Riders On The Storm

The Jacksonville Jaguars have had an abysmal start to the 2014 season. Not a whole lot has gone right so far. The offense hasn't been good. The defense has not improved as expected. Only 5 games into the season, it may already be time to see what the rookies have.

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At 0-5, and not much hope, Blake Bortles has already taken over at the helm of the offense. This week in comments reported by NFL.com the Jags head coach Gus Bradley said that the backfield is now an open competition. This may mean that there is a Storm on the horizon. Storm Johnson that is. With Toby Gerhart a disappointment so far, and Denard Robinson being too undersized to take the lead back role in the offense, Storm Johnson might be the feature back of the near future with Jacksonville.

Johnson played his college years at Miami and Central Florida. His only season with a significant workload was his 2013 junior season. In that season he had 213 carries for 1139 yards and 14 touchdowns. Add to that 30 catches for 260 yards and 3 more touchdowns and you see some good production.

A 7th round pick this year by the Jaguars, Johnson seems likely to get a look at least for the next few games, and if he performs, he could end up with the job for this year and possibly years to come. At 6' and 209 pounds, he has the size to absorb the punishment as a feature back in the NFL. Not a burner, had a 4.6 40-yard dash at the combine, Johnson is more likely to be a pound it up the gut power back. One knock on his potential will be the condition of the offensive line in Jacksonville. Not the most talented bunch in the league, they have not made much space for the backs so far this year.

That being said, there is always value in a starting running back in the NFL. If the Jaguars give Storm the amount of touches a feature back should get, he could be a valuable addition to a fantasy roster that has under performing running backs or has been decimated by injuries or suspensions this season. I recommend making a speculative add of Storm Johnson to your fantasy rosters. Dropping players that will likely never see a start on your team, handcuffs that you don't have the starter for, or injured players are the guys to look at dropping to add him. I would consider dropping Montee Ball for Johnson as well with his lack of performance and multi-week injury situation.

Storm Johnson could rain down some much needed points on your fantasy football season. Seed the clouds of your fantasy roster today.

Trade Target: AJ Green

AJ Green has been nursing a toe injury this season. This culminated in him leaving practice on Wednesday on a cart, and seeing two specialists. For enterprising fantasy owners, the time to pounce is now.

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Take a moment and look at the roster of the Green owner in your leagues. If he is deficient at wide receiver or running back, and you can afford it, then you are now presented with a golden opportunity to take action and gamble on the ability of Green to return this season. The chatter on twitter today has been that Green will likely miss a few weeks. That wide receiver or running back deficient Green owner may need help now. If you have a surplus at any position, you may be able to help that owner out, at the right price.

I personally made offers in 3 of my 4 leagues (I own Green in the 4th) that will both help out the current owner in my leagues, while giving me the upside of a top 7 wide receiver if Green can get right this year. Don't necessarily give up your top tier talent to get him. If you can afford it, offer. The worst you can hear is no. My offers were Pierre Garçon to an owner who needs a receiver this week, and Matt Asiata and Jerick McKinnon to an owner who needs a running back now. The last offer was on a team where if I get Green, he would still be the 4th best receiver on the team, so I offered my 4th best running back Ahmad Bradshaw, and am not going to be upset if I don't get him. These players are about what I would value at the top of the spectrum for Green, since it is unknown if he will miss significant time the rest of this season.

If you want to find the best deals on Green, strike now. If the information comes out later this week that it is only a 1-2 week injury, the price will likely increase exponentially. If your trade partner needs help, offer it, and hopefully reap the rewards for swift action.  Good luck!

Match Up Monsters And Misses Week 6

Welcome once again to the match up monsters and misses article. We find ourselves in week 6 of the NFL season. This week sees the New Orleans Saints and Kansas City Chiefs on bye. Let's examine the match ups further.

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The following teams have good match ups in week 6:

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Arizona Cardinals: This match up is conditional. Assuming that the Cardinals have Carson Palmer or even Drew Stanton playing, they should score well against Washington. Even though the Washington defense is ranked 10th in total defense on the season, 10th in pass defense, and 15th in run defense, the numbers are skewed in my opinion. Seattle gashed the pass defense last week, only to be thwarted by penalties. And we saw Russell Wilson run crazy for a Monday Night Football record 122 yards and a score. Even so, through 5 games, Washington has given up 11 passing touchdowns. Along with the passing touchdowns allowed, they are allowing 114.6 rushing yards a game. Some of this is due to inconsistent quarterback play by the Washington quarterbacks giving their opponents a short field. Andre Ellington is a must start. Palmer or Stanton can provide a nice bye week fill in for Drew Brees in case of emergency. Michael Floyd should get healthy with solid quarterback play. Larry Fitzgerald is a flex play this week. John Brown is still a bit raw and should be played at your own risk.

San Diego Chargers: The Chargers have the luxury of playing an Oakland team this week that is not only terrible, but now deals with the turmoil of an in season coaching change. Ranked 19th in total defense, the Raiders can't stop the run, so nobody needs to pass. Giving up a whopping 158.2 yards per game on the ground so far this season, the Raiders rank 31st in the league. Their passing defense is ranked 5th, only allowing 207 yards per game. I expect that number to change this week. Phillip Rivers is a must start. Having an MVP worthy season so far, he should not be seeing your bench. Given the injury problems that San Diego has had at the running back position this year, it is hard to say who to play this week. If Donald Brown plays, he is a must start. Ronnie Brown is less certain. He is familiar with the offense, but not sure I want to trust him. Branden Oliver had an amazing game last week, but if another back is present, the split may not be the same. Start all your healthy San Diego receivers and Antonio Gates.

New York Giants: The Giants have a fantastic match up against the terrible defense of the Philadelphia eagles. Ranked 28th overall in defense, the Eagles are 29th against the pass and 24th against the run. They have allowed 13 passing touchdowns and 132 rushing yards per game. Teams facing the Eagles are scoring touchdowns 62.5% of their trips to the red zone. Andre Williams gets the start at running back this week for the Giants and is a must start. Victor Cruz and Ruben Randle are great wide receiver 2 starts or flex options. Odell Beckham Jr. is not bad as a spot start in a tough flex spot after scoring last week in his NFL debut. Larry Donnell is a good start with that red zone inefficiency on defense for the Eagles.

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Chicago Bears: The Bears play the hapless Atlanta defense this week. At 29th overall, 24th against the pass, and 28th against the run, the stats should pile up for the Bears offense this week. Atlanta has given up 10 rushing touchdowns on the season and 147.6 yards per game on the ground. Through the air the Falcons defense has given up 259.6 yards per game and 5 touchdowns. Matt Forte Feasts this week on the souls of Atlanta defensive players. Jay Cutler should be able to carve up the defense. If they can catch a pass on the Bears roster, you should play them. All systems go this week for the Bears.

Denver Broncos: The Broncos lost their starting running back this week, but that likely won't matter too much this week against the New York Jets. The front 7 of the Jets stops the run well. The secondary is not as good against the pass. They are tied for second worst in touchdowns allowed through the air, and give up 237.8 yards per game through the air. The Jets offense is not playing well, and they always have the possibility of a turnover allowing a short field. The good news is that Denver seems to have decided that they are going to pass the ball. A lot. Start all your Denver receivers. If I have to tell you that you should start Peyton Manning, you are doing this wrong. Julius Thomas is a man. A large, pass catching, touchdown scoring man. Never sit him. Ever.

The following teams have bad match ups for week 6:

Carolina Panthers: The Panthers play a Cincinnati Bengals team that is likely to be quite angry after being blown out last week against a, so far, mediocre New England team. The Bengals defense is ranked 27th overall, but that statistic may be misleading. Only allowing 19 points per game so far this season, they seem to be a bend but don't break squad. Allowing 140 yards per game as the 27th ranked run defense, they have only allowed 3 rushing touchdowns on the season. The passing defense ranks 19th and allows 250.8 yards per game, but only 4 touchdowns. The Panthers are a mess in the backfield. Cam is not fully healthy. Last week he did rush 6 times, but only had 9 yards rushing. The Panthers have 1 solid receiver, and he is a rookie with drop issues. Until they prove those things wrong, I don't like playing any Panthers if I don't have to.

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New England Patriots: The Pats play the Buffalo Bills in week 6. The Bills have the 2nd ranked run defense in the NFL. They only allow 71 yards per game, and have not allowed a rushing touchdown on the season. Along with the bad match up against the Bills run defense, the Patriots running game is always a mystery. Who will it be week to week? I could see the Patriots focusing more on the passing game and maybe using Shane Vereen more, but who knows what Belichick will do?

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Dallas Cowboys: The Cowboys play the Seahawks in week 6, in Seattle. This is considered one of the hardest, if not the hardest, places to play in the NFL. Add to that the fact that the Seahawks are now ranked 1st against the run at 62.2 yards a game and only 1 touchdown allowed. This will make for a clash of the titans in Seattle this week. The best running back so far against the best run defense. You aren't sitting DeMarco Murray, but I wouldn't expect the production you have gotten used to. As for the passing defense of the Seahawks, they have looked vulnerable at times. But we should remember that in their first 4 games, they have faced 3 of the top quarterbacks in the NFL. Dez Bryant is another guy I am not thrilled about the match up for, temper expectations. Jason Witten has been decent, but nothing to write home about, and I don't think he is fast enough anymore to be effective against the swarming Seattle defense. Terrance Williams has a shot if he draws the nickel corner, as the Seahawks have a small hole there.

Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings face off against the Detroit Lions this week. The Lions have the 3rd ranked run defense in the NFL allowing a meager 74.4 yards per game and 3 touchdowns on the season. The loss of Adrian Peterson obviously put a damper on the running ability of the Vikings. Matt Asiata has only 231 rushing yards on the season averaging 46.2 yards per game. The 3 touchdowns he has came in a game against the bad Atlanta defense. Jerick McKinnon has 166 yards this season, 125 of them against that same Atlanta defense. Neither of them had a good game against the 32nd ranked Green Bay run defense last week. I wouldn't play either of these guys against the Lions this week if you have anyone with a pulse on your bench to play.

This draws to a close the in depth look at the match ups for week 6 in the NFL. Good luck with your games this week. Go get 'em!