Three weeks ago my team was 5-3 and sitting at second place in the RexQB league. Knowing one can never rest on their laurels, I looked around to make my team stronger. Out the door went Matt Forte, Mario Manningham, Bernard Berrian, Justin Forsett, and Mike Sims-Walker. I suddenly had Chad Ochocinco, Beanie Wells, and Reggie Wayne sitting at the dinner table. Sounds like an upgrade to the guest list, right? Not so fast my friend. Chad has scored a combined 11 points in the three games he’s been on my squad. After scoring double-digit points in seven of his first nine games, Wayne has put up two single-digit efforts. Welcome aboard guys! I’ve sunk to last in the standings after four straight loses. Although not dead and buried yet, I need a miracle to make the playoffs and a reasonable finish to not pay our league’s basement penalty. Still, I can’t fault myself for making bold moves. This late in the season, you shouldn’t be either. With that in mind, I’m willing to go Matthew Berry style and make some bold statements for the last four weeks of the fantasy season.
Calvin Johnson will not top 100 yards in any of his remaining games this season.
The 30th (Yes, 30th!) ranked WR is a long way away from his top five projection at the season’s opening. Look closer and you’ll see he’s only topped 100 yards in two games. Both games were against cupcake secondaries (CHI & CLE), and Megatron doesn’t face any more cupcakes for the rest of the season. It was painful to watch him on Thanksgiving with Johnson unable to give a 100% healthy performance. Throw in three road games for his rookie QB and Johnson owners, like myself, will be left to shed tears in the corner.
Zach Miller is a top six TE from now on.
Clark, Davis, Gates, and Gonzalez will likely fill out the top four TE spots in the coming weeks. There’s still room for two more and Miller will find himself in that mix. Consider the facts. With Gostkowski Gradkowski starting for Oakland, Miller has caught five balls in consecutive games. Celek’s got a messed up hand, Winslow’s got a rookie QB, and Shiancoe’s dong gets in the way of half the balls Favre throws his way. The Raiders’ schedule isn’t the friendliest to fantasy TEs, but as the only reliable receiving threat in the Raiders’ offense, Miller is ready to elevate his game.
Justin Forsett will outscore Rashard Mendenall the rest of the way.
Despite what Jim Mora is telling you, how can you believe Julius Jones will regain his job upon returning from injury? Forsett has clearly been too productive in the last three weeks to justify not sticking with him going forward. Why would a team play an aging, mediocre veteran over an improving young stud? And have you realized Mendenhall hasn’t had a rushing TD since Week 6? Forsett has four rushing TDs in his last three games.
Kurt Warner is not a top 15 QB from now on.
Warner isn’t a stranger to concussions, and he’s at the stage in his career where his future health is more important than the immediate sacrifice. He’s seeing a optical specialist about his current vision problems and the NFL’s new policy on concussions should keep him sidelined for longer than you think. The Cardinals have a comfortable two-game lead in the division and can look ahead to cupcakes Detroit and St. Louis in the coming weeks. Leinart will be seeing a lot of the field as the Cardinals and Warner stay cautious.
Chad Ochocinco is about to triple his production.
As stated in the opening, Ocho hasn’t been getting things done on the field. 15 points in the last four games is not an acceptable total for someone who was regarded as a top 10 WR only a few weeks ago. Thankfully he’s a giving man, especially during the holiday season. With games against the Lions, Vikings, Chargers, and Chiefs, Chad will do right by his owners and score at least 45 points in the fantasy season’s final weeks.
new england’s kicker is throwing for oakland. wow, davis and cable have both lost it.