This Week’s Studs
Andre Caldwell-seeing more playing time as a result of Jerome Simpson’s impending jail time, Caldwell showed why he has a chance to be the most consistent target in the Bengal passing game. With Green up and down (5 targets, 4 rec., 29 yards in week three) Caldwell filled the gap by garnering 12 targets (5th in the league) for 6 receptions and 53 yards. Unless Simpson’s munchies allow him to eat the mountain of evidence against him, you should expect consistency from Caldwell in the future. Some of you may remember his sporadic production a year ago when he played third fiddle to the T.Ocho show. I see him as a solid flex play this week in what should be a shootout with the Bills, or at least one team shooting out the Bengals and the Bengals shooting blanks. Either way, he should see a lot of targets. If Simpson is sidelined, I like Caldwell as a solid flex/WR 3 going forward.
Michael Jenkins-Cagey drafters may have taken a flier on Jenkins in hopes that he would work his way to a solid spot in the tenuous Vikings pass game, only to drop him after two weeks of lackluster production. Tied for 8th in the league with 11 targets, Jenkins joyously jumped on nine of those passes, gaining 88 yards. Personally, I’m not as confident in his sustained production as I am, in say, Caldwell or Sidney Rice’s, but you can bank on a few facts: McNabb will need mcthrow it, a lot; Bernard Berrian is an abomination, and Percy Harvin’s headaches will frustrate fantasy owners at least a handful of times this season. Keep your eye on him.
Sidney Rice-Those who drafted Rice in hopes that his talent would overcome Tavaris Jackson’s lackthereof, were finally rewarded when Rice played his first game of the season on Sunday, putting up a respectable eight catch, 109 yard performance on 10 targets. As bad as Jackson is, his chemistry with Rice is apparent and he now goes from easily droppable to damn near must startable. It’s one game, but his talent is undeniable and barring any injury setbacks, he is a guy I would like to have in my lineup.
Antonio Brown-Once again, he wasn’t blowing anybody away but after week one I wrote about Brown as the guy to eventually take the number two spot from Hines Ward and he is finally starting to take over that role. Targeted more times than Mike Wallace, Brown led the team with eight targets, capitalizing on four for 75 yards. Ward was warranted a dismal four targets (3 catches, 17 yards), and Colonel Sanders sauntered in with five (2 catches, 21 yards). Don’t wait until Brown explodes for a 100 plus yard, two touchdown game. Get him before they start writing about him on ESPN and Yahoo. In short, ask yourself this question: what can Brown do for you?
Torrey Smith-Torrey exploried the end zone on his first three catches and as a result he is a guy that is suddenly on everyone’s radar. I will say that his talent is undeniable and he is a guy I was watching in the preseason along with Tandon Doss, but I do believe that if healthy, Evans will be a big play guy in Raven offense who can steal some targets. The upside, however, clearly belongs to Torrey Smith and the way Flacco is throwing the ball, Smith is worth a waiver shot. He had 8 targets, catching five for 152 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Dane Sanzebacher-“and we’ll order it from” Sanzebacher, “and then I’ll f-ing love him completely and then I’ll…” hopefully you get the Tenacious D reference with some strong liberties with the lyrics. Now I would not endorse a strong waiver push for Sanzebacher, but he seems to be the primary red zone target for Cutler over the last two weeks and he sets up nicely for a stopgap play against the Panthers. As long as the Bears’ receiver roster looks like a platoon from Apocalypse Now, desperate owners looking to fill in a flex might think about being a member of the Dane Gang.
Titus Young-the young man certainly put up a Titan performance against the Vikings, catching four passes for 51 yards on 8 targets. I’d would be hard pressed to put him into any starting lineups but Burleson owners (I being one, twice over) should beware of this young upstart. Burleson bombed with two catches on two targets for 12 yards as Titus stole his thunder time and time again. He is guy to possibly snag off of free agency who could start peaking over the next few weeks. He’s a man to keep an eye on for sure.
Brandon Pettigrew-Pettigrew looked like he had Mackey pedigree in the Lions comeback against the ‘Vikes. Leading all tight ends with 13 targets, Pettigrew pulled in 11 catches for 112 yards. The only problem with Pettigrew is shifty Scheffler who happened to command only one target. Though research has shown that Pettigrew is the one Lion TE to own, I’ve been trying to notice a target trend with these two for over a year and I just can’t seem to nail it down. Despite the big game, I would be reluctant to call Pettigrew a TE1 but that doesn’t mean he isn’t a decent play against Dallas next week.
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