KOTN14

Me and you are in the same boat. Lost by three due to Marshall's garbage-time TD and a couple of garbage-time Murray receptions. However, I'm not holding my breath on that being changed, or the NFL even caring to change it since it was a Washington TD anyway. However, since RGIII is already one of the faces of the NFL, maybe they will want to do what they can to make his stats better. That's about the only hope I can offer. Can anybody confirm that this is something that even can be corrected? I don't know the rule, but since no challenge flag was thrown. Wouldn't that be overruling the call on the field if they do make that change?

I agree. RG3 is the QB to own, redraft or keeper.

That first trade is solid but that second trade is bad for you, IMO ... You're basically giving up a top 10 WR and a top 20 RB (for now) for a top 10 RB and his handcuff. We'll call the Johnson vs. Mathews part even (both top 10 talents with injury concerns). But the Morris for Battle part is highway robbery ... for your opponent. With that said, I'm still not sure what Morris' value is, but it definitely should be higher than Jackie Battle. At the same time, it's probably not high enough where it's even worth trading him. Best offer I got for him was Torrey Smith (I declined). Offered him plus Fitz for T-Rich (he declined). Very small sample size, but at least in my league, he's not somebody I'm getting a lot of value on. I might as well hold and hope he turns into Terrell Davis or Mike Anderson.

As a Rodgers owner, I think you are right. Rodgers hasn't shown much in the running game or in pass protection. And if you can't run, you better be able to protect the franchise (Ryan). He hasn't done either. I agree that Snelling (the far better blocker) gets the early work when Turner sucks even more/gets injured. I'm semi-deep at RB in a PPR league (Charles, Martin, Morris, P. Thomas, McCluster), so I'm cutting bait. I want to keep the faith in Rodgers, but somebody has to go since I don't have a defense, and he seems like the lowest upside guy of all of them right now.

What's Jacksonville's problem then?

Come on, man. I'm the biggest Browns fan there is, and that call was a load of crap. Don't even try to defend it, especially if you're a Browns fan. We're the fan base that loves to talk about how Turkey Jones power bombed Terry Bradshaw on his neck, but we're going to try to defend this being a legit penalty? (Oh, and I'm assuming you're a Browns homer, because only the biggest Browns homer thinks that is a flag). SMH. If you look at it in super slow motion, the Seattle DB did put his head down (but not malicously) and his helmet glanced off the middle of McCoys back (not the spine). And again, you have to look at it in SUPER SLOW MOTION to even see he led with his helmet, because it wasn't that bad. Like I texted my brother once that flag was thrown. "I'll take it, but that was a BS call. Just put a focking skirt on all QBs" In the grand scheme of things, who cares. It's not like either team deserved to win that horseshit of a game. P.S. you wanna see what roughing the passer looks like, watch this: Funniest thing about this video isn't actually Bradshaw being thrown to his neck, but dude scooped the ball and tried to score. LOL. He didn't care about Bradshaw's ability to ever walk again. Imagine if Suh (since this is what the topic is about) tried to do the same thing now? No wonder QBs are as good as they are. You can't touch them. And the Falcons bitching about the Ryan play, just shows how much QBs are babied now a days.

That's actually a horrible read on the Hillis situation. It's Terry Pluto, doing what Terry Pluto does, babbling to himself while walking on the fence. I don't think anything's changed from what I posted a week or so ago. Hillis is not in the Browns long-term plans, while Hardesty is,for right or wrong, and it's looking wrong. Hardesty looks like any other practice squad RB. Only he was a 2nd round RB, and one they traded up to get. This situation actually couldn't have been lobbed toward the organization any better. The only way they could win the PR game by letting Hillis walk was due to injury and Hardesty taking advantage of it. Well, Hillis has been "injured" twice. The first with strep throat. Hardesy comes in and is a little above average against a bad Miami team. Then there was the head-to-head chance against Tennessee to show fans who was better. Hillis, despite not playing nearly enough, ran for 4.6 yards per carry and caught five passes. Hardesty, ran for 3.5 and dropped five passes. Hillis then gave the organization another chance to prove Hardesty is the man with his hamstring injury this week. Again, Hardesty failed. He couldn't find any yards running, dropped another pass and, most importantly, almost got Colt McCoy killed by missing a pick-up. That's most important, because one area where Hardesty was supposedly superior to Hillis was in pass protection. That blown assignment actually led for the coaches to (probably begrudginly) put a gimpy Hillis back in the game. Overall, though, the Browns were never going to trade Hillis, as he protects their investment (Hardesty), plus it prevents an all-out mutiny with the fan base. They especially weren't going to trade an injured Hillis, who may have netted a late-round flier pick. That is the one part of Pluto's article I agree with, Hillis really does have some sort of hamstring injury. How bad is it? We'll find out, I don't think it's that bad (maybe a Rashard Mendenhall type tweak). If/when Hillis is healthy again, he'll be a startable, but not what people were banking on. The Browns have no choice right now. Since they didn't trade him, if they don't play him and he walks, mutiny. If they don't play him and Hardesty goes down with another serious injury, now the Browns go into 2012 with Chris Ogbnnoya as their only RB, even more mutiny. Bottom line, Hillis will play, even if it's only in an attempt to keep Hardesty healthy for next year. That's not to mention this looks to be a horrible team trying to draw people to the gate the next two months. Hillis is by far (only Joe Thomas, Josh Cribbs and Joe Haden are close) the team's most popular player. Even if Hillis bounces back and becomes the Hillis of early 2010, I still don't think the Browns resign him. But if they do, I think it will be more of an admission to Hardesty's talent level (or lack thereof) than how the organization really values Hillis. Like I said before, it's not a good situation for a Hillis fantasy owners, but not as dire as it seems. In fact, since you may be able to get him for next to nothing, he may actually be a great buy-low add.

Great post. Everything you said I agree with. Still, like you, I dropped him for Redman.

Actually no. It's not that Hillis isn't good. It's just that he came into a situation where he was a Mangini guy, and produced as a Mangini guy. Now that Mangini is gone, they are trying to prove that Hardesty (a Heckert guy) can be the man they traded up for. While Hardety has shown he can be adequate, still, if you've watched the Browns for the past 12 years (post move), it's obvious that Peyton Hillis is the best playmaker this team has had since. Hillis just has no leverage only because there are a lot of teams that probably don't view him as a long-term answer. Even though in the short-term, in Cleveland, he is by far their best option. And like I said, even if they think Hardesty is the best long-term solution, is it not in there best interest to ride Hillis out this year? They won't get fair value in a trade, and it will save Hardesty's knees for when they can actually compete. That's not even getting into the fan aspect, where in Cleveland he is almost universally regarded as the better back than Hardesty. I actually like Hardesty. Think he can be a pretty good back. But injury history (which is way worse than Hillis') and the fact that neither seem to be home run threats, and that Hardesty has dropped more passes in one game (4) than Hillis has in his entire career, pushes me toward the Hillis boat. Overall, it won't be Cleveland, but I suspect Hillis lands on his feet. He is just too good, overall. It's just messed up that unlike LeBron or Jim Thome, Hillis has been begging for an extension to stay here, but he won't happen. Hey, at least we kept Josh Cribbs!

LOL. Solid post, except Torain wasn't drafted by Washington, though he was drafted by Satan and brought to Washington by Satan. That alone, probably means Torain is the choice. But like you said, Satan was there when they traded for Hightower and drafted Helu. I take that to mean that Torain is the guy until the wheels fall off, which will probably be 2 weeks, and even Satan himself knows it. So, I'm going to go Ridley. His role my never be fully defined, but neither was Aaron Hernadez's for most of last year and he still put up solid numbers in that offense. As long as a player has any sort of role, defined or not, in New England, they have value. If only Torain is guaranteed to stay healthy ... what could be. But I think there's a better chance of BJG going down than Torain staying healthy.

FWIW, I was going to drop Spiller for him if I didn't get Redman off waivers. I got Redman for Spiller and didn't have anybody else droppable, so I passed on Battle. He got scooped up the next day. I'd make the move. Spiller's only value is if Jackson gets hurt. Despite his age, he has low mileage and seems like a good bet to stay healthy. I'd rather take a shot on a guy who may be the No. 1 even without an injury, even if it's on a shitty offense. P.S. and the only reason I went Redman is because I have both Rice and Hillis on byes (along with Romo and Dez). Suffice to say, I need a one-week wonder in a major way, especially since my opponent has nobody on a bye and has Rodgers/Welker in a PPR/.5 per completion league.

I noticed there was rift between Hillis/Shurmur-Heckert way before the strep incident. Actually, it came fully to light after the Browns locked up Chris Gocong (an average OLB for 4 years 18 million, making him the fifth highest paid OLB in football, even though he is a borderline starter.) The "No-comments" from the front office when asked about Hillis' contract situation, and Hillis subsenquently saying something along the lines of "I want to be in Cleveland as long as they want me here," made it clear that not only were the two sides far apart on money, but the organization didn't see Hillis in their long-term plans. Hillis is a Mangini guy, not a Tom Heckert guy. While Heckert is the GM who made the deal to bring him to Cleveland, it was at Mangini's urging. I actually made a comment to a couple of my friends that it seems like Shurmur was purposely sabotaging Hillis to bring his value down after the team twice didn't give him a chance to score from the goal line in Week 1 against Cincy. The first time, they threw twice (the second of those being a TD) and only gave Hillis one chance from around the 5 yard line on first down. The second time, they had first and goal from the 5. Hillis ran on first and got to the 1. They threw the next two downs, both incomplete, and had to kick a FG. Ok, maybe it was a first-year coach making one bad mistake (the first time they got a TD so can't really complain.) But a week later against Indianapolis, the Browns get inside the five in the third quarter. They take Hillis out and give the ball to Montario Hardesty (his first carry of the game) and he fumbles. The Browns recover and they begin to bring in Hillis (or maybe Hillis just figured I'm back in) but pull him back out after he already was running on the field. Again they throw two more times, both incomplete and have to kick another FG. Now, a pattern is forming. Then last week, they gave Hillis a shot at 3rd-and-1. But instead of lining him at tailback, they put him at FB and ran a quick dive. That's not Hillis' game in that situation. He the type of guy that needs the extra two yards to pick up a head of steam and just power his way for a yard. Anyway he gets stuffed. They go for it on 4th and 1, but still line him up at FB and try an outside run with Armond Smith (not even Montario Hardesty, but Armond Smith), who gets stuffed. At that point, it was clear that there is something going on. And I think Hillis has a legitimate gripe with the organization. How will this shake out, though? Ultimately, it means Hillis will not be in Cleveland next year. I don't see the Browns giving him a contract extension and there is no way they use the franchise tag on him. He's as good as gone. What does it mean for this year? Well, as long as the Browns are competitive, they have no choice but to play him. He is still by far the best player they have on offense. At the same time, they will probably do whatever they can to show that trading up in the second round to get Hardesty was a smart decision. So there will be some kind of split, but as long as Hillis outperforms Hardesty, it won't be a full-blown RBBC, unless things turn even more sour. I don't think the Browns want that to happen because it will alienate a large part of the fan base from the organization. I also see no way the Browns trade him. For one, with him being a FA at the end of the year, his trade value isn't as high as it should be. Plus, there are still the legit concerns about how long Hillis will be able to be productive due to his playing style. I don't think they could net more than a third round pick for him, at best. Is trading for a third-rounder worth it when fans will view it as throwing in the towel and the 70,000 crowds shrink down to 40,000. Losing 30,000 fans in the seats (even if they are season ticket holders who already paid for tickets) still would cost the organization $3,000,000 over the next five games if you figure the average person spends $20 at the game, which at Cleveland Browns Stadium, is two beers and a hot dog. They are paying Hillis $555,000. He's going to make the organization money. He is afterall, by and far the team's most popular player, among both white and black fans in Cleveland, since race seems to be a big issue with him being a white running back. Anyway, since people here only care about his fantasy numbers. I'd say that if you can get RB2 value for him, make the move. If his value is low (I play in Cleveland-based leagues and have been gauging his interest and it's insultingly low due to the strep incident and now this recent news), you have to hold him and let this thing shake itself out. Hardesty has had two auditions to prove he is better than Hillis. The first by himself against Miami (he was decent but didn't show anything that said superstar) and another head-to-head with Hillis against Tennessee, and Hillis was clearly the better player, outside of Hardesty's nice 27-yard catch on the sideline. As long as Hillis is at least getting 50 percent of the work, he should produce startable numbers, even if it isn't what you drafted him to put up. Plus, it's not like Hardesty has shown he can be a workhorse in the NFL. Both his knees have been reconstructed and he's played a grand total of two NFL games. And if he really is the Browns' future, wouldn't it be wise to sacrifice Hillis (if he's not in your plans) to ensure that Hardesty stays healthy for next year, when you would think by having two first-rounders (one will be top 15 for sure, and the one from Atlanta could be way higher than anybody imagined) when the team can have a legitimate shot at being a playoff team. It's not a good situation for Hillis owners, but as of right now, not as doomsday as some may believe.

Wait... You're talking trash about Tolbert owners "spouting off" when you got Mathews in Round 5. Isn't that right around, if not earlier, than where Tolbert went? And hasn't Tolbert still produced at the same level overall? I have Tolbert in a league (dropped to me in the 7th, Mathews went higher), and I'd rather have Mathews, but it's too early for either side to start chirping about who got that last laugh. I think it will be Mathews' owners, but lets see how it plays out.

That's a nice list, but for any Meachem owner, all it will take is one knee/collarbone/mangina injury from Colston before it goes back to what it has been the first three games: 1a-Meachem; 1b-Graham 2. whoever else.

For the most part, I like your picks. Though, outside of Campbell, there is no way I could start any of your other sleepers at QB. But Campbell is a viable option, one I'm considering going with if Dez Bryant doesn't go tommorrow (just traded for Romo, who would be a stinker in that case). Same can be said of your sleeper TEs. Some interesting choices, but unless you are desperate, outside of Watson, guys I wouldn't start. I love your sleeper/stinker WRs, agree with most of what you said, especially with the sleepers. Think you will fare well there. Since my bread and butter is the Browns (or at least they are the only team I've seen every down of every game), here is my take on guys in the Browns-Titans game: I love the Hasselbeck stinker pick. For one, Joe Haden lurks in the solid Browns secondary. The defense also leads the AFC in sacks, so they can get pressure on QBs. On top of that, nobody knows Matt Hasselbeck more than Mike Holmgren (Browns president to those who forgot). No Britt, makes this a logical stinker choice. However, I'm not totally buying Washington being a stinker, only because I don't think he will be shadowed by Joe Haden. Last week, was the first time in his career that Haden was asked to shadow a WR, and that was Brandon Marshall. While Washington is Tennessee's No. 1, he's not on Marshall's level. If the Browns don't shadow Haden on Washington, which I don't think they will, I could see him getting decent numbers being matched up on Sheldon Brown or Dimitri Patterson. I don't think Washington goes off, but should put up a productive game, I'd say 5-80-0. Now, if Haden is on him all game long, Washington is definetly stinker material. I'm also not buying Chris Johnson as a sleeper (even if he can be considered a sleeper to begin with). True, the talent is there and the overall rushing yards allowed numbers against the Browns scream breakout potential. But this is a situation of having to have watched the Browns to see what I'm getting at. 1. While the overall numbers don't look good for the Browns rush defense, they have faced two physical between the tackle runners in Benson and Thomas. Benson didn't do anything outside of one (like I've said several times) all-or-nothing run late in the game. Thomas was very impressive, in fact, it was one of the more impressive performances I've seen considering he went for close to 100 yards on the ground and his longest run was NINE yards. He literally grinded out every yard he gained (probably had 20 yards after being wrapped up by 2-3 guys and simply fought to fall forward). 2. The Browns have given up one rushing TD all year, and that was on Benson's late run. 3. The other back that the Browns faced was Joseph Addai (who put up decent numbers), but still less numbers than he put up on Pittsburgh's defense the following week. 4. While they're not in the same ball park, the Browns have had success against speedier, shifty backs in Bernard Scott (4 carries, 3 yards) and Reggie Bush (10 rushes for 13 yards). Like I said, neither Scott or Bush can hold Johnson's jock, but it's something to consider, especially since Johnson hasn't been lighting it up anyway. 5. Tennessee's offensive is the worst in the league in giving its RBs a chance at being successful. Add all that up and Chris Johnson's breakout week may have to be on hold. However, I won't call him a stinker, only because I think he has a chance (like Daniel Thomas did) of being a threat in the passing game. But I think a receiving TD is what it will take for him to put up RB2 numbers. As for Ben Watson, if you're in a PPR league and are banking on a safe 8 points, there is nobody who could be on the wire better. The guy is a shoe-in for 5-60 (which could be 11 points depending on how you score receiving yards). He's as safe as they come. Same position, but only if you are TD-heavy, or especially TD-only, Evan Moore is an option. I'm still saying he can get 10 TDs this year on less than 40 catches. He is McCoy's No. 1 option in the passing game inside the 10. On to Jared Cook. I don't see how calling him a stinker is a pick. He's been a stinker all year long. He's a guy who has to do something before he even gets mentioned. He may very well have his best game of the season this week, but all that means is he goes for 3-40. Finally, outside of Browns-Titans but sticking to TEs, I disagree with Finley being a stinker, but credit you for going out on that limb. Like you said, he'll be good for at least 5-50 (which puts him in Ben Watson territory as a decent start in PPR, and not a bad start compared to other TEs in standard leagues). But that's Finley's floor. The ceiling is 8-110-2 (if not more) for him. I'll take the middle and say he gets 6-70-1 this week.