake up, Gilbride.

It has become predictable and everyone knows what you're calling—including the defense your facing. The play calling has been embarrassing!

3. Brandon Jacobs

A 260-pound tail back should not be taken down so easily. Jacobs is all but shying away from contact and is being taken down with ease. Arm tackles should never bring this guy down.

Where is the Earl Campbell, Eric Dickerson, Eddie George-style of smash mouth football this guy used to display. His speed is all but gone and his ferociousness has not been seen once this year. He is missing the holes and blocks on a regular basis. He is shell of his former self.

4. Offensive Line

Are they just a year older and a year slower? Because this group is playing down right terrible. The under-sized front four of the Denver Broncos out-muscled, and embarrassed the Giants offensive line. They were pushed off the ball on numerous plays and out-smarted on more than half the snaps.

5. Aaron Ross

What happened to our promising first-round draft pick out of Texas?

Everyone was talking about a break-out year. Yet Ross has all but disappeared from the team and seems to be either in the dog house or on the way out of town.

His injured hamstring held him off the field for what seemed like five weeks too long and now when the Giants need an impact player with great coverage and tackling skills...he is nowhere to be found.

With Dallas, Philadelphia, Washington and Carolina looming, it could be a 7-9 season unless something amazing happens.

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Start & Sit Thanksgiving Day Parade

Michael McNeil — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:52:23 -0500

Bone up on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade before tomorrow morning if you are married/involved/born-to-a-heavily-feminine-family. Impress your family with random, trivial knowledge about the parade early in the morning, but good luck prying the remote from Grandma in time to catch some NFL pregame action.

There is nothing more Thanksgiving than a little parade-watching in the morning and A LOT of football watching in the afternoon. So when ole’ Granny dozes off around 11 a.m., make sure to confiscate her controller privileges for the day.

Plenty of fantasy football related storylines to watch tomorrow, including a ton of injuries. Strangely enough, most of these popped up during the day on Monday after this week’s Monday Morning Rehab. A few of the highlights, followed by a special Turkey Day edition of start and sit advice:

Tony Romo and Jason Witten, Cowboys: Romo did not miss any action against the Redskins after taking a knee to the back and his coach sounds optimistic about his chances to play. Witten, meanwhile, is a dreaded game-day decision. Test the Internet access at Maw Maw’s tomorrow morning well before game time in case a last-second roster change needs to be made.

Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, Giants: The word is overwhelmingly pessimistic regarding Bradshaw’s chances to play in Denver tomorrow night. He suffered a sprained foot that is worse than originally thought and has been on crutches this week. Danny Ware would serve as Bradshaw’s replacement and Brandon Jacobs’ vulture backup.

Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson, Lions: Neither player would have practiced on Monday after Sunday’s thrilling come-from-behind win against Cleveland. Stafford looks the most likely to miss, but Johnson is less than a 50-50 bet himself. Without two of their top three offensive players, the Lions would be in for some woeful Thanksgiving Day football.

Start ‘em

Aaron Rodgers, Ryan Grant, Donald Driver, and Greg Jennings, Packers
Green Bay offense on turf against the Lions, a defense that just gave up 37 points to the Browns. This should be a fantasy feast.

Brandon Jacobs, RB, Giants
Good chance Ahmad Bradshaw does not play, or is very limited tomorrow night. Start Jacobs with a little bit more confidence.

Brandon Marshall, WR, Broncos
The Giants still are susceptible through the air and the Broncos will have to keep up with the New York offense all night.

Kevin Smith, RB, Lions
You have to like Smith in this game with Stafford and Megatron out, right?!? It is a risky-ish play but might be worth it due to shear volume of touches.

Sit ‘em

Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, Giants
Briefly mentioned about that Bradshaw may not play tomorrow night. He has been on crutches this week and the team seems concerned with the injury.

Jason Witten, TE, Cowboys
If—and that is a big if—Witten does not play, make sure to put him on your bench. Martellus Bennett would be the appropriate plug-and-play.

Darren McFadden, RB, Raiders
Good luck trying to figure out Oakland’s three-heading running-back-by-committee.

For more great fantasy roster advice this week, including a plethora of Start & Sit links and consensus rankings, head over to the Fantasy Football Librarian. Don’t forget to grab your library card.

Read more Brandon Jacobs news on BleacherReport.com

Daily Haze: Thanksgiving Day Advice

Michael McNeil — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:06:59 -0500

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, an annual celebration of food, family and football. Along with, of course, giving thanks to those who make life in America today possible and those who have done so in the past. Make sure to give thanks.

We do plenty of fantasy football advice around here—actually that is pretty much all we do—but today I wanted to share some non-fantasy advice. The regular fantasy football links are below, but here are a few good Thanksgiving-related reads:

If you are going to fry a turkey tomorrow—is there a better way?—make sure to read up on some turkey frying safety first. [Lifehacker]

Watch out for those grumpy, football-hating deer when playing your annual family touch football game tomorrow. [Shutdown Corner]

Times continue to be tough in this country for many Americans, but there still are plenty of ways we all can give a little something this holiday season . [Get Rich Slowly]

If you are going to brave all the crazy shoppers on Black Friday, the least you can do is arm yourself with the Black Friday ads . [BlackFriday.info]

Cooking a perfect bird can be a challenge for the best of chefs. Impress your family with these nine secrets to cooking a perfect turkey [Dumb Little Man]

And if something does go wrong tomorrow (God forbid), make sure to have an emergency holiday preparation kit on hand and at the ready. [Bob Vila]

Here are today's great reads:

If the absence of Ahmad Bradshaw does not help Brandon Jacobs' fantasy value , nothing will. [FanHouse]

Target report highlights from week 11, including the re-emergence of Mario Manningham in the Giants' passing game. [Pancake Blocks]

Mike Bell and Fred Jackson were two of the hottest names at the beginning of the season. After a midseason cool-down, both are now hot waiver wire commodities once again. [CBSSports.com]

Early fantasy rankings for all of the week 12 action . Drew Brees vs. Tom Brady on Monday Night Football should be something special to watch. [Roto Arcade]

Waiver wire advice for those of you in individual defensive player leagues. [Kilroyz Krystal Ball]

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