If I told you that Kyle Orton threw for 150 more yards than Peyton Manning while setting the Denver Broncos’ record for most passing yards in a single game you’d think I was crazy, right?
(Getty Images)
(AP)
(AP)
Well that’s exactly what happened, and as shocking as it may sound, Kyle Orton is the fourth-ranked Fantasy QB behind Manning, Philip Rivers and Aaron Rodgers. Orton threw for 476 yards and a score this week against the Colts, and is currently ranked 2nd in the league with 1,078 total passing yards. Hard to believe that this is the same Kyle Orton that lived in fantasy limbo as a member of the Chicago Bears a mere two years ago isn’t it?
Sticking with the Broncos’ passing attack, here’s what must have been going through Orton’s head on Sunday: Who needs Brandon Marshall when you have Brandon Lloyd?
Lloyd, who caught a total of 36 passes in the three seasons prior to this one, has 14 grabs for 339 yards this year. The bulk of those numbers came from his six catch, 169 yard performance this past week against Indianapolis, but he has quickly emerged as a nice target for Orton and the Broncos. It’s easy to forget the kind of potential Lloyd showed with the 49ers, and while I’m not 100-percent sold on him yet, he’s a worth a look if you have room on your roster.
Forget Lassie, Austin’s my favorite Collie
Austin Collie has quickly become one of the hottest commodities in fantasy football. The Colts’ wideout has racked up 359 yards and has scored in all three games this season. To illustrate just how absurd Collie’s numbers actually are, he has nine more receptions than Reggie Wayne, 152 more yards than Dallas Clark, and the same number of TDs (4) as Pierre Garcon has receptions.
Collie is by far the top-ranked WR in standard scoring formats, and I don’t see him slowing down, at least not this week against a Jaguars defense that has allowed and NFL-worst seven TD receptions and is ranked 29th overall in passing defense.
Left in the Dust
Dustin Keller has quickly become the target-of-choice for Jets QB Mark Sanchez. Keller is currently the second-ranked tight end behind Antonio Gates with 226 yards and three touchdowns (two of which came in Week 3 against the Miami Dolphins).
Keller is an excellent option at TE, and very easily could come close to 1,000 yards this season, but there are still some concerns that I have about him. First, it remains to be seen if Mark Sanchez and the Jets’ passing attack can continue to play at the level they have over the past two games. Jets fans will be the first to tell you that just as quickly as Sanchez can throw three TDs, he can put up a stinker like he did in Week 1 against the Ravens. Second, with Santonio Holmes due back in two weeks, Keller’s targets may drop as a result.
