If you're looking for a TE this week... (1 Viewer)

[Lord Lucan]

Early signs suggest that Heath Miller will again miss this week's game for the Steelers. So what? Well, Miller's back-up, Matt Spaeth, is likely available in most leagues (actually, Miller himself is probably available in plenty too!), and much more importantly, he faces the TE match-up from heaven this week - San Diego.

Here's how TEs have fared against the Chargers this year:

Week 1 Carolina 8 rec 100yds 1 TD

Week 2 Denver 9 rec 92 yds 2 TD

Week 3 NY Jets 7 rec 67 yds 1 TD

Week 4 Oakland 5 rec 95 yds 1 TD

Week 5 Miami 4 rec 72 yds 0 TD

Week 6 New England 1 rec 13 yds 0TD (what went wrong with Belichick's famed ability to zone in on opponents' weak spots?)

Week 7 Buffalo 5 rec 61 yds 0TD

Week 8 New Orleans 10 rec, 102 yds, 1 TD

Week 10 Kansas City 10 rec, 113 yds, 2 TD

In a typical Phenoms scoring system, the Chargers have allowed 183 fantasy points to opposing TEs this season, 44 points more than the 2nd-ranked team and double the league average. In every league I'm in, in fact, the Chargers are giving up around twice the league average in fantasy points to TEs.

Spaeth had six catches last week and whilst I'm not suggesting he should be started ahead of the likes of Gonzales, Daniels or Gates, I do think he's a top 10 TE this week assuming Miller doesn't play.

 

[SuperJohn96]

Early signs suggest that Heath Miller will again miss this week's game for the Steelers. So what? Well, Miller's back-up, Matt Spaeth, is likely available in most leagues (actually, Miller himself is probably available in plenty too!), and much more importantly, he faces the TE match-up from heaven this week - San Diego.

Here's how TEs have fared against the Chargers this year:

Week 1 Carolina 8 rec 100yds 1 TD

Week 2 Denver 9 rec 92 yds 2 TD

Week 3 NY Jets 7 rec 67 yds 1 TD

Week 4 Oakland 5 rec 95 yds 1 TD

Week 5 Miami 4 rec 72 yds 0 TD

Week 6 New England 1 rec 13 yds 0TD (what went wrong with Belichick's famed ability to zone in on opponents' weak spots?)

Week 7 Buffalo 5 rec 61 yds 0TD

Week 8 New Orleans 10 rec, 102 yds, 1 TD

Week 10 Kansas City 10 rec, 113 yds, 2 TD

In a typical Phenoms scoring system, the Chargers have allowed 183 fantasy points to opposing TEs this season, 44 points more than the 2nd-ranked team and double the league average. In every league I'm in, in fact, the Chargers are giving up around twice the league average in fantasy points to TEs.

Spaeth had six catches last week and whilst I'm not suggesting he should be started ahead of the likes of Gonzales, Daniels or Gates, I do think he's a top 10 TE this week assuming Miller doesn't play.

9 Game Totals:59 Receptions

715 Yards

8 TDs

Per Game Average:

6.6 Receptions

79.4 Yards

0.9 TDs

 

[SuperJohn96]

So, what is the problem with the Chargers Defense that they are getting torched by the TE position?

 

[Lord Lucan]

So, what is the problem with the Chargers Defense that they are getting torched by the TE position?

They're getting torched all over by the passing game, not just by TEs, partly because their pass rush has disappeared this season, and partly because some of the DBs haven't played as well as last year (in the handful of games I've seen, anyway).In their latest game, aprt from one completely blown coverage, they attempted to cover Gonzales tightly - there were usually two or three guys around him for every catch, but he just kept pulling them in.My guess would be that, because they aren't rushing the passer very well, opposing offenses are happy to send the TE downfield rather than keeping him in to block. But really, I'm mostly just looking at the numbers, and also the guys who have come up with them - for instance, Dante Rosario disappeared after his huge game in week 1, and several other TEs have had their best numbers of the year against the Chargers.

 

[Godsbrother]

The only problem is the Steelers have been keeping their TE in a lot to help the pathetic o-line in pass protection. Spaeth could get a couple targets and maybe a TD if you're lucky but I wouldn't expect much more than 25 yds or so.

 

[Lord Lucan]

The only problem is the Steelers have been keeping their TE in a lot to help the pathetic o-line in pass protection. Spaeth could get a couple targets and maybe a TD if you're lucky but I wouldn't expect much more than 25 yds or so.

That's a fair point. Spaeth did catch six balls last week though, against a team with a much better pass defense than San Diego (though granted the Colts don't seem to get to the QB much these days). Three of those receptions were for first downs, and I reckon they should be trying to get him involved again this week.

 

[JSH21]

My league rewards 2 PPR for TE's and I am really considering starting Spaeth over Braylon Edwards.

 

[Tanner9919]

they're more likely to use Ward in the slot as a quasi-TE working the middle of the field where a TE would normally do the damage, so I'd expect Ward to have a HUGE game as a result.

 

[B Will]

Pick up Dustin Keller.

 

[kinghill]

I'm sticking with Owen Daniels.

Going with Spaeth in my situation I think would be a huge case of FF "over-thinking".

 

[Trap Play]

Pick up Dustin Keller.

Or Billy Miller. BTW, which one would you guys rather have?

 

[Lord Lucan]

I'm sticking with Owen Daniels.Going with Spaeth in my situation I think would be a huge case of FF "over-thinking".

Oh, absolutely, I wouldn't entertain the idea of starting Spaeth if you have one of the top three or four TEs. He could be a useful pick-up for someone struggling for a TE this week, that was what I was suggesting. It's entirely possible that a guy abrely on anyone's fantasy roster will be one of the leading TEs this week, that's all I'm saying.

 

[Johnny Rock]

Nice post.

Gotta pimp University of MN here. Spaeth and Utecht are former Gophers.

Keep an eye out down the line for an incoming Gophers freshman next year who just verbally committed, Ra'Shede Hageman, 6'6" 255. His final 3 schools were Minnesota, Ohio State and Wisconsin. Obviously it's early but he looks like a nice player and Coach Brewster was a TE and TE Coach who is credited with recruiting Antonio Gates to the Chargers and developing him into an All-Pro TE.