On Sunday, the Carolina Panthers rode on the back of running-back Jonathan Stewart to a 41-9 beatdown of the New York Giants. Fantasy owners across the nation rode on the back of Stewart to a probable win in the final game of the 2009 fantasy season. Stewart was playing without his backfield partner, DeAngelo Williams, so he took the lion’s share of carries during the game. Stewart ended up with a stat line reading 28 carries for 206 yards and one TD. He also tossed in two catches for 16 yards. Fine work from a workhorse back.
Monday Morning Memo: Riding Jonathan Stewart
Now the debate shifts to next year, especially for keeper-leagues. DeAngelo Williams is a quality back, will the Panthers continue to use him as the starter, when healthy, and subbing Stewart in? Or will the roles reverse next year. Tristan Cockcroft weighs in:
It’s the future, too, that has Stewart’s keeper-league owners excited. It’s too soon to officially declare him the Panthers’ 2010 starter, especially not with Williams still under contract for one more season, but Stewart, who turns 23 in March, should be granted a chance to earn the role. One thing that might have a significant impact on that decision: The status of coach John Fox, who is historically reliant on the incumbent Williams. If Fox departs, a new coach might be more apt to turn things over to Stewart.
The only downside to Stewart’s performance was a long run in which he looked destined to score, only to run out of gas and get caught near the goal line. Throw in that extra TD and Stewart would have been canonized by winning owners everywhere.
- In last week’s Monday Morning Memo, we gave Tom Brady the business for some lackluster fantasy performances over the last month. We even had the nerve to insinuate that Tom Terrific had become Tom Horrific. Silly us. The Golden Child delivered a knock out performance on Sunday, going off for 267 yards and 4 TDs. OK, he’s Tom Terrific again.
- The Week 16 efficiency award goes to Randy Moss. 4 catches for 45 yards. Sounds pretty pedestrian, until you throw in the 3 TDs! Now that’s getting it done on a minimal amount of opportunities.
- On the downside of things, if you were relying on the Indianapolis Colts for the fantasy championship, you could be on the losing end. Jim Caldwell passed on a chance to go for a perfect season and pulled Manning and Co. in the third quarter. The big three of Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark put up some very non-Colt stat lines. Only Joseph Addai put up anything respectable for fantasy owners, but that was only 40 yards with a TD.
- Not that it matters to most since this week is the end of the fantasy, but just for completeness sake, here are the major injuries from Sunday, via Jamey Eisenberg:
Ricky Williams, shoulder, considered questionable for Week 17 against Pittsburgh
Pierre Thomas, ribs, considered questionable for Week 17 at Carolina
Brandon Jacobs, knee, considered questionable for Week 17 at Minnesota
Steve Smith, broken forearm, out for Week 17 against New Orleans
Torry Holt, finger, considered questionable for Week 17 at Cleveland
Tony Gonzalez, calf, considered questionable for Week 17 at Tampa Bay
Marcedes Lewis, head, considered questionable for Week 17 at Cleveland
- Final question of the week, did anybody, anywhere in the fantasy world, play Miami’s Lex Hilliard on Sunday? I thought not, but once Ricky Williams was injured, Hilliard finished the day with 86 rushing/receiving yards and 2 TDs. How did we miss on that projection!
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