Fantasy Wrap-Up - NFL Week 3

So far, I am not able to get a read on this NFL season. I am just scuffling along on my picks. This weekend I went 8-8. Ten favorites covered the spread. Clearly, I have to become a believer in Kevin Kolb, the Baltimore Ravens, and Jay Cutler.

My Fantasy Football weekend was very solid. My teams went 2-0 this weekend with very high scores. Carnell Williams, Tony Gonzalez, and Larry Johnson put up terrible numbers, but other than that my players came through in a big way. It helps that I had Aaron Rodgers and Peyton Manning starting at the QB position. Manning looked great in the Sunday night game. Without a dynamic running back, the Colts are going to have to throw for touchdowns in the Red Zone. Yes.

Interesting week coming up in the NFL because the bye weeks have arrived. Your bench is going to be a big factor. I am struggling with my number 2 running back in both of my leagues. It may help that I drafted Marshawn Lynch and he is finally going to be active this week after being suspended for the first 3 games. I wonder how much he will play though, because Fred Jackson has been producing for the Bills. It might be a wait-and-see approach if you own Marshawn Lynch.

One of the other pleasant surprises for me this week was the play of Eagles' back up running back LeShon McCoy. Of course, I did not start him, but with Bryan Westbrook always injured, McCoy could be valuable down the road. I also have Brent Celek the Eagles' tight end. I have been starting Owen Daniels and he has been playing well. I definitely would listen to trade offers for either Celek or Daniels. Neither one of my leagues makes many trades. Too much pride on the line and and nobody wants to look foolish.

I would like to pick up either a receiver or a running back this week, because I am not sold on Patrick Crayton and he is one of the back ups that I will need to play when my starters are on their bye weeks. He is a guy that could score some Fantasy points or be held without a reception in a game. Tough winning fantasy games with those type of guys.

2009 NFL Picks - Week 3

I will attempt again this year to pick every NFL game with a point spread. These point spreads are taken from Danny Sheridan’s Odds posted September 24 in USA Today. I usually try to post my picks for the week on Thursday night or Friday morning. For Thursday games, I will either make the pick or post my pick to Twitter feed on the right hand column. Enjoy.

Favorites are listed on the left, underdogs on the right.
*Home team is in capital letters.

NEW ENGLAND 4 Atlanta - New England
MINNESOTA 6.5 San Francisco - San Francisco
NY Giants 6.5 TAMPA - NY Giants
Washington 6 DETROIT - Washington
NY JETS 3 Tennessee - Tennessee
PHILADELPHIA 8 Kansas City - Kansas City
Green Bay 6.5 ST. LOUIS - Green Bay
BALTIMORE 13 Cleveland - Cleveland
HOUSTON 3.5 Jacksonville - Houston
Chicago 1.5 SEATTLE - Seattle
New Orleans 6 BUFFALO - New Orleans
Denver 1.5 OAKLAND - Denver
SAN DIEGO 6 Miami - San Diego
Pittsburgh 4 CINCINNATI - Pittsburgh
ARIZONA 2.5 Indianapolis - Indianapolis
DALLAS 9 Carolina - Carolina

2009 NFL Picks Record: 16-16

Fantasy Wrap-Up - NFL Week 2

Once again this week, I hovered right around .500 on my NFL picks with the spread, but the night games on Sunday and Monday put me over the top for the weekend. I picked the Giants and the Colts in those games to finish at 9-7.

In my Fantasy match-ups, I went 1-1, but with a silver lining. I scored big in the loss which could mean good things for the rest of the season. If the Chicago Bears and Jay Cutler do not start using running back Matt Forte, I am going to be in for a long season. My second highest scorer on this team is RB Mike Bell and I picked him up after the waiver wire last week. Forte was my highest draft pick and he has to play well.

All morning on Sunday, I messed with the idea of starting both Giants' running backs against the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys were horrible against the run in Week 1 versus Tampa. I figured that it was too early in the season to start playing hunches; plus, if you give up a ton of yards rushing one week, the Cowboys' coaching staff probably focused on stopping the run all week against the Giants. Brandon Jacobs had below average game and Ahmad Bradshaw did not really do anything. Starting Mike Bell was my best call of the season so far.

On a positive note, T.O. scored a touchdown and could have had another long completion if he would not have dropped the pass from QB Trent Edwards. Even without probable starter Marshawn Lynch, the Bills' offense looks to be much improved. Owens should be able to have some big games this year.

In my Dallas league, my team scored its first victory of the season. However, it might have been less to do with my players than the fact that the Jets were able to contain Tom Brady who was going for the other owner. I picked up Cadillac Williams in this league and he had another solid performance for the Buccanneers. Another guy that I picked up is wide receiver Patrick Crayton. He gives me a solid back up wide receiver and this week I probably will not be making any roster moves. Hopefully, this week I can post my first line-up advice of the Fantasy season.

2009 NFL Picks - Week 2

I will attempt again this year to pick every NFL game with a point spread. These point spreads are taken from Danny Sheridan’s Odds posted September 17 in USA Today. I usually try to post my picks for the week on Thursday night or Friday morning. For Thursday games, I will either make the pick or post my pick to Twitter feed on the right hand column. Enjoy.

Favorites are listed on the left, underdogs on the right.
*Home team is in capital letters.

ATLANTA 6 Carolina - Atlanta
Minnesota 9.5 DETROIT - Minnesota
GREEN BAY 9 Cincinnati - Green Bay
TENNESSEE 6.5 Houston - Houston
KANSAS CITY 3 Oakland - Kansas City
New England 3.5 NY JETS - New England
PHILADELPHIA Pick New Orleans - Philadelphia
WASHINGTOn 9.5 St. Louis - St. Louis
JACKSONVILLE 3 Arizona - Jacksonville
BUFFALO 5 Tampa Bay - Buffalo
Pittsburgh 3 CHICAGO - Pittsburgh
SAN DIEGO 3 Baltimore - Ravens
DENVER 3 Cleveland - Denver
DALLAS 2.5 NY Giants - NY Giants
SAN FRANCISCO 1.5 Seattle - Seattle
Indianapolis 3 MIAMI - Indianapolis

2009 NFL Picks Record: 7-9

Fantasy Wrap-Up - NFL Week 1

The weekend could not have started worse for me with losses in the first 5 games of my NFL Week 1 picks. Luckily, I was able to bounce back on Sunday and I felt good going into last night's Monday night games. I picked both favorites and lost both games to finish Week 1 at 7-9.

My Fantasy teams were worse. I lost both my games this weekend. In my Dallas league, Vincent Jackson's touchdown late against the Raiders gave my opponent a 5 point victory in a close contest. I needed Randy Moss to score one of those last minute Patriot touchdowns. Clearly, Beanie Wells is not the answer at the number 2 running back slot.

In the Atlanta league, my team put up the least amount of points. I was counting on Aaron Rodgers to play big and he came up with one of the worst Fantasy totals of his career. Matt Forte was another major disappointment. If the Bears are not going to use Forte, they are in for a long season. Hopefully, Forte will get a lot more carries and receptions next week.

In real life and in fantasy football, you really cannot feel good when you are counting on wide receivers Terrell Owens and Anquan Boldin. I think Owens can bounce back, but the Bills have to at least give him some targets. I might have been equally as frustrated as Owens during last night's game.

Boldin is a whole other story. Boldin did not practice much last week and I checked the Cardinals' beat writers all week. Most said that he doubted he would play. Boldin even was quoted as saying that he did not want to play and risk missing more time by re-injuring his hamstring. I drafted the other Cardinals' receiver Steve Breaston as a handcuff for Boldin. So, on Sunday, I made the switch. Breaston at least had been practicing. Bad move. Boldin played and Breaston was inactive. Boldin did not play well and the Cardinals look like they might be a victim of the Super Bowl loser jinx.

Luckily, my team played so badly this week that I think I get the first pick in the waiver wire. If that is the case, I will be picking up Cadillac Williams. I might need a Lou Holtz pep talk even though it did not help the Ohio State Buckeyes this weekend.

2009 NFL Picks - Week 1

I will attempt again this year to pick every NFL game with a point spread. These point spreads are taken from Danny Sheridan’s Odds posted September 9 in USA Today. I usually try to post my picks for the week on Thursday night or Friday morning. For Thursday games, I will either make the pick or post my pick to Twitter feed on the right hand column. Enjoy.

Favorites are listed on the left, underdogs on the right
*Home team is in capital letters.

PITTSBURGH 6 Tennessee - Pittsburgh
ATLANTA 4 Miami - Miami
BALTIMORE 13 Kansas City - Kansas City
Philadelphia 1 CAROLINA - Carolina
CINCINNATI 4 Denver - Cincinnati
Minnesota 4 CLEVELAND - Minnesota
HOUSTON 5 New York Jets - Houston
INDY 7 Jacksonville - Jacksonville
NEW ORLEANS 13 Detroit - New Orleans
Dallas 6 TAMPA BAY - Dallas
ARIZONA 6.5 San Francisco - San Francisco
NY GIANTS 6.5 Washington - NY Giants
SEATTLE 8.5 St. Louis - Seattle
GREEN BAY 3.5 Chicago - Green Bay
NEW ENGLAND 10.5 Buffalo - New England
San Diego 9.5 OAKLAND - San Diego

2009 NFL Picks: 0-0
2008 NFL Picks: 134-114-8
2008 NFL Playoff Picks: 8-3

Fantasy Football: Roster Analysis for My Dallas League

I play in two fantasy football leagues. My Dallas league has been in existence for six glorious seasons and there has not been much owner turnover. I always do an annual predicted order of finish with some roster analysis just for the love of Fantasy Football. The main goal is to fire some people up so they will make a bunch of transactions. Lots of transactions mean more money for the winning owner and I figure that pays for my Christmas gifts for 2009. Good luck and enjoy:

12. Walton’s House of Pizza – Showering and changing diapers during your Fantasy draft is usually a sign that you are just not into this league. This guy just has so much going for him right now—great family, sweet job, Kenyon Hall of Fame induction. Really, I did not even look at the roster and just made the team finish in last place out of spite and jealousy. I am not a believer in DeAngelo Williams, Thomas Jones, or LenDale White. Fasano could score two touchdowns or have 1 catch on any given Sunday. This receiving corps worries me. The only bad part of this whole deal is I know that the owner is not going to make 10-15 transactions trying to get better. Playoffs? Say the word in your best Jim Mora impersonation.

11. DRock – Please take 10-15 seconds and upload a helmet logo for this great team name! You could go with the logo for the Greenhill Lady Hornets. I like the strategy of taking top tier wide receivers early on, and I would have taken Fitzgerald if you had not drafted him right before me, but after the first two rounds did you take a few OxyContin? Your quarterbacks are suspect and your running backs are hopes and dreams. Kind of like you’re your old roommate’s love life. Benson should have a good year, but he has never rushed for a 1,000 yards in his career. He is one alcohol binge and boat ride on the Ohio River from ruining your whole season. The great thing for the other owners in this league is that you are going to have to make about 23 transactions just to make it through the schedule. Playoff chance = none.

10. Rain City FC – Best helmet in this league by a wide margin, but how do you explain to school kids what happened in Brentwood that fatal night? I was waiting for this owner to draft Vince Young or Joe Gilliam in round 16, but that might have been over the top. Another year of McNabb as your starting QB? McNabb might be real life and fantasy football kryptonite. Very thin at running back and I absolutely hate your wide receiver corps except for Steve Smith. Eagles’ defense probably will not be the same either without the dearly departed Jim Johnson. Sorry, the owner’s smooth operator presence with the ladies of Seattle cannot get this team over the hump and into the playoffs. Is Seattle depressing?

9. Arrrrt – Very improved helmet team logo, but that name, ugh! I mean you are probably the most hip and happening guy at your high school, but who is the competition someone might ask. This team is by far the strongest you have ever had in this league. Rodgers, Barber, and starting wide receivers are studs. If A-Rodge stays healthy, he might lead the league in fantasy scoring. Solid running back depth. Tim Hightower might not produce a ton of yards, but he will get touches in the Red Zone. You have to be worried about your defense, back up wide receivers, and your kickers, but if you are relying on those guys as difference makers you would be in trouble anyway. This team is definitely a playoff contender.

8. Maurice Clarett Football Club – Remember when Clarett was leading OSU to a national title? Now, he is applying decals to road signs in the state penitentiary. I guess life can be worse. Nice pick of Jonathan Stewart in the late rounds. He seems to be getting healthier and will score some touchdowns. Brees is going to have a monster season. Solid duo of Tomlinson and Sproles, but running back looks like a weak spot if Tomlinson cannot carry the load and Philip Rivers refuses to pass him the football. A couple of former Ohio State wide receivers are great for leadership and locker room presence, but I might be worried about Santonio smoking joints in his car during the season. Brees makes you a contender for the playoffs, but if he gets hurt…

7. The Dawg Pound – Is this owner a Browns’ fan? I feel so badly for Browns’ fans that it is hard for me to right anything negative. Good thing because this roster is stacked with players. There are some big questions marks though: Does Steven Jackson care anymore? Is Tony Romo girl crazy again already? Will Brandon Marshall do anything this year or will he pout all year? Does Westbrook frustrate everyone by not practicing and then playing great on Sundays? Is Boldin happy or sad? Does Lee Evans wilt or flourish opposite Terrell Owens? Can Coach Rex Ryan duplicate his defensive touch with his new Jets’ defense? This team should be a playoff team, but I just came up with those questions in about 30 seconds. The answers might all be negative and that probably does not bode well.

6. Sherm-pups – The defending champion is the champ until someone knocks them off. Enjoy it young man. The Dude Abides. This roster is kind of like the Erin Andrews’ nude video for me. It looked better with its clothes on and when I undressed it the roster kind of fell short of my expectations. Warner had a magical season last year, but can he do it again? MJD is getting a ton of hype, but will he mail in games when Jacksonville starts losing? Jamal Lewis is old. Schaub is soft. Kellen Winslow is crazy—staph infection will do that to you. I like the Glen Coffee draft pick a ton, but will that win you many Fantasy games? Sherm-pups has the experience, coaching acumen, and downright orneriness to make a playoff run.

5. Laser Dick – Wearing two hats as an owner and commissioner is so difficult, so cut this guy some slack. I do wonder how Legally Blonde keeps getting the #1 pick year after year…must have incriminating photographs or something. Great picks at the end of the 1st round and beginning of the 2nd round. I also like Larry Johnson this year even though most people don’t. Who else do the Chiefs have? Oh yeah, you made a nice handcuff selection of Jamal Charles. Hated the Domenick Hixon pick, but you got great value from Chris Henry and Devery Henderson. Both those guys were on my “like” list. Having T.O. on any team is scary, but the women he dates on his reality TV show are very hot, so that balances things out. This team makes the playoffs.

4. Legally Blonde – This organization is like the Patriots. Very solid. Creative team name and cool helmet logo. Lost amidst the criticism of the selections at quarterback is that the owner had a superb draft. On the first play of the game Monday, Adrian Peterson took his first carry 75 yards the other night for a touchdown. Steelers’ defense is simply the best. Garrard was a top ten Fantasy QB in 2008. He is one of the few QBs likely to score rushing touchdowns. The two question marks have to be juggling the starting QB each week. All three are inconsistent and picking the right match up will be huge. Big Ben falsely accused without a doubt. Secondly, the back-ups are all young and unproven. They have big upside, but will they come through when Peterson misses three games with injuries? Peterson alone should get you to the playoffs.

3. Exxon Valdez – With a team name commemorating one of the worst oil tanker disasters in history, you might think this football club would sink after last season. Not so fast my friend. The Exxon roster is probably the deepest in the league. Brady is back. I like Matt Forte a ton. He might score about 20 TDs this year. Late round picks yielded a ton of value at the receiver positions. I was hoping to get Lance Moore at some point. Plus, I think Derrick Ward is going to have over 1,000 yards this year for Tampa Bay. Greg Jennings is vastly underrated in Fantasy. If this team does not make the playoffs, you cannot blame the GM. Blame the coach.

2. MK in Buckhead – Please come up with a new team name to match your sweet helmet. Here are some choices—Lebanese Lovers, Beirut Boys, Real Estate Warriors. All that you need to know about the unpredictable nature of Fantasy Football is that MK was the runner-up in last season. Looking at this roster, there is no doubt in my mind that MK is taking HGH or that he hired a Fantasy Football draft consultant. His Brandon Jacobs pick from two years ago would have been great this season. Wow, this is an explosive looking team. I like Matt Ryan, Ocho, Andre, Owen Daniels, Leon Washington, Anthony Gonzalez, Shiancoe (very large if you know what I mean), Percy Harvin, and Michael Bush. This roster is stacked. What could possibly go wrong? Possibly, a title contender.

1. Super Steelers – It is hard for me to be objective here, but this helmet is unmatched in professional sports. I have never like Peyton Manning, but this year the Colts’ signal caller is flying so far under the radar that I expect him to have a monster season. The Colts are going to have trouble scoring rushing TDs which should make Manning’s value even higher. Some might question the running backs on this team, but Brandon Jacobs is staring at a 15 touchdown season. Do not forget that last year after 10 games the Giants were the highest scoring team in the NFL. Jacobs should pick up some yards from the departed Derrick Ward as well. I hate the Ravens, but these guys always score defensive TDs. The whole key to this team might be whether or not Chris “Beanie” Wells shows up this year. I am pretty confident. Look for this team in the Kellen Winslow Friendship League Championship Game.