by Eddie Mayrose

After ten weeks, the good professor and his general manager, son Timothy, have outlasted ten family members and positioned themselves in the final four of the McGee Survivor League.  Riding the tails of the Johnson brothers, their two superstar wide receivers Andre and Calvin, Waggie and Tim have seen their Fantasy Football team, Home Alone 2, dodge every bullet thrown its way.  Now, with two brothers and a cousin standing as the only obstacles between him and the grand prize, Tim is feeling his oats.  ” I talked dad out of Carson Palmer last week and Joe Flacco came through.  This week, it’s Michael Crabtree in for Mike Williams. If we win again, dad’s paying for the Harry Potter movie.”  We’ll see, Tim.

Fantasy Football Studs

- Worried that Chargers’ QB Philip Rivers might not be able to maintain his first half pace?  Forget it, as San Diego’s MVP candidate gets his staring receiving corps back for a matchup with Denver.  In Carolina, they’re down to third string RB Mike Goodson, who turned in a terrific game last week.  Expect more of the same as the Panthers’ turn to rookie QB Tony Pike.  Can’t imagine there’ll be a lot of passes in that game plan.

Fantasy Football Sleepers

- As mentioned above, Chargers WR Legedu Naanee returns from a hamstring injury to face the very generous Broncos‘ secondary. With Tyler Thigpen stepping into the starting role in Miami, look for TE Anthony Fasano to be a primary target in the Dolphins’ limited offensive scheme.

Fantasy Football Slippers

-We’ll see how Texans WR Andre Johnson does on Revis Island this Sunday vs. the Jets, especially with an ailing Matt Schaub.  Detroit’s Calvin Johnson didn’t fare too well in the same scenario two weeks ago.  San Diego’s Antonio Gates, already dealing with an injury, may see his numbers drop with the return of WRs Naanee and Malcolm Floyd to the lineup.

Fantasy Football Stiffs

- Don’t bet on Vikings’ WR Sidney Rice being in uniform this Sunday as he continues his recovery from hip surgery.  Even if he does, he’ll struggle right along wit the rest of the Vikings.  Give up the ghost on Arizona’s RB Beanie Wells.  His “breakout” season has been a bust and should continue along the same path; especially if he can’t hang on to the ball.

By Eddie Mayrose

If you’re a Wagstaff follower, you’ve heard this refrain before.  “Grab the best Fantasy Receivers as early as possible.”  It’s a theory put into practice every year by the Professor as he constructs his Fantasy Football Roster; one that has annually provided a tremendous edge over Fantasy Owners locked into the standard system of front-loading running backs.  Here’s why.

It’s a widely accepted (yet flawed) idea that the elite ball carriers produce more than the best wideouts.  While I’ll agree that running backs are guaranteed significantly more touches, it doesn’t guarantee better production.  Texans’ star Andre Johnson was a Wagstaff first rounder in every draft.  Compare his 1,500 YDS and 9 TD to Stephen Jackson’s 1,300 YDS and 4 TD.  Now, it’d be crazy to pass on Chris Johnson, Adrian Peterson or Maurice Jones-Drew with any of the first three picks but, after that, guys like Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald and Randy Moss are way more likely to deliver their career averages than what’s left in the backfield.  Not to mention that running backs are infinitely more likely to get hurt.

So, take advantage of those in your Fantasy Football League that are mired in the conventional wisdom.  Stockpile two of the elite receivers before anyone realizes how that the position has thinned out and then scoop up mid-round running backs who’ll still help your team.

Fantasy Football Star

We’ve already mentioned Johnson, Fitzgerald and Moss.  The next guy on the Wagstaff list is Lions’ WR Calvin Johnson.  He actually may be the most talented guy on our list and with QB Matt Stafford gaining experience behind an improved offensive line, Calvin is ready to explode.

Fantasy Football Stiff

Don’t get trapped by the notion that Santonio Holmes is a bargain because he’ll go late in your draft.  He’ll miss four weeks, more than a third of your Fantasy Football season, and come back to an unfamiliar offensive scheme led by the erratic Mark Sanchez.  Holmes is likely to struggle into November.

Fantasy Football Sleeper

One of the best NCAA receivers in the last decade, Michael Crabtree never really got cooking last year after a long contract holdout.  In 2010, with a full training camp under his belt, Crabtree will make Frank Gore the Niners’ second-most important player.

Fantasy Football Slipper

While San Diego’s Vincent Jackson is one of the league’s rising stars, his contract holdout as well as the Chargers’ depleted offensive line will likely take his production down a few notches. Don’t get caught paying 2010 prices for his 2009 stats.

Professor Wagstaff’s Top 25 Wide Receivers

New York Jets Cut Corners in Acquiring Corner

So, now we find out that one game short of the Super Bowl is the moral evacuation point for the New York Jets when it comes to the formation of their roster.  Flush with the excitement of their improbable run to the AFC Championship game and desperate to fill a new stadium through a PSL extortion campaign, Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum has his eye on the prize; and, seemingly, nothing else.

His first big splash of the off season was to acquire Antonio Cromartie, former first round pick and Pro Bowl cornerback, from the Chargers.  The idea of pairing Cromartie, the San Diego record holder for interceptions in a season, with Darrelle Revis, the game’s best, gave Tannenbaum the impetus to ignore the personal baggage Cromartie brings east.  Gang Green’s new defensive back has been a busy young man; fathering seven children with six women in five states; all by the age of twenty five.  With at least one paternity suit pending, the Jets felt it necessary to advance Cromartie $500K of his 2010 salary in order for him to satisfy delinquent child support payments.  They can only hope he doesn’t start dating before training camp begins.

Then, perhaps attempting to balance the miscreants on each side of the ball, Tannenbaum swooped in and grabbed wide receiver Santonio Holmes from the Steelers for a song.  Despite the fact that Holmes was the hero and MVP of Pittsburgh’s Super Bowl victory just two years ago, he became available after a March incident in which he allegedly threw a glass at a woman in a nightclub; cutting her above the eye. Then, after a Twitter comment critical of Holmes, he told the follower to “kill urself” and later Tweeted that it was time to “wake and bake”, a reference to smoking pot in the morning.

Holmes is no stranger to marijuana, having been arrested for possession in 2008.  He’s also been arrested, in 2006, on charges of domestic violence and will be suspended for the first four games of this season for an unspecified violation of the league’s substance abuse policy.  But, again, talent was the trump card and, after Pittsburgh had had enough, Tannenbaum surrendered just a paltry fifth round pick for the troubled Steeler; pairing him with Braylon Edwards, himself acquired amidst legal woes last year.

On the surface, these moves might be justified by reasoning that the Jets are on the cusp of a championship.  In reality, however, they’re little more than a .500 team that got hot at the right time; edging two playoff opponents that missed a total of five field goals. Their postseason appearance, itself, was achieved on the heels of a virtual forfeit by the Indianapolis Colts. The vaunted defense, pride and joy of Head Coach Rex Ryan, failed to stop fourth quarter drives by playoff outsiders Jacksonville and Atlanta during a regular season stretch that produced six losses in seven games. Quarterback Mark Sanchez was the league’s lowest rated starter at season’s end and has yet to begin running after off-season knee surgery while RB Thomas Jones and OG Alan Faneca, each a Pro Bowler as well as a respected team leader, were released.

Owner Woody Johnson, along with Tannenbaum, has sworn his belief that Big Rexy is enough of a “people person” to pull all of these new and questionable personalities together and unite them toward a common goal.  Best of luck to Coach Ryan, then, on that front.  However, even if this is, finally, the group that earns a Lombardi Trophy, won’t it be more than a little tainted that it was won by players no one wants to root for?

Football Gods Still Smiling On New York Jets

Shonn Greene had just crossed the goal line at the end of a bruising fifty-one yard run that had given the Jets a stunning 17-7 lead over San Diego with seven minutes left in their Divisional Round playoff game on Sunday.  As Greene was being mobbed by his teammates and my sons and I were jumping all over the living room, the phone rang.  It was my dad, a well-meaning yet naive Giant fan, calling to congratulate us on a big win.  I picked up the phone, horrified, and said, “Are you crazy?  You can’t call me now.  Do you have any idea how much disaster the Jets can pack into seven minutes?”  And, sure enough, Rex Ryan immediately suffered his only brain cramp of the day; electing to squib the kickoff and hand the ball to the Chargers on the New York side of the field.  There wasn’t a fan over thirty that didn’t believe we were about to be treated to another Jet horror show.

It was then, however, that Gang Green entered the Bizarro World, one where the opponent melts down and the good guys triumph.  Instead of Mark Gastineau roughing the passer, it was Vincent Jackson kicking the challenge flag.  While he may have looked like Doug Brien, it was actually Nate Kaeding, the league’s best kicker, who doomed the Chargers with two missed field goals.  And, finally, Norv Turner’s tragic decision to on-side kick with two minutes remaining was right out of Joe Walton’s coaching manual.  As Jets fans, we’d seen each of these gaffes before but, always, they were committed by our side.  Had the football gods decided we’d finally had enough?  Maybe.  But it’s very possible that the smash mouth brand of football being played by the Jets is exactly the style that brings about such good fortune.  Whatever it is, you have to admit they rate somewhat more of a puncher’s chance against Peyton Manning and Co. this week.

There’s no arguing that, since a Week 15 loss to the Falcons, Lady Luck has been wearing green.  The ton of help necessary to make the playoffs was provided by a multitude of teams.  The first round matchup with the Bengals was the best they could’ve drawn, as was San Diego in the second round.  Their cause has been aided immensely by five missed field goals over the first two games and, much like their matchup with the Chargers, they’ll face a team in Indianapolis with an inferior running game.  Could it be that the stars have finally aligned in their favor?   I don’t know.  But, as long as they continue to dominate their opponent with the league’s best ground attack and the NFL‘s top defensive unit forces the Colts off their game plan, their Super Bowl trip to Miami will have nothing to do with luck.  Though, just in case, I’ll be wearing the same clothes I wore the last two weeks.

Wagstaff Eliminated From McGee Survivor League

It’s been two weeks since our beloved Professor was sent packing and he still hasn’t gotten over it.  The dreams he had of collecting the grand prize of Christmas booty have been dashed, by in-laws no less. The pain became worse when the elimination process spilled over to his birthday.  Then, the sweetest competitor left in the competition actually sought out some old classmates of the Prof and dished some more dirt.  It’s been quite a humbling experience.

The Staten Island Division has now been decimated while just one remains from the Holmdel and Long Island loops.  The Midwest Division is alive and well heading into the semi final round, each hoping to collect a Christmas gift from the rest of the league.  Good luck to all but, keep it down on the ferry, will ya, Jen?

Fantasy Football News and Notes

Thought it was very cool last week when Jacksonville RB Maurice Jones-Drew, after taking a knee on the one yard line in order to run down the clock in the fourth quarter, apologized to his Fantasy Football owners…RB Steve Slaton will be back in the Texans’ starting lineup on Monday night vs. Tennessee…Eagles RB Brian Westbrook will miss up to three weeks with his second concussion in a month.  If he has people that love him, however, he’ll sit the rest of the year…Denver QB Kyle Orton missed a lot of practice time with a sprained ankle and is doubtful for Sunday…Michael Turner, listed by the Falcons as doubtful for Sunday, probably won’t go…Washington RB Clinton Portis is still out with a concussion…Bengal RB Cedric Benson missed the entire week of practice with a hip injury and won’t play Sunday… A bum hip has Colts’ DE Dwight Freeney doubtful at Baltimore…Saints’ RB Reggie Bush is out with a knee injury…Troy Polamalu will not be in the Steelers’ secondary in Kansas City.

Fantasy Football Stars-

How often do the Texans get to show their stuff to a national audience?  That’ll happen Monday night and WR  Andre Johnson should take full advantage.  He and QB Matt Schaub are probably the deadliest passing duo in the league this side of Brady-Moss and not many know it.  Look for Johnson to make life miserable for the Tennessee defense.

Fantasy Football Stiffs -

Jets’ QB Mark Sanchez was the beneficiary of the team’s hot start and Tom Brady’s rust when Gang Green knocked off the Patriots in Week 2 at the Meadowlands.  That won’t happen today as a ticked off Patriots’ defense will be bringing schemes the rookie has never seen.  If you lose points for QB turnovers, you’ll want to sit Sanchez.

Fantasy Football Sleepers-

RB Larry Johnson was signed by the Bengals this week after a month of turmoil inn Kansas City caused by his insensitive remarks about gays cost him his job.  Desperate for a new start and working with fresh legs, he should pur up solid numbers as Cedric Benson’s replacement in Cincinnati.

Fantasy Football Slippers-

Broncos’ WR Brandon Marshall could see his numbers drop vs. San Diego if QB Kyle Orton can’t go.  Back-up QB Chris Simms does not have Orton’s arm and will likely work the underneath routes; costing Marshall and his owners valuable YDS and scoring opportunities.

It was once just a dream; merely a conversation over a family dinner. Until our Staten Island cousin and nephew Terrence, took the reins and created a Fantasy Football giant known as the McGee Survivor League. We don’t know where we’d be without him but we’re about to find out as his Bayside Tigers went down in flames last week. Still alive heading into Monday Night Football, Terry was done in by one long pass from Donovan McNabb and the hideous Bears’ defense, which registered a fatal -10 points. “Should have played another D”, said Terry. “Jenny told me that nothing good comes from Chicago.” Dr. Pete barely survived his own pitiful showing but returns four playrs from their bye weeks. Waggie is still around, courtesy of Thomas Jones and his offensive line. Made it to November, “woo-hoo!”

Fantasy Football News and Notes

Falcons allowing 250 passing YDS PPG so play any and all New Orleans skill position players on your roster…Panthers‘ QB Jake Delhomme, already with 13 INT, returns to Arizona; where he threw five picks in last year’s playoffs… Jets’ RB Thomas Jones should see his carries increase significantly with Leon Washington out. While rookie Shonn Greene will get some touches, he can’t do a lot of what Washington did so, Jones’ll be the guy… RB Ahmad Bradshaw has told the Giants he can play through the pain of a broken bone in his foot. We’ll see… Vince Young takes over for Kerry Collins at QB for the winless Titans… Rams’ RB Steve Jackson, posting 100 YD games on an almost weekly basis, might actually find the end zone this week vs. Detroit…If you saw any of the Jets-Raiders game last week, you’ll play the Chargers’ DST as they host Oakland this weekend… Not buying into the Alex Smith renaissance just yet but he does have significantly better receivers now than when he was strating before… Ravens are at home, coming off a bye and truying to stop a three game losing streak this week. I’d think twice before starting Denver RB Knowshon Moreno against them… Seattle Rb Julius Jones missed practice on Wednesday due to personal reasons but returned Thursday and will play Sunday… The Chiefs suspended RB Larry Johnson for two weeks because whenever he opens his mouth, stupid things come out. Should be a bonus to Jamaal Charles, who’ll get the start… Vikes’ WR Bernard Berrian is nursing a sore hamstring and is questionable for Sunday at Green Bay… Lions wideout Calvin Johnson practiced on Thursday after missing the Lions’ last game before the bye. He was limited and is questionable for the Rams… Minnesota Wr Percy Harvin has battled migraines all year and missed practice on Thursday… Jericho Cotchery should return to the Jets this week after missing a game with a bad hamstring… Colts’ RB Donald Brown is doubtful for Sunday vs. San Francisco with a strained groin…Eagles’ RB Brian Westbrook will be a game time decision after suffering a concussion last week… Colts’ WR Reggie Wayne has been hampered by a strained groin but should go Sunday.

Fantasy Football Stars

- Dolphins’ RB Ricky Williams is coming off his best game of the season, culminating a three game hot streak that began when he and teammate Ronnie Brown ran all over the jets from Miami’s Wildcat formation. Look for more of the samwe this weekend, as the Jets will now try to stop the Wildcat without NT Kris Jenkins… The Seahawks are coming off their bye; having had two weeks to prepare for the Cowboys’ porous pass defense. Look for Matt Hasselbeck to turn in a big game this week vs. Dallas.

Fantasy Football Stiffs

- WR Greg Jennings hasn’t found the endzone since Week One and won’t exactly be facing soft competition on Sunday when the Vikings visit the Packers. That Aaron Rodgers has still performed well is an indication he’s become comfortable with his other receivers; more bad news for Jennings… After Alex Smith’s stellar relief appearance last week, QB Shaun Hill’s out of a job in San Francisco.

Fantasy Football Sleepers

- New Orleans’ TE Jeremy Shockey posted his first 100 YD game of the season last week and is due for another solid game vs. Atlanta. The Falcons have allowed quite a few TE’s to perform well, mailnly because they stretch their secondary too thin to cover WR’s. They’ll be in that mode again on Sunday, facing the best offense in the league… Durning the 49′ers bye week, WR Michael Crabtree and QB Alex Smith developed good chemistry while working with each other on the scout team. That chemistry blossomed on Sunday when Smith got his chance. Look for another big game from Crabtree.

Fantasy Football Slippers

- Eagles QB Donovan McNabb has been terrible the last two weeks, throwing for just one TD and actually losing to the Raiders. His luck won’t improve this week, either, as he’ll face a Giants’ defense that’s held six QB’s under 200 YDS… RB Marshawn Lynch has struggled since his return from suspension in large part due to Buffalo’s terrible pasing game. That won’t change this week as Lynch goes up against a Houston defense that has stuffed Cedric Benson and Frank Gore over its last two games.