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 3
Welcome to Sports Outlaw's Fantasy Football stock exchange known as Ballin' or Fallin'.
Simple concept: If a player is Ballin' he's making defenders cry and is someone whose 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
Kurt Warner – The old man was lights out throwing for well over 300 yards and 3 tds. Warner is erratic but he is on the rising part of the bell curve so owners should ride the hot hand.
Jay Cutler– Cutler again dissected a top ranked defense even if he had a keystone cops episode at the goal line. He’s clearly now a QB1 in all scoring formats.
Phillip Rivers – Don’t expect this kind of performance every week but he looks like he’s turning the corner. Solid QB2 with QB1 potential.
Aaron Rodgers – Yes it was the Lions but this is two straight weeks of excellent performances. Another solid QB2 with QB1 potential.
Trent Edwards – Not eye-popping but a solid game against a stout Jags defense has his stock on the rise. Solid bye week QB2.
Runningbacks
Darren McFadden – Stepped into the starting role after injury and ran wild with a horrible passing game. If he does it again next week put him in with your starters weekly. Solid RB2 with RB1 upside.
Jonathan Stewart – The rookie is playing himself into a lock starting role with a solid effort against a very good Bears defense. Solid RB2.
Michael Bush – Two Raider backs to watch here with Fargas’ injury. Bush showed some of the stuff that made him one of the nation’s elite collegiate runningbacks prior to injury. Flex RB or matchup RB2 with upside.
Darren Sproles – I marvel at how a guy 5’3 can be so effective at the professional level. LT’s toe is sketchy regardless of what he’s telling us. Flex or RB3 with RB2 potential due to injury.
Chris Johnson – It looks like he’s the guy the Titans were looking for in a feature back. Solid RB2 and border RB1
Wide Receivers
Brandon Marshall – When Cutler plays like that there will be few if any corners able to cover him. Elite WR1.
Anquan Boldin – He’s trying to play his way into a new contract which is only helping owners. Solid WR1
Calvin Johnson – Megatron shows again why he’s projected to be an elite wide receiver this season. Solid WR1 with Elite upside.
Anthony Gonzalez – With injuries to two TE’s the extra looks went his way. He’s showing some upside and is a solid WR3 with WR2 potential and border WR1 in ppr.
Wes Welker – As expected Welker will benefit more than any other Pats wr with Cassell running the show. He’s again a solid WR2 with WR1 upside in ppr leagues.
Chris Chambers – Three scores in two games cure the concerns that have surrounded him in his career. Solid WR2 with WR1 upside
Dwayne Bowe – He’s the Chiefs entire offense so his production is indicative of what he’ll do in the future if some talent ever shows up in KC. Solid WR3 with WR2 upside.
Tight End
Tony Sheffler – He’s shocking defenses with his vertical game and is playing up to his billing. Solid start at TE1
Kellen Winslow – He’s about the only Brown worth starting right now and is going to be a key to the offense if it wants to get going. Solid TE1
From #1bears fan : John Carlson
Carlson is getting abundant opportunities and is making the best of it. He's now a TE2 with TE1 upside.
Defenses
Arizona – Not the sexy pick during most drafts but the Cards have had two weeks to sharpen their claws against two bad teams. With the bi-polar Redskins coming up they might be a worthy start.
Buffalo – This defense is for real and if you get points for special teams this is a rising team worthy of situational starts.
Titans – Brought the house against the falling Bengals and showing why they are a weekly start.
Fallin'
Quarterbacks
Carson Palmer – The only thing blowing harder than the wind in Cinci on Sunday is the Bengal offense.
Vince Young – In bizzaro land, the past two weeks make sense. Take what is happening around him with a grain of salt but take Young out of your team’s plans, too
Derek Anderson – The entire Brown offense looks out of synch. Unless he picks it up the call for Quinn will become louder not just from the Brown’s female population but from the Dog Pound.
Tavaris Jackson – Excuses are getting worn out for his poor play. He’s not worth starting now or for the foreseeable future.
David Garrard – His claim to fame last year was his robotically low td-int ratio. That strength is his weakness so far this season and he’s a shaky bye week fill in at this point.
Runningbacks
Justin Fargas - He needed to stay healthy and productive all season to slow the tide towards McFadden. His injury all but counts him out of the Raiders’ rushing attack going forward. He’s not going to be worth a start in any scoring format.
Stephen Jackson – He was taken in the first 3 picks of most drafts this year and is just not getting it together. He’s at best a RB2 until the Ram offense starts to click.
Fred Taylor/Maurice Jones-Drew – The Jags’ loss on o-line is affecting these two starters heavily. Neither should be considered a RB1 and are situational plays at RB2 or Flex.
Selvin Young – He’s putting together decent yardage games but is never in for goal line or short yardage. Adjust his ranking to RB2 or situational RB1 at best.
Wide Receivers:
Roddy White – It isn’t a shock that his production is slipping with a rookie at QB. He’s no better than a flex or low end WR2.
Joey Galloway – Another down week and another injury to a guy some had hopes for this season. No better than a flex or situational WR2 start.
Roy Williams – Still a valuable WR2 but no longer the primary target for Detroit. Adjust accordingly.
Braylon Edwards – Adjust him to a WR2 until the Browns passing attack unhitches the wagon.
T.J. Houshmandzadeh – TJ is suffering along with every Bengal on offense. This once potent 1 – 2 punch of Ocho and TJ are little more than WR3 or situational starts unless something drastic changes.
Tight End
Alge Crumpler - Crumpler should be dropped in all formats.
Antonio Gates - Blasphemy you say? Despite his production injuries are lingering which puts him in a “watch weekly” mode instead of a must start. Still a TE1.
Defenses
Oakland – The Raiders were once a fantasy football darling able to shut down opposing passing attacks. They are being exploited weekly. Look elsewhere for DEF production
Denver – The Chargers figured something out during their halftime huddle and torched the Bronco secondary. Don’t count on Champ being a shutdown corner for much longer.
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' he's making defenders cry and is someone whose 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
Kurt Warner – The old man was lights out throwing for well over 300 yards and 3 tds. Warner is erratic but he is on the rising part of the bell curve so owners should ride the hot hand.
Jay Cutler– Cutler again dissected a top ranked defense even if he had a keystone cops episode at the goal line. He’s clearly now a QB1 in all scoring formats.
Phillip Rivers – Don’t expect this kind of performance every week but he looks like he’s turning the corner. Solid QB2 with QB1 potential.
Aaron Rodgers – Yes it was the Lions but this is two straight weeks of excellent performances. Another solid QB2 with QB1 potential.
Trent Edwards – Not eye-popping but a solid game against a stout Jags defense has his stock on the rise. Solid bye week QB2.
Runningbacks
Darren McFadden – Stepped into the starting role after injury and ran wild with a horrible passing game. If he does it again next week put him in with your starters weekly. Solid RB2 with RB1 upside.
Jonathan Stewart – The rookie is playing himself into a lock starting role with a solid effort against a very good Bears defense. Solid RB2.
Michael Bush – Two Raider backs to watch here with Fargas’ injury. Bush showed some of the stuff that made him one of the nation’s elite collegiate runningbacks prior to injury. Flex RB or matchup RB2 with upside.
Darren Sproles – I marvel at how a guy 5’3 can be so effective at the professional level. LT’s toe is sketchy regardless of what he’s telling us. Flex or RB3 with RB2 potential due to injury.
Chris Johnson – It looks like he’s the guy the Titans were looking for in a feature back. Solid RB2 and border RB1
Wide Receivers
Brandon Marshall – When Cutler plays like that there will be few if any corners able to cover him. Elite WR1.
Anquan Boldin – He’s trying to play his way into a new contract which is only helping owners. Solid WR1
Calvin Johnson – Megatron shows again why he’s projected to be an elite wide receiver this season. Solid WR1 with Elite upside.
Anthony Gonzalez – With injuries to two TE’s the extra looks went his way. He’s showing some upside and is a solid WR3 with WR2 potential and border WR1 in ppr.
Wes Welker – As expected Welker will benefit more than any other Pats wr with Cassell running the show. He’s again a solid WR2 with WR1 upside in ppr leagues.
Chris Chambers – Three scores in two games cure the concerns that have surrounded him in his career. Solid WR2 with WR1 upside
Dwayne Bowe – He’s the Chiefs entire offense so his production is indicative of what he’ll do in the future if some talent ever shows up in KC. Solid WR3 with WR2 upside.
Tight End
Tony Sheffler – He’s shocking defenses with his vertical game and is playing up to his billing. Solid start at TE1
Kellen Winslow – He’s about the only Brown worth starting right now and is going to be a key to the offense if it wants to get going. Solid TE1
From #1bears fan : John Carlson
Carlson is getting abundant opportunities and is making the best of it. He's now a TE2 with TE1 upside.
Defenses
Arizona – Not the sexy pick during most drafts but the Cards have had two weeks to sharpen their claws against two bad teams. With the bi-polar Redskins coming up they might be a worthy start.
Buffalo – This defense is for real and if you get points for special teams this is a rising team worthy of situational starts.
Titans – Brought the house against the falling Bengals and showing why they are a weekly start.
Fallin'
Quarterbacks
Carson Palmer – The only thing blowing harder than the wind in Cinci on Sunday is the Bengal offense.
Vince Young – In bizzaro land, the past two weeks make sense. Take what is happening around him with a grain of salt but take Young out of your team’s plans, too
Derek Anderson – The entire Brown offense looks out of synch. Unless he picks it up the call for Quinn will become louder not just from the Brown’s female population but from the Dog Pound.
Tavaris Jackson – Excuses are getting worn out for his poor play. He’s not worth starting now or for the foreseeable future.
David Garrard – His claim to fame last year was his robotically low td-int ratio. That strength is his weakness so far this season and he’s a shaky bye week fill in at this point.
Runningbacks
Justin Fargas - He needed to stay healthy and productive all season to slow the tide towards McFadden. His injury all but counts him out of the Raiders’ rushing attack going forward. He’s not going to be worth a start in any scoring format.
Stephen Jackson – He was taken in the first 3 picks of most drafts this year and is just not getting it together. He’s at best a RB2 until the Ram offense starts to click.
Fred Taylor/Maurice Jones-Drew – The Jags’ loss on o-line is affecting these two starters heavily. Neither should be considered a RB1 and are situational plays at RB2 or Flex.
Selvin Young – He’s putting together decent yardage games but is never in for goal line or short yardage. Adjust his ranking to RB2 or situational RB1 at best.
Wide Receivers:
Roddy White – It isn’t a shock that his production is slipping with a rookie at QB. He’s no better than a flex or low end WR2.
Joey Galloway – Another down week and another injury to a guy some had hopes for this season. No better than a flex or situational WR2 start.
Roy Williams – Still a valuable WR2 but no longer the primary target for Detroit. Adjust accordingly.
Braylon Edwards – Adjust him to a WR2 until the Browns passing attack unhitches the wagon.
T.J. Houshmandzadeh – TJ is suffering along with every Bengal on offense. This once potent 1 – 2 punch of Ocho and TJ are little more than WR3 or situational starts unless something drastic changes.
Tight End
Alge Crumpler - Crumpler should be dropped in all formats.
Antonio Gates - Blasphemy you say? Despite his production injuries are lingering which puts him in a “watch weekly” mode instead of a must start. Still a TE1.
Defenses
Oakland – The Raiders were once a fantasy football darling able to shut down opposing passing attacks. They are being exploited weekly. Look elsewhere for DEF production
Denver – The Chargers figured something out during their halftime huddle and torched the Bronco secondary. Don’t count on Champ being a shutdown corner for much longer.
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"
Total Comments 7
Comments
-
How about TE Carlson from Seattle this kids got the goodsPosted 09-16-2008 at 09:12 AM by #1bears fan
-
Good call bears fan!Posted 09-16-2008 at 09:40 AM by The Ram 
- Shame on all those who were considering giving up on Scheffler this year!Posted 09-16-2008 at 12:06 PM by Mike
-
The Ram is Ballin'!Posted 09-16-2008 at 09:10 PM by Mustang Jones - And you know this.......MAN!!!
Posted 09-17-2008 at 12:04 PM by The Ram -
What about Ahmad Bradshaw? Looks like he could be just as productive as Brandon Jacobs this year.
Also, Larry Johnson for fallin'. His YPC is miserable, and he's starting to complain.Posted 09-18-2008 at 01:12 AM by fantasyfool - Two good points. Bradshaw is nothing more than cannon fodder until proven otherwise. LJ was listed last week as being a falling candidate and proved so this week.
Both are worthless in any scoring format in the foreseeable future.Posted 09-18-2008 at 10:43 PM by The Ram
