Updates from January, 2010

  • Playoff leagues: Keeping the fantasy football season alive to the bitter end

    Matt 7:01 pm on 12/30/2008 | 2 Permalink Reply
    Tags:

    I’ve never paid much attention to playoff fantasy leagues. They’re missing just about everything I love about fantasy football – trades, waivers, a three-hour draft that largely determines the team you have to live with for an entire season, and so on. I tried out NFL.com’s playoff challenge a couple of years back, forgot about my team after the first week, and that was pretty much that.

    This year, I’m giving it another shot. The prizes up for grabs on a few websites are pretty enticing, which hopefully will keep me interested enough to remember to set my lineups each week. I’m only going to invest my time in the leagues with the best prizes, which means that SportingNews Playoff Fantasy Football, with a decidedly unexciting top prize of $500, is out. After scoping out the schwag being offered up around the Web, I wound up signing up for teams in three leagues: (More …)

     

  • 2008 Fantasy Football Playoffs MVPs

    Brandon 7:24 pm on 12/22/2008 | 6 Permalink Reply
    Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

    This season has been one of my best years ever in terms of fantasy football, as I made the championship in three seperate leagues, while playing in the third place game in two others. For that reason, I figured it made sense to create an All Fantasy Football Playoffs MVP team, highlighting the players that either caused me joy or pain over the past few weeks. Interestingly enough, only one of these players even made the Pro Bowl (Wes Welker…as a reserve). Anyways, let’s jump into the MVP awards for the 2008 playoffs…

    Quarterback

    Philip Rivers, SD: Rivers was the top quarterback in the league nearly the entire season, so it’s fitting that he would continue his fantasy football dominance of the position through the playoffs. This past Sunday, when some of you may have been playing in the Championship game of your league, Rivers threw for nearly 290 yards and four touchdowns, probably carrying more than one team out there to a league title. Let’s also mention that he’s thrown a combined nine touchdowns over the past three weeks, while averaging around 280 passing yards or so.

    Honorable Mention: Matt Cassel, NE (More …)

     

  • Hits and Misses - Week 16: Take a ride in the PT Cruiser!

    Brandon 12:26 am on 12/20/2008 | 4 Permalink Reply
    Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

    Of all the cars out there to get a nickname from (see: Cadillac Williams), I’m not sure I would want people calling me the name of one of the worst new vehicles to come out this century, but whatever works I guess! It apparently IS working for Saints running back Pierre Thomas, who has put up some great fantasy numbers over the past few weeks in an offense that is traditionally pass-first (and made a lot of fantasy team managers very happy in the process.) This weekend you should have the PT Cruiser parked right in the RB1 or RB2 slot on your roster when the Saints head to Detroit, helping your team cruise to a fantasy football championship!

    Hits

    • Pierre Thomas, RB, Saints: Although I recommend a few of our readers sit the PT Cruiser last week, this week my tune has changed a bit. The Saints head to Detroit on Sunday to play a Lions team that has been absolutely dreadful against the run this year, allowing 169 yards per game (4.9 ypc) to opposing tailbacks, while allowing them to rack up 26 touchdowns. With Reggie Bush out of the picture, expect a big day for Thomas.
    • Antonio Bryant, WR, Buccaneers: For all of you who snagged Antonio Bryant off the waiver wire in the middle of the season, you have to be loving your decision at this point. In most leagues, Bryant has now racked you up around 300 yards and a couple touchdowns through the first two rounds of the playoffs, and I’m predicting that he’ll continue that trend against a bad San Diego Chargers defense. You know those commercials that ESPN had for the Fantasy Football Hall of Fame? If Bryant comes through this weekend, I think you need to add him for next year’s ads. (More …)
     

  • Quick Hits (and Misses): Colts @ Jaguars

    Brandon 10:29 am on 12/18/2008 | 5 Permalink Reply
    Tags: , , , ,

    In case you weren’t aware, not only do we have a Thursday game this week, but we also have a Saturday game now that college football is coming to an end. I’ll get to my official HIts and Misses post at some point over the next day or so, but I wanted to get started with the game tonight, which features a few players that could hurt/help your chances at winning that Championship (or third place game) this week (or next week) as the Indianapolis Colts head to Jacksonville to take on the Jaguars, so here we go…

    Hits

    • Peyton Manning, QB, Colts: To date, the Jaguars have given up 22 passing touchdowns, which ties them as the fourth worst team in the NFL in that area. Peyton Manning, on the other hand, is tied for 6th in the league with 23 passing touchdowns. Sounds like a pretty good match-up to me! With the game in Jacksonville, you won’t have to worry about bad weather screwing anything up (unlike what Kurt Warner and Matt Cassel owners should be worrying about this Sunday.)
    • Reggie Wayne, WR, Colts: With his quarterback a near lock to throw a couple of touchdowns tonight, expect Wayne to catch one of them to go along with around 80-100 yards or so. (More …)
     

  • 2009 Pro Bowl rosters announced

    Brandon 10:01 pm on 12/17/2008 | 5 Permalink Reply
    Tags: , , , , , ,

    If you haven’t seen them yet, the 2009 Pro Bowl rosters were announced today and you can see the entire teams here. I’ve already been reading articles mentioning Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams (2nd in NFL for rushing touchdowns, 4th in NFL for rushing yards), Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (leads the NFL in passer rating and touchdown passes) and Texans rookie running back Steve Slaton as the biggest snubs, while listing Jets quarterback Brett Favre (leads NFL in interceptions) and Dolphins running back Ronnie Brown (17th in NFL for rushing yards, got 4 of 10 touchdowns in one game) as the most undeserving of a roster spot. After reviewing the stats, a few other snubs, who will probably make it anyways after guys drop off due to injuries/injury worries/laziness, include Chicago rookie running back Matt Forte and Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (tied for 2nd in NFL in receiving touchdowns.) I’ll open it up to the forum for anyone else’s opinions on the selections…

    [poll id="4"]

     

  • ESPN alerts straight to your mobile phone

    Brandon 9:27 pm on 12/17/2008 | 2 Permalink Reply
    Tags: ,

    Earlier this year, Matt blogged about the different services that companies offered for your mobile phone regarding fantasy football. However, there’s an additional service that he did not mention, which is ESPN’s alert service to provide “breaking news” on fantasy football, as well as all other sports, straight to your phone via text message. Up until now, I didn’t think that I needed additional updates on my cell phone, but today I decided that I’d give it a shot (during the Championship week…go figure!) and see what all the fuss was about. I signed up for the fantasy football alerts, as well as an update on all score changes during Patriots games (let’s hope for lots of spam this Sunday against the Cardinals!) this morning and so far this is what I’ve received today:

    • “Bills QB Trent Edwards practiced Wed; likely to play Sun. after missing 2 games (groin injury)” (More …)
     

  • Guest Post: Week 16 QB Fantasy Football Rankings

    Josh 9:33 pm on 12/16/2008 | 1 Permalink Reply
    Tags: , , dan orlovsky, , , , , , , , Week 16

    Editors’ note: The following post was written by a guest blogger, Josh from Pro Football 101.

    Must Starts

    1. Peyton Manning vs. Jacksonville Jaguars. As long as the AFC East teams keep winning, the Colts must do so, too. At least for one more week. And there’s nothing that Peyton and his teammates want more than to bury their rival in the process. Look for a big effort on Thursday night and at least 250 yards and 2TDs. Great fantasy start.

    2. Drew Brees vs. Detroit Lions. The Lions are just two games away from immortality, and one thing we know about them is that if they are going to pull off a win during the season, it won’t be because of their defense. Look for Brees to go gangbusters in this one and locate Colston, Moore, and Shockey throughout the game. (More …)

     

  • Well played, Brandon. Well played.

    Matt 1:52 pm on 12/16/2008 | 1 Permalink Reply

    Brandon and I are in two leagues together, the keeper league I’ve commished for three seasons, and the “League of Champions” (aka LoC) that’s older than dirt (well, dirt that was born in 2002 or later). Brandon more or less dominated the LoC all year, finishing the regular season in first place with an 11-2 record, while I finished second at 10-3. My team is suffering from injuries and inconsistency, with the likes of Marion Barber, Kellen Winslow, and Reggie Wayne giving me some serious heartburn of late. Brandon’s team, meanwhile, is something of a juggernaut, with A-Pete and Forte at RB, Jay Cutler at QB, and the downright-terrifying Steve Smith at WR1. (More …)

     

  • The Wire: Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 16, 2008

    Brandon 12:16 pm on 12/16/2008 | 21 Permalink Reply
    Tags: , , desean foster, , , , ,

    As we head to the CHAMPIONSHIP, there’s a pretty good chance that your team is already set and you are not in need of any desperation picks. Just in case though, here’s a look at the players to target on your league’s waiver wire this week. This list is ordered by the percentage of ESPN leagues in which the player is available, but even if you’re not a ESPN user, it’s a decent indication of how likely you are to find the player on waivers in your league. We also note here how strongly we feel about this pickup with three categories: Instant Starter, Grab ‘n’ Stash, or Desperation Pickup.

    LaMont Jordan, RB, Patriots (4.4% owned, Desperation Pickup) – Maybe it was the return to his old team that got him revved up for the game on Sunday, but he somehow racked up 97 yards and a touchdown on just 12 carries. Will he put up these numbers again while splitting carries with Sammy Morris and Kevin Faulk? Probably not. Is it possible? I guess anything’s possible.

    DeSean Foster, RB, 49ers (11.4% owned, Desperation Pickup) – If you’re a Frank Gore owner, you should already have Foster on your roster. Otherwise, he’s worth a look as he could get another start this weekend against a bad Rams defense if they decide to rest Gore a little longer. Foster played pretty well last week when given the start, rushing and receiving for a combined 101 yards. (More …)

     

  • Hits and Misses - Week 15: Time for an encore

    Brandon 5:25 pm on 12/12/2008 | 6 Permalink Reply
    Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

    In most of my leagues, week 15 means we’re two games away from a 2008 fantasy football championship, so the hits and misses this week are magnified dramatically. In some twist of fate, neither of my best fantasy teams were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs this year, meaning I’m right there with you in using my own advice to get to the next round.

    In terms of the action this weekend, it’s not usually my style to piggy back on a player (or players) who had a great game last week, but this weekend when Carolina hosts the Broncos, it’s too good to pass up. DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart had a game for the ages in week 14 and while I don’t expect an exact repeat performance, something close would be nice! Anyways, let’s jump into the hits and misses for the week, starting with the Panthers two-headed monster…

    Hits

    • DeAngelo Williams / Jonathan Stewart, RB, Panthers (vs DEN): The new heirs to the Smash & Dash nickname played out of this world last week, with both Williams and Stewart breaking the century mark and scoring two touchdowns each against a Tampa Bay defense that had only allowed one rushing touchdown all season! While I don’t expect a repeat of those touchdown numbers this weekend, even against a worse defense, it wouldn’t surprise me at all to see them run for 100 yards and a score each against a Broncos team that is giving up nearly five yards per carry and almost 140 rushing yards per game (and that includes some teams that are MUCH worse at running the ball than the Panthers.) I also need to mention that I recommended to a couple people that they start Jonathan Stewart over Pierre Thomas this week…so let’s hope steps it up and makes me look smart! (More …)
     

  • NFL Weather Report on Weather.com

    Brandon 3:26 pm on 12/12/2008 | 5 Permalink Reply
    Tags: , , weather

    How many times have you started a quarterback against a team with an atrocious secondary, only to see him put up minimal fantasy numbers because a snow storm came to town? While it’s probably not the only site out there that does it, Weather.com provides a game day weather forecast that can be pretty useful when considering which players to start and bench for a given week and hopefully can help prevent this situation from happening. (More …)

     

  • The Wire: Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 15, 2008

    Brandon 10:07 am on 12/09/2008 | 23 Permalink Reply
    Tags: , , , , , ,

    As we head into the playoffs, there’s a pretty good chance that your team is already set and you are not in need of any desperation picks. Just in case though, here’s a look at the players to target on your league’s waiver wire this week. This list is ordered by the percentage of ESPN leagues in which the player is available, but even if you’re not a ESPN user, it’s a decent indication of how likely you are to find the player on waivers in your league. We also note here how strongly we feel about this pickup with three categories: Instant Starter, Grab ‘n’ Stash, or Desperation Pickup.

    Tashard Choice, RB, Cowboys (13.0% owned, Desperation Pickup) – With Marion the Barbarian out with an injury, rookie Tashard Choice filled in pretty well, rushing for 88 yards and catching five passes for and additional 78 yards. If Barber misses another game, Choice could make for a decent RB or flex play this weekend against the Giants.

    Deion Branch, WR, Seahawks (13.7% owned, Instant Starter) – Branch had two touchdowns against his old team, the Patriots, this past Sunday. While you shouldn’t expect those kind of touchdown numbers from week to week, it finally looks like he is healthy and can be productive for your fantasy team.

    Tatum Bell, RB, Broncos (15.5% owned, Desperation Pickup) – Obviously we couldn’t have a Broncos running back last longer than a few weeks in the spotlight, so this week we’re moving on to Tatum Bell with Peyton Hillis suffering a season ending hamstring injury last weekend. Bell could split carries with Selvin Young, so you may want to wait and see what kind of numbers he can put up, but he’s worth the risk if you’re in dire straights at the position! (More …)

     

  • Week 14 Wrap-Up: Reggie Bush is back

    Brandon 10:47 pm on 12/08/2008 | 0 Permalink Reply
    Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , senaca wallace, , ,

    With the playoffs in action in many of the fantasy leagues out there, let’s just jump into the action that took place this weekend, starting with the Saints and their resurgent ground game…

    • New Orleans 29, Atlanta 25: This is supposed to be the year that the Falcons win the division (after ending up in last place last season), but with a loss to the Saints, they now find themselves in third place and will be two games behind whoever wins tonight’s game between the Panthers and Buccaneers. For Atlanta, Roddy White put up another big effort with 10 receptions for 164 yards, but it wasn’t enough to counter the Saints dominant passing rushing game (?) Pierre Thomas broke the century mark and scored two touchdowns, while Reggie Bush (106 combined yards, TD) seems to be back in action, which can only mean good things for the Saints. (More …)
     

  • Dear Antonio Gates: I will never, ever trust you again

    Matt 11:09 am on 12/05/2008 | 6 Permalink Reply
    Tags:

    Dear Antonio,

    Heading into this week’s first-round playoff matchup, I was cautiously optimistic that you would break out of your three-game slump this week when your team hosted the Raiders, against whom you put up a perfectly acceptable 58 yards and one touchdown in week 4. I didn’t watch last night’s game, because frankly, I can think of better things to do than watch your comically poorly-coached team take on the Raiders, who for the last half-decade have come with their own laugh track. But since you’re relatively healthy and the matchup was good, I felt pretty sure that I’d wake up this morning and be pleased with your contribution to my playoff success.

    Instead, here’s what I found staring back at me. 

    I drafted you in the fourth round and I hate myself for it. 

    That last number on the right? The round one? That’s your fantasy point total. It also happens to be how many passes you caught out of the three that were thrown your way. 

    I’m the #2 seed. If I lose to the #7 team because of you, I will – to borrow the words of the great Michael G. Tyson – eat your children.

    Sincerely,
    Someone who will now be benching you against Kansas City next week. KANSAS… CITY.

     

  • Hits and Misses - Week 14: A-Pete ready to hand out early Christmas gifts

    Brandon 12:00 am on 12/05/2008 | 3 Permalink Reply
    Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

    After taking a break for the holidays (although I still put up a brief hit/miss post for Turkey Day), let’s get back into the action for what is most likely week one of the playoffs in many fantasy football leagues out there. This week we kick it off with a regular on the “Hit” list, Mr. Adrian Peterson, who has a great match-up against the Lions.  Last time Purple Jesus played Detroit he rushed for 111 yards and fumbled twice…but this time I think it’ll be a little better…

    Hits

    • Adrian Peterson, RB, Vikings (@ DET): If the Vikings can beat the Lions this weekend they are a near lock to make the playoffs. Because of this, and the fact that it’s the Lions, I have a feeling that Peterson is in for a big game. The Lions are allowing 177 rushing yards per contest, which is the worst in the NFL. They’re also allowing over five yards per carry on the ground and have given up about two touchdowns a game to opposing tailbacks. As I have Peterson in my most important league, I’m hoping that he can rush for those averages without the help of partner-in-crime, Chester Taylor, stealing his thunder. (More …)
     

  • Guest Post: Week 14 WR Fantasy Football Rankings

    Josh 9:49 am on 12/04/2008 | 14 Permalink Reply
    Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

    Editors’ note: The following post was written by a guest blogger, Josh from Pro Football 101.

    Must Starts:

    1. Randy Moss vs. Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks have been getting lit up through the air, and until last week, Cassel was torching defenses as well. Look for Cassel to get back on track and for Moss to be the recipient of a lot of medium to deep passes. Strong fantasy play. 100 yards and 2 TDs.

    2. Marques Colston vs. Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons are playing very well this year and are actually only one game out of first in the division. Regardless of that fact, very few teams have been able to stop Brees and his passing attack, and we don’t see it happening this week in the Superdome. Look for Brees and Colston to once again have big fantasy days on Sunday. 100 yards and 1TD. (More …)

     

  • Desperation is a Stinky Cologne: Deep Sleepers for Week 14

    Matt 10:47 am on 12/03/2008 | 2 Permalink Reply
    Tags: brandon jackson, , , , , , week 14 2008 sleepers

    Sneak into the playoffs and praying for an first-round upset? Dominant all season but now scrambling to fill in for an injured player so you don’t get humiliated by some bottom-seeded punk? These players are available in over 50% of ESPN and Yahoo leagues (on average) and might just be able to keep you in the hunt for one more week.

    Quarterbacks

    Shaun Hill, SF – Shaun Hill rolls into this nice matchup with the Jets’ 29th-ranked pass defense with a bit of a head of steam – a 94.6 passer rating and an 8-3 TD-INT ratio. I don’t blame you if you’re reluctant to trust such an inexperienced QB in a late-season fantasy matchup, but if you’re reading this post, odds are you don’t have a better option. There’s plenty of upside here to go with a heaping helping of risk. I think he’s worth the gamble, but hey, feel free to start someone else, you big wuss. (More …)

     

  • Top 25 scoring fantasy football players through 13 weeks

    Brandon 10:54 pm on 12/02/2008 | 1 Permalink Reply
    Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

    It’s been 13 weeks since the season started and four since my last posting of the top 25 fantasy football players in the game. As I mentioned last time, this is a list of the top fantasy football scorers so far this season, based on a non-PPR league that Matt and I are in, which follows near-standard scoring rules…

    Note: The number in parenthesis is the ranking of the player after week 9.

    1 (4). Drew Brees, QB, Saints: Brees has been a yardage and touchdown machine this year, even with his top receiver from last season (Marques Colston) out for a bit. I’m sure he helped many a team into the playoffs this season.
    2 (3). Kurt Warner, QB, Cardinals: Warner’s stats were pretty close to Brees’ and while he did throw less interceptions, he fumbled the ball a lot more. However, I’m sure he’s on a lot of playoff bound team’s rosters.
    3 (5). Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers: Packers fans can’t complain about the production they got out of the quarterback after Favre’s departure and they should be happy that they won’t have to worry about the position for another decade or so.
    4 (6). Jay Cutler, QB, Broncos: While I was expecting a bit more out of his “favorite” receiver Brandon Marshall, Cutler has been all that fantasy owners could have wished for.
    5 (1). Philip Rivers, QB, Chargers: He’s dropped off a bit over the past few weeks, but you can’t really complain considering the receivers he’s passing to. (More …)

     

  • Guest Post: Week 14 QB Fantasy Football Rankings

    Josh 4:37 pm on 12/02/2008 | 1 Permalink Reply
    Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

    Editors’ note: The following post was written by a guest blogger, Josh from Pro Football 101.

    Must Starts

    1. Kurt Warner vs. St. Louis Rams. Warner and his offense have had a tough go of it these past two weeks, as they were beaten by better football teams from the NFC East, but this is the week that we begin to hear the Warner MVP chants again.

    Heading back to Arizona, the hapless Rams come to town and bring with it its suspect defense. Look for Warner to locate his talented trio on the outside and eclipse the 300-yard mark with at least three TDs.

    2. Peyton Manning vs. Cincinnati Bengals. I’m not sure what happened on Sunday, but Manning certainly disappointed many fantasy owners with his 125 yard, two INT performance vs. the Browns. And since his defense couldn’t get off the field, he had very little time in which to work with.

    This week, back at home, we like Manning and his offense to bounce back against the Bengals and for the QB to throw for at least 250 with a couple of scores. (More …)

     

  • The Wire: Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 14, 2008

    Brandon 1:31 pm on 12/02/2008 | 2 Permalink Reply
    Tags: amani toomer, , , , , , , , , , ,

    As we head into the playoffs, there’s a pretty good chance that your team is already set and you are not in need of any desperation picks. Just in case though, here’s a look at the players to target on your league’s waiver wire this week. This list is ordered by the percentage of ESPN leagues in which the player is available, but even if you’re not a ESPN user, it’s a decent indication of how likely you are to find the player on waivers in your league. We also note here how strongly we feel about this pickup with three categories: Instant Starter, Grab ‘n’ Stash, or Desperation Pickup.

    Domenik Hixon, WR, Giants (7.0% owned, Desperation Pickup) – With Plaxico’s accidental gun shot wound, combined with his legal troubles now, I think it’s safe to write him off for at least the fantasy football playoffs. His backups are seeing immediate dividends, including Domenik Hixon, who has caught 11 balls for nearly 130 yards over the past two games.

    Devone Bess, WR, Dolphins (7.1% owned, Desperation Pickup) – With starter Greg Camarillo out for the season, it’s been Bess who is filling in for him and he has done pretty well lately. Over the past two games he, like Hixon above, has 11 catches, with his going for over 170 yards.

    Mark Clayton, WR, Ravens (7.8% owned, Desperation Pickup) – More so than Davone Bess or Domenik Hixon above, Clayton has been a wild man the past two games, turning just seven receptions into 240 yards and two touchdowns. While you shouldn’t expect this kind of production each week, he could be worth a chance if you need some big time luck to win you a playoff game. (More …)

     

Older Posts →

c
compose new post
j
next post/next comment
k
previous post/previous comment
r
reply
e
edit
o
show/hide comments
t
go to top
esc
cancel