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Were you one of those people who liked report card day back in school? I wasn’t but not for reasons that you might think. Being the youngest of five my parents really didn’t care what kind of grades I got because at that point they had seen it all. Even at a young age I had a thirst to learn and to know. I would pay attention to the things that I wanted to learn about and drift off when the class was talking something I didn’t care about. This happens in fantasy sports all of the time except now I am the teacher, which sucks a lot more than I thought it did by the way.

So each week I will be going over all of my rankings, projections, lineup advice and strong opinions and letting the record speak for itself. Obviously this is a risky proposition considering if I am wrong too much it could be a severe hit to my career. But I have confidence because fantasy football is something that I love and have a desire to learn about every single day. So despite the risk, I accept this challenge.

Here is the second edition of Right, Wrong or Indifferent taking a look back at NFL Week 9:

RIGHT

Ryan Tannehill, QB, Dolphins

I’ve been the biggest supporter of Tannehill this entire season and all of that faith is really starting to pay off. Tannehill finished the week ahead of Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and every other QB not named Ben Roethlisberger or Tom Brady. The rushing yards are phenomenal as he’s had at least 47 yards rushing in his last four games.

Michael Vick, QB, Jets

I felt bad laughing in the face of a caller earlier last week when he asked whether he should start Vick over Carson Palmer. But if anybody watched this game and could honestly say that Vick has any interest in playing football I would call you a damn fool right to your face. The head injury that knocked him out of the game temporarily was one of the silliest fakes I have ever seen in sports.  

Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seahawks

I dislike Marshawn Lynch as much as anybody in the NFL. He is very hard to figure out from a fantasy point of view as well but this week he was just destined for a good game against the awful Raiders defense. Sure enough, Lynch pounded out 143 total yards and two rushing TD’s.

Charles Sims, RB, Buccaneers

Everybody is so consumed with picking up and starting that “next guy” and all of last week Sims was at the forefront of everyone’s mind. The fact was he wasn’t even activated to the roster until late Saturday. I spent a lot of time telling you guys to make other arrangements and if you listened that advice came in mighty handy on Sunday morning.

Marion Grice, RB, Cardinals

Grice made me proud this week when he took in a one yard TD against the Cowboys. I’ve been touting him as a guy to add for the past two weeks because of his likely goal line and short yardage usage for the power Cardinals offense. Please note I am not saying that anybody should be starting Grice just yet, rather that he is a name that fantasy owners should know and be paying attention to right now.

Julian Edelman, WR, Patriots

Where is my apology? So many people gave up on Edelman despite the concrete facts that told us he would rebound from two underwhelming performances. As good as his 9-89-1 game was, Edelman also added an 84 yard punt return TD and had another touchdown nullified after the review showed it touched the turf. I had Edelman as my #9 PPR WR this week and he finished #7.

Mike Evans, WR, Buccaneers

Admittedly I wasn’t overly bullish on Evans this week but I talked about him quite a bit this past week. If I had a dollar for every time that I referred to Evans having at least four receptions in every game this season I would be able to buy a nice suede jacket.

DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Texans

How long is it going to take before the rest of the fantasy industry realize that Hopkins is the clear WR1 in Houston? Every week I have to defend myself ranking Hopkins ahead of Andre Johnson and every week I wind up being right for it. Then, the industry goes ahead and makes the exact same mistake the following week. Let’s start holding people accountable for this and calling them out. Anybody who has watched 1.5 Texans games this year knows that Hopkins is Fitzpatrick’s favorite target.

Travis Kelce, TE, Chiefs

Strangely, Kelce was overlooked by many playing DFS this week. I understand the love of Rob Gronkowski but folks were trumpeting for spending 25% more for Julius Thomas who has just 8 non TD receptions in his last seven games. Kelce had a great matchup against the Jets and took full advantage of it as any high quality player should.

 

WRONG

Cam Newton, QB, Panthers

It’s going to be real hard for me to rank Cam Newton in the top 10 of QB’s anytime soon. I am extremely disappointed in his demeanor and his receiving corps. Just wait for my Mark Sanchez Vs. Cam Newton debate on the Fantasy Alarm Show this week.

Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Steelers

One of if not the hardest things to pinpoint in sports is when an 11 year veteran just all of a sudden starts playing tremendously better football. Big Ben’s past two weeks performances aren’t because of the matchups, or game situations or even a massive offensive line push. He is simply throwing the football at an elite level and cannot be stopped. It’s quite fascinating and as tempted as I am to be drawn in by it, I just know too well that these things have a very short shelf life. I’ll be wrong for a week or two but I also won’t let Roethlisberger flame out my season come playoff time.

Ben Tate, RB, Browns

It doesn’t matter which RB the Browns decide to give carries to, none of them will be successful fantasy players for more than one week going forward. This situation is such a mess that it is time to just stay away and let some other unfortunate soul deal with them. I am sorry for being so high on Tate each of the last three weeks. If Alex Mack doesn’t go down, Tate is a top five RB but that is just not reality right now.

Mike James, RB, Buccaneers

I am not going to run from this recommendation that I made Sunday morning. I really didn’t expect Bobby Rainey to carry the ball as much as he did and I thought James would see a few more of those totes as a result. I will say that if there was a goal line carry to be had, James would have gotten it and this play would have paid off. But it didn’t and I will take my lumps accordingly.

Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Panthers

Easily my biggest bust of the week. I had Benjamin ranked as my #4 WR this week and had recommended him as a must start in the Thursday edition of the DFS NFL Playbook. He did receive 10 targets but dropping two potential TD’s and being overthrown on a wide open bomb ruined what could have been a big night for him. I am not selling on Benjamin however just yet. I have little faith in Cam anymore but I will hold onto Kelvin in the meantime.

Pierre Garcon, WR, Redskins

Coming into Sunday’s game Garcon had received double digit targets in all but 2 games that he and Robert Griffin III had played in together. He was involved early against the Vikings then left with what appeared to be a leg injury. He missed just a couple of plays before resume his spot at the Redskins X receiver. Problem is, he didn’t receive another target until early in the fourth quarter.

Michael Floyd, WR, Cardinals

I guess this is Larry Fitzgerald’s season, huh? I wasn’t crazy high on Floyd entering this season but have become an advocate for him now that the rest of the world (who loved him dearly in August) are now dumping on him. He’s going to have some big weeks still this season so avoid him if you want but it will end up burning you here eventually.

Vernon Davis, TE, 49ers

Late last week I started to get excited about Vernon Davis. He is in the final year of his contract and the 49ers are in desperate need of a receiver who makes plays down the field. Neither Michael Crabtree or Anquan Boldin are that guy so Davis will have to fill the bill. Davis desperately needs a big finish to the 2014 season for his future so I would recommend him as a buy low guy right now.

 

INDIFFERENT

Alex Smith, QB, Chiefs

I had Smith as a startable guy this week and to that end he didn’t disappoint. Granted 199 yards is bad but his two TD’s saved the day for him. Smith was the 12th highest scoring fantasy QB in week nine but if he would have thrown for one more yard and had run for just his usual 20 yards he would have wound up eighth.

Colin Kaepernick, QB, 49ers

I am going to argue a bit for Kaepernick here. If he is granted that last second TD that it appeared as though he had against the Rams, he would have been the eighth best fantasy QB in week nine. Sure Kaepernick played like crap, but his fantasy totals were decent enough to not destroy your week. One call by the referees and the entire outlook changes.

Matt Asiata, RB, Vikings

Here me out. Nobody could have started Asiata last week. Even after his three vulture TD’s you simply cannot plug a guy into your lineup that has 22 carries for just 46 yards over the past four weeks. Whatever you do please don’t chase this performance because it will not end well for you or your fantasy team.

Jerick McKinnon, RB, Vikings

I’ll take this one to the grave as being a correct call. If McKinnon gets just one of those goal line carries he exceeds his price for the week. It’s astonishing that they wouldn’t give the kid who has done so well for them over the last four weeks an opportunity at a touchdown.

Dez Bryant, WR, Cowboys

Dez has been a frequent “indifferent” on these pages lately mostly because he’s absent until a late TD saves his fantasy week. That is exactly what happened again this week as 10 targets netted just 2-15-1. That is a testament to just how bad Brandon Weeden played on Sunday.

Jordan Matthews, WR, Eagles

I have always been high on Matthews and that didn’t change this week either. But I have to admit that despite my high ranking of him he did only get three receptions for 40 yards with a touchdown. That TD came from backup QB Mark Sanchez as well which takes some of the steam out of my bragging engine here.

Owen Daniels, TE, Ravens & Crockett Gillmore, TE, Ravens

I said all week that I was in favor of starting either Owen Daniels or Crockett Gillmore this week depending on whether Daniels was healthy enough to be active on Sunday night. Sure enough, Daniels played and did quite well hauling in 6-53 on the night. The funny thing is that Gillmore got a one yard TD reception himself. I can’t really brag about that but figure it is good enough to at least mention it.