Ed Barkowitz: Some fantasy complaints going into Week 10
YOU KNOW what I'm getting tired of? . . .
Waiting for Joseph Addai. He's in the lineup. He's out of the lineup. He's running the ball. He's a decoy. Remember when life was good and you could count on your Colts? Ditto for Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison.
Associated Press
Colts' Joseph Addai has been limited by hamstring injury.
LenDale White sharking Chris Johnson's touchdowns. While Johnson is fourth in the league with 715 yards rushing, it's White who has the majority of touchdowns. Of White's 10 scores, six have come from 1-yard out and two from 2 yards out. Obviously, this sword cuts both ways, but it hurts more for Johnson owners than it feels good for White owners.
Hoping this will be the week Marshawn Lynch goes off. Yes, the Jets have a good run defense, but Lynch should do better than nine carries and 16 yards. He has the Patriots this week, so is asking for the season's first 100-yard game too much?
Underestimating Drew Brees. The Saints quarterback is on pace for 5,300 yards despite getting little production from tight end Jeremy Shockey and even less from No. 1 wide receiver Marques Colston. Get Shockey in your lineup this week against the Falcons, by the way.
The Raiders offense. Wait a minute, isn't "Raiders offense" an oxymoron? Ditch Justin Fargas and stash Darren McFadden only if you're in a keeper league. Michael Vick. That's just what they need.
Living on the Lidge
You know it's going well when you start Tyler Thigpen and live to tell about it.
For Brad Lidge, World Series winner and closer extraordinaire, it's going well. Real well.
Five days after Lidge struck out Tampa Bay's Eric Hinske to clinch the Phillies' first championship in 28 years, the two players hooked up on Sunday in a matchup in CBS SportsLine's MLB Players FFL.
With regular quarterback Tony Romo on the shelf and replacement Kerry Collins too inconsistent, Lidge turned to Thigpen, the third quarterback the Chiefs have used this season. Oh, and the Chiefs were playing the Buccaneers defense, which was seventh against the pass and fifth overall.
Thigpen didn't light up the Kansas City sky, but he did do enough to score 23.5 points, which directly assisted Lidge's victory of 100-85.5. A big portion of Thigpen's score came from catching a 37-yard touchdown. Amazing.
The win moved Lidge to 4-5, two games back of free-agent pitcher Matt Clement's division lead.
Contest of the week
Since joining the Giants, wide receiver Plaxico Burress has notched four 100-yard receiving games in six contests against the Eagles. He's been held to as few as 24 yards and erupted for as many as 136. How many will he get on Sunday night?
Send an e-mail to fantasyfootball@phillynews.com or fax to 215-854-5524 by 5 p.m. Sunday. One reader who comes closest to Burress' total will win a Daily News fantasy football t-shirt. In case of tie, a winner will be chosen randomly.
For what it's worth, in his last four games, Burress has had 58, 24, 15 and 34 yards.
Three up
* Larry Johnson, Chiefs running back: Kansas City's remaining schedule is intriguing enough to take a flier on the suspended back. His trade value couldn't be lower.
* Kevin Boss, Giants tight end: Has scored touchdowns in his last two games and goes up against an Eagles defense that has allowed nearly 70 yards per game to opposing tight ends.
* Calvin Johnson, Lions wide receiver: Imagine if this guy had a quarterback. Has scored touchdowns in each of the last 4 weeks and should be one of the top five wide receivers taken next year.
Three down
* Steven Jackson, Rams running back: Jackson proclaimed himself fit to play in last week's game, but yanked himself before the first play. That kind of thing has not endeared him to coach Jim Haslett. Former Falcons practice-squadder Kenneth Darby might start.
* Fred Taylor, Jaguars running back: After running for 121 yards in Week 3, Taylor has 90 rushing yards in the five games since.
* Roy Williams, Cowboys wide receiver: Some idiot who does consultation work for CBS3's Sunday pregame show said Williams would be a good option after going from Detroit to Dallas. In three games with the Cowpokes, Williams has a grand total of three catches for 38 yards. *
Daily News sports writer Ed Barkowitz also is a fantasy football consultant for CBS3's Sunday morning Eagles pregame show. He has Roy Williams buried deep on his bench. Send e-mail to
fantasyfootball@phillynews.com.
