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Fantasy Fix: Megatron No Brandon Marshall

By Dan O’Shea

Calvin Johnson, who many consider the best in fantasy football at his position, or certainly no worse than second best, had a huge Week 10, posting 207 yards receiving and a TD. What’s really notable about the performance is that the TD was only his second of this season and his first since Week 3.
The man they call Megatron does lead the league in receiving yards with 974 yards, so maybe fantasy owners feel they have been getting their money’s worth, but for my money, a top five WR needs to score more often.


And when you consider that last year Johnson had 9 TDs through Week 5, this year has a been a disappointment.
Maybe last week was the turning point for him, but Megatron’s lack of TDs this year left him out of the list of top five WRs in fantasy points scored until last week in most standard-settings leagues (in leagues that count return yards and TDs, he wasn’t even in the top 10 until last week).
If I were picking a WR today, my first choice would be either A.J. Green (first in TDs with nine, sixth in receiving yards with 820, but first overall in fantasy points among WRs because of that TD proficiency) or Brandon Marshall (tied for second in TDs with seven; third in receiving yards with 904.)
In any case, barring a dramatic finish, Megatron’s days as the top-ranked, top-drafted WR may be coming to an end.
Expert Wire
* FanIQ lists Nick Foles as a hot Week 11 pick-up after a concussion did what Andy Reid should have done – bench Michael Vick. Foles is no fantasy stud yet, and was so-so against the Cowboys filling in last week, but has an easier assignment against the Redskins this week.
* Bleacher Report likes Carson Palmer against New Orleans in Week 11.
(My favorite Week 11 match-up is the San Francisco defense against our own Bears, which will not be pretty.)
* SI.com’s roundtable chats about late-emerging sleepers, among other things. Names to remember as you head into the fantasy playoffs: Daryl Richardson, Rashard Mendenhall and Beanie Wells.

Dan O’Shea is our man in fantasyland. He welcomes your comments.

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Posted on November 14, 2012