We're back, albeit a few days late. Matt Snyder and Tom Herrera bring you the weekly FanHouse fantasy football podcast on a Saturday this week, for various administrative reasons -- none of which have anything to do with fantasy football. We will discuss the return of Brian Westbrook and Calvin Johnson. Snyder defends his love of Steve Slaton, even in the face of adversity, we talk about how Austin Collie is who everyone thought Anthony Gonzalez would be and, finally, why Herrera recently had a Seinfeldian experience in New York (not really, but Snyder is Seinfeld obsessed). Take a listen after the jump.
Here's how it works. We throw some intriguing matchups at the FanHouse staff and ask whether each player will be over or under a certain point total. The result? Fantasy Football Over/Under. Makes sense, right?
Let's review my picks from last week and see how awful I did ...
Talk about two tight ends headed in different directions -- Vernon Davis and John Carlson have similar situations with offensive lines that need help protecting the quarterback. But Davis isn't going to stick back and help protect Alex Smith. Carlson, on the other hand, is being asked to block a lot these days. If Carlson wasn't facing a Lions defense this week, he'd be ranked a lot lower than where he sits.
Colts quarterback Peyton Manning is near the top of every major statistical category that quarterbacks track. Even though Manning has always put up incredible numbers, Dallas Clark said this week, "You probably never thought he (Manning)could raise his level of play, but he has." Not that Manning needed another reason to target Clark, but I bet Clark gets an extra red zone look or two just as a debt of gratitude from the All-Pro quarterback.
Fantasy FanHouse's "Bust a Move" segment provides quick-hitting insight on the most popular adds and drops across Fleaflicker fantasy leagues between Tuesday and Wednesday of each week. Knowing who is on the move during this 24-hour period often provides a valuable edge with regard to outperforming or underperforming players, injuries and depth chart shifts. So do as the man says, "Don't just stand there..."
The Adds
Ryan Moats (RB, Texans, 5,087 adds) - With over 5,000 adds in a single week, Moats becomes the most added player of the year (for one week). Three touchdowns and 126 yards will do the trick every single time. Frankly, I'd file this one under "big time fluke" and expect to see Steve Slaton back in the lead role by week's end. Coach Kubiak already gave Slaton the pep talk and said he expects him to remain a key part of the running game. So the bottom line here is as follows: go ahead and add Moats, but unless you are in dire need of a leak plug at running back, wait to see how this shakes out before making him your starter.
Everyone loves fantasy footballsleepers, but they change depending on league size and availability. We're here each and every week to give you a look at good plays for all types of leagues.
Our two running back picks from last week, LeSean McCoy and Justin Fargas, ended up with great lines, and if you had either as your fill-in RB2 for the week, I'm sure you were pleased with their performances. Unfortunately, the rest of our sleepers didn't hit.
What does that matter for this week, you say? How about ... more running backs! That's right, call now and we'll double your RB sleepers at no additional cost!
Now that the spirit of Billy Mays has passed through the column, let's check out the POaYD crew this week.
The Rams-Lions contest this weekend has the potential to be one of the most unwatchable games in years. The Lions have only won once in the past two seasons and the Rams are 2-21 in that span. Remember, though, in fantasy footballevery game is exciting to some extent. In FanHouse's latest fantasy football podcast, Tom Herrera and Matt Snyder explain why they like both running backs -- Kevin Smith and Steven Jackson -- to have a good game Sunday. We also tackle why T.O. reminds Herrera of a smelly homeless guy on the subway this week, reveal our Starting Six Pack and discuss several deep league plug-n-play options (like Brian Hartline).
Cut-N-Go is Fantasy Football FanHouse's weekday roundup of the NFL news with fantasy football impact.
The season-ending injury to Jets running back Leon Washington is devastating for a number of reasons.
His change-of-pace running style will be sorely missed as will his 4.6 yards-per-carry average. The kick return team will also struggle to find a replacement. In fact, coach Rex Ryan says it will take many players to fill in for Washington.
With Chris Cooley reportedly out for a while, many fantasy football owners will have to sort through waiver-wire detritus this week to find a replacement. While we all know you can't snap your fingers and replace a top tight end like Cooley, especially with how volatile the position has been, there are fill-ins that could help mitigate the tough loss.
After sustaining an ankle injury on the first play of the second quarter Monday night, Redskins tight end Chris Cooleywill reportedly miss the remainder of 2009. The Pro Bowl tight end will finish his season with 29 catches (a career low), 332 yards and two touchdowns, as he hauled in a pair of passes for 21 yards before leaving with the injury Monday night in the Redskins' 27-17 loss to the Eagles.
Head coach Jim Zorn would not confirm that Cooley's year is over, but did note that Cooley will "be out for a while."
""He's got a break in his ankle," Zorn said. "It's on the inner side of his tibia. I haven't seen the X-rays yet, but we're quite certain it's broke or fractured in some way; we'll have a better diagnosis tomorrow."
Cal might've been looking ahead to next week's showdown with suddenly vulnerable USC, but they certainly sucked all the excitement out of it after getting whipped by the throwback jersey-wearing Oregon Ducks, 42-3.
Saturday's victory is part of a stunning turnaround for Oregon, following its opening night embarrassment against Boise, a game marred by offensive ineptitude and LeGarrette Blount's sucker punch heard 'round the world. Since then, Oregon has beaten Purdue, Utah and now California. Amusingly, the Ducks dominated Cal in a manner similar to how Boise State handled them.
Talk about two tight ends headed in different directions -- 
Fantasy FanHouse's "Bust a Move" segment provides quick-hitting insight on the most popular adds and drops across 
Everyone loves 
Cut-N-Go is Fantasy Football FanHouse's weekday roundup of the 
With 
After sustaining an ankle injury on the first play of the second quarter Monday night, 
Cal might've been looking ahead to next week's showdown with suddenly vulnerable USC, but they certainly sucked all the excitement out of it after getting whipped by the throwback jersey-wearing Oregon Ducks, 42-3. 
