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Warden Report Garbage time TDs can have big fantasy effects
By Ryan E. Houston, Special to CNNSI.com What do you think hurt worst? The fact that Brett Favre returned looked like the same quarterback he was last year or the the fact that Mike Martz cost my fantasy squad a win? I would have to go with the Martz fiasco. Somebody please explain to me why you would leave your starters in when you're up 28-0 in the fourth quarter, your defense has been dominating, and the Lions are basically hibernating? As Shawn Bryant of TradeRumors.com pointed out to me, Mike Martz must have Marshall Faulk on ALL of his fantasy teams. Considering I had Kurt Warner and Germane Crowell and my opponent had Marshall Faulk, I felt like I still had a chance. I was down by 12 to start the game, but Warner was making up those points quickly. Crowell was catching some balls so he was helping any way his pitiful self could, but Warner was leading me back from my deficit. His third touchdown put me over the top and it was just a matter of taking out the starters for me to secure a victory. Hence my frustration over Martz's decision to run up the score and allow Faulk to score a late TD. Oh well, isn't that why we play this exciting game?
Cleveland rocksHas anyone noticed the Browns this year? That defense looks very solid and still gets no respect. I keep reading on other sites and message boards such things as "Don't worry about Eddie George he has a couple games against the Browns left on his schedule". Let me tell you something, that doesn't mean nearly what it did last year. They are playing very solid. Nice to see that Butch Davis got that turned around so quickly.
Fallen LeafNote to Jerry Jones: Ryan Leaf stinks! Do me a favor, don't make him another one of your "projects." Make the guy stand in the unemployment line and wish he wasn't so damn stupid! Maybe he and Todd Marinovich can open the "Robo-Quarterback School of Hard Knocks" and explain to every other wannabe coming out of college what NOT to do when you sign your first NFL contract.
Capped outIs it just me or does the salary cap suck? One of the greatest weeks in Major League Baseball is the week leading up to the trading deadline. Teams around baseball can make moves to strengthen their respective teams for a run or prepare their teams for the future. In the NFL this is nearly nonexistent. I hear everyday of potential trades "brewing," but I have yet to see any of them become reality. Here are a few I would really like to see happen but probably won't do to "salary cap issues":
Antonio Freeman to the Denver Broncos for a third-round draft pick:
Terry Glenn to the Philadelphia Eagles for James Thrash and fifth-round draft pick:
Tim Biakabutuka to the Baltimore Ravens for a fifth-round draft pick:
Michael Westbrook to any team that needs a WR. Price - CHEAP:
Emmitt Smith to the Oakland Raiders for Tyrone Wheatley and draft picks: One last note, the Rams will NOT go 16-0.
Running backs previewAre you ready for some 0-4 football? Watch out MNF, fans because here comes the matchup you have ALL been waiting for. The ridiculously overhyped and overpriced Redskins vs. the new-look Jerrry Jones Cowboys! On a serious note, I look for this to be the Emmitt Smith vs. Stephen Davis show. Both teams will try to establish the run early and get their respective studs going. Both have had mediocre seasons, to say the least, and this could be a breakout game for both of them. Stay tuned. My two picks for running backs that will have a field day against the opposition are LaDanian Tomlinson and Lamar Smith. Both are facing very weak defensive units and should be able to put some serious numbers this week. Something to think about -- Three teams in the AFC East have horrible defenses: Jets, Colts and Patriots, yet all have a running back in the Top 10: Edgerrin James, Curtis Martin and surprisingly Antowain Smith.
They're No. 1I have to give some "mad props" to Mike Shanahan and his coaching staff. They continue to find ways to get Rod Smith the football despite having no viable options at the No. 2 WR spot. Same could be said for Steve Mariucci in San Francisco. J.J. Stokes and Tai Streets have been nearly nonexistent in that offense, yet Terrell Owens seems to be running freely in the secondary. It seems pretty easy, from my point of view, on how to stop this from happening, but that is why I write and don't coach.
Horn not-a-plentyKnock, knock Who's there? Not sure Not sure who? Not sure where Joe Horn has been the past few weeks!
Surprises and disappointmentsAnybody notice that Jerry Rice is having a great season in Oakland? (I had to backspace because I actually typed San Fran -- old habits are hard to break). Despite Rice being the focal point in the offense the past couple weeks, you have yet to hear Tim Brown complain to the media. Antonio Freeman, are you listening? Hey R.Jay Soward., are you that much of an idiot? You had every opportunity to turn your life around and be something your dad couldn't be: a star! You had an opportunity to play with a great QB, be tutored by one of the greatest WR tandems in football, and make a lot of money. Now the only person you will ever burn is yourself.
Ryan Houston is the co-owner of FantasyAsylum.com. His column "The Warden Report" can be found there along with other great tools to help increase your Fantasy Football knowledge. Follow The Warden and James Quintong of CNNSI.com as they do battle in INSANEX - The Insane Experts League only on FantasyAsylum.com. The Fantasy Football Institute for Insane Fans! Get Committed ... To Winning!
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