Start’em
Jon Kitna, Lions. My observation that Kitna is aggravating for Fantasy owners was right on the mark. Kitna led the Lions back to take the lead, but at the end of the game, Kitna threw 2 interceptions that resulted in 2 touchdowns for the Packers' defense. Kitna finished with 276 yards passing with 2 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. The numbers were decent, but not worthy of a start this week. Call this a loss.
Eli Manning, Giants. Talk about a guy playing with a huge amount of confidence. Manning had a huge game against the Rams. He completed 20 of 29 passes for 260 yards and 3 touchdowns. Three different receivers caught passes for touchdowns. Manning now is a must start for Fantasy owners.
Edgerrin James, Cardinals. The Edge rushed for 55 yards on 18 carries; and in the process, he became only the 14th player in NFL history to surpass 15,000 yards from scrimmage. He is getting the carries of a starting back, but not the opportunities near the goal line. This is another loss for me. Whether to play James or not is a weekly dilemma for owners.
Julius Jones, Seahawks. Wow, what got into Julius Jones yesterday? He was motivated and ran hard against a physical Niners’ defense. Jones finished with 26 carries for 127 yards and a TD. He also caught 3 passes for 14 yards. Starting Jones every week is a murky proposition. You must keep an eye on the Seattle team and who they are playing.
Donald Driver, Packers. The emergence of QB Aaron Rodgers makes Driver a solid #2 wide receiver. He had 52 combined rushing and receiving yards with a 2 yard touchdown catch. After being the 48th ranked receiver in Week 1, Driver responded with a great Fantasy game.
Sit’em
Derek Anderson, Browns. The wind was a major factor in the Sunday night game, but Anderson would have struggled regardless. He passed for 166 yards with 2 interceptions. The Steelers defense was dominant and Troy Palomalu played like he did during the Super Bowl run. Anderson was probably a high pick for you, but I would think about looking for QB help in a trade or on the waiver wire.
Joseph Addai, Colts. The Colts’ offensive line is in trouble and Addai is feeling the pain. He was bottled up by the Vikings defense and could only garner 33 combined rushing and receiving yards. Fantasy owners received a gift TD from Addai after the Anthony Gonzalez lateral. Peyton Manning’s two failed sneak attempts led to Addai getting a chance to score. Addai was a top 10 pick in most drafts and he has to score in double digits for Fantasy owners.
Lee Evans, Bills. This is a typical game for Evans. He does just enough to make you think about playing him again next week. He finished the game with 77 combined rushing and receiving yards. I think he should do more, but he was effective and the Bills won the game. This is close call—let’s call this one a tie!
Chris Chambers, San Diego. Philip Rivers and Chambers have developed chemistry. Chambers was clearly the go-to guy on Sunday. He finished with 83 combined rushing and receiving yards with 2 touchdowns. In most leagues that is 17 total points. At this stage of the season, Chambers' owners should start him every week.
Totals: 5-3-1 (Overall 11-6-1)
My Picks
Winners: Titans, Buccaneers, Packers, Giants, Cardinals, Raiders, Broncos
Losers: Vikings, Saints, Bills, Seahawks, Jets, Steelers, Cowboys
Push: Panthers
Totals: 7-7-1 (Overall 16-14-1)
Fantasy Games: We went to a Decatur restaurant for lunch, and we watched the early Sunday games. It is kind of crazy to see lots of diverse people with laptops checking Fantasy scores. Another 1-1 week for me. I am now 2-0 in my Atlanta league and 0-2 in my Dallas league. The great part is that in the Atlanta league I have played very tough competition. In my Dallas league, I have a solid team that can score points, but I need to get a win. Both of my squads are struggling mightily at the TE position. After picking up Anthony Fasano and Robert Royal (from the Bills), I had no points from the TE position. Call Lehman Brotgers, that is the definition of a bad investment. Santana Moss was a great surprise this week and probably a certain starter next week.
Eliminator Contest. Whew, this week was a close call. I picked Seattle and then after some soul searching I switched to the Giants. Stayed alive for another week. My wife picked Arizona and she still is alive. 11% of the losers this week took Kansas City to beat Oakland and 10% took Seattle. After two weeks, 55% of the players already have been eliminated from this game.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Friday, September 12, 2008
Start'em or Sit'em - Week 2
Start’em
Jon Kitna, Lions. Kitna is such an up and down player for Fantasy owners. He absolutely drove me crazy when he was on my team. You want to start him because he should put up great numbers, but he is capable of throwing up a negative number. The Packers defense is very good, but this is a good match up for Kitna, because of the embarrassing loss last week and because the Lions are playing on turf. Kitna’s receivers will be flying all over Ford Field.
Eli Manning, Giants. Although he won a Super Bowl, Eli is by no means a no-brainer Fantasy start unless he is playing the Rams. The Ram defense is porous at best. Look for Manning to have over 250 yards in the air and 3 touchdowns this week.
Edgerrin James, Cardinals. Last week, Tim Hightower had the goal line carries for the Cardinals, but do not count out the Edge. He is going against his hometown team the Miami Dolphins. Dolphins played hard at home last Sunday, but the trip to Arizona will take some fight out of them. Plus, teams must take away Kurt Warner and the wide receivers first. That means the running game should be strong for the Cardinals.
Julius Jones, Seahawks. Look for Jones to have a big game in his first start this week against the Niners. Seattle is at home where the frenzied crowd should give them a boost. Holmgren had to be embarrassed after last week’s loss. Seattle might have had the pads on some this week to practice hitting and tackling. Maybe, work on the special teams a little after giving up 14 points to the Bills’ trickery and Roscoe Parrish’s quick feet. The Seahawks have no receivers and Maurice Morris is hurt! Jones is the only skill player healthy. By default, he should score one TD.
Donald Driver, Packers. Driver did not get many opportunities last week, but he did have a long touchdown reception called back because of a penalty. If that play would have counted, he would have been near the top in WR scoring last week. Mix that up with the inept Lions defense and you have a recipe for a big game for Driver.
Sit’em
Derek Anderson, Browns. In Week 2 of 2007, Anderson announced his presence with authority in a huge Fantasy game against Cincinnati. On Sunday night in front of a wild atmosphere on Lake Erie, the exact opposite should happen. The Steelers linebackers and defensive line will dominate this game. Cleveland fans will go home angry, cry on their message boards, and nurse their hangovers all day at the docks and factories on Monday.
Joseph Addai, Colts. Addai was not himself on Sunday night. He was not making many people miss or gaining yards after first contact. The Vikings run defense is better than the Bears’ run defense. He gets some yards in the short passing game, but the prediction here is no touchdowns this week for Addai. Colts drop to 0-2. Manning and Brady did need some pre-season game action.
Lee Evans, Bills. Evans is so inconsistent. It might be unfair for me to pick him this week, because he played well last week. That means it is a lead pipe lock that he will be invisible this week against Jacksonville. Plus, the Jags defense might have to shutout the Bills to win this week.
Chris Chambers, San Diego. San Diego should move the football up and down the field on the Broncos. They should score plus 20 points and amass plenty of yards, but Chambers will be neutralized by the Broncos secondary. Look for Tomlinson (do not let the injured toe worry you), Gates, and Rivers to do most of the damage this Sunday.
My Picks
@ Bengals -1 Titans - Titans
Colts -2 @ Vikings - Vikings
@ Panthers -3 Bears - Panthers
@ Buccaneers -7 Falcons - Buccaneers
@ Redskins PK Saints - Saints
@ Jags -5 Bills - Jags
Packers -3 @ Lions - Packers
Giants -8.5 @ Rams - Giants
@ Seahawks -7 Niners - Seahawks
@ Cardinals -6.5 Dolphins - Cardinals
@ Jets -1 Patriots - Jets
@ Chiefs -3.5 Raiders - Raiders
Chargers -1.5 @ Denver - Denver
Steelers -6 @ Browns - Steelers
@ Cowboys -7 Eagles - Cowboys
Eliminator Contest. The games in the NFL this week are agonizingly close to call—only one point spread was larger than 7 points. The Giants are heavily favored versus St. Louis. I know the Rams are terrible, but in the dome, I am just scared they can beat the Giants. They can score points. That worries me. I ended up taking Seattle to beat San Francisco at home. Holmgren and Qwest Field should be the difference. My wife took Arizona at home to beat Miami. Wow, I just reread that paragraph. Frightening. Okay, I just watched a movie and this pick was bugging me the whole two hours. Checked out the Seahawks' stories in today's Seattle Post Intelligencer and changed my pick to the Giants.
P.S. Remember when Meg Ryan was a star and was kind of crazy cute. She was just on David Letterman and she looked like the 1980's Jack Nicholson version of the Joker. Her mouth was frozen in place. You have to feel pretty badly if you are Ricky Gervais, and you are the 2nd guest on Letterman after Meg Ryan.
Jon Kitna, Lions. Kitna is such an up and down player for Fantasy owners. He absolutely drove me crazy when he was on my team. You want to start him because he should put up great numbers, but he is capable of throwing up a negative number. The Packers defense is very good, but this is a good match up for Kitna, because of the embarrassing loss last week and because the Lions are playing on turf. Kitna’s receivers will be flying all over Ford Field.
Eli Manning, Giants. Although he won a Super Bowl, Eli is by no means a no-brainer Fantasy start unless he is playing the Rams. The Ram defense is porous at best. Look for Manning to have over 250 yards in the air and 3 touchdowns this week.
Edgerrin James, Cardinals. Last week, Tim Hightower had the goal line carries for the Cardinals, but do not count out the Edge. He is going against his hometown team the Miami Dolphins. Dolphins played hard at home last Sunday, but the trip to Arizona will take some fight out of them. Plus, teams must take away Kurt Warner and the wide receivers first. That means the running game should be strong for the Cardinals.
Julius Jones, Seahawks. Look for Jones to have a big game in his first start this week against the Niners. Seattle is at home where the frenzied crowd should give them a boost. Holmgren had to be embarrassed after last week’s loss. Seattle might have had the pads on some this week to practice hitting and tackling. Maybe, work on the special teams a little after giving up 14 points to the Bills’ trickery and Roscoe Parrish’s quick feet. The Seahawks have no receivers and Maurice Morris is hurt! Jones is the only skill player healthy. By default, he should score one TD.
Donald Driver, Packers. Driver did not get many opportunities last week, but he did have a long touchdown reception called back because of a penalty. If that play would have counted, he would have been near the top in WR scoring last week. Mix that up with the inept Lions defense and you have a recipe for a big game for Driver.
Sit’em
Derek Anderson, Browns. In Week 2 of 2007, Anderson announced his presence with authority in a huge Fantasy game against Cincinnati. On Sunday night in front of a wild atmosphere on Lake Erie, the exact opposite should happen. The Steelers linebackers and defensive line will dominate this game. Cleveland fans will go home angry, cry on their message boards, and nurse their hangovers all day at the docks and factories on Monday.
Joseph Addai, Colts. Addai was not himself on Sunday night. He was not making many people miss or gaining yards after first contact. The Vikings run defense is better than the Bears’ run defense. He gets some yards in the short passing game, but the prediction here is no touchdowns this week for Addai. Colts drop to 0-2. Manning and Brady did need some pre-season game action.
Lee Evans, Bills. Evans is so inconsistent. It might be unfair for me to pick him this week, because he played well last week. That means it is a lead pipe lock that he will be invisible this week against Jacksonville. Plus, the Jags defense might have to shutout the Bills to win this week.
Chris Chambers, San Diego. San Diego should move the football up and down the field on the Broncos. They should score plus 20 points and amass plenty of yards, but Chambers will be neutralized by the Broncos secondary. Look for Tomlinson (do not let the injured toe worry you), Gates, and Rivers to do most of the damage this Sunday.
My Picks
@ Bengals -1 Titans - Titans
Colts -2 @ Vikings - Vikings
@ Panthers -3 Bears - Panthers
@ Buccaneers -7 Falcons - Buccaneers
@ Redskins PK Saints - Saints
@ Jags -5 Bills - Jags
Packers -3 @ Lions - Packers
Giants -8.5 @ Rams - Giants
@ Seahawks -7 Niners - Seahawks
@ Cardinals -6.5 Dolphins - Cardinals
@ Jets -1 Patriots - Jets
@ Chiefs -3.5 Raiders - Raiders
Chargers -1.5 @ Denver - Denver
Steelers -6 @ Browns - Steelers
@ Cowboys -7 Eagles - Cowboys
Eliminator Contest. The games in the NFL this week are agonizingly close to call—only one point spread was larger than 7 points. The Giants are heavily favored versus St. Louis. I know the Rams are terrible, but in the dome, I am just scared they can beat the Giants. They can score points. That worries me. I ended up taking Seattle to beat San Francisco at home. Holmgren and Qwest Field should be the difference. My wife took Arizona at home to beat Miami. Wow, I just reread that paragraph. Frightening. Okay, I just watched a movie and this pick was bugging me the whole two hours. Checked out the Seahawks' stories in today's Seattle Post Intelligencer and changed my pick to the Giants.
P.S. Remember when Meg Ryan was a star and was kind of crazy cute. She was just on David Letterman and she looked like the 1980's Jack Nicholson version of the Joker. Her mouth was frozen in place. You have to feel pretty badly if you are Ricky Gervais, and you are the 2nd guest on Letterman after Meg Ryan.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Quick Slants - Week 1
Waiver Wire:
Tom Brady owners are devastated like Owen Wilson last year when Kate Hudson broke up with him. However, unlike for Owen, there are no starlets to take Brady’s place. Here are some quarterbacks that are likely available in your league: Jon Kitna, Kerry Collins, Matt Cassel, Aaron Rodgers, Chad Pennington, and Brian Griese. My pick is Pennington. The Jets’ defense is not very good, but I liked what I saw on Sunday. The Dolphins are going to run the football, but Pennington will get chances to throw. Plus, the Dolphins are going to max protect for Pennington. I had Kitna a few years ago and it was a nightmare. Kerry Collins is not good and Garcia will be back soon for Tampa Bay. With Cassel and Rodgers, I fear an injury. What makes Brady, Manning, Favre, Marino, etc. great is their ability to perform consistently every week. Can Rodgers stay healthy?
In my Fantasy leagues, there are not very many options at running back. Kenny Watson from Cincinnati is a good pick up. He should be starting soon. Other options are Sammy Morris or Kevin Falk. Wait for other options to emerge from the shadows.
The injury to Marques Colston automatically increases the value for the other Saints’ WRs. David Patten, Devery Henderson, and Bobby Meachem are worth a waiver wire look. Of these three, my pick is Patten. He has better hands and a stronger bond with Brees. Keep an eye on Meachem over the next several weeks. I would drop Colston altogether. Other WRs possibilities are Eddie Royal and Darrell Jackson from Denver (Cutler looked very good Monday night), DeSean Jackson (over Hank Baskett), Kevin Walter, Chansi Stuckey (the Jets’ third WR), and Ashley Lelie (I know, I know that is awful; but, someone has to catch passes for the Raiders). Royal probably will be the first waiver wire pick in most leagues. I need to replace Drew Bennett--terrible draft choice.
At the TE position, there are a plethora of options. In one of my leagues, 6 out of the top 10 TEs are free agents. I like Anthony Fasano from the Dolphins. Others possible TEs are Robert Royal, Dante Rosario, Bo Scaife, and David Martin. Dante Rosario did put up better statistics, but his production will go down when Steve Smith comes back from suspension. The Panthers were using him wide most of the game. Dustin Keller of the Jets and Robert Royal of the Bills are rookies and bonafide options. I go with Royal over Keller.
Bananas. The Patriots are done. The party is over. You cannot replace Tom Cruise with Ryan Reynolds and expect big box office. Tom Brady is the most valuable player in the NFL. He is the leader on that offense. Guys play hard because they do not want to let him down. Do you think Randy Moss is going to run his pass patterns hard every play when he knows Matt Cassel cannot get him the football? Plus, the Patriots’ running game is not strong enough to get them to the playoffs. The line is built to pass block and their running backs are not All Pro caliber. People have been saying great things about Belichick making adjustments and so forth. The only reason the Patriots can make changes is that Brady covers up the mistakes. The only saving grace for this team is that they have the weakest schedule in the NFL.
My question is, if Vince Young is a grown man, why is his family even around to know he left the house without his cell phone? Buy your mother and sister a separate house. If my mommy had called the police every time I left the house in a bad state of mind, she would have been on the telephone every day. Vince has to grow up, and he has to realize the NFL is a “big boy” league. In LA, Norm Chow is smiling.
The whole BYU v. Washington celebration penalty is ridiculous. I am sure someone has mentioned this solution, but I have not heard it yet. Simply, allow the officials to call celebration penalties whenever the penalties are warranted, but enforce the penalty yards on the kick-off. Keep the PAT at the three yard-line. It is an untimed down. Additionally, you do not take away the opportunity to go for a 2-point conversion. Control the end zone celebrations, but do not affect the scoring chance of the PAT.
In my pre-season predictions, I had James Harrison, the defensive end for the Steelers, as my Defensive POY. All he did this week was bulldoze the Texans for 3 sacks and harass Matt Schaub all day long. Harrison played great and he is not getting the attention he deserves.
Monday night, I was reminded of Brent Musberger’s comments during Game 7 of the Atlanta Hawks and Boston Celtics 1988 playoff series. He was talking about the greatness of Larry Bird. On Monday, I watched Roger Federer dominate Andy Murray in the US Open final. Federer is one of the true great players in all of sports. He hardly ever breaks a sweat, but last night you could see his determination and will to win. The only area where Andy Murray beats Federer is in the quality of girlfriend category. Awesome.
Other thoughts from Monday night, why is Audrina with Justin Bobby? And can we get more Whitney on the Hills?
Tom Brady owners are devastated like Owen Wilson last year when Kate Hudson broke up with him. However, unlike for Owen, there are no starlets to take Brady’s place. Here are some quarterbacks that are likely available in your league: Jon Kitna, Kerry Collins, Matt Cassel, Aaron Rodgers, Chad Pennington, and Brian Griese. My pick is Pennington. The Jets’ defense is not very good, but I liked what I saw on Sunday. The Dolphins are going to run the football, but Pennington will get chances to throw. Plus, the Dolphins are going to max protect for Pennington. I had Kitna a few years ago and it was a nightmare. Kerry Collins is not good and Garcia will be back soon for Tampa Bay. With Cassel and Rodgers, I fear an injury. What makes Brady, Manning, Favre, Marino, etc. great is their ability to perform consistently every week. Can Rodgers stay healthy?
In my Fantasy leagues, there are not very many options at running back. Kenny Watson from Cincinnati is a good pick up. He should be starting soon. Other options are Sammy Morris or Kevin Falk. Wait for other options to emerge from the shadows.
The injury to Marques Colston automatically increases the value for the other Saints’ WRs. David Patten, Devery Henderson, and Bobby Meachem are worth a waiver wire look. Of these three, my pick is Patten. He has better hands and a stronger bond with Brees. Keep an eye on Meachem over the next several weeks. I would drop Colston altogether. Other WRs possibilities are Eddie Royal and Darrell Jackson from Denver (Cutler looked very good Monday night), DeSean Jackson (over Hank Baskett), Kevin Walter, Chansi Stuckey (the Jets’ third WR), and Ashley Lelie (I know, I know that is awful; but, someone has to catch passes for the Raiders). Royal probably will be the first waiver wire pick in most leagues. I need to replace Drew Bennett--terrible draft choice.
At the TE position, there are a plethora of options. In one of my leagues, 6 out of the top 10 TEs are free agents. I like Anthony Fasano from the Dolphins. Others possible TEs are Robert Royal, Dante Rosario, Bo Scaife, and David Martin. Dante Rosario did put up better statistics, but his production will go down when Steve Smith comes back from suspension. The Panthers were using him wide most of the game. Dustin Keller of the Jets and Robert Royal of the Bills are rookies and bonafide options. I go with Royal over Keller.
Bananas. The Patriots are done. The party is over. You cannot replace Tom Cruise with Ryan Reynolds and expect big box office. Tom Brady is the most valuable player in the NFL. He is the leader on that offense. Guys play hard because they do not want to let him down. Do you think Randy Moss is going to run his pass patterns hard every play when he knows Matt Cassel cannot get him the football? Plus, the Patriots’ running game is not strong enough to get them to the playoffs. The line is built to pass block and their running backs are not All Pro caliber. People have been saying great things about Belichick making adjustments and so forth. The only reason the Patriots can make changes is that Brady covers up the mistakes. The only saving grace for this team is that they have the weakest schedule in the NFL.
My question is, if Vince Young is a grown man, why is his family even around to know he left the house without his cell phone? Buy your mother and sister a separate house. If my mommy had called the police every time I left the house in a bad state of mind, she would have been on the telephone every day. Vince has to grow up, and he has to realize the NFL is a “big boy” league. In LA, Norm Chow is smiling.
The whole BYU v. Washington celebration penalty is ridiculous. I am sure someone has mentioned this solution, but I have not heard it yet. Simply, allow the officials to call celebration penalties whenever the penalties are warranted, but enforce the penalty yards on the kick-off. Keep the PAT at the three yard-line. It is an untimed down. Additionally, you do not take away the opportunity to go for a 2-point conversion. Control the end zone celebrations, but do not affect the scoring chance of the PAT.
In my pre-season predictions, I had James Harrison, the defensive end for the Steelers, as my Defensive POY. All he did this week was bulldoze the Texans for 3 sacks and harass Matt Schaub all day long. Harrison played great and he is not getting the attention he deserves.
Monday night, I was reminded of Brent Musberger’s comments during Game 7 of the Atlanta Hawks and Boston Celtics 1988 playoff series. He was talking about the greatness of Larry Bird. On Monday, I watched Roger Federer dominate Andy Murray in the US Open final. Federer is one of the true great players in all of sports. He hardly ever breaks a sweat, but last night you could see his determination and will to win. The only area where Andy Murray beats Federer is in the quality of girlfriend category. Awesome.
Other thoughts from Monday night, why is Audrina with Justin Bobby? And can we get more Whitney on the Hills?
Monday, September 8, 2008
Wrap Up - Week 1
Start’em
Brett Favre and Thomas Jones, Jets. Favre was 15-22 for 194 yards and 2 touchdowns. Thomas Jones rushed for 101 yards and 1 touchdown on 22 carries. He matched his touchdown total for last season. I was right on these two guys.
Earnest Graham, Buccaneers. Graham rushed for 91 yards on 10 carries. He also caught 3 passes for 27 yards. Graham continues his success from the end of last season. At this point, he is a must start for Fantasy owners.
Larry Johnson, Chiefs. Johnson had 22 rushes for 74 yards and caught 1 pass for 12 yards. This is a respectable week for a number two Fantasy back. Unfortunately for me, LJ is a number one Fantasy back. Count this as a loss.
Isaac Bruce, Niners. This pick was an embarrassment. Yesterday was only the 7th time in Bruce’s career that he was held without a catch. This is panic time for Bruce owners. Do not play him until he produces. Start thinking about a waiver wire pick up.
Roy Williams, Lions. Williams only had 47 total yards, but he did get into the end zone on a great catch against the Falcons. Scoring touchdowns is what Fantasy Football is all about.
Sit’em
Roddy White, Falcons. White could only muster 54 total yards. He was not much of a factor this week with Michael Jenkins catching a long TD pass from QB Matt Ryan. If the Falcons run the ball like this, keep playing White.
Aaron Rodgers, Packers. I missed on this prediction. Rodgers was very solid for the Packers. He threw for a touchdown, ran for a touchdown, and totaled 214 yards. In most leagues, this is 20 Fantasy points.
Matt Hasselbeck, Seahawks. Hasselbeck was able to throw for a TD and 190 yards passing, but he also tossed an interception. Less than 10 Fantasy points for your starting quarterback will not get you many wins in any league.
Total: 6 right and 3 wrong
My Picks
Wins: Giants, Jets, Chiefs, Steelers, Saints, Bills, Panthers, Dallas, Bears
Losses: Bengals, Lions, Jaguars, Niners, Rams, Vikings, Oakland
Total: 9-7
Fantasy Games: In my weekend match ups, I was 1-1. Both of my opposing owners had monster running back games. One had Michael Turner, and the other guy had Willie Parker. I was fortunate to come out with one victory. I had very good Fantasy performances from Marion Barber, Tony Romo, Big Ben, Reggie Bush, Hines Ward, and some others. My TE position is in terrible shape. I definitely am looking for an upgrade at that position. Also, Tory Holt gave me 0 points which is a huge surprise. As bad as the Rams looked, will Holt even be a factor in the offense this season.
Eliminator Contest: I picked the Patriots. I survived this week even with the near fatal, early injury to Tom Brady. My wife picked the Giants, so she could relax and enjoy the games this weekend.
Brett Favre and Thomas Jones, Jets. Favre was 15-22 for 194 yards and 2 touchdowns. Thomas Jones rushed for 101 yards and 1 touchdown on 22 carries. He matched his touchdown total for last season. I was right on these two guys.
Earnest Graham, Buccaneers. Graham rushed for 91 yards on 10 carries. He also caught 3 passes for 27 yards. Graham continues his success from the end of last season. At this point, he is a must start for Fantasy owners.
Larry Johnson, Chiefs. Johnson had 22 rushes for 74 yards and caught 1 pass for 12 yards. This is a respectable week for a number two Fantasy back. Unfortunately for me, LJ is a number one Fantasy back. Count this as a loss.
Isaac Bruce, Niners. This pick was an embarrassment. Yesterday was only the 7th time in Bruce’s career that he was held without a catch. This is panic time for Bruce owners. Do not play him until he produces. Start thinking about a waiver wire pick up.
Roy Williams, Lions. Williams only had 47 total yards, but he did get into the end zone on a great catch against the Falcons. Scoring touchdowns is what Fantasy Football is all about.
Sit’em
Roddy White, Falcons. White could only muster 54 total yards. He was not much of a factor this week with Michael Jenkins catching a long TD pass from QB Matt Ryan. If the Falcons run the ball like this, keep playing White.
Aaron Rodgers, Packers. I missed on this prediction. Rodgers was very solid for the Packers. He threw for a touchdown, ran for a touchdown, and totaled 214 yards. In most leagues, this is 20 Fantasy points.
Matt Hasselbeck, Seahawks. Hasselbeck was able to throw for a TD and 190 yards passing, but he also tossed an interception. Less than 10 Fantasy points for your starting quarterback will not get you many wins in any league.
Total: 6 right and 3 wrong
My Picks
Wins: Giants, Jets, Chiefs, Steelers, Saints, Bills, Panthers, Dallas, Bears
Losses: Bengals, Lions, Jaguars, Niners, Rams, Vikings, Oakland
Total: 9-7
Fantasy Games: In my weekend match ups, I was 1-1. Both of my opposing owners had monster running back games. One had Michael Turner, and the other guy had Willie Parker. I was fortunate to come out with one victory. I had very good Fantasy performances from Marion Barber, Tony Romo, Big Ben, Reggie Bush, Hines Ward, and some others. My TE position is in terrible shape. I definitely am looking for an upgrade at that position. Also, Tory Holt gave me 0 points which is a huge surprise. As bad as the Rams looked, will Holt even be a factor in the offense this season.
Eliminator Contest: I picked the Patriots. I survived this week even with the near fatal, early injury to Tom Brady. My wife picked the Giants, so she could relax and enjoy the games this weekend.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Start'em or Sit'em - Week 1
Start’em
Brett Favre and Thomas Jones. The most improved unit on the Jets is the offensive line. Alan Faneca is a first ballot Hall of Famer. He brings an attitude and physical style of play. People are overestimating the Pennington / Parcells factor. Miami lost 15 games last year and lost their best defensive player. Jets should win big.
Earnest Graham. Very few people are talking about Graham, but he should be your starting line-up every week. Tampa Bay needs to keep QB Garcia healthy. That means more of a commitment to the run. Graham was very good down the stretch in 2007.
Larry Johnson, Chiefs. This guy will be back with a great year this year. He really is the only Fantasy or real life option on the Chiefs’ offense. New England’s defense feels soft. Look for 30 carries from Johnson as Herm Edwards keeps the clock running in the 2nd half. Plus, this game might be played in monsoon weather conditions.
Isaac Bruce, Niners. Wide receiver is the most volatile position in Fantasy week to week. Bruce is a good play this week, because he understands the Martz offense and how to get open. He is a step slower, but he will be the Niners’ main target against Arizona.
Roy Williams, Lions. Former Georgia Tech WR Charles Johnson has the cool nickname (Megatron) and all the hype, but QB Kitna has great rapport with Williams. Atlanta’s secondary is very, very suspect and small in stature.
Sit’em
Roddy White, Falcons. 2007 was supposed to be a breakout season for White, but it was more of a mirage of Bobby Petrino’s offense. Expect more running from the Falcons and less opportunities for White in this season’s first month.
Aaron Rodgers, Packers. Expect Rodgers to get injured in this game. National television. Jared Allen. The Packers’ O-Line was horrible in preseason. Rodgers does not have a quick release. 4 bad ingredients for Packers’ fans.
Matt Hasselbeck, Seahawks. Now, Tim and Elizabeth are both on TV? I have never been a Hasselbeck fan and the wide receiver corps is decimated by injury. And, Buffalo should control time of possession and keep it a low scoring game.
My Picks
@ Giants -4 Redskins - Giants (check Thursday post)
Bengals -1.5 @ Ravens - Bengals
Lions -3 @ Falcons - Lions
Jets -3 @ Dolphins - Jets
@ Patriots -16.5 Kansas City - Kansas City
@ Pittsburgh -6.5 Houston - Pittsburgh
Jacksonville -3 @ Tennessee - Jacksonville
@ New Orleans -3.5 Tampa Bay - New Orleans
Cardinals -2.5 @ San Francisco - San Francisco
@ Buffalo -1 Seattle - Buffalo
@ Eagles -7.5 Rams - Rams
@ San Diego -9 Carolina - Carolina
Dallas -5.5 @ Cleveland - Dallas
@ Colts -9.5 Chicago - Chicago
@ Green Bay -2.5 Minnesota - Minnesota
Denver -3 @ Oakland - Oakland
Eliminator Contest. I picked New England to survive in Week I. My philosophy for the first month of the season is just to survive. Try to pick the guaranteed winners and do not use the strategy of saving teams for later in the season. Two years ago I was out after Week I. Last year, I lasted into November. My wife picked the Giants this week, so she already is safe and sound.
Brett Favre and Thomas Jones. The most improved unit on the Jets is the offensive line. Alan Faneca is a first ballot Hall of Famer. He brings an attitude and physical style of play. People are overestimating the Pennington / Parcells factor. Miami lost 15 games last year and lost their best defensive player. Jets should win big.
Earnest Graham. Very few people are talking about Graham, but he should be your starting line-up every week. Tampa Bay needs to keep QB Garcia healthy. That means more of a commitment to the run. Graham was very good down the stretch in 2007.
Larry Johnson, Chiefs. This guy will be back with a great year this year. He really is the only Fantasy or real life option on the Chiefs’ offense. New England’s defense feels soft. Look for 30 carries from Johnson as Herm Edwards keeps the clock running in the 2nd half. Plus, this game might be played in monsoon weather conditions.
Isaac Bruce, Niners. Wide receiver is the most volatile position in Fantasy week to week. Bruce is a good play this week, because he understands the Martz offense and how to get open. He is a step slower, but he will be the Niners’ main target against Arizona.
Roy Williams, Lions. Former Georgia Tech WR Charles Johnson has the cool nickname (Megatron) and all the hype, but QB Kitna has great rapport with Williams. Atlanta’s secondary is very, very suspect and small in stature.
Sit’em
Roddy White, Falcons. 2007 was supposed to be a breakout season for White, but it was more of a mirage of Bobby Petrino’s offense. Expect more running from the Falcons and less opportunities for White in this season’s first month.
Aaron Rodgers, Packers. Expect Rodgers to get injured in this game. National television. Jared Allen. The Packers’ O-Line was horrible in preseason. Rodgers does not have a quick release. 4 bad ingredients for Packers’ fans.
Matt Hasselbeck, Seahawks. Now, Tim and Elizabeth are both on TV? I have never been a Hasselbeck fan and the wide receiver corps is decimated by injury. And, Buffalo should control time of possession and keep it a low scoring game.
My Picks
@ Giants -4 Redskins - Giants (check Thursday post)
Bengals -1.5 @ Ravens - Bengals
Lions -3 @ Falcons - Lions
Jets -3 @ Dolphins - Jets
@ Patriots -16.5 Kansas City - Kansas City
@ Pittsburgh -6.5 Houston - Pittsburgh
Jacksonville -3 @ Tennessee - Jacksonville
@ New Orleans -3.5 Tampa Bay - New Orleans
Cardinals -2.5 @ San Francisco - San Francisco
@ Buffalo -1 Seattle - Buffalo
@ Eagles -7.5 Rams - Rams
@ San Diego -9 Carolina - Carolina
Dallas -5.5 @ Cleveland - Dallas
@ Colts -9.5 Chicago - Chicago
@ Green Bay -2.5 Minnesota - Minnesota
Denver -3 @ Oakland - Oakland
Eliminator Contest. I picked New England to survive in Week I. My philosophy for the first month of the season is just to survive. Try to pick the guaranteed winners and do not use the strategy of saving teams for later in the season. Two years ago I was out after Week I. Last year, I lasted into November. My wife picked the Giants this week, so she already is safe and sound.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Panic and Predictions
Last night, I was checking my lineups and my league message boards (I mainly wanted to confirm a small side bet for this week’s match up in my Atlanta league) when I saw a blurb about Ben Watson not practicing yesterday for New England. Talk about a Fantasy Football panic situation. Watson is my starting TE in both my leagues. Kind of a stupid move, but my feeling was the Patriots were going to expand his role this year and use him more like a 3rd wide receiver, i.e. Dallas Clark or Kellen Winslow, Jr. Before my draft, Watson seemed to be fine after ankle surgery in March, and he started training camp without missing practice. Although he does not get a lot of touches, Watson scored 6 touchdowns in 2007. Now, I have to start Kevin Boss of the NY Giants (I know there is a bye week conflict as well, but Boss ranked high on my sleeper board, and I picked him in the 15th round). Boss is a wild card. He could grab some fantasy points, but my problem is I can't wait and see if Watson practices on Friday. I have to play Boss or risk having a DNP on Sunday. In my other league, my back up TE is Owen Daniels. I drafted him pretty late with a great value pick. The Texans will score a ton of points this year, so Daniels is fine if Watson does not produce.
After checking several other Fantasy blogs and articles, analysts are saying not to start Ryan Grant of the Green Bay Packers. I drafted this guy with my 2nd round pick and out of principle Grant should start; but, he played one snap in the preseason and has a sore hamstring. That can not be good. Grant just got paid lots of money and he claims he is ready to play. Is he? The question is how hard will he run? How many carries? Does playing Minnesota mean not to start him? My 3rd running back is Reggie Bush. He has a great match up in the Superdome versus Tampa. I am leaning toward starting Bush.
Here are my predictions for final conference standings, playoffs, and post season awards for the 2008 NFL season:
NFC East: Giants, Cowboys, Eagles, Redskins
NFC North: Vikings, Lions, Packers, Bears
NFC South: Panthers, Saints, Buccaneers, Falcons
NFC West: Cardinals, Seahawks, Rams, 49ers
AFC East: Patriots, Jets, Bills, Dolphins
AFC North: Steelers, Bengals, Browns, Ravens
AFC South: Colts, Jaguars, Texans, Titans
AFC West: Chargers, Broncos, Raiders, Chiefs
NFC Wild Cards: Cowboys, Saints
AFC Wild Cards: Jaguars, Jets
NFC Championship Game: Cowboys vs. Saints
AFC Championship Game: Steelers vs. Chargers
Super Bowl: Steelers vs. Cowboys
NFL MVP: LaDainian Tomlinson, Chargers
Offensive Player of the Year: Tony Romo, Cowboys
Defensive Player of the Year: James Harrison (Mr. Monday Night), Steelers
Coach of the Year: Eric Mangini, NY Jets
Rookie of the Year: Jonathan Stewart, Carolina Panthers
After checking several other Fantasy blogs and articles, analysts are saying not to start Ryan Grant of the Green Bay Packers. I drafted this guy with my 2nd round pick and out of principle Grant should start; but, he played one snap in the preseason and has a sore hamstring. That can not be good. Grant just got paid lots of money and he claims he is ready to play. Is he? The question is how hard will he run? How many carries? Does playing Minnesota mean not to start him? My 3rd running back is Reggie Bush. He has a great match up in the Superdome versus Tampa. I am leaning toward starting Bush.
Here are my predictions for final conference standings, playoffs, and post season awards for the 2008 NFL season:
NFC East: Giants, Cowboys, Eagles, Redskins
NFC North: Vikings, Lions, Packers, Bears
NFC South: Panthers, Saints, Buccaneers, Falcons
NFC West: Cardinals, Seahawks, Rams, 49ers
AFC East: Patriots, Jets, Bills, Dolphins
AFC North: Steelers, Bengals, Browns, Ravens
AFC South: Colts, Jaguars, Texans, Titans
AFC West: Chargers, Broncos, Raiders, Chiefs
NFC Wild Cards: Cowboys, Saints
AFC Wild Cards: Jaguars, Jets
NFC Championship Game: Cowboys vs. Saints
AFC Championship Game: Steelers vs. Chargers
Super Bowl: Steelers vs. Cowboys
NFL MVP: LaDainian Tomlinson, Chargers
Offensive Player of the Year: Tony Romo, Cowboys
Defensive Player of the Year: James Harrison (Mr. Monday Night), Steelers
Coach of the Year: Eric Mangini, NY Jets
Rookie of the Year: Jonathan Stewart, Carolina Panthers
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Quick Slants
When did http://www.tmz.com/ start covering athletes so closely? Fred Taylor was on the web site this weekend. Do not fear Fred Taylor will not be affected by his run in with the Miami police department. If you have him this weekend, he is a solid starting option as your second running back. After reading today’s article at http://www.orlandosentinel.com/, the NFL should not suspend Taylor. On its face, the incident is a combination of the police overreacting and Taylor losing his cool. The confrontations happen when the police pull you out of your car in front of your friends and search your vehicle. Usually, you get angry when you are not doing anything illegal and the cops are searching your car. No harm done, no crime committed. Look for Taylor to have an above average season with over 1,000 yards and 6 touchdowns.
ESPN published an article last week proclaiming the fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers as the NFL’s best. I wholeheartedly agree. The Steelers have been my team for over 25 years. I have a Rod Woodson jersey and a real Terrible Towel. I lived in Pittsburgh for a few years and the devotion of the entire city is hard to believe. In hospitals, nurses wear Steelers’ jerseys on game day! Enough said. Check out the article:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/preview08/columns/story?id=3530077
The Detroit Lions signed former Bengals' running back Rudi Johnson and cut Tatum Bell. That move makes Johnson the Lions’ back up running back. If your running back situation is murky, Johnson is a great pick up on the waiver wire. He definitely will get carries in the red zone. Just two years ago, he rushed for over 1,300 yards. Kevin Smith was running for Central Florida last year. Expect some growing pains from the rookie Smith, and if Rudi can stay healthy, he will handle more carries each week.
If you have players on the Redskins or Giants on your Fantasy team, you have to make sure your line-ups are in by Thursday game time. Do not buy stock in the pre-season results. Throw those records out the window. However, I do not remember seeing a team blown out like the Redskins were against Carolina. If I were a Redskins’ fan, I would be very nervous starting the season with rookie Head Coach Jim Zorn. Sometimes, my gut feelings are reinforced in random ways. Listening to Colin Cowherd on ESPN today, Colin interviewed Clinton Portis. Portis described training camp as “fun”. He then praised Zorn and offered up the idea that Zorn “puts guys in positions where they can succeed.” Allow me to translate what those two statements mean. Zorn is soft and not very demanding. Training camp has not been tough enough. If Clinton Portis is having fun and liking Zorn, the Redskins are in trouble. I remember when Cowher first took the Steelers’ job. The Steelers were blown out in weeks 1 and 2. Cowher quickly figured it out that being a player’s coach does not go very far in the NFL. Guys have to be pushed to work hard. My prediction is a Giants win by 14+ points.
Start’em or Sit’em – Redskins
Portis is the only guy on the Redskins’ offense that I would play this week. Maybe, you can play Santana Moss or Chris Cooley depending on your roster. The Giants’ defense should be all over Jason Campbell. Portis will get his stats, but no one else is a legitimate fantasy starter this week.
Start’em or Sit’em – Giants
Start Eli, Plaxico, Brandon Jacobs, and the Defense. I am not a fan of Jacobs, but look for him to be the feature back this week. At this point, Eli is a must play. His confidence should be sky high early in the season. The Giants are going to score 30+ points in this game, so if you have other skill players consider playing them, but most likely they are your backups. For example, I drafted Kevin Boss as my backup TE. He could have a big week, but I am not playing him until he consistently produces.
Check back on Friday for my player picks for this weekend’s games.
ESPN published an article last week proclaiming the fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers as the NFL’s best. I wholeheartedly agree. The Steelers have been my team for over 25 years. I have a Rod Woodson jersey and a real Terrible Towel. I lived in Pittsburgh for a few years and the devotion of the entire city is hard to believe. In hospitals, nurses wear Steelers’ jerseys on game day! Enough said. Check out the article:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/preview08/columns/story?id=3530077
The Detroit Lions signed former Bengals' running back Rudi Johnson and cut Tatum Bell. That move makes Johnson the Lions’ back up running back. If your running back situation is murky, Johnson is a great pick up on the waiver wire. He definitely will get carries in the red zone. Just two years ago, he rushed for over 1,300 yards. Kevin Smith was running for Central Florida last year. Expect some growing pains from the rookie Smith, and if Rudi can stay healthy, he will handle more carries each week.
If you have players on the Redskins or Giants on your Fantasy team, you have to make sure your line-ups are in by Thursday game time. Do not buy stock in the pre-season results. Throw those records out the window. However, I do not remember seeing a team blown out like the Redskins were against Carolina. If I were a Redskins’ fan, I would be very nervous starting the season with rookie Head Coach Jim Zorn. Sometimes, my gut feelings are reinforced in random ways. Listening to Colin Cowherd on ESPN today, Colin interviewed Clinton Portis. Portis described training camp as “fun”. He then praised Zorn and offered up the idea that Zorn “puts guys in positions where they can succeed.” Allow me to translate what those two statements mean. Zorn is soft and not very demanding. Training camp has not been tough enough. If Clinton Portis is having fun and liking Zorn, the Redskins are in trouble. I remember when Cowher first took the Steelers’ job. The Steelers were blown out in weeks 1 and 2. Cowher quickly figured it out that being a player’s coach does not go very far in the NFL. Guys have to be pushed to work hard. My prediction is a Giants win by 14+ points.
Start’em or Sit’em – Redskins
Portis is the only guy on the Redskins’ offense that I would play this week. Maybe, you can play Santana Moss or Chris Cooley depending on your roster. The Giants’ defense should be all over Jason Campbell. Portis will get his stats, but no one else is a legitimate fantasy starter this week.
Start’em or Sit’em – Giants
Start Eli, Plaxico, Brandon Jacobs, and the Defense. I am not a fan of Jacobs, but look for him to be the feature back this week. At this point, Eli is a must play. His confidence should be sky high early in the season. The Giants are going to score 30+ points in this game, so if you have other skill players consider playing them, but most likely they are your backups. For example, I drafted Kevin Boss as my backup TE. He could have a big week, but I am not playing him until he consistently produces.
Check back on Friday for my player picks for this weekend’s games.
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