Welcome
Sports Outlaw's Scott Henkel brings you a weekly look at the fantasy football stock exchange known as Ballin' or Fallin'.
Scott evaluates quarterbacks, runningbacks, wide receivers, tight ends, and defenses from across the NFL and lets you know if the player or team is on the rise or falling. If a player or team is Ballin' their stock is on the rise. If a player or team is Fallin' they are losing stock.
Are your players on his list? Find out each week in Ballin' or Fallin'!
Ballin' or Fallin' - Week 13
Welcome to Sports Outlaw's Fantasy Football stock exchange known as Ballin' or Fallin'.
Simple concept: If a player is Ballin' his stock is on the rise. If a player is Fallin', he's not living up to the hype.
We'll take a weekly look at the players that matter in the realm of fantasy football.
Ballin'
Quarterbacks
Donovan McNabb That's right. Donovan McNabb is Ballin' this week after being benched by half time this past weekend. Yes, he was putrid as hot garbage. Yes, he has been putrid as hot garbage for about 3 weeks. Pundits are now calling this the last year Donovan suits up for Philly which I agree is what will happen after another forgetable season. But unlike most of the other Eagles Donovan has something to play for this year. Cash. He's likely going to be traded and if nothing else McNabb is a savvy businessman. I say he puts on a show in order to sign an Al Davis Alsheimers Moment Multi-million dollar contract. The Cards are ferocious but I feel McNabb starts his try-outs on Thanksgiving and keeps pace with the freakish Cardinal passing game. McNabb is Ballin' as a must start QB1.
Kurt Warner Captain Obvious is telling you to start Warner all day every day. But I wanted to comment on what he's doing this year and how impressive the feat is for him and the Cards. It wasn't all that long ago that both Warner and the Cards were NFL punchlines. It seems both have risen and turned the joke around to the tune of Warner threatening to break the unbreakable passing record of Dan Marino. And this from a guy who fell like a meteor from NFL MVP to backup to rookies on two different teams. Brees is amazing but if a vote for NFL MVP must be cast for a qb Warner is the man most deserving of the honor.
Matt Cassel I don't know how Cassel is going to go back to being a backup next season. He's gotten better every week and this past weekend he again ripped up a defense for huge gains. Next season Brady will be healthy and Cassel will be handed a clipboard knowing he has thrown for over 400 yards multiple times. But for now he's a guy who is a must start during your playoff run. QB1
Start your studs For some reason the playoffs are the time of season we all drink from the fire hose of stupidity and take risks. Now is not the time. I am a very good example of an owner on the brink of out thinking myself. I have the option of starting Gus Frerotte against the hapless Bears instead of the aforementioned Donovan McNabb. The gambler in me says start Frerotte but the veteran in me knows to "dance with them's that brung ya'" and will start McNabb. If you are facing what seems now as a tough call think back to what you would have done week 5 and do it. The Golden Rule in fantasy football is "Start Your Studs". Best of luck and may God save us all!
Runningbacks
Matt Forte Performances in Week 12 are the ones that justify huge offseason moves like the upheaval that happened in Chicago's backfield. Forte is a huge asset in the running and passing game and should be in your starting lineup evey week. RB1
Julius Jones SportsOutlaw's grand pubah Mike still thinks the Cowboys should have kept Jones and dished Barber. While you have to give him credit for loyalty Barber is still the better back. Sorry boss. While Jones is not tearing up the league now that he's out from under Barber's shadow and he's coming off an injury he is scheduled to face his old team and I love vengence games. If you were looking for an edge Jones may be worth a look this week. Weak RB2 to Flex.
Pierre Thomas Thomas had another all around good game in place of Reggie Bush. It appears that Bush will be back this weekend and McCallister will face a suspension as early as Thursday. I think Bush's return will help a guy like Thomas who can run between the tackles and hit the edge on passing downs. Look for Thomas to take the heavy hits keeping Bush ready for 5-10 high value plays and for punt return duties. Thomas is a solid RB2.
Michael Turner The knock on Turner has always been he lights up terrible rush defenses and struggles against good ones. Well the Panthers aren't terrible and Turner had one whale of a day against them. Atlanta has the ability to hurt teams in the passing game if a defense decides to take away the run and they are getting better at doing it every week. I'm upgrading Turner from situational RB1 to a guy who must be in your lineup going forward.
Wide Receivers
Terrell Owens Holy crap look who decided to show up! Owens had a monster game helping sooth the fears TO and Romo owners had going into the fantasy football playoffs. While 200 yards and a touchdown won't be an every week occurance expect TO and Romo to both peak at the right time for your playoff run. Take a deep breath and start him weekly.
Andre Johnson AJ has been a quiet stud this year and is leading the NFL in yards and receptions. Point per reception league AJ owners must start him and traditional leagues should also have him in your lineup as a solid WR2 due to his lack of trips to the endzone.
Lance Moore It seems like there are enough passes to go around to every wide receiver in New Orleans. Moore has been lights out this year and has elevated his game in the past few weeks making him now a must start WR2.
Davone Bess SO favorite Greg Camarillo is lost for the season. Pennington's value should take a hit but Bess is more than capable of stepping into the role Camarillo's injury leaves vacant. Bess has solid hands and better speed than Camarillo. Ginn is nightmarishly quick and will command top coverage leaving the door open for Bess. Bess should be picked up in all leagues. Weak wr2 to flex.
Tight End
Tony Gonzalez Gonzo is another guy peaking at the right time. He may be old in NFL years but Gonzalez is playing some great ball right now. Start your studs!!!!!
Defenses
Baltimore The Ravens are cooking up an old recipe: Brutal defense with an eye on take aways and ball control offense looking at not turning the ball over. They are racking up sacks and picking the ball off at a frantic pace. Start em' in you got em'!
Fallin'
Quarterbacks
Jay Cutler Something is very wrong with Cutler and the Broncos in general this year. He's getting worse and not better. After this many craptastic performances I'm having a hard time staying optimistic. More than likely you drafted him to be your #1 and you should keep him there unless you took a flier on Kurt Warner. QB1 but shaky as a crackhead's hand after a weekend bender.
Ben Roethlisberger I am a true Steeler fan. I suffered under Kordell Stuart and remained a loyal Terrible Towel waiving Steeler Fan. So I feel I have the giblets to be able to say that the Steelers are an overrated Division leader. The reason why I feel this way is Ben. Ben hasn't been very good this season and the defense is carrying this squad. His fantasy football production has been eclipsed by the likes of Tyler Thigpen. Nuff' said. Bench if you have better options.
Derek Anderson In case you didn't hear your wife's new favorite quarterback Brady Quinn is on the shelf for the season and DA is back in the saddle. Work the waiver wire to pick up DA but keep him benched.
Runningbacks
Maurice Morris He had a good game in relief of Jones and would be the first guy you'll go for on the waiver wire if you didn't read Ballin' or Fallin' and just checked stats. Let that other guy pull the trigger on Morris and focus your ww pick elsewhere. Jones is set to start in a grudge match and you can bet your behind he won't leave the field unless he loses a limb. And even then he'd likely pull a Monty Python's Dark Knight routine and want to play on stumps:
Keep MoMo benched and leave him on the ww.
Brian Westbrook Westy is a walking MASH unit. He's trying to fight through multiple injuries. Those injuries are holding him back and McNabb's situation will only continue to keep him down. You should continue to start Westy but keep you expectations minimal.
Fast Willie Parker When healthy Willie is pretty amazing. The problem is you can't sneeze around Willie without him tweaking a knee. Don't trust your playoffs to Willie unless you know for sure he's healthy which this week he is not. Bench.
Wide Receivers
Marvin Harrison His 7.3 yards per reception is less than some runningback's rushing average. He's not worthe keeping in your starting lineup. Bench him in favor of multiple options.
Justin Gage Gage's production has been inflated due to defenses allowing Kerry Collins to pass. The run game will become the centerpiece of teh Titan's offense again and Gage will not be producing as he did when the Titans were tearing up the league through the run game. He's a flex option at best.
If youve read this far youre looking for all the pieces of information and perspective that will push you over the top in your league. This article is only part of that total picture here at SO. To get the rest of the story you must check out Jeremy Millers Waiver Wire picks. If you see a familiar name from this blog that is your cue to head straight to your league waiver wire.
If there is someone we missed tell us about it in the comments section below.
Like the stock market the fantasy football value market will fluctuate so make sure you are in the know by subscribing to this blog. Thanks for stopping by and I'll see you in the forums!
Scott Henkel
"The Ram"
Simple concept: If a player is Ballin' his stock is on the rise. If a player is Fallin', he's not living up to the hype.
We'll take a weekly look at the players that matter in the realm of fantasy football.
Ballin'
Quarterbacks
Donovan McNabb That's right. Donovan McNabb is Ballin' this week after being benched by half time this past weekend. Yes, he was putrid as hot garbage. Yes, he has been putrid as hot garbage for about 3 weeks. Pundits are now calling this the last year Donovan suits up for Philly which I agree is what will happen after another forgetable season. But unlike most of the other Eagles Donovan has something to play for this year. Cash. He's likely going to be traded and if nothing else McNabb is a savvy businessman. I say he puts on a show in order to sign an Al Davis Alsheimers Moment Multi-million dollar contract. The Cards are ferocious but I feel McNabb starts his try-outs on Thanksgiving and keeps pace with the freakish Cardinal passing game. McNabb is Ballin' as a must start QB1.
Kurt Warner Captain Obvious is telling you to start Warner all day every day. But I wanted to comment on what he's doing this year and how impressive the feat is for him and the Cards. It wasn't all that long ago that both Warner and the Cards were NFL punchlines. It seems both have risen and turned the joke around to the tune of Warner threatening to break the unbreakable passing record of Dan Marino. And this from a guy who fell like a meteor from NFL MVP to backup to rookies on two different teams. Brees is amazing but if a vote for NFL MVP must be cast for a qb Warner is the man most deserving of the honor.
Matt Cassel I don't know how Cassel is going to go back to being a backup next season. He's gotten better every week and this past weekend he again ripped up a defense for huge gains. Next season Brady will be healthy and Cassel will be handed a clipboard knowing he has thrown for over 400 yards multiple times. But for now he's a guy who is a must start during your playoff run. QB1
Start your studs For some reason the playoffs are the time of season we all drink from the fire hose of stupidity and take risks. Now is not the time. I am a very good example of an owner on the brink of out thinking myself. I have the option of starting Gus Frerotte against the hapless Bears instead of the aforementioned Donovan McNabb. The gambler in me says start Frerotte but the veteran in me knows to "dance with them's that brung ya'" and will start McNabb. If you are facing what seems now as a tough call think back to what you would have done week 5 and do it. The Golden Rule in fantasy football is "Start Your Studs". Best of luck and may God save us all!
Runningbacks
Matt Forte Performances in Week 12 are the ones that justify huge offseason moves like the upheaval that happened in Chicago's backfield. Forte is a huge asset in the running and passing game and should be in your starting lineup evey week. RB1
Julius Jones SportsOutlaw's grand pubah Mike still thinks the Cowboys should have kept Jones and dished Barber. While you have to give him credit for loyalty Barber is still the better back. Sorry boss. While Jones is not tearing up the league now that he's out from under Barber's shadow and he's coming off an injury he is scheduled to face his old team and I love vengence games. If you were looking for an edge Jones may be worth a look this week. Weak RB2 to Flex.
Pierre Thomas Thomas had another all around good game in place of Reggie Bush. It appears that Bush will be back this weekend and McCallister will face a suspension as early as Thursday. I think Bush's return will help a guy like Thomas who can run between the tackles and hit the edge on passing downs. Look for Thomas to take the heavy hits keeping Bush ready for 5-10 high value plays and for punt return duties. Thomas is a solid RB2.
Michael Turner The knock on Turner has always been he lights up terrible rush defenses and struggles against good ones. Well the Panthers aren't terrible and Turner had one whale of a day against them. Atlanta has the ability to hurt teams in the passing game if a defense decides to take away the run and they are getting better at doing it every week. I'm upgrading Turner from situational RB1 to a guy who must be in your lineup going forward.
Wide Receivers
Terrell Owens Holy crap look who decided to show up! Owens had a monster game helping sooth the fears TO and Romo owners had going into the fantasy football playoffs. While 200 yards and a touchdown won't be an every week occurance expect TO and Romo to both peak at the right time for your playoff run. Take a deep breath and start him weekly.
Andre Johnson AJ has been a quiet stud this year and is leading the NFL in yards and receptions. Point per reception league AJ owners must start him and traditional leagues should also have him in your lineup as a solid WR2 due to his lack of trips to the endzone.
Lance Moore It seems like there are enough passes to go around to every wide receiver in New Orleans. Moore has been lights out this year and has elevated his game in the past few weeks making him now a must start WR2.
Davone Bess SO favorite Greg Camarillo is lost for the season. Pennington's value should take a hit but Bess is more than capable of stepping into the role Camarillo's injury leaves vacant. Bess has solid hands and better speed than Camarillo. Ginn is nightmarishly quick and will command top coverage leaving the door open for Bess. Bess should be picked up in all leagues. Weak wr2 to flex.
Tight End
Tony Gonzalez Gonzo is another guy peaking at the right time. He may be old in NFL years but Gonzalez is playing some great ball right now. Start your studs!!!!!
Defenses
Baltimore The Ravens are cooking up an old recipe: Brutal defense with an eye on take aways and ball control offense looking at not turning the ball over. They are racking up sacks and picking the ball off at a frantic pace. Start em' in you got em'!
Fallin'
Quarterbacks
Jay Cutler Something is very wrong with Cutler and the Broncos in general this year. He's getting worse and not better. After this many craptastic performances I'm having a hard time staying optimistic. More than likely you drafted him to be your #1 and you should keep him there unless you took a flier on Kurt Warner. QB1 but shaky as a crackhead's hand after a weekend bender.
Ben Roethlisberger I am a true Steeler fan. I suffered under Kordell Stuart and remained a loyal Terrible Towel waiving Steeler Fan. So I feel I have the giblets to be able to say that the Steelers are an overrated Division leader. The reason why I feel this way is Ben. Ben hasn't been very good this season and the defense is carrying this squad. His fantasy football production has been eclipsed by the likes of Tyler Thigpen. Nuff' said. Bench if you have better options.
Derek Anderson In case you didn't hear your wife's new favorite quarterback Brady Quinn is on the shelf for the season and DA is back in the saddle. Work the waiver wire to pick up DA but keep him benched.
Runningbacks
Maurice Morris He had a good game in relief of Jones and would be the first guy you'll go for on the waiver wire if you didn't read Ballin' or Fallin' and just checked stats. Let that other guy pull the trigger on Morris and focus your ww pick elsewhere. Jones is set to start in a grudge match and you can bet your behind he won't leave the field unless he loses a limb. And even then he'd likely pull a Monty Python's Dark Knight routine and want to play on stumps:
Keep MoMo benched and leave him on the ww.
Brian Westbrook Westy is a walking MASH unit. He's trying to fight through multiple injuries. Those injuries are holding him back and McNabb's situation will only continue to keep him down. You should continue to start Westy but keep you expectations minimal.
Fast Willie Parker When healthy Willie is pretty amazing. The problem is you can't sneeze around Willie without him tweaking a knee. Don't trust your playoffs to Willie unless you know for sure he's healthy which this week he is not. Bench.
Wide Receivers
Marvin Harrison His 7.3 yards per reception is less than some runningback's rushing average. He's not worthe keeping in your starting lineup. Bench him in favor of multiple options.
Justin Gage Gage's production has been inflated due to defenses allowing Kerry Collins to pass. The run game will become the centerpiece of teh Titan's offense again and Gage will not be producing as he did when the Titans were tearing up the league through the run game. He's a flex option at best.
If youve read this far youre looking for all the pieces of information and perspective that will push you over the top in your league. This article is only part of that total picture here at SO. To get the rest of the story you must check out Jeremy Millers Waiver Wire picks. If you see a familiar name from this blog that is your cue to head straight to your league waiver wire.
If there is someone we missed tell us about it in the comments section below.
Like the stock market the fantasy football value market will fluctuate so make sure you are in the know by subscribing to this blog. Thanks for stopping by and I'll see you in the forums!
Scott Henkel
"The Ram"
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