12/7/06
Think your fantasy wide receiver has a great matchup against the
Green Bay Packers’ 30th-ranked pass defense? Think again.
Green Bay may be giving up 235.2 passing yards per game and is tied
for a league-high with 23 touchdowns allowed through the air, but
that doesn’t mean your receiver will have a big day against
the Packers. The reason? Al Harris.
Harris is one of the best shutdown cornerbacks in the league. Like
other shutdown cornerbacks, he gets the task of covering opponents’
No. 1 receiver.
Harris has contained St. Louis’ Torry Holt (three catches,
40 yards, one TD), Arizona’s Anquan Boldin (four, 47, none),
Seattle’s Darrell Jackson (two, 20, one), the New York Jets’
Laveranues Coles (three, 28, none) and Miami’s Chris Chambers
(two, 29, none).
What does this mean for fantasy owners?
When deciding on your starting wide receivers, don’t just
look at the opponents’
passing yards allowed. Make sure you know if the opponent has
a shutdown cornerback. Start your studs, like Carolina’s Steve
Smith, no matter what the matchup is, but for sub-stud players,
strongly consider if he’s facing a shutdown cornerback.
Here’s the league’s other best shutdown cornerbacks:
Best Of The Best
Champ Bailey, Denver: The Bronco
probably is the best shutdown cornerback in the league. Holt,
Indianapolis’ Marvin Harrison, Pittsburgh’s Hines
Ward, Oakland’s Randy Moss, Baltimore’s Derrick Mason
and Seattle’s Darrell Jackson didn’t score a touchdown
against Bailey and Denver this season.
Ty Law, Kansas City: The Chief
has played a key role in holding Cincinnati’s Chad Johnson,
Denver’s Javon Walker (twice), Ward, Jackson, Holt and Chambers
to fewer than 80 receiving yards.
Chris McAllister, Baltimore:
The veteran has helped the Ravens hold Walker, Johnson (twice)
and Ward scoreless and to fewer than 65 yards in each matchup,
except when Johnson recorded 91 yards in their second meeting.
Terence Newman, Dallas: Washington’s
Santana Moss, Houston’s Andre Johnson, the New York Giants’
Plaxico Burress (twice), Arizona’s Larry Fitzgerald, Smith
and Harrison failed to reach the 100-yard plateau against the
Newman-led Cowboys’ secondary.
Best Of The Rest: Ken Lucas,
Carolina; DeAngelo Hall, Atlanta; Deltha O’Neal, Cincinnati;
Ronde Barber, Tampa Bay; Nathan Vasher, Chicago.
Hot Read
Marty Booker, WR, Miami: In
quarterback Joey Harrington’s eyes, Booker is the Dolphins’
No. 1 receiver over Chambers. Booker has 31 receptions, 400 yards
and five touchdowns in Miami’s last six games, including
three TDs in the last two games. Chambers has 26 catches, 341
yards and one score in the last six weeks and hasn’t collected
a touchdown in the last four weeks. If Booker is available in
your league, pick him up now.
Broken Play(er)
Rex Grossman, QB, Chicago: The
Bears are 10-2, and Grossman is their quarterback. But, he shouldn’t
be your starting fantasy quarterback. Through Week 10, Grossman
was an elite fantasy quarterback. In the last three weeks, however,
he has averaged 110 passing yards with six interceptions and one
touchdown. Last week, Grossman’s interception total (three)
was higher than his quarterback rating (1.3). It’s time
to bench him.
Off The Bench
Jeff Garcia, QB, Philadelphia:
The veteran tore up Carolina’s solid pass defense last week
with 312 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. In the
Eagles’ pass-happy offense that has thrown on 59 percent
of their plays this season, Garcia should have his second straight
quality game against Washington’s 24th-ranked pass defense
that has allowed a league-high 23 passing touchdowns.
Safe Bet
Ladell Betts, RB, Washington:
The Redskin will record his third straight 100-yard rushing effort
against Philadelphia. The Eagles’ 28th-ranked rush defense
has allowed 482 rushing yards the last three weeks. If you own
Betts, find a way to get him in your lineup.
Extra Point
Got a tight end who’s playing the Cincinnati Bengals? You’re
in luck. The Bengals have allowed a league-high 62 receptions,
646 yards and seven touchdowns to tight ends. This week, Oakland’s
Randal Williams -- who had a season-high six receptions last week
-- gets his shot at the Bengals and could be a sleeper start if
you’re in need of a tight end.
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