THAT is why Antonio Brown is a permastarter…

Central Michigan wide receiver Antonio Brown runs from Ball State during the Cardinals' 35-3 loss to Central Michigan Wednesday night. (DN PHOTO SAM HOUSEHOLDER)

Quick hit notes this week as the herd is thinned and the playoffs roll on, remember, for custom advice, hit the forums or email me directly – seems some people prefer anonymity, but I implore you – I need pageviews!

Injuries (thanks to CFFI, CollegeInjuryReport.com)

Stephen Williams, Toledo – ankle that got him out of last game against CMU, no updates. with Aaron Opelt out again and Eastern Michigan allowing everyone to run on them (sure the Eagles have the 4th best pass defense, but that is because they are next to last in rushing!) best to sit Williams for the Friday Night game unless further information warrants a change.

Jared Perry is out with a knee for Missouri, is it really possible that Danario Alexander can get more work??? Or can Iowa State focus more resources on stopping the big fella? My guess is expect more of the same awesomeness.

AJ Green is out with a shoulder sprain (the injury of the year or what?) as Georgia hosts Kentucky. Maybe not this game, but remember freshman WR Marlon Brown for next year. I was very impressed by him in the Under Armour HS All-Star game in February.

Greg Salas of Hawaii is a likely go despite a foot injury. HUGE game last week with 16 catches but has yet to practice this week. I am reminded that in all my fantasy football internet travels that the Honolulu Star-Bulletin has the best beat reporting for our hobby. I haven’t hit them up near as much as during the Chang-Brennan years, but always useful stuff. Upgrade Kealoha Pilares if Salas cannot go against the soon to have a new coach San Jose Spartans.

Heatmap and the highly anticipated sit recos after the jump

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Jarvis Williams, NC State vs. Maryland (BLITZindex Rank 104 defense) – not a yards guy, but a big EZ target. 26 catches produced seven TDs, 3 in the last game against the FSU Seminole defense hat looks easier to beat than a Republican governor. Maryland has been in a season long race for the worst defense in the AQ conferences, expect Jarvis to do a dance or two this weekend.

Razorback WR Joe Adams returns healthy after a stroke scare last month (Icon SMI)

Joe Adams, Arkansas vs. South Carolina (BI 29)- back from stroke and facing a good defense, but his per game stats have been great in only five games (18-425T4). After this hosts Troy and Mississippi State so a good long term play here for the playoffs. Legit keeper material also.

Leonard Hankerson, U-Miami vs, Virginia (36)- ACC still up for grabs, Hankerson had his TD streak stopped at 3 games but did achieve five catches for 97 yards at Wake.

Rod Owens, FSU at Clemson (17) – this one is feast or famine…you likely saw the huge game at UNC with his 98 yard TD catch, but he has a streak of 3 straight games with a TD. Christian Ponder is hotter than Megan Fox with three straight 300-yard games and the Seminoles do not have a stady running game.

Tyshon Goode, Kent State at Akron (76) – the battle of the Rubber City, Goode has been tearing it up like Najah Pruden used to for the Golden Flashes. averaging 10 and 150 with two TD in the last two. Risk is that like Pruden Goode could disappear for two weeks.

and now for two guys I drafted and cut in September in my favorite league…

Armon Binns, Cincy vs. UConn – Binns and Collaros have formed quite the relationship in the last three weeks, and Mardy Gilyard is on the outside looking in. Six TD in last four, the Cali-speedster with size should do well against the depleted Huskie secondary.

DeMarco Sampson, SD State vs. TCU (BI 3!) – I know it is the Horned Frogs, but would you sit this guy right now?

• 10/17 vs. Brigham Young (BI 73) 5-77T2
• 10/24 at Colorado State (BI 100) 15-257T3
• 10/31 vs. New Mexico BI 103) 7-56T2

(Speaking of TCU, former Texas Longhorn recruit Antoine Hicks is warming up lately and the SDSU defense fares poorly in real life (OK fantasy wise with their high-risk style).

Finally the Idaho Vandals get the latest start at Fresno, and the passing offense is going batstuff crazy in October with 11 TDs passing (6th in nation). Max Komar (37 recs and 6 TD) and Mo Shaw (11recs and 3TD) lead the way against an average Bulldog D in the Valley. Securing them could allow you to hedge one of your injured WRs who is a gametime decision, allowing you to switch over to one of these guys to make best use of your inventory.

May I also propose a drinking game for that late night ESPNU special? Toss one back for each mention of the Green V on the back of the Fresno helmets and its homage to the agriculture workers of the San Fernando Valley…stock up your favorite beverage as the four-letter network producers must keep this little snippet in the clip file for every game.

I would also suggest you follow me on Twitter on Saturdays – my short attention span, multiple simultaneous TVs and soundbite thinking fit well in 140 character constraints…join me won’t you?

If you haven’t heard, here are the stud pre-season-top-ten WRs watching from the sidelines this week. Paging Dr. Kevorkian (but I will choose Dr. Carroll any day)! How many more of our speedy warriors on the flank will miss significant time?

Eric Decker, Minnesota - sprained arch, opting for surgery. CUT HIM

Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State - being made an example by the NCAA for lying about his non-violation.  Reggie Bush should be feeling lucky this week. C’mon Son, CUT HIM

Vincent Brown, SDSU – not pre-season, but an in-season Top 10 who hurt sprained a thumb ligament early in the Colorado State game. Surgery this week put him out until almost Thanksgiving.

Michael Floyd, Notre Dame – still out with the fractured collarbone, but word is out that he may return next week for Nov. 7 Navy battle. PICK HIM UP!
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This is one of those weird weeks when no red flags pop up on my schedule analysis. This will be best shown when I discuss top matchups and then remind you to hit the forums for personalized analysis.

PERMASTARTERS

Kansas WR Kerry Meier (10) may have the best hands in the country - here is proof. (Icon SMI)

Stephen Williams and Eric Page, Toledo host Temple – both deserve the start against the Owl D, especially now that Aaron Opelt returns. I rate that Owl D at #33 on the BLITZindex college football defense rankings with less than 20ppg allowed but neither guy deserves pine.

Dezmon Briscoe and Kerry Meier, Kansas host Oklahoma – Oklahoma is playing as good a defense as anyone in the country, but like last season’s championship opponent Florida it is the offense letting them down. Still, you do not sit Briscoe. May I remind you of the outrageous game he had last season in Norman? 269 yards receiving and two TDs as he burst on the scene.

Antonio Brown, Central Michigan at BGSU – one of the hotter WR in the nation hosting one of the worst defenses.
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Tulsa, Texas Tech, Hawaii and Houston have given me fits for years trying to figure out who will stat the best week-to-week. So why not try it in front of a nation of college football zealots?

Former Iowa WR James Cleveland gets it done in Houston (Icon SMI).

Cougars James Cleveland leads the nation with 5 rec TDs in the last three weeks, Tyron Carrier is in top ten Fantasy Points also. This week Houston hosts #113 D Tulane so those guys will both go nuts, and maybe even Charles Sims and Patrick Edwards who seems to have taken the possession receiver role well.

Texas Tech faces an excellent Nebraska defense led by everyone’s favorite DT Ndamukong Suh – please do remember that the Husker Blackshirts beat up on a lot of Sun Belt teams, but you cannot argue with the nation’s stingiest D as they make offenses go 34 yards for every point (median is 14.7). And also know that Coach Leach could care less who the QB is…Two guys that should be on milk cartons are Ed Britton and Lyle Leong, both struggled out of the gate, teased us with a a couple big games and are afterthoughts since the autumnal equinox. That leaves serious fantasy consideration only for Detron Lewis, Tramain Swindall and Alex Torres. If you drafted Leong since he is Potts HS teammate, the absence of Taylor Potts may be enough to cut him. Jacoby Franks caught his first TD last week, but then again there were 7 TDs thrown…

I was at the Tulsa game Wednesday night – same issue but most disturbing is that now three times this season the GH have only had one TD to wide receivers. They had two last night but one was Flex Damaris Johnson on a trick play. Personally, ignore the siren song of Tulsa wideouts unless you can stomach a 2 point night smattered in with some 15′s (or vice versa).

And poor Hawaii, how we miss thee, let me count the ways (I particularly miss the late night local broadcasts on ESPN Gamplan – those guys pronounced the Pacific Islander names COOL). Greg Salas is by far the best option and even he is slowing down after the QB Alexander injury. Rodney Bradley is still available in a few leagues of mine and might make a good WR4. With Royce Pollard out this week at Idaho (winning record in Moscow!) you may reintroduce yourself to Kealoha Pilares.

and now I will scour the country for a constant variety of sleepers and free agents…

RETURNING FROM SUSPENSION

Cortez Gent, FAU at North Texas - good news he was reinstated last week and is still a free agent in a few of my leagues. Bad news is flu is sweeping the Owls team early in the week, light on updates…Definitely worth a pickup, maybe even a play against a Bottom 20 defense.

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