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Childress, Vikings Survive Ravens Scare

Things seemed pretty elementary for the Minnesota Vikings through much of their game Sunday afternoon. They held a 14-0 lead over the Baltimore Ravens after a quarter, a 14-3 halftime lead, and then a 27-10 margin early in the fourth quarter -- margins that likely inspired tons of confidence for the Vikes. Who would have thought they would need to be bailed out by a missed field goal as time expired in order to escape with a victory?

Yet that's exactly what happened, because the Ravens, behind explosive plays from Joe Flacco, Ray Rice, Derrick Mason and Mark Clayton, used just 11 offensive plays in 6:24 to score three touchdowns and take a 31-30 fourth-quarter lead. The Vikings did drive down and kick a field goal with 2:00 left in the game, which made the score -- the eventual final -- 33-31.

Fantasy Football Reality Check: Dig Deeper Than Stat Line

Kyle OrtonEach Monday morning of the fantasy football season, we'll cut through the fantasy numbers put up by individuals and tell you what they really mean.

You know what Kyle Orton's line should have been? 16 of 28 with 156 yards and no touchdowns. He would have had a few more passing attempts before losing the game, which likely would have made him 16 of 30 or 17 of 31 or so. Instead, he was the beneficiary of the most insane amount of luck we've ever seen on one play in fantasy football. He forces a throw to Brandon Marshall in double-coverage, badly under-throws him and the Bengals tip the ball up in the air. The rest is history. And Kyle Orton had a decent fantasy day.

But don't be fooled.

Fantasy Football Week 1 Rankings: TEs

We know over the course of the season, it appears tight end is going to be a deep position, and this week there seem to be a lot of good plays. Sure, it's top-heavy, as the top four form the proverbial "Big Four," but take a look in the teens. There are plenty of viable options this week with a chance to put up numbers rivaling anyone in the top 10.

Of course, we're pretty confident Dallas Clark goes nuts against the Jags at home.

1. Dallas Clark, IND vs. JAX
2. Antonio Gates, SD at OAK
3. Jason Witten, DAL at TB
4. Tony Gonzalez, ATL vs. MIA
5. Greg Olsen, CHI at GB
Fantasy Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | DEF | K | Play Free Fantasy Football

Fantasy Football ADP Analysis: Part 1

Brandon JacobsThe proliferation of mock drafts as well as their offspring, the ADP (average draft position), have given fantasy football players three new approaches to uncovering values come draft day. Whether or not you take fantasy football seriously, the ADP is officially protocol in draft prep. Evaluating this list of fantasy football ADPs provides three distinct strategies that can lead to finding some gems at bargain prices.

The first involves the simple idea of hubris: that you yourself know more than everyone else. In other words, owners can assess the current ADP levels and determine if the broader fantasy football playing market has under- or over-valued particular players. In doing so, owners can determine where they think they can pick up steals on the cheap, catching the fantasy landscape by surprise.

Harvin to Instantly Impact Fantasy Football Value of Vikings' Offense

Despite character concerns surfacing before the draft, Percy Harvin still found himself a first-round selection, and he fits rather nicely in the Minnesota Vikings' offense. The dynamic play-maker, who can score from anywhere on the field at any point in the game, can fit in the slot or outside. He can be put in position to run the football with some creative play-calling.

The impact Harvin should have on the real football field won't be measured just in his stats, though. If he realizes his potential, he'll take some attention away from both Adrian Peterson and Bernard Berrian. He'll accrue some personal numbers of his own, though. Check out the fantasy football ripple effect after the jump.

Studs and Duds Week 16: Matt Cassel's Resume Just Became a Lot More Polished

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 16 at a glance, where we point out the horses destined for the Kentucky Derby and jeer those headed to the glue factory. (Disclaimer: This will only be for the Sunday games, since you probably can't even remember the Thursday gaes at this point.)

Studs

Matt Cassel, QB New England (20-for-36, 345 yards, 3 TDs) -- If you had to grade Cassel's performance this season after being tossed to the wolves, I'd say it is an "AAAAAA+++++++." Sure, he has looked mediocre at times, but when Tom Brady went down in the first week of the season, every Patriots fan I know mailed in their playoff or Super Bowl hopes. His game against the Cardinals in the snow was his second straight with three touchdowns or more and his fourth in the last six games with a passer rating of 103 or more. Whatever happens next week with the Jets-Dolphins, one thing is quickly being a certainty -- Cassel could make Washington/Chicago/Minnesota a pretty scary team next season.

Falcons 24, Vikings 17: Falcons Are Headed to the Playoffs; Yes, We're Serious

Minnesota got a Pro Bowl caliber performance from Tarvaris Jackson, the best game of Visanthe Shiancoe's life, won the battle of time of possession and outgained Atlanta by nearly 130 yards.

But as the clock hit zero on Sunday night, Minnesota still needs one win or a Bears loss to make the playoffs, and they can thank their own mistakes for that. Jackson threw for 233 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another 76 yards, but he also fumbled four times with Minnesota losing two of them. Bernard Berrian fumbled a punt that the Falcons recovered and Adrian Peterson fumbled twice, losing one of them. In all, Minnesota lost four fumbles while Atlanta didn't turn the ball over at all.

Eye on the Prize: Week 15 Fantasy Football Tight End Rankings

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.

Not much shakeup at the top, except for one surprise. Yes, it's time to bump Antonio Gates down just a peg. Let's face it, anytime your star tight end puts up a goose egg as he did against Oakland in a critical game, something must give.

The great Tony Gonzalez continues to ride out the hot streak, and he just loves playing the Chargers. Look for Jason Witten and Tony Romo to get back on the same page this weekend after they both took blame for the collapse in Pittsburgh last week.

Climbing up the tight end ladder this week is an old familiar face in Jeremy Shockey. Let me explain. Since he took the scolding from Drew Brees on the sideline against Atlanta, here are his averages in the past four games; five receptions per game and 53 yards per game. Yup, he hasn't scored a TD yet this season, but it could be coming Thursday night against Chicago.

Welcome back to earth Dustin Keller. You can thank your QB for the slippage this week. And now let's tap into the rest of the rankings.

1. Tony Gonzalez, SD
2. Jason Witten, NYG
3. Chris Cooley, @ CIN
4. Dallas Clark, DET
5. Tony Scheffler, @ CAR

Visanthe Shiancoe Not Upset His Penis Was on TV, Just Glad There Was No Shrinkage


FOX has apologized for showing Vikings tight end Visanthe Shiancoe's penis when it aired footage from the team's locker room yesterday. But Shiancoe says he's not upset.

Shiancoe tells the Minneapolis Star Tribune, "It's not too bad. I didn't just get out the pool."

It's good news for Shiancoe that the Ford Field showers have hot water, and good news for everyone that Shiancoe has a sense of humor about this. Still, I would strongly urge the fine folks at Fox to scrutinize their footage a little more carefully next time.

FOX Sorry for Visanthe Shiancoe Penis Shot, NFL Plans No Changes to Camera Policy

After Sunday's Vikings-Lions game, FOX briefly broadcast an image of tight end Visanthe Shiancoe in the locker room, wearing nothing but a towel. And, unfortunately, the towel wasn't wrapped all the way around him, meaning Shiancoe's penis was briefly exposed.

Now FOX has apologized. From the St. Paul Pioneer Press:
"It was an obvious oversight on our part, and we apologize," said Dan Bell, the vice president of communications for Fox.
The NFL, however, does not think this incident is a reason to change any policies toward having cameramen in team locker rooms.



I asked NFL spokesman Greg Aiello today whether the league would re-consider having cameras in locker rooms, and he answered, "No, I would not expect that. Video from post-game locker rooms is only available on tape, not live."

So there you have it. The problem isn't cameramen in locker rooms, it's producers who put the tape on the air without bothering to make sure that there aren't any exposed penises.

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