Monthly Archives: May 2012

Fantasy Football: Risers and Fallers – QBs

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It’s been a while since my last post, but with both sports out of season, what am I going to write about, the NBA?  Let’s get back to focusing on a sport that survived its lockout without missing any real games and turning its season into a freak-show sprint instead of a well-paced run (yes, I’m salty because I’m a Magic fan and am sick of the Dwight Howard saga).

Earlier this month, I made a series of posts that detailed my positional fantasy rankings for the upcoming season in standard scoring (non-PPR) leagues.  I recently made a sweep through the rankings again and noticed some players making big moves – both up and down the boards.  Here are some of the notable movers.

Rising
Cam Newton (prev: 5 / now: 3) – All reviews of Newton (both good and bad) include the same sentence: Newton isn’t going to rush for 14 TDs again.  To that I say, “OK, I agree…but don’t second-year QBs increase their passing stats from their rookie year?”  Newton had trouble adjusting to defenses once they leaned back and took away the deep ball.  An offseason that actually includes OTAs and full practices will serve him well in becoming a better all-around passer.  Evan Silva has Newton even higher than I do in his initial Top Ten’s at each position.

Ryan Fitzpatrick (19 / 17) – He’s relatively un-sexy (unless you like short guys with beards that went to Harvard), but Fitzpatrick is still a Chan Gailey QB.  He was also hurt for the second half of last season.  Remember when he was healthy and at the top of everyone’s waiver lists?

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A Footballguys.com Preseason Roundtable Sampling (5/24/12)

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Breakout Candidates

Quarterbacks
I like Josh Freeman to break out this season. Last year, Freeman regressed from his fabulous 2010 campaign. The regression is likely from multiple factors. First, the team had a poor coaching situation. The players around Freeman stopped respecting Raheem Morris’ player’s coach, laissez-faire attitude that seemed to work so well the year prior. Second, Freeman’s top wide receiver — Mike Williams — was out of shape and didn’t exert the level of effort expected of him. Freeman was slightly out of shape as well. This season, Freeman gets a new No. 1 WR in Vincent Jackson and has been shedding weight and getting in better shape. Williams is now a very above-average No. 2 WR if he can get his head on straight. Freeman won’t be a top-5 quarterback, but top-10 isn’t out of the question.

Running Backs
I’ll take the rookie out of Virginia Tech; David Wilson flashed great skills during his Hokie career. Those skills will allow him to get on the field even despite the presence of Ahmad Bradshaw. Speaking of Bradshaw, let’s not forget all of the foot problems he has had in the past couple seasons. Even if Bradshaw can remain healthy, this offense has shown its ability to support two fantasy RBs in recent years. If Wilson can run in an inside-to-out fashion and avoid fumbling, he’ll be given a nearly equal share of carries.

Continue with my responses to the FBG Preseason Roundtable

2012 Fantasy Football Rankings: Tight Ends

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Does it seem too early for this? No! It’s never too early for fantasy football. As you (may, should, but probably don’t) know, I am a Staff Writer for footballguys.com. The site is publishing an iPad magazine this season that will be fantastic so go subscribe (only $28 for the whole season). Along with writing articles for the iPad feature, us staffers were asked to create our initial rankings for the 2012 season.

Below are my rankings and some comments on certain players I like or dislike more than most. These are non-PPR rankings assuming a starting lineup of 1 QB, 2 RB, 2WR, 1 Flex, 1 TE (I’m not ranking K’s or DST’s right now).

If you want the rest of the Staff Rankings (which you do, because we have many people smarter than me), go check out the site and subscribe.


Tight Ends
1. Gronkowski, Rob – NE
2. Graham, Jimmy – NO
3. Witten, Jason – DAL
4. Gates, Antonio – SD
5. Hernandez, Aaron – NE
6. Davis, Vernon – SF
7. Finley, Jermichael – GB
8. Pettigrew, Brandon – DET
9. Davis, Fred – WAS
10. Gonzalez, Tony – ATL
11. Daniels, Owen – HOU
12. Olsen, Greg – CAR
13. Cook, Jared – TEN
14. Gresham, Jermaine – CIN
15. Winslow, Kellen – TB
16. Fleener, Coby – IND
17. Celek, Brent – PHI
18.Tamme, Jacob – DEN
19. Miller, Heath – PIT
20. Dickson, Ed – BAL
21. Lewis, Marcedes – JAX
22. Keller, Dustin – NYJ
23. Moore, Evan – CLE
24. Moeaki, Tony – KC
25. Chandler, Scott – BUF

Click here for the commentary

A Footballguys.com Preseason Roundtable Sampling (5/8/12)

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49ers Offense

The 49ers flirted with signing a veteran quarterback to replace Alex Smith this offseason, but ultimately stayed with Smith – and brought in a slew of weapons to surround him with.

They relied on the running game in 2011, throwing fewer passes than every team except the Broncos. In particular, the WRs as a group were seldom targeted. With the offseason acquisitions of Mario Manningham, Randy Moss, and first-round pick A.J. Jenkins at WR, does it look like that plan will change? Will coach Harbaugh turn Alex Smith loose and try to attack defenses down the field more this season?

MY RESPONSE: While the Niners did bring in some weapons, the possibility of Jim Harbaugh changing his style significantly after such a successful first season seems like a strange idea. While Manningham, Moss, and Jenkins are new weapons, there isn’t a true No. 1 WR among them. Manningham may be the best of the bunch, and no one has ever considered him an elite player. Moss isn’t even a lock to make the team (look at his low salary, place on the depth chart, the fact that three teams threw him away TWO seasons ago, and his lack of presence on special teams as reason why that claim can be made). A.J. Jenkins is a player that not many people graded out as a first-round talent. In fact, there were many stories about the Niners brass having his name written in an envelope before the draft started. While it’s nice to get “your guy,” the Niners picked at 30 – meaning Jenkins wasn’t anyone else’s guy. Perhaps there’s a reason for that.

Continue Reading my responses to the FBG Roundtable

2012 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receivers

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Does it seem too early for this? No! It’s never too early for fantasy football. As you (may, should, but probably don’t) know, I am a Staff Writer for footballguys.com. The site is publishing an iPad magazine this season that will be fantastic so go subscribe (only $28 for the whole season). Along with writing articles for the iPad feature, us staffers were asked to create our initial rankings for the 2012 season.

Below are my rankings and some comments on certain players I like or dislike more than most. These are non-PPR rankings assuming a starting lineup of 1 QB, 2 RB, 2WR, 1 Flex, 1 TE (I’m not ranking K’s or DST’s right now).

If you want the rest of the Staff Rankings (which you do, because we have many people smarter than me), go check out the site and subscribe.


Wide Receivers
1. Johnson, Calvin – DET
2. Fitzgerald, Larry – ARI
3. Johnson, Andre – HOU
4. Nicks, Hakeem – NYG
5. White, Roddy – ATL
6. Green, A.J. – CIN
7. Jennings, Greg – GB
8. Welker, Wes – NE
9. Wallace, Mike – PIT
10. Cruz, Victor – NYG
11. Marshall, Brandon – CHI
12. Jones, Julio – ATL
13. Nelson, Jordy – GB
14. Bryant, Dez – DAL
15. Smith, Steve – CAR
16. Colston, Marques – NO
17. Harvin, Percy – MIN
18. Austin, Miles – DAL
19. Jackson, Vincent – TB
20. Brown, Antonio – PIT
21. Britt, Kenny – TEN
22. Johnson, Steve – BUF
23. Smith, Torrey – BAL
24. Thomas, Demaryius – DEN
25. Jackson, DeSean – PHI
26. Maclin, Jeremy – PHI
27. Lloyd, Brandon – NE
28. Bowe, Dwayne – KC
29. Decker, Eric – DEN
30. Wayne, Reggie – IND
31. Blackmon, Justin – JAX
32. Holmes, Santonio – NYJ
33. Rice, Sidney – SEA
34. Meachem, Robert – SD
35. Moore, Denarius – OAK
36. Boldin, Anquan – BAL
37. Williams, Mike – TB
38. Crabtree, Michael – SF
39. Garcon, Pierre – WAS
40. Floyd, Malcom – SD
41. Little, Greg – CLE
42. Heyward-Bey, Darrius – OAK
43. Moore, Lance – NO
44. Floyd, Michael – ARI
45. Moss, Santana – WAS
46. Brown, Vincent – SD
47. Robinson, Laurent – JAX
48. Burleson, Nate – DET
49. Wright, Kendall – TEN
50. Baldwin, Doug – SEA
51. Randle, Rueben – NYG
52. Collie, Austin – IND
53. Jeffery, Alshon – CHI
54. Washington, Nate – TEN
55. Manningham, Mario – SF
56. Moss, Randy – SF
57. Young, Titus – DET
58. Hill, Stephen – NYJ
59. Bess, Davone – MIA
60. Baldwin, Jonathan – KC

Click here for the commentary