Holt, Chad & T.O. Are Reborn In Week 9…
November 2, 2008 at 7:58 pm | Article by Paul Hickey |
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| Week 9 wasn’t unlike any other week this year, as unexpected things continued to happen. Just when it looked like a few veteran pass catchers were about to fall off the face of the earth, they were resurrected from the near dead. Several youngsters also continued to prove they could perform under tough conditions.
Rising - Torry Holt, Rams WR - Even though the Rams lost badly at home to the Cardinals, 31 year old WR Torry Holt finally made an impact, and looked good hauling in six passes for 58 yards and a TD in Week 9. The fact that Holt was the team’s leading WR, and the fact that Donnie Avery only had three catches for 26 yards all but squashed the rumors that Holt was beginning to be phased out of the offense.
Rising - Chad Johnson, Bengals WR - Holt wasn’t the only struggling veteran WR who badly needed to get back on the map. 30 year old Chad Johnson hauled in five balls for 37 yards and two TDs. Following the Week 10 bye, Johnson faces the Eagles and Steelers, both opponents that he is capable of putting up large digits against - especially with a reinvigorated Ryan Fitzpatrick - or even Carson Palmer - at the helm.
Rising - Terrell Owens, Cowboys WR - Owens didn’t do anything until the second half, but finished with five catches for 36 yards and a TD - his first score since Week 5 at Cincy. Owens should benefit from getting Tony Romo back in Week 11, as Dallas faces the Redskins, 49ers and Seahawks coming out of their bye.
Rising - Donald Driver, Packers WR - With Greg Jennings bottled up for most of the day by Cortland Finnegan, the 33 year old veteran reminded us all that he is still very, very good, hauling in seven passes for 136 yards and a TD. Driver faces division rival Minnesota next week, and could be a very solid WR3 in all leagues.
Rising - Shaun McDonald, Lions WR - The 27 year old Lions WR, who came off the bench in Week 9, but has clearly filled in for the departed Roy Williams, hauled in six passes for 65 yards and a TD. McDonald now has 11 catches for 133 yards and a score in his last two games and faces the Jags in Week 10. QB Dan Orlovsky is playing very well, making McDonald a very solid WR3 sleeper option in deep leagues.
RIsing - Kevin Smith, Lions RB - The Lions rookie from Central Florida got into the end zone for the third time in his last five games, and continues to find a way to get it done. PPR owners should consider Smith a very solid flex option the rest of the way, and dynasty owners should hang onto him. As the Lions continue to improve, Smith is likely to eventually become their featured back, and see 15-20 carries a game.
Rising - Cedric Benson, Bengals RB - The 25 year old former fourth overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft and apparent bust, Cedric Benson, rushed 24 times for 104 yards and a TD against the Jags in Week 9. Benson heads into a bye, but comes out facing the Eagles and Steelers. Now might be the time to sell high, while it looks like he can produce.
Rising - Matt Jones, Jaguars WR - Not only has the 25 year old 6′6″ former first round pick produced well this season despite his off-season cocaine possession charges, but his franchise has backed him up huge, helping him appeal his league suspension. Jones has caught seven or more balls in each of his last three games, including seven for 69 yards at Cincy in Week 9, and coach Jack Del Rio has called him the team’s number one WR.
Rising - Ray Rice, Ravens RB - The Ravens rookie rushed the rock 21 times for 154 yards in Baltimore’s victory over Cleveland in Week 9, and could continue to see plenty of action, as Willis McGahee continues to have ankle and knee issues. 23 year old power back Le’Ron McClain, who was a factor early on in the season, doesn’t appear to be a threat to Rice at this point, although he did carry the ball 14 times for 34 yards and a TD in Week 9 - his first score since Week 5.
Rising - Derrick Mason, Ravens WR - The Ravens’ 34 year old bounced back from a one-catch day in Week 8, to haul in nine passes for 136 yards and a TD against the Browns in Week 9. Mason looks unstoppable, and should be a great sleeper WR3 play at Houston in Week 10.
Rising - Tim Hightower, Cardinals RB - Not only does the Cardinals fifth rounder from Richmond have seven TDs already in his rookie season, but he’s the team’s new featured back. A healthy Edgerrin James sat and watched as the 22 year old Hightower garnered 22 carries for 109 yards and a TD in Week 9. Hightower looks a lot like the next Marion Barber to dynasty owners, and also could be a must-start for the remainder of 2008 - making his seasonal owners extremely happy.
Rising - Mark Clayton, Ravens WR - Yes, believe it or not, it appears that the former Oklahoma WR, who fell off the face of the earth last season, after a solid second year in 2006, could be fantasy-worthy once again. The 26 year old former first round pick caught four balls for 87 yards and a TD against the Browns in Week 9, and with Demetrius Williams on injured reserve, could play a role in the up-and-coming Ravens offense the rest of the way.
Rising - Mark Bradley, Chiefs WR - Speaking of former 2006 NFL Draft picks who are starting to make an impact after going through an extremely rough stretch - a player to keep a close eye on his KC’s Mark Bradley. After being released by the Bears, the 6′2″ former second rounder out of Oklahoma (a college teammate of Clayton’s), is playing very well for the Chiefs. He caught five balls for 42 yards and a TD against the Jets in Week 8, and caught four balls for 65 yards and threw for a TD in Week 9. He’s worth a waiver wire pick up in all leagues, as the Chiefs face the Chargers in Week 10.
Rising - Madieu Williams, Vikings S - Minnesota’s prized free agent acquisition this off-season hadn’t played yet due to an injury, but made his season debut a good one in Week 9 against the Texans. The versatile safety racked up eight solo tackles and an interception, and should be added in all leagues with a solid match-up against Green Bay in Week 10.
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