PressBox: Where does Ray Rice Measure up with Elite RB's?

Where does Ray Rice Measure up with Elite RB's?
This just in: The Saints are AWESOME. In hammering the Patriots on Monday night, the Saints have proven to be the best team in the league. While the Colts are also undefeated, the Saints have just been steamrolling teams.

What’s surprising about the Saints is how well their defense is playing. Granted, it’s tough off on opponents when they know that they probably need to score on every drive to keep up, but the Saints defense is for real. They lead the league in takeaways. Street free agents Mike McKenzie and Chris McAllister shut down Randy Moss and Wes Welker. I just can’t see how they get beat. I really can’t.

As far as fantasy football is concerned though, the Saints, apart from Drew Brees, are probably the most frustrating team around. 19 Saints have scored touchdowns. Nineteen! When you drafted a Saint, you likely predicted that it was safe, given that the Saints are a great offense with a great quarterback. Both were accurate assessments. However, the Saints, moreso than any other team, do not have “backups”. They use every wide receiver, every running back, every tight end.

How many fantasy owners benefited from the touchdown catch of Darnell Dinkins’ touchdown against the Patriots? Or David Thomas’ score the week before? No one.
And even the players people do own. If you own Marques Colston, don’t you get bitter every single time Lance Moore and Devery Henderson score in the red zone? Or anyone who drafted Reggie Bush. How tough is it to watch Mike Bell and Pierre Thomas fight for scores as Bush is firmly planted on the bench.

The Saints are the single most exciting team to watch on Sundays, but relying on a Saint to win you a fantasy matchup can give you nightmares.

This will be the last week for awards, as many leagues fantasy playoffs start next week.
Biggest Surprise: A familiar name around here, how about Chris Redman filling in for an injured Matt Ryan. 243 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. That’s pretty amazing for a guy who hasn’t played in years for a team that desperately needed a win to stay alive in the NFC Wild Card.

Biggest Letdown: The Giants. Coming off four straight losses, the Bronco’s appeared to be just what the Giants needed to end their own string of losses. Granted, flying cross-country on a short week isn’t exactly going to breed the best results, but if you’re an elite team, which we’ve come to know the Giants as, you have to win that game. You just have to. Now at only 6-5 and in third place in the NFC East, the Giants need to right the ship fast.

Best Raven: Obviously Ray Rice. That 4th and 5 conversion was a big time play. I’m beginning to question how many running backs in the league would you take over rice. Peterson, Johnson, Jones-Drew? Anyone else? He’s become an every-down back, he can score, he can block and most importantly he can make a play when you need him.

Brandon Marshall: 6 catches, 86 Yards

If you can only pick up one guy on waivers it should be: I said it last week, but you really shouldn’t need to be picking up players at this point in the year. If you’re bad (like me) you aren’t going to get better just because you add Jason Avant. But pick him up anyway, just to annoy your friends and keep him from an opponent.

If your playoffs begin this week, then good luck to you. I have been reduced to the role of spoiler in one league, and last-team-in in another. It’s going to take a miracle.

Posted December 2, 2009