Articles
Derek Carr (QB, OAK) - Week 4 Lineup Booms
Derek Carr may very well be more owned than this column should see, but I'm banking on people chasing the marquee names, especially after Aaron Rodgers' crazy Monday night and the tier of Cam Newton, Matt Ryan, Carson Palmer, and even Andy Dalton, drawing a lot of attention. There was a lot of hullabaloo regarding […]
Nick Mariano 9 years agoSam Bradford (QB, PHI) - Week 4 Lineup Booms
When will I ever learn? Well, when the heck will the Eagles learn how to be a cohesive unit? Oh, they play Washington this weekend? Okay. Weather concerns are real, and that's giving me some trepidation about the game in general, not for fear that the game is cancelled (you would have ample heads up), […]
Nick Mariano 9 years agoWeek 4 Fantasy Football Risers, Fallers & Trade Candidates
Well folks, we're heading into Week 4 now. That sense of familiarity with football is setting in. The chaos of week-to-week adjustments, realizing you saw a trend where there wasn't one, or hitting the jackpot and cashing in a huge day. We can all agree that Week 3 was pretty absurd, with many studs and […]
Nick Mariano 9 years agoWeek 4 DraftKings Deeper Sleeper Tournament Plays
We're back in the mines for Week 4 after an absolutely insane Week 3. Almost every stud and touted mid-range pick went off. I had friends texting me about how their safer cash game lineups would've won tournaments. The DraftKings Milly Maker winner had 301 points. Breathe. I should say that if you haven't yet, go […]
Nick Mariano 9 years agoDarren McFadden (RB, DAL) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Stash in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 62% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: Darren McFadden picked up a lot of steam in the preseason, becoming a hot commodity as it was being reported that he might pass Joseph Randle for "lead dog" duties in Dallas' running back committee. As it stands, Randle has a pretty clear handle […]
Nick Mariano 9 years agoBilal Powell (RB, NYJ) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team PPR Leagues OWNED IN: 28% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: Bilal Powell was thrust into the action last week as the bellcow running back for the New York Jets against the Philadelphia Eagles, much to the chagrin of Chris Ivory owners as Ivory was listed as active, only to chill out on the sidelines. […]
Nick Mariano 9 years agoDorial Green-Beckham (WR, TEN) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 42% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: First things first, he is on the Titans, and the Titans have a Week 4 bye. Do not pick him up expecting to plug him in this week. Okay, now that I'm confident you're informed, here's why you want this guy. Green-Beckham is […]
Nick Mariano 9 years agoLeonard Hankerson (WR, ATL) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 13% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: So maybe you didn't see this Adam Schefter tweet, saying how the Falcons view Hankerson and Roddy White as "2 and 2A" receivers. If you're a Roddy White owner you've definitely noticed. White went without a catch again in Week 3, while Hankerson ended […]
Nick Mariano 9 years agoDuke Johnson (RB, CLE) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team PPR Leagues OWNED IN: 49% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: Duke Johnson was a very hot name coming into 2015, however the first few Browns games have really cooled off the fire surrounding him. Isaiah Crowell has gotten the first crack at the running back job with Johnson dealing with a hamstring injury […]
Nick Mariano 9 years agoTed Ginn (WR, CAR) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 12% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: Ted Ginn is exactly what you think he is. He's a speedy deep route specialist who needs to connect on the long ball in order to provide value for fantasy owners (and the Carolina Panthers). Luckily, Cam Newton is pretty darn good at […]
Nick Mariano 9 years agoMike Evans (WR, TB) - Fantasy Football Risers
Many were very worried about whether Mike Evans would get on the same page with Jameis Winston, as well as be used effectively by Lovie Smith and company in Tampa. Well, those questions weren't really answered cleanly. Evans actually finished Week 3 tied with Steve Smith for the third most targets on the week with […]
Nick Mariano 9 years agoAndrew Luck (QB, IND) - Fantasy Football Fallers?
This was the first quarterback off of draft boards more often than not, and while Aaron Rodgers casually drops five touchdowns on the Chiefs on Monday Night, Andrew Luck struggles yet again against the Tennessee Titans defense before staging a late comeback. As the game was happening, my friend was talking to me about buying […]
Nick Mariano 9 years agoTeddy Bridgewater (QB, MIN) - Fantasy Football Fallers
What the heck Teddy? Bridgewater was looking amazing in the preseason (I know, I know) and seemed poised to take steps forward with a growing Charles Johnson, the return of Adrian Peterson, and the acquisition of Mike Wallace. This has not happened. His overall numbers are being somewhat salvaged by a solid Week 2 effort […]
Nick Mariano 9 years agoGolden Tate (WR, DET) - Fantasy Football Fallers
The Lions have not looked too good so far, and Matthew Stafford being banged up helps nothing. That being said, Golden Tate has not started this year strong. Tate's line so far in 2015: 24 targets, 15 receptions, 161 yards and 0 touchdowns. Another piece of this that scares me is that out of those […]
Nick Mariano 9 years agoDoug Martin (RB, TB) - Fantasy Football Fallers
Originally, Doug Martin was going to be one of the "obvious" examples at the beginning of the piece, but I watch Tampa Bay a bunch and others might (should) not right now. Tampa Bay's offensive line is terrible. There's no hope right now. It's in shambles. The highest rated player according to ProFootballFocus is Evan […]
Nick Mariano 9 years agoFantasy Football Fallers - Carlos Hyde, Anquan Boldin, Colin Kaepernick
The entire San Francisco offense is on my fallers list following Week 3. I like doing this. Don't hate on blanket statements, they can be efficient sometimes. It shouldn't be news to anyone that the 49ers were absolutely embarrassed in Week 3 against the Arizona Cardinals. The 49ers are an interesting case. One couldn't get much […]
Nick Mariano 9 years agoLatavius Murray (RB, OAK) - Fantasy Football Risers
This went according to plan. The Cleveland Browns were not an imposing defense against the run by any means, but the first stretch of the game still didn't see Latavius benefiting much from Oakland moving the ball. For all the awesomeness that Derek Carr and the Raiders' receiving corps were bringing to the table (yes, […]
Nick Mariano 9 years agoJeremy Maclin (WR, KC) - Fantasy Football Risers
Maclin and his owners were suffering with a big fat goose egg after one half of play on Monday Night Football. Then he exploded in the second half, finishing with 11 targets, 8 receptions, 141 yards and a touchdown. Now, it's not promising at all in my eyes that it took a huge hole for […]
Nick Mariano 9 years agoRishard Matthews (WR, MIA) - Fantasy Football Risers
Rishard Matthews is one of those guys who was pretty easy to look at after two weeks of decent stat lines and write off as fluky. If you read this last week, you hopefully already snagged him, but all the same this is a guy who deserves attention because of the aura of skepticism about […]
Nick Mariano 9 years agoLeGarrette Blount (RB, NE) - Fantasy Football Risers
Yes, it took an absolute massacre for Blount to really see the field over Dion Lewis (who still looks good out there), but this is still a huge step up from the questions raised after a no show in Week 2. While it appears to be the Dion show first, Blount showed that is still […]
Nick Mariano 9 years agoFAAB Auction Bidding – Week 4 Waiver Wire Targets
Week 3 is in the books, and we now have three data points to go off amidst our speculation and preconceived notions. Some teams are sitting pretty at 3-0 and enter the first wave of Bye Week Blues without desperation. Some have started 0-3, and need to open themselves up to risk taking behavior. This […]
Nick Mariano 9 years agoEric Ebron (DET, TE) - Waiver Wire Analysis
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues (FAAB Bid: $6 - 8) OWNED IN: 48% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: Brandon Pettigrew was out again, and so Ebron played almost every snap for the Lions. Unfortunately, Pettigrew will probably come back soon from his hamstring injury and cut into Ebron's snaps. Ebron goes from being on the field for 90% […]
Nick Mariano 9 years agoOwen Daniels (DEN, TE) - Waiver Wire Analysis
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team PPR Leagues (FAAB Bid: $2 - 5) OWNED IN: 45% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: Owen Daniels had some owners very hopeful for a bit of a renaissance with Peyton Manning at the helm. No one expected him to be Julius Thomas, but they certainly wanted a piece of the action that is the […]
Nick Mariano 9 years agoChris Thompson (WSH, RB) - Waiver Wire Analysis
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team PPR Leagues (FAAB Bid: $3 - 5) OWNED IN: 0% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: Chris Thompson is pretty clearly entrenched in the passing back role, the old Roy Helu Jr. spot for Washington. He won't see much usage in games where Washington isn't trailing, though that is up to you and how much […]
Nick Mariano 9 years agoChris Johnson (RB, ARI) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues (FAAB Bid: $10 - 12) OWNED IN: 52% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: Chris Johnson wasn't exactly "CJ2K" out there, but he definitely didn't look like the running joke that he had been pegged as in recent times. The game against the 49ers was a rout, but all the same Chris Johnson was […]
Nick Mariano 9 years agoJoe Flacco (QB, BAL) - Waiver Wire Analysis
BALLER MOVE: Add in Deeper Leagues / Bye Week Fill-In OWNED IN: 56% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: Joe Flacco had another good performance against the Cincinnati Bengals, who were playing well until the second half fireworks really went off between the two teams. Flacco drew the strongest defense in the NFL in Week 1 (the Broncos) and this […]
Nick Mariano 9 years agoTyrod Taylor Needs to be Owned in All Leagues
Taylor was written up here last week, and his ownership only bumped up from 23% to 43%. His strong Week 3 performance against the Dolphins should tilt that figure over the 50% mark for sure. Miami was a strong defense coming into 2015, with many viewing them as a "set it and forget it" type […]
Nick Mariano 9 years agoJimmy Graham: Welcome to Seattle
Whether the reports of Jimmy Graham expressing frustration with his role (or lack thereof) in Seattle's offense through the first two weeks were true or not, the sentiment was valid either way. While Graham was targeted eight times in Week 1, he only saw two targets in a Week 2 loss to the Green Bay […]
Nick Mariano 9 years agoA.J. Green and Steve Smith: Dueling Stars
The Cincinnati Bengals were beating the Baltimore Ravens 14-0 midway through the third quarter, with neither A.J. Green nor Steve Smith doing anything particularly noteworthy. Then, with about 6:30 remaining in the third quarter, Joe Flacco found Steve Smith on the right side, where he broke two tackles and scampered for a 50 yard touchdown. […]
Nick Mariano 9 years agoMarshawn Lynch Exits Early - Carroll: "Nothing To Be Alarmed By"
Marshawn Lynch was listed as active going into their 4:25 home opener against the Chicago Bears, yet he started the game on the sidelines. This is not a completely foreign sight, as Lynch has occasionally taken the first few drives off as he continues to get loose when dealing with a nagging injury. What was […]
Nick Mariano 9 years ago