Posts tagged CalvinJohnson at FanHouse

Each week in the NFL, there are players that impress and players that distress. One week a certain quarterback might toss four touchdowns and run around with his finger in the air while the next he's laying on his back, holding his facemask as the other team returns one of his three interceptions for the game-winning score. With that in mind, here's Studs and Duds.

Here's Week 17 at a glance, where we point out the horses destined for the Kentucky Derby and jeer those headed to the glue factory.

Studs

Michael Bush, RB Oakland (27 carries, 177 yards, 2 TDs) -- This is the other running back in Oakland, and boy did he have a pretty nice coming out party. In his first game with more than 16 carries, Bush rolled a Tampa Bay defense in search of a playoff spot and carried the Raiders to their second consecutive win. Sure, the team went 5-11, but the last two games were something to build on, and Michael looked like a capable backfield option.

The Detroit Lions lost to the Green Bay Packers today, earning a place in history as the first 0-16 team ever.

For Detroit, it was both an embarrassing conclusion to the season and a fitting end of an era; in the eight years since Matt Millen took over the Lions' front office, they've been the worst team in the NFL. Millen is gone, but not forgotten.

The now 0-15 Lions have many believing that a winless season is not only possible, but probable. This is 0for08, FanHouse's eye on the Detroit Lions and their quest for a winless season.

If the Detroit Lions are to avoid going 0-16, it will be thanks to Matt Millen's one and only great draft pick.

Wide receiver Calvin Johnson scored his second touchdown of the game in the third quarter today at Green Bay, and the Lions have now tied the Packers, 14-14.

Of course, these are the Lions we're talking about, and that means they're still probably going to find a way to lose this game. They were, after all, ahead of the Packers in the fourth quarter when the teams played earlier this season. They ended up losing, 48-25.

But with Johnson -- who despite playing with some absolutely horrendous quarterbacks this season is actually leading the league with 12 receiving touchdowns -- the Lions have a chance.

The now 0-15 Lions have many believing that a winless season is not only possible, but probable. This is 0for08, FanHouse's eye on the Detroit Lions and their quest for a winless season.

A year ago, the Patriots were a game away from a perfect run through the regular season and just three games from duplicating what the '72 Dolphins hoped they'd never to see: another team matching their undefeated season.

The Giants monkey-wrenched the whole thing and somehow Mercury Morris avoided death by schadenfreude. But before New York pulled off one of the biggest Super Bowl upsets in recent years, the Patriots were scrambling to capitalize on the marketing opportunities that go along with a historic 19-0 season. Which inevitably led to stuff like this.

While no team came close to perfection this season (the Titans won their first 11 games before losing), the Lions (or, more likely, their fans) could be sitting on a gold mine as they attempt to become the first NFL franchise in the history of man to (avoid) go(ing) 0-16.

CNBC.com's Darren Rovell points out that despite Lions wideout Calvin Johnson ranking just 75th in jersey sales, bitter, disgruntled Detroit fans have created a market for merchandise highlighting the team's futility.

Before you move any further, make sure to check out Part 1, if you haven't done so. I explain things in the intro. For our purposes on this post, however, there's no need to twiddle the thumbs. Let's dive in:

Wide Receiver

How about that Sunday night game for the Denver receivers? Last time around, they completely schooled the Chargers secondary. Now Eddie Royal has tons more experience under his belt, and Brandon Marshall is still just as talented. Both of them are in line for an obscene stat-line in what should be a shootout.

Only illegal formations by his teammates can stop Megatron. Yes, start Calvin Johnson in all formats. He's just too good to sit.

I'd avoid Reggie Wayne, Marvin Harrison and Anthony Gonzalez, because of the fact that Jim Sorgi should be under center for the majority of the afternoon for the Colts. It's just too much of a gamble to try and predict where the touches go for Indy.

I'm a Bears fan, and I have absolutely no idea how they can do anything to remotely stop Andre Johnson. He's likely to go berserk. Again.

The now 0-14 Lions have many believing that a winless season is not only possible, but probable. This is 0for08, FanHouse's eye on the Detroit Lions and their quest for a winless season.

Some fans and pundits have looked at the Lions schedule over the last four or five games of the season and thought that their best chance to get in the win column would come today against the Saints. On ESPN's Sunday Countdown this morning, Tom Jackson -- normally a rational NFL mind -- stood firmly against the rest of the crew in picking the Lions today.

The Lions aren't going to win today.

At halftime, the score is 28-7, and Detroit can't stop a single thing New Orleans is doing on offense. The Saints have scored four rushing touchdowns by four different players (Robert Meachem, Deuce McAllister, Pierre Thomas, and Mike Bell). Meanwhile, Dan Orlovsky has a quarterback rating of 19.6, though that number is damaged by a prayer at the end of the first half which was picked off by Usama Young, and a long touchdown pass to Calvin Johnson that was called back on an illegal formation penalty by Gosder "The Human Penalty" Cherilus.

Still, the game is as lopsided as the score indicates.

UPDATE: It gets worse. After returning the opening kickoff of the second half, the Lions get called for 12 men on the field. Those are your halftime adjustments at work.

It's playoff time! In what should be championship week, FanHouse fantasy positional rankings are compiled in order to provide answers to your possible lineup dilemmas. If you need further assistance, please feel free to shoot us an email question.

Far too often we look at certain matchups and let it dictate how we implement our starting lineups. My theory has always been that great players make great plays. OK, I didn't really come up with that slogan, but what I do mean to suggest is that you always start your studs in fantasy football.

Case in point the Johnson boys; Calvin and Andre. Both faced difficult tests last week and both rose above and beyond the occasion. So, you might take notice as to where they sit in the ranks for this weekend. Yes, it's time to pay dues and respect to Johnson and Johnson. A couple of beasts on the field, yet mild-mannered off it, are going to help gift wrap a few fantasy titles this weekend.

Steve Smith is moving up this week, because he too is simply a marvel at times. Not much else to shake up in the Top 10, but keep an eye out for big, big games out of the Wes Welker-Randy Moss combo. My sleeper for the weekend is - gulp - Chad Johnson. Look, the matchup fits and he's due for one of those "where did that come from games." Of course, if you have better options...don't gamble.

And now let's tap into the rest of the field.

1. Calvin Johnson, NO
2. Andre Johnson, @ OAK
3. Steve Smith, @ NYG
4. Greg Jennings, @ CHI
5. Larry Fitzgerald, @ NE

Like we always do just after Monday Night Football, it's time to recap the week that was in fantasy football. Hey, it's go time folks. That's right, it's playoff time. There's very little time to prepare as the games start coming at you four days a week. You've gotta be on your toes -- there's no more gambling, no more getting cute. You roll the dice with what you've got and hope for the best.

Another week of fantasy football is in the books. And chances are you fit into one of few camps right now -- you're either really depressed and your season is over, or you're ecstatic and live to fight another day. Either way, it's the beginning of the end on a great season of fantasy football. The long journey was well worth the ride, win or lose.

However, let's not close the book just yet. Oh no, this coming weekend marks the championship/money round for many folks. And as you ignore Christmas shopping, work and family to quietly prepare for this all-important week ... be sure to follow the trends of Week 15.

The now 0-14 Lions have many believing that a winless season is not only possible, but probable. This is 0for08, FanHouse's eye on the Detroit Lions and their quest for a winless season.

Tony Dungy was insistent all week long that the Lions had no business coming into Indianapolis without a win. He really thought -- at least publicly through the media -- that the Lions were a worthy foe. By all accounts, he was right. In fact, in the middle of the fourth quarter, the Colts found themselves staring at the unthinkable. They were tied with the winless Lions.

In the end, destiny prevailed and the hapless Lions continued their run at perfecting futility. Only two games remain, and those are a home contest against the Saints -- who will have had 10 days rest and are coming off a devastating defeat -- and a road tilt in Lambeau Field. Though the Packers are hardly a stout opponent, I really can't see the Lions winning a game. The weird thing is, I'd be really confident in them beating the St. Louis Rams right now. It just shows how much enters into the equation when it comes to historic seasons.

It's playoff time! FanHouse fantasy positional rankings are compiled in order to provide answers to lineup questions. These are assuming most leagues use Fleaflicker's standard scoring structure. If you need clarification, you need more players ranked, or have funky league rules, feel free to shoot us an email question.

Diving right into this week's all-too-important receiver rankings, the clear choice was to keep Larry Fitzgerald on top. Yup, he has a history of sealing fantasy titles in the crucial weeks of the season. And this week he gets to go against a subpar Vikings pass defense that can be exploited.

This is it for Reggie Wayne. His owners (like myself) are at wits end, but we'll all rest easy as he's in line for a huge day against the laughingstock of the NFL Lions. Patience will once again pay off for all those who stuck with the Colts' struggling offense in the early part of the season, as I fully expect Peyton Manning to also reward Wayne's buddies Marvin Harrison and Anthony Gonzalez.

Not much shakeup in the Top 10, but there is one thing to note before you dismiss Terrell Owens this weekend. Since joining the Cowboys, in five games against the Giants he has 430 receiving yards and six TDs. So, you get my drift ... he's a "must" start. Lastly, you'll notice the Jets receivers plummeting in these rankings. Well, there's a reason, and that it is they both have been terrible lately. Seriously, you should find other options.

And now with the rest of the ranks.

1. Larry Fitzgerald, MIN
2. Steve Smith, DEN
3. Reggie Wayne, DET
4. Anquan Boldin, MIN
5. Brandon Marshall, @ CAR