Tag: Football

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FANTASY

Real deal rookies – Sports Fanatics play Fantasy SF-27

A Rookie Rampage

I’ve been watching NFL football for a long time.  I’ve seen Rookie sensations before.  I’ll never forget Anquan Boldin’s rookie record breaking performance in his first game as an Arizona Cardinal.  Terrell Davis had a great rookie season, and just kept getting better.  Randy Moss put all his doubters to shame, and proved the Minnesota Vikings right for picking him.  Year after year another star is born.  This year, this Season just feels a little bit different.

Kareem Hunt

Deshaun Watson

Leonard Fournette

Dalvin Cook

Christian McCaffrey

Alvin Kamara

David Njoku

and the list goes on.

Why are so many rookies succeeding?

Are the colleges doing a better job of coaching them?  Has changes to the Game allowed them to shine?  Has modern science helped develop superior athletes?  I believe that all three play a part.  There has been a recent shift towards a more pass oriented NFL.  One of the reasons for this is the implementation of stricter rules governing contact, and tackling of Wide Receivers.  Stricter rules implemented to protect Quarterbacks have contributed to the passing game as well.  When the rules allowed for linebackers to take full powered headshots on Quarterbacks.  The Running Game was of an even greater importance to keep Quarterbacks healthy.  As a result of this change to a more pass happy game.  Opportunities have been created for rookie Wide Receivers who might have been limited to far fewer targets a decade ago.  My list of breakout rookies has five Running Backs on it though.  What isn’t obvious at first but makes perfect sense is that a pass happy offence creates additional room to run.  Defences have shifted from single or two safety formations to three safety plus drop back linebackers to shut down passing lanes.  This can allow Running Backs to get to the second level of the Defence far more easily.  Even though Running Backs get far fewer touches per game on average.  Their likelihood of breaking free for a big gain is increased.

There’s no doubt that Players keep getting bigger, faster, and stronger.  Pay attention to the Scouting combine.  Records are getting broken by the new crop of Rookies every year.  Modern science has made an impact.  Couple that with a League that has placed a far greater emphasis on protecting the health of their Players.  What used to be a very difficult transition for many Rookies to make, and stay healthy has become a relatively easy transition to the professional game.  Of course injuries can still happen.  As evidenced by Dalvin Cook this year.  Still fewer carries for Running Backs means greater longevity.  Rules to protect Quarterbacks means rookies will have more time to acclimate to the NFL before they become shell shocked, or seriously injured.  Penalizing Safeties for making powerful hits on defenceless Receivers will allow Rookies to learn their routes without being worried about getting knocked out of the game.

In regards to how well the College programs are preparing their Players for the NFL.  I don’t think that the College programs have necessarily improved.  What I believe is that the NFL has become more like the College Game.  Mobile Quarterbacks, a greater percentage of option plays, and multiple Receiver sets are what the College Game has been all about for years.  You are now beginning to see similar offences in the NFL.  The Carolina Panthers are a great example.  When their Offence is clicking, it’s like watching a College Game.

Is it here to stay?

I truly believe that it is.  The more rules that are implemented to protect Quarterbacks and Receivers.  The more likely a pass first motion Offence will thrive.  A part of me misses the hard nosed football of days past.  When my favourite Player of all time Steve Atwater would literally run full speed, and time the snap count perfectly to destroy the Quarterback or Running Back on a blitz behind the line of scrimmage.  When going across the middle, and stretching out to catch a ball meant you risked getting killed by Ronnie Lott.  Now as a Fantasy Football Fanatic I can appreciate that my roster of Players have a very good chance of finishing the Season.  What I can’t accept as easily is the records that are being broken in this era should have an asterisk attached.  Especially when it concerns Quarterback statistics.

 

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FANTASY

True Fanatics Season update – Sports Fanatics play Fantasy SF-26

Stranger than usual

If I asked you in July who you thought would be leading at each position in Fantasy Football after four weeks.  I’m sure a few performers at this time would surprise you.

Quarterbacks

1- Tom Brady (Cobe Life)

2- Aaron Rodgers (Ball Breakerz)

3- Drew Brees (Texas Proud)

Running Backs

1- Kareem Hunt (Texas Proud)

2- Todd Gurley (Aegon Targaryen)

3- Leonard Fournette (Muh Feelins)

Wide Receivers

1- Stefon Diggs (Cobe Life)

2- Antonio Brown (In Dak we Trust)

3- DeAndre Hopkins (Texas Proud)

Tight Ends

1- Rob Gronkowski (Raider in the North)

2- Travis Kelce (Texas Proud)

3- Zack Ertz (The Bottom Feeders)

A quick look over the top performers and it should be obvious that Texas Proud has a very well balanced team so far this season.

Key Injuries

Fantasy Football wouldn’t be Fantasy Football without injuries.  The number ranked team in your league could become the weakest if the wrong player gets injured.  This season has seen it’s fair share of key injuries already.

Quarterbacks

Andrew Luck is yet to see the field.  Hopefully he is cleared to play some time this season.

Sam Bradford got out to a great start.  He suffered a severe bone bruise on his knee, and is currently listed day to day.

Derek Carr is supposed to lead a stacked Raiders team to the playoffs.  A transverse back fracture now has him out of action for 3-6 weeks.

Running Backs

David Johnson is the consensus number one pick in fantasy.  A dislocated wrist has him likely out till some time in December.

Dalvin Cook was on his way to having an amazing rookie season before a torn ACL ended his season.  He was on pace to setting Minnesota Vikings Rookie RB records.

Spencer Ware had his season come to an end before the regular season even started.  This created the opportunity for Kareem Hunt.

Danny Woodhead continues to be plagued by injuries. A Hamstring injury should keep him off the field until November.

Darren Sproles suffered a broken arm and torn ACL which is almost certain to prevent him from returning to play this season.

Chris Carson had showed enough promise to earn his spot as the lead back for the Seattle Seahawks.  A broken leg will surely prevent him from returning until possibly late December.

Wide Receivers

Julian Edelman was set to be the number one target for Tom Brady.  A torn ACL essentially ended his season before it began.  This created opportunity for Brandin Cooks, and Chris Hogan to see an increase in targets.

Injuries to both Cameron Meredith, and Kevin White have left the Chicago Bears with a practically unknown receiving corps.

Allen Robinson the undisputed number one Wide Receiver for the Jacksonville Jaguars suffered a torn ACL ending his season in the very first game.  His absence has put additional pressure on the Jaguars to effectively run the ball.  Their rookie Running Back Leonard Fournette has thrived in the role.

Corey Coleman got out to a great start last year before suffering a wrist injury.  This year a broken hand will have him out of commission until at least mid November.

Tight Ends

C.J. Fiedorowicz suffered a concussion in the first game of the season.  Having already suffered a concussion in the preseason.  Fiedorowicz has been entered into the concussion protocol, and placed on IR.

Greg Olsen was filling his usual role as Cam Newton’s security blanket when a fractured foot knocked him out of action.  He won’t be back until the fantasy playoffs.  In his absence the Carolina Panthers have looked disorganized on Offence.  This has negatively impacted all of their players fantasy production.

Power Rankings

1- Texas Proud

The highest scoring team in the league with a Top 3 Player at every offensive position.  It’s hard to argue against Texas Proud being the number one team in our rankings.

2- The Bottom Feeders

The second ranked team in the D-Line division is also the second ranked team in our power rankings.  Kirk Cousins, A.J. Green, Ezekial Elliot, and Zack Ertz practically guarantee that they will make the playoffs.

3- Aegon Targaryen

The top ranked team in the O-Line division comes in at number three in our power rankings.  With the least amount of points against them, they’ve had an easy ride to 4-0.  Their strength is in their running game with Todd Gurley, Carlos Hyde, and LeGarrette Blount.  A healthy Julio Jones could put them higher up in the rankings next time.

4- Cobe Life

As the second highest scoring team in the league.  Cobe Life has a strong roster that matches up well against any team in their division.  Tom Brady, Chris Thompson, Le’Veon Bell, Stefon Diggs, and even the Jacksonville Jaguars Defence are all at or near the top of their positions in points.  With so many teams at 2-2.  All it could take is two wins to be in the top 3 of the League.

5- Justice League of America

The second ranked team in the O-Line division comes in at number five. A key injury to Derek Carr, and a hobbled Jordan Reed has reduced the strength of their team.  Their strong trio of Wide Receivers Odell Beckham Jr, Dez Bryant, and Brandin Cooks will definitely keep them competitive.

6- Raider in the North

Another team with loads of potential.  They are also quite balanced with Jameis Winston, LeSean McCoy, Tyreek Hill, and Rob Gronkowski leading the way.  I fully expect this team to make the playoffs.  They are only a couple of breakout performances away from moving up the list.

7- Watch it Burn

Watch it Burn is maybe one trade away from being a top five team.  Lamar Miller, Jordy Nelson, and Mike Evans make for a good start.  What they are seriously lacking is additional depth at Running Back.  Still this team could compete for a Playoff spot.

8- Breton

Dak Prescott, Adam Thelien, and a solid group of Running Backs allowing Breton to play favourable matchups has kept them competitive.  Although they have very few truly standout players.  Breton can sneak into the playoffs if they manage to continue starting the correct players.  Trading for another trustworthy Wide Receiver would greatly increase their chances of making the playoffs.

9- Muh Feelins

If not for the injury to David Johnson, Much Feelins would probably have been in the top five. Still with Russell Wilson, Leonard Fournette, Tarik Cohen, and Michael Crabtree.  Their current position at the bottom of the D-Line division is sure to change.

10- In Dak we Trust

A poorly underperforming squad has limited their success.  Still Antonio Brown, and Christian McCaffrey have breakout potential on any given week so they will earn some unexpected wins.  Still as the team stands, the playoffs are very unlikely.  A lucky pickup off the waiver wire, or a key trade could go a long way.

11- Ball Breakerz

The fact that Andrew Luck hasn’t started a game yet this season has probably hurt Ball Breakerz more than anyone else.  What should be a very strong trio of Aaron Rodgers, C.J. Anderson, and T.Y. Hilton is now reduced to the Aaron and C.J. show.  Just not enough to compete against most teams in this league.  Dealing T.Y. Hilton to a team that can stash him for a competitive player now could be the answer.  Otherwise, don’t expect Ball Breakerz to improve their ranking anytime soon.

12- Geezer Domination

Something good needs to happen for Geezer Domination to have a chance to make the playoffs.  Andrew Luck could start sooner than expected, and come back in perfect form.  Terrelle Pryor showed some recent from Monday night.  Hopefully that translates into more targets going forward.  Hopefully their players can go a week without injuries.  So far nothing has gone right for Geezer Domination.  Here’s to hoping the waiver wire lends a hand.

 

 

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FANTASY

Gridiron Pros Season update – Sports Fanatics play Fantasy SF-25

Current Standings

1 – Skins2 

Total Points for ranking – 5th

Skins2 got off to a great start in a very difficult division.  Currently at 3-1 their record is better than expected considering that two of the other three teams in their division have had higher scoring teams.  Their current roster has been weakened by two significant injuries.  Chris Carson is likely done for the season, and Mohamed Sanu will probably miss a few games.  Despite getting off to a great start, Skins2 could have a difficult time making the postseason.  They have the third hardest strength of remaining schedule, and two of the top 4 scoring teams in their division.  Only time will tell if their luck will last.

2 – Blitzkrieg 

Total Points for ranking – 3rd

If not for a poor Season opener by the Seattle Seahawks limiting Russell Wilson’s and Doug Baldwin’s Fantasy production.  Blitzkrieg would likely be 4-0.  Still at 3-1 they lead their division comfortably.  Only Stoniestars seems to have a chance to possibly catch them.  Still it’s very unlikely.  With injuries to both Danny Woodhead who’s done for the season, and Rob Kelley who’s day to day.  Blitzkrieg hasn’t lost any key pieces going forward.  They also benefit by having the easiest remaining strength of schedule.  Blitzkrieg is my pick to win the Grid North division.

3 – RuinRevelation

Total Points for ranking – 4th

RuinRevelation has gotten off to a great start despite poor fantasy production from some of their early picks. Marshawn Lynch, Kelvin Benjamin, and Latavius Murray could all qualify as busts at this point.  Murray isn’t even on the roster any longer.  Fortunately RuinRevelation has made some key acquisitions, and avoided the injury bug.  Currently at 3-1 with star players like Tom Brady, Stefon Diggs, and Jordan Howard.  RuinRevelation is my pick to win the Grid Central division.  It won’t be easy because they have the sixth hardest remaining strength of schedule, but seems likely.

4 – Because you’re a Lannister

Total Points for ranking – 9th

Of the four teams at 3-1, Because you’re a Lannister is the least deserving.  Only three teams in the league have scored fewer points than them.  Yet they have benefitted from playing against teams when key players suffered injuries, or their opponents players faced difficult defences.  Eventually their luck will run out.  They are the lowest scoring team in their division, and have the fourth hardest remaining strength of schedule.  Allen Robinson is out for the season, and Jack Doyle just entered concussion protocol.  The only potentially good news for them is the possible return of Andrew Luck in the second half of the season.  Although they currently lead their division.  It’s possible that Because you’re a Lannister could actually fail to make the playoffs given their current situation.

5 – Captain Canada

Total Points for ranking – 8th

Currently ranked 5th overall Captain Canada represents the first of our 2-2 teams.  Predicting what will happen to the majority of these teams is difficult.  Fortunately for Captain Canada their only significant injury is to Darren Sproles.  Unfortunately they also have the fifth hardest remaining strength of schedule.  Their current roster looks strong, and they have a number of Quarterbacks that they could use to trade for an improvement at Wide Receiver.  That could be all it takes for them to make the playoffs.

6 – Pixie’s Pirates

Total Points for ranking – 1rst

If it wasn’t for the Season ending injury to David Johnson.  Pixie’s Pirates would probably be the top ranked team on this list.  Even after losing the consensus number 1 pick in fantasy football.  Pixie’s Pirates remaining stars Drew Brees, Michael Thomas, Todd Gurley, and Carlos Hyde should be more than enough to win Grid South.  To make matters worse for the rest of their division.  Pixie’s Pirates has the second easiest remaining strength of schedule.  Pixie’s Pirates is my pick to finish the Season as the Top ranked team.

7 – Just Win Baby

Total Points for ranking – 7th

Although 2-2 is a decent start in such a competitive League.  Just Win Baby’s season has taken a dramatic turn for the worst after losing Dalvin Cook for the rest of the season this week, and Derek Carr for at least a few games as well.  With the Denver Broncos on their Bye week.  This leaves Just Win Baby scrambling to find a Quarterback, and seriously lacking Running Back depth.  The good news for Just Win Baby is that they have the third easiest remaining strength of schedule.  Hopefully that’s enough for them to squeak into the playoffs.

8 – Swaggy B

Total Points for ranking – 10th

How Swaggy B is 2-2 is anyone’s guess.  They are the lowest scoring team in their division by far.  They lost Corey Coleman for the season but that doesn’t affect them much.  Where they have been seriously lacking is with there Running Backs.  Without a single Running Back that they can count on, it’s been a guessing game each week.  To make matters worse Swaggy B has the most difficult remaining strength of schedule.  Unless they make some drastic moves quick, Swaggy B won’t be making the playoffs this Season.

9 – The Losers

Total Points for ranking – 11th

Another team that is unbelievably at 2-2.  The Losers have been relying on the strength of the Denver Broncos Defence, a ridiculous amount of points from their Kicker Matt Bryant, and Tom Brady’s new favourite target Brandin Cooks to win games.  Whether this formula can continue to generate wins remains to be seen.  In my opinion it won’t be enough to get them into the playoffs.  Especially because they have the second hardest remaining strength of schedule.

10 – Grid Warriors

Total Points for ranking – 2nd

How am I at 1-3 with the second most points for in the league?  You got me.  Although my last loss was due to two early injuries in last week’s games.  Ty Montgomery, and Julio Jones both left their games in the first quarter.  If either one of them finished the game I would have won.  Even though I find myself at the bottom of my division.  It’s still a possibility that I could potentially win it.  At this point with the sixth easiest remaining strength of schedule I actually expect to make the playoffs.  The combination of star players Leonard Fournette, Antonio Brown, and Julio Jones should be enough to get me to the playoffs.

11 – Stoniestars

Total Points for ranking – 6th

Another 1-3 team that should be doing far better.  Stoniestars has also been extremely unlucky.   They have a very balanced roster that includes the current number 1 fantasy player Kareem Hunt.  They are in the statistically easiest division, and have the fourth easiest remaining strength of schedule.  With no significant injuries holding them back.  I expect Stoniestars to easily make the playoffs.

12 – For Whom the Bell Tolls for

Total Points for ranking – 12

Somebody has to be last right.  Our current Champion is not just the only team without a win.  They are statistically the worst team in the league.  Oh how the mighty have fallen.  There is reason to be optimistic though.  Le’Veon Bell seems to have finally hit his stride.  Terrelle Pryor seems to be on the same page as Kirk Cousins now.  Chris Thompson was a great acquisition off the waiver wire.  As long as For Whom the Bell Tolls for keeps making smart decisions there’s a chance that they might sneak into the playoffs.  They also benefit from having the  fifth easiest remaining strength of schedule.

Opportunities

It seems like every Season around this time that the first League trades start to happen.  All it takes is one key trade to turn around a Season.  The injuries begin to mount up so what becomes available on the waiver wire is sorely lacking.  This year Running Backs are at a premium.  So many of the Top RBs are either injured or not performing as expected.

What happens over the next four games will ultimately determine who has a chance, and who’s getting ready for next Season.

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Week 3 Fantasy league recap & Top 10 – Sports Fanatics play Fantasy SF-24

A very scary 1-2

My teams are both 1-2 in my featured Fantasy Leagues.  As I had previously mentioned in last week’s recap I’m not worried about either team.  Despite being 1-2 in my Gridiron Pros League.  My team actually leads the League in total Fantasy points gained so far.  I actually have 36 more Fantasy points than the next closest Team.  Unfortunately I also have the highest amount of total points scored against me as well.  That’s why I am only 1-2 despite being the strongest Team in the league.  Things are quite similar in my True Fanatics League.  I have the third highest scoring team but only a 1-2 record.  Last week I mentioned that despite being 0-2 at that time I wasn’t worried.  The combination of Tom Brady and Le’Veon Bell with a good supporting crew of Wide Receivers was sure to start winning.  That happened this week and I had the top scoring team.

The numbers don’t lie

As disappointing as it is to be currently ranked in the bottom half of the standings.  My Fantasy Teams are performing as expected, or even better than I had hoped.  So far I’ve been lucky enough to have all my key players make it through the first three weeks without serious injury.  Currently my starting Quarterback in each League has performed well.  The Quarterback position is one that’s become increasingly difficult to predict.  My middle Round draft picks have performed great, which usually leads to Fantasy success.  I would be surprised if my Teams aren’t having winning Seasons by Week 7.

 The true Top 10

With the first three weeks in the books I thought it would be interesting to see who the Top 10 performers are at this point.  Based on depth of position, total performance, and future potential, a current PPR draft might look like this.

Pick 1 – Kareem Hunt

Kareem Hunt has become the focal point of the Kansas City Chiefs Offence.  As both a Runner and Receiver he’s on his way to having the kind of Season we would expect from David Johnson(injured) or Le’Veon Bell(underperforming).  It wouldn’t surprise me at all if he finishes the Season as a Top 3 Running Back.

Pick 2 – Todd Gurley

No one expected the L.A. Rams to be competitive.  How Todd Gurley would perform after a lacklustre Season was anyone’s guess as well.  Well the LA Rams have been competitive, and a large part of the success is due to the hard running of Todd Gurley.  Gurley is a proven workhorse who shouldn’t have a problem running hard for a full Season.  How he finishes the Season is going to depend on how long the L.A. Rams can stay competitive.

Pick 3 – Antonio Brown

Finally a Player that has landed where many of us would have expected at the beginning of the Season.  Antonio Brown keeps doing what Antonio Brown does. He runs perfect routes, gets open when Roethlisberger is in trouble, and makes spectacular catches.  He’s on one of the most potent offences in the league.  He will finish the Season as a Top 3 Wide Receiver again.

Pick 4 – Stefon Diggs

A mid Round pick in most people’s minds.  Stefon Diggs has been a human highlight reel throughout the first three weeks of the Season.  What I like most about his performances is the attitude he’s been playing with.  Diggs looks like a Top 3 Receiver at this point.  Along with Adam Thielen the Minnesota Vikings have looked like a potent Offence.  I believe that they will continue to cause matchup problems for Defences.  Diggs is sure to have a great year.

Pick 5 – Tom Brady

The ageless wonder is off to a great start once again.  He’s averaging almost 3 touchdowns per game, and over 350 yards.  Numbers like that warrant a first Round pick.  Quarterbacks are a bit of a risky pick early, but if the draft was today I’d take Brady.  Plus it’s the Patriots.  You can bet the farm that they are going to remain competitive.

Pick 6 – Devonta Freeman

Another Player you would expect to get picked somewhere in the middle of the first Round.  Devonta Freeman hasn’t disappointed.  The Atlanta Falcons are still a high octane Offence that relies heavily on their Running Backs.  Even though Tevin Coleman is still a factor.  Freeman is the number one RB in Atlanta for sure.  As long as he stays healthy Freeman will continue to produce.

Pick 7 – Chris Thompson

Thompson has been the bright spot on a totally revamped Offence.  With DeSean Jackson, and Pierre Garcon leaving in the off season, we didn’t know what to expect from the Washington Redskins Offence.  Nobody thought their top performer would be Chris Thompson.  Given a chance to really shine because Rob Kelley had a minor injury.  Thompson has excelled as the lead back.  Unfortunately with Kelley’s imminent return, it looks like Thompson will be reduced to a complimentary role.  He will still produce but his opportunities will be limited.  If it wasn’t for this he would rank higher up on this list.

Pick 8 – Tyreek Hill

Tyreek Hill is so much more than a Wide Receiver.  There has been claims of “offensive weapon” players before.  None of them were nearly as deserving as Tyreek Hill.  Kansas City has found the right way to utilize him.  With Kareem Hunt keeping Defences honest, Tyreek Hill is in a situation where he creates mismatches.  Hill is going to have a great season.

Pick 9 – Ty Montgomery

It used to be a rule of mine to avoid Green Bay Packers Running Backs.  It took them converting a Wide Receiver into a Running Back to finally make it worthwhile.  I actually drafted Ty Montgomery in one of my featured Leagues because he was the best RB available. I actually got him in the fourth Round.  Well if the draft was today that would be a steal.  Sure I expected him to catch balls out of the backfield.  What has surprised me is how hard of a Runner he is.  With Aaron Rodgers leading the Offence, it hasn’t been difficult for Montgomery to find room to run.  There are concerns about his durability as a lead Running Back.  Green Bay is making an effort to keep him healthy by limiting his total touches.  That’s the only thing that keeps him from being higher on this list.

Pick 10 – Rob Gronkowski

Lets be honest here.  As long as Gronkowski is healthy he’s the best Tight End in football.  He leads all Tight Ends after the first three weeks.  I don’t think anyone is surprised by that.  If it wasn’t for his injury concerns Gronkowski would probably be a Top 6 pick.  It’s almost a guarantee that he will effectively miss games.  In my opinion, as long as he doesn’t miss 4 games, or the  playoffs he’s worth a Top 10 pick.

Well there you have it.  If you have a combination of any of these Players then you are probably doing well.  Unless you are me of course.  I have a combination of Antonio Brown, Stefon Diggs, Tom Brady, Chris Thompson, and Ty Montgomery between my two featured Teams.  Sure I’m 1-2 in both of those Leagues.  Now you know why I’m really not worried.

 

 

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Week 2 Fantasy league recap – Sports Fanatics play Fantasy SF-23

AFC West for the win

I’ve been saying this for the last few years.  The AFC West is the toughest Division in Football.

Except for the LA Chargers who have started their Season 0-2.  Keep in mind that they lost both games by less than a touchdown.  The rest of the Division is 2-0.  Have absolutely no fear starting any of the AFC West star players.  There’s a very good chance that you won your Game this week if you did.

Unfortunately for me I don’t have many AFC West players on either of my highlight Fantasy Teams.  In my True Fanatics League I remain winless.  Even though I have had very high performers each Week, somebody else on my roster lets me down.  To put that in perspective I’m starting Brady at Quarterback.  With only two quarters left to play on Monday it looked like I was going to go 2-0 in my Gridiron Pros League.  Matt Stafford was my acting Quarterback, but unfortunately the Detroit Lions switched to a Run focused Offence.  C’est la vie.  Still my Team performed well.  Everyone had double digit Fantasy points except for the Kicker.  Who really counts on points from their kicker?

Free points to be had

If any of your Fantasy Players are facing these Defences, then seriously consider starting them!  I made a point of telling you to start any of your Oakland Raider Players in Week 2 because they were facing the NY Jets.  I was correct in a big way!  This should hold true for most of the Season.  Another Defence that invites their opponents to score at will is the Indianapolis Colts.  As long as Andrew Luck is out, and the Colt Offence can’t sustain drives.  The Colts D will be exhausted by half time.  Start your Fantasy Players against them.  The last of the here have some free Fantasy points Defences has been on this list for the last four Seasons. The New Orleans Saints.  Somewhere along the line the Saints must have decided that their Offence was so good with Drew Brees under center.  That assembling a decent Defence wasn’t necessary.  Starting my Wide Receivers, and Running Backs against the Saints D has been a winning formula for me for years.  If you are unsure which game to watch on Sunday.  Just go with the New Orleans Saints game.  It’s sure to be a shoot out.  Brady had the best first quarter of his career Week 2 against the New Orleans Saints Defence.  Think about how long Brady has been in the league.  Keep in mind that he did this without someone like Edelman, Welker, or Moss in the lineup.  Does the New Orleans Saints Defence suck?  Yes it does!

0-2 Panic

You’ve started the Season 0-2.  Should you be in panic mode?  Well my Team in my True Fanatics League is 0-2 and I’m not.  Whether you should be in panic mode will depend on your roster to some extent.  If you are one of the unfortunate people to draft David Johnson first overall, then went WR-WR before getting your next Running Back.  Now you are desperately lacking at RB.  Well you might be worried. Here’s why I’m not worried.

I still have Tom Brady, Le’Veon Bell, and a group of WRs that can put up great points any week.  Le’Veon Bell hasn’t had a breakout game yet, but looked like he was ready to in Week 2.  Trust me when I tell you that he will still finish the Season as one of the Top 3 Running Backs in Fantasy.  Brady had a terrible first Week, and then lit up the Saints in Week 2.  Yes it was the Saints, but I can expect the Brady/Bell combination to win me at least 6 games this year.  My Wide Receivers group of Stefon Diggs, Doug Baldwin, Pierre Garcon, and Larry Fitzgerald can all produce like WR1s.  Diggs has already proven that he can have monster games with Sam Bradford under center.  Doug Baldwin is the man in Seattle.  Seattle’s first two games of the season were low scoring affairs, but that’s sure to change.  This being a half PPR league both Larry Fitzgerald, and Pierre Garcon are sure to provide a higher floor of production each Week.  If you pay close attention to my waiver claims.  You will see that I’m targeting the handcuff for my Running Back Rob Kelley because he’s a little banged up.  I’m also looking to upgrade my backup QB from Andy Dalton to Trevor Siemian.  I’m happy switching between Hunter Henry and Charles Clay at Tight End.  Sure my Running Backs are mediocre after Le’Veon Bell.  If you are in a competitive Fantasy League with 12+ Teams you should probably have a weakness somewhere.  What you need to figure out is if your team can win when it counts?  As long as I get into the Playoffs.  My combination of Star Players that play on teams with real world Playoff implications means that my Fantasy Team should produce during the Fantasy Playoffs.  If you are unsure about whether you should be making early Season moves, use the Playoff potential as your guide.

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Are you kidding me NFL Gameday! Sports Fanatics play Fantasy SF-22

Poor Analysis

I was watching NFL Gameday yesterday, and during their game predictions I actually got disgusted.  Not a single one of them on their panel predicted the Denver Broncos to win in their home stadium.  Only Michael Irvin gave The NFC Champion Atlanta Falcons a chance against the team they smashed not too long ago in their house.  The Denver Broncos with arguably the best Defence in football against a team that hasn’t beaten them in years.  Actually the Dallas Cowboys have had their worst win percentage against the Denver Broncos.  So how is it that not one single analyst (Michael Irvin excepted) picked either of those teams to win?  As far as I can tell it’s because they analyze a Team’s success by the potential for individual achievement.  They thought that the Green Bay Packers were going to beat the Atlanta Falcons because Aaron Rodgers is “unstoppable”.  Well that just wasn’t the case was it?  Actually Desmond Trufant and the Atlanta Defence made him look average.  Ezekial Elliot was supposed to run rampant over the Denver Broncos defence according to the Gameday crew.  WRONG!  Sure the Broncos D gave up some running yards last year.  That was the only chink in their armour last Season.  What do you think they were addressing all off season?  With a Defence that talented, it didn’t occur to even one of you that they might be able to fix one single weakness?  Well fix it they did.  Ezekiel had the worst game of his short career.  So bad in fact that statistically it was like he wasn’t even playing for the first half of the game.  Are your memories so short that you have already forgotten that this Denver Broncos Defence carried that team to the Superbowl Championship only two Seasons ago?  People keep saying that Peyton Manning led that team.  Wake up!  The Quarterback play that Season may have been the worst statistically for a Superbowl Championship team.  Manning didn’t win the Superbowl.  The Denver Broncos Defence did.  Von Miller has the MVP trophy to prove it.

What’s wrong with the Bengals?

I’ve watched a fair amount of both Cincinnati Bengals games this Season.  It boggles me how poorly they are playing.  You would expect a team with so many offensive Weapons to actually score a couple touchdowns.  Well the ownership did what owners do.  They fired OC Ken Zampese, and gave the job to Quarterbacks coach Bill Lazor.  Even though it’s a serious promotion for Lazor, he can’t be too thrilled about it.  Sure there might have been a few questionable calls in third and long situations, but honestly when isn’t there?  I don’t think Zampese shit the bed.  I just feel like the Bengals haven’t been executing.  People are calling for Dalton’s head on a platter.  When I watch the games, some of those missed passes are far too off target to simply be poor throws by Andy Dalton.  They are most likely the result of incorrect, or poor route running.  If that isn’t the case, and Dalton is actually missing his receivers by that much.  Then well, maybe it is time for a change.  I also get the feeling that it could be a case of having too much of a good thing.  Jeremy Hill, Giovanni Bernard, Joe Mixon, Brandon LaFell, Alex Erickson, John Ross, and A.J. Green makes for a lot of mouths to feed.  Some times having too many targets can muddle up an Offence.  I believe that the New Orleans Saints are having the exact same problem.  Especially when it concerns the Running Backs.  Both teams have three Running Backs on the roster that could handle significantly more touches per game.  Unless the Offensive line is doing a great job of making holes for them to run through.  A Running Back requires multiple carries to test a Defensive line for weaknesses.  Places that they themselves can power through, or slip tackles to turn a run for no gain into at least 3 yards.  Without those additional touches then they are essentially running blind.  One of Cincinnati’s greatest strengths in recent years has been their two Running Back system.  Wearing out a Defence by continuously switching between their two Running Backs while providing each Back with a fair amount of touches.  Currently the Atlanta Falcons are having a great deal of success doing that with Devonta Freeman, and Tevin Coleman.  Hopefully the Cincinnati Bengals revert back to what has worked for them in the past.  A healthy dose of two Running Backs, and passes over the top when Defences are forced to respect the Run, and leave A.J. Green in single coverage.  Sounds like a winning formula to me.

What’s ahead

Normally I wouldn’t post a Fantasy Football article on Monday morning, but the Gameday crew just forced me to say something.  I will still have my Fantasy Football recap on Wednesday.  Doesn’t look like a good Week 2 for me.  Moves will have to be made.

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Week 1 Fantasy League recap – Sports Fanatics play Fantasy SF-21

A wild week 1

The first week of the Fantasy Season can be summed up with one word, surprising!  Fantasy studs failed to show up, and a number of Players that weren’t even drafted had a major Fantasy impact.  You’ve got to feel bad for anyone who started Eli Manning, Andy Dalton, Carson Palmer, or Tom Brady at Quarterback.  How many of you started Tarik Cohen?  Anyone, anybody, Bueller?  How lucky were the Jameis Winston owners who picked up Sam Bradford or Alex Smith as a Free Agent to fill in for Week 1.  Consensus number 1 pick David Johnson goes down with a wrist injury.  That’s going to seriously change the power rankings in everyone’s League.  The heart and soul of the Kansas City Defence, Eric Berry is out for the Season.  Jacksonville looked like a Playoff ready Team against the Houston Texans.  Shit even the Browns looked like they could be competitive.

Waiver Wire insanity

You can expect things to get crazy on the waiver wire this week.  Tarik Cohen, Andre Ellington, Kenny Golloday, Corey Davis, Jesse James, Kerwynn Williams, Nelson Agholor, and Allen Hurns will all get picked up.  I believe that a few of these Players can significantly help your Fantasy Team, but not all of them.  Temper your expectations with Andre Ellington, Kerwynn Williams, Nelson Agholor, and Jesse James.  Every year I watch for Team Managers who get caught up in the Week 1 hype, and drop perfectly good Players for a flash in the pan.  Pay attention to who is being dropped.  You may land a steal.  If you do need a Wide Receiver.  I’d grab Kenny Golloday for sure.  Stafford loves throwing the ball to Players that can go up, and get it.  Golloday is that kind of Player.

Bad Bench calls

In the two featured Leagues I’m hosting.  Managers made a few costly Bench mistakes that cost them the win.  In the True Fanatics League Ball Breakerz, Raider in the North, and Cobe Life all lost their games due to poor lineup decisions.  That’s right, I’m guilty of it myself.  I went with Pierre Garcon over Stefon Diggs.  If that wasn’t bad enough.  I started the Falcons D over the Jaguars who had 10 friggin sacks! In the Gridiron Pros League Just Win Baby, Pixie’s Pirates, and RuinRevelation all made Game winning mistakes with their lineup.  Although it wouldn’t have been enough to beat my League leading 160.13 points.  Swaggy B left 44.2 points on the bench.  Decisions like that can not only cost you wins, but could be the difference between making the playoffs or just missing it.

Top score!

Looking ahead to Week 2

Now that we know what to expect from some of the Teams.  My Week 2 projections are based on what we have already seen.

Top QBs:  Tom Brady – yes he had a very pedestrian showing against the Kansas City Chiefs.  This week he faces the New Orleans Saints Defence that showed me nothing against the Vikings.  Expect Brady to finish with over 300 yards passing, and 2 Touchdowns.

Carson Palmer – sure Palmer was Mr. Interception this weekend.  Next week he faces the Indianapolis Colts that gave up 46 points to the L.A. Rams.  Also without David Johnson in the lineup I expect the Cardinals to throw a lot more.  Palmer should go over 300 yards, and score at least 2 Touchdowns.

David Carr – the Raiders face the lowly Jets.  Nuff said!  Carr will have a huge opportunity to showcase the Raiders high powered Offence.  I expect him to get 3 Touchdowns in this game.

Russell Wilson – the Seahawks are going to be feeling a lot of frustration after poor officiating cost them the win in Green Bay.  I expect the San Francisco Defence is going to find out what a frustrated Russell Wilson feels like on the scoreboard.  Instead of settling for Field Goals.  Wilson will be throwing Touchdowns.  Expect 300 yards, and 3 Touchdowns this week.

Top RBs: Dalvin Cook – this rookie is for real.  Whether it’s running between the tackles, turning the corner, or catching balls out of the backfield.  Cook can do it all.  Expecting him to find the End zone should be expected.  I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he went over 100 yards rushing again.

Marshawn Lynch – it’s going to feel great to be an Oakland Raider this week.  I can assure you that the Jets aren’t ready for Marshawn Lynch.  He will dominate this game on the ground.  I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets over 20 Fantasy points.

Devonta Freeman – his numbers weren’t the greatest this weekend but he managed a respectable Fantasy score because of the Touchdown.  Green Bay was limited by a stalwart Seattle Defence this week so scores were low.  I expect the Falcons/Packers game to be more of a shoot out.  Although the Green Bay Defence looked strong against the run.  They did appear weak against swing passes to Running Backs.  Expect Devonta Freeman to have more yards through the air than on the ground.  I expect him to find the End zone again.

Top WRs: Michael Crabtree – have you noticed a trend happening here.  Another Raider makes the list against the New York Jets.  Crabtree might be one of the most underrated Wide Receivers in the NFL.  He’s total money.  Don’t let anyone tell you any different.

Amari Cooper – both of Oakland’s Top Wide Receivers are going to have great days this week.  I expect both of them to find the End zone.  If you have Raiders on your roster just start them.

Larry Fitzgerald – he’s still the number 1 Wide Receiver in Arizona for good reason.  Look for Fitzgerald to go over 100 yards receiving.  I expect Carson Palmer to lean on his most trusted Receiver in David Johnson’s absence.

Mike Evans – by the time the Tampa Bay Buccaneers play their first game.  Mike Evans will be chomping at the bit.  The Chicago Bears played a pretty good game this weekend, and almost beat the Atlanta Falcons.  Don’t read too much into that.  I think the Falcons took them too lightly, and are still adjusting to a new guy calling the plays.  The Bucs will come out firing, and Evans is a total mismatch.  He could very well be the top scoring Wide Receiver this week.

Top TEs:  Rob Gronkowski – he was hardly a factor in last week’s loss to the Chiefs.  You can bet that the Patriots won’t make that mistake twice.  Gronkowski is going to do what he does best.  He’s going to catch balls in traffic, in the End zone.

Jimmy Graham – the Seahawks were forced to keep Graham back in protection for most of the game.  That won’t be the case this week.  I expect the Seahawks to protect Russell Wilson by increasing the number of short to intermediate passes.  Jimmy Graham matches up well against any linebacker.  He will be the go to Receiver on third down.

Zack Ertz – if the Philadelphia Eagles hope to keep pace with the Kansas Chiefs.  They will need to excel against all levels of their Defence.  Ertz will be the key to keeping the Kansas City Linebackers from blitzing at will, or dropping back into robber positions.  A great possession Tight End.  I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets the highest percentage of targets, and a touchdown in this contest.

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Sports Fanatics play Fantasy SF-20 Lineup or Bench

Week 1

Each week I will suggest Players that could make the difference for your Fantasy Team based on situational matchups.

In the Lineup

Sam Bradford QB playing at home against the New Orleans Saints.

Shane Vereen RB playing in Dallas against the Dallas Cowboys.

Pierre Garcon WR playing at home against the Carolina Panthers.

Gerald Everett TE playing at home against the Indianapolis Colts.

I’m not saying that you should bench your early Round draft picks to play these guys.  If you find yourself in a bind because of injuries, or in this unique case a delayed Game due to weather.  The Miami Dolphins vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers Game has been pushed back to Week 11 because of Hurricane Irma.  These are potential Free Agents, or Players you may already have on your bench that can  salvage your week.

On the Bench

Dak Prescott QB playing at home against the New York Giants.

Eddie Lacy RB playing in Green Bay against the Green Bay Packers.

Randall Cobb WR playing at home against the Seattle Seahawks.

Vance McDonald TE playing in Cleveland against the Cleveland Browns.

These are all Players I would choose to avoid.  If you don’t have other options then don’t go searching for some lowly Free Agent to replace them.  Just roll with what you’ve got.  Of course you will need to bench any Miami Dolphins or Tampa Bay Buccaneers on your team because that game has been officially moved to Week 11.  This change in schedule significantly decreases the value of the Players later in the Season as well.  16 straight games is a physical Challenge.

Players to watch

While you are following along with your starting lineup over the weekend.  Try to pay attention to the performance of a few other Players that may have gone unnoticed in your draft.

Kendall Wright WR Chicago Bears

Kendall could be in line for a lot of targets this year.  Lets be honest about the situation.  The Bears will be lucky to win 5 games this year.  The only chance that team will have to win games while trailing by who knows how many points, is to air it out.

James White RB New England Patriots

James has already earned Tom Brady’s trust in what should be a quick release Offence once more.  The real MVP of last year’s Superbowl could possibly receive the Lions share of the targets that would have gone Edelman’s way.  Most people believe Amendola or Hogan will benefit most.  Well I’m not most people.  Look for one of the RBs to benefit.  My money is on James White.

DeShone Kizer QB Cleveland Browns

Do not sleep on Kizer.  Having won the starting Quarterback job decisively over Brock Osweiler.  Kizer has the opportunity, and the weapons to immediately make a fantasy impact.

Jermaine Kearse WR New York Jets

Kearse went from being the number 3 Wide Receiver in Seattle to the defacto number 1 in New York.  Similar to Kendall Wright’s situation in Chicago.  Kearse could benefit from receiving a lot of targets when the Jets are trailing in games.  Which should happen quite often.

Good luck to all of you in Week 1.  If you haven’t signed up for my free VIP Subscription yet I suggest you do so.  Keep one step ahead of your Competitors, and make the key moves before they do.

 

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Sports Fanatics play Fantasy SF-19 True Fanatics Draft analysis

Draft Recap

The draft took place at 9:00pm EST Monday August 28 on NFL Fantasy.  I manage the Cobe Life team.  With the third pick in the Draft, my Strategy going in was to Target Antonio Brown in the first, and then grab the best RB available in the second.  Like every Draft your plans can change in a flash.  Obviously my Strategy changed completely.

Round 1

My Pick: with Le’Veon Bell still available it became an automatic selection for me.  So much for targeting Antonio Brown in the first.

Biggest surprise: Aaron Rodgers going second overall surprised everyone.

Pick of the Round: it was more luck than wisdom but Le’Veon Bell third overall was a slight steal.

Round 2

My Pick: so my Strategy flipped from the best RB to the best WR.  Doug Baldwin was the best WR available in my opinion.  An argument could be made for Brandin Cooks, but he is unproven with Brady.  His role in the Patriots Offence is questionable as well due to the Edelman injury.  I prefer to pick sure things early, and you can be sure that Doug Baldwin will remain as Russell Wilson’s top target.

Biggest surprise: with the final pick in the second Round, Muh Feelins selected Marshawn Lynch.  Beast mode’s coming off a one year hiatus, and his final Season with Seattle was far from stellar.  Definitely a gamble to take him in the second Round.  Will it pay off?

Pick of the Round: with the 17th pick overall, Watch it Burn picked Jordy Nelson.  In my opinion Jordy Nelson is a first Round talent.  There are concerns about his age.  In a redraft league age isn’t that much of a consideration.  Nelson’s familiarity with the Green Bay Offence, and Aaron Rodgers is Fantasy gold.

Round 3

My Pick: with my Draft Strategy out the window.  I figured why not mix things up a bit, and do something I almost never do.  Draft a Top tier Quarterback early.  So I pulled the trigger on Tom Brady.  I figured with Le’Veon Bell already on my Roster.  The Brady/Bell combination would give me a matchup advantage over most of the league in the QB and RB positions.  As long as I drafted a decent lead Running Back next.

Biggest surprise: with the 35th pick overall Breton selected Joe Mixon. There is a lot of hype surrounding this year’s RB rookie class.  They are Rookies though.  Last I checked Jeremy Hill, and Giovanni Bernard are still on the Bengals roster.  Mixon will have every opportunity to be the number 1 Running Back, but what does that really mean?  How many touches a game will he get?  Is Bernard who’s proven himself to be a great pass catching Running Back going to be the go to guy on third downs?  What is Hill’s role?  Does he still get goal line work?  That’s just too many questions for Round 3.

Pick of the Round: with the 32nd pick overall to Watch it Burn.  Lamar Miller is a great selection at this point in the Draft.  Beginning his second Season as Houston’s lead Running Back.  Lamar Miller should have a breakout year.  With a new Quarterback leading the way I expect Miller to get a heavy workload.

Round 4

My Pick: after picking Tom Brady in the third Round, I knew my next pick was going to be a Running Back.  The two I was considering were Bilal Powell and Kareem Hunt.  I chose Bilal Powell because I see him as the New York Jets only offensive weapon.  He could potentially be their top Running Back, and top Receiving target.

Biggest surprise: with the 44th pick of the Round, Aegon Targaryen selected Matt Ryan.  Sure he is coming off an MVP Season.  That Season was unlike any other Season he has ever had, and The Falcons begin this Season with a new Offensive Coordinator.  If his numbers regress to his career averages.  Matt Ryan is projected as more of a mid to late Round selection.  At this point in the Draft he had better have another great Season.

Pick of the Round: with the 38th pick overall, Breton selected Demaryius Thomas.  There are concerns about the Quarterback situation in Denver.  If it wasn’t for that, Demaryius Thomas would probably get drafted in the second Round.  He’s just that good.  His second Season with Trevor Siemian at the helm can only help him increase his numbers from last year.  

Round 5

My Pick: this was the first pick I made that really had me thinking.  Kareem Hunt was still available.  Tyreek Hill was a tempting target as well.  Instead I went with what I hope will be a repeat of last year’s production with Larry Fitzgerald.  Fitz is still the number 1 target in Arizona.  Time is running out on the core group of Players to make a final playoff push.  The only reason Fitzgerald didn’t retire is because he believes that they can get there.  That’s the kind of motivation I want on my team.

Biggest surprise: three Tight Ends went in this Round.  It’s unusual to see 6 Tight Ends off the board by the end of Round 5.  I didn’t notice it happen, and paid the price later for missing it.

Pick of the Round:  with the 58th overall pick, Texas Proud selected Kareem Hunt.  I could have picked him twice by then but went with proven performers.  Still Kareem Hunt is in a great position to succeed as a result of Spencer Ware’s injury.  As long as he performs decently in the first few games of the Season.  Kareem Hunt will be the featured Running Back in Kansas City.  He actually has a better chance of being the lead Running Back for his team than other Rookies being drafted ahead of him like Dalvin Cook, and Joe Mixon.

Round 6

My Pick: I ended up picking Rob Kelley after the last TE I was targeting went off the Board the pick before mine.  Delanie Walker, Tyler Eifert, and Martellus Bennett went in this Round.  This is when I realized that there had been a run on Tight Ends.  Realizing that only low end Players were left I decided to continue to bolster my Running Back corps.

Biggest surprise: Obviously it was the continued run on Tight Ends.

Pick of the Round: with the 69th pick, Dez Pacitos selected Martellus Bennett.  The last of the quality Tight Ends with very little risk.  Even though this is actually a bit of a reach.  It was a very smart reach to make given the situation.

Round 7

My Pick: Stefon Diggs was just sitting at the Top of the available Players list for far too long.  I kept waiting to see who would take him.  When he was still there in the 7th Round I just had to take him.  I see him finishing the Season in the Top 30 at Wide Receiver.

Biggest surprise: with the 82nd pick, Texas Proud selected the Denver Broncos DST.  Somebody has to pick the first DST.  In the 7th Round is quite early though.  Even if it’s the best Defence in the league, on my favourite Team.  No I’m not bitter about it.  

Pick of the Round: with the 80th pick, Watch it Burn selected Cam Newton.  Only one Season removed from an MVP Season, and additional Offensive Weapons added through the Draft.  Cam Newton has a very high ceiling.  At this point in the Draft his potential is worth the gamble.

Round 8

My Pick: I continue to select overlooked number 1 Players at their position.  Pierre Garcon was a PPR machine in Washington. A team that was blessed with a wealth of targets.  In San Francisco his share of the targets will definitely increase.  Even on a Team that’s rebuilding, that’s a great situation.

Biggest surprise: that Broncos pick in the previous Round kicked off a panic run on DSTs.  The Chiefs, Seahawks, and Vikings were all selected during this Round.

Pick of the Round: with the 93rd pick Dez Pacitos selected Doug Martin.  Sure he’s beginning the Season under suspension.  When his suspension is over though, Doug Martin is unquestionably the number 1 Running Back in Tampa Bay.  A workhorse Running Back in the 8th Round?  Yes please!  He went one pick before I could draft him.

Round 9

My Pick: another Player at the top of his team’s depth chart at his position.  I missed out on Doug Martin.  I wasn’t going to miss out on Paul Perkins.

Biggest surprise: with the 101rst pick Aegon Targaryen selected Kenny Britt.  Not a lot of Fantasy Players have faith in Kenny Britt.  I actually believe that Britt and Coleman make for a decent one two punch in Cleveland.  This is definitely a reach for a Player that doesn’t get drafted in a lot of Fantasy drafts.

Pick of the Round: my selection of Paul Perkins with the 99th pick was an absolute steal. I’ve seen him go in the 7th Round in previous drafts.

it

Round 10

My Pick: well I couldn’t wait any longer, and finally drafted my Tight End.  Hunter Henry has the most upside of the remaining TEs.  Sure Antonio Gates is still playing, but Henry is bound to see plenty of targets in the Chargers pass happy Offence.

Biggest surprise: the first pick of this Round was used by Geezer Domination to select Cooper Kupp.  There has been a lot of talk about Kupp’s potential breakout.  That was before the Rams traded for Sammy Watkins though.

Pick of the Round: with the 114th pick Raider in the North selected DeVante Parker.  I honestly believe that the recent addition of Jay Cutler makes Parker better.  Cutler loves to throw the deep ball and Parker is a burner.

Round 11

My Pick: I always carry two Quarterbacks on my roster in case of injuries.  Getting Andy Dalton this late in the Draft makes me feel like I made a mistake drafting Brady early.  I wouldn’t be surprised if Dalton finishes the Season in the Top 6 at his position.

Biggest surprise: Dez Pacitos drafted Thomas Rawls with the 124th pick.  I’m surprised Rawls lasted this long.  I’m not sure if Lacy is the man in Seattle yet.

Pick of the Round: Thomas Rawls

Round 12

My Pick: Marvin Jones.  It’s gamble time.  I expect the Lions to be in a lot of high scoring affairs.  Jones will get his share.

Biggest surprise: Watch it Burn selected C.J. Prosise.  An injury prone potentially third down Back, on a Team with a really good Scrambler at Quarterback who prefers to throw down field.

Pick of the Round: nobody really stands out in this Round.

Round 13

My Pick: Kevin White.  He is now the default number 1 Wide Receiver in Chicago.  In Round 13 that’s enough for me.

Biggest surprise: nothing really stands out.

Pick of the Round: with the 154th pick, Texas Proud selected Zay Jones.  With Sammy Watkins gone.  Buffalo is going to need the remaining Wide Receivers to step up.

Round 14

My Pick: Jacksonville Jaguars DST. Some great Players on this Squad.

Biggest surprise: nothing really.

Pick of the Round: with the 164th pick, Aegon Targaryen selected Chris Hogan.  Hogan has had success filling in for injured Players before.  With Edelman out for the Season.  Hogan will get opportunities.

Round 15

My Pick: Brandon McManus.  Got to love the thin air in Denver.

Biggest surprise: quite a few Tight Ends were drafted in the final Round.

Pick of the Round: the final pick of the draft went to Geezer Domination, and he selected the L.A. Rams DST.  Not bad, not bad at all.

Let me know what surprised you in this Draft.  Which Team won the Draft?

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Sports Fanatics play Fantasy SF-17 Fluid Draft Strategy

The impossible question

Every year I get asked the same question?  In which Round of the Draft should I target so and so?  This is a completely impossible question to answer fairly.  I could tell you what a Player’s Average Draft Position is.  That would tell you which Round they usually get drafted in.  I could tell you a Player’s Fantasy ceiling.  Then compare it to last year’s numbers to see where that would have placed them overall.  You could decide how long you are willing to wait before drafting them based on that.

The truth is that when to draft a particular Player is determined by the flow of your Draft.  I recently had a friend ask me who they should draft 4th overall.  What neither of us could have predicted is that Le’Veon Bell was still on the board when it was his turn to pick.  Other people told him to grab Antonio Brown or Julio Jones.  I told him to just grab the best Player available.  There really wasn’t any other answer I could honestly give him.  My most successful drafts have been when I was able to predict when specific Players were about to be drafted, and when runs on each position would occur.   A lot of preparation goes into this.  The first thing you need to know is the top three tiers of each position.  In a 12 Team league the three Tiers are easy to identify.  Tier 1 are Players that will likely go in the first four Rounds.  Tier 2 are Players that will likely get picked between Rounds 5 and 9. Tier 3 includes every Player who is likely to get drafted from Round 10 till the end of your Draft.  This will help you decide what to do when a run on a specific position happens.  For example, lets say that you have determined that Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, and Drew Brees are the guaranteed first Tier Quarterbacks.  You’ve decided to pass on taking a first Tier Quarterback, and target a second Tier Quarterback instead.  Among the second Tier Quarterbacks you are interested in drafting are Matt Ryan, Marcus Mariota, Kirk Cousins, Jameis Winston, Russell Wilson, and Cam Newton.  As your Draft unfolds,  Aaron Rodgers, and Tom Brady get picked in the First Round.  Somebody else believes that Matt Ryan will repeat his MVP Season, and picks him in the Second Round.  Three Quarterbacks picked in the first two rounds can cause a panic.  So in Round three, four more Managers pick Quarterbacks.  Drew Brees, Cam Newton, Russell Wilson, and Ben Roethlisberger all get drafted.  This only leaves three of your targeted Quarterbacks still available.  So you should draft one immediately right?

Hell no!

Even in a twelve team league it doesn’t make much sense to pull the trigger now.  Seven Managers already have their starting Quarterback.  So you won’t have to worry about them drafting another Quarterback for quite a while.  There’s only four other Managers that could potentially draft one of your targeted Quarterbacks before you.  What you should be doing is figuring out two more Quarterbacks you would be Ok with drafting just in case.  The real advantage you will be getting by waiting is determined by the Players you pick.  While the opposing Managers are in a panic.  You are able to draft Players that are worth more than the Round position you are drafting them in.  So draft the best Player available!  

By the time the draft is done, and every Manager is sizing up their competition.  Get ready to hear things like, “wow your team is stacked”!  Somebody might comment that “you’ve got a great group of Wide Receivers”!  Trust me, people will think you got extremely lucky, or drafted behind an idiot.  When they look through the Draft picks by Round they will realize that they passed on some of your key Players because you didn’t panic when they did.  In a situation like the one I described.   Other opportunities become available to you by exercising patience.  If at least half the Managers in your league reach for a Quarterback.  You could reach for a Player that would provide you with a positional advantage at some point as well.  While your opponents are grabbing second tier Quarterbacks in Round three.  You are free to abandon your plans to grab a Tier three Tight End, and instead take Gronkowski or Kelce in the fourth Round.  Provided you picked the best Player available in the third Round.  You should still match up well against the rest of your league.

If you are interested in joining the True Fanatics League on nfl.com and joining in our weekly Fantasy league discussion.  Apply to be a Manager through our Contact us page.  Tell me why you would be a great addition to the league.  It’s free to join.  You just need to sign up for a VIP Subscription to Cobe Life.