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Nick Shook on fantasy football: Pass on Landry Jones but pluck Martavis Bryant out of the air if you can

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By Nick Shook
Beacon Journal copy editor
Read full column on Ohio.com

Mike Vick was a hero in the fourth quarter in San Diego in Week 5, but let’s be honest — he was handcuffing the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense.

As soon as the veteran went down with a concuss — I mean, dirt in his eye (and later a hamstring injury), Landry Jones again showed America what it looks like when a traditional quarterback with eyes downfield can do with the Steelers’ skilled guys. The results? 8-for-12, 168 yards, two touchdowns and a passer rating of 149.3. Steelers 25, Cardinals 13. Continue reading →

Nick Shook on fantasy football: Sorry about that bad advice on Gary Barnidge but believe me on his quarterback Josh McCown

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By Nick Shook
Beacon Journal copy editor
Read full column on Ohio.com

Sometimes, things just don’t go your way.

Players have bad days. Farmers’ crops don’t yield much. Students fail tests. It happens.

If you listened to me and benched Gary Barnidge last week, I apologize. Apparently, the worst position matchup couldn’t keep him from again doing Gary Barnidge things, like making catches with his backside and inner thighs. How many Gary Barnidges does it take for the Browns to finish with a winning record? The world might never know. Continue reading →

Nick Shook on Fantasy Football: Dry your tears and get ready for Justin Forsett to turn them to cheers

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By Nick Shook
Beacon Journal copy editor
Read full column on Ohio.com

The Buffalo Bills’s running back position has had so many ups and downs in four weeks, it should be up for a Daytime Emmy.

First, we had LeSean McCoy and his vitriol toward former coach Chip Kelly. Then, we had rookie sensation Karlos Williams. Now, with both sidelined, we get Boobie Dixon and Dan “Boom” Herron. Boom and Boobie? Really? Continue reading →

Nick Shook on fantasy football: Weird week leaves little in the way of suggested moves

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By Nick Shook
Beacon Journal copy editor
Read full column on Ohio.com

What an odd week it was in the NFL.

The Philadelphia Eagles, left for dead by everyone including me, stunned us all by earning their first win of the season against a New York Jets team that looked surprisingly strong after two weeks.

Ryan Mathews, starting in place of injured and beleaguered DeMarco Murray, rushed for 108 yards and caught a touchdown pass. Sam Bradford was pedestrian but didn’t hurt the Eagles’ chances like in weeks prior. It was a weird win for the Eagles, epitomized by Brandon Marshall’s inexplicable attempt to lateral the ball after catching a pass with the Jets trailing 17-0.

That play alone explained Week 3. Continue reading →

Nick Shook on fantasy football: Forget about Washington running game and look ahead to better days

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By Nick Shook
Beacon Journal copy editor
Read full column on Ohio.com

I loved the way the Washington Redskins were running the ball the first two weeks.

Then Thursday night happened.

The Redskins were an atrocity to professional football, epitomized by Matt Jones’ fumble as he soared toward the end zone, resulting in a touchback. It was depressing for someone who had bought a considerable amount of stock in the hype surrounding Jones.

And Alfred Morris scored one point for my team.

Let’s all take a moment to let our frustrations out before we look closer at our lineups before Sunday’s kickoff.

Feel better? Good. Time to salvage your week. Continue reading →

Nick Shook on fantasy football: So I was wrong, mostly, about Peyton Manning, it’s on to Week 2

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By Nick Shook
Beacon Journal copy editor
Read full column on Ohio.com

I told you to play Peyton Manning in Week 1. I was wrong.

Manning showed the same glaring issues that were present in his late-season decline in 2014. He couldn’t throw a deep pass effectively, and the Baltimore Ravens took away the short side of the field, forcing Manning to complete short passes to the long side of the field in what NFL.com’s Marc Sessler called “a blueprint for other teams to follow.” Continue reading →

Nick Shook on fantasy football: Decisions to be made before opening kickoff

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By Nick Shook
Beacon Journal copy editor
Read full column on Ohio.com

Sunday is upon us. I’m hoping you read your morning paper with your coffee, well before the 1 p.m. kickoffs, or online with a second tab open with your fantasy football lineup, because I’m about to drop some knowledge.

Setting your lineup is vital to fantasy football, for obvious reasons. But that doesn’t mean we can see the future. We can, however, use statistics to project who will perform well. Continue reading →