Empty the Bench

- The Giants offense is a lot better, and more balanced, than I anticipated. The offensive line is obviously playing great, but we knew they would (hopefully injuries to Kareem McKenzie and Rich Seubert don’t hurt the unit too much). However, I was one of the guys that thought Plaxico Burress made Eli Manning look good, and that he wouldn’t be able to make plays and keep safeties downfield enough without Plax to put up numbers and keep defenses honest. Steve Smith isn’t the playmaker Burress was, but he’s a more consistent option than Burress ever was. Last week: 7 targets, 7 catches, 63 yards and 1 TD. Mario Manningham continues to impress after the catch and Hakeem Nicks could be a factor after mid-season.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Bradshaw looks like a future household name. The kid is explosive out of the backfield, averaging over 6 yards per carry for his career. He runs hard and shows good burst and instincts, now he just needs to improve in the passing game and get an opportunity. I’ve got a gut feeling that his chance to shine will come this season. Brandon Jacobs‘ running style and body make me nervous, but even if Jacobs stays healthy Bradshaw’s productivity as a No. 2 on his team may just be good enough to qualify as your RB2 or RB3 in the bye weeks.

Ahmad Bradshaw photo credit: Icon SMI

- Brett Favre has been solid, good enough at least, but not as good as Vikings fans hoped or as good as Minnesota will need him to be going forward. Yes, that last-minute comeback was one for the ages, and it was the exact type of performance that Favre was brought in for. But the first two weeks were the definition of pedestrian and before the final minute Sunday Brett was having a thoroughly mediocre day. I still haven’t seen him deliver balls to the sidelines downfield, he doesn’t have a rapport with any receiver outside of Percy Harvin (shocking) and Brad Childress can only hide and gameplan around that sub-6.0 YPA for so long. He’s dominated SportsCenter highlights all week, but I need to see a better performance from No. 4 on Monday against Green Bay before I’m sold.

- The San Francisco 49ers are going to be a tough out. Mike Singletary commands respect. San Francisco is going to win that division.

- Kickers do enough to muss up NFL games, you don’t need to be rooting for them in your fantasy league as well. They stress you out with your real-life team and gambling lines, next season don’t feel obligated to carry that headache over to your fantasy football endeavors. Trust me, you’ll never look back.

- Clinton Portis is done. I don’t think Ladell Betts would be tearing shit up right now in that offense, but I think he’s a better option and if I were sitting on the hot seat like Jim Zorn is I would be ready to make the switch. Now.

Breakin’ seven more eggs on wisdom on your forehead, after the jump…

- Jay Cutler is going to be just fine, but he still lacks that legit go-to option out wide. Devin Hester is improving and he’s capable of big plays, but he’s no Eddie Royal or Brandon Marshall in terms of consistency (and that doesn’t mean I think drop-prone, prima donna Marshall is a paradigm of trustworthiness). I thought Greg Olsen could be that dude with his ability to go over the middle and also take it up the seam and out wide with impressive speed and athleticism for a TE, but teams have been scheming him away from the ball and he hasn’t been able to adjust. I’m not sure any of the Bears receiving options will be every-week starters on fantasy squads this year.

- The Cowboys passing game just isn’t impressive and it looks like Dallas would be best served by putting significant emphasis on the running game, much to Jerry Jones’ chagrin. The offensive line is clumsy and mistake-prone in pass protection, Roy Williams was never a No. 1 wideout between the ears and now he doesn’t even look capable below the shoulders. For my money Jason Witten is the best tight end in the NFL, and he’s the only receiver Tony Romo trusts right now – with good cause.

- The way he manages late-game situations cannot be defended, but there’s no doubting the fact that Andy Reid makes offensive players look good. LeSean McCoy is next. The writing is clearly on the wall with the Eagles taking McCoy in the second round and not picking up Brian Westbrook‘s option. Given the start on Sunday McCoy looked smooth and polished with the ball, at least when he wasn’t juking people out of their shoes, and I didn’t see any glaring weaknesses in picking up pass rushers. Westbrook is clearly on the decline, Reid plans to platoon the two going forward, and I don’t have a hard time seeing McCoy as a stronger fantasy play in the imaginary postseason. Hopefully you handcuffed. I’m buying where I can.

- The New York Jets suddenly play with a lot of swagger, and it’s not just Rex Ryan and Mark Sanchez. They’re fun to watch.

- Joe Flacco is better than I thought he was. A lot better. Kudos to the kid and to Cam Cameron. For the first time ever, the Baltimore Ravens offense is scary.

- Wide receivers are capable of making their quarterbacks look good, but don’t count on it on draft day. Josh Morgan, Stevonne Smith, Antonio Bryant, Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal, Braylon Edwards, Calvin Johnson, Terrell Owens – all fine receivers with nobody to get them the ball. Sometimes it works out for the freak physical specimens, but just as often it doesn’t. It’s maddening when it goes wrong through no fault of your guy. It’s certainly something I’ll be taking into account more next season.

- Blow up the Cleveland Browns. That team is going nowhere, they’re no better off than they were at any point in the last decade, and there’s simply no reason to think things will change. The latest Belichick disciple is just as laughable as the last, perhaps even more so given his delusions of strategic acumen. It’s fucking depressing. I’m sorry Browns fans.

Jay Cutler photo credit: Icon SMI

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