Last year, when Danario Alexander went down with his 423,567th ACL tear, I made a case for Malcom Floyd as the receiver that stood to gain the most. My reasoning at the time was that receivers around him were underwhelming... Read more › The post Don't Overlook Malcom Floyd -- 2014 Edition appeared first on RotoViz.

This article references Antonio Gates, Carson Palmer, Danny Woodhead, DEF, Eli Manning, Hakeem Nicks, Keenan Allen, Larry Fitzgerald, Malcom Floyd, Michael Floyd, Rueben Randle, Ryan Mathews, SP, Victor Cruz, WR and more! Players That Are Making Me NervousLet's take a look at some NFL players that had "beware of bad games" signs posted on their front lawns this past week.This article is not meant to make any of you panic, but at the same time I wanted to share my thoughts on a few players after seeing them in action.I know it's only one week of play, and overreacting to Week One can also hurt your long term chances in fantasy football. However, fantasy football is not fantasy baseball. The sea[...] Keep on reading: 3 Fantasy Football Players Sending Out Warning Signals in Week 1

This article references Danny Woodhead, DEF, Keenan Allen, Malcom Floyd, Philip Rivers, WR and more! BALLER MOVE: Watch on the waiver wire, could be an interesting play in deep/very deep leagues.ANALYSIS: Keenan Allen has to prove that he is not a one year wonder. That could be difficult to do in the Chargers run heavy scheme, with backs Ryan Matthews and Danny Woodhead both primed to have big seasons. If Allen does not live up to all the hype, the Chargers offense is going to have to find someone else to throw the ball to at the WR position. The ten year veteran Malcom Floyd could be an ef[...] Keep on reading: Malcom Floyd (WR, SD) -- Fantasy Football Sleepers

Our top category comes back, and rightly so as we have a player that will have an immediate fantasy impact as both a short- and long-term solution. Despite the fact that three starting quarterbacks went down with a concussion, their backups all played so poorly that none are worth considering in any format. Wide receivers and running backs carry the day in this week's edition, though we do reach deep in our effort to list at least one tight end. There's something for everyone this week! Smokin' Hot WR Danario Alexander, San Diego Alexander was slated to split time with Robert Meachem as the starter opposite Malcom Floyd this past week. Just over a minute into the game against Tampa Bay, he got his hands on a slant pass and 80 yards later he was in the end zone. More importantly, the coaching staff had seen enough to keep him on the field for nearly every one of the Chargers' offensive plays. He finished the day with five catches good for 134 yards and the one touchdown, which clearly moves him ahead of Meachem as the starter for San Diego. Even though the Chargers have difficult matchups against Denver and Baltimore, look for Alexander to be an integral part of the San Diego passing game and he should be owned in all formats. Solid Pickups RB Chris Ivory, New Orleans We talked about Ivory last week, and his performance against the Atlanta Falcons backed up the high praise that we heaped upon him. With Darren Sproles likely to miss at least another game or two, we continue to like Ivory as a waiver wire pickup that can provide help at the running back position. The return of Sproles will put a damper on Ivory's playing time, but until that happens Ivory is worth a look in all formats. He backed up a 10-carry 48-yard performance two weeks ago by rushing seven times for 72 yards against the Falcons while scoring a touchdown for the second week in a row. He is only owned in 30 percent of online leagues, numbers that are sure to rise as running backs that touch the ball 5-10 times per game are a rare find on the waiver wire. Our friends at fleaflicker.com have him as one of the top adds this week, so get him while you can. WR Laurent Robinson, Jacksonville The Jaguars have adapted their offense since losing Maurice Jones-Drew to injury, with the realization that Rashad Jennings cannot carry the same load. The Jaguars offense is relying more on the passing game, frequently going with three wide receivers on the field. The ...

So, no one wants to hear the "I told you so" that goes along with Darren McFadden getting injured. You had to know that it was looming. That question was if he would make it through the year. The injury is a dreaded high ankle sprain, and while the X-rays were negative, you get a sense that he will stay on the shelf this week. The Oakland Raiders would prefer to have him healthier next week against New Orleans. The Saints have been gashed on the ground, and to have him sit this week makes sense from a precautionary standpoint. Mike Goodson is also hobbled, which points to Taiwan Jones. Is Jones ready to play? I personally think fullback Marcel Reece has more value. Regardless of who starts, take a look at Reece, especially in points-per-reception leagues. Don't get too excited about Chris Johnson's numbers the last three weeks. You should have the good sense to know that it's time to trade him. I just can't do it in my dynasty league as I'll never quite get what I want for him. Miami is on tap this week, and I'll continue to start him because I'm committed. Temper your expectation because Miami has been fairly tough to run against. He still possesses game-changing speed; there's no arguing that. The offense simply plays too many games from behind for them to put up enough for you to be excited about running backs on this roster. Danario Alexander was a good add for the San Diego Chargers since Robert Meachem hasn't lived up to billing, Eddie Royal has been injured mostly and Vincent Brown isn't quite ready to resume just yet. I don't believe that he has as much value as Malcom Floyd or Antonio Gates. The signs point to him being involved catching three balls in the first week without much practice. He may be worth a look in deeper leagues, but take a wait-and-see approach. Chris "Beanie" Wells may be available in your league. Do yourself a favor and check. The knee-jerk reaction was to drop him when he was injured. He will be back and insists that the knee and turf toe have healed sufficiently. Wells runs with authority and needs to get carries to get momentum. He should be ready Week 11 to return against St. Louis. The Week 13 game against the New York Jets has me salivating. If you have the room, make the move now. It's great to have options like this. I realize that in deep leagues that he sits on a bench some place. You can start looking for a possible trade if your league allows. Brandon Lloyd had a big week across the pond against ...

Football is an amazingly surreal sport. It's fast, intense, and to players like San Diego Chargers' tight end Antonio Gates, it can sometimes feel as vicious (physically and mentally) as a pick-up truck getting t-boned by a yellow school bus; doesn't matter the speed. Over the past few seasons the bolting big target has dealt with nagging injury after nagging injury, but has persevered for the most part, especially considering the severity of some of those injuries. In fact, despite missing nine starts combined in 2010 and 2011 Gates still managed to post good enough numbers in both (114 receptions, 1,560 yards, 17 touchdowns) to make consecutive Pro Bowl teams. Consequently though, the injury bug that continues to hamper Gates has also taken a toll on his status among the best in the game today. According to USA Today, Gates was left off the NFL Network's top 100 players for 2012, which isn't sitting well with big number 85. Now, he's motivated to get back to the top where he believes he belongs. "I want to prove that I'm still the guy at this position, still the guy who can dominate this position, still the No.1 tight end in the NFL. I've come in with a chip on my shoulder. I've heard things people said, talking about other players at this position. But to discredit what I can do, I take it personally." As a fantasy owner this kind of banter from a player just tickles me pink. So I did what any good researcher would do after reading text like this --- I looked for consistencies within the Chargers offense with Philip Rivers leading the charge and Gates seaming down the middle. Below is a play that stood out above the rest. Gates Y Option The Chargers run different versions of what I have found to be the most productive Gates-oriented play. On this particular version the Chargers are just outside the red-zone and the Green Bay Packers defense has employed a 2-Deep (safeties) Nickel package. This ultimately means that Rivers will have a pretty tight window to find his big tight end, which will be the gun-slinging quarterback‘s first and only read. Gates himself will have the option to either run a post in, or a post corner out, which is determined based on the movement of the free safety (circled in gold). If the free safety stays angled towards top zone receivers Malcom Floyd (running a outside fly route) and Robert Meachem (running a deep curl route) Gates will make his move inward. If the free safety angles down trying to read the play, then ...

THE TOP HEADLINES: The Detroit Lions Make the Playoffs for the First Time Since 1999 by Routing the San Diego Chargers 38-10 at Ford Field; Chargers Head Coach Norv Turner's Job is in Jeopardy It's hard to believe these same Detroit Lions (10-5) had set an NFL record for futility just three years ago with that infamous 0-16 mark. The game was as lopsided as the score indicates. The Lions set four new franchise records, which included Matthew Stafford (373-3-0) amassing 4,518 passing yards on the season to shatter Scott Mitchell's single-season record from 1995. By the way, 1995 was the last time Detroit had logged double-digit wins in the regular season. Keeping Stafford healthy for the entire season obviously has been the key; coming into 2011, he had missed 19 of 32 games during his first two pro seasons due to various injuries. Surrounding Stafford with a strong supporting cast that includes Calvin Johnson (4-102-1), Nate Burleson (6-83-0), Brandon Pettigrew (9-80-1) and the resurgent Kevin Smith (61 total yards and two total touchdowns) obviously has played a huge role in the Detroit triggerman's success. The ol' December magic that we had seen from the San Diego Chargers (7-8) finally ran out despite the efforts of Philip Rivers (299-1-2) and Malcom Floyd (6-95-1). During the last few years under head coach Norv Turner, the team would start badly and finish up strong to make the playoffs. This season, the Chargers started strong, slumped in the middle and tried to rebound with a last-season postseason push, which the Lions snuffed out. Rumors are already flying that Turner and general manager A.J. Smith are likely out at the end of the season, because this talented San Diego team has badly underachieved on their watch. The Chargers have said they won't consider making any changes until the regular season has ended. The New England Patriots Overcome Their Biggest Deficit of the Season to Upend the Miami Dolphins 27-24 to Clinch the AFC East and a First-Round Playoff Bye As many suspected, the New England Patriots (12-3) had a letdown the week after they won the hard-fought "Tim Tebow Bowl" over the Denver Broncos, but I can't remember the last time I saw a Bill Belichick-coached team play such a terrible half of football. The Patriots did not score in the first half, and they had very little success stopping the Miami Dolphins (5-10). However, following what some media sources have described as a profanity-laced tirade from Belichick at ...

San Diego Chargers wideout Malcom Floyd doesn't appear to be close to returning to the lineup due to a hip injury.

San Diego Chargers wideout Malcom Floyd is expected to sit out a third straight game Sunday against the Chicago Bears due to a hip injury.

We're back to our regular format this week as we tier up the potential waiver wire candidates for this week. A slight deviation as we dump the lowest category and introduce a "Quarterback Discussion" section. With so many going down this week, a discussion of the potential replacements seems appropriate. This week's column was written while wondering what the point spread might be if Green Bay played against Indianapolis. I'm thinking in the 30 range, and even then, would anyone touch the Colts? Should be it higher? After a full slate of games last week, we've got some more byes to get past in week eleven. On to this week's waiver wire wonders.... Smokin' Hot RB Lance Ball, Denver To say that the Broncos' passing game is non-existent is giving it too much credit, and yet they continue to find ways to win games. Knowshon Moreno has been ruled out this week, and while reports are that Willis McGahee will be available this week, expect Ball to once again command a heavy load. He responded to being the only healthy option last week by carrying the ball 30 times for just under a hundred yards. With or without McGahee, Ball will be very much involved this week and his number will be called early and often. WR Vincent Brown, San Diego The rookie has performed very well the past couple of weeks, putting up 79 and 97 yards, respectively. He narrowly missed a second touchdown this week, settling for the single score. With Malcom Floyd's status still unknown, Brown has impressed and has earned himself some playing time even if Floyd returns. Only owned in 17% of online leagues, Brown is a short-term start as well as a long-term fantasy producer. WR Earl Bennett, Chicago We mentioned Bennett in this space last week, and his ownership shot up to 59% of online leagues. Six catches for 81 yards this past week confirms his standing as the top wideout in Chicago. He is a solid WR2 fantasy starter, and won't be flying under the fantasy radar for long. Consistency will be his name, expect 5-7 catches and 75-95 yards on a weekly basis. Solid Pickups Jacksonville Defense at Cle, vs Tex, vs SD, vs TB, at Atl, at Ten, vs Ind In general, if you can find a defense on the waiver wire that is playing the Colts or Browns, you grab and play them. If you are looking to settle on a defense for the rest of the season, consider the Jaguars. Sure, they bulked up against Indianapolis this past week, but they have been solid all season prior to that game. They've posted 21 sacks to...