What we are talking about:
Cam Newton
My No. 1 going forward
Week 17 playoffs
Please stop with this
Van Halen
Need a true reunion
Free agency is going to be a hot topic going forward, with names like Marques Colston, Brandon Lloyd and Stevie Johnson possibly changing locations. But all of that has been trumped by recent rumors that Katy Perry could be a free agent as she and husband Russell Brand have been seen sans wedding rings.
Rumors are also swirling that Brand is going to use the franchise exemption on Perry, so let's not get ahead of ourselves. But enough about that, who wants to talk some football?
I am offering you my likes and dislikes for the coming fantasy week and more. That's right, Facebook won't give you a dislike button, but I certainly will. And this will be presented to you in a random, meandering style, which has been glowingly referred to as "teenager on crack chic." Bolded names are my likes and dislikes. My first "like" is my stat man, Bill "Sudsy" Sudell.
Too many disclaimers? You can always check the rankings, but that is a terrible way to waste the final hours of your work week.
This is going to be a really tough week with guys who you can't trust. So Cam Newton is the guy to start this week. He was my top guy last week, and he's the No. 1 guy this week. …
Newton is going to be my first pick for 2012, too. He scored 14 rushing touchdowns this year. I don't see that slowing down. And he's going to get better as a passer. Get another solid receiver opposite Steve Smith, and we're talking an even bigger 2012. …
The Panthers have kind of blown it by winning so much down the stretch. They obviously don't need Andy Luck. But if Justin Blackmon comes out, he would be a great guy to add to the team's offense. Sure, the Panthers need D. But I would do everything I can to put more weapons on the offense. …
Since there isn't an automatic four this week, Matthew Stafford slides into my No. 2 spot. The Lions can't afford to rest players (and the Falcons should win), so they need a huge effort to avoid San Francisco or New Orleans. Stafford and Calvin Johnson should be great. …
My other QB ranks: Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Eli Manning, Tony Romo, Philip Rivers, Michael Vick, Matt Ryan, Tim Tebow, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Carson Palmer. …
Manning gets the nod over Romo, because the Cowboys' secondary isn't up to the challenge here. Both are great starts, obviously, but Manning has an 87.8 passer rating all-time against the Cowboys with 30 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. And Romo wears a backward cap. Just kidding, Romo had a great game against the Giants last time. I'm just going Manning here. …
Was there anything more emasculating than the Falcons complaining about the Saints running up the score? The Falcons should just concede their playoff spot because there is no recovering from that. The Saints are so far inside their heads, there is no use for the Falcons to even show up to the stadium. …
That reminds me of the time the 1985 Cowboys failed to show up to a divisional playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams because they didn't want to face the Bears, who beat them 44-0 earlier in the season. Though, that was a pretty solid Rams team, led by Eric Dickerson, who had, like, 600 rushing yards that game. …
I have Miles Austin and Laurent Robinson on my keeper team. I think I'm going to hold on to both. But choosing keepers is kind of like trying to keep up with your favorite shows. I mean, you have to make some tough cuts. I haven't seen "Psych" in a long time. ...
ImageIt's a funny thing about fantasy football, it's kind of a relief to be done. Kind of like finishing some of your favorite TV shows. I mean, I miss them. But it's kind of nice having a clear DVR, you know what I mean? But then I'm clamoring for "Justified" to get started because that show is awesome. So I don't know what the point is. ...
Maurice Jones-Drew is my No. 1 running back this week. And you can never sit Marshawn Lynch ever again. He's earned that for you. …
There is no way you sit C.J. Spiller this week, as he will manage to score a touchdown. But the Patriots are going to put a hurting on the Bills for that early-season loss. …
DeAngelo Williams has kind of snuck up as a reliable fantasy player. Sorta. He's scored at least 12 fantasy points in the last three weeks. I'm not crazy about the matchup this week, so keep him as a nice flex play. …
Hey Kahlil Bell, try to hold onto the ball while you are crossing the goal line. What could have been an outstanding week for you was merely good. Not great, but good. …
It's too late for Peyton Hillis to get a big-money contract from the Browns. But at least he is safe to start in fantasy leagues this week. …
The biggest question of next year, receiver-wise, is do you take A.J. Green or Julio Jones? Both have been fantastic this season. Jones is going to surpass Roddy White as the No. 1 option in Atlanta next year. He has too much breakaway speed and he's much more dynamic. It's only a matter of time. …
When I see what Green has done for Red Dalton, a guy like Blaine Gabbert should at least be given a chance with a No. 1 receiver before he's labeled a bust. …
ImageI hate when things become so overreactionary. Are we that jaded? The WWE is considering taking the belt off CM Punk because of poor ratings. Maybe it's because you fed us a (expletive) sandwich for months. At least give us a chance to enjoy Punk, Daniel Bryan, Dolph Ziggler and Cody Rhodes at the top of the card. Isn't anybody willing to let a story play out now and then? …
ImageTerrell Owens reportedly wants to return to the 49ers. Apparently reunions are in the air, as Van Halen recently announced that it was going on tour. I'm still torn about wanting to go because it's not a true reunion unless Michael Anthony is slinging the Jack Daniels bass guitar. …
ImageOur Michael Fabiano says that David Lee Roth will be singing some of the Sammy Hagar songs, but there is no way that can happen. You can't have Roth belt out "Ain't Talking About Love" followed by "Why Can't This Be Love?" …
The only place where Roth singing Van Hagar songs would be acceptable would be in Minnesota, where Vikings fans embraced Brett Favre. …
Guys who deserved to be in the Pro Bowl: Victor Cruz, Jordy Nelson and Marshawn Lynch. ...
Sorry Aaron Rodgers, we had a lot of laughs this season, but there is no chance I would start you this week. Not with so many teams out there needing to win for playoff seeding. …
Rodgers is still a first-round pick for me. And he might crack my top five, but I'm going with Newton over him in fantasy drafts next year. I'm not sure if Rodgers could target double-digit rushing touchdowns, but it would be pretty cool if he could add some. …
Quarterbacks are going to be in high demand because of the dearth of trustworthy No. 1 running backs. I mean, how much can you trust Jamaal Charles or Adrian Peterson coming off their injuries? The Vikings don't sound confident that Peterson will return in time to start 2012. …
I really fear this is going to be the last of Peterson's effectiveness. And since he's one of my keepers for Rank's 11, I really have a decision to make. With him and Michael Turner, my once vaunted team looks really old. Kind of like the current version of the Los Angeles Lakers. …
ImageThis is easily the least enjoyable Lakers team I have seen in my lifetime. And I lived through the Sedale Threatt-Cedric Ceballos era, which was actually more enjoyable than people will be willing to give it credit for. …
It amazes me that NBA commissioner David Stern quashed that Chris Paul trade to the Lakers. Yet in Major League Baseball, the Oakland A's can give away a closer to the Red Sox for nothing. Bud Selig apparently is willing to look the other way when lopsided trades favor one of his favorite teams. …
But it should be noted that the Lakers were giving up a lot for Paul. The Red Sox gave up nothing. …
ImageThe only good thing about this season is that the Boston Celtics look terrible. Just absolutely awful. That gives some hope to America. Now if we can just figure out a way for the Heat to lose again this year. The Heat are putting up such big leads, even LeBron James can't choke them away. ...
Here are my quarterbacks to avoid starting at No. 13: Matt Moore, Rodgers, Mark Sanchez, Red Dalton, Kyle Orton, Joe Flacco, Josh Freeman and Christian Ponder. …
ImageI can't trust Pierre Thomas this week, though I liked his end-zone celebration last week, pulling the bow out of his pants and putting it on the ball. Bob Papa and the other guy on NFL Sirius called it a disgusting act. Typically, I reserve the adjective "disgusting" for things like the Penn State scandal, but hey, if you feel that strongly about an end-zone celebration. …
Same thing goes for the whole Bill Maher stuff, too. I'm sure his joke hurt you to the core. But again, you've heard about the whole Penn State scandal, right? Let's be outraged about things that really matter. …
Like #shanahanigans. That is far more offensive than anything Bill Maher could ever have uttered. That said, I'm not starting Evan Royster even though the Skins finally parted ways with Ryan Torain. Not happening. …
The Patriots and Bill Belichick do a pretty good job of avoiding the heat, despite blatant running back shenanigans. The Patriots have too good of an offense to have no reliable fantasy running back. It could be BenJarvus Green-Ellis one week, Stevan Ridley the next. Yet we don't have the scorn. Maybe it's because the quarterback and tight ends give us so many points. …
Dre Johnson might return this week. Forgive me if I'm not excited. I'm done with this guy, and I'm not taking him next year, either. …
The most disappointing thing about Dre's injury is nobody on the Texans took his spot. At least the Cowboys had Robinson catching touchdowns in the wake of their injuries. Jacoby Jones and Kevin Walter barely registered anything. …
Most players in contract years go out of their way to surpass their previous numbers. I credit DeSean Jackson for taking it a different way by being completely awful. But watch, he has a monster game once many of your fantasy teams (and the Eagles' season) are done. …
Jackson lands in New England, right? That would make the most sense. Underachieving malcontent, but he still has a chance to right his career. I would only take a chance on Jackson if he plays for New England. …
The Cowboys have a huge game this week against the Giants. That doesn't scream of a big-time performance from Dez Bryant. In fact, he goes the other way this week. …
There was a report this week that the Cardinals will retain Kevin Kolb. Why? Larry Fitz was doing just fine with John Skelton, why mess that up? That defense is close to being elite, and there you can have an offense similar to the 49ers. …
Norv Turner is going to be out as coach of the Chargers. And while you don't want to see anybody unemployed, he will rebound as an offensive coordinator. The Jaguars, Jets and St. Louis FC should be lining up to add Turner. As much as a No. 1 receiver would help Gabbert, so would an experienced offensive coordinator. …
You know, there are rumors that A.J. Smith could land in St. Louis if he's disposed in San Diego. Wouldn't it be fitting to have him bring in Turner to be his coach? Though, that becomes unfunny for when the team moves back to Los Angeles. ...
I sure hoped Smith enjoyed watching Brees break Dan Marino's single-season yardage record with a nice strike to Darren Sproles. …
Guys who don't belong in the Pro Bowl: Oh wait, you mean other than Philip Rivers? Was this vote taken in 2010?
For the record, you can submit your fantasy questions to NFL Fantasy Live, Michael Fabiano or me on Twitter. But realize, NFL Fantasy Live has 37,000 followers, and Fabiano has 40,000. Me? Just 13. See, the odds are better I will answer your question, so hit me up both via Twitter or via Facebook. Also be sure to catch the latest "Dave Dameshek Football Program."
