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 6
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:
Carson Palmer – I say on behalf of Palmer owners worldwide: It’s about friggin’ time. Palmer started to gel towards the end of the game and with Henry off probat…I mean league imposed suspension for conduct policy infractions Palmer might be getting things sorted out on offense. Situational starter due to his past production and QB2.
Kyle Orton– No I’m not penciling in every quarterback that plays the Lions. I wish it was that easy. Orton has produced against decent teams like the Bucs and now shows what he can do to terrible teams. That makes him more than a situational starter and while I don’t believe I’m typing this a QB1 in most scoring formats.
Ben Roethlisberger – In the interest of full disclosure I am a Steeler fan and for proof was able to spell Ben’s last name without looking it up. He put up 300 yards on the Jags despite reportedly not being able to throw more than 5 yards on Friday. Solid QB1 and possibly tougher than Chuck Norris.
Aaron Rodgers – Rodgers is showing the grit required to play quarterback in Green Bay and the arm that is producing well against terrible teams. He has weapons at his disposal and a command of the offense making him a valuable QB1 even if owners need to stay glued to the news forum to make sure he’s playing.
Kurt Warner – The Bills are for real and Warner led the Cards to a win in another solid performance without Anquan Boldin. News reports are stating he considered retiring after seeing Boldin go down so keep a watchful eye on his mental state going forward but owners must ride the hot hand and keep him starting. Very good QB1
Runningbacks:
Clinton Portis – He racked up huge numbers against a game Eagles defense and has a vastly improving passing game that will no doubt continue to open up running lanes to prevent the deep pass. 29 carries is a ton even for a guy who seems to average 20 totes a game. Workloads like that threaten increased injury but he’s rounding into a guy who should be in your lineup even if he is prone to the 20 carry 60 yard game from time to time. RB2 with RB1 upside
Ronnie Brown – The Dolphins continue to use the direct snap and may back off the frequency but won’t abandon it until it doesn’t work. Brown showed conventional running prowess and continues to work towards regaining his elite form from a year ago. Solid RB1
Felix Jones –The rookie phenom is consistently showing the big play ability that made him a coveted draft selection for the Cowboys and may help expand his compatriot’s game through his dramatic rushing and receiving abilities. Both he and Barber are worthy of staying in your lineup weekly with Barber a no-brainer RB1 and Jones a RB2 with RB1 upside in leagues that give points for return yards.
Michael Pittman – He’s the best back Denver has right now. He might be the best back they have even when Torrain returns. Through the weeks he’s slowly added to his workload while taking from Young. He’s already locked up short yardage and 3rd down and will likely see his work grow in other aspects so his value is up to RB2.
Wide Receivers:
Mike Walker – Walker showed the ability to get open all night for Garrard. On a roster that is slim on healthy and talented starting wr’s he might be a nice gamble pending a ruling on the health of his knee. He’s had issues in the recent past and it was reported Monday by Coach Del Rio that he again had knee issues after the Steeler game. Monitor closely but worth a flier off the waiver wire. His value goes from waiver wire to situational WR3.
Hines Ward – He’s still the best all around receiver on the Steeler roster and is producing well for owners. Ben’s health is again in question but Ward is a solid play as a WR2.
Wes Welker – He’s again tearing it up for owners in point per reception leagues. His production was thought to stay consistent with a new quarterback and that is starting to look like a reality. WR2 and WR1 in ppr leagues.
Greg Camarillo – Like Walker if he’s on your waiver wire you need to see if you can pick him up. He’s becoming Pennington’s favorite wide out in Miami and is producing on a relatively consistent basis. Borderline WR3 with upside.
Reggie Brown – This is week 2 for Brown’s solid production in a muddled Eagle receiving group. His production may decline when Curtis returns however McNabb’s production might increase also which will carry Brown up a bit in looks. He’s been up and down throughout his career but is worth a look as a WR3 with WR2 upside.
Tight End:
Greg Olsen – He’s starting to make some noise in an emerging Bear passing attack. He’s a guy to target for a potential fill in for te required leagues and may play himself into a legit TE1
Chris Cooley – Cooley has always been a reliable and versatile TE and has produced well as a TE1 in the past. The Redskin offense is catching form recently making Cooley a solid play at TE1
Defenses:
New York Giants – The Giants are quietly (outside the East coast biased media anyway) standing at 3rd in total defense. While not scoring defensive touchdowns at the same pace as teams like the Titans they’ve recorded 15 sacks and don’t give up many points making them a decent defense.
San Francisco – Surprised? They are in the same category as the Jets. They may give up points but they also record sacks (13) and pick off passes (7). This is a young defense that seems to be getting better making them a team to stash away in your grey matter during a playoff run.
Fallin'
Quarterbacks:
Tampa – This situation has all the ingredients of a world class mess. Griese has never been able to play in a big pressure game. That was the reason the Broncos dumped him and why he didn’t make it back in the game against his old team. Gruden doesn’t want Garcia to succeed and will likely hand the reigns back over to Griese if at all possible. Both are ones to stay away from until the dust settles.
Peyton Manning – All signs pointed to a stellar performance for Manning. But he couldn’t seem to put the Texans away and produced modest numbers. Not time to hit the panic button but he’s not showing the elite scoring we’re used to from him.
Tony Romo – Was Jessica in the stands? He is another elite guy who went against a burnworthy defense with all the weapons a quarterback could desire and failed to light it up. Still good but not what would be envisioned from Romo.
Phillip Rivers – LT’s turf toe does not bode well for Rivers. If LT isn’t able to go and a defense knows it going into a game you should see Rivers’ production decrease with an injured Gates and Chambers. The Chargers are deep but not that deep. Downgrade to a QB2 until Gates and Chambers or LT are healthy.
Runningbacks:
Ernest Graham – Denver has let some guys rip them apart on the ground. Graham was led by a guy so old he’s still rocking the Run DMC vintage gold necklace (Warrick Dunn). Not a stellar endorsement and while the quarterback turmoil continues you should see more luke-warm performances like the one he put up against Denver.
Detroit – Rudi and Kevin Smith are both whining about their touches but neither is doing much with the chances they are afforded. The offense is scrapping the no huddle approach and the Lions appear without an offensive identity. I think with Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson the Lions will soon find that identity and it will require the runningback to pass block. Neither is a good start at this point.
Edgerrin James – He’s a shadow of his former self and is now being replaced at the goal line by a very capable rookie in a pass first offense. Downgrade Edge to a situational RB2 or flex play.
Ricky Williams – Ricky’s touches will not increase as Ronnie Brown continues to play himself back into shape. He’s a fine replacement to spell Brown but not a good start for fantasy football. Not a starter unless injury again derails Brown’s season.
Wide Receivers:
Marvin Harrison – Most thought he would get his form back and be a serviceable WR2 but has yet to show any signs of making a statistical comeback. Weak WR3 or flex play.
Amani Toomer – Plaxico is back from suspension and Domenik Hickson had an amazing game while he played. Strahan before the game called Hickson more than once “a superstar.” If healthy Toomer, not Hickson will be the odd man out and will be pushed to the side. Not a starter in most scoring formats.
Lee Evans – The numbers don’t lie; 2 catches for 100 yards. Don’t fall into the trap as he won’t always get those big plays. He’s a situational WR2 at best.
Brandon Marshall – I’m as puzzled as the rest of the fantasy football world. This seemingly unstoppable force was silenced in favor of multiple underneath routes by Brandon Stokely. These kinds of let downs are expected at the wr position but not to guys like Marshall. It is possible the Bucs figured out a gameplan to slow down Marshall. Monitor closely but don’t dare take him out of your lineup.
Tight End:
Marcedes Lewis – I’m doing this as a public service announcement. One catch and it became a touchdown. Don’t pick this guy up!!! He may never see the endzone again this season and may not see 20 catches. Again, stay away like you would three day old Chinese.
Defenses:
Dallas – They make it on the list for the second week for letting the Bengals think they were good for a hot minute. More telling was only sacking Palmer twice. Palmer has been a punching bag all season and with all the pass rushing the Cowboys paid for he should have been throwing from his back. Not a good starting defense any longer.
Buffalo – I’m not willing to state the Bills aren’t for real because the Cards came in and cleaned house. But the Bills failed to register a sack…..against Kurt Warner…..the statue….the obelisk…..not good. Still worthy of starting but watch out for unfavorable matchups.
If you’ve read this far you’re 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 Miller’s 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:
Carson Palmer – I say on behalf of Palmer owners worldwide: It’s about friggin’ time. Palmer started to gel towards the end of the game and with Henry off probat…I mean league imposed suspension for conduct policy infractions Palmer might be getting things sorted out on offense. Situational starter due to his past production and QB2.
Kyle Orton– No I’m not penciling in every quarterback that plays the Lions. I wish it was that easy. Orton has produced against decent teams like the Bucs and now shows what he can do to terrible teams. That makes him more than a situational starter and while I don’t believe I’m typing this a QB1 in most scoring formats.
Ben Roethlisberger – In the interest of full disclosure I am a Steeler fan and for proof was able to spell Ben’s last name without looking it up. He put up 300 yards on the Jags despite reportedly not being able to throw more than 5 yards on Friday. Solid QB1 and possibly tougher than Chuck Norris.
Aaron Rodgers – Rodgers is showing the grit required to play quarterback in Green Bay and the arm that is producing well against terrible teams. He has weapons at his disposal and a command of the offense making him a valuable QB1 even if owners need to stay glued to the news forum to make sure he’s playing.
Kurt Warner – The Bills are for real and Warner led the Cards to a win in another solid performance without Anquan Boldin. News reports are stating he considered retiring after seeing Boldin go down so keep a watchful eye on his mental state going forward but owners must ride the hot hand and keep him starting. Very good QB1
Runningbacks:
Clinton Portis – He racked up huge numbers against a game Eagles defense and has a vastly improving passing game that will no doubt continue to open up running lanes to prevent the deep pass. 29 carries is a ton even for a guy who seems to average 20 totes a game. Workloads like that threaten increased injury but he’s rounding into a guy who should be in your lineup even if he is prone to the 20 carry 60 yard game from time to time. RB2 with RB1 upside
Ronnie Brown – The Dolphins continue to use the direct snap and may back off the frequency but won’t abandon it until it doesn’t work. Brown showed conventional running prowess and continues to work towards regaining his elite form from a year ago. Solid RB1
Felix Jones –The rookie phenom is consistently showing the big play ability that made him a coveted draft selection for the Cowboys and may help expand his compatriot’s game through his dramatic rushing and receiving abilities. Both he and Barber are worthy of staying in your lineup weekly with Barber a no-brainer RB1 and Jones a RB2 with RB1 upside in leagues that give points for return yards.
Michael Pittman – He’s the best back Denver has right now. He might be the best back they have even when Torrain returns. Through the weeks he’s slowly added to his workload while taking from Young. He’s already locked up short yardage and 3rd down and will likely see his work grow in other aspects so his value is up to RB2.
Wide Receivers:
Mike Walker – Walker showed the ability to get open all night for Garrard. On a roster that is slim on healthy and talented starting wr’s he might be a nice gamble pending a ruling on the health of his knee. He’s had issues in the recent past and it was reported Monday by Coach Del Rio that he again had knee issues after the Steeler game. Monitor closely but worth a flier off the waiver wire. His value goes from waiver wire to situational WR3.
Hines Ward – He’s still the best all around receiver on the Steeler roster and is producing well for owners. Ben’s health is again in question but Ward is a solid play as a WR2.
Wes Welker – He’s again tearing it up for owners in point per reception leagues. His production was thought to stay consistent with a new quarterback and that is starting to look like a reality. WR2 and WR1 in ppr leagues.
Greg Camarillo – Like Walker if he’s on your waiver wire you need to see if you can pick him up. He’s becoming Pennington’s favorite wide out in Miami and is producing on a relatively consistent basis. Borderline WR3 with upside.
Reggie Brown – This is week 2 for Brown’s solid production in a muddled Eagle receiving group. His production may decline when Curtis returns however McNabb’s production might increase also which will carry Brown up a bit in looks. He’s been up and down throughout his career but is worth a look as a WR3 with WR2 upside.
Tight End:
Greg Olsen – He’s starting to make some noise in an emerging Bear passing attack. He’s a guy to target for a potential fill in for te required leagues and may play himself into a legit TE1
Chris Cooley – Cooley has always been a reliable and versatile TE and has produced well as a TE1 in the past. The Redskin offense is catching form recently making Cooley a solid play at TE1
Defenses:
New York Giants – The Giants are quietly (outside the East coast biased media anyway) standing at 3rd in total defense. While not scoring defensive touchdowns at the same pace as teams like the Titans they’ve recorded 15 sacks and don’t give up many points making them a decent defense.
San Francisco – Surprised? They are in the same category as the Jets. They may give up points but they also record sacks (13) and pick off passes (7). This is a young defense that seems to be getting better making them a team to stash away in your grey matter during a playoff run.
Fallin'
Quarterbacks:
Tampa – This situation has all the ingredients of a world class mess. Griese has never been able to play in a big pressure game. That was the reason the Broncos dumped him and why he didn’t make it back in the game against his old team. Gruden doesn’t want Garcia to succeed and will likely hand the reigns back over to Griese if at all possible. Both are ones to stay away from until the dust settles.
Peyton Manning – All signs pointed to a stellar performance for Manning. But he couldn’t seem to put the Texans away and produced modest numbers. Not time to hit the panic button but he’s not showing the elite scoring we’re used to from him.
Tony Romo – Was Jessica in the stands? He is another elite guy who went against a burnworthy defense with all the weapons a quarterback could desire and failed to light it up. Still good but not what would be envisioned from Romo.
Phillip Rivers – LT’s turf toe does not bode well for Rivers. If LT isn’t able to go and a defense knows it going into a game you should see Rivers’ production decrease with an injured Gates and Chambers. The Chargers are deep but not that deep. Downgrade to a QB2 until Gates and Chambers or LT are healthy.
Runningbacks:
Ernest Graham – Denver has let some guys rip them apart on the ground. Graham was led by a guy so old he’s still rocking the Run DMC vintage gold necklace (Warrick Dunn). Not a stellar endorsement and while the quarterback turmoil continues you should see more luke-warm performances like the one he put up against Denver.
Detroit – Rudi and Kevin Smith are both whining about their touches but neither is doing much with the chances they are afforded. The offense is scrapping the no huddle approach and the Lions appear without an offensive identity. I think with Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson the Lions will soon find that identity and it will require the runningback to pass block. Neither is a good start at this point.
Edgerrin James – He’s a shadow of his former self and is now being replaced at the goal line by a very capable rookie in a pass first offense. Downgrade Edge to a situational RB2 or flex play.
Ricky Williams – Ricky’s touches will not increase as Ronnie Brown continues to play himself back into shape. He’s a fine replacement to spell Brown but not a good start for fantasy football. Not a starter unless injury again derails Brown’s season.
Wide Receivers:
Marvin Harrison – Most thought he would get his form back and be a serviceable WR2 but has yet to show any signs of making a statistical comeback. Weak WR3 or flex play.
Amani Toomer – Plaxico is back from suspension and Domenik Hickson had an amazing game while he played. Strahan before the game called Hickson more than once “a superstar.” If healthy Toomer, not Hickson will be the odd man out and will be pushed to the side. Not a starter in most scoring formats.
Lee Evans – The numbers don’t lie; 2 catches for 100 yards. Don’t fall into the trap as he won’t always get those big plays. He’s a situational WR2 at best.
Brandon Marshall – I’m as puzzled as the rest of the fantasy football world. This seemingly unstoppable force was silenced in favor of multiple underneath routes by Brandon Stokely. These kinds of let downs are expected at the wr position but not to guys like Marshall. It is possible the Bucs figured out a gameplan to slow down Marshall. Monitor closely but don’t dare take him out of your lineup.
Tight End:
Marcedes Lewis – I’m doing this as a public service announcement. One catch and it became a touchdown. Don’t pick this guy up!!! He may never see the endzone again this season and may not see 20 catches. Again, stay away like you would three day old Chinese.
Defenses:
Dallas – They make it on the list for the second week for letting the Bengals think they were good for a hot minute. More telling was only sacking Palmer twice. Palmer has been a punching bag all season and with all the pass rushing the Cowboys paid for he should have been throwing from his back. Not a good starting defense any longer.
Buffalo – I’m not willing to state the Bills aren’t for real because the Cards came in and cleaned house. But the Bills failed to register a sack…..against Kurt Warner…..the statue….the obelisk…..not good. Still worthy of starting but watch out for unfavorable matchups.
If you’ve read this far you’re 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 Miller’s 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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