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The Rookies

July 9th 2010 02:19
Rookies Who MIGHT Make a Difference

Have you noticed how hard it is to get your daily dose of fantasy football news in the midst of the Lebron Mania? Oh yeah, and that little soccer thing over in Africa. Don't people have priorities anymore?!

Anyway. I had some time recently to pore over statistics and read inane articles in fantasy football magazines. I spent some hours reading pithy accounts of rookies' potential first years...

They're as random as the Lebron predictions over the last few weeks. Cleveland? Miami? Chicago?

Exactly. Let's start in Cleveland. Cleveland drafted Montario Hardesty, who could be a big contributor. IF IF IF Jerome Harrison gets hurt or loses a step. Can you imagine Harrison letting the job go after waiting this long to get it?! Not me. Hardesty would have to man up in a big way, avoid the injury bug he's been suffering with for years, and become Mr. Spectacular. Stay away from Hardesty.


Stay away from Chicago, too.

No rookies to report in Miami, either.

So Lebron isn't a good gauge of football talent. Go figure.

So let's go find them. First, Detroit. Jahvid Best is the best bet for talent and fantasy production. He's talented and the situation is ripe for him. Kevin Smith might push to keep his spot, but Smith's had two years to produce and hasn't.

Ryan Mathews, San Diego. He's in a good spot, too. His only obstacle is Sproles, and Sproles is at the tail-end of his own career, so Mathews will be drafted early, especially in Dynasty leagues.

Stay away from rookie WR's. It's the diamond in the rough who produces in season #1. The only rookie WR to produce recently was Eddie Royal in 2008. I had him. The next year, as you know, he bombed big-time. Coach's fault. No wonder Marshall left.


Stay away from rookie QB's, too. Bradford is tempting, as is Clausen, but unless you have a deep bench, and can hold them for two years, don't plan for championship production.

C J Spiller is an interesting prospect.The biggest problem there is that Buffalo has a way of destroying good running backs, and under-utilizing them when they're good. It's like all the coaches since Levy haven't got a clue. Case in point - Fred Jackson. Lynch has a suspension, so Jackson starts having a monster season. He has spectacular stats, and is just running all over people. And then Lynch's suspension ends, and guess what? Jackson gets benched. I'm sure that did wonders for his mental state. It's like "Hey! Whatta you gotta do to get on the field?!" Oh, that's right. Lynch has a bigger salary. I forgot. Anyway, I'd like to say I wouldn't touch Spiller, but if he's still available by the end of the second round and all the other starting RB's are gone, I might take him.

Ben Tate might be the 3rd best choice. Right now, it sounds like Arian Foster, an undrafted free agent in 2009, has the lead for the starting position. So Tate might have to wait, and if Tate waits, why draft him early? I'd watch that situation closely. Actually, I AM watching that situation. I thought Foster looked pretty good at the end of last season. He won me a championship in one league.

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Uh Oh... Here Come the Hold-Outs

June 9th 2010 01:10
Hold-Outs to Watch in 2010

The hold-out season is upon us, and as always, it's interesting to watch to see who's going to sit out and who's going to set aside gripes to play ball.

Vincent Jackson, leading receiver and pro-bowl candidate in 2009, threatens to sit out at least a portion of the season if his needs aren't met. Good luck, Vinny, and good luck, Chargers. If things aren't worked out, look for the Chargers to continue their slide back to mediocrity. There's certainly a chance that new RB Ryan Matthews will make a difference and Jackson's no-show will fade into the background, but that's a big chance for SD to take.

Reggie Wayne (and Robert Mathis) seem to be looking for more cash, too. The Colts main office seems more positive about the situation than the Chargers'. I'd be surprised if the holdout lasted past training camp in Indiana.

Rumor has it that Chris Johnson might pull a disappearing act, too. That would be great! I don't have him on my team, so I'm hoping he stays away, far away.

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For some reason, I don't remember having to plan for suspensions as I drafted. Now, you almost have to.
cushing, suspension, suspended, nfl
Cushing Suspended

So far this season, Cushing, Roethlisberger, and Santonio Holmes have been suspended to start the season. Another player suspended, Jason Ferguson (Dolphins), has less fantasy value; and if Vincent Jackson isn't suspended before the end of the 2010 season, then I'm a pink Hippo. With wings.
roethlisberger, suspension, suspended, nfl
Roethlisberger won't appeal the suspension.
The biggest news, of course, is Big Ben's suspension. We all supported his "innocence" last year, when he was accused by another woman. Shame on us. With Lawrence Taylor's recent rape charge looming large in the headlines, Big Ben's behavior and subsequent NFL consequences have huge ramifications for the league.

holmes, suspension, suspended, nfl
Holmes was traded for these problems.


Fantasy owners often ignore these behaviors, since the long-term rewards often negate the short-term losses. After all, in most leagues, you can drop a player for a few weeks, and maybe pick him up again on waivers later on. Owners scream about players making the frachise-player (can't drop) list, and whine to each other about league rules when the conversation ought to be about the bigger issues.

I, for one, won't draft Big Ben in any format this year. The suspension's not what bothers me. It's the behavior. I have three daughters, and I expect better from boys who can't seem to become men.
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The QB Shuffle - Denver Broncos

May 3rd 2010 18:42
Lots of New Faces in the Denver QB Ranks
Who's going to Shine?

I recently highlighted the Carolina Panthers' new QB situation. Going from feast to famine brings its own problems, but wouldn't we all rather have the feast?

Denver is a hotbed of speculation right now. With Tim Tebow and Cleveland's castoff Brady Quinn, Kyle Orton's days are almost certainly numbered. Statistically, Orton had a better season in 2009 than Quinn, but Quinn's upside is better. We don't really know what Quinn has to offer the NFL yet. It's doubtful we've seen his best work, while we know what Orton can do. And it's mediocre. Still, Orton will always be a great backup, and Quinn might NOT be starting material. I think Tebow will end up starting at QB sometime this season.

The biggest question in Denver is the receiving corp. Demaryius Thomas = rookie, no matter what the news hypes him up to be. Eddie Royal went from superrookie in 2008 to nobody in 2009, but the QB change accounted for much of that. Royal has more in the tank than fans saw last year.

It's going to be hard for the Broncos to really know what kind of QB they have in Tebow or Quinn unless the young receivers step up big this year.
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Favre Is Thinking About Retirement...

Hmmm... feels like déjà vu. This time it's his ankle, and it needs surgery if Favre's gonna play this year


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Some Players Picked Late Who Could Make a Difference


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Carolina Panthers Nab 3 QB's

April 25th 2010 12:49
Do you think the Panthers are concerned about Matt Moore's ability to be a starting QB in the NFL? After Delhomme's downward spiral last year, and Moore's spotty performances, they traded Delhomme away last month and just nabbed three of the best rookie QB's in the draft.

#1 Jimmy Clausen - this kid could be the QB for the Panthers for the next decade, and when he was picked in the second round, he probably thought he would be...until the Panthers picked up two more QB's Friday and Saturday. Now, he's going to have to fight for the position, and that's a great situation to watch. None of the other 3 or 4 legitimate starters in camp are going to give him a day off. They're going to fight for snaps and fight for the starting job. I wish I could be there to watch


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NFL Draft 2010

April 25th 2010 12:45
Let's start with the obvious. The Rams drafted Sam Bradford. Good choice. No surprise there. I'd wait a few rounds before drafting him though, unless you're in a fairly deep keeper league. Then, he might mature for you in a year or two. Last year, I drafted Mark Sanchez AND Matthew Stafford in round one. I'd kept solid RB talent and Matt Schaub from the previous year, so I had a need for a decent backup QB, and at this point, I think it might work out.
Speaking of Matthew Stafford, he might turn into something... big "MIGHT" there. The Lions made a really curious choice picking Jahvid Best. After picking Ndamukong (can you say "King Kong"?) Suh 2nd overall, the Lions traded up to get Best. Quite a package deal, the #1 Defensive Lineman in the draft and arguable the most explosive back. With Kevin Smith already in town and running well (not all over defenses, but well, nonetheless), Best will have a little less pressure and lots of room to find his NFL "feet."

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2010 Receivers to Watch: Sleepers

April 16th 2010 17:51
2nd-4th Year Receivers Ready to Make a Move

Receivers often don't "come into their own" until after their rookie season. Sometimes, it isn't until their 3rd or 4th year in the league


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2010 Draft: Wide Receivers

April 15th 2010 20:51
Rookie Receivers to Watch in 2010


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