WEEK 9 STUDS AND DUDS
Each week, the CappersPicks.com fantasy football guru Dave B brings you players you need to be paying attention to – Remember – fantasy football championships are often won by those who live eat and breath fantasy football.
After all of the weekly games are finished be sure to check our waiver wire column, cheatsheets, a who’s hot, and who’s not report plus more in our fantasy football guide. Without wasting any more of your time, here are the Week 9 Fantasy Football Studs & Duds plus key player stats for the NFL games that went on on this week (Week 9).
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Week 9 of the NFL is almost over and once again we saw our share of incredible performances along with some terrible ones. Lots of Studs and lots of Duds too this week. It may seem that I was a little harsh in the Dud column this week but keep in mind that many of the usual Duds were on bye this Week – Buffalo, Oakland, St. Louis and Cleveland were enjoying a week in which a loss was not possible.
Quarterbacks and Running Backs seemed to enjoy the most success this week, and there were a few Receivers that lit it up also.
In the Duds column, there is a disproportionate number of young players on the list – I don’t have any explanation as to why.
Apoligies to Jay Cutler, Matt Hasselbeck, Drew Brees, Chris Johnson, Maurice Jones-Drew and Wes Welker for not making it on the list this week – your performances however, have been noted.
Stud of the Week
Kurt Warner – Arizona – That’s more like it Kurt. 5 tds. with 261 yards passing proves that Warner is a total stud. Going into a tough Soldier field, Warner knew that he would be without one of his main weapons – Anquan Boldin.
It didn’t matter and Kurt did whatever he wanted – a sign of a Mega Stud.
Dud of the Week
LaDainian Tomlinson – San Diego – He’s just not helping his team at all. 12 carries for 22 yards with 2 catches for 8 yards is further proof (as if there was any necessary) that Tomlinson has become a shadow of his former self. The Chargers are doing all they can to salvage his season and his career but Tomlinson is not responding at all. He seems poised to be a Dud all season. LT had a real chance to redeem his season long woes on Sunday, but instead emerged as the Dud of the Week.
Other Studs
Peyton Manning – Indianapolis – This makes 7 of 8 games that Manning has thrown for at least 300 yards. In Week 9, all he did was throw for 318 yards and 1 td. Manning is on fire folks and destined to be this year’s MVP.
Tom Brady – New England – Another former MVP that put up Stud numbers in Week 9. Brady was able to rip off 332 yards passing with 1 td. on the afternoon – controlling the clock and leading his team to a 6-2 record.
Michael Turner – Atlanta – 180 combined yards (166 rushing) on only 20 touches with 2 tds. made Turner a candidate for Stud of the Week. Still, Turner is reestablishing himself as an elite runner and is worthy of being mentioned here.
DeAngelo Williams – Carolina – Whew, when is this guy gonna slow down? He was absolutely dominant once again win Week 9. 149 yards and 2 more tds. make Williams the HOTTEST player on the planet right now. He is carrying his team right now, and for that reason, he’s a Stud.
Cedric Benson – Cincinnati – Make that 2 rushers that have surpassed 100 yards against the Baltimore Defense in the last 35 + games. The other rusher??? Cedric Benson. Benson had 37 touches – 37!! in Week 9 with 117 yards and 1 td. Benson doesn’t seem to be wearing down at all is a lock for Comeback Player of the Year.
Joseph Addai – Indianapolis – Scored 2 tds. in Week 9 and was a large part of an Offense that withstood a stiff challenge from a Houston Texans team. Addai proved to be more than just a backfield threat, but he also proved to be a valuable security outlet for Peyton Manning – catching 5 balls and 1 td. on the day. The fact that Addai was responsible for both of the Colts Offensive tds. makes him a Stud indeed.
Ray Rice – Baltimore – Does anyone have a motor like Ray Rice. He is a combined yardage machine!!! Rice leads his team in rushing and receiving on the year and managed another 135 combined yards and a td. in a losing effort to the Bengals in Week 9. Rice is without a doubt the Ravens MVP this year and Defenses have NO WAY to stop him.
Larry Fitzgerald – Arizona – When I found out that Boldin was going to miss this week’s game, I immediately inserted Fitz into this column even before the game started. With 10 catches, 123 yards and 2 tds., he certainly didn’t disappoint. Fitzgerald is a Stud’s Stud and has become simply the most dominant Wide Receiver in the NFL. 
Randy Moss – New England – Ho Hum!!! Another super-solid outing for Moss. 6 catches for 147 yards and a td. seems ordinary for the Studworthy Moss. The Patriots are absolutely on a roll and with Moss playing at such a high level, its hard to see them slowing down.
Mike Sims-Walker – Jacksonville – Bounce back game is an understatement. After appearances earlier in the year in this column, Sims-Walker disappeared for a while, but has reclaimed his place on the Stud list with a 6 catch, 147 yard, 1 td. effort win Week 9. Welcome back Mike.
Greg Olsen – Chicago – WHAAAA??? 3 touchdowns on 5 catches is NUTS. Although his grabs were in garbage time, the fact that Olsen found the end zone 3 times makes him true Stud material.
Dallas Clark – Indianapolis – 14 catches on Sunday – No folks – that’s not a misprint. 14 catches for 119 yards – Awesome!
Other Duds
Matt Ryan – Atlanta – With Michael Turner doing all that Atlanta needed to win, Matt Ryan simply turned into a “game manager”. To the Fantasy Football World, “game manager” is a swear word. Against and unraveling Washington team, Ryan only managed 133 yards passing with 1 td. and 1 interception. A disappointing effort from one of the true up and comers of the NFL.
Joe Flacco – Baltimore – Another one of the up and comers in the NFL that failed to deliver in Week 9. Flacco looked confused and only managed 195 yards and 2 interception in a HUGE divisional game. It was a complete meltdown by the Baltimore Offense who seem to be taking a step back rather than forward. It pains me to say this Joe, but on Sunday, you were a Dud.
Aaron Rogers – Green Bay -Wasn’t horrible in Week 9, but he was completely underwhelming to say the least. In a game that Rogers and company were supposed to dominate, Rogers was only 15/30 for 244 yards, 2 tds. and 3 costly interceptions. Those of you who were hoping for a huge game from Aaron (me included) were left scratching their heads.
Clinton Portis – Washington – Only had 4 carries (for only 4 yards) before being knocked out of the game. Big Surprise. Look Clinton, if you can’t stay healthy, stay off the field or you WILL be in danger of being recognized as a Dud.
Matt Forte – Chicago – I realize that you combined for 110 yards on Sunday Matt, but you are a Running Back and with 33 yards rushing, you are a Bad One!!! The only thing that saved your day was the 5 catches that you made in garbage time. You are far from useful Matt and your apparent allergy to the end zone makes you a Dud.
Miami RBS – The two-headed rushing monster in Miami that terrorized the Patriots last year was poised to have another good game against them this year. Instead, Ronnie Brown and Rickie Williams combined for 81 yards rushing. Not Good at all!!
Roddy White – Atlanta – Another player that was a victim of someone else’s Studliness, White was hardly utilized in Week 9 because of Michael Turner’s dominance. Still, 3 catches for 37 yards is ungood for the Fantasy geeks that depend on you Roddy!
Calvin Johnson – Detroit – I know that I was one of many that were eagerly waiting the return of Johnson from injury. Thanks for the 2 catches for 27 yards Calvin – it was worth waiting for!! – Dud.
Marques Colston – New Orleans – Drew Brees throws for 330 yards – Colston must have been HUGE right? Wrong – 1 catch for 45 yards is all that Marques could muster on a day that the Saints scored 30 – hmmmm!!
Michael Crabtree – San Francisco – After an amazing 2 game season debut, expectations for this week were high for Crabtree. 3 catches for 30 yards certainly didn’t live up to those expectations, and as long as he’s considered a #1 Wide Receiver, 30 yards is a Dud performance.
DeSean Jackson – Philadelphia – 2 catches for 29 yards – Dud!
Top Performers Week 9
Quarterbacks
K. Warner, ARI 261 yds, 5 TD, 0 Int
J. Cutler, CHI 369 yds, 3 TD, 1 Int
A. Rodgers, GNB 266 yds, 3 TD, 3 Int
J. Freeman, TAM 205 yds, 3 TD, 1 Int
M. Cassel, KAN 262 yds, 2 TD, 0 Int
P. Rivers, SDG 209 yds, 3 TD, 2 Int
T. Brady, NWE 332 yds, 1 TD, 1 Int
Running Backs
M. Turner, ATL 180 yds, 2 TD
C. Johnson, TEN 160 yds, 2 TD
D. Williams, CAR 161 yds, 2 TD
J. Addai, IND 112 yds, 2 TD
F. Gore, SFO 158 yds, 1 TD
M. Jones-Drew, JAC 134 yds, 1 TD
R. Rice, BAL 135 yds, 1 TD
J. Jones, SEA 114 yds, 1 TD
C. Benson, CIN 117 yds, 1 TD
R. Grant, GNB 96 yds, 1 TD
L. Betts, WAS 93 yds, 1 TD
Wide Receivers
L. Fitzgerald, ARI 123 yds, 2 TD
R. Moss, NWE 147 yds, 1 TD
M. Sims-Walker, JAC 147 yds, 1 TD
C. Chambers, KAN 70 yds, 2 TD
V. Jackson, SDG 54 yds, 2 TD
J. Hill, SFO 50 yds, 2 TD
J. Jones, GNB 103 yds, 1 TD
S. Breaston, ARI 91 yds, 1 TD
R. Meachem, NOR 98 yds, 1 TD
Tight Ends
G. Olsen, CHI 71 yds, 3 TD
B. Pettigrew, DET 70 yds, 1 TD
D. Clark, IND 123 yds, 0 TD
K. Winslow, TAM 57 yds, 1 TD
