Fantasy Football's Real and Surreal of Week Nine

On Nov. 4, 2007, the Detroit Lions won at home against the Denver Broncos to raise their record to 6-2. One year and 16 games later, the Lions have exactly...one win—Dec. 23, 2007, against the Kansas City Chiefs.

They’ve been outscored by 215 points, or 13 a game, in those 16 games. They gave up 498 points in those 16 games; only one team in the NFL has ever given up more in a single season (1981 Baltimore Colts). And they were outgained by 112 yards per game in those 16 games.

Yes, the Lions are terrible. But they were leading the Bears at 5:37 in the fourth quarter before Rex Grossman pulled out a seven-play, 54-yard drive and scored on a one-yard touchdown to seal the game for the Bears. The fact that Rex Grossman was the quarterback for the second half notwithstanding, it goes to show that the saying “Any Given Sunday” is, in fact, true.

On to Week Nine’s real and surreal.

Tampa Bay-Kansas City

Jeff Garcia: In another “Any Given Sunday” outcome, the Buccaneers overcame a 21-point deficit at the hands of Garcia—he had 295 of his 339 yards after the Bucs fell down 24-3. Garcia is averaging 290 yards in the past three weeks, but has only two touchdowns in that span. He isn’t someone to rely on and start every week, but he’s as a sure thing to put up 250 yards, a touchdown, and no interceptions as anyone.

Antonio Bryant: His 115-yard, one-touchdown performance matched his Week Seven game with the same stats, and Bryant now has 40 fantasy points in the past three weeks. He’s an above average No. 3 receiver in standard leagues, but with Minnesota, Detroit, and New Orleans upcoming, he shouldn’t be on the waiver wire.

Tyler Thigpen: Don’t look now, but Thigpen is averaging 20 fantasy points the last two weeks and 17 in the past three. This week he gets the Chargers, second-worst against opposing quarterbacks in fantasy points allowed (you can bet he’ll be in my Sleeper article), and the rest of his schedule is a breeze (Saints, Bills, Raiders, Broncos, Chargers again, Dolphins, and Bengals). He’s a fringe top-15 quarterback.

Baltimore-Cleveland

Joe Flacco: Flacco became the first rookie quarterback to win player of the week honors since I-don’t-know-when (but it must have been a long time). After a rough five-game stretch to start his career, Flacco has now gotten his groove and has posted an average of 16 fantasy points in the past three weeks. Flacco, like Jeff Garcia, whom I like more than Flacco, is a safe start if you’re quarterback has a bye or bad matchup, or is injured.

Ray Rice: Boy is this backfield hard to predict. Just when Willis McGahee was activated after a long will-he-won’t-he situation, Ray Rice and Le’Ron McLain get all the carries and McGahee gets zilch. I wouldn’t put too much into this performance—after all, we knew Rice was good, it was just the playing time that was an issue. Whomever is starting for the Ravens is a top-15 running back for that week. It’s too bad we never know who it’ll be.

80-yard, one-score receivers: Derrick Mason: Take out his one-catch game against the Raiders in Week Eight and Mason is averaging 11.8 fantasy points in his last five games, and 13.8 in his last three. I like him as a No. 3 wideout in standard leagues. Mark Clayton: Before this game, he had 98 yards on the year. Simple enough: don’t fall for it.

Braylon Edwards: Just when he was turning the corner and picking it up, Brady Quinn comes in for Derek Anderson. I liked Edwards a lot more with Anderson than I do now with a young and inexperienced Brady Quinn, and Edwards falls from a No. 1 receiver to a mid-No. 2.

Here’s one more, who was in a game with no other big stories.

Tim Hightower: Hightower showed why he is the started in Arizona. Running for 109 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries, Hightower did better than Edgerrin James has in any game this year. Hightower also has seven touchdowns in eight games this year. Get him if you can, as Edge’s days in Arizona seem numbered.