Reality TV star Kristin Cavallari was voted off "Dancing with the Stars" this week and, of course, Jay Cutler was there in person watching from the sidelines as his teammate lost ... again.
At least Cutler was cheering this time and actually looked like he cared, unlike the 2010 NFC Championship Game. The only thing missing from "Dancing with the Stars" was a cameo from Aaron Rodgers mimicking placing a championship belt across his waist. The ABC producers should have really thought that through. That could have been ratings gold.
With that out of the way, I am offering you my likes and dislikes for the coming fantasy week and more. That's right, Facebook won't give you a dislike button, but I certainly will. And this all will be presented to you in a random, meandering style, which has been glowingly referred to as "teenager on crack chic." Bolded names are my likes, and dislikes.
Too many disclaimers? You can always check the rankings, but that is a terrible way to waste you're the final hours of your work week.
And without further ado ...
Not sure who woke up the Vikings to let them know that Percy Harvin is pretty good, but thank you for doing that. Harvin was targeted seven times last week, and had four rushing attempts. That needs to continue. Harvin is way too valuable to ignore. Great matchup this week, but it would be even better if Michael Jenkins missed the team bus. …
Falcons QB Matt Ryan has been ice to your fantasy team (sorry), but he is trending in the right direction -- more than 291 passing yards in three of four games this season and six touchdowns in his last three games. Ryan faces the Packers, who have given up the second most fantasy points to quarterbacks this year. …
Beanie Wells is hard not to like considering that he has scored in every game he has played this season, including three times last week. That should continue Sunday against the once fearsome Vikings, who have surrendered the 10th-most fantasy points to running backs. …
Wes Welker. I am really sorry that I doubted you. …
Don't bench Mike Wallace, even with the recent troubles on the offensive line and at quarterback. Wallace had just 77 yards last week, which snapped a streak of six consecutive games with 100 receiving yards. …
Separate fantasy from reality. Matthew Stafford and the Lions playing host to the Bears seems like a bad matchup. But realize that the Bears have allowed the fourth-most points to quarterbacks this season. …
If you are one of those people holding Stafford and Cam Newton, it is time to make a deal. Newton reminds me a lot of Vince Young when he came into the league, sans the Uncle Rico throwing motion. See, Newton is a much better passer but can make plays with his legs like Young used to do. And Young started putting it together and led the Titans to a lot of wins in 2006. Expect the same from Newton in the coming weeks. So if you are worried about holding on to Newton for the rest of the season, don't. Newton is going to be fine. Make a deal to improve the other parts of your team. …
I really like Curtis Painter's matchup against the Chiefs, who are generous to quarterbacks. But I am not starting him. The only Colts player I would start is Reggie Wayne, who is still a WR2 to me. If you need a flex spot in deeper leagues, Pierre Garcon is targeted by Painter a lot. …
Fred Jackson is a great start, but you already knew that. How many people have been bailed out by Jackson this season? He was my third running back on the teams in which I drafted Jamaal Charles. …
If you are looking for a good receiver, Jordy Nelson is a player to like this week. Nelson has scored three touchdowns this season, and the Falcons have allowed the ninth most fantasy points to wide receivers. This should be a shootout in the Georgia Dome. …
The version of Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Tuesday's Gone" on the "Live from Freedom Hall" album might be the best recorded. If you have one better, please let me know. …
Broncos coach John Fox says that it's going to be Willis McGahee this week. Coaches lie and sometimes listening to a coach makes about as much sense as having Hank Williams Jr. on your morning show to talk politics. But we have to listen to Fox until he burns us, which is coming. …
Patriots running back Stevan Ridley has increased his touches in every game this season, and the Jets look like a tough matchup, but consider that they have given up the sixth-most points to fantasy running backs this year. …
"Kurt Warner: A Football Life" was amazing. A little bittersweet considering that it should have been the Los Angeles Rams enjoying that era. It also shows just how lucky that organization was with Warner. I mean, really lucky. The team backed up Trent Green with a guy that wasn't even a journeyman? I mean, the guy was barely in football when he was given the keys to that show. Hard to believe the same organization that thought it was a good idea to pair a CFL refugee like Dieter Brock with Eric Dickerson in 1985 would backup a high-priced quarterback with a guy who played in the Arena League. Make no mistake, this worked out very well for St. Louis, but the organization was very lucky that it did (just look at the Colts this year). Let's be honest, they had no idea what they had. Even Mike Martz would admit it. …
If forced to pick between Jacoby Jones and Kevin Walter, go with Jones, who had more targets last year when Dre Johnson went out. The Raiders have allowed the 10th-most points to fantasy receivers this year, so the matchup is sound. Consider Jones a flex guy. …
The astute play will be to start Owen Daniels as your TE1. But if you are starting a great tight end like Rob Gronkowski, then Daniels in a flex spot over Jacoby Jones is not a bad play. …
Add Jermaine Gresham or Jared Cook if you are looking for a tight end in the wake of bye weeks or Antonio Gates injuries. …
Oh no, it's a run on tight end advice, just like the run on tight ends in your fantasy draft. …
Add Greg Olsen to that list, too. The Saints have allowed the fourth-most points to tight ends this year. The order: Olsen, Gresham, and Cook. Got it? …
Guys to have on your team: Eric Decker and "Victory" Cruz. …
The cast of "The Princess Bride" reunited this week. I am warning you right now, Hollywood, do not even think of remaking this film. You have done enough with a "Point Break" reboot (and I am liking the original, not the reboot), and you are clearly crossing a line. …
Joseph Addai is a good RB2 this week. Not a great one, but serviceable. The Chiefs have allowed the fifth-most points to fantasy running backs this year. …
Lost in all of the Cam Newton hype is just how awesomeSteve Smith has been. Once buried in fantasy circles, he has been amazing this season and the matchup this week is great because the Saints give up tons of points to fantasy receivers. But seriously, who plays opposite of this guy? That might be the most mind-boggling part of this whole thing. …
Nobody spoil "The League" for me; I had to record it last night. And were we only getting three episodes of "Archer?" Dang. BTW, if you don't follow me, we do #talkaboutit Friday on Twitter, this week's topic was best Thursday television show. Thank you to all who responded. …
The Steelers have been really tough on fantasy quarterbacks this year, but I still like Matt Hasselbeck in a spot start. I would start Ryan Fitzpatrick, Matt Ryan and Eli Manning ahead of Hasselbeck. But I would take the veteran quarterback over Mark Sanchez, Josh Freeman, Jay Cutler and Ben Roethlisberger.
The Patriots are breaking out their fancy Pat the Patriot uniforms. It's about time.
I am not ready to completely endorse Bengals QB Red Dalton right now, even as a spot starter. But please start A.J. Green. And we're all cool with Red Dalton as his nickname, right? …
And please start Julio Jones, who ranks eighth in the NFL in targets for all receivers. There is going to be a shootout in the Georgia Dome this weekend. Didn't I tell you that already? …
As trendy as it was for people to claim that they loved "Arrested Development" (much in the same vein that 1 million people claim to be at sporting events in stadiums that hold only 70,000 people), it seems obligatory to bash the reunion and upcoming season and movie. Yes, let's all pile on. Why should we bother reviving one of the most brilliant shows of the last decade when we would be better served rebooting "Charlie's Angels" and producing the next "Mad Men" ripoff? …
Denarius Moore is still the Raiders receiver I would roll with. He's nothing more than WR3 at this point, but worth a gamble against the Texans, who have allowed the 13th-most fantasy points to receivers this year. But figure the Texans will be milking a lead, and the Raiders will be throwing to rally. …
Sneaky start of the week is Michael Crabtree, who has a great matchup against the Buccaneers, who have allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to receivers this year. And if you see the way Crabtree juked Nnamdi Asomugha in all of those replays, how could you not play him? Crabtree is a WR3 this week. …
Far be it for me to jinx this, but are we really looking at four teams with a real chance to go 0-16? That would be the best thing to happen to the league since Rule 7, Section 2, Article 1(e)! …
FOX is threatening to cancel "The Simpsons?"?" Where would "The Family Guy" get all of its material from? Seth MacFarlane should underwrite the whole operation. …
Joe Namath on Twitter? Why didn't we think of this before? …
Dexter McCluster is starting to climb my board as flex guy. …
I would not start Chris Cooley in my fantasy league, but I loved this comment. "While I feel an honest respect for all NFL players, I show no remorse in cheering against another team, especially the Cowboys. If it sounded like I was delighted by Tony Romo's failure last week, I was." The NFL needs more of this. I'm tired of players playing grab (behind) out on the field after games. Even if you don't, at least act like you care about winning and losing. …
Barry Sanders is replacing Hank Williams Jr. on "Monday Night Football?" I would have personally gone with **Metallica**, but this is good move. …
If Bucs receiver Mike Williams does not rebound against the vulnerable 49ers pass defense -- fourth-most points to receiver this year -- then there might not be any hope for him this year. That means Preston Parker can be worth a look, too. I just moved him to 36th in my re-Ranks. Hmm, I could probably use him in a league or two, excuse me while I go check my rosters …
This kid calling himself Hand Banana on Twitter had a genius idea ... fantasy stats on the player cards of NFL.com. Like if you check out Darren McFadden's player card, it would have fantasy relevant information like, "McFadden plays the Texans, who rank 19th in fantasy points allowed to running backs this season." Where is the dev team? …
Long-term radar alert, Chiefs running back Jackie Battle. Not somebody to start this week, but keep on your radar. …
And another nod to Bill "Sudsy" Sudell for gathering these great factoids. The Sudsmeister is a huge puck fan, and the L.A. Kings start on Friday morning against the Rangers in Sweden. Go Kings, go!
I dislike Ben Roethlisberger and I also dislike him as a fantasy quarterback this week. The banged-up Roethlisberger is playing behind an awful offensive line and is slowed by a foot injury. Add in a tough matchup against the Titans who have been difficult on fantasy quarterbacks -- allowing the third-fewest points to fantasy quarterbacks -- and you are better off leaving Roethlisberger on the bench in favor of guys like Mark Sanchez and Matt Hasselbeck. And did you know Donovan McNabb, Rex Grossman, Andy Dalton, Tarvaris Jackson, Alex Smith, and Colt McCoy have all scored more fantasy points than Roethlisberger this season? …
Speaking of Donovan McNabb, he has a great matchup this week and might be somebody to look at if you are really in a bind because of the bye week. But there are better options out there. …
Same deal with Alex Smith. But you already knew that. Sometimes, though, I feel like I need to check. You guys scare me on Twitter sometimes. …
Mark Sanchez has a favorable matchup, as the Patriots have allowed the third-most points to fantasy quarterbacks this year. But the Patriots have 10 interceptions in their last five home games. The Jets offensive line is terrible. And as Joe Theismann said on the Dave Dameshek Football Program, Sanchez is not making the plays that he needs to make. I would avoid the matchup start unless absolutely necessary (like starting him over Roethlisberger, as stated above). …
I love seeing the commercials using showing those great Brewers old-school uniforms, until it jogged memories of the 1982 ALCS when the Brewers rallied from an 0-2 deficit to defeat the Angels. Tommy John on three day's rest. …
Time to move on fromChad Ochocinco, Hines Ward, Dallas Clark, Reggie Bush, Jay Cutler, and the Steelers defense. None of these cats should be starting for you, 85 and Ward should not even be on your roster. …
Cutler has been sufficiently awful, and he has a tough matchup against the Lions this week. Just stay away. …
Clark has not reached 100 yards in 18 consecutive games. …
Is this *Rolling Stone*'s worst songs of the 1980s? or just stuff that is on my iPod? …
Rashard Mendenhall is injured and might not play this week. Consider yourself lucky if this happens. Mendenhall has had nine consecutive games under 100 scrimmage yards and ranks 31st among running backs with 29.4 fantasy points in 2011. …
Cedric Benson is a RB2 this week, but don't expect a big game. Benson has scored less than 11 points in three of four games this season. But because of bye weeks, you might be forced to play him. …
Matt Cassel had his best game last week, but the Colts are not the pushover people seem to think. The Colts aren't great, right around the middle in points allowed to quarterbacks. But I like to think that most of you have better options. I hope. …
Bernard Berrian. …
In case you haven't heard, Danny Amendola is out for the season and can be dropped in non-keeper leagues. Kind of a bummer, as St. Louis is starting to spiral out of control. …
Knowshon Moreno does not figure prominently into the Broncos plans going forward, so keep him on your bench, but it is way too early to drop him. …
A quick aside on the whole Victor Cruz fumble thing: Are we surprised that theGiants were the beneficiaries of a questionable call? If the roles were reversed and that was Larry Fitzgerald with the Giants recovering, that would have been ruled a fumble. …
This is tough to say, but I dislike LeGarrette Blount, who finally broke out with a huge game on Monday night. Blount should only be a starter in 12-team leagues and as a flex starter going against the 49ers, who have allowed the fewest points to fantasy running backs this season. Start a guy like Darren Sproles or Cedric Benson instead. …
File this away for later, too, but Blount has topped 100 scrimmage yards just once in eight career road games. …
Sad news for the fan of the "Playboy Club" -- the show was canceled this week when an appearance from Hank Williams Jr. went awry. …
Memo to anybody planning a "Mad Men" ripoff, figure out why people like it. I will tell you, it's not the complicated storyline. What people like is Jim Belushi.
Nope, don't bother with Kevin Walter. We have been burned way too many times. …
Marshawn Lynch has a favorable matchup against the Giants, who have given up the 10th-most fantasy points to running backs this year. But Lynch has scored less than 12 points in each game this season (three of them under eight points), and he has only two touchdowns in his last 14 road games. And if that is not bad enough, consider that the Seahawks are traveling to the East Coast to play one of those dreaded 10 a.m. PT games. I would even start Richard Grieco All-Star Shonn Greene before I would start Lynch because of that early time. …
Can I add something about that, too? West Coast teams should not be forced into that 10 a.m. game. I loathed it as a kid (and young adult) to have to wake up early for Rams games when they played on the East Coast. And by East Coast, I mean anything east of Las Vegas. Why do they do this? …
Anybody have any idea what's going on with RAW? So they all quit? ...
The Colts give Tom Jones a great fantasy matchup, having allowed eighth most fantasy points to running backs this season. But help yourself and bench Jones, who will never be a Thundercat again. Dexter McCluster might not be a bad flex option. But Jones is averaging just 2.8 yards per touch, and has not scored a touchdown in his last six games. You cannot risk it. …
Mike Thomas has been targeted the fourth-most in the NFL, but he's being targeted by Blaine Gabbert. He is a WR3. …
I really hate to say this, but Matt Schaub has been average this season, and now he does not have Dre Johnson. I have him as a low-end No. 1, behind quarterbacks such as Ryan Fitzpatrick and Cam Newton. I still have him as a slightly better play than Mark Sanchez at this point. …
I am passing on DeAngelo Williams this week. Williams had 82 yards and no touchdowns against the Bears, but that is about as much as we can come to expect from him. Williams is no longer a RB2 option at this point. Besides, the Saints have allowed the eighth fewest points to fantasy running backs this season. The Saints have not allowed a rushing touchdown in five of their last six games. …
Maurice Jones-Drew is one of those guys you have to play regardless, but I really don't like that matchup. I just want to be on record saying that. I probably should not say that considering that I am trying to deal him. …
Brandon Jacobs is doubtful this week, if you missed the news. …
I dislike any player who refuses to go to the White House because of partisan politics. And this goes for people on both sides of the aisle. The President is the President, show some respect. I will never understand this mentality at all. Seriously, what's Dan Hampton's deal? Was he embarrassed because he is an undeserving Hall of Famer? …
For the record, you can submit your fantasy questions to NFL.com Fantasy Live, Michael Fabiano or me on Twitter. But realize, NFL.com Fantasy has 28,000 followers and Fabiano has 35,000. Me, I only have 2,500. So your odds are better that I will answer a question, just based on the numbers. So hit me up on both via Twitter or via Facebook. Be sure to catch the latest on the Dave Dameshek Football Program.
