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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PERMASTARTERS

WR Dezmon Briscoe (thanks Icon SMI)

Dez Bryant OkSt vs. Idle

Dezmon Briscoe KU vs. Idle

Mardy Gilyard Cincy at Miami-OH (#1 Fantasy WR through 4 games)

Eric Decker Minny vs. Minnesota

Jordan Shipley Texas vs. Idle

Emmanuel Sanders SMU at TCU (tough matchup even for Sanders)

Golden Tate vs. Washington

Ryan Broyles at Miami (the Canes defense has not been dominant, ok to start)

And welcome to the club… Read the rest of this entry →

I will be on hiatus next week, the rest of the gang will step up in my absence. Lemme hear it if you are feeling them…

Rejoice, Emmanuel Sanders is a bona fide Permastarter (Icon SMI)

PERMASTARTERS

1. Dez Bryant OkSt vs. Grambling
2. Dezmon Brisoce KU vs. Southern Miss
3. Mardy Gilyard Cincy hosts Fresno
4. Eric Decker Minny at Cal (temper expectations)
5. Jordan Shipley Texas vs. UTEP
6. Emmanuel Sanders SMU idle (so no picks for Mitchell!)
7. Michael Floyd ND out, Golden Tate in at Purdue

and welcome to the club…

Ryan Broyles OU but idle (3 TD in b2b games against idaho St. and Tulsa – at Miami (FL) will likely be less but still good)

PERMA – STAT: Only receivers with 100 yards in each game this season – Decker, Greg Salas of Hawaii and Vincent Brown of San Diego State. Momentum plays if ever there were ones.

Fave plays for Week Four

• Anyone in the Texas Tech at Houston Fantasy GOY Read the rest of this entry →

Revenge is a big theme in Week Three of the college football season, and not just for rivalries. These vengeful tendencies likely will be expressed in a lot of points and yards from the finest wide receivers in the nation.

PERMSTARTERS

Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State hosts Rice- Dez has had the dropsies mixed in with his usual big play ability. Add to that an injured Triplet RB Kendall Hunter and the Pokes not just wanting but needing to respond with force after the Houston upset and the Bryant stat line could be legendary. It usually takes about ten minutes to cook Rice.

Dez Briscoe, Kansas hosts Duke – yes, Duke. Duke that lost to Richmond but just beat Army. And the Jayhawks with 500+ yards in both games this season.

Mardy Gilyard, Cincy at Oregon State – Gilyard is gettiing close to the top tier as Tony Pike looks like a QB1 for real. I admit to being cautious as this is a long roadtrip for a bunch of college kids but at least it is a 645et start. The cool cats in Vegas only have the number at 56 which sounds exceptionally low to me. You gotta start Gilyard regardless of airline or accommodations, but people I trust really like the Beavers to do their yearly upset here.

Eric Decker, Minnesota at Cal - Cal defense is good and Decker has yet to get to the endzone which threatens his permastarter status. But he has 19 catches and almost 300 yards in his two games and I have to think he will break down the goal line barrier.

Jordan Shipley, Texas hosts Texas Tech – light on the TDs but still WR1 for Colt McCoy in a setting perfect for revenge. But Kanye West might interrupt here and say: “Jordan, i am really happy for ya and I let you finish. But I gotta remind you Dez Bryant had one of the best games of all time against Rice last year.”

Michael Floyd, ND hosts Michigan State – Floyd deals with a leg injury but is probable. Both teams off tough losses to Michigan teams. Floyd leads the nation with 56 fantasy points. Clausen looks like a leader. Play him in this shootout.

SMU times 2 travels to Washington State – Aldrick Robinson lagging but coming off a 7-91T, Emmanuel Sanders averaging 100+. RB Shawnbrey McNeal is the fantasy surprise of the year but part of that is because QB Mitchell was hurting with flu in Week One. All healthy now for the nightmare roadtrip to the most isolated stadium in the nation in Pullman.

NAGGING INJURIES Read the rest of this entry →