Fantasy Football Friday: Giants vs. Chargers Preview
by cjmulrain on Nov 6, 2009 4:00 PM EST
in Fantasy Football
2 comments
Before getting into the preview, I wanted to give a mid-season update of the Big Blue View Fantasy Football League. Right now posters hocke26 and XLII are in first place in their respective divisions at 6-2 each (fleaflicker divides the league into 2 divisions, though I don't think it makes any difference when it comes to the playoffs). Aceholioo, gobs56, MahmoodZaky, and myself round out the potential playoff teams, all with 5-3 records. Frequent poster Woogie526 has had a rough season so far, with a 1-7 record. I'll admit I was beginning to doubt my fantasy football credentials after a 1-3 start to the season, but with a 4 game winning streak, I feel competent enough to continue with these posts.
Anyway, onto the preview:
Start
Brandon Jacobs, RB, NYG - I swear, this is the week the Giants are going to remember they are a power-running team. They have to, right? Jacobs has actually been pretty darn good the last 3 weeks when he's been given the ball, averaging 4.9 YPC on 40 carries. Extend that back to week 4 and he's averaging 4.2 YPC over his last 82 carries. The past 3 weeks he's gotten 7, 13, and 20 carries, so I'd expect him to be over 20 again this week, especially if the defense can keep the Giants in the game.The Chargers run defense is also the 6th worst in the NFL, giving up 132 yards per game and 4.2 YPC. I expect Jacobs to have a "break-out" game this week.
LaDanian Tomlinson, RB, SD - This is definitely not the BLT of 2006, and at this point he's probably not even a top 20 fantasy running back. That said, he's facing a run defense that's in the bottom half of the league and would almost certainly be lower if it weren't for some of the awful teams they played to open the season. When Leonard Weaver runs for 75 yards and almost 10 YPC, you've gotta like BLT's chances.
Philip Rivers, QB, SD - CC Brown's not starting, but let's just say I don't have much faith in anyone in the Giants secondary right now. Rivers is one of the best fantasy QB's out there, and he's facing a team that has been lit up by Drew Brees and Donovan McNabb in recent weeks. Until the Giants D proves they can stop an elite QB, consider whoever they're facing to be a safe bet.
Vincent Jackson, WR, SD - Jackson has scored a TD in 3 straight games, has back-to-back 100 yard games, and is one of the better receivers in the league. He's a safe bet against the Giants secondary.
Antonio Gates, TE, SD - Noticing a trend here? To say that I'm down on the Giants defense right now would be a bigger understatement than saying Saddam Hussein probably didn't like the Bush family.
Steve Smith, WR, NYG - He hasn't had a huge game in 5 weeks, but he always ends up with a handful of catches and 60+ yards receiving. He's a solid #3 fantasy receiver even when he's not being targeted as much as we'd all like, and if the Giants ever get their O sorted out, I have no doubt he'll be amongst the top receivers in the league again.
Sit
Eli Manning, QB, NYG - I think his foot is more hurt than he's letting on (and it sounds like Jerry Reese does too). He has not looked good at all the past three weeks, playing more like pre-2007 playoffs Eli, which is not good enough to be a fantasy starter.
NYG Defense - They suck right now. Until they stop sucking, you probably shouldn't play them.
Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, NYG - Averaging 2.5 YPC over the past two weeks on 21 carries. He's clearly not at 100% strength right now. It's a shame, b/c he was having such a good season. Also, it's a bit of a travesty that someone as quick and explosive as Bradshaw has only caught 7 passes this season. I think Tiki Barber would struggle to get 1,500 total yards in this offense where wide receivers seem to be the only guys allowed to be targeted, with the occasional Madison Hedgecock pass thrown in. This applies to Kevin Boss, as well.
2 comments | 0 recs |
Friday afternoon New York Giants news and notes
by Ed Valentine on Nov 6, 2009 2:00 PM EST
in News
22 comments
A few quick notes for you on a Friday afternoon, just in case you don't already have enough New York Giants reading material.
First, a site update. If any of you ever look at the masthead, you may have already noticed that regular commenter 'brisulph' has been added as a moderator. He has always done a great job of bringing objectionable stuff to my attention. So, when 'bri' comments and tells you to knock it off, or e-mails you a warning, he has my full support. Same with Jim or CJ. I am seeing a contentious tone lately in some of the comments, and I don't like it. BBV has always been a classy place, and I am determined to keep it that way.
Now, some football notes.
22 comments | 0 recs |
CC Brown Out at Safety
Our long national nightmare is over. At least until Aaron Rouse gets lit up like a Christmas tree on Sunday.
Can somebody communicate the problem to Bill Sheridan?
by Ed Valentine on Nov 6, 2009 10:30 AM EST
in News
39 comments
I really want to believe Bill Sheridan is up to the task of being defensive coordinator for our New York Giants. I have to believe it. If I allow myself to admit Sheridan can't do the job then I have to admit this season is doomed to be a flop. I can't -- I won't -- start thinking that way yet.
Sheridan isn't making it easy, though. We all know his defense has been inexplicably terrible the past three weeks -- even he knows it. Watching teams basically have their way with the Giants defense the past few weeks has been hard enough.
Then Sheridan makes it even tougher -- at least for me -- by giving what I find to be some incredibly bizarre answers about apparent defensive communication issues during his meeting with reporters Thursday.
39 comments | 0 recs |
Do you know what time it is? It's Ernie P. time
by Ed Valentine on Nov 6, 2009 7:15 AM EST
in News
21 comments
Time for my weekly swap of questions with long-time Giants beat writer Ernie Palladino, which we do every Friday. My answers to these same questions will be found some time today at Ernie's Giants beat.
1. How important is it that Michael Boley and Chris Canty get back into the lineup this week?
Ernie's Answer: I've totally changed my thinking on this. I never expected the Giants to drop three straight after that start. But since they have, this game with San Diego has become as close to a must-win game as one gets at this time of year. A lot of my readers have coined it an "All hands on deck" game, and I agree. Any available swinging...well, you know, has to be out there. Now, considering the dismal showing of the linebackers and the apparent lack of speed in the unit, Boley's presence is a must. If he can move at all, it's still an upgrade over Chase Blackburn. And who knows, Boley might even be able to get home on the blitz. As for Canty, the middle of that line needs a big, tall guy to hinder Rivers' field of vision. If he can come in on just the passing downs, get those 747 wings up, and bat a couple of balls, it will have been worth rushing him back. This defense needs something, and the Giants are paying both Boley and Canty a lot of money. Ideally, I'd have liked them to sit out until Atlanta, after the bye, but the season has reached too critical a stage to hold off on using them.
21 comments | 0 recs |
Can Tom Coughlin rescue another Giants' season on the brink?
by Ed Valentine on Nov 5, 2009 1:00 PM EST
in News
54 comments
Tom Coughlin is in his sixth season as New York Giants head coach. One of the reasons the Giants have been so successful during that time -- and maybe the primary reason Coughlin is still here -- has been his ability to handle crisis.
- It began back in 2004 when he was handed a completely broken team that had fallen apart under Jim Fassel. By his second season, TC had the Giants back in the playoffs and had the franchise pointed back on the right path.
- There was his willingness, with his season and maybe his job on the line in 2006, to sack play-caller John Hufnagel for the final regular-season game. Maybe it was belated, but it was still bold.
- There was his battle for control of the locker room, and to create an atmosphere where players cared more about winning than themselves. That took until Tiki Barber retired and Michael Strahan finally decided to get on board, but it did happen.
- There was, of course, 2007. The Super Bowl year. Remember how badly the Giants started, 0-2 and looking awful? Not qualifying for the playoffs until the 15th game of the season? TC managed his team through that sometimes rocky regular season, and we ended up with a magical run no one expected.
- Last season, of course, there was the Plaxico Burress fiasco. No, the Giants did not finish the season well. Coughlin did, however, maintain his grip on the team and not allow Burress to fracture the locker room.
Now the question is, can Coughlin do it again?
54 comments | 0 recs |
New York Giants News and Notes: Thursday Edition
by Jim Schmiedeberg on Nov 5, 2009 9:15 AM EST
in News
22 comments
Now that baseball season has FINALLY come to an end, (November? Really? Great job MLB, why not just add 
another 30 games to the already too long regular season, add another round of playoffs and play all year?) everyone's full focus will turn to football, and for those of you just joining us this season, welcome, and yes, the Giants have problems. Big problems.
So let's run down the latest news and notes this Thursday morning:
- Tom Coughlin talked about how the Giants are getting back to the fundamentals. There is also some interesting stuff in there about the Giants leadership council, and how they are handling the slump the Giants are in.
- Antonio Pierce spoke to Mike Garafolo yesterday, and says that as the leader on defense, he is the "biggest culprit" of everything that has gone wrong on defense. He says the Giants need to get back to flying around and playing defense as a team.
- Also in the article above, Aaron Ross is targeting November 22nd against the Falcons for his return to action.
- Ralph Vacchiano says the Giants defense is getting healthier, and Chris Canty may be close to returning. Since the Yankees are the World Champions again, I am going to give Michael Boley a little advice from Yogi Berra, "It gets late early". Read Boley's comments on his urgency to return and you will see what I mean. Week 9, the season's not so young anymore, Mike.
- Philip Rivers spoke with the media yesterday, and he recounted what Draft Day was like for him back in 2004.
- On the Rivers-Manning thing, as I've scoured the nets reading up on some of the latest on the Bolts, I've found that Eli Manning hatred is still alive and well in San Diego. Some have been able to let go, but I saw some truly venomous statements about Eli that really surprised me. It might be time to let it go. As memory serves Charger fans, you guys did pretty well in that trade.
- On the subject of that 2004 draft, the man who engineered it for the Giants is on the radar for the Cleveland Browns to come to the rescue and save their hapless franchise.
That's all for now. Congratulations to the New York Yankees on their 27th World Series victory. Make sure you check out Ed's coverage over at Pinstripe Alley. Plus, don't forget we're talking Ranger puck all day long at Blueshirt Banter.
22 comments | 0 recs |
A chat with 'Bolts From The Blue'
by Ed Valentine on Nov 5, 2009 7:13 AM EST
in News
43 comments
Our New York Giants are desperately in need of a victory this weekend. It just so happens that the San Diego Chargers are the team standing in the way. So, I reached out to 'Bolts From The Blue,' SB Nation's Chargers blog or a little chat about Philip Rivers and his team.
Big Blue View: I
Bolts From The Blue: Strengths
My question
Big Blue View: Well ...
The Giants were built to be a dominant defensive team, only it has turned out in recent weeks that awful defensive play has been the biggest problem. The defensive line is not getting pressure, or playing the run well. The linebackers are so-so. The secondary, outside of Corey Webster, has been atrocious. The rookie defensive coordinator, Bill Sheridan, has looked overmatched.
Offensively,
Bolts From The Blue: The funny thing is that most Chargers fans would trade lines with the Giants in a second. Due to injuries, the Chargers are busy plugging holes on both offensive and defensive lines where the Giants have proven talent on both. What has happened to the D-line that there's no pass rush and no ability to stop the run anymore?
Big Blue View: Osi
43 comments | 0 recs |
Secondary Sidebar
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
Featured Poll
Record
Hide Standings
Next Game
FanShots
Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.
Recent FanShots
Featured Stories
Giants Schedule
Washington
|
Sun 09/13 | W 23 - 17 |
|
@
Dallas
|
Sun 09/20 | W 33 - 31 |
|
@
Tampa Bay
|
Sun 09/27 | W 24 - 0 |
|
@
Kansas City
|
Sun 10/04 | W 27 - 16 |
|
Oakland
|
Sun 10/11 | W 44 - 7 |
|
@
New Orleans
|
Sun 10/18 | L 27 - 48 |
|
Arizona
|
Sun 10/25 | L 17 - 24 |
|
@
Philadelphia
|
Sun 11/01 | L 17 - 40 |
|
San Diego
|
Sun 11/08 | 4:15 PM EST |
|
Atlanta
|
Sun 11/22 | 1:00 PM EST |
|
@
Denver
|
Thu 11/26 | 8:20 PM EST |
|
Dallas
|
Sun 12/06 | 4:15 PM EST |
|
Philadelphia
|
Sun 12/13 | 8:20 PM EST |
|
@
Washington
|
Mon 12/21 | 8:30 PM EST |
|
Carolina
|
Sun 12/27 | 1:00 PM EST |
|
@
Minnesota
|
Sun 01/03 | 1:00 PM EST |
Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
