Fantasy Football Talk Blog

2007-12-20T03:47:00.000-08:00

As many of us fantasy freaks have been eliminated from the playoffs, we start to look towards the 2008 fantasy draft. Here is a list of whom I think may very well be the top 12 picks next year.

#1 Overall Pick
LaDainian Tomlinson
Running Back, San Diego Chargers

Quick scouting report:
-Has finished in the top 3 at his position in each of the last 6 years.
-Has at least 10 TDs each year and has only missed 1 game since 2001.
-Is heavily involved in the passing game.
-Is as safe of a running back as there is in fantasy.

#2 Overall Pick
Brian Westbrook
Running Back, Philadelphia Eagles

Quick scouting report:
-Misses a few games each year, but dominates the rest.
-Offense runs through him no matter who is under center.
-Is a total yardage monster.

#3 Overall Pick
Adrian Peterson
Running Back, Minnesota Vikings

Quick scouting report:
-Leads the NFL for 2007 in yards per game and yards per carry.
-Determination in the red zone is second-to-none.
-Odds are Chester Taylor will be allowed to pursue free-agency, which will only make Peterson's value go up.

#4 Overall Pick
Tom Brady
Quarterback, New England Patriots

Quick scouting report:
-Does not need to set records to be considered a top 5 fantasy player.
-As long as he has Moss to throw to, expect big games every week.
-Consistent accuracy and makes minimal mistakes.

#5 Overall Pick
Joseph Addai
Running Back, Indianapolis Colts

Quick scouting report:
-Gets many chances to score in the red zone.
-Has quickly become an elite back in the NFL.
-Runs tough every down and should only get better as his conditioning improves.

#6 Overall Pick
Steven Jackson
Running Back, St. Louis Rams

Quick scouting report:
-Rams will address their needs at offensive line during the offseason, which will only help Jackson.
-Breaks long runs as consistently as anyone in football
-Has proved he can be an elite fantasy back when healthy.

#7 Overall Pick
Larry Johnson
Running Back, Kansas City Chiefs

Quick scouting report:
-Will be a value pick in the second half of first rounds nation-wide.
-Has a coach who loves to run.
-Runs hard and can punish defenses for 4 quarters.

#8 Overall Pick
Willie Parker
Running Back, Pittsburgh Steelers

Quick scouting report:
-Is among the league leaders in rushing and the law of averages says he will hit paydirt much more in 2008.
-Is in a run-heavy system.
-Has the chance to take it to the house on any given play.

#9 Overall Pick
Frank Gore
Running Back, San Francisco 49ers

Quick scouting report:
-Sometimes you have to ignore the situation and take the talent.
-Plays through pain and gets better as the game/year goes on.
-Is a hard nose back who runs angry.

#10 Overall Pick
Randy Moss
Wide Receiver, New England Patriots

Quick scouting report:
-Is the type of receiver who defenses can't figure out.
-Even double teams do little to slow down "the Freak".

#11 Overall Pick
Clinton Portis
Running Back, Washington Redskins

Quick scouting report:
-Perennial top 10 fantasy running back.
-Dispelled two big myths in '07: he's not durable, he's going to lose carries to Ladell Betts.
-Remains the feature back and flies under the radar despite his talent.

#12 Overall Pick
Marshawn Lynch
Running Back, Buffalo Bills

Quick scouting report:
-The Bills have a good young offense and his 1000 yard rookie campaign is only the beginning.
-Lee Evans will keep defenses honest, which will open up running lanes for the hard-working back.

2007-12-12T04:58:00.000-08:00

2007-11-28T23:41:00.000-08:00

Devin Hester

2007-11-08T08:14:00.000-08:00

Hey football fanatics, I decided to post a few Halloween pics from years past. I went as myself, of course.

2006

2007

2007-10-30T02:45:00.000-07:00

NFL De-Motivational Posters

2007-10-09T11:02:00.000-07:00

In honor of my beloved Buffalo Bills' latest collapse, I present to you what I believe should be the official logo of the Buffalo Bills. Many thanks to my partner in crime, MC, for his excellent design skills.

2007-09-04T20:16:00.001-07:00

Fantasy Football 101:
Setting Your Starting Lineup

Okay, so you've selected your players, analyzed your strengths, grabbed a couple free agents, pulled a trade or two and now you're ready to set your starting lineup. You glance down at your roster and try to decide which players will start and which will sit this one out. Here are a few tips on how to ensure that your team has the winning edge. Remember: knowledge is the key to victory.

The single most important piece of information when determining your lineup is to know your deadlines.

All the research and breaking news in the world won't mean much if it's too late to change your lineup. It is critical that you know when your starting lineup is frozen.

It may sound silly to state this as the most important rule, but you'd be surprised at how often it is missed. During the course of the regular season, undoubtedly, someone will forget that there's a Thursday game, or that his stud RB is off that week. By the time he realizes his mistake, it'll be too late, and he'll start someone who is on a bye or injured and sit someone who should be starting.

On Wednesday of each week, grab the schedule and glance at it for a few minutes. Make note of any Thursday or Saturday games that may be scheduled that week. Also note which teams are off that week. Compare these teams with your roster players and make your changes early. As the deadline approaches, adjust your lineup as necessary. This may seem simple, but let's just put it out there because it is essential.

This is another simple rule that is sometimes overlooked. Identify and start your studs.

If you've got the #4 RB in the league, but he is facing the #1 run defense in the league, do you bench him for someone else? No way! Not unless you're lucky enough to have three stud runners on your roster. Your stud players are the guys who will be there week in and week out for you. These guys always find a way to contribute, so write them into your lineup in permanent marker. These stud players might not chip in 200 yards and 4 touchdowns every week, but even against the stingiest defenses, these guys can have an impact. Never sit your studs unless they are injured. Period.

To win in fantasy football, you must determine which players on your roster will score the most points in any given week.

If you can correctly determine your highest scoring player at every position you'll win most of your games. It sounds simple, but it's really not. After every loss, you will probably be able to look back on your roster and see a guy who would have won the game for you, if only you had started him.

The key to putting the best team on the field is to look at the opponents of all your players. Is your backup RB playing a team with a weak run defense? If so, you might slip him in as your #2. Is your backup QB playing a team with a banged up secondary? You might want to start him this week. Is your starting kicker playing outside in the rain or snow? You might want to start your backup instead. Knowing who your players are matched up against can really help maximize your scoring each week.

I've already mentioned this, but it's worth repeating. NEVER bench your stud players because your backups have an easier opponent. It is a VERY BAD idea. Don't do it. Always start your stud players. This can't be stressed enough.

Know your intangibles: here are a few other things to consider when rounding out your lineup.

*If one of your players is on a hot streak, take a chance and move him into the starting lineup, unless you have studs filling the position. (A hot streak constitutes when a player has had at least two strong fantasy weeks in a row).

*If everything else is equal between 2 players, start the one who is not listed on the injury report. Some points are better than none.

*As the deadline for your lineup approaches, check for breaking news about injured players. Was your starter downgraded on the injury report? Was a player injured at practice earlier in the week? A last minute change in the injury status of a player can leave you with a guaranteed zero from one of your starters. Avoid this if you can. (Note that some teams make this harder than others *cough* Broncos *cough*).

Follow these simple rules, and you will find that your team will be competitive week after week. Pulling out one or two close victories during the season can boost your squad into the playoffs, and even give you the edge to hoist your league's championship trophy when all is said and done.

2007-08-25T04:14:00.000-07:00

BREAKING NEWS: NFL to update its shield logo. This change is scheduled to be implemented in April of 2008.

Current Logo

Future Logo

2007-08-07T05:50:00.000-07:00

And with the Number #2 pick overall, you select.....

It looks like this year there is a clear #1 overall pick. But after #1, the list of contenders opens up--and it really is a crap shoot. We have taken an informal poll on another website regarding who the #2 pick should be and will update it periodically. Please feel free to chime in on the "comments" section with your vote and we'll add it to the tally. In a few weeks, look for our own personal thoughts on who you should draft with the #2 pick--you'll be shocked!! (well, maybe not)

Thus far, Steven Jackson (probably the safest choice at #2) has a commanding lead:

Steven Jackson (10 votes)
Frank Gore (4 votes)

Joseph Addai (1 vote)

Shawn Alexander (1 vote)

Peyton Manning (1 vote)
Larry Johnson (0 votes)
Rudi Johnson (o votes)
Lawrence Maroney (o votes)

Total Votes: 17

2007-08-02T08:59:00.001-07:00

Done with a little help from SimpsonizeMe.com

JNR

2007-07-05T10:31:00.001-07:00

Hey football fans. The 4th of July is typically when fantasy football off-season preparations hit the point of no return. I hope you all had a fun and safe holiday with the families. This is how I spent my (3rd and) 4th of July.

Shafter Chamber of Commerce Body

Shafter Chamber of Commerce
Intro, Body & Finale

MC in a half-loaded truck

MC admiring the Finale

Is the truck half full or half empty?

Ten minutes till showtime

Sam Lynn Ballpark
Body & Finale

Sam Lynn Ballpark
Finale

2007-06-05T22:23:00.000-07:00

2007 Fantasy Faceoffs
Boom or Bust Edition

RB Edgerrin James - Arizona Cardinals

Overview: With a new head coach and a run first coordinator in Arizona, Edgerrin James looks poised to bounce back from his disappointing fantasy output of 2006. The team has already committed to giving Edge more carries, and furthered this strategy by drafting punishing run blocker Levi Jones with the teams first pick. The Cardinals want to win now with their young quarterback Matt Leinart, and there's nothing that will help the team more than a healthy Edgerrin James moving the chains.

Fantasy Outlook: Edge looks to complete a very unique feat in fantasy sports: go from a stud one season, to a bust the next, to a sleeper the next. I believe he will be a solid #2 starter this season on any fantasy squad, and if he's available in your league in the third round, pick him and don't look back.

MC's Projection: 1,400 total yards; 9 total touchdowns

WR Randy Moss - New England Patriots

Overview: The Randy Moss/New England experiment begins...and questions abound. Has Moss lost a step? Will Moss be a malcontent? Are there enough balls to go around a very talented New England offense? Well, one thing is certain--Moss's numbers from a year ago can only go up. And the New England offense--featuring a top-rated QB (Brady), a revamped receiving core (Moss, Stallworth, Welker, Kelley Washington, plus last year's scrubs), a solid TE (Watson), and a star-in-the-making RB (Maroney)--could be the most explosive offense in the NFL.

Fantasy Outlook: Look for Moss to rebound strongly this year--however, his role in the Pats' diverse offense is still to be determined. I think the Pats, as they've done year after year, will continue to spread the ball around to a variety of targets, obviously hurting Moss's numbers. But I think the Pats will target Moss in the redzone and obviously on long balls--one of Brady's fortes.

JNR's Projection: Pick Moss in the 4-6 rounds and you will not be disappointed--lower yardage (700-800 yards), but high TD's (9-12 TD's) should be in order. But because this is a new situation and Moss is a volatile x-factor, be careful wasting a precious 1-3 round pick on him; it could ruin your season.

QB Trent Green - Miami Dophins

Overview: What if I told you that Trent Green has been one of the best fantasy QB's in the NFL over the last five years (injury-plagued 2006 notwithstanding)? What if I told you you can get the same production out of the QB spot from Trent Green than from Peyton Manning but expend a 8th round pick rather than a 1st round one? Crazy? Insane? Well, maybe....but only slightly. I have been Trent Green's biggest fantasy fan over the last five years and he has been a consistent performer. In the 2002-04 seasons, he hit over 4000 yards and 24, 26, and 27 TD's....and most drafts had Green going in those years around the 8th round (and usually no higher than the 5th). Green's two other full years with KC, while not stellar (only 17 TD's each year), were solid. Compare Green to perennial top-5 pick Peyton Manning, who also was over 4000 yards and averages between 25-30 TD's per year for his career (record-breaking 2004 notwithstanding), and Green is a bargain.

Fantasy Outlook: The question is--what will become of Trent Green now that he is in Miami? I am one of the few people out there that think he's going to return to form and have an above-average fantasy year. Miami has too many good offensive weapons--Ronnie Brown, Chris Chambers, and Marty Booker are one of the most underrated offensive trios in the league. Add Ted Ginn, and Green will have some targets to play with. Moreover, supposedly Cam Cameron's history with Trent Green will allow them to work well together (although don't take that to the bank). The biggest risk with Green, in my mind, is Cameron. He just drafted his QB of the future and if things don't go well early in South Beach, then Green could get the hook and the rebuilding could start now.

JNR's Projection: Look for Green to rebound nicely in Miami and put up solid numbers--3200 yards, 17 TD's. However, if Miami can't win some games early, Green could get pulled, essentially halving those numbers. But that's a small risk--after all, you should be able to land Green in the 8th or 9th round. And even if you draft a QB early, Green as an 8th round back-up would be a steal.

2007-04-09T23:57:00.000-07:00

No One Liked the Other Name
2007 League Champions

2006-07-17T06:42:00.000-07:00

Hey fantasy fans, I had some ideas for a uniform for my fantasy football team, the Disposable Heroes, and so I designed them and loaded them into my copy of Madden '06 for my PC. Here are my logo, helmet, end zone, and uniform designs as well as Ronnie Brown, my Franchise Player for 2006, showing off my alternate home uniform on the field.

2006-05-29T05:37:00.000-07:00

The Run for Number One: LT v. LJ

Who should be the #1 pick in your fantasy draft? Just about every season in fantasy, there are several viable potential number one overall players. I know it's still early, but two players have distanced themselves from the pack as the clear top two prospects with potential to have monster years in 2006: perennial fantasy stud RB LaDainian Tomlinson of the San Diego Chargers and 2005 breakout star Larry Johnson of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Why you should draft LaDainian Tomlinson at #1:
Tomlinson has become as safe a pick as any player at any position in fantasy. He has finished within the top 3 running backs in fantasy points four consecutive years (2002-2005). LT is a complete running back who can do anything from burning DBs in the open field, to running good routes, to picking up blitzes, and everything in between. The Chargers have sured up their offensive line in order to put even more emphasis on Marty-ball, that is, depending on the running game to control the clock and utimately the game. If you're looking for a runningback who is consistently excellent, and is the focal point for his offense every week, LaDainian Tomlinson is a no-brainer at #1.

-MC

I think LT probably won't go #1 in most drafts, but, by season's end, the owners who passed on him may be regretting it. I think the subtraction of Drew Brees might do wonders for LT's value. While Brees and Gates stole a lot of TD's from LT, that won't be the case this year. Look for the Chargers to rely heavily on LT, increasing his carries, touches, and TD's. This could be a banner year for him.

-JNR

Why you shouldn't draft LaDainian Tomlinson at #1:
While Tomlinson is definitely a stud, there is one problem that I see that is very worrisome for this year, the quarterback change in San Diego. Drew Brees kept defenses from truly keying on LT even though he didn't have the greatest arm in the world. With Brees' departure to New Orleans, Philip Rivers, who has a total of zero starts in the NFL, will be thrown into the fire. Tomlinson may have to go through some growing pains along with his young signal-caller.

-MC

I agree with MC. Although Brees's defection will mean more chances for LT, it could backfire if Rivers can't keep defenses honest. Rivers will be asked very little of--but if he can't make a few good throws here and there and teams can stack the box, it might be a long season for both LT and the Chargers.

-JNR

Why you should draft Larry Johnson at #1:
When the Chiefs first drafted Larry Johnson in 2003, most experts questioned the pick. With Priest Holmes running in his prime, why would they pick another RB? Well fantasy experts now know what the Chiefs scouts knew then: he is going to be a star. Flash forward to 2005, where Larry Johnson set the team record for rushing yards, but started only nine games. He also had nine straight 100 yard rushing contests to end the season. Johnson is running behind the best rush blocking line in football and with Priest on the mend (and seriously considering retirement), will be asked to carry the full load. LJ is a bruising back who doesn't wear down at the end of games and, like Priest Holmes before him, has a nose for the end zone. He is the more risky pick, but has more upside than even King Tomlinson.

-MC

If I had the number 1 overall, LJ would be my pick. He's spectacular and very little has changed from the Chiefs' offense from last year, where LJ exploded. Who knows where Priest Holmes's health stands--but regardless, Holmes won't be good enough to keep LJ from getting 20+ TD's.

-JNR

Why you shouldn't draft Larry Johnson at #1:
if you're looking for an all around back, LJ is not your guy. He isn't a very good receiver at this point in his career, and he lacks the shiftiness to wiggle through holes in the line at times. Johnson's upright style causes him to take more punishment than he probably should, and let's not forget he hasn't yet been through a whole NFL season.

-MC

If Priest comes back to 100% and LJ ends up getting dinged up, I can see Priest re-taking his position as the go-to guy. Herm Edwards, like Vermeil, loves veterans--and probably wouldn't hesitate to go to the proven vet. Still, even under this unlikely scenario, the Chiefs would have to be crazy not to give LJ 20-30 touches per game.

-JNR

If you happen to find yourself in the lucky position of drafting number one overall, it's a nice problem to have. Both LT and LJ figure to have huge seasons, and depending on your draft and overall team strategy, both players have their upsides. My advice is to research all you can, and select the player of whose style you're most comfortable. Good luck!

2006-05-05T08:18:00.000-07:00

Round One Mock Draft and Analysis

1) G
After finishing the 2005 season with the highest scoring team in the league, G will look to find a franchise running back to continue his offensive onslaught.
*Projection: RB Shaun Alexander SEA

2) Coop Dreams (MC)
A perennial regular season champ and disappointing playoff performer, MC will use his highest draft position ever to snag one of the choice fantasy backs to carry his team to the top.
*Projection: RB Larry Johnson KC

3) Mr. T
The wild card of the draft, Mr. T has been known to draft recently retired players or players with huge question marks surrounding them or their team. Priest Holmes would be a perfect selection for T at #3.
*Projection: RB LaDainian Tomlinson SD

4) K-Dawg
K-Dawg has proven that he is a prime time player. When the big games roll around, he always seems to be in the mix. He'll begin defending his championship by drafting a team of clutch performers.
*Projection: RB Clinton Portis WAS

5) C-Bass
An unorthodox owner who's been known to dangle his squad in front of online buyers in order to keep his team in line, C-Bass will try to carry his late 2005 season success into the draft.
*Projection: RB Rudi Johnson CIN

6) J-Nick (JNR)
With potential franchise quarterback Carson Palmer rehabbing, J-Nick will have to make some tough decisions in the draft this year. He's definitely a draft guru and seems to handle pressure better than just about anyone.
*Projection: RB Cadillac Williams TB

7) D-Mo
Another owner who likes to take risks in the draft, D-mo might be in a tough spot here. Can he grab the last of the top tier running backs or will he be the first to take a signal caller to lead his team?
*Projection: RB Steven Jackson StL

8) K-Rod
K-Rod is one of the newest members of NOLTON and by far the most mysterious. He has reached for players in the past and it's payed off handsomely. From the eight spot, we'll see if he can work his magic yet again.
*Projection: WR Steve Smith CAR

9) Sprizoul
A deceptively shrewd owner, Sprizoul is a hawk on draft day. With Mike Alstott now a full time coach/draft consultant, look for Sprizoul to collect hard nose running backs throughout the draft.
*Projection: RB Lamont Jordan OAK

10) Tooch
Tooch struggled last year, but will use his "around the horn" position in this years draft to double up on future star players.
*Projection: WR Chad Johnson CIN

2005-12-12T20:03:00.000-08:00

CONGRATS!!!!

Congratultions to Fantasy Football Talk Blog's very own MC for being named, with unanimous approval, the next league commissioner of the NOLTON fantasy football league. His vast knowledge and fantasy success will no doubt serve him well and aid him in taking the league to newer, better places.

2005-12-10T20:17:00.000-08:00

Fantasy Football Hedge Fund--Update

As reported earlier this week, one of our league members caused a stir by auctioning off a 49% stake in his fantasy team--a possible $98 value.

Well, the bidding ended on Friday, with the winning bid coming in a little over $10--see here

Rumors have circulated that there could be another partial ownership offering of the remaining 51% majority interest, provided the team owner makes it through the first round of the playoffs this week....

2005-12-10T20:13:00.000-08:00

NOLTON LEAGUE--Playoff Round One: Picks of the Week

As the fantasy giants Heroes and Stewie Griffin await, the rest of the contenders battle it out. Look for both of these games to be close, as all four contestants will fight tooth and nail. Only two will move on:

1) C-Bass 54 Tony Clifton 50
In a fantasy shocker, look for C-Bass, following his successful IPO, to beat the defending champ. I think Eli Manning is going to have a fair game for C-Bass (2 TD's), but I think Lamont Jordan's homecoming at the Jets will be the key. I like Jordan to see the endzone twice and get up near 120 yards. I also like Houshmanzedah against Cleveland, especially since CJ is a little banged up. Look for TJ to be wagging his pony tail in the endzone in Cinci. And the Oakland defense--if ever a good play, it's this week against a Jets team featuring Brooks Bollinger at QB and Cedric Houston and RB. I like 15 fantasy points out of the defense.

For Clifton, Larry Fitz has carried his receiving core all year and Sunday should be no different--125 yards and maybe a score. I love Tiki at Philly--Barber has come on strong in recent weeks and this week should be no different in a big division game. And Greg Jones, if he starts, should be good for 80 yards or so.

The difference in this game I think boils down to Seattle and Clifton's Hasselbeck and Darrell Jackson. For Clifton to win, that duo will need to hook up at least once. The problem is, however, Seattle, who smoked Philly last week, only needed to throw 8 completions all game. I think we could see a repeat performance against a terrible San Fran team. Look for Shawn A. to steal all the thunder, leaving Hasslebeck, Jackson, and ultimately Tony Clifton out in the rain.

2) Juggernutz 85 Salmkon Gado Show 54

I believe I've said this before--Juggernutz is my team to beat coming into the playoffs. K-Rod has put together his finest squad--a solid group of receivers and the best duo of RB's in the league. Although he's hit a snag at the QB position (losing Collins), with McNair and now a blossoming Losman, he should be just fine in what promises to be his magical season.
This week he should have no problem disposing of the SG Show. Look for LJ and Shawn Alexander to each score 2 TD's. McNair, usually a weak play, should be good for a couple of scores against a sorry Houston defense. And I love Andre Johnson this week (150 yards) and the Denver defense against Kyle Boller and the Ravens (1-2 TD's??).

For Salmkon Gado Show, it's an emotional week--as team owner and league commissioner announced his retirement effective season's end. One has to wonder what kind of impact that will have on his team. I think SG Show gets a good performance from the consistent Steve Smith (75 yards, 1 TD). And Chambers has finally woken up--he should light it up at San Diego (2 TD's). Of course, the famous Samkon Gado should do well against Detroit, seeing the endzone and possible 100 yards.

But I think in the end, the Pittsburgh/Chicago game burns SG Show. In what promises to be a defensive struggle, look for Thomas Jones and Heath Miller to be stymied, thereby ending SK Gado's improbable playoff run after only one round.

2005-12-06T11:47:00.000-08:00

Fantasy Football Hedge Fund???

Check out this ff player's scheme to sell a 49% share of his team on e-bay here. Not a bad idea--but I'll save final judgment until the bidding is over.

2005-11-25T18:25:00.000-08:00

Random Observations:
A Weekly Look at All Things Football
(Parental Advisory Suggested)

Penn State head football coach Joe Paterno has seen a lot of players come and go, and he said that Seattle's Bobby Engram was the best player he'd ever coached. That is about as good as an endorsement as you can get.

Mike Irvin on Randy Moss complaining he wasn't seeing enough balls thrown his way: "Learn how to run routes and play the whole game and you'll see more passes". Well said, Playmaker.

Attorney David Cornwell is quoted as calling Drew Rosenhaus the "Kevorkian of Sports Agents".

I'm telling you (and I've been saying it for quite a while), if Brandon Lloyd could get his mental game up to his physical level (and maybe a semi-decent QB to throw him the ball), he'd be unstoppable.

Falcons' head coach Jim Mora started his press conference after his teams beating at home at the hands of Samkon Gado and company, by stating matter-of-factly "I hate excuses". He then began rambling off excuses on why his team lost the game.

On Sunday, Eagles quarterback Mike McMahon became the first Rutgers alumnus in NFL history to complete a pass to another Rutgers alumus when he found tight end L.J. Smith.

Does it seem odd to anyone else that Larry Johnson now holds the single game rushing record for the Chiefs? Seems even more odd that the guy who held it before Johnson was Barry Word.

I personally don't drink, but I love Miller Light's new commercial where rapper Flavor Flav is introduced as an expert taste witness based solely on his name... yeeaaaah booooyyy!

Okay, seriously, have you ever seen J.P. Losman and Operaman in the same room together? Yeah I didn't think so.

2005-11-22T19:34:00.000-08:00

Top Three QB's You Should Have Your Eye On

Going into the playoff stretch, it's important to be on the lookout for quality depth at some of the important skill positions. Quarterback, which many owners tend to neglect, is key come playoff time. While over a long season, the difference between Tom Brady and Drew Brees might be minimal, once in the playoffs, QB play doesn't average out. A big 3 TD game from your QB could be enough to win you a title. On that note, keep an eye on these three guys--undoubtedly floating around waiver wires. They're not necessarily starting material; but they might provide valuable depth:

1) Mike McMahon (Eagles)
With McNabb out in Philly, the other irishman, McMahon, is the man. Though he's started a handful of games in the league, he still strikes me as a bit raw (e.g., low completion percentage). But I still like him for three reasons: (a) He's mobile and makes big plays with his legs (he had 30 rushing yards and a rushing TD last week); (b) the Eagles' pass-happy west coast offense will give him plenty of chances to pass and thus put up points; and (c) he has pretty good matchups during the fantasy playoffs (NYG, at St Louis, at Arizona). Pick him up; he's a solid #2 and depending on your other QB matchups, you could probably start him and get solid points.

2) JP Losman (Bills)
Losman, to me, has turned the corner. You can see things slowly clicking for him. I think by about week 14, he's going to be a viable fantasy threat. He won't explode--but I like him to be in the neighborhood of 250 yards, 2 TD's. Week 15 the Bills play Denver at home--and I can see Losman playing his best game of the year. It would be a foolishly bold move to start him...but no guts, no glory, right?

3) Billy Volek (Titans)
It's only a matter of time before McNair's something or another breaks. Enter Volek. Home games against Houston (wk 14) and Seattle (wk 15) could be 300-400 yard games for him if he gets on the field. My recommendation--as soon as you hear of McNair getting banged up in the slightest, jump on Volek. You could end up riding him to a fantasy championship.

2005-11-10T12:01:00.000-08:00

Random Observations: Week 9 Edition
(Prohibited in Utah)

TO (Time Out) for TO (Terrell Owens): The best question asked at the Drew Rosenhaus press conference (which was mistakenly billed as the Terrell Owens press conference) was exactly what I bet Owens himself was thinking. The reporter asked Rosenhaus, "What have you done for [Owens] other than getting him kicked off the team?" The response... "next question". But that's not the lesson. The lesson is next time Michael Irvin says something stupid and a reporter asks T.O. what he thinks, that might be an answer worth considering.

Quote of the Week: Mike Shanahan said he feels a little more comfortable visiting Oakland than in the past saying, "the group of people who used to throw batteries at me is getting a little older now and they don't have the range they used to have".

I Couldn't Make This Up if I Tried: As I'm sure you all know by now, Carolina Panthers cheerleaders Renee Thomas and Angela Keathley were arrested at a Tampa nightclub after allegedly having "relations" in a bathroom stall. But what you might not know is what Keathley listed as her favorite quote--"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away". Also noteworthy, her favorite thing about being a Top Cat: "Friendships".

College Update: The University of Nebraska was blown out by Kansas University Saturday... in football.

Maybe He Should Have Been a Comedian: Chris Simms was funny talking about Philadelphia, when he said, "I never liked the Eagles. They were always hitting my Dad."

Sunday School: Before the game Chad Johnson said "I am the preacher. 21 (Chris McAlister) and 22 (Samari Rolle) are the congregation. Folks, enjoy the message." Amen, brother.

This Just In: Stop the presses. Call the Hall of Fame. Michael Vick threw for 200 yards Sunday. Well I guess that's settled, now he is the best pocket passer of all times.

Green Lantern Dimmed: I hate to see Wayne Chrebet go out like that. Pound for pound, one of the toughest wide receivers this game has ever seen.

Red Bird Update: It's nearly Thanksgiving and Arizona has the same number of rushing touchdowns as I do.

Marks Brothers: Dan Marino fired a pass to his former WR Mark Clayton after his induction speech at the Hall of Fame this summer. Sunday, the Dolphins honored their Hall of Famers and Marino did the same thing, this time to his other former WR Mark "Super" Duper.

2005-11-03T05:43:00.000-08:00

Random Observations: Week 8 Edition
(Come get some)

Hanging Chad: Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson has to be a likeable guy. Case in point: he can challenge guys like Fred Smoot or Al Harris with his "cover" list or pre-game trash talk, but after the game they're hanging out, hugging and smiling. A guy like Steve Smith challenges these guys and they want to meet him out in the parking lot after the game.

Stat of the Week: Uberback LaDainian Tomlinson has more passing touchdowns this season than all New York Jets combined.

Addendum: Chad Pennington leads the Jets in touchdown passes and he hasn't played since September.

God Bless You: The hits just keep coming for New Orleans. Wide receiver Az-Zahir Hakim missed Sunday's game after injuring himself sneezing. Yes. Sneezing. I bet there is nothing that would surprise Jim Haslett at this point.

Quote of the Week: "I was afraid if I didn't catch that, I'd get cut". --Jaguars rookie first round pick Matt Jones after catching a wide open touchdown Sunday.

Mrs. Pac Man Maybe: Okay, enough of this "Pac Man" Jones thing. He has to make up for that embarrassing effort on the Joey Porter touchdown. If you've seen any highlights from this past weekend, then you know what play I'm talking about. From now on it's Adam Jones... you have to be good to have a nickname.

Headlines: From The Tennessean, the Nashville newspaper on Wednesday... "McNair's Sack Pain Lingers". Can you print that?!

High Praise: Carolina's Ricky Proehl is the oldest WR in the league. He says that Steve Smith is the best he's ever been around. Proehl has played with Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt, Muhsin Muhammad, and Joey Galloway, just to name a few.

Say What?: Referee Ron Winter had this announcement on Sunday: "Delay of game - defense. Performing an unnatural act..."

Fumble-itis: New England fullback Patrick Pass fumbled the ball Sunday, dropping the football so he could grab his injured hamstring. I bet--and I'm just guessing--that "grabbing your injured hamstring" is not an acceptable reason for dropping the ball in Bill Belichick's book.

Why they Play the Game: San Francisco 15 Tampa Bay 10

Maddenism of the Week: During Monday night's game, Steelers upback Sean Morey jumped into the neutral zone before the punt. Morey went to college at Brown. John Madden said, "If he's smart enough to graduate from Brown, he shouldn't be jumping in the neutral zone". Hmm... good point, John.

Senior Moment: Does anyone else feel old when the Niners say that they're wearing their "1989 throwback uniforms"? Or is it just me?

Statomatic: If I were to have told you on Saturday that tomorrow, Jason Elam would score seven times, would you believe he'd only have seven points? Yeah, neither would I.

All in the Family: NFL players Chad Johnson, Keyshawn Johnson, and Samari Rolle are cousins.

Go Figure: The Packers have scored 20 touchdowns and held their opponents to 16. They have scored 6 field goals, while allowing 10. The Packers are 1-6.

MC's Weekly Soapbox: I was without cable this weekend because some brainiac crashed into a pole outside a local restaurant. All was well in the end, though, because when my connection to the outside world came back, I was up by 41 points going into Monday night, with my opponent just having Fast Willie Parker to go.

2005-11-02T03:25:00.000-08:00

2005 NOLTON League Standings

2005-10-31T05:17:00.000-08:00

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

I don't know who I'll dress up as for Halloween this year, but I'm pretty sure I know which direction Browns quarterback Ken Dorsey is leaning. Below are pictures of Ken Dorsey and Jim Carrey as "Lloyd Christmas" from the movie Dumb & Dumber. Dorsey might as well go out and purchase his orange tux right now. Ken Dorsey, you are one pathetic loser.

2005-10-29T13:32:00.000-07:00

Nolton League: Week 8 Picks of the Week...

Lots of close games last week...so you'll have to excuse the pickmaster for his mere 3-2 pick record. This week, I'm certain, I'll bat .1000:

Game of the Week: Fentons 83 Heroes 60

In a humbling upset, look for Fenton to hand it to the Heroes this week. The Heroes are coming off an emotional win against co-blogger, Anti-Ryan, and are likely due for a letdown. And Fenton has enough talent to take advantage.

I think the Heroes are getting too carried away playing the matchups this week and it could burn them. For instance, I’m not a fan of Delhomme against a Minnesota team coming off a huge season-changing win. I also think the Lions defense is a bad play (I say this from personal experience). And you just can’t bank on Az Hakim, after his one and only big game in the last five years. I do, however, think Ronnie Brown should be good for 80 and a TD against the Saints. The Boldin trade was a smart move and should pay immediate dividends with 90 yards and a TD. Also, the Eagles’ offense needs a big game—and they’ll rely heavily on Brian Westbrook, leading to a score and nearly 200 total yards.

For Fenton, he’s looking for a spark to an otherwise disappointing season; a win over the Heroes could be that spark. I like both his running backs—McGahee and Parker—to break the crack the century mark against beat-up defenses. Favre should be in a shoot-out in Cinci, with no running game—meaning lots of yards and 2-3 TD’s. And Mike Williams is the only healthy offensive threat in Detroit, making him the best Lions candidate to get into the endzone. But I think the big difference here will be Tampa’s defense, off a bye, facing Ken Dorsey and the Niners. The question won’t be will the Bucs defense score—rather, it’ll be how many times will they score? Look for them to crack 20 fantasy points and carry Fenton to a win and back into playoff contention.

Least of the Week: Jumbo Jets 65 Terry’s Titans 55

The similarities between these teams are uncanny. Both teams have only one win this season. Both teams feature starting QB’s named Drew. Both teams have alliterative team names (TT v. JJ). And both teams suffer from a lack of imagination re. those team names, using actual NFL team names for their fantasy monikers. I think, after that, however, the similarities end. The Titans have a dearth of talent; the Jets have been unlucky. I’ll pick talent over luck any day.

Last week, the pickmaster picked all of the Jumbo Jets WR’s to score TD’s—and they all did. Look for an encore performance; what was considered a weakness of the Jumbo Jets coming into the season, the WR core, has turned into a strength. Santana Moss, Ward and McCardell have all been consistent #1 WR’s—and with the matchups this week, they should all score.

The Titans? Well, I expect Ricky Williams to get maybe 20 yards. And Rudi Johnson, though steady with carries, has only 2 TD’s this season…and won’t add to that measly total this week. Travis Taylor and Derrick Mason should be used only out of desperation (unfortunately, a pretty good indicator that the Titans are already looking to next year).

Feast of the Week: Anti-Ryan 93 Stewie Griffin 91

I think this will be the shoot-out of the week. Look for both defenses (Chicago and Jax) and both QB’s (Palmer and Leftwich) to be good for 20 fantasy points each. For Stewie, if Portis is truly back, then his backfield of Clinton and LT could put up 4 TD’s this week. And though I think Dante Hall is normally a weak play, San Diego/KC should see plenty of scoring and thus lots of return yards for Mr. Hall.

On the flip side, A-R’s heralded WR crew will be key this week—Moss seems to be healthy and should abuse Ms. Pac-Man and the Tennessee secondary (150 yards, 2 TD’s). Green Bay has been susceptible to the pass, meaning CJ should have a great bounce-back game (100 yards, 1 TD). I even like Plex to get a sneaky TD against a stout Washington defense (40 yards, 1 TD). But I think this win will come down to A-R’s make-shift backfield. Marion Barber will eat up the Cards for the tune of 2 scores and the Cadillac is back…against a Niners defense that allowed 4 rushing TD’s a week ago. A late Caddy TD will be the difference in this nail-biter.

Quick Picks:

Tony Clifton 73 “Numbers” (formerly known as Joey Joe Joe) 61

I think Brunell (200 yards, 1 TD, 2 ints) comes back down the earth for the numbers and Trent Green (330, 1 TD) finally shows up for Clifton. But the fantasy player of the week this week could be Clifton’s Priest Holmes—I like him to see endzone 3 times, keying a Clifton victory

Juggernutz 42 C-Bass 39

Neither team has exceptionally favorable mathcups. C-Bass’s Eli Manning is a must-bench play this week against the Skins. And, while normally any defense playing against Houston should be a fine play, I don’t see Cleveland’s defense scoring much at Houston, in what promises to be the end of Houston’s losing streak and the beginning of the Charlie Frye era in Cleveland. Look for two big scorers from Juggernutz—Corey Dillon (150 yards, 2 TD’s) and the Pittsburgh Defense (6 points, 3 ints, 1 TD)—to be the difference this week.

2005-10-29T07:54:00.000-07:00

Random Observations: Week 7 Edition
(Is anyone reading these?)

Coaching Quote of the Week: When Dick Vermeil was asked about the NFL moving their game up to Friday, he responded, "If the New Orleans Saints can do what they're doing, the Kansas City Chiefs can do this for one weekend. These guys are professional athletes and represent the NFL. The league tells us to go and do it and we go do it. They pay us pretty well." Right on, coach.

Race Relations: I just can't get away from this NBA stuff. Sharp dressed man Michael Irvin said he was fine with the NBA dress code. Tom Jackson threw his two cents in... "They should just dress like they're going to court, they'll be fine".

More on B-ball (my apologies): ESPN radio host Erik Kuselias responded to Allen Iverson's comment that the new NBA dress code "sent a bad message to kids", by saying that was the dumbest thing ever said by an athlete. That pretty much means it was the dumbest thing ever said by anyone, doesn't it?

Head Scratcher of the Week: I couldn't believe when the head of the NFL referees, Mike Pereira said on NFL Total Access with a straight face that the Ernie Conwell "fumble" call was correct. I know he was protecting his guys, but it is what it is, and that's all there is to it.

Pass Happy Green Birds: There was a stretch Sunday when Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb thew 23 passes on 24 plays. The only non-pass play was when he spiked the ball.

Player Quote of the Week: "You can hate me all you want but you can't stop me. Put that in your pipe and smoke it." --Terrell Owens, on the sideline after scoring a touchdown Sunday.

LaVar Sighting: I can't figure out how a team can sit a guy like LaVar Arrington. He inexplicably sits on the bench forever, and when he finally gets in the game, he leads the team in tackles.

Stat of the Week: Did you know that the blocked field goal returned for a touchdown was the first one in Philadelphia Eagles franchise history? Now you know, and knowing is half the battle.

First to Worst: How volatile is the NFC East? The Cowboys entered week 7 in first place and exited in last place.

Say What?: How old is St. Louis Rams QB Jamie Martin? He began his career with the Los Angeles Rams.

Copy-Cat Act: I'm still waiting for an original touchdown dance from Hines Ward. His mockeries of others' TD dances seemed genius at first (the game versus T.O. and the Eagles from last season comes to mind), but enough is enough. I'm sure you're more creative than that, Hines. Maybe he's trademarking being unoriginal?

Making the Most of It: Washington tight end Mike Sellers has five catches this year. Sellers has four touchdowns this season... now that is efficiency.

Southern Cal Connection: After an interception Sunday, Carson Palmer was leveled by Troy Polamalu, his former college roommate at USC.

Can You Say Desperation?: It must be pretty dire for people in Baltimore to call it "great news" that Kyle Boller is close to returning. Ditto: New York Jets, who are counting down the days until Jay Fieldler can save them.

MC's Weekly Soapbox/MC's Weekly Jab: After having had the opportunity to watch the play over and over on NFL network, the replay clearly shows Chad Johnson was out of the end zone on his diving catch against Pittsburgh. His hand was down out of bounds before his feet dragged. Sorry to all you Palmer/Johnson/Graham owners.

2005-10-24T23:47:00.000-07:00

Random Observations: Week 6 Edition
(read and learn)

Star Treatment: Dallas coach Bill Parcells expressed concern about rookie running back Tyson Thompson last week. He said that Thompson hit the hole hard, but "it's not always the right hole".

Earning His Stripes: Bengals running back Chris Perry has 27 receptions so far this season. That is the most among all NFL running backs. It also is enough to tie him with such strong possession wide receivers as Keyshawn Johnson and Muhsin Muhammad and put him ahead of veterans like Eric Moulds and Jimmy Smith.

Feeling Randy: Something tells me that Randy Moss was not the big problem we all have been led to believe through the media. Must be something in the water (no pun intended) in Minnesota.

Kicking It: According to Lawrence Tynes, "There's no one out there who's better than me". He went on to clarify by saying, "Unless you bring in Akers or Vinatieri. In my opinion, those are the only two guys that I think could come in and replace me". You have to like the confidence of Larry, but that might be a little much from a guy who barely made the team this summer.

Eighty-eight Eighty-sixed: Last week Terrell Owens wore a Michael Irvin jersey after the game where Dallas killed the Eagles. To no one's surprise, Irvin defended this jersey choice to ESPN's Tom Jackson. Jackson argued that it would have been like John Elway wearing a Howie Long jersey. Irvin came back and said that it was different because Long was not an all time great. Okay, this is the part I love... Tom Jackson looked straight at "Playmaker", who failed to get into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on his first try, and stated matter of factly, "Long is a Hall of Famer!" That pretty much ended that.

Actions Speak Louder than Words: There's been much talk of Chicago supplanting starting running back Thomas Jones with rookie Cedric Benson. But as long as Jones is healthy, I don't see that happening. On Sunday, the game was out of reach for Minnesota in the fourth quarter but when the Bears recovered a fumble, it was Jones heading back into the game.

Hooked on Fonix: Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs was fined last week for making contact with an official. Referee Mike Carey said that Suggs "came at me with malice in his heart". Suggs made Arizona State grads around the world proud when he responded, "I had to go and look up the word 'malice'".

What Every Coach Will Tell You: The more I watch football games, the more I believe it's all about turnovers. The Broncos are rolling in no small part because they've turned the ball over exactly zero times over the last four games.

Darth Raider: The crowd in Oakland was extremely quiet as Randy Moss laid still on the turf after his injury. The guy in the Darth Vader suit reached his hand out pointing to Moss as if to "use the Force" to raise Moss back to health.

Quote of the Week/Throw Me the D*** Slant: Cowboys wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson reportedly said he was getting tired of running sideline routes. Coach Parcells was asked to comment and said, "Tell him to get open and we'll throw him something else".

Personal Note of the Week: In week 7 my team, who started Edgerrin James, faced off against the team who started Peyton Manning. When all was said and done, my team won by eight points. But it could have easily gone the other way. Check out these couple of series ending in touchdowns... Manning 4 yard pass to Stokley to the 1, James 1 yard TD :: Manning 18 yard pass to Harrison to the 1, James 1 yard TD. Sometimes it's best just not to know.

2005-10-20T10:48:00.000-07:00

Breaking Fantasy News!!

Those with Chiefs and Dolphins on their fantasy teams must make sure they make transactions and line-up changes before this Friday, the 21st. The NFL has moved up the Chiefs/Fins game to miss the hurricane, thus affecting many fantasy teams across the country with very little notice:

NFL moves Chiefs Dolphins to Friday night because of hurricane
October 20, 2005
NEW YORK (AP) -- The game between the Miami Dolphins and the Kansas City Chiefs was rescheduled to Friday night to beat Hurricane Wilma's arrival in Florida.
The game will begin at 7 p.m. Friday instead of Sunday afternoon, which is about when Wilma is expected to hit Florida's southwestern coast.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said broadcast and television details were being worked out.
It's the third time since the start of the 2004 season that the Dolphins have rescheduled a home game because of a looming hurricane. Last year's home opener against Tennessee was played a day early because of Hurricane Ivan, and the Dolphins' Week 3 game with Pittsburgh was pushed back 7 1/2 hours by Hurricane Jeanne.

2005-10-18T02:06:00.000-07:00

Fantasy Football 101:
Setting Your Starting Lineup

2005-10-17T18:14:00.000-07:00

The New Orleans Saints' Running Back Situation

Once Deuce McCallister went down two weeks ago to a torn ACL, all the fantasy vultures descended upon the waiver wire to hunt down his replacement. In deep leagues where even below-average fantasy runners like Frank Gore and Jerome Bettis are gone, the Saints' RB situation is a potential late-season gold mine. The question with the Saints, however, is: which back do you pick-- Antowain Smith, Aaron Stecker, or newly acquired Jesse Chatman? Well, let me break it down:
Antowain Smith: Smart Money

Smith had 12 carries for 88 yards and 2 TD's against the Falcons. Most importantly, he got the goal line carries, scoring on a one yard plunge. I would love to see Smith with more carries, but his touches near the goal line nonetheless make him the fantasy favorite.

Aaron Stecker: Chump Change

Stecker started the game for the Saints last week, and ended up with more carries than Smith (16) and about the same yards (86). I don't, however, think Stecker is a good play, given his dearth of goal line carries. And I have questions concerning his durability--16 carries (18 touches, if you include his two receptions) is probably asking a lot of a guy who is a third down back. Smith, meanwhile, has been a heavy-duty feature back with the Bills and Pats.

Jesse Chatman: Bling bling (?)

The Saints traded for Chatman on the heels of Deuce's injury. Though he was supposedly acquired for insurance, I'm willing to bet Chatman wil eventually get on the field and could be the sleeper of the trio. In backing up LT in San Diego, Chatman was a monster, averaging 6 ypc on 65 carries in 2004. He's a short, power back (5'8", 250 lbs.) with a nice burst. Once he learns the offense, he could really produce for the Saints. In fact, I'll go out on a limb and predict this: I think he's going to be the undisputed starter by week 12, if not before.

Recommendation: If you need a short-term start, pick up Smith and expect something in the neighborhood of 50 yards and a possible goal line TD. Keep your eye on Chapman however. Once he becomes active and starts getting a few carries, pick him up down the stretch. He could be a fantasy playoff stud.

2005-10-13T00:57:00.000-07:00

Random Observations: Week 5 Edition
(and yes, you will be tested on this)

Big bend: Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said people were worrying him after his knee injury at the end of the Monday night game. Teammates on the sideline were telling him to look up at the jumbo-tron to "see how bad it looks".

Signs it's gonna be a rough year in San Francisco: Rookie Alex Smith began his career with a predictably shaky start against the Colts on Sunday. He completed passes to ten different players. Seven of them were on his team.

Signs it's gonna be a horrible year in San Francisco: Midway through the first quarter, Alex Smith was the team's leading tackler. No joke.

Packin' it in: Najeh Davenport scored the first two rushing touchdowns of the year for the Packers on Sunday. We're heading into week 6 and the Packers have two rushing touchdowns? And both are by Davenport?

What a Dick: In the new reality trainwreck on ESPN entitled "Bound for Glory", Dick Butkus goes back to Montour High School to coach football. The whole time Butkus yells at the kids and accuses them of having no heart. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Butkus bailed on the team with two games left in the season citing that "he'd fulfilled his contract for the show". Nice lesson on heart there, coach.

Oldies but goodies: Have you ever noticed that players are "old" and "washed up" when they're struggling, but the same exact guys show "veteran leadership" when they play well? (See: Drew Bledsoe, Mark Brunell, and Vinny Testaverde)

Love on the open seas: After the scandal involving some Vikings players allegedly participating in a "love-fest" on a cruise ship, if the Bears don't play the theme from "The Love Boat" when the Vikings are introduced on Sunday, they're really missing a golden opportunity.

It's Fantastic!: Sorry if I seem a little distracted today. I can't quite pull myself away from that preseason NBA action.

Odd-ballers: Speaking of the NBA... I know I don't usually talk about non-football stuff, but this was way too good to pass up. Basketball has instituted a new dress code where players will have to wear a coat and, Heaven forbid, a tie while traveling. Nuggets center, Marcus Camby says that the only way players will go along with this dress code is if they receive additional compensation. Said Camby, "I don't see it happening unless every NBA player is given a stipend to buy clothes". Mr. Camby, by the way, has a $45 million contract with Denver. Okay, if that's not bad enough, non-practicer Allen Iverson said that players wearing coats and ties "sends a bad message to kids". I couldn't make that up if I tried.

Broken wings: To start the season, would you have thought that after week 5 the Eagles would be holding down last place in the NFC East? Yeah me neither.

Some guys just don't "play the game": Arizona fullback Obafemi Ayanbadejo is now officially number one on my hate list. Ayanbadejo was quoted as saying (and I quote), "Fantasy football is lame. Period. It's stupid as hell." He'd probably like it a lot more if everyone didn't think he sucked. BASS!

Red bird report: The 2005 Cardinals are still looking for their first win in the United States.

Genius of the week: Jacksonville defensive tackle Marcus Stroud was killing me on the sidelines Sunday night. Stroud told kicker Josh Scobee right before a field goal attempt, "Gimme three. At least."

Old man winter: How old is Vinny Testaverde really? Jets quarterback coach Jeremy Bates was a ball boy for the Browns when Testaverde played in Cleveland.

Jonesin' for a healthy back: Sunday was a bad day for running backs named Jones. Thomas, Kevin, and Julius all suffered injuries.

I smell a sit-com: When asked who he'd most like to be stranded with on a desert island, Cowboys rookie lineman Rob Petitti said without hesitation "Bill Parcells". That's either pretty scary, or extremely funny.

Drink up: Take a shot every time Ron Jaworski says something about "the juice" and take two shots every time James Brown says "paydirt". Warning: only attempt this if you don't care about the games that day, because you won't make it through the pre-game.

2005-10-10T23:16:00.000-07:00

What's in a Name?

In an effort to appear witty and informed (as opposed to just handsome and debonair), JNR and MC have joined forces to select NFL players with similar names and pit them against each other. Each of the two prognosticators (if not procrastinators) will argue for one of the two players being more valuable to a fantasy team than his name-sake from this point forward (including playoffs). So, without further ado, let's face-off!

1) Rian Lindell BUF v. Ryan Longwell GB

JNR: I will take Ryan Longwell. Longwell, a pretty consistent fantasy kicker, has been struggling this year, netting only 26 fantasy points. Meanwhile, Rian with an "i" has been on a torrid pace for the Bills, quieting his critics with a whopping 42 fantasy points, while hitting on four 40+ yarders. But I still like Longwell down the stretch. The Pack's offense seems to be coming around (see the 52 point shalacking of New Orleans), giving Longwell more chances, and I think the late season winds in Buffalo will hurt Lindell.

MC: Both of these guys will score most of the points for their respective teams, but I gotta go with the girly spelling of the two. The Packers offense may be coming around, but that just means a couple more extra points for Ryan. The problem is the Green Bay defense is horrible and haven't stopped anyone except the road weary Saints (without Joe Horn and Deuce McAllister [for some of the game]). They will give up tons of points, and field goals will not help them. On the other hand, Buffalo's defense is still good enough to hold opposing teams under 21 points (especially at home). Rian will be asked to win games and, therefore will get more opportunities for fantasy owners.

2) Stephen Davis CAR v. Domanick Davis HOU

JNR: Tough one--but I'll take Dominick. Sorry, Stevie, but count me as one of the doubters who think that your once-microfactured knee isn't going to hold up over 16 games. Dom isn't a model of health either, missing some significant time last year due to injury--but he'll get more touches. Guaranteed.

MC: Not nearly as tough for me. Dominick, hands down. The Panthers have expressed interest in getting Deshaun Foster a lot more carries, and he should take a good chunk of points away from Stephen. Domanick seems to be the only Texan capable of producing yards (although the TDs will be tough to come by) so unless you're in a touchdowns only league, Domanick is your guy.

3) Jimmy Smith JAX v. Steve Smith CAR

JNR: I love Steve Smith, but my heart says Jimmy. At 100 years old, Jimmy is still the go-to guy in Jacksonville--plus, I love his playoff matchups (week 15: san fran; week 16: houston).

MC: Jimmy Smith is about as consistent a receiver as you're going to find. However, Steve Smith is turning out to be an absolute stud. Delhomme seems to have tunnel vision and will be feeding the beast all year. Jimmy might be the better receiver in reality, but in fantasy, Steve is the man.

4) Larry Fitgerald ARZ v. Larry Johnson KC

JNR: Grandmama--by a mile. Again, I've got to base this prediction on injury. Priest Holmes will slow at the end of the season, paving the way for LJ to carry this team. And how many games can Boldin and Fitzgerald catch 10 balls? There just aren't that many balls in Zona to go around--which means Larry F. will come out on the short-end of the stick for at least a few games.

MC: I gotta disagree once again. The Cardinals will be passing like crazy and it's gonna be tough for a defense to double Fitzgerald with Boldin on the other side, not to mention Arizona's propensity to use a lot of three receiver sets. Keep in mind that at this moment, LJ is still only getting a third of the carries in KC--he is making the most of them though. Fitzgerald and Boldin will have defenses picking their poison in the tradition of Carter-Moss and Holt-Bruce--one of them is gonna kill you (from a fantasy point persective of course, as the Cards couldn't kill time). Fitzy will be the deep ball threat and will be active in every game due to the Cards lack of running game and defense. Just keep in mind, that if Priest gets hurt (and my compadre seems sure of this), LJ is a top 5 fantasy running back.

5) Will(ie) Parker PIT v. Will(is) McGahee BUF

JNR: Will Parker is going to surprise some people by season's end. I don't care if he's splitting the backfield with 10 guys, he's young, fast, and strong. Those "other" guys (Staley and the Bus) are plain old. They'll get their touches, but Parker's outstanding play will keep him on the field and in the endzone.

MC: Whatchu talkin' bout? You gotta go with Willis. He is the Buffalo offense right now. Fast Willie will have some game-breakers, but the Bus will steal many of his goal line carries which are so coveted by fantasy owners. Willis, on the other hand, will get all of the goal line carries and will get about half of Buffalo's total yards on offense. And just for the record, JNR is a Bills fan and MC is a Steelers fan. Go figure.

2005-10-10T01:48:00.000-07:00

Things that make you go "hmmm"...

As a kid, Michael Irvin would eat his cereal with water. He got used to it, and to this day, eats his cereal with water every morning.

Saints running back Deuce McAllister's birth name is Dulymus Jenod McAllister. He was given his nickname by his high school football coach.

The middle name Constantine is shared by both Dan Marino and Johnny Unitas.

The Tennessee Titans' mascot is a raccoon named T-Rac. The organization picked the raccoon because it is Tennessee's official state animal.

Falcons tight end Alge Crumpler was born Algernon Darius Crumpler. His father (Carlester) and brother (Carlester Jr.) are former NFL tight ends.

Eagles wide receiver Terrell Owens' full name is Terrell Eldorado Owens.

Broncos safety John Lynch is in the Baseball Hall of Fame as he was drafted originally by the Florida Marlins as a pitcher and threw out the first pitch in franchise history.

When Cleveland moved their franchise to Baltimore, they had a radio contest to "name the team". The winner chose "Ravens" after Edgar Allen Poe's "The Raven" which was written by Poe at his home in Baltimore. Art Modell promises to move the team "nevermore".

Elvis Presley's favorite player was Cleveland Browns running back Jim Brown.

In 1977 as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers, current Colts head coach Tony Dungy became the most recent player in league history to intercept a pass and throw an interception in the same game.

Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck has been struck by lightning... twice!

Patriots kicker Adam Vinatieri is a cousin of daredevil Evel Knievel.

Kicker John Hall has recorded three personal fouls in his career, but insists that "it's nothing personal".

2005-10-06T09:20:00.000-07:00

Random Observations: Week 4 Edition
(enjoy)

Culpepper Observation of the Week: After Donovan McNabb had his 3rd straight game with 300+ passing yards, rumor has it that Daunte Culpepper is looking into getting one of those sports hernia things.

Glitch in the Matrix: P. Manning - 4 TDs, 29 FP... E. Manning - 4 TDs, 29 FP

Glitch in the Matrix ReLoaded: There are three guys named Derrick Johnson and three guys named Eric Johnson in the NFL.

Stat of the Week: There are 32 teams in the NFL; David Carr is ranked #33 in the NFL in passing yards.

Sell Out of the Week: Okay, it's bad enough that Donovan McNabb is on the cover of Madden '06, and we all know the history on that, but at least he chose to do that himself. But what's up with his mom promoting Campbell's New England Cham Chowder... couldn't she have chosen ANY other type of chowder?

Main Event: Rod Smith vs. Clinton Portis
Undercard: Herman Edwards vs. the New York Media

Coaching Move of the Week: Evidently, Chargers head coach Marty Schottenheimer finally received his copy of How to Use L.T. For Dummies.

Rage Against the Machine of the Week: You probably noticed the little green decal which said "Futbol Americano" on the helmets of all the players this past week. Well... almost all the players. Jake Plummer or as I like to refer to him, the Decal Miscreant, defied the league and did not place the decal on his helmet.

Quote of the Week: "Guys, hard to describe the words I'm feeling right now. Yikes. Dagnabit. Whoa Nelly!" --Eagles defensive tackle Hollis Thomas who was mic'd after Dante Hall's kickoff return touchdown

MC's Soapbox: Okay, what's up with those Survivor ads? Do the CBS execs really think we're that stupid? The viewers are promised to "witness something that has never happened before!" Something that will never EVER happen is you catching MC watching Survivor.

Call of the Week: Anyone else notice referee Ed Hochuli announce his first penalty call in English and then in Spanish? Very cool. In fact I changed over to the SAP on my TV and listened to the announcers in Espanol. I wish we could get some of our English speaking commentators to get that excited (someone besides John Madden of course).

Nonsense of the Week (Que Barbaridad de la Semana): Along those same lines, both the Forty-Niners and Cardinals missed out on some golden opportunities for some end-zone dances. Have you ever watched a soccer (futbol) game and seen the wild dashes and excitement after a goal? I could see a football player ripping off his jersey and waving it around his head... really... I could!

Catch of the Week: Until Sunday, I have never seen Randy Moss get caught from behind on a straight out sprint for the end-zone. Nice work Terence Newman. The Cowboys even held the Raiders to a field goal that drive.

Hard Luck Player of the Season: So far this season it has to be Cincinnati wide out T.J. Houshmandzadeh. For the third time in four games, T.J. scored a touchdown only to see it nullified by penalty.

2005-10-05T11:41:00.000-07:00

2005 No One Liked The Other Name
League Standings

DISPOSABLE HEROES (MC) [4-0-0]
309 Pts (NOLTON Pts Rank: 1) -- 4 game winning streak
Franchise Player: PK Adam Vinatieri NE (30 FP)

TONY CLIFTON [3-1-0]
283 Pts (NOLTON Pts Rank: 2) -- 3 game winning streak
Franchise Player: RB Tiki Barber NYG (43 FP)

JUGGERNUTZ [2-1-1]
245 Pts (NOLTON Pts Rank: 6) -- 1 game losing streak
Franchise Player: DEF Pittsburgh Steelers PIT (38 FP)

ANTI-RYAN (JNR) [2-2-0]
271 Pts (NOLTON Pts Rank: 3) -- 2 game losing streak
Franchise Player: TE Antonio Gates SD (19 FP)

C-BASS GIT-R-DONE [2-2-0]
210 Pts (NOLTON Pts Rank: 8) -- 1 game winning streak
Franchise Player: WR Ashley Lelie DEN (5 FP)

JOEY JOE JOE SHABADOO [2-2-0]
192 Pts (NOLTON Pts Rank: 9) -- 1 game winning streak
Franchise Player: PK David Akers PHI [inj] (15 FP)

STEWIE GRIFFIN [1-2-1]
236 Pts (NOLTON Pts Rank: 7) -- 1 game losing streak
Franchise Player: WR Reggie Wayne IND (14 FP)

FENTONS [1-3-0]
258 Pts (NOLTON Pts Rank: 4) -- 1 game winning streak
Franchise Player: RB Willis McGahee BUF (29 FP)

SMACKDOWN [1-3-0]
252 Pts (NOLTON Pts Rank: 5) -- 1 game losing streak
Franchise Player: WR Eddie Kennison KC (22 FP)

TERRY'S TITANS [1-3-0]
157 Pts (NOLTON Pts Rank: 10) -- 3 game losing streak
Franchise Player: TE Alge Crumpler ATL (13 FP)

2005-10-03T12:09:00.000-07:00

The season is young, but even at this point, not lacking surprises (both good and... not so good). With all due respect to the Carson Palmers, Keenan McCardells, Ahman Greens, and Kevin Joneseses of this world, here are my top 5 pleasant and unpleasant surprises so far this season...

Top 5 Pleasant Surprises

QB Eli Manning NYG, C-Bass Git-R-Done... When Eli was a rookie, Peyton was quoted as saying Eli was the best quarterback in the Manning family. You know what? Peyton's a pretty smart guy. Maybe he was just being nice, but then again...

RB Willie Parker PIT, Fentons... It remains to be seen how long his role as the feature (and lone) back in Pittsburgh will last, but to this point in the season, "Fast" Willie Parker is definitely one of the NFL and fantasy's most pleasant surprises.

DEF Indianapolis Colts IND, Disposable Heroes... The baby horses are allowing less than 7 points per game in 2005 and treating opposing QBs like ragdolls. The question remains, did Peyton finally sell his soul to the devil for a defense?

WR Plaxico Burress NYG, Anti-Ryan... Eli to Plaxico is right up there this season with such potent combinations as Carson to Chad, Peyton to Marvin, and even (dare I say?) Donovan to Terrell.

RB Thomas Jones CHI, Joey Joe Joe Shabadoo... This is case of keeping up with the Jones'. Despite the shadow of number one pick Cedric Benson looming over him, all Thomas (36 FP) has done is outperformed other high profile Jones', Julius (33 FP) and Kevin (12 FP), in one fewer game played.

Top 5 Unpleasant Surprises

QB Daunte Culpepper MIN, Joey Joe Joe Shabadoo... 13 turnovers and just 5 TDs in 4 games is not exactly what fantasy owners were expecting when they made Culpepper a top selection in this years draft.

TE Tony Gonzalez KC, Stewie Griffin... Missing: 6'5", 251 lbs, Hispanic male... if found, please contact the Kansas City Chiefs c/o Dick Vermeil.

DEF Baltimore Ravens BAL, Tony Clifton... Overwhelming #1 projected defense going into this season. To this point, they've forced one turnover. Ray has got his work cut out for him getting this squad back to prominence.

RB Jamal Lewis BAL, C-Bass Git-R-Done... In a season that is already a disaster for the Ravens, Jamal Lewis can't seem to find the holes in the line. His stats stand at less than 35 rushing yards per game and more fumbles lost than touchdowns scored. Yikes.

QB Peyton Manning IND, Terry's Titans... Although he's improved his average after his 4 TD performance vs. the Titans this Sunday, Peyton has not been his usual scoring machine self. Manning was the undisputed #1 quarterback going into 2005 coming off of his record shattering 2004. However, even though the Colts are winning, his sub-par performances certainly mean his fantasy team is not. Let's put it this way, Ben Roethlisberger has one more point than Manning in one fewer game (49-48). Double Yikes.

This post brought to you by TopFiveMovies.com

2005-09-30T21:30:00.000-07:00

Three Players You Should(And Shouldn't) Trade For Now:

What's that saying in real estate--buy low, sell high? Well, it applies in fantasy football too. Which one of the early season strugglers should you trade for right now and which ones should you steer clear of?

1) Daunte Culpepper: Do it.
I don't believe Daunte is going to have another 40+ TD season this year, and he's reverted back to his turnovers of a couple years ago. But, he's also not going to continue on pace to throw 5 picks a game. Temper your expectations, but still make a move for him. I think good value would be a second-tier RB and WR. For instance, Steven Jackson and Terry Glenn for Culpepper would be fair value.

2) Kevin Jones: Do it.
His bye is out of the way and he's about as low as you can go in terms of value. He's got a lot of potential; and if you can get away with doing a 2nd WR (Jerry Porter, Isaac Bruce?) for him, you must do it.

3) Jamal Lewis: Don't do it.
Jamal had his bye out of the way too. But looking in my crystal ball, this is how I see things playing out with Lewis: (a) The Ravens try to feed him the ball 30-35 times a game; (b) He still gets shut down or injured; and (c) He ends up splitting time with Chester Taylor in an attempt to resuscitate the anemic Ravens' offense. Don't even waste a kicker in trading for Lewis; you'll have him on your roster and be tempted to start him and it will ruin you.

2005-09-29T02:42:00.000-07:00

Random Observations...

I hear plenty of people saying the J-E-T-S are D-O-N-E. They're not.

Stop whining and get to work. Just like Herm Edwards is doing.

Note to John Madden: Manute Bol called and wants his tie back.

Did you see that thing he was wearing Monday night?!

Denver coach Mike Shanahan was fined $20,000 for his comments about the week two officiating in his game. A week one brawl on the 50 yard line earned Jeremiah Trotter and Kevin Mathis $5,000 fines. Yeah, that sounds about right.

To paraphrase Ferris Bueller "the NFL moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around, you could miss it"... The Bengals offense is the Greatest Show on Turf and the Colts defense looks like the Steel Curtain. At least we can count on Denver owning Kansas City at Mile High.

Would you have believed me in August if I'd told you that three weeks into the regular season, Eli would have more than twice as many touchdown passes as Peyton? Yeah I wouldn't have believed me either.

Peyton Manning owners: I know things seem bleak but don't panic. The Colts new-found defense is changing the offensive plan somewhat, but unless you think the 2004 offense hinged on Marcus Pollard, this is the same offense.

Watching TV this weekend I'm now convinced that I'm officially the last guy in America without a tattoo.

I wonder if the Browns were worried about facing Dwight Freeney on Sunday. On one play, Trent Dilfer lined up under guard Joe Andruzzi before being "shooed" away.

Something you may not know about referees – They get bye weeks too.

In case you were wondering if that preseason spat between D-McNasty and TO was going to affect their chemistry on offense, check out this series from Sunday's game vs. the Raiders...
*1st-10 from the OAK 19 D.McNabb pass to T.Owens to the OAK 9 for 10 yards
*1st-9 from the OAK 9 D.McNabb pass to T.Owens to the OAK 4 for 5 yards
*2nd-4 from the OAK 4 D.McNabb pass to T.Owens for 4 yards for a TOUCHDOWN.
The soap opera is officially ov... well it's on a commercial break.

Julius Jones vultured two touchdowns away from Keyshawn Johnson on Sunday. On two separate trips to the red zone, Keyshawn caught a pass of 10+ yards and was tackled at the 1-yard line. Jones scored both times on the very next play. From a fantasy standpoint, a matchup between two teams with Julius Jones vs. Keyshawn Johnson, that's a 24 point spread on 4 plays.

You won't hear about this on ESPN, but Patriots coach Bill Belichick surprised veteran Steelers trainer John Norwig who rushed onto the field when Patriots tackle Matt Light was seriously injured. Belichick told Norwig to "get away from my f***ing player!"

Quote of the week: New York's Vinny Testaverde was addressing a large group of reporters and writers after arriving at the Jets complex: "For those of you who don't know, my name's Vinny Testaverde."

Vinny later said that several of his teammates said they remember him from the Tecmo Bowl video game.

2005-09-29T01:41:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while, JNR & MC will debate on who to start in a given week. This week we have two face-offs. We've come to our own conclusions, and after reading, hopefully you will come to your own.

WEEK 3 FACE-OFFS

JNR would start Peyton Manning at Tennessee: Close call, but I'm going to have to go with Peyton Manning. Clearly, the Colts have been content on grinding out games. That might be because defenses have been dropping more guys into coverage (e.g., Jax), forcing the Colts to pound the ball. But that isn't going to be the case against Tennessee this week, and its 4-6 blitzing defense. Tennessee knows only one thing: come fast and come often. They're not going to drop 8 guys into coverage. So, I like Peyton's chances this week of airing it out...probably to the tune of 300 and 3 scores.

MC would start Drew Bledsoe at Oakland: I gotta go with Drew Bledsoe on this one. Peyton and the Colts have been content to run the ball when given the opportunity so far this season, and I don't see this game being any different. The Colts D will shut down Tennessee's offense, while Indy will hand to Edgerrin James to churn out yards through the ground game. Tennessee's defense is very aggressive, but this will wear them out. All the more reason for the Colts to run and protect their lead in the second half. On the flip side, the Cowboys D will have their hands full with Randy Moss, in what promises to be a barn burner in the Black Hole. This will be a high scoring affair with Bledsoe throwing early and often to keep pace with the Raiders one-dimensional, vertical passing attack.
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JNR would start Fred Taylor vs. Denver: I know Anderson had a beauty of a game on Monday night, but, come on! We're talking about a Denver Broncos' RB. Odds are that he'll re-injure his ribs in practice, Shanahan will tell no one, and then Ron Dayne is suddenly starting on Sunday, while Anderson is inactive. Start Taylor-- he ran hard last week with 37 carries. I think Jacksonville will try to grind it out on the ground.

MC would start Mike Anderson at Jacksonville: Despite Fred Taylor's huge amount of carries Sunday, he only averaged 2.6 yards per carry, not even breaking the century mark in yards. However, Mike Anderson's carries have gone up exponentially every week (4 carries in week 1, 15 carries in week 2, and 20 carries in week 3). Coming off his rib injury, he showed no signs of difficulty running the football, and Mike Shanahan showed no signs of lightening his normal workload. As for Taylor, he's going up against the D-line that dominated Kansas City's vaunted offensive line and held Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson to 75 yards total and 0 TDs. In this game, Mike Anderson is the back I would start over the recently inconsistent Fred Taylor.
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2005-09-28T00:42:00.000-07:00

Without Further Ado, Let the Shameless Promotion Begin...

Brandon Lloyd is a double threat. Not only does he have the amazing ability to catch 3 balls a game, he's a rapper as well!

All right I had to promote my boy, B. Lloyd and tell everyone to check out his album, coming out soon on Flight 85 records entitled "Training Day".

Somewhere in between riding the pine for the first place Disposable Heroes and chilling with his "peeps", Lloyd has had time to record his first rap album. "I'm a Hero, first and last" said Lloyd. "But I love music, too. I'm so passionate about music. It excites me. I've treated it like football. I've studied it, and I had my approach, and knew what I wanted to do, and so I just went after it and did it based on what I like to hear."

To learn more about Brandon Lloyd and all his wacky antics, visit his official site at www.B Lloyd.com

2005-09-28T00:16:00.000-07:00

Stat Guys Suck

First off, excellent Officials article JNR! While reading, it immediately reminded me of last season when I had a similar circumstance, except this time it was the scorers table that screwed me over. It was a Monday night and I had a close fantasy matchup on my hands. Towards the end of the game, Jake Delhomme (my starting QB) handed off to his fullback who took the ball and wobbled up to the line where he was met at the line by several D-lineman. He fumbled and the defense recovered. This was all fine and good, because I had Delhomme, not the fullback. However, after the game that I thought I had won by a single point, I checked the league site only to find out that I had lost by a point! I thought to myself, "self, how could this be?"

I looked at all players' stats closely... and discovered the scorers had given the fumble to my homie Delhomme! I couldn't believe it, so I looked through the drive chart on nfl.com carefully and found the play! It was the same play to the fullback that I saw clear as day (I knew it was that particular play because the FB had only one carry that game). I was furious... but I told myself that I couldn't get mad over how the ball bounces, and that I had in fact probably won several games because of my opponents lack of luck. Still, I was upset being that I had already marked it down as a win. This was week 1 of the season. When all was said and done, my team, the Disposable Heroes, missed the playoffs by a half of a game. My advice, score as much as you can, as often as you can, and leave no doubt who is the best team.

2005-09-27T19:38:00.000-07:00

Week Four: Fantasy Football Hotline

Post any questions (under the comment feature of this post) that you have concerning who to start/sit this week. We will post the answers asap, so that you have time to make roster moves, etc. before the weekend.

1) Someone asked: Bench Tony Gonzalez in favor of Courtney Anderson? I say no; gotta stick with Gonzalez. He hasn't seen the endzone, but he's catching 5 balls a game and so should get on track soon. Be patient! Anderson had a career game last week (100 yards and TD), so temper your expectations until we see at least another good performance from him. Until then, dance with the one who brung ya.

2005-09-27T19:15:00.000-07:00

The Role of the Officials in Fantasy Football

Three years ago I had Joe Horn and Aaron Brooks on my fantasy team. In a close fantasy matchup, I needed that once-dynamic duo to connect on a few TD's to guarantee victory. Late in the Saints' game, Horn was streaking down the field wide open and Brooks lofted a beauty to him in stride. As the ball was about to fall into Horn's hands for a sure TD, out of nowhere appeared a set of zebra stripes. The back judge, attempting to get out of the way, failed...miserably. Horn collided with the official, the ball fell incomplete, and I lost 12 points (probably 15, counting yardage) and my fantasy game.

So, don't discount the role of the officials in determining fantasy outcomes. Admittedly, an official usually will not physically interfere with a player, like the Brooks-Horn saga, but good/bad calls, instant replay, etc. can turn games.

Two examples from last week come to mind:

1) In the Jets/Jags game, near the end of the first half, Curtis Martin dove into the endzone for an apparent TD. The refs, however, called him short-- and the replays conclusively showed that he got in. But since the Jets still had two downs at the one, they decided not to challenge and a play later Jay Sowell, a hawkish FB, stole Martin's TD...oh, and by the way, stripped six points from me in my Nolton league, in a game I lost by two points.

2) Same game on Sunday--Jets/Jags--in OT Leftwich threw a beauty of a pass to Jimmy Smith who tiptoed the sideline and dove in the ednzone to win the game in sudden death. The officials, however, called him out at the one. So, of course, the Jags were ready to march out their kicker to kick a GW chip-shot FG. BUT, since it was OT, the reviews all came from upstairs. And, when the officials viewed the replay, they overturned the call, gave Jimmy Smith (and Leftwich) the TD and, no doubt, altered the fate of many fantasy matchups around the country.

The bottom line, I guess, is that some things, like refereeing, you just can't account for as a fantasy coach.

2005-09-27T18:35:00.000-07:00

What if I told you...

1) that the top four scoring fantasy defenses/ST in the league are: Cinci; Indy; Chicago; and Tennessee?

2) that Rian Lindell, a perennial fantasy loser, has 32 points thus far (perfect on all of his kicks, including 3 beyond 40 yards) and is the second highest scoring kicker in the league (behind streaky Neil Rackers)...AND is sitting as a free agent in most leagues (including my own)?

3) that Drew Bledsoe is the third best fantasy QB in the league, only a measly two fantasy points behind McNabb and Palmer?

4) that Larry Johnson has as many fantasy points as Priest Holmes (23)--but with 35 fewer touches?

5) that Jamal Lewis and Andre Johnson, after two games, have two fantasy points...between them?

2005-09-26T07:52:00.000-07:00

WEEK 3 NOLTON AWARDS

Prop of the Week
WR Chad Johnson CINAnti-Ryan

"Who covered 85 in 2005?" checklist. So far... no one.

Feat of the Week
PK David Akers PHIJoey Joe Joe Shabadoo

Definitely has to go to David Akers' foot... After straining his hamstring during the opening kickoff and struggling just to walk throughout the game, Akers calmly (yet painfully) kicked a 23 yard field goal to win the game for the Eagles in overtime.

7-Eleven Player of the Week
(always open)

WR Steve Smith CARJoey Joe Joe Shabadoo

Steve Smith put up 11 catches for 170 yards and 3 TD (24 Fantasy Points). This just in: Steve Smith is now officially over the injury that caused him to miss the entire 2004 season. Ironically, or maybe just coincidentally, both Carolina and Joey Joe Joe lost their respective games this week.

Comeback Player of the Week
QB Daunte Culpepper MIN

Joey Joe Joe Shabadoo

Look who's back... back again. Daute Culpepper had the worst game of his career last week, from a passer rating standpoint. He ended up with 236 yards, TD, and 5 turnovers (2 FP). He answered this week with a solid game with 300 yards, 3 TD, and no turnovers (25 FP). Daunte may not have Moss, but he still has heart.

Rookies of the Week
Auburn Alums
RB Ronnie Brown MIADisposable Heroes

The Dolphins hung in there with the Panthers all day and pulled it out in the end, due in no small part to the stellar running of Ronnie Brown who had 132 yards and a TD (12 FP) for his highest output of the season thus far.

&
RB Carnell "Cadillac" Williams TB
Anti-Ryan

Although he had a much softer matchup than his former college teammate, Cadillac Williams did not disappoint. He ran for over one hundred yards for his third straight game (first three games of his big league career) and continues to lead the Rookie of the Year standings.

Manning of the Week
QB Eli Manning NYG
C-Bass Git-R-Done

Originally with the number one pick, Coach C-Bass traded down, but still ended up with a Manning... and to this point, at least from a current fantasy production viewpoint, the better one. Eli [352 yards, 2 TD (19 FP)] outperformed the highly touted #1 overall pick of NOLTON by a whopping 17 points!

NOLTON Coach of the Week
Coach Ryan Demotte
Smackdown

Coach Demotte is a mad genius (just look at the picture)! In a must win game, the 0-2 Smackdown lived up to its name and did just that, dropping triple digits on the hapless (and also winless) Fentons, thanks to 4-count-'em-4 multiple touchdown scoring starters (QB Marc Bulger STL, WR Hines Ward PIT, WR Keenan McCardell SD, and RB Julius Jones DAL).

Al Gore of the Week
Coach Gregory Bauch
Stewie Griffin

Through his "smack talk", Coach Bauch all but conceded his week 3 matchup, only to have his #1 pick (NOLTON #2 overall) Ladainian Tomlinson drop 32 points on Commissioner Kline, including a passing TD to go along with his 3 rushing scores.

NOLTON Franchise Player of the Week
RB Willis McGahee BUF
Fentons

Fentons' franchise player Willis McGahee (13 FP) countered his sluggish start with a solid 140 yard performance vs. the Falcons and added a TD for good measure. Unfortunately for Fenton, he was going up against Smackdown, who recorded the league high score for the year (100 FP).

Start of the Week
WR Steve Smith CAR
Joey Joe Joe Shabadoo

There were lots of great starts this week, but I have to give it to Kline, because Smith destroyed a solid Miami defense who before that game was playing solid defense in this young season.

Start of the Weak
QB Peyton Manning IND
Terry's Titans

I can't fault Coach Terry for starting Manning really. I mean he traded his whole draft to move up to #1 just to draft the elder Manning. He's not playing badly, but the Colts are using a different blueprint than a year ago. Then again, from a strictly statistical standpoint, the breakdown is as follows: Peyton Manning 228 yards, 1 interception (2 FP) as opposed to the Titans' backup QB Drew Bledsoe DAL who had a monster game with 363 yards, 3 TD, 2 interceptions (23 FP).

Clutch Player of the Week
WR Jimmy Smith JAX
C-Bass Git-R-Done

Through 4 quarters of football, Jimmy Smith had just one catch for a mere 6 yards. Overtime was a different story. He scored the game winning, tip-toeing, one-handed, stretching touchdown increasing his total to 41 yards (8 FP). Footwork of the year so far; truly a thing of beauty.

Bench of the Week
WR Deion Branch NE (3 FP), WR Brandon Lloyd SF (19 FP),
WR Donald Driver GB (2 FP), RB Ronnie Brown (12 FP),
QB Jake Delhomme CAR (19 FP), DEF Tampa Bay TB (11 FP)
Disposable Heroes

You know I had to put this one in... Coach Cooper (96 FP among his 9 starters) had 66 points sitting on his bench.

2005-09-25T09:10:00.000-07:00

Fact or Fiction?

Whose recent play was pure luck or a sign of better things to come?

1) Braylon Edwards: Fiction
After an impressive 107 yard, 1 TD game against Green Bay, is Edwards the real deal? I say no--most of those 107 yards came on a poorly defensed slant, which Braylon broke for an 80 yard TD. Take that one catch away and Braylon's season stats are pretty paltry. I like Braylon probably in two years to be a fantasy stud, but not as a rookie. And if you're tempted to pick him up now, just look at the tough pass defenses the Browns play next few weeks--Indy, Chicago, Baltimore, and Detroit.

2) Carson Palmer: Fact
Palmer has started hot and I think he'll have the break-out season a lot of pundits predicted before the season (including myself). I can see Palmer, if he stays healthy, going for 4000 yards this year. He's probably going to throw some picks (he still forces a lot of balls)--but look for a lot of TD's too. In another year, he could be in Peyton Manning's class.

3) Willie Parker: Fiction (as a top-tier RB)
Parker has a great blend of size and speed (uncanny speed, really). But I think with both Bettis and Staley ready to recover, a lot of his goal line carries will be taken. He'll have a solid yardage season, but I can't see him scoring a TD a game once the other backs return. Plus, with three solid backs, the Steelers have to be thinking committee--it only makes sense. Parker might be good in a keeper league--but I wouldn't bank on Parker scoring more than 5-6 TD's this year.

2005-09-25T03:06:00.000-07:00

My team is so good, it's scary.

2005-09-24T20:53:00.000-07:00

Fantasy Football Insurance!!

This company has come up with an innovative way to protect your fantasy investment--by offering insurance for your players. For instance, you can pay $15 to insure Peyton Manning against injury; and if, for instance, he goes down to a season-ending injury, the cash pay-out is over $80! Not too shabby.

I'm not sure how reputable this company is and I haven't insured through them (or anyone). But if the program is legit, you can really hedge your risks through fantasy insurance.

Here's the link: http://www.fantasyplayerprotection.com/HomePage.html

2005-09-24T12:28:00.000-07:00

I'm so good at fantasy football, it's criminal.

2005-09-24T01:41:00.000-07:00

I've come here to chew bubble gum and talk fantasy football... and I'm all outta bubble gum!

2005-09-23T20:46:00.000-07:00

Here begins the fantasy football blog of two of the most astute fantasy players of our time. We promise to offer in-depth insight into player evaluations and weekly matchups, inside scoops re. our own league, as well as our own ground-breaking thoughts on fantasy (and even) real sports! Bookmark this site if you want the patent on fantasy-football success.

--JNR