Roundup: Cutler, Nicks give predictable results

Posted: October 17th, 2010 | Adam Rank | Tags: Jay Cutler, DeSean Jackson, Matt Cassel, Marques Colston, Ben Roethlisberger, Drew Brees, Dwayne Bowe, Matt Schaub, Drew Stanton, Shaun Hill, Matthew Stafford, LeSean McCoy, Jeremy Maclin, Hakeem Nicks, Brent Celek, Danario Alexander, Jahvid Best, Ryan Mathews

Even the greatest of fantasy matchups does not always mean a big payout. And yes, that headline is totally facetious.

The Seahawks ranked 31st in passing defense and looked horrible on the road. So it totally makes sense that Bears QB Jay Cutler would be without a touchdown. (And I started him.)

Giants WR Hakeem Nicks has been awesome of late, looking like the second coming of Plaxico Burress at times on the field. So against the Lions leaky secondary, there was every reason to believe that Nicks was going to have three receptions for eight yards — and no points. (Or .8 if you play in one of those fractional leagues.)

Here are some other highlights of the — what I call — 10 a.m. games.

Eagles WRs DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin were expected to have their value hurt because QB Kevin Kolb likes to check down to TE Brent Celek and RB LeSean McCoy. Jackson and Maclin each had two touchdowns, though it was not enough to save Kolb’s grasp on the starting job.Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger is far from rusty, putting up a huge fantasy number in his return to the NFL. Roethlisberger had a pair of touchdown passes, and WR Mike Wallace is going to be a fantasy star — yet he had 90 yards and a touchdown.Saints QB Drew Brees had a pair of touchdown passes, but where have you gone WR Marques Colston? Fantasy enthusiasts everywhere miss you.Raise your hand if you had St. Louis WR Danario Alexander as the guy who will most benefit from Mark Clayton‘s injury. The rookie from Missouri had 72 yards and a touchdown. Did you ever think you were to see a week where Alexander was a better start than Nicks?The Chargers wins and losses do not mean much from a fantasy perspective, per say. But can we blindly believe that the Chargers are just going to turn it around this season? Many are invested in RB Ryan Mathews, but is he ever going to have the training wheels removed?Were we too quick to bury Texans QB Matt Schaub and Chiefs WR Dwayne Bowe? Both had respectable games. But it was Chiefs QB Matt Cassel who was the real star, tossing three touchdown passes. That would have been a better bold pick as opposed to saying that Cutler was going to have three touchdowns.

Lions RB Jahvid Best still a must-start? His recent games certainly do not indicate that is the case. The Lions also need QB Matthew Stafford to return something fierce. Because Drew Stanton is not anybody’s fantasy fan. Even though Stanton was somewhat decent in relief of injured starter Shaun Hill.
– Adam Rank

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