What The F*** Were You Thinking?

Below is the email transcript between Don and I discussing our rankings differences from Week 9....

Don:
What's up with your semi-hate for Derek Anderson? I wasn't a believer in him early on too, but he has Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow and looks really comfortable in the pocket. I think you gotta have him in the top 10 this week and moving forward.

And I know Portis is going against a suspect Jets defense, but I think you got him way too high this week. Have you seen him run lately? Or Washington's offensive line? The Skins' are in big trouble offensively.

Greg:
As you said, it is"semi-hate" for Anderson this week. I still think he'll have a decent game, say 200 yards and a TD, but I just like the guys ranked ahead of him to have better games. If you read my column, you'd see that Seattle has only allowed 5 passing TD's for the year. His weapons will get decent yardage #'s, but I don't know that they'll be scoring that many TD's through the air...

By the way, where's the love for Jeff Garcia? He has been a rock this year, and is 8th in scoring for fantasy QB's. Facing an average ARI defense, there's no way Kitna or Warner puts up better #'s. And although Campbell faces an easy matchup in the form of the J-E-T-S, you have to remember that his highest upside right now is 250 yards, 2 TD's, which I don't think he'll have this week... Speaking of the Skins, I'll tell you why I have Portis so high this week: 23 carries, 107.5 yards rushing, 1 TD. That is what starting RB's have AVERAGED against the Jets in the past 4 weeks. I think we're going to see a healthy dose of Campbell handing off to Portis, who should have #'s right at the averages above...

I have to take you to task on a couple of RB's: Selvin Young and Kenton Keith. If Dad (Henry) isn't playing, and you felt that way as well (based on his #40 ranking), how can you not have Young in your top 20 this week? Inexcusable Mr. Goss.... And even worse, Kenton Keith doesn't crack your top 40 at all, while Dayne, Fargas, Ahman Green, and Jerome Harrison did? I know he didn't get much PT last week, but Dungy is still very high on the guy, and he will get more carries than last week, because when the Pats are destroying the Colts, Addai will be resting in the 4th quarter...

Don:
When doing rankings, it's obviously important to look at the numbers and I often will bump someone up for the week based on a favorable matchup. But let's not get carried away here. The Seahawks giving up only 5 passing TD's this year means nothing to me when you consider how good Derek Anderson and Braylon Edwards have been. They don't have Champ Bailey or Al Harris up there in Seattle so I can't downgrade Anderson at all. Let's keep in mind Minnesota, which has the worst pass defense in the league, has only allowed 10 TD's through the air and that is not bad in the middle of the pac. Stats can be skewed any way you want. Yeah, I probably should have Garcia a little higher. But I feel like if he doesn't hit Joey Galloway on a long TD pass, then he doesn't put up great passing numbers. The Skins offense sucks right now, but Campbell is due for a big game that is why I have him higher. Did you know he is yet to throw a TD pass to a WR this season? I could see him finding Santana Moss on a bomb this week. Portis is done, plain and simple. I know the Jets have a terrible rush defense, I look at the numbers too. But at some point you have to ignore an opposing team's stats and go off what you see on the field. Portis has not been running the ball well lately and doesn't look like the same player he was. The Skins' have a lot of issues on the offensive line and I don't think facing a bad Jets defense is going to solve all their problems. Portis might do okay on Sunday, but 100+ yards and a TD is overly opitmistic. I feel like we are doing a dance here with Addai and Kenton Keith. Last week you were low on Keith and high on Addai while I was the other way. Now this week you are signing the praises of Keith. He wasn't used at all last week which leads me to believe that Addai's shoulder was not 100 percent two weeks ago and that was the cause for Keith's heavy useage. And if the Pats are indeed blowing out the Colts in the 4th quarter like you mentioned, they won't be running the ball with anyone. Fargas, Dayne and Green get the ball that is why they are on the list. Keith might 5-7 carries, but he might get 2. I'd rather use Fargas, who the coach said will get more carries on Sunday after looking good last week, against a shaky Houston defense than Keith against the Pats. Jerome Harrison is a sleeper pick. I think he is going to start getting the ball more. He's been the team's most productive running back recently. Why are you so down on Hines Ward and high on Marvin Harrison? Ward has been scoring lately because Roehtlisberger loves him in the red zone while Harrison might not even play (missed Wednesday's practice).

Greg:
Portis is on pace for over 1,300 combined yards and 11 TD's this year - how could you say he is done? He'll have AT LEAST 85 yards rushing this week (as long as he doesn't get injured)... As for the Keith/Addai thing, I still have Addai at #2 this week. I just think that the combination of trying to keep Brady off the field and possible garbage time for Keith, he'll put up serviceable #'s for those that are completely desperate this week...

Harrison has put up decent #'s in limited duty, but when you have Jamal Lewis and Jason Wright competing for carries as well, I don't see him getting 10 touches this week.... As for Fargas, c'mon Gusto! Guess how many career TD's he has? 316 career carries, 2 TD's! Even if he gets the ball more this week, it'll still go back to Jordan at the goal line....

I don't know why I had Ward so low this week, although I think you might have him a bit high as well... Only 2 teams (MIA/DEN) are allowing fewer completions per game, and while the other two have major problems with their run defense, the Ravens are only allowing 2.9 yards per carry... I think this is going to be one of those typical BAL-PITT field goal-fests, say 17-13, and if Ward doesn't catch a TD, I don't think his #'s will be as good this week... As for Harrison, my ranking was based on the fact that he is ready to go this week. Now I've been reading reports that he still isn't there yet, so I agree that he should be dropped a few notches...

I was really surprised to see Kevin Curtis ranked 13th for you this week. We both know he is entirely hit or miss, so I'm assuming you are basing his ranking on whether or not he catches another 75 yard TD? If not, 4 catches for 60 yards seems about right, which definitely not top 15 #'s... And I'm still wondering why you hate Derrick Mason so much - the guy has revived his career in a big way this year, regardless of the crappy QB situation in BAL, and you still have him as a low end #3 in 12 team leagues?

Don:
1,300 combined yards from a starting running back is not good!!! And this is Portis we're talking, about not Jesse Chatman or DeShaun Foster, who would love those kind of numbers. Fantasy owners expect more from Portis. His yards per carry is awful and that is a good indicator of how well a running back is playing or not. Portis scoring 11 TD's would be nice, but with that team I don't know if he gets that much.

Like I said, Jerome Harrison is a speculative/sleeper kind of play. You're right, he might not even get that many touches. But I'd rather take a shot with Harrison as opposed to someone like Chester Taylor, who has no upside at all.

I have Fargas ranked in the 30's so who cares if he's only scored two career TD's or LaMont Jordan is the goal line back? You'd only be using him in a pinch or in a deep league. But he's run well when given an opportunity (2 games) and the coach promised him more looks. I think he runs for 60-75 yards this week against Houston. That will be very good for where he is
ranked.

Curtis is the #1 target in a pass-heavy offense and Dallas is susceptible to big pass plays. And McNabb targets him a lot so you have to have him in the top 20.

You're right, I need to bump up Mason a bit. But he's better in PPR leagues. I probably have him so low because his opponent this week is really good against the pass and in general. He has been a surprise this year though.

I'm tired now so not even gonna bother debating any more of your WR's.

Greg:
Yeah, I'll get in my parting shots and call it a day - next week we definitely need to get this in Podcast format; too much friggin typing... The way RB's have gone down this year, I'd take 1,300 yards from my #2 in a heartbeat! I have nothing further to say on Harrison, and I'll be very surprised if Fargas runs for more than 60 yards this week. As for Curtis, the way Reggie Brown is coming on, he may not be option #1 for much longer. I guess I have nothing further to add. Hopefully the little one sleeps better tonight! Otherwise we may get some more crazy predictions from a sleep-deprived Gusto...