Check this out. Getting to pen “Right, Wrong or Indifferent: The Sit-in Judgment of Jeff Mans Piece” was not only a one week assignment – I get to do this for 17 full weeks. Load, aim, fire, repeat! So, each week I will be going over Jeff’s rankings and opinions and, well, telling it like it is. Just so I do not seem like I am a Jeff Mans sycophant, I will pepper this piece with a few of my own masterpieces and pieces of [use a word for dung] from the past week.
Here is the 2015 Week 4 edition of Right, Wrong or Indifferent:
RIGHT
DeAndre Hopkins: Maestro Mans was dead on when he penned: “Which team in the NFL has the highest pace of play, has ran the most offensive plays and thrown the most pass attempts? No way you'd guess the Texans but that is the truth. I love Hopkins as an under the radar go-to guy in a fast-paced and high-scoring affair in Atlanta this week.” Hopkins notching nine catches for 157 yards is a win even without hitting pay dirt. Hopkins now has two-straight games of eight or more receptions with 100-plus yards. Those who think Arian Foster will take over all of the touches have it wrong. When Foster gets in gear, it will just create more space for Hopkins. Keep investing.
Allen Hurns: Mans was spot on regarding the ugly Jags-Colts game, especially in his evaluation of Hurns. Specifically, he wrote: “Hurns has a lot of tools at his disposal and will likely be matched up against Jalil Brown with Allen Robinson drawing Vontae Davis.” What did Hurns do? 11 catches for 116 yards and a TD. If you watched the game, you saw what Mans must have seen on film. It is clear Bortles trusts Hurns, who has a knack of getting open. Good work Jeff (and those who listened to him)!
Martellus Bennett: Spotting a key trend, Mans opined as to Marty B: “The Raiders have given up the most fantasy points to TEs this season by far. The issue here is Bennett will be highly owned and has Jimmy Clausen throwing him the ball.” Mans urged playing Bennett even without Cutler (who ended up playing). Nice work Jeff, as 11 receptions, 83 yards and a TD is super production from your tight end. For those who think Alshon Jeffery will make it harder for Bennett to get the ball, remember that Bennett was very good with both Marshall and Jeffrey on the field for the Bears in 2014.
Ted Ginn, Jr.: OK, one for me. All week I was pushing my various co-managers to play Ginn. Fortunately, I prevailed upon them. Ginn did not dominate the real football game but his WR3/Flex production of two TD was sweet. The bottom line here is that every time the Panthers get close to the goal line, Greg Olsen will be double-teamed. Thus, someone else has to get the ball. Ginn looks like the best bet to be that guy.
WRONG
Matt Jones: I can hardly blame Mans for picking against the dumpster fire that is the Eagles, but this prediction hardly came to pass: “[Matt] Jones was the hot play last week but the game script did not go according to plan. This week I am calling for the Redskins to run the ball 35-plus times, which means another big workload for Jones at a very bargain price.” Seven carries for 11 yards. Ugh. Whether Jones or “The Butler” Alfred Morris gets the ball will be a big question every week. High risk, high reward. No rewards this week.
Percy Harvin: This one actually makes me laugh. Why? Because Jeff went against his principles and it cost him: “It is insane that I am actually recommending Percy Harvin this week. As most of my loyal readers and listeners know, I despise Percy Harvin and have for a long time. But he's in a great spot against the Giants with no Sammy Watkins to steal targets.” Never, ever leave your wingman Jeff! You do not trust Harvin for a reason. Yes, the Bill played an awful game with dumb plays and even dumber play calling, but fantasy owners do not care. All that most owners see is three catches, 26 yards and nothing else! If Harvin could not capitalize with Watkins out, how can you ever be confident he will produce in any given week? Despise away Jeff.
Greg Olsen: After a great Week 3, many were on The Good Ship Olsen, including Jeff: “Olsen is the only viable weapon in the Panthers passing game and is playing against the coach who traded him to Carolina in the first place this week in Lovie Smith.” Two catches for 28 yards is just ugly given the price you had to pay. Bottom line here is Olsen is turning into the girl with the curl. When he is good, he is very good (See: Week 3) and when he is bad, he is very bad (See: the Week 4 egg). Again, high risk, high reward.
Coby Fleener: In all fairness, I have to look in the mirror and scold myself at least once. I told a bunch of my Twitter followers that I did not love Fleener without his college classmate Andrew Luck doing the tossing. Nine catches for 83 yards and a TD says I was dead wrong. That said, as soon as Dwayne Allen gets back, Fleener will be even riskier. I blew this one, but I am still not buying into Fleener as a TE1.
INDIFFERENT
Andy Dalton: About the ginger QB, Jeff noted: “The Chiefs defense has given up the most fantasy points to both QBs and WRs, which bodes well for the ginger-haired QB this week. Having all of his O-Line and skill position weapons healthy has helped Dalton a great deal here in the early part of this season.” Meh. Dalton did not kill you with his 321 yards and one TD, but he did not vault you to victory either. With the Seattle and Buffalo defenses waiting, this is not the time to buy extra redhead shares. Just sayin’.
Cam Newton: Sticking with QBs that are unpredictable, Jeff prognosticated: “Cam is running more than ever and facing off against the 31st-ranked Buccaneers defense in DVOA, according to Football Outsiders.” Well, 124 yards passing is just not impressive. However, the two TD and 51 yards rushing make it better. I will call this one a tie. That said, for those in season-long leagues or who play in DFS cash games, Cam is solid production each week.
Jamaal Charles: Jeff was a bit indifferent about Charles, recognizing his cost: “Charles is accounting for 76 percent of the entire Chiefs offense so far this season. If you can fit his salary in there you'll enjoy a lesser-owned stud RB this week.” JC did not reach the end zone, but his six catches and 145 total yards are nothing to sneeze at. Meh. Of course, if you own Charles in your season-long league, you are playing him every week. In DFS, you have to watch the cost. The lack of a real downfield passing game in KC will haunt him at times.
OK, let’s use what we learned and win in Week 5. Good luck!