Fool's Gold
Posted 10/29 by Marc Faletti, Exclusive to Footballguys.com
I want to put Ted Ginn on the list this week, I really do. Miami spreads the ball around and doesn't focus on one player for any longer than a specific matchup dictates. But goshdarnit if Ginn didn't look like a real receiver -- running decent routes, taking some hits, even making a guy miss. I don't want to bet against a guy who likes like the light bulb might be going on, and Ginn almost looked like a mini-Santana Moss. At the very least, watch out in 2009, folks.
But hey, we didn't come here to discuss the guys who aren't flukes, did we? We came here to discuss guys like:
Joe Flacco, QB, BAL
Fool's Gold: 4 rushes for 23 yards and 1 TD, 1 catch for 43 yards
"How can a guy be in Fool's Gold 2 weeks in a row?" you might be saying. "That means he's not Fool's Gold!" Ahhh, but we must look closer. Flacco did indeed return to Earth in his passing stats, completing 50% for 140 yards (half of which were gained on one play). It's all the running and catching Flacco did that padded his stats this week. He looked fairly athletic, but now that the NFL's seen the trickery, I expect the gains to be more modest. And remember, Flacco still has to face the entire NFC East, which will be much less forgiving than Miami. He's still a bottom 10 QB for fantasy purposes.
Leon Washington, RB, NYJ
Fool's Gold: 6 touches for 101 yards and 2 TDs
The stat line pretty much says it all: any time a running back takes 6 touches for over a hundred yards, he's either Adrian Peterson or a fluke. And in this case, we know that the Chiefs, who gave up the longest run of the NFL season to LenDale freaking White, are the source of these big gains, not Washington himself. Leon's quick and sure-handed, but the Jets don't run much and still give Thomas Jones two-thirds of the meager touches that are available.
Earnest Graham, RB, TB
Fool's Gold: 17 rushes for 42 yards
The Dallas defense must've realized they have to carry the team while Romo recovers, because we haven't seen them as pumped as they were on Sunday all season. The Bucs were kept out of the end zone entirely, but with the Chiefs, Lions, Saints and Falcons on the schedule - and Warrick Dunn still hurting - you can bet better days are ahead for Graham.
Michael Turner, RB, ATL
Fool's Gold: 17 rushes for 58 yards
If you think about it, isn't that more than you figured he might get against a Philly defense that's been superb all year long? You won't find a worse matchup than on the road against the Eagles all year, and with Matt Ryan showing he can move the ball in even the toughest of environments, you should consider this game the absolute floor for the talented Mr. Turner. He broke off some big runs on Sunday and looks primed for another 3 TD day soon.
Marques Colston, WR, NO
Fool's Gold: 2 catches for 56 yards
I know, I know, if you're a Colston owner the last thing you want to hear is that you should wait just a little bit longer for him to produce. But the team has been easing him back into the fold after his injury, and with the bye this week, expect Colston to see full-time duty again in week 10. This is the best passing game in the league, and Colston's their top target. He will probably be on a lot of teams that win their league.
Reggie Wayne, WR, IND
Fool's Gold: 3 catches for 29 yards
Meet the latest victim of Cortland Finnegan. Remember, Finnegan shut down Andre Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh and others this season just like he did Wayne on Monday night. The Colts have been on the unlucky end of every loose or tipped ball the last 2 games, which means they are due for some good (or at least not-totally-awful) luck soon. Expect it to start against a ho-hum New England secondary that was gashed by Donnie Avery.
