Darren McFadden, Oakland Raiders, RB
Want a break from the week-to-week grind of the fantasy football season?
Well, if you’re more into instant gratification and want to earn a quick buck (and not wait a full year to claim your prize) then the FP911Challenge.com is just for you.
What you do is fill a roster consisting of 1 QB, 2 RB’s, 3 WR’s, 1 TE, 1 K and 1 TD/ST- all within a budget of 60,000 imaginary dollars while competing against hundreds of other players
The scoring is as follows:
Offense:
Rushing yards made = 0.1pts
Rushing touchdowns = 6pts
Passing yards = 0.04pts
Passing touchdowns = 4pts
Interceptions = -1pt
Receiving yards = 0.1pts
Receiving touchdowns = 6pts
Receptions = 0.5pts
Kick-return touchdowns = 6pts
Punt-return touchdowns = 6pts
Fumbles lost = -2pts
Own fumbles recovered touchdowns = 6pts
Two-point conversions scored = 2pts
Two-point conversion passes = 2pts
Field-goals from 0-19 yards = 3pts
Field-goals from 20-29 yards = 3pts
Field-goals from 30-39 yards = 3pts
Field-goals from 40-49 yards = 4pts
Field-goals from 50+ yards = 5pts
Extra-point conversions = 1pt
Defense:
Sacks = 1pt
Opponent-fumbles recovered = 2pts
Return touchdowns = 6pts
Fumble return touchdowns = 6pts
Safeties = 2pts
Blocked kicks = 2pts
Interceptions = 2pts
0 points allowed = 10pts
1-6 points allowed = 7pts
7-13 points allowed = 4pts
14-20 points allowed = 1pt
28-34 points allowed = -1pt
35+ points allowed = -4pts
What you have to do is a field a lineup plus manage a budget and predict who has the best matchups. You also have to take into consideration what under-the-radar type players(since you can’t solely rely on studs) could lead you to glory. If you do all this well, you can earn some major dollars-and really quick.
That said, here are some options at each position that could be the difference in your matchups this weekend. I’ve designated each skill position (QB, RB, WR and TE) with a player worth the bucks, a player a tad under the radar, and a Hail Mary option. For kickers and defense, I will supply what I see as the best value.
QB:
Worth the bucks: Matt Ryan- Atlanta Falcons
Ryan should have a field day on Sunday as he gets to play at home against a very suspect Raiders’ secondary.
The Raiders allow 283 passing yards a game and have not been able to hold quarterbacks from having big days. The last quarterback the Raiders faced was Peyton Manning, and he lit up the Raiders for 338 yards and three touchdowns.
Expect similar production from Ryan this week.
Under the radar find: Phil Rivers- San Diego Chargers
Although he hasn’t been lighting the world on fire, Rivers has slowly been getting better and he found his groove in New Orleans last week, passing for 354 yards and two touchdowns against the Saints.
Now Rivers will get the comfort of playing home against a Broncos’ squad, who are an average unit against the pass. With Malcom Floyd and Robert Meachem stepping up their games, Rivers has a chance to post a solid stat line on Monday night.
Hail Mary option: Kevin Kolb- Arizona Cardinals
While his offensive line has let him down for the most part, but when Kolb has time to pass he has been steady this season. In his last three games, Kolb has passed for 835 yards and five touchdowns.
Now take into account Kolb’s opponent this week-the Buffalo Bills-and you can see why Kolb may just be able to rack up the points. The Bills’ secondary has been torched of late and are allowing 277.6 passing yards a game this year. In their last two games the Bills have let Tom Brady and Alex Smith to throw for a combined 643 passing yards and six touchdowns.
RB:
Worth the Bucks: Darren McFadden- Oakland Raiders
If the Raiders are to have any chance of pulling off an upset victory over the Atlanta Falcons this weekend, they are going to have to get Darren McFadden involved somehow, someway.
The Falcons are 28th against the run and have allowed running backs to run rampant on them. Even if the Raiders fall behind, McFadden will still catch enough passes to make an impact in this game.
Under the radar find: BenJarvus Green-Ellis- Cincinnati Bengals
Eventually the Bengals are going to have to get the “law firm” involved in the game plan. While Green-Ellis has been s0-so this year, he has a chance to really break out with a juicy matchup against the Browns this week.
The Browns rank 27th against the run (allowing 142.4 yards per game) and just last week Ahmad Bradshaw gashed Cleveland to the tune of 200 yards and a touchdown. With Joe Haden back for the Browns and thus fortifying the passing defense, the Bengals should try to achieve some balance by running the ball more in this affair.
Hail Mary option: Vick Ballard- Indianapolis Colts
With Donald Brown going down and being lost for 2-3 weeks, Vick Ballard will assume the responsibilities of the lead back and he steps into a great situation as he faces off against the beleaguered Jets this week.
The Jets are pathetic against the run this year, placing second to last in the league while allowing 172.4 rushing yards a game.
While Andrew Luck and the passing game is the story in Indianapolis, they could do themselves a favor by feeding Ballard this week.
WR:
Julio Jones (L), Roddy White, Atlanta Falcons, WR
Worth the Bucks: Julio Jones/Roddy White- Atlanta Falcons
Just as Matt Ryan is the preferred quarterback of choice, you can’t go wrong with Jones or White this week.
Having already stated how bad the Raiders are against the pass, it seems logical both Jones and White should get loose for some big plays.
Jones in particular should be an intriguing selection as he is coming off a fine performance in Washington last week, catching 10 passes for 94 yards and a touchdown.
Under the radar find: Michael Crabtree- San Francisco 49ers
Lately wide receivers have been going off against the depleted Giants’ secondary. Last week the Giants even allowed the Browns’ duo of Josh Gordon and Jordan Norwood to combine for 163 yards receiving and two touchdowns.
Crabtree is maturing and developing a solid rapport with Alex Smith, as Smith is heavily targeting the fourth-year wide receiver. While Crabtree isn’t scoring touchdowns at a high rate, realize the Giants have already allowed eight touchdowns through the air thus far.
Hail Mary Option: Mike Williams- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
While Williams is not putting up any eye-popping stats, he has been very steady from Day 1.
With Vincent Jackson drawing attention away from Williams (allowing him single coverage), he has made good on his targets, scoring two touchdowns on the season. Williams is also coming off his first 100-yard receiving game of the season when he racked up 115 yards against the Redskins two weeks ago (the Bucs were on a bye last week).
The Chiefs’, Williams’ Week 6 opponent, are vulnerable to some big pass plays and that makes Williams a great bargain basement pickup.
TE:
Vernon Davis,San Francisco 49ers, TE
Worth the bucks: Vernon Davis- San Francisco 49ers
With Jimmy Graham on a bye and Rob Gronkowski banged up, the premier choice this week is Davis.
Davis has been on a roll of late, having either scored or racked up over 100 yards receiving in four out of his first five games.
As I said before, the Giants secondary is banged up. So, expect Alex Smith and Davis to try and exploit it on Sunday.
Under the radar find: Brent Celek- Philadelphia Eagles
Celek is turning into a trusted target for Michael Vick this year, as he has been targeted 33 times this year and has made good on those targets by hauling in 21 of them.
Celek and the Eagles will be going up against a mediocre Lions’ pass defense this week. The Lions have allowed 63.3 yards receiving against opposing tight ends, while allowing three touchdowns as well.
Hail Mary option: Dwayne Allen- Indianapolis Colts
This is a deep Hail Mary, but Allen could be targeted often on Sunday, as the Jets will roll a lot of their coverage at other Colts’ receiving options like Reggie Wayne and Donnie Avery.
There is a good chance that Allen could get open in the red zone, as Allen has scored in two out of his last three games.
K:
Best value: Kai Forbath- Washington Redskins
I always go for the minimum with kickers and now that Forbath is the kicker for the Redskins this week, I’ll roll with him. Just so you know Forbath is the only kicker at the minimum price this week.
TD/ST:
Best value: Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals are an underrated bunch and with a matchup against the reeling Bills plus being listed at the minimum price, you can do a lot worse.
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Just so you know, I mistook Forbath as the only kicker at the minimum price. There a few others.
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