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Monday Morning Buzz - Wk 7
10/22/07

Another Monday morning, another new set of heroes to give praise to as the Buzz recaps all the biggest topics of discussion after this seventh Sunday of the NFL and fantasy football season. Tom Brady and the Patriots are the big story again today—his assault on Manning’s TD pass record is now in full swing, so if you’ve got Patriots wide receivers, by all means, keep starting them! If you’ve got Laurence Maroney, my condolences, it looks like the vertical game is the emphasis until at least the weather turns. Now, onward we go....

The Legend of Rob Bironas is Born...

In my main fantasy league, the all-time great game turned in by a quarterback was Billy Volek of the Titans a few years back. Volek and wide receiver Drew Bennett won a lot of guys’ titles that year with a torrid stretch of aerial magic in the month of December. Today, another Titan fantasy legend was born—Rob Bironas became the first man in FFL history to kick eight field goals. In most fantasy leagues, add a couple of successful PATs and you’ve got 26 fantasy points—from a kicker! If you’re a Rob Bironas owner, there’s no doubt you’ll be letting everyone know it this morning, while if you played against Rob Bironas and lost by ten points or less, you’re likely doing the same for all the wrong reasons as far as you’re concerned. There may never be another kicking performance like this in fantasy football. If you started Bironas yesterday, contact the Titans and see what it would cost to get an autographed picture of him, frame that thing, and tell your grandchildren about what he did on October 21, 2007. After all, he scored more points today than Laurence Maroney has all season long—maybe send the Maroney owner a gift-wrapped football as a condolence (you know, maybe he can give it to Maroney since it’s clear Brady won’t be doing so…)

So, Can We Just Keep Rudi Johnson On The Bench?

If you wisely handcuffed Rudi Johnson with Kenny Watson sometime earlier in the season, you are one happy camper this morning. Watson had more rushing yards than anyone today and scored more touchdowns than any other player not named Brady. If you own the Johnson/Watson tandem at this point, you’ve got to be hoping Rudi just takes the rest of the year off. Watson is a much better fit in that Bengals offense and probably has earned the majority of the snaps no matter what happens with Johnson from here on out. Then again, that was the Jets. Basically, you can start any RB vs. the Jets and any WR against the Bengals for the remainder of this year and feel pretty good about it. If you started Laveranues Coles for example, you’ve just witnessed the best you’re going to get from your man this year (8 catches, 133 yards, 2 TDs).

Another guy who started out the year as a backup, but is emerging as a fantasy somebody is Brian Griese of the Chicago Bears. Griese has now amassed 1,203 yards passing in the past four games and with Cedric Benson unable to produce much on the ground, Griese is becoming a viable fantasy starter from here on out. If you’ve got needs at other positions and Griese is currently backing up someone not named Brady, Manning, or Romo, see if you can get something for the QB you normally start and start counting on Griese on a full-time basis. Unless your league docks heavily with respect to interceptions, it could be a great move.

Bring On The Forks…And The Jumper Cables?

Let’s give some love to dynasty owners for a moment by mentioning this little no-brainer. It’s time to plan for a future without Shaun Alexander. If you’re a redraft league owner, it might be time as well. In case you hadn’t noticed, the last two games Alexander stunk it up in were against the Saints and the Rams. That’s not a red flag signaling danger, that’s a white flag signaling surrender. It’s time to move on, it was a great run, Shaun, but I’m afraid we owe you a fork.

How about these guys for the rest of the year? Give em’ the fork!

Cedric Benson: I know we already mentioned good ol’ Ced once, but let’s do it again. A guy in my main league has both Alexander and Benson. If only you could get a point per carry....

Ahman Green: Yes, I know the Titans boast the best defense in the league against the run, but if you’re still starting Green as a RB #2 or a flex guy, it’s time to stop.

Marques Colston: He’ll remain a red zone threat for the remainder of the season, but Colston just doesn’t have the speed to get quick separation from corners and Brees doesn’t have the time to wait for him to do it. Pull him from the lineup after another off day.

Tom Brady: He is not living up to expectations with the addition of Moss, Stallworth, Welker, and Washington…OK, just seeing if you’re still paying attention!!!

As for the jumper cables, what has happened to the Detroit Lions offense? If you own Jon Kitna or Roy Williams, you were probably ecstatic after three weeks. These two looked like they were going to lead you to a title. Now, you’re trying to figure out a reason to keep them in the lineup. I don’t know what to tell you other than you need the Lions D to go back to giving up tons of points so that the O has to keep up.

We need to give a jolt to Lamont Jordan’s back. Or, maybe the Raiders offensive line, both were playing very well to start the season. Hmm…maybe we need to turn up the voltage on Culpepper once McCown gets healthy, so we can stick a fork in the former Viking-Dolphin.

Marion’s The Man, Right?

No offense to Wade Phillips and Jason Garrett—you’re 6-1 and coaching well—but the Buzz all over the fantasy world is this: When are you going to end this platoon system and just turn Marion Barber loose? In case you didn’t know it, the Minnesota Vikings can flat out stop the run and yet Barber ran all over them on Sunday to post another big second half for the Cowboys. Barber is an absolute stud as a #2 fantasy RB, but I think he can give teams a RB #1 numbers type of performance week in and week out if he can just get the 20-25 carries a game he’s rightfully earned. Wade, Jason, give him the rock! Fantasy owners everywhere are begging you.........

More Buzz:

  • How about Earnest “All Purpose” Graham? Those were Marshall Faulk-like numbers. Guess Michael Bennett isn’t going to just take over in Tampa.


  • How do you feel this morning if you lost a close game to a guy with Jerricho Cotchery on his team? In case you missed it, Cotchery scored on the last play of the Bengals-Jets game...on a Hail Mary pass. Yuck.

  • Another Sunday, another rushing touchdown for Cleo Lemon....

  • Another Sunday, another interception-free day for Jeff Garcia. If your league does penalize heavily for interceptions, this guy’s current numbers warrant full-time fantasy starter status.

Finally, just a nod to my buddy, Boston, from the FFToday Board, with the Red Sox headed for the World Series and the Patriots headed for heights rarely seen, you must be loving life. Congrats to you and all Boston sports fans, what a fall to remember thus far.

Ronnie Brown owners, be sure to check the status of your guy today. He was running great again today vs. that tough Patriots defense prior to the injury. Here’s hoping he’s okay,

Til’ next time, we’re all Buzzed out for today, have a great week and God Bless!