notJames' Weekly FF Question

[notJames 0]

So, I've got NE's Adam Vinatieri on a bye this week, and I've got three potential waiver wire pick-ups to consider:

 

1. NO's John Carney at St. Louis

2. GB's Ryan Longwell at Indy

3. Minnesota's Morten Andersen at home against da Bears

 

All three games are indoors, so I would assume kicking conditions are ideal. Longwell and Andersen have only missed one field goal each, and both have FGs over forty yds. Carney is perfect this season so far. The first two games should be high-scoring, which should give the kickers lots of opportunities. Monday Night's game aside, I think the Vikes should still be in position to score more times than not.

 

Any suggestions?

 

Also, who should should I start as my #3 receiver: Keyshawn against the 'Skins, or Larry Fitzgerald against Atlanta?

 

Thanks, gents.

[The Man in Blak 0]

All three of these kickers have pretty favorable conditions to kick in (they're all playing in domes), so the best indicator may be to investigate the "flow" of the game.

 

For Morten Andersen, I think you can probably expect more extra points than field goals, especially since the Vikings' offense takes on a new life at home and the Minnesota D could actually turn this into a shootout with Thomas Jones and the Bears. Given his age and lack of range (and, hence, lack of points in leagues that give bonuses to FG yardage), Andersen probably has the least upside of the three. Choose him if you want to guarantee four points on the board.

 

In Carney's case, he's playing behind a team with no running back - McAllister's not going to play, despite the asinine medical upgrade to "questionable." This unfortunately cheats the Saints out of an opportunity to exploit the Rams' hideous rush defense, since they'll have the two-headed Ki-Jana Stecker Beast in the backfield, but this also means that Carney could be kicking a lot of short field goals without a running game to punch into the end zone. Conversely, the Rams' atrocious run defense has effectively obscured the defensive prowess of their injury-riddled secondary (Aeneas Williams is shifting back to CB from S to fill the holes), so Carney could also be shut out if the Saints' pass offense continually stalls. Carney's probably the biggest gamble of the three - pick him if you want a shot at double-digit points and are unafraid to take a donut.

 

That leaves Ryan Longwell, who would be my personal choice. After the embarrassing home loss to the Bears, Favre will be bringing his "A game" to Indianapolis to meet the challenge of playing opposite Peyton Manning. That being said, this won't necessarily be the shootout the everybody expects - both teams are equally balanced in the run and pass, but both defenses are better than their numbers claim. This one's likely going to come down to the kickers, which isn't a bad proposition for the Packers: Longwell has been consistent throughout his career and he still has the range to throw down a 50 yarder in a dome. I'd expect anywhere from three to nine points, not counting yardage bonuses.

 

As far as the #3 receiver goes...I'd lean towards Keyshawn. Vinny's currently on pace to throw 800 times this year and, with Julius Jones knocked out of the RB merry-go-round, the Cowboys' reliance on passing doesn't look to change.

 

As for Fitzgerald, Atlanta's DEF seems to have bounced back from last year and, since Larry is essentially the only breakaway threat on the field, he's going to get a lot of attention. Don't drink Dennis Green's kool-aid and stay away from Fitzgerald this week.

 

Hope this helps.

[starvenger 0]

Longwell's your guy for kicker.

 

Fitzgerald will probably do well as Anquan Boldin's garbage time replacement, but Mr. TMTDB is probably a better choice. Start Keyshawn

[the pinjockey 0]

Kicker: Morton Anderson, with Charles Tillman and Mike Brown out Moss should have a field day and put them in position to kick a bunch. But after seeing their red zone problems last week, I think they could end up with a couple of FGs in the red zone instead of TDs.

 

Receiver: Keyshawn, ride the hot streak, plus teams are going to start scheming for Fitzgerald since there is nothing else on that team with Boldin out.

[Dr. Tom 0]

Longwell and Keyshawn, for reasons already mentioned.