NFL NOW

Fantasy Football Talk
By: David Saurer

Good Day, everyone. What a crazy season thus far in the National Football League. I am sure, I speak for everyone when I say, CRAZY!!
Let us get right to the point here. You guys need some fantasy assistance don’t you? That is what I am here for. To give you all something to not only help but pull off the upsets now that Playoffs time has hit in many of the fantasy leagues around the net. Let’s get busy.
Quarterback:

Everyone knows if you got Tom Brady, Tony Romo, Peyton Manning, or Brett Favre, your in a lock to win that battle. However, there are emerging stars rising up the rankings all season long. The biggest name that has emerge this season is the Cleveland Browns’ Derek Anderson and the Steeler’s Ben Roethlisberger. Cleveland took a gamble and traded away Charlie Frye to Seattle to give Derek Anderson a chance to shine for the Browns. Did he ever take the gamble and rolled a seven or eleven on the crap table.

Derek Anderson stats are very impressive through Week 15 with completion of 57.2% of his passes for 3247 yards with 26 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. He is the sole reason for the offense resurgent for the Browns. Also, the most improved area being the offensive line led by Rookie Sensation from Wisconsin, Joe Thomas. Braylon Edwards is enjoying one of the best seasons a wide receiver could ever ask for a Pro Bowl stats of 1,106 yards and 13 touchdowns. The Browns are the team to watch for in the AFC Playoffs for sure when they clinch their berth.

Here is my rankings for the Top 10 Fantasy QBs:

1. Tom Brady, New England: He is on pace to break Manning’s single season record for touchdowns in a season. He is just plain unstoppable.

2. Tony Romo, Dallas: Every week he is proving to become one of the great household names in the NFL. Having T.O. is a big asset.

3. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis: Do I have to say why? This man is always capable of delivering the home runs points needed to get a W in fantasy. Touchdown maker all the time.

4. Derek Anderson, Cleveland: Simply, the most awesome thing to happen in Cleveland since the Browns returned to the NFL in 1999. He is leading Cleveland to their first playoff berth since 2002. Steelers better watch their backs.

5. Drew Brees, New Orleans: In the past 9 games, this man has re-emerge as a real hot name, 22 Touchdowns and only 1 interception. Clearly a great reliable QB.

6. Brett Favre, Green Bay: Today, He surpassed Dan Marino as the all time passing yard leader in the NFL. He is sure is a iron man and putting his critics to rest with his brilliance and playing style.

7. Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle: This man is really rolling along very well in the last 8 weeks averaging over 275 yards and connecting for 17 Touchdowns.

8. Carson Palmer, Cincinnati: Despite their record, this man is still a very dangerous weapon. Despite the last seven weeks producing 1 touchdown or less, there is some hope in the final games ahead.

9. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh: This man still is one heck of a scrambler and a gun slinging gutsy guy, but in the last 4 games, he has gone off the radar throwing below 200 yards despite throwing for a career high 26 Touchdowns.

10. Kurt Warner, Arizona: Kurt to me, still has gas in his tank and can still produce some good numbers, however, he is still a turnover prone gamble to start in Fantasy. Still, it is a worthy gamble.
Running Backs:

This is the biggest disappointment department of the season. I can’t tell you how pathetic this has been, last year’s stars has become this season’s disappointment. Larry Johnson, Reggie Bush, Maurice Jones-Drew, Willie Parker, Steven Jackson to name a few. If you drafted any of these names, chances are, you are blowing steam out of you ears. Yes, I am a guilty one. I have drafted Larry Johnson and let me just say what a darn disappointment. Now, let’s get to the list of surprising emerging names, shall we?

1. LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego: This man been red hot in the last eight weeks scoring a remarkable 11 touchdowns, and the closing the season against some weak run defenses in Detroit and Denver.

2. Brian Westbrook, Philadelphia: Got to love this guy despite the injury bug that seems to plague him, he has been remarkable this season with people beloving him in default leagues and being worshipped in PPR leagues.

3. Joseph Addai, Indianapolis: He has made people in Coltsland say EDGE WHO? He had 3 touchdowns against Baltimore and has one of the easiest run schedule in the final weeks with Oakland and Houston.

4. Adrian Peterson: Minnesota: I know what your thinking? He is ranked too low with his production being out of reach this season. True. Did you see his last game? 14 carries for 3 yards against San Francisco of all teams? COME ON.

5. Willis McGahee, Baltimore: Great addition to the Ravens staff. Jamal Lewis is a memory in many minds. He had a brilliant stretch of 7 games with a Touchdown or more.

6. Ryan Grant, Green Bay: A big huge emerging name in football this season. Ryan Grant has become the best answer to the Packer’s running woes. He has been the best performing RB in the last 6 straight weeks averaging over 90 yards a game.

7. Steven Jackson, St. Louis: After a injury prone first half of the season, he has finally emerged as the player we all hope we would of been from the start. 90 rushing yards plus in the last four straight, but facing Pittsburgh is going to shut him off badly. DO NOT START HIM AGAINST PITT.

8. Jamal Lewis, Cleveland: I must admit, Jamal Lewis is the best damn running back in Cleveland since Kevin Mack back in the 80s. He seems to be drinking from the Fountain of Youth with his brilliant playing style of 9 touchdowns and 106.5 ypg in last six weeks. He is one of the many surging pieces in a brilliant, awesome, and dangerous Cleveland Offense.

9. Earnest Graham, Tampa Bay: I think the Buccaneers are going to have a nice problem come next training camp. Cadillac or this man, Graham. He has been a surprising name for the Buccaneers averaging 120 yards from scrimmage in the last eight weeks. You talk about greatness, this man has it.

10. Willie Parker, Pittsburgh: This man been quite a disappointment as of late. His up and down roller coaster ride with his yardage is a real pain in the butt. Here is the big downer, 1 touchdown in the last 11 weeks, but seven 100 yard games make up for the lack of scores.
Wide Receivers:

This area has produced remarkably well this season. I am very impressed with the receivers, surprising names, and a re-emerging threat dominates this season’s arrangements of Wide Receivers. Randy Moss is back and better than ever before, the most dangerous weapon in the New England Offense. Terrell Owens is having a great year. How about Braylon Edwards? It is a star studded top to bottom.

1. Randy Moss, New England: He is certainly proving that his years in Oakland was a real fluke and the problem with the QBs. Over close to 20 touchdowns on the season, he is becoming a force to be reckon with. People better take notes to draft this man for next season.

2. Terrell Owens, Dallas: Still simply the best play making receiver in the game of football, he can crank it on anytime. Having a great year in Dallas and becoming Tony Romo’s favorite Target. Another name to note in drafting for next season.

3. Braylon Edwards, Cleveland: Can anyone stop this man? He is having one of the best years a WR could ever have, a Pro Bowl Calibur year. Scoring a touchdown in three straight weeks. He has even scored on his lowest production yardage this season. He has 18 touchdowns and becoming Derek Anderson’s number one target.

4. Andre Johnson, Houston: Despite suffering an injury early in the season, he is certainly making up for the losses. He is a fantasy stud all the way through. Only Moss and Owens average more fantasy points than this man. He is the real deal.

5. Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis: Despite Marvin Harrison’s injury prone season, Reggie Wayne has emerged as a clear favorite target of Manning’s gun slinging plan. He has scored a touchdown in the last three consecutive weeks and averaged a whopping 130 yards plus four out of the last eight games. Brilliant.

6. Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona: Despite the injuries, he has emerged as a consistent receiving stud in the past four weeks with explosive results. In the last four weeks, 6 touchdowns and 100+ pg.

7. Marques Colston, New Orleans: This man had a slow start to the season, but now, the Saints are emerging from the slump into a dangerous comeback. Brees has been on fire and Colston is the main reason why, In the past seven games, 6 touchdowns and averaging 102 ypg.

8. Greg Jennings, Green Bay: Another Packer name emerging to bring hope to Green Bay. He has made the Lambeau Leap an every Sunday occurrence having 11 touchdowns in the last 11 weeks. Favre’s favorite target other than Donald Driver.

9. T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Cincinnati: He has emerged over Chad Johnson to become Carson Palmer’s favorite target. Having a great season despite the inconsistency of the defense costing them games this season. He has been on a slump as of late having 34 targets in the past three weeks but not producing a touchdown.

10. Chad Johnson, Cincinnati: Been kind of a down year for this gentleman after having a brilliant 2006 season. He is still very dangerous and can score at will.
Tight Ends:

This is really not anything new for any of us since all the stars at Tight End are playing remarkably well with the exception of Todd Heap of Baltimore. Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzalez still are the names to grab as well as the Surging Dallas Clark of Indianapolis.

1. Antonio Gates, San Diego: Been consistent all season long and still is one of the game’s best red zone targets. Touchdowns in 3 of the last 4 weeks, but tell me this, is this a fluke from Week 13? -1 yard effort. Shaking my head.

2. Jason Witten, Dallas: He had one of the most successful games in Week 14 producing 15 catches for 138 yards and a touchdown. He is a nightmare for defenses and a fantasy stud for a TE.

3. Tony Gonzalez, Kansas City: Has become a real consistent scoring threat in the last few weeks despite the Chiefs’ woes on offense. Averaging 8.5 catches and 108 yards in the past two weeks. Very solid stats.

4. Dallas Clark, Indianapolis: Another consistent scoring threat and a solid contributor to the fantasy scores. Having a banner year as far as stats go, he is a sure candidate to keep in mind in next year’s draft

5. Jeremy Shockey, New York Giants: I have to say, he is a disappointment this season. He isn’t as nearly consistant as he’s been in the past seasons. His production is down, stats are down, but you can never guess when he would crank it on. He is a real gamble pick as of late.

6. Heath Miller, Pittsburgh: I want to say, Heath Miller is a threatening dangerous piece to the Pittsburgh Offense, but in reality, he really isn’t making progress like I was hoping he would. If Pittsburgh wants to make the playoffs and be more productive offensively, they must throw to Miller more often, big hands and definitely high possibilities for catches would make him a more favorable draft pick. I really do question the Steelers offensive game plans.
(Forgive me for only putting 6 on this list, this about the only six tight ends I know that are doing reasonably good for this season)

Kickers:

This one is hard one to measure anymore. I can’t say they aren’t important to the fantasy point matches, cause they do make or break you in every weekly game you have. I can only say, you better have a point leader when you draft a kicker. I don’t know much about kickers but I will list them as I believe are the top eight:

1. Ron Bironas, Tennessee
2. Mason Crosby, Green Bay
3. Nick Folk, Dallas
4. Phil Dawson, Cleveland
5. Shayne Graham, Cincinnati
6. Josh Scobee, Jacksonville
7. Jason Hanson, Detroit
8. Stephen Gostkowski, New England
Defenses:

This one has surprised me quite a bit this season. The normal top defenses from last season has fallen down a bit this season. Here is my top defenses in rankings:

1. New England
2. Pittsburgh
3. Baltimore
4. Green Bay
5. Dallas
6. Tennessee
7. Kansas City
8. Seattle
9. Arizona
10. San Diego

————————————

Past fantasy football articles written by Dave will be found in the Pigskin Bar and Grill

Trackback URI | Comments RSS