White Boy Of The Week: Peyton Hillis

Peyton Hillis did something that I've been waiting 24 years for, he wiped Craig James off the record books. In 1986, James, "The Great White Hope," ran for 1,227 yards and was the last white running back to surpass 1,000 yards in a season. This weekend, in a loss, Hillis crossed that plateau and currently has 1,070 on the season. He has been a beast this season and exciting to watch. I'm glad to name Peyton Hillis as my "White Boy of The Week."

I have watched nearly every Cleveland Browns game this year, mostly because they show most of them here in Columbus, Ohio. I was doing some research on Hillis for this post and ran across an amazing nickname for him. "The Albino Rhino" has been thrown out there and I hope it sticks. His running style is violent and he tries to leap or run over his opponent. He is prone to fumbling, which he did last week, but he will get that fixed this off-season.


Hillis has 11 touchdowns this season and to go along with his rushing yards, he has 57 receptions, 446 receiving yards, and two additional receiving touchdowns. He is a dual threat and someone that a cornerback or safety wouldn't want to try to tackle in the open-field.

He was acquired by the Browns from the Denver Broncos for Brady Quinn. He was lost in the depth chart in Denver, but did shine when he was given an opportunity. He played his college ball at Arkansas, where he played fullback in front of first-round picks, Darren McFadden and Felix Jones. There has been a few weeks this season that Hillis had more total yards in a week than both McFadden and Jones combined.

Congratulations goes out to Peyton Hillis, he is having a fantastic season and should get a hefty contract this summer for his achievements on the field. He is currently making near the minimum, the Browns have him at a discount. The Browns are an improved team with Hillis and next season with a healthy Colt McCoy and possibly an addition of a wide-receiving playmaker, the Browns will keep getting better.

NFL Week 3: Fantasy Football Sit/Start

My Fantasy Football Sit/Start picks from last week was nearly 100% perfect last week. I said to start Fred Jackson and Dallas Clark, and even picked my Deep League sleeper with Pierre Garcon. I told you to sit Matt Forte, Reggie Bush, and the Eagles defense. I hope everyone took my advice and here are this week's fantasy football sit/starts for Week 3.

I'm sitting 1-1 in every league that I'm in, since I faced a team with Adrian Peterson in nearly every league that week. I bounced back last week and had a nice week, especially since Frank Gore won me a few games. I had an even better week gambling against the NFL odds.

START'EM

Fred Jackson - With Marshawn Lynch still out, I like him again this week against New Orleans. He has pass catching ability and the Saints run defense still isn't great. He's going to have another big week, go out and pick him up if he's still available.

Felix Jones - He wasn't even 100% and he still managed to break off a long run or two, in limited action against the Giants. Marion Barber is out this week and he needs to be started. The Cowboys aren't happy with Romo right now, so Jones will get added carries.

Matt Forte - I didn't like Forte at all last week against the Steelers and he had a bad game. He faces Seattle this week and Frank Gore ran all over them last week. Forte is a physical back and he should see at least 25 carries this week and see the endzone.

Greg Jennings - The Packers are finally facing a team with a weak defense. He hasn't had a great first two games of the season, but look for him to light up the Rams this week.

Isaac Bruce - The 49ers won't be able to run on the Vikings this week, so they will have to pass. Bruce is their best target and he will have a better than expected week against Minnesota.

Tony Gonzalez - Atlanta is targeting him in the red zone and they should get some red zone action this week against New England. The linebacker corps for the Patriots is hurting and he'll get a lot of targets this week.

Ray Rice/Willis McGahee - It looks like the guessing-games is back in the Baltimore backfield. Rice was great the first week and McGahee had a great game in Week 2. They play the Browns this week, so if you have either of these backs, start'em.

Dallas Clark - Anthony Gonzalez is out and he had a monster game against the Dolphins. He is the #2, if not the #1 target on most drives. He is going to have a career year in Indianapolis. The Cardinals will not be able to stop him.

Brandon Jacobs - He has looked bad early this season, but the Buccaneers defense isn't what it used to be. He needs a break-out week and he will have one this week against Tampa Bay.

Maurice Jones-Drew - You saw what Chris Johnson did against the Texans last week, and Jones-Drew is the same kind of back. He could have over 100 yards rushing and another 100 receiving this week against Houston.

Hines Ward - He always has great games against Cincinnati and Cleveland and the Bengals are on the schedule this week. He has started out slow this year, but after playing Tennessee and Chicago, Cincinnati will be a nice change of pace.

Vincent Jackson - Miami's secondary isn't that great and Rivers will be looking for Vincent Jackson all game. He had a monster game last week and he'll take advantage of Miami's DBs.

Justin Forsett - DEEP LEAGUE START - Seattle's wide-outs are banged up and Hasselbeck may not play. Seneca wallace is a nice back-up and will throw the ball. Forsett had a nice game last week and he's barely owned in any league.


SIT'EM

Chris Chambers - I thought that he would be a nice fantasy player this season, but Rivers isn't even looking his way. If you own him, sit him this week, if he has little production, cut him.

Brandon Marshall - He hasn't done anything this year yet and he isn't going to start being great this week against the Raiders. Nnaamdi Asomugha is a shut-down corner and he'll be on Marshall all game.

Chad Pennington - The Chargers' defensive backs are some of the best at picking off the ball. Pennington has had a problem with that against good teams and he will struggle this week.

Any Cleveland Browns player - The Ravens defense looks great again and the Browns have already had trouble moving the ball against mediocre teams. Brady Quinn and Braylon Edwards are yet to be on the same page.

Matt Cassel - Head Coach Todd Haley came out this week and didn't give him a vote of confidence. He plays against the Eagles this weekend and after their weak performance against the Saints offense, they will be looking for blood.

Reggie Bush - He barely sniffed the football again last week and Pierre Thomas could be back with Mike Bell banged up. It's possible that Bush will see the ball a little more, but they are just airing it out to their receivers more than last year.

Joseph Addai - Donald Brown saw much more action last week than expected, so expect Addai's production to take a hit in 2009. I see Brown taking about 60% of the carries this week against Arizona.

Byron Leftwich - He takes forever to throw the ball with that release and the Giants will be sacking him all game long. It's possible that he could fumble a few times, since he'll be getting hit a lot.

Chris Johnson - Okay, I'm not saying for everyone to sit him, but if you have Fred Jackson or someone like that to play in his spot, sit him. He isn't going to have a great game against the Jets defense.

Shaun Hill - I don't think that he will have a great game against Minnesota. If Seneca Wallace is out there, you may want to start him instead. Hill is only getting started in deeper leagues as it is, so start him with caution.

Tim Hightower - If it were any other running back that was facing Indianapolis, I would start them, but Hightower isn't a great running back. His value is his pass-catching ability, which he may get some chances to do that, but he'll be expected to run the ball. He won't have a good game this week.

Julius Jones - The Bears will be locked on him all game with Hasselbeck out. He will get a lot of carries, but it won't end well for him against the Bears this weekend.

"The Bodyguard" (Not Starring Whitney Houston)

Pacman, I mean, Adam Jones seems to be in trouble with the NFL. I am not quite sure what the problem is, I really don't at all. Allegedly, Pacman and a bodyguard that was hired to keep him out of trouble, got in a tussle in a hotel bathroom. They went to a Ludacris concert and there is a possibility of some alcohol being involved. I'm still not seeing a problem here.

A mirror was broken in the bathroom and no charges were filed and a police report wasn't even written. The bodyguard and Jones was said to be goofing around and then suddenly things went bad and that's when the argument/girl fight occurred.

I have a few problems with this even being a story. First of all, this bodyguard was working for the Dallas Cowboys to watch over Pacman. I am only assuming, but I hope this dude was either as big or bigger than an O-Lineman. Secondly, if this dude was big, and I'm pretty sure he had to be, how was this even a fight? Pacman is 5'9 at best and couldn't weigh more than 200 lbs. I know he has some "street" in him, but was he packing a weapon to even make it a fair fight? I want to see a picture of the bodyguard and that would pretty much end the conversation. If the bodyguard couldn't take care of a short cornerback, how could he hope to guard him from anyone of average stature and weight? Was this bodyguard Tony Mandarich or Robert Gallery? Anyone could get buy those guys.

I want everyone to stop talking about this story. Pacman Jones, yes I said it, is an average defensive back and doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things for the Cowboys. He is an excellent returner, but he isn't even doing that for Dallas, Felix Jones has that job. Jerry Jones shouldn't worry about Pacman and if anything remotely happens like this again, I hope he cuts him. They are going to battle this season to earn a playoff spot. The NFC East is a beast and one of those teams won't make the playoffs and all these distractions will only hurt the team.

What I Learned - NFL Week 1

I try not to speculate on what will happen in the NFL before the first game of the season. I did have an NFL Prediction post last week, but that was just for fun and possibly bragging rights if any of that stuff comes close to coming true. I did predict that Tom Brady will not throw 30 TDs this season, looks like that will come true. Here is a list of things I have learned after watching week one.

- The Carolina Panthers are what many experts thought they would be last season, very good. San Diego will be good, but looks like the NFC South will be more competitive than the last few seasons.

- Matt Forte looks like Eddie George. I know the Colts haven't historically had good run defense, but they did a great job last season. If Forte keeps this up, the Bears may find the playoffs this year.

- Matt Cassel "could" be good. He hasn't started a game since high school. He should have a few good weeks since no team has any film to study on the QB. Unless they dust off some sort of high school recruiting video of Cassel, look for him to have a few good weeks coming up, after that, I'm not sure what will happen.

- The Raiders are still bad. I know this team has a few young studs and added DeAngelo Hall this offseason. Denver isn't supposed to be good this season and they completely dominated the Raiders in every area. It will be another long year in Oakland and could be headed back to L.A. after this season.

- The pre-season is still a little important. I say this from watching Peyton Manning in the Colts first game. He looked completely rusty and out of sync with all of his receivers. Anthony Gonzalez didn't help him by dropping a couple key passes, but it could be a down year for them. I am a Colts fan and it saddens me to say that, but I still expect them to win enough to make the playoffs.

- Willie Parker's job is secure. A lot of people read into this year's draft that the Steelers aren't sold on Pakers as their running back. Rashard Mendenhall was taken very high, but appears that he could be a 3rd-down back for awhile. Parker looked amazing and scoring three TDs will make his fantasy football owners approve of him.

- Buffalo looks like an AFC East contender. The Bills dominated the Seahawks and looks much-improved this season. Seattle doesn't have a great history of playing on the road and this could be a one-week wonder for Buffalo, but I think they are legit.

- Michael Turner is finally a starter in the NFL. Atlanta is going to run the ball a million yards this season with Turner and Norwood as a two-headed backfield. They will give Matt Ryan some time to throw the ball and could lead to a few extra wins for the Falcons this season.

- Jacksonville is over-rated. I have never been high on the Jaguars. I think last season they over-achieved and will fall back down to earth this year. The loss of Marcus Stroud will be too much to overcome and they really don't have much of an offense if Maurice Jones-Drew is stopped.

- Carson Palmer played like Akili Smith. I know that the Bengals played the Ravens, but this is the 2008 Ravens and not the 2000 Ravens. Palmer didn't even throw for 100 yards and Chad Ocho Cino, I mean, Chad Johnson was a ghost. Marvin Lewis could be coaching Cincinnati for the last season.

- How 'Bout Them Cowboys! Cleveland did look bad, but I think Dallas made them look worse than they really are. Dallas is already loaded on offense and having a guy like Felix Jones coming off the bench shouldn't even be fair. I will definitely watch the Cowboys/Eagles games this season, they should be great.

- Brett Favre is still Brett Favre. He is made the Jets look amazing. I know they played Miami, but he didn't look rusty at all. The Jets should be much-improved, but it is still too early to put them as a playoff team.