NFL Week 11 Observations

Desperation, my friends, is a stinky cologne.


Around this time of year, and at this point of the NFL season, we have started to see a whole lot of desperate ploys by teams so far, which might prompt you to think that desperation is a sports thing. How wrong you are. Desperation is everywhere, at times defining who we are and how we behave. Desperation is buying every woman between 21 and 85 a drink at the bar, or ignoring expiration dates on your organic milk, or using horse tranquilizers as a sleep aid. That, my friends, is desperation.

I can literally smell us missing the playoffs.

This NFL season was born out of the desperation of players, fans, owners coaches and league executives  themselves, as we nearly missed the opportunity to have the season. Now, as the season starts to wind down, injuries and ineptitude have forced smart teams to do dumb things. Like start a different running back every week, or replace John Skelton with Richard Bartel, or sign Albert Haynesworth. This isn't Gridiron Gang. Xzibit doesn't currently run any of the NFL teams, so I'd expect better from teams at this point. NFL rosters are hardly exclusive, but c'mon people, lets at least try to be selective.

Wait, we won all that shit for nothing?

Ok kind of a weird occurrence here. Think back to the last time you heard from a Colts player or coach outside of a game this year. I can't say I have at all. Its like the Colts have recluded into a self exile state, from which they only emerge each week to vomit up around 160 yards of total offense and 3 points a week, before returning again. This is like North Korea in the 60's man. Come to think of it, this is like North Korea since like 1920.  I don't know if it comes from management or from the coaching staff, but if I didn't know better, I'd say the Colts are doing their best to lay low. I don't know why, and I don't know when it'll be broken, but it certainly seems like the Colts are hiding something. 

Fantasy Outlook

Marion Barber, RB Bears: Jay Cutler hurt his thumb on Sunday, and  he'll be out for the next six weeks. Obviously, you drop Cutler over that span, if you were even holding on to him in the first place. And how about you use that roster spot on Barber. Head coach Lovie Smith said the team will be relying heavily on the run game now, as Caleb Hanie will not be as good at QB as Cutler. Matt Forte stands to get the bulk of the carries, as always, but Barber has touchdowns in 4 of his last 5 games and could be in line for some serious work in the next few games. 

Jabar Gaffney, WR Redskins: Had a real nice game Sunday (10 targets, 7 grabs for 115 yards and a TD) and let me give it to you straight here. Gaffney is a decent fantasy option with Rex Grossman at quarterback. If Captain Checkdown John Beck takes over, Gaffney won't produce. However, Rex has a strnger arm and looks downfield more often, which helps Gaffney's value. 

Christian Ponder, QB Vikings: By standard ESPN scoring, Ponder had a respectable 17 fantasy points on Sunday, which could have been higher if not for 3 interceptions. What I like most, however, is the rushing ability. Ponder was the teams leading rusher, and his mobility gives him a way to rack up potential value quickly. Not as good of a matchup against Atlanta this weekend, but not a bad one. The Falcons are giving up 15 points a game to quarterbacks this year. 

Chris Ogbonnoya, RB Browns: Not a good matchup this week per se, but this game is notoriously a shootout and Ogbonnoya posts value both as a runner and a receiver. He won't light up your fantasy sheet but he could make a nifty play this week. 

Equal Exchange

A list of guys I'd drop if you own them, followed by a list of guys I'd pick up if you don't. 

 Drop List: QB Jay Cutler, RB Jackie Battle, any Bears wideout, any Ram not named Jackson or Lloyd, FB John Kuhn, WR James Jones, WR Preston Parker, RB Maurice Morris.

Add List:  RB Kevin Smith, RB Roy Helu, RB DeAngelo Williams, QB Christian Ponder, QB Andy Dalton, WR Damian Williams, WR Riley Cooper.