2012 Fantasy Baseball Rankings, Advice & Analysis
  Matt Hasselbeck (credits below) So what exactly is The Fantasy Spread? The Fix takes a look at fantasy projections and tries to determine whether ESPN got it right. So enjoy and let's hear your thoughts... QB- Matt Hasselbeck vs. NO (257 pass yds, 2 rush yds, 2tds, 18 Fantasy Pts) Glancing over the QB projections this week, I see the usual suspects atop the board, Rodgers, Stafford, Brady, Newton, Brees, Hasselbeck.. Wait, Matt Hasselbeck?? Thats right folks, ESPN has Matt Hasselbeck rated as the 6th best QB this week. To me, its hard to believe considering Hasselbecks last 3 games COMBINED (3, 6, 9 fantasy pts respectively) exactly equal his projection of 18 pts this week. Also, in those 3 games, he has thrown for less then 150 yds twice. I believe ESPN is under the assumption that the Titans go down big early causing Hasselbeck to throw most of the game. While that might be true, I dont see much happening there. Its also worth noting, Hasselbeck's season high in pts is 18, which he has done 3 times. I am taking the under. RB- Ray Rice vs. IND (101 rush yds, 22 rec yds, 2 tds, 24 fantasy pts) Coming in this week atop the RB projections list was none other then Ray Rice who is coming off his monster 204 rush yd, 10 rec yds, and 1td game (good for 27 fantasy pts) vs. the Browns last week. Rice also listed with ESPN's top scoring projection this week with 24 fantasy pts. Going against a weak Colts D that ranks 30th against the run, this is definately a juicy matchup for Rice. Rice has eclipsed the 24pt mark 4 times this year and is destined for a big game. This game could get out of hand quickly, and the Ravens might choose to give Rice some rest if this happens. I believe Rice has a huge day for fantasy owners, but Im not going to say he quite gets 24. Going with the under.. (But not by much) WR- Wes Welker @ WAS (91 rec. yds, 1 td, 15 fantasy pts) The Wes Welker of earlier this season has made a comeback the last 2 weeks with back to back 100+yd games and 2 total tds. He's coming off a 110rec yd effort although he wasnt able to get into the end zone. Welker has gone over the 100+yd mark 7 times this season and is a good bet to make it 8 this week against the Redskins. I expect Brady to find Welker often in this game and get him into the end zone. I'm taking the over. TE- Benjamin Watson @ PIT (26 rec.yds, 1td, 8 fantasy pts) Benjamin Watson scoring 8 fantasy pts vs. Pittsburghs D @ Heinz Field? Really? ESPN is basically counting on a TD from Watson this week to fulfill his projection. Yes, Watson had 155 rec. yds and a td in 2 meetings with Pittsburgh last year but I wouldnt expect him to have success this year. Watson hasn't seen the end zone since week 4 and his highest pt. total since then was in week 8 when he scored 6. Pittsburgh's pass defense ranks 2nd in the league, and the Browns have given up 30 sacks this year to opponents. Add those to playing in hostile Heinz Field..I'm taking the under. RB- Shonn Greene vs. KC (88 rush yds, 10rec yds, 1 td, 15 fantasy pts) Greene is coming off of his best game of the year in which he ran for 88 rush yds while scoring 3 tds (28 fantasy pts). The 88 yds rushing were his 2nd highest of the season behind a 112 yd. effort vs. SD and his 3 tds were more then the 2 he had for the entire season. At first glance I was going to go with the under, but coming off a 3td performance and with the Jets still playing for a playoff birth at home vs. the Chiefs who sport the 25th ranked rush defense, I'm going to go with the over. *Projections are those as predicted by ESPN standard scoring leagues Written by Michael P. exclusively for TheFantasyFix.com. You can follow him on Twitter @prospect_101 Follow The Fantasy Fix on Twitter @thefantasyfix or for Free Fantasy Sports Advice use our Quick Fix to get help with your team! (December 3, 2011 - Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images North America) Add Comment   Tom Brady (credits below) It's never too late in the season to start a new column. So what exactly is The Fantasy Spread? The Fix takes a look at fantasy projections and tries to determine whether ESPN got it right. So enjoy and let's hear your thoughts... QB Tom Brady @ PHI- (*316 pass yds, 4 rush yds, 3 td's) Projected Points: 22 fantasy pts When a fantasy owner hears the name Tom Brady, one thinks elite fantasy QB. There is no questioning that, but this projection seems a bit high to me. Yes, Philadelphia is an underperforming team with a sub-par rush defense but they do sport the leagues 12th best D vs. the pass. Brady can explode any given Sunday given the talented receivers and tight ends he has at his disposal and as evidenced by his three 25+ pt. performances. But with only one 20+ pt. fantasy day in his last 7 game, I will take the under on this projection. RB Kevin Smith vs. GB- (*74 rush yds, 22 rec. yds, 1td) Projected Points: 15 fantasy pts Kevin Smith had a coming out party last weekend just weeks after being signed off of his couch by torching the Carolina Panthers for 140 rush yds, 2tds and 4 rec. for 61 yds and another td to reward the fantasy owners who started him to the tune of an astounding 38 fantasy pts. This week his matchup is against the undefeated division rival Packers. The Packers are solid against the run and rank 12th in the league but rank dead last against the pass. Smith took 1st time reps in practice Tuesday and is expected to start Thursdays game. Smith is a hard runner, good blocker, and good pass catcher out of the backfield and I could see him getting a full compliment of snaps with the occasional breather. I expect him to be fully utilized in both the run game and in the passing game in this game which figures to be a shootout. I will take the over. WR Vincent Jackson vs. Den- (*95 rec. yds, 1td) Projected Points: 15 fantasy pts After a 2 pt. performance 2 weeks ago vs. Oakland, Jackson came out last Sunday and burned the Bears secondary which ranks 30th in the league against the pass for 7 catches, 165 rec. yds, and a td, good for 22 fantasy pts. This Sunday he has another juicy matchup against the division rival Broncos, who rank 21st against the pass this season. Jackson is a true hit or miss player as he has 6 games this season of 6 or less fantasy pts (19pts. total in those 6 games) and has 15+ fantasy pts. in the other 4 games (99pts. total in those 4 games). Considering the fact that the Chargers are only 2 games back in their division and are playing a team ahead of them, I believe Rivers will look Jacksons way early and often in this game leading to big numbers. I will take the over. TE Heath Miller @ KC- (*41 rec. yds, 1 td) Projected Points: 10 fantasy pts Glancing over the tight end projections this week, I came across this shocker. Miller is projected officially with the 7th best tight end fantasy pt. projection, tied with such names as Antonio Gates, and Aaron Hernandez and is projected 6 pts higher then Vernon Davis. Granted, KC was just demolished by the Patriots on Monday night, their pass defense is still ranked 14th in the league. Counting on Miller to reach his projection is basically counting on him to score a td. Miller has had some decent yardage games this season, highlighted by an 85 yd performance week 8 vs. the Patriots but he hasnt scored since week 7 and has only tallied 10 fantasy pts in only 2 of his 10 games. Expecting him to score a td this week is a big gamble. I will take the under. QB Tim Tebow @ SD- (134 pass yds, 43 rush yds, 2tds) Projected Points: 17 fantasy pts I'm going to start off by mentioning that in Tebows 6 games this season, he has scored in double digits in every game including 15+ fantasy pts. in 5 of the 6. This week ESPN has predicted that Tebow will score as many pts. as Phillip Rivers and Matt Ryan and more pts. then Ben Roethlisberger, Josh Freeman, and Alex Smith. Yes, Tebow has thrown a td in all but one of his starts and has a couple 2 td games, but he has yet to reach the 200 pass yd mark this season and alot of his value comes from his ability to run. Denver is a run first team and will continue to be. I have to believe that the Chargers will gameplan for Denvers rushing attack (including Tebow) and try to contain him. I believe Tebow will still score in double digits but Im not all in, YET. I'm taking the under here. *Projections are those as predicted by ESPN standard scoring leagues Written by Michael P. exclusively for TheFantasyFix.com. You can follow him on Twitter @prospect_101 Follow The Fantasy Fix on Twitter @thefantasyfix or for Free Fantasy Sports Advice use our Quick Fix to get help with your team! *Projections are those as predicted by ESPN standard scoring leagues Written by Michael P. exclusively for TheFantasyFix.com. You can follow him on Twitter @prospect_101 Follow The Fantasy Fix on Twitter @thefantasyfix or for Free Fantasy Sports Advice use our Quick Fix to get help with your team! | CategoriesAll  |
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