steve slaton Archives | DraftBuddy.com

Week 8 Moving Up, Moving Down

November 2, 2009 By Dave 2 Comments

Moving Up

Ryan Moats, Texans – After Steve Slaton’s 7th fumble (5 lost), head coach Gary Kubiak put Moats in and nailed Slaton to the bench. Twenty-three carries, 126 yards and 3 TD later, Slaton might be nailed to the bench in a more permanent manner. Hey, if it’s not broke, why fix it? Just for good measure, Moats also contributed 2 catches for 25 yards. Basically, barring compelling signals to the contrary, Slaton can no longer be trusted. If Moats is named the starter, he’s this week’s top waiver wire pick-up.
Miles Austin, Cowboys – 482 yards and 5 scores in his last 3 games. Roy Williams for the season – 249 yards and 2 TD. Just in case you were holding on to the illusion that Williams might be the guy in Dallas.
St. Louis Rams – Hey, they won a game. None of their offensive players are actually moving up but let’s give them some kudos for notching a win. Oh yeah, Steven Jackson found the end zone, which was nice to see.
Chris Johnson, Titans – Heading into week 8, Johnson was beginning to resemble Jackson for his inability to find the end zone with both of his TD coming in Week 2 against the Texans. This week he found the end zone to go long with 228 yards on 24 carries. It’s also reassuring that Vince Young played well in his 1st game as the team’s starter.
Devin Hester, Bears – It looks like Hester has now arrived as a true number one receiver in Chicago. He’s had over 80 yards for three consecutive weeks (83, 101, 81) during which he has 21 catches and a TD. He’s basically a Buy Now candidate because he’s going to be untouchable very soon.
Matt Forte, Bears – The good news is that Forte ran well against the Browns with 90 yards and 2 TD on the ground to go along with 31 receiving yards. The bad news is that he doesn’t get another soft run defense until he faces the Rams’ 27th ranked run defense in week 14. Other than that, it’s top 12 or better through week 16. Ouch.
Braylon Edwards, Jets – This week he had 4 receptions for 74 yards and a TD against the Dolphins. In 4 games since arriving in New York, Edwards has had 2 solid fantasy performances and 2 duds. In those games, quarterback Mark Sanchez has completed less than 50% of his passes. If you believe that Sanchez can’t possibly be that bad going forward, then Edwards is looking like a decent option the rest of the way. And no, I’m not saying Sanchez will break out the rest of the way.
Jeremy Maclin, Eagles – In his last four games he has 16 receptions for 248 yards and 3 TD. One of those games was a stinker against the Raiders. The 25 targets in those games isn’t awe-inspiring (6.25 a game) but DeSean Jackson only had 24 targets during the same span. Basically, Maclin’s under the radar somewhat right now but is clearly emerging in Philadelphia.
Michael Crabtree, 49ers – 81 yards on 6 catches against the league’s 6th ranked pass defense. After just 2 games, it’s pretty apparent that this guy’s trajectory is pointing straight up.
Percy Harvin, Vikings – He has 17 targets over the last 2 weeks and turned that into 126 yards and a score. Is it a coincidence that he’s getting used more or is it because he’s figuring out what’s going on? I know which way I’m leaning.
Matt Hasselbeck, Seahawks – Hasselbeck had a nice game against the Cowboys this week throwing for 249 yards with 2 TD and no picks. I just picked him up in a dynasty league where my squad is failing (full disclosure – received Hasselbeck, Glen Coffee, Jerricho Cotchery and a 2nd for Kurt Warner and Terrell Suggs) and wanted Hasselbeck as a decent option based on his mostly favourable schedule the rest of the way. Up next are the Lions, Cardinals, Vikings, Rams, 49ers, Texans and Bucs.
Dustin Keller, Jets – I told a friend last week (well, the guy who runs this website actually) [Editor’s note: Thanks.] that he should hold off on trading for a replacement for Chris Cooley because his backup, Keller, might start getting more attention with Leon Washington out for the year and Thomas Jones and Shonn Greene poor receivers out of the backfield. Sure enough, Keller had his best game of the season with 8 receptions for 76 yards and a TD. The 13 targets were also nice to see. Occasionally when a player goes down, a player at a different position ends up benefitting and this was a prime example of that. Which brings us to…
Steve Smith, Panthers – He got his 1st TD of the season this week against the Cardinals so he’s Moving Up. And that’s all I’m saying about that.
Kevin Walter, Texans – Tight end Owen Daniels is out for the year and Slaton might be nailed to the bench. The team’s backup tight ends are Joel Dreesen and rookie James Casey. So, the Texans can give Daniels’ looks to those guys or increase Walter’s role. Walter is having a horrible season but it’s mostly because of his lack of use. He’s missed 2 games and is averaging less than 5 targets a game in the team’s other 6 games. Look for that to change starting this week against the Colts.
Kevin Boss, Giants – Boss seemed like an up and coming player heading into the season, based on his 6 TD in 2008. However, he was an afterthought since Week 1 before putting up 70 yards and a TD this week against the Eagles. Maybe the Giants have figured out this guy is an underutilized option in the passing game, particularly in the red zone.
Jerome Harrison, Browns – The Browns are horrible and Jamal Lewis announced that he was going to retire at the end of the season. Presumably even the folks who run the Browns can figure out that it’s time to see if Harrison is the answer in 2010. Presumably.
Malcom Floyd, Chargers – The Chargers finally benched Chris Chambers this week and inserted Floyd into the starting line-up. He put up 2 catches for 64 yards on just 4 targets, nothing to get too excited about. However, the Chargers have a great passing attack, Floyd has solid deep speed as evidenced by his average yards per reception of 22.8 and at 6’5″, he is a great red zone target. Vincent Jackson and Antonio Gates are also great red zone targets but Floyd isn’t a bad guy to take a flier on, particularly in deep leagues and dynasty leagues.
Vince Young, Titans – Hey, 13 fantasy points from your quarterback isn’t anything to get excited about. But really, you were expecting him to fall flat on his face, weren’t you? I was so this performance is enough to get him in this column. Reports out of Tennessee indicated the players were not happy that Young was in for an ineffective Kerry Collins. Presumably Young leading them to their 1st W may change some of that negativity.
Justin Fargas, Raiders – He has 267 total yards and a TD over the last 3 games. That is enough to make him a decent flex play. It also doesn’t hurt that there are rumblings out of Oakland that Darren McFadden‘s recovery is not going well.
Deion Branch, Seahawks – Caught his 1st TD pass of the season this week. That means the Seahawks have paid him $5-million per TD so far in 2009. Just saying.

Moving Down

Steve Slaton, Texans – His fantasy performance this year was far superior to his actual performance on the field which makes him a great example of why you need to dig a little deeper than just reading about a player’s fantasy stats every week. Simply put, why exactly would Kubiak put Slaton back in there? If you know, please clue me in on this one.
Matt Schaub, Texans – Let’s see – he just lost Owen Daniels, the top rated fantasy tight end, to a season ending injury and his pass catching running back (Slaton) was benched. He’s been so good that it’s hard to put him here but that’s just too much to lose all at once. Sometimes, it’s that’s simple.
Kurt Warner, Cardinals – Hey, any time you throw 5 interceptions, you are moving down. It’s a rule. The upcoming schedule is extremely favourable, although Anquan Boldin’s inability to stay healthy is becoming of greater concern.
Jason Witten, Cowboys – Another ho-hum performance for Witten. Let’s recap his fantasy points this year – 7, 9, 7, 3, 4, 5, 3. I’m getting sick of waiting on this guy.
Anquan Boldin, Cardinals – Well, he can’t stay healthy and he hasn’t been all that impressive when he has been healthy. He’s now on pace to finish with 923 yards and 2 TD. It’s time to start questioning whether Boldin’s going to get it going in 2009 and it seems like the odds are going down with each passing week.
Eli Manning, Giants – It seems like Manning is starting his late season swoon early this year. Over the last 3 weeks, he’s completed 50% of his passes for 643 yards, 3 TD and 6 interceptions. The Giants are floundering and it seems like defenses have figured out how to game plan for them.
All of your Denver Broncos – Kyle Orton, Knowshon Moreno, Brandon Marshall et al were pretty much useless fantasy wise this week against the Ravens and the Broncos face the Steelers next week. With the Steelers D looking better than the Ravens thus far, there’s little reason to think the Broncos skill position players will fare any better.
Jamal Lewis, Browns – Read Jerome Harrison above and for icing on the cake, he’s had 1 double digit fantasy point game this season and hasn’t found the end zone.
Mario Manningham, Giants – Just the facts, baby. He missed this week due to a shoulder injury. He was struggling with drops. Head coach Tom Coughlin said this about his absence, “Separation, sore shoulder, whatever.” Doesn’t sound to me like they missed him (see Kevin Boss above for further proof).
Willis McGahee, Ravens – No savings graces here as this week’s game against the Broncos pretty much sounds the death knell for McGahee’s fantasy usefulness. With the Ravens blowing out the Broncos, McGahee still only had 3 touches for 3 yards. Unless you need him as a handcuff to Ray Rice, you can jettison him to the waiver wire.

Week 1 in the NFL schedule generally is the one week of the season that you can put on the shelf and ignore. With teams not getting truly ready for the opening of the season due to injury concerns (hey, no point in losing your $15-million a year QB in the first game), upsets, shoddy play and poor performances are plentiful. However, by the end of week 2, trends are beginning to form. After week 1, it was a fluke that Willis McGahee scored 2 TD. After week 2, not so much.

Moving Up

Willis McGahee, Ravens – After his 2 TD performance in week 1, I thought he may have had his last 2 TD performance of the year. This week, McGahee not only had 2 TD against an admittedly banged up Chargers defense but he topped Ray Rice in carries, 15 to 8, and got the end of game work. This was his best performance since his time in Buffalo.
Kevin Kolb, Eagles – I had him down for 210 yards and 2 TD this week and he surpassed that by 181 yards. The 3 interceptions don’t help in leagues that take points away for INTs. However, he looked capable and Donovan McNabb owners can stick him in there this week against the Chiefs if McNabb isn’t ready and their backup is weak.
Fred Jackson, Bills – Two games, 328 total yards and a TD. Jackson’s play will almost certainly result in him retaining a significant role in the offense when Marshawn Lynch returns. Plus, with Jackson performing, look for the coaching staff to bring Lynch along slowly when he does return.
Santonio Holmes, Steelers – I wasn’t sold on Holmes entering the season mostly because of his history of inconsistent performances. However, after two solid games (14 receptions, 214 yards, 1 TD), it looks like he’s ready to contribute on a regular basis.
Felix Jones, Cowboys – This week, Marion Barber reminded us how injury prone he is (strained left quadriceps) and Jones reminded us how explosive he is (7 carries for 96 yards and a TD).
Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers – Well, the Steelers can’t run the ball so they’re going to have to throw it. Sometimes it’s that simple.
Mario Manningham, Giants – Last week, we had Domenik Hixon in the moving down section and that seems prescient given Manningham’s 10 reception, 150 yard, 1 TD performance against Dallas on Sunday night. Steve Smith is getting more targets but Manningham is the team’s best big play threat at wide receiver and TDs in consecutive games likely warrant the coaching staff getting him involved on a weekly basis.
Ted Ginn Jr., Dolphins – Ginn has clearly established himself as Chad Pennington‘s go to wideout. Although he is inconsistent and not a solid starter every week, Ginn looks capable of putting up solid numbers against mediocre and suspect secondaries.
Laurent Robinson, Rams – Robinson followed up his 87 yard week 1 performance with 54 yards and a TD this week against the Redskins. The TD came in the end zone where he utilized his size to outleap DeAngelo Hall. With Donnie Avery looking abysmal, Keenan Burton a non-factor and Randy McMichael not exactly having a renaissance season, Robinson figures to get plenty of targets.
Mike Sims-Walker, Jaguars – The good news is that he caught 6 balls for 106 yards and a TD. The bad news is that it was in garbage time. The question is whether you think the Jags will be throwing it a lot in garbage time this year. It says here they will.
Pierre Garcon, Colts – Nice little TD run on Monday night plus it sounds like the Colts coaches are high on this guy. With Collie more of a slot player and Gonzalez also best suited in the slot, there is a decent chance Garcon could see significant time lined up outside for the remainder of the season.
Justin Forsett, Seahawks – Julius Jones is fantasy football’s Jekyll and Hyde. Gangbusters in week 1 against the Rams and then 9 yards on 11 touches this week (okay, he did get a receiving TD). Forsett stepped in with 92 yards on 11 touches. In deep leagues, he’s worth taking a flyer on.

Moving Down

Matt Forte, Bears – It’s not so much that he had 29 yards on 13 carries against the Steelers. The bigger issue is that he had 55 yards on 25 carries against the Packers in week 1 and Cedric Benson put up 141 yards on 29 carries against Green Bay this week.
Steve Slaton, Texans – Slaton and the entire Texans offense looked overmatched in week 1 against the Jets. However, while the passing game bounced back in week 2 against the Titans, Slaton did not, with 34 yards on 17 carries. After two games, he is averaging less than 2 yards per carry and has 51 yards rushing.
Tom Brady, Patriots – Brady looked rusty in the first half against the Bills and the Jets neutralized the Pats passing game through a combination of blitzes and Darrelle Revis blanketing Randy Moss. Not every team has a Revis at their disposal but Brady can expect to see plenty of blitzes until his offensive line play improves. Matt Light looked especially bad this week. Julian Edelman looked decent this week but Wes Welker is Brady’s main option on blitzes and Brady will suffer until Welker returns.
Carson Palmer, Bengals – His week 1 performance could be chalked up to being rusty but after two weeks, Palmer has just 432 yards and has thrown 4 picks and 3 TD. What’s really ugly is that it came against the Broncos and the Packers. What to expect against the Ravens and Steelers? Exactly.
Thomas Jones and Leon Washington, Jets – For the Jets talented running back duo, it’s pick your fantasy poison. They’re going to split the carries with Jones getting the goal line work and the explosive Washington getting more opportunities in the passing game. It kills the value of both.
Willie Parker, Steelers – It’s not a sin to struggle against the Titans and Bears run defenses (66 yards on 27 carries, 0 TD). While there were reports Parker had hamstring problems, the bottom line is that he looks bad running the ball and offers nothing as a pass catcher. His straight line speed doesn’t seem to be there anymore. Worse yet, he’s leaving yards on the table due to a reluctance to run up the middle. Unless Parker improves, at some point, the team has to give 2008 1st round pick Rashard Mendenhall a shot.
Eddie Royal, Broncos – Seems like Royal is suffering a bit of a sophomore slump with five receptions for 38 yards in two games. The targets are there (13 in total) but the production isn’t.
Matt Hasselbeck, Seahawks – He had nice fantasy numbers in week 1 against the Rams but looked very bad in doing so (2 picks despite the Rams generating practically no pass rush). This week, he apparently suffered a fractured rib. Two weeks – ineffective once, hurt once. Oh yeah, he’s 34 and missed extensive time last year.
Lance Moore, Saints – Wasn’t sold on him in the preseason (ranked 42nd and cited as a potential bust), and certainly not sold now that he has 38 yards on 2 receptions in two games. Moore was blanked this week, suffered a hamstring injury and is getting about 20 snaps a game in the Saints wide receiver rotation of Marques Colston, Devery Henderson, Robert Meachem and Moore. Oh, there’s also Reggie Bush, Pierre Thomas and Mike Bell looking for touches in New Orleans.
Josh Morgan, 49ers – One of fantasy football’s biggest sleeper picks went 3 for 38 in week 1 and wasn’t targeted once in week 2. The bloom is off the rose.
JaMarcus Russell, Raiders – Russell was just 7 for 24, 109 yards this week against the lowly Chiefs. On the season, he has completed just 35.2% of his passes. So much for the hype surrounding his nice three week run at the end of last season (626 yards passing with 6 TD and 2 interceptions).
Chris Chambers, Chargers – Yeah, that’s right, I said he was a fantasy tease in the preseason (ranked 52nd) and he’s proven it after two games with nothing in week 1 and 30 yards this week. Despite 10 targets this week, he managed just 2 receptions. It’s worth noting that Malcom Floyd had two deep targets and hauled one of them in for 45 yards. At some point, the Chargers have to get Floyd or Legedu Naanee more involved at Chambers expense.

Not Sold Yet

Darren Sproles, Chargers – The good news is that Sproles had 17 touches for 150 yards and a TD against the tough Ravens defense and Michael Bennett only had 6 touches. The bad news is that 81 yards (and the TD) came on a screen pass where the defense blew the coverage and there has been no word on how long LT will be out.
Trent Edwards, Bills – Solid backup QB numbers with 442 passing yards and 4 TD augmented with 49 yards on the ground. However, his reluctance to go downfield leaves little upside.
Julian Edelman, Pats – Eight catches for 98 looks good. However, the bottom line is that Edelman is a pure slot receiver and not big enough to be successful outside, if you were thinking he could be moved there to replace the disappointing Joey Galloway. Think of him as Wes Welker’s backup. If Welker goes down for a lengthy period, Edelman is worth owning. Otherwise, forget about it.

Faceoff – Steve Slaton vs. Chris Johnson

July 29, 2009 By Draft Buddy 3 Comments

Fantasy football season is here, and as draft day approaches, it is time to debate and decide on some key topics that could make or break our collective fantasy seasons. Through our faceoff series Dave Stringer and new contributor Andrew Kareckas provide opposing views so you can decide who gives the most compelling argument for their side of the faceoff.

Which 2nd year running back is a better fantasy pick for 2009, Steve Slaton or Chris Johnson?

Steve Slaton		Chris Johnson
Coming out of West Virginia, Steve Slaton was somewhat of an afterthought given his size which enabled the Texans to steal him in the 3rd round. In his second season, I project more of the same from Slaton with about 1,300 yards rushing and an improvement in the passing game to about 600 yards receiving. That latter projection is the difference between Slaton and Johnson, who wasn’t as elusive as expected as a receiver. Both are talented speedsters with the ability to break one through the middle. Slaton, however, has better hands which may allow him to replicate the efforts of the Eagles’ Brian Westbrook. As the Texans and Slaton improve together, expect consistent touches and double digit TDs. If you buy the Westbrook comparison, look for an expanded role for Slaton in 2009 as the team designs plays to get him in space. ~ Dave		While Slaton looked good last year in Houston, the electrifying Chris Johnson has more upside and figures to have a monster campaign in 2009 if the Titans reduce LenDale White’s role. And with Johnson averaging a full yard per carry more than White, there is little reason to think that won’t happen. While both players have the ability to make defenders miss, Johnson is clearly the faster of the two and capable of more big plays. If both players get roughly the same amount of touches (the guess here is that they both are around 320), Johnson will put up better production in 2009. ~ Andy

Mike’s 2-cents

I think Dave just nudges Andrew on the debate here. Personally, I’m a bit leery about both of these players as a prime 1st round pick, but slightly moreso with Slaton. That may be unfair to Slaton, who performed great last year, but Johnson does have better pedigree. Consider that knock on Slaton another positive comparison to Brian Westbrook, who was perenially undervalued but just kept on producing.

While I do think the Texans’ offense is on the upswing, fantasy players may be hyping them up a little more than warranted at this time. We know the Titans have built a solid foundation of a winning football team, to which Johnson benefits. In terms of receiving options, the Texans are better at the WR and TE positions, which could detract from Slaton’s receiving numbers relative to Johnson.

Johnson does have a TD vulture to contend with, the effective (although heavier at the time) LenDale White, but rumblings from the Texans indicate they are looking to manage Slaton’s workload to prevent him getting worn down. But who is going to do it? Maybe it is inevitable Slaton does get worn down as a result.

Tough call here, and a great first faceoff with more to come from Dave and Andy. We don’t have a poll function in the blog so check the forum post to place your vote.