FANTASY FOCUS: Siragusa makes game unbearable
By ANDY HAMPTON
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sports@daily-chronicle.com
Let's play a game I like to call "Would You Rather."
Would you rather; A) Drag a metal rake across a chalkboard; B) Listen to Kanye West talk for an hour trying to sell you a timeshare; or C) Have to listen to Tony Siragusa talk about anything for 2 minutes.
Close call isn't it?
Trying to watch the Buffalo/Tampa Bay game was nearly unbearable because of Siragusa. Because of a scheduling quirk, this was Tampa's first trip to Buffalo in the team's 33-year history. The Buccaneers should have stayed home. Fred Jackson and his 163 yards rushing made Bills fans say, "Marshawn who?"
The Chiefs racked up 409 total net yards to the Raiders' 166 ... and lost. Jamarcus Russell is not an NFL quarterback.
Did you see the Cardinals/Jaguars game? Not if you lived in Jacksonville, Fla. The game was blacked out. Too bad they didn't see Kurt Warner set an NFL record for completion percentage going 24 of 26 for 243 yards and two touchdowns.
Chris Johnson went crazy. I got tired just watching his highlights. He had touchdown runs of 57 and 91 yards on his way to rushing for 197 yards. Just for grins, he kicked in a 69-yard touchdown reception. By the way, his Titans lost to the Texans, 34-31, in a game that produced an astounding 869 yards of offense.
Cedric Benson you ask? Just a mere 141 yards rushing on 29 carries against a Packers team that I thought improved their run defense, especially after they shut down Matt Forte in Week 1.
Week 2 Report Card:
Starts:
Donald Brown (RB/Ind.): Had four carries for 26 yards and scored the lone Colts' rushing TD and looked much better than Joseph Addai ... again.
Carnell Williams (RB/TB): His seven carries for 9 yards was pathetic. However, he did catch seven passes for 56 yards and a touchdown.
LenDale White (RB/Ten.): Just six carries for 25 yards. Mean old Chris Johnson got the glory this week.
Sits:
Jake Delhomme (QB/Car.): 25 out of 41 for 308 yards with one TD and an interception. Much better than Week 1, but Bill Cowher is sitting by the phone waiting for the ax to fall on John Fox.
Steven Jackson (RB/STL): 17 carries for 104 yards and four catches for 15 yards. Nice game, but still no touchdowns for the ONLY weapon on a team that might be the worst in the NFL.
Tom Brady (QB/NE): 23 out of 46 for 216 yards with one pick and zero TDs. I caught a lot of flack on this one, but I don't like anyone against that Jets defense right now.
Week 3 Starts/Sits:
Starts:
Jason Campbell (QB/Wash.): Campbell looked like he was coming around in that sleeper of a game against the Rams. I predict he will have a nice game. I also predict that the Lions will win this game at home and we'll find out where Jimmy Hoffa is.
Ahmad Bradshaw (RB/NYG): Brandon Jacobs' owners already are playing him, but this is one of those occasions where both running backs will eat plenty. EVERYBODY can run on the Buccaneers.
Drew Brees (QB/NO): This is a no-brainer but I wanted to point out that Byron Leftwich threw for 296 yards against Buffalo. Leftwich is no Brees. Plus, Brees probably is upset that he only threw for three touchdowns this past week.
Sits:
Frank Gore (RB/SF): At Minnesota against the best defense against the run. He will not go for another 207 yards like he did against the Seahawks or I will shave my head. Not today, but sometime.
Michael Turner (RB/ATL): Believe me, I love Turner, but it seems as if this whole Matt Ryan to Tony Gonzalez appears to be working. Also, the Patriots' defense has looked good against the run.
Cedric Benson (RB/Cin.): I still love the Kool-Aid, but not against the Steelers.
One last tidbit: the Chargers ventured into the Ravens' red zone five times on Sunday and came out with four field goals and and failed to convert a fourth down at the end of the game. They lost, 31-26, but Kanye told them it was their greatest performance ... ever.
• Andy Hampton writes the weekly fantasy football column, "Fantasy Focus," for the Daily Chronicle. Write to him a sports@daily-chronicle.com.
