Showing posts with label start/sit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label start/sit. Show all posts

Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Start/Sit Rankings (Week 4)

Here they are—Wide Receiver Rankings for Week 4 to help you decide who to start and who to sit on your fantasy football team.

1. Reggie Wayne (IND)
2. Vincent Jackson (SD)
3. Randy Moss (NE)
4. Andre Johnson (HOU)
5. Calvin Johnson (DET)
6. Chad Ochocinco (CIN)
7. Steve Smith (NYG)
8. Jerricho Cotchery (NYJ)
9. Wes Welker (NE) – Check injury report: knee (game time decison)
10. Greg Jennings (GB)
11. Hines Ward (PIT)
12. Marques Colston (NO)
13. Kevin Walter (HOU)
14. Santonio Holmes (PIT)
15. Devin Hester (CHI)
16. Mike Sims-Walker (JAC)
17. Mario Manningham (NYG)
18. Santana Moss (WAS)
19. Pierre Garcon (IND)
20. Brandon Marshall (DEN)
21. Donald Driver (GB)
22. Percy Harvin (MIN)
23. Roy Williams (DAL)
24. Nate Burleson (SEA)
25. Terrell Owens (BUF)
26. Derrick Mason (BAL) - Check injury report: illness
27. T.J. Houshmandzadeh (SEA)
28. Lee Evans (BUF)
29. Braylon Edwards (CLE)
30. Devery Henderson (NO)
31. Dwayne Bowe (KC) – Check injury report: hamstring (game time decision)
32. Johnny Knox (CHI)
33. Bernard Berrian (MIN)
34. Justin Gage (TEN)
35. Patrick Crayton (DAL)
36. Mark Bradley (KC)
37. Torry Holt (JAC)
38. Davone Bess (MIA)
39. Earl Bennett (CHI)
40. Nate Washington (TEN)
41. Ted Ginn (MIA)
42. Andre Caldwell (CIN)
43. Bryant Johnson (DET)
44. Isaac Bruce (SF)
45. Chansi Stuckey (NYJ)
46. Kelley Washington (BAL) – Check injury report: groin (probable)
47. Sidney Rice (MIN)
48. Eddie Royal (DEN)
49. Donnie Avery (STL)
50. Laveranues Coles (CIN)
Additional noteworthy WR’s for week 4:
Antonio Bryant (TB) – Check injury report: knee
Bobby Wade (KC)
Josh Morgan (SF)
Lance Moore (NO) – Check injury report: hamstring (probable)
Mark Clayton (BAL)
Jabar Gaffney (DEN)
Robert Meachem (NO)
Julian Edelman (NE)
Jacoby Jones (HOU)
Chris Henry (CIN)
Kenny Britt (TEN)
Mike Wallace (PIT)
Louis Murphy (OAK)
Malcom Floyd (SD)
Keenan Burton (STL)

Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Start/Sit Rankings (Week 3)

Here they are—Wide Receiver Rankings for Week 3 to help you decide who to start and who to sit on your fantasy football team.

1. Andre Johnson (HOU) – He was able to more than make up for a disappointing week 1 by toasting the Titans secondary for 149 receiving yards and 2 scores. While you probably can’t expect him to repeat week 2’s lofty fantasy effort, Johnson might just be in the neighborhood against a suspect Jacksonville pass defense. Start the man.

2. Marques Colston (NO) – It’s like 2007 all over again as the Brees to Colston connection appears to be back in full swing. Colston has already managed to find the end zone 3 times in his first 2 games. He should be able to continue the trend with a very favorable match up against a Buffalo pass defense that has been more than kind to wide outs through the first 2 weeks.

3. Reggie Wayne (IND) – Following a monster week 1, Wayne had high expectations heading into week 2 in what looked to be a cupcake match up against Miami. Unfortunately, the Colts barely had the ball on offense and when they did, the Dolphins threw everything but the kitchen sink at Wayne. It made for a nice evening for TE Dallas Clark, but Wayne never really had a chance. Look for him to rebound nicely against a generous Arizona secondary. He should have plenty of opportunities this week.

4. Larry Fitzgerald (ARI) – He will have his work cut out for him in a tough week 3 match up against a solid Colts pass defense. The good news is that Indianapolis has yet to see a passing attack anywhere close to that of Arizona and they certainly haven’t faced a WR of Fitzgerald’s caliber this year. When it comes to Fitzgerald, we have never seen a match up we didn’t like and he may be the only receiver we can say that about. That said, he does need to improve his reception and yardage totals to get back to top shelf form, but we like that he’s finding pay dirt as usual.

5. Randy Moss (NE) – We were optimistic that Moss could overcome a bad week 2 match up against shut down corner Darrelle Revis and the Jets. It just wasn’t meant to be, but week 3 has rebound written all over it against an inexperienced Falcons pass defense. Look for Moss to get back on track with this match up. Hopefully, Wes Welker will be back this week to take the heat off. Check injury report: back

6. Steve Smith (CAR) – Let’s see, a stud receiver leading the NFL in targets against a Cowboy secondary that has been torched in each of their first 2 games. We like the odds. Start him.

7. Greg Jennings (GB) – Maybe it was his sore wrist or maybe the stars were just out of alignment, but something was definitely a miss for Jennings to get shut out in week 2. It just goes to show that even the best fantasy options can go AWOL from time to time. We wouldn’t bet a major organ that it can’t happen again, but so long as he is healthy, which he now appears to be, we will recommend him for your starting line up. Jennings should rebound nicely against a weak Rams secondary. Start him with confidence in week 3.

CLICK TO SEE THE ENTIRE TOP 50 WIDE RECEIVER START/SIT RANKINGS.

Fantasy Football Running Back Start/Sit Rankings (Week 3)

1. Maurice Jones-Drew (JAC) – After watching the Texans defense get ripped on the ground the last 2 weeks, it is hard to not to imagine a similar fate when they face Jones-Drew in week 3. Through two games, Houston has allowed a ridiculous 430 rushing yards and 4 rushing TD’s. They have also been more than generous to RB’s in the passing game which is also one of Jones-Drew’s strong suits. He should be in for a big day, the potential is certainly there, but keep in mind that the Houston defense probably isn’t quite as bad as the stats might indicate and Jones-Drew was not exactly great in 2 games against them last season. Check injury report: knee

2. Adrian Peterson (MIN) – Following back to back cupcake match ups, fantasy football’s top RB will be in for his biggest test to date in week 3 against San Francisco. The 49ers come into this match up having given up just 106 rushing yards (67 to S. Jackson in week 1) and no rushing TD’s through 2 games. On the other side of that coin, Peterson is easily the toughest competition the Niners have faced as well. We would tell you to lower expectations a bit against this defense, but as you already know, Peterson is match up proof and capable of torching any defense. His sore back should be of little consequence. Check injury report: back

3. Michael Turner (ATL) – He isn’t exactly tearing it up so far, but Turner was more than solid in week 2 and you have to love any RB that will get 20 plus carries every week in the age of RB by committee. In week 3, Turner will face a Patriots defense that has yet to allow a rushing TD through their first 2 games. The good news is that the New England run defense is giving up over 100 yards rushing per game and we wouldn’t classify them as a juggernaut against the run. Turner is by far the most talented back they have faced to this point, carries will be plentiful and we expect him to perform well.

4. Clinton Portis (WAS) – We realize that he hasn’t been at his best of late, but what are you going to do, bench him against Detroit? We hope not. This should be the week that he gets things going. He will need a little help from a struggling Redskins passing game to make it happen, but hey, the Lions defense is even worse against the pass. Portis rushed for 126 yards against Detroit last season and if he can’t at least come close to matching that, then it may be time to worry, but we like his chances. Even on a sore ankle; we think he might even find the end zone this week. Check injury report: ankle

5. Ryan Grant (GB) – He needs to do more in the yardage department, but 2 TD’s in two weeks is hard to argue with. Even better, Grant is looking at his best match up to date against a run friendly Rams defense. Seattle RB Julius Jones gashed the St. Louis defense in week 1 for 117 yards and a score and we see no reason why Grant can’t do the same. We also believe QB Aaron Rodgers will finally get it going with the Packers passing attack and that should really open up some lanes for Grant in this match up.

6. Matt Forte (CHI) – Even if you take into consideration the difficult match ups he has faced through the first 2 weeks, Forte has vastly underperformed. That said, we believe week 3 provides a great match up for him to get on track. He will match up against a Seattle defense that is giving up an NFL worst 7.1 yards per carry to opposing RB’s through 2 games and they were absolutely annihilated by San Francisco’s Frank Gore last week. We also like this match up for the simple fact that the Seahawks have been very good against the pass so far this season which means the Bears will almost certainly lean heavily on Forte in the game plan. He should finally earn his keep in week 3.

7. DeAngelo Williams (CAR) – You have to love the fact that he has 2 TD’s in two games, but Williams’ timeshare with Jonathan Stewart and a struggling Carolina passing attack have really put a dent in his overall production so far. Even so, Williams is due for a breakout game and a match up against Dallas is not all that unfavorable. The Cowboys defense has been less than impressive so far allowing 136 rushing yards per game and almost 5 yards per carry to opposing running backs. As we stated last week, Williams will need help from the Carolina passing game to really open it up, but they looked much better in that respect in week 2. He should step it up in week 3.

CLICK TO VIEW THE ENTIRE TOP 50 RUNNING BACK START/SIT RANKINGS.

Fantasy Football Quarterback Start/Sit Rankings (Week 3)

Here they are—Quarterback Rankings for Week 3 to help you decide who to start and who to sit on your fantasy football team.

1. Drew Brees (NO) – Needless to say, we like his chances against any defense, but a week 3 meeting with Buffalo is especially favorable. In their first 2 games, the Bills defense has given up 5 passing TD’s and 664 passing yards. We see no reason why Brees should not shred this secondary en route to another huge fantasy performance. There is some concern about the potential weather conditions for this game, but we doubt even a hurricane could slow down this passing attack. Check injury report: shoulder (full practice: probable)

2. Peyton Manning (IND) – In spite of the fact that the Colts offense was only on the field for less than fifteen minutes, Manning still managed to throw for over 300 yards and 2 scores against the Dolphins on Monday night. He has the potential to be even better in week 3 against a fairly generous Cardinals pass defense. As usual, Manning is a must start fantasy option.

3. Aaron Rodgers (GB) – He has yet to meet his lofty expectations to this point mostly due to poor pass protection that has led to him getting sacked 10 times in 2 games. The good news is that a week 3 meeting with St. Louis provides a very favorable opportunity to get things headed in the right direction. It is safe to say that the Rams present Rodgers with his best match up to date as they field one of the worst defenses in the NFL and with just 1 team sack to their credit so far, they present little challenge in the form of a pass rush. Greg Jennings should also be healthier this week which goes a long way in boosting Rodgers’ fantasy impact. If Rodgers can’t get it done against the Rams, it could be time to worry, but we are more than optimistic about his chances.

4. Tom Brady (NE) – Sure, he was shaky on Sunday and he may be a little further behind than we anticipated, but we believe Brady’s poor play in week 2 was more a result of a great Jets defense than his own shortcomings. Just look at what the Jets did to Houston QB Matt Schaub in week 1 and then look at Schaub’s numbers in week 2. You probably can’t expect him to rebound like Schaub, but we would be very surprised if Brady does not respond with more than a solid performance. He will face a young, middle of the road Falcons pass defense in week 3. Atlanta has yet to face a QB anywhere near Brady’s caliber this season.

5. Phillip Rivers (SD) – Week 2 had its down moments for Rivers, but all in all, it was a big fantasy effort with 436 passing yards and 2 TD’s against one of the best defenses the NFL has to offer (Baltimore). He should carry that momentum into week 3 against a young and demoralized Miami pass defense at home. Rivers only managed pedestrian like numbers against Miami in 2008, but the circumstances are much different this time around. The Dolphins have already allowed 8 pass plays of 20 yards or more and 3 pass plays of 40 yards or more. This bodes well for the Chargers who often find pay dirt on big plays through the air. You should have Rivers in your fantasy line up with confidence.

6. Matt Schaub (HOU) – The season is still young, but at least we can now take comfort in knowing that Schaub isn’t likely to be a bust after rebounding in a big way from a terrible week 1. In fact, we have a great deal of confidence in him heading into a week 3 match up with Jacksonville. Schaub’s best fantasy effort of 2008 came against the Jaguars and Jacksonville’s secondary has been shaky at best through the first 2 weeks of 2009. A confident Matt Schaub is back on track as a quality QB1 for week 3.

7. Kurt Warner (ARI) – While his fantasy numbers were not through the roof, Warner was near flawless from an efficiency standpoint in week 2. Efficiency and big fantasy numbers could prove more difficult to come by in week 3 against a Colts pass defense that is only giving up 139 yards per game and has yet to allow a single passing TD through 2 games. That said, Warner is by far the best QB Indianapolis has faced to date and our hope is that this game turns into a shootout through the air. Our fear, however, is that the Cardinals abandon their normal pass happy approach in favor of the ground game against a weak Colts run defense. This is a difficult match up, but you can never underestimate Warner’s fantasy potential with the best group of WR’s in the league at his disposal. Check injury report: shoulder (full practice: probable)

8. Tony Romo (DAL) – We are being kind in saying that Romo flat out stunk it up against the Giants last Sunday night. Maybe the pressure of playing the first game in the new stadium got to him, but it did come as a surprise against a team that he had previously had a great deal of success against. Romo will look to bounce back in week 3 against Carolina. On paper, the Panthers pass defense looks pretty good, allowing just 151 passing yards per game, but that is more than misleading considering their week 1 opponent (Philadelphia) barely threw the ball against them after opening up a huge lead early in that contest. The more telling statistic is the 5 TD’s Carolina has allowed through the air. Romo has a history of strong performances in Monday night games and he should rebound against a shaky Panther pass defense, but his decision making must improve.

9. Matt Ryan (ATL) – With 5 TD passes and just 1 interception through the first 2 weeks, Matt Ryan is clearly proving that he is more than just an efficient passer. He truly belongs among the NFL’s better fantasy QB’s. In week 3, Ryan will face off against a good, but not great, New England pass defense. While Bill Belichick’s game plan is likely to create a few stumbling blocks for the second year signal caller, Ryan should come out on top in this match up. He is easily the best QB that New England has faced so far this season and Ryan should be a solid fantasy play for week 3.

10. Eli Manning (NYG) – Throughout his career, Eli Manning has notoriously played the role of serviceable bye week fill in or spot starter in fantasy circles. While he still has a ways to go to be granted elite status, he could be on the brink of transcending into a solid week to week fantasy option. For the first time ever, Manning appears to have a wide selection of quality targets to choose from in his arsenal which could yield positive results on a consistent basis. At the very least, Manning’s fantasy stock is on the rise and as long as opposing defenses continue to focus on stopping Brandon Jacobs and ignore the Giants emerging passing game, it should continue to rise, but keep in mind, the Giants will likely maintain their run first philosophy which will limit him at times. With all of that being said, we do expect Manning to keep the momentum rolling into a favorable week 3 match up against a shaky Tampa Bay pass defense that has been more than generous through the first 2 weeks of the season.

11. Trent Edwards (BUF) – So far, so good for Edwards through the first 2 weeks and there is a decent chance that week 3 could be his best of the season so far. If the Saints high powered offense manages to jump out to a significant lead, as they are more than capable of doing in this match up, Edwards will be forced into throwing the ball a ton to play catch up. As you probably already know, this is a formula that can lead to big fantasy production. Edwards big play threats, Terrell Owens and Lee Evans, will have to step up this week to make it happen, but it isn’t at all unlikely against a suspect Saints secondary.

12. Jay Cutler (CHI) – What a difference a week can make. Following an embarrassing 4 interception performance in week 1, who would have guessed heading into a match up against the Steelers that Cutler would emerge as a fantasy contender once again? Other than his mother, probably no one. The fact of the matter is, he has done just that. Cutler was clearly on the same page with his receivers this past week and he may have found his big play guy in rookie receiver Johnny Knox. Cutler will look for continued success in a week 3 meeting with the Seahawks. Surprisingly, Seattle heads into week 3 with the 2nd ranked pass defense in the NFL having allowed just 293 passing yards and 0 passing TD’s through 2 games. As impressive as that may sound, it loses a fair amount of luster when you consider that Marc Bulger and Shaun Hill were the opposing signal callers in those 2 games. Cutler is a decent fantasy play for week 3, but we expect the Bears to focus more on the running game this week against a Seattle run defense that was blasted by Frank Gore for 207 yards and 2 TD’s in week 2.

13. Ben Roethlisberger (PIT) – Overall, Big Ben has enjoyed a pretty solid track record against week 3 opponent Cincinnati throughout his career. Nothing flashy, but consistently solid. He should continue the trend against a middle of the road Bengals pass defense this time around. Our only concern is a shaky Steelers offensive line going up against a much improved Bengals pass rush. Cincinnati currently leads the NFL with 9 sacks and they absolutely terrorized Aaron Rodgers in week 2.

14. David Garrard (JAC) – Due to his hit or miss nature as a fantasy prospect, Garrard is rarely a guy you can feel completely comfortable with in your starting line up. That holds true for week 3 as well. The match up against Houston is somewhat favorable as the Texans secondary has proven vulnerable against opposing passing games through the first 2 weeks. We also like the fact that Garrard has a potential deep threat in Mike Sims-Walker. That said, Garrard has a fairly average track record against Houston and he is too unpredictable to garner a huge vote of confidence.

15. Carson Palmer (CIN) – He is one of the tougher fantasy QB options to read heading into week 3. Following a lackluster performance against Denver in week 1, Palmer managed to throw for 3 TD’s and rush for another against what looked to be a very stout Green Bay defense, especially in the red zone. In turn, his week 3 opponent, Pittsburgh, was less than impressive against Jay Cutler who was coming off of a terrible performance against Green Bay. We apologize if this sounds like a riddle of sorts, but in reality, it kind of is. We do like the fact that Palmer is coming off of a good outing from a fantasy standpoint, but it was far from a mistake free performance. It is also favorable that the Steelers haven’t looked like themselves without Troy Polamalu. Bottom line, this is a tough match up to gauge, but we feel more comfortable listing Palmer as a QB2 this week.

16. Jason Campbell (WAS) – Once again, Campbell finds himself staring down a very favorable match up against Detroit. As we stated last week, Campbell rarely puts up big time fantasy numbers even against weak opposition, which held true against a soft St. Louis defense in week 2. However, in all fairness, Campbell has performed pretty well against Detroit in each of the last 2 seasons, but again, nothing spectacular. He probably can’t hurt you with this match up, but he hasn’t given anyone reason to have faith in him. If healthy, he has value as a QB2, but he is nursing a sprained ankle, so that makes him even less desirable. Check injury report: foot

17. Mark Sanchez (NYJ) – The rookie signal caller has a shot at his best fantasy week yet, even though that isn’t saying much. He will face a Titans defense that has been surprisingly terrible at defending the pass so far this season. Tennessee ranks dead last in the NFL in pass defense having allowed 678 yards through the air in 2 games. Considering that the Titans still possess one of the best run defenses in the NFL, we anticipate the Jets will open up the passing game against them this week. Even so, Sanchez has yet to make much noise in the fantasy realm, he is still a rookie and the Titans are still dangerous. This match up holds some promise, but it is not without risk.

18. Joe Flacco (BAL) – Flacco is showing consistent value as a fantasy starter and is on track to exceed preseason expectations. While we like his chances to continue his quality play in week 3, there are a couple of issues that concern us with this match up. For starters, the Browns actually have one of the better secondaries in the NFL, contrary to popular belief. Even last season, Cleveland ranked in the top half of the league in pass defense and their 23 interceptions ranked 2nd best in the NFL. Unfortunately, that isn’t our biggest concern as Flacco can overcome the match up. Our real concern here is that the Ravens will jump out to a big lead against a shaky Browns offense and abandon the passing attack. This is probable and would severely cripple any chance Flacco might have at a big fantasy performance.

19. Brett Favre (MIN) –After years of watching Favre play with an effective reckless abandon, it is strange to see him play the role of “game management” QB. So far, he has flourished in that role for the Vikings, but that style of play does not translate well into fantasy football. At some point, Favre may feel comfortable enough in this offense to return to the “loose cannon” style that led to so many huge fantasy efforts in the past, but for now, we don’t see it happening. He should continue to play efficiently in week 3 against a solid 49ers defense and that isn’t likely to make a big impact on fantasy stat sheets.

20. Kyle Orton (DEN) – He hasn’t been bad through the first 2 weeks, but he isn’t exactly lighting it up either. Orton will likely get there, but he still has some work to do to get on the same page with his supporting cast and he has yet to look completely comfortable in Denver’s offensive scheme. He is not ready to make a significant impact as a fantasy option and he may have his work cut out for him against a solid Oakland secondary in week 3. That said, we do expect Orton’s fantasy stock to improve to some degree as the season progresses.

21. Kevin Kolb (PHI) – Kolb’s lofty numbers in week 2 may be a bit misleading being a result of having to throw the ball early and often playing from behind against the Saints. The 3 ugly interceptions he threw were also unsettling, but it is still difficult to ignore a day that included 391 passing yards and 2 TD’s. He isn’t an ideal fantasy option for week 3 for a number of reasons, but he could have some sleeper value against a mediocre Chiefs pass defense at home.

22. Chad Pennington (MIA) – He may be limited by missing a lot of plays when Miami runs their “Wildcat” package and Pennington’s conservative nature doesn’t do fantasy owners any favors either. There could be some big plays to be had against a suspect Chargers secondary in week 3, but he typically puts up average fantasy numbers at best and does not come highly recommended.

23. Byron Leftwich (TB) – He doesn’t make for an ideal fantasy QB, but considering that Tampa is likely to continue to have to throw the ball a ton this season playing from behind, Leftwich will put up some quality numbers from time to time. That said, week 3 against a potent Giants defense may not be the best match up to test that theory.

24. Matt Cassel (KC) – He may be playing for his job and that alone can sometimes bring out the best in a player from a fantasy standpoint, but we would like his chances much more against a softer defense. He is a very risky start on the road against the Eagles. Check injury report: knee.

25. Kerry Collins (TEN) – He could dink and dunk his way to decent numbers in week 3, but it’s a long shot against a Jets defense that has already embarrassed two of the best QB’s in the NFL. His best shot at production will be with the short passing game.

Fantasy Football Tight End Start/Sit Rankings (Week 3)

Here they are—Tight End Rankings for Week 3 to help you decide who to start and who to sit on your fantasy football team.

1. Antonio Gates (SD) – vs. MIA
2. Dallas Clark (IND) - @ ARI
3. Tony Gonzalez (ATL) - @ NE – Check injury report: back
4. Chris Cooley (WAS) - @ DET
5. Jason Witten (DAL) – vs. CAR
6. Kellen Winslow (TB) – vs. NYG
7. Owen Daniels (HOU) – vs. JAC
8. Jeremy Shockey (NO) - @ BUF – Check injury report: ankle
9. Dustin Keller (NYJ) – vs. TEN
10. Brent Celek (PHI) – vs. KC
11. John Carlson (SEA) – vs. CHI
12. Todd Heap (BAL) – vs. CLE
13. Greg Olsen (CHI) - @ SEA
14. Visanthe Shiancoe (MIN) – vs. SF
15. Zach Miller (OAK) – vs. DEN
16. Kevin Boss (NYG) - @ TB
17. Heath Miller (PIT) - @ CIN
18. Vernon Davis (SF) - @ MIN
19. Robert Royal (CLE) - @ BAL
20. Marcedes Lewis (JAC) - @ HOU

Fantasy Football Running Back Start/Sit Rankings (Week 1)

1. Adrian Peterson (MIN) – A week 1 match up against Cleveland should prove to be a cake walk for Peterson. The Browns ranked 28th in run defense in 2008 and do not appear to be much improved. We fully expect Peterson to carry the rock early and often en route to a big week 1 fantasy effort.

2. Maurice Jones-Drew
(JAC) – He is battling a shin injury, but all indications are that he will be good to go in week 1. In 2 games against the Colts last season Jones-Drew totaled 162 and 166 yards respectively. He also had a TD in the first meeting and managed to find pay dirt twice against them in 2007 in a back up role. The Colts have not been known for their run defense in recent years, especially when it comes to Jones-Drew and they head into week 1 pretty banged up as well. He should have his usual field day against Indy.

3. LaDainian Tomlinson
(SD) – It is probably fair to say that he has owned the Raiders throughout his career. Even in a down year with a turf toe injury, Tomlinson managed to total 206 yards and 3 TD’s against them in 2 games last season. In fact, he has found pay dirt against Oakland at least once the last 6 times he has faced them. This game should speak volumes about Tomlinson’s fantasy value for the rest of the season and we really like his chances for a big week 1.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE ENTIRE TOP 50 RUNNING BACK RANKINGS.

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