Week Nine Trends and Topics

Defensive genius? Not so much any more...

• Since the week 6 do or die matchup against the Vikings the Cowboys defense has all but died giving up totals of 41, 35, and 45 to the Giants, Jaguars, and Packers. Opposing QB's have scored 12 touchdowns in this 3 week span, and things look no better against pass happy Eli Manning at New York and Matthew Stafford at home. 
• Speaking of defenses, the Patriots D has given up 5 rushing touchdowns over the past two weeks while only allowing one score through the air. 
• After what we saw yesterday in Oakland; week 17's Oakland vs. KC game at Arrowhead could very well be for the division title. However, don't rule out San Diego who has rolled off 3 straight wins. By the way, don't look now but by week 12 Rivers will have Vincent Jackson to throw to again. 
• Every one's hot pick up was LeGarrette Blount, however, the lesser known Javarris James ran for 2 touchdowns Sunday against the Eagles while Blount only touched the ball 13 times for 46 yards. 
• Everyone remembers Carolina drafting Jimmy Clausen to be their QB of the future, but in the later rounds they took Cincinnati standout Tony Pike. While he only went 6/12 for 47 yards; his getting into the game to replace Clausen may signal that Carolina may not be sold on the QB from Notre Dame just yet. 
• The Charlie Whitehurst era is not off to a smooth start in Seattle with a 12 completion, 113 yards, and 1 touchdown performance against the Giants Sunday giving up their first home loss. 
• Finally, Patriots WR Wes Welker had just as many kicking points as 5 kickers yesterday as he nailed an extra point in relief for the injured Steven Gostkowski. 

Week Eight Stock Up/ Down

Paging Randy Moss. Randy Moss!

Since catching 3 touchdowns in his first 2 games Wes Welker has gone scoreless in his last 4. When you compare last year's NE roster to this year it's almost understandable why his production has fallen off.

• The 2010 draft brought in two high-caliber tight ends to pick up that short yardage/ crossing route throws that Welker was so accustomed to getting come out of the slot. 
• The trade for Deion Branch reunited Tom Brady with one of his favorite targets from years ago. In Branch's first game back he had 9 receptions for 98 yards and a touchdown. That has "looking for him" written all over it. 
• Welker's production came before the running game opened up for new starters and scorers Ben-Jarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead. Before the emergence of those two Brady needed Welker's presence to score at the goal line. 
• Although his production fell off before the Randy Moss trade; perhaps Welker needs Moss to insure he gets his share of targets. Now the best deep threat they have is a 31 year old Deion Branch.

A guy quietly making leaps and bounds in the receiving and running game is the afore-mentioned Danny Woodhead; coincidentally mistaken for Welker after a week 4 touchdown against the Dolphins by one of the announcers for the Patriots Radio Network. Save for last week's game at SD, even with a 2-4 record SD does play much better defense at home, Woodhead has put up double digit fantasy points in 3 of his last 4 games. On the flip side Woodhead is filling in nicely for the Sammy Morris role of the Patriots offense being utilized not only as a WR but as a RB as well. If you don't roll the dice on Danny be sure to keep an eye on him to see what his production is vs. that of Wes Welker.